Depending on your definition of failure, up to an estimated 95% of companies fail according to Harvard Business School. That staggering statistic is probably not far off from the failure rate of anything that people attempt. Many ideas that people have never make it out of the cognitional process. The fact is that we do not succeed at everything we do. If you have never fallen short, I’d love to meet you and learn how you’ve done it.
The discussion in my small group last night surrounded the practice of discipleship and what it means to be in a discipling relationship. Our main point of conversation was around the intentionality aspect of discipleship. Greg Ogden describes discipling as an “intentional relationship.”
I think that lack of intentionality is one reason why many ideas fail. When looking at discipleship, establishing intentions paves the way for commitment. Without some kind of commitment, it is hard to reach the fruits of any endeavor. Without deliberate action, all we have are good intentions.
Jesus clearly tells us to make disciples. It’s not just a good idea to contemplate or talk about at church. It’s not pastors job to do all the work of growing The Church. Stop thinking about the Great Commission. Go do it.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)