This week we connected with Mike Cosper, Worship & Arts Pastor of Sojourn Community Church and co-author of the book Faith Mapping to talk about discipleship.
TONY: Why did you decide to write Faith Mapping?
MIKE: These days, there are a million “gospel-centered” books out there but we have observed two problems with some of these resources. First, if you ask ten pastors what the gospel is, you might get ten different answers. Second, in the midst of these abundant resources, we often don’t see connections made between the message of the gospel, the identity of the church, and the church’s mission in the world. We struggled to make those connections in our own lives and ministry and wanted to make an effort at clarity in the midst of confusion.
TONY: What is the discipleship strategy at Sojourn Community Church?
MIKE: It’s pretty simple. We gather and scatter. We gather large each Sunday, remembering how our story is part of His Story, and we send the body back out to live their calling in their world by gathering small in groups throughout the week. It’s the rhythm of Colossians 3:16-17 – the church gathering to build one another up (verse 16) and sending one another out to live their whole lives in the name of Jesus. In many ways, we simply believe in what Simon Chan calls “regular Christianity,” using the word “regular” like “army regulars.” We call our church to faithfully and regularly participate in community, gathering large and small, remembering the gospel story week in and week out. Gathering large shapes a big vision for who we are as God’s people, and gathering small provides intimate, authentic community where the “one anothers” in scripture can be practiced and where we can sharpen and spur one another along.
TONY: Why do you think that churches tend to invest most of the their time on events rather than creating healthy strategies for discipleship?
MIKE: Because we live in a culture of consumerism and hype. People want a magic pill to change their life; a book, a conference, or a catalytic experience that turns them into a Super Christian overnight. In a consumer culture, there will always be snake oil salesmen, and Christianity isn’t immune to their cons. Eugene Peterson’s book A Long Obedience In The Same Direction captures the reality of discipleship in its title. There are no magic pills. There are no shortcuts. Discipleship is like any other good thing that’s worth doing, be it learning a language, learning an instrument, or getting in shape; we grow as disciples in small steps, a day at a time, over months and years.
TONY: How does mentoring factor into a healthy discipleship strategy?
MIKE: Two thoughts come to mind. First, we should be cautious not to make too much of mentoring. Sometimes, the idea of a mentor gets elevated to sort of a mystical ideal: “If only I had a mentor,” or “I’ve got to find a mentor.” Second, mentoring should flow naturally from friendships. If you want a mentor, cultivate friendships with older men and women in your church. Most of us need a constellation of mentors – relationships with many people who are ahead of us on our journey, from whom we are learning in a variety of ways.
