I’m continually fascinated with the word “facilitate” that is consistently used in many group settings I’ve come across, especially in churches. “Small Groups” have people who facilitate discussions. People attend meetings to make decisions that are facilitated by one of the members.

At the core of this is perhaps a desire to demonstrate that we are all equal partners, that no one person is better than the other, that everyone’s ideas are good ideas and need to be listened to and respected and that somehow the group will come to the best and most reliable conclusion through facilitation.

When it comes to discipleship, let’s declare the idea of facilitation not as progressive and meaningful but as misguided and counterproductive.

When you begin the journey to help others become disciples of Jesus, either you asked someone to join you or someone came to you. In either case, these individuals are assuming that you are further down the road of discipleship than they are and that you have something to offer them that they sense is missing in their lives. Whether you like it or not, they are looking to you to take them somewhere and it is time for you to step up and lead, not facilitate. You are the one guiding the discussion, you are the one asking them to engage in spiritual disciplines that they have never or seldom engaged in and you are the one sharing your life journey as something to imitate. And yes, we are not perfect and we continue to learn, yet with the confidence of the Apostle Paul we need to step out and say “Imitate me.” (1 Cor 4:16)

Without a leader, groups grow stale and naturally die out. Let’s stop thinking that being nice by facilitating is the most “Christian” way to pursue discipleship, it is not. It has been my experience that people want to be led. Interestingly, even though I lead others on the journey of discipleship, I still look to others with more experience to lead me.
Lead confidently that you are called to engage others in true discipleship. Those you lead will be better off and thank you for it.