A Pastor's Guide from Rooted Network | Helping You Build a Thriving Church
You have a sacred vision: to see your congregation become devoted, mature followers of Jesus.
But a frustrating gap often exists between that vision and your reality. You pour your heart into sermons, groups, and classes, yet real traction feels just out of reach.
If you feel this tension, you're not alone. It's one of the most common challenges for church leadership.
But what if being "stuck" isn't a failure? What if it’s a signpost?
After partnering with thousands of churches, we've found most discipleship problems stem from one of three distinct gaps.
The key isn't just finding more pastoral resources; it's correctly diagnosing the problem so you can apply the right solution.
Here are the three signs to look for.
Sign #1: The Foundational Gap
You have dedicated leaders and willing participants, but it feels like everyone is on a different page. Your discipleship efforts seem fragmented and lack a common thread.
This is a Foundational Gap.
You might have a Foundational Gap if:
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The discipleship experience is highly dependent on the individual group leader, creating inconsistency.
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There's no shared language or common staring point for your entire church.
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New members face a confusing or non-existent "first step" into your discipleship ministry.
Without a solid foundation, even the best programs can't build a discipleship culture with lasting momentum.
Sign #2: The Rhythmic Gap
Your congregation enjoys Sunday sermons and their small groups. But you see a disconnect between what they know and how they live from Monday to Saturday.
This is a Rhythmic Gap.
You might have a Rhythmic Gap if:
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You notice a significant "Sunday-to-Monday" gap in faith application.
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Your groups focus more on passive learning than building daily spiritual habits.
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You hear people say they want to grow, but they lack consistent practices like prayer, service, or daily time in the Word.
True spiritual formation happens when your strategy moves people from information into daily practice.
Sign #3: The Theological Gap
You have a core of committed believers who are hungry for more. They've mastered the basics, but now they're ready for a deeper understanding of Scripture and doctrine to navigate a complex world.
This is a Theological Gap.
You might have a Theological Gap if:
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You see pockets of deep engagement, but it’s not yet a church-wide reality.
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Your people lack confidence in articulating what they believe and why it matters.
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You sense your most committed members are yearning for a greater challenge.
Deepening theological roots gives the church stability in cultural storms and forges lasting conviction.
Find Your Clear Path Forward
Reading through these signs, one gap likely stood out to you more than the others. That moment of recognition is the first step toward building a lasting culture of discipleship in your church.
But to lead with confidence, you need to be certain. Applying a "Rhythms" solution to a "Foundation" problem will only lead to more frustration and wasted effort.
That’s why we created a simple resource to help you move from diagnosis to decisive action. It’s designed to confirm your primary challenge and give you a clear starting point.
Take our Free 2-Minute Church Discipleship Strategy Assessment to trade uncertainty for an actionable plan.
You’ll receive:
- Instant, Personalized Results that confirm your specific discipleship gap.
- Strategic Clarity on the why behind your discipleship ministry challenges.
- Actionable Next Steps to begin building a healthy, sustainable discipleship culture.
It's time to move forward with the wisdom and confidence for your church's calling.
