What I Mean by “Disciple-Making Church” in the Parish Context

I am deeply convinced that disciples are those who make disciples.

Jesus did not gather followers simply so they could admire him, attend meetings, or enjoy spiritual experiences. His final command was clear: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, NIV). That instruction was not given to a select few. It defines the Church in every generation. In the Church of England, it finds its most grounded expression in the life of the parish.

A disciple is someone who trusts in Christ for salvation, follows him in daily life, obeys his teaching, and intentionally helps others to follow him. Following Jesus always moves outward. When Jesus called the first disciples, he said, “Follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19, NIV). Being with him and being sent by him belong together.

John Stott consistently emphasised that conversion and discipleship cannot be separated. In The Radical Disciple, he describes Christian faith as visible obedience shaped by humility, simplicity, and courage. He insisted that the Great Commission includes both evangelism and teaching people to obey everything Christ commanded. A disciple is not merely someone who believes true doctrine but someone who is being formed into Christlikeness and who joins Christ’s mission.

The Navigators strengthened this emphasis in very practical ways. From them I learned that discipleship is relational, intentional, and reproducible. It happens life-on-life. It centres on Scripture and obedience. Their simple pattern, Christ at the centre, nourished by the Word and prayer, lived out in fellowship and witness, has profoundly shaped my understanding of normal Christian growth. The question is never simply, “What do I know?” but “Who am I helping to grow?”

This conviction sits naturally within the parish system.

The parish is not a voluntary society gathered around preference. It is a defined community entrusted to our spiritual care. The cure of souls extends beyond regular attenders to the whole geographical parish. That means baptising children whose parents may only attend occasionally, preparing couples for marriage who are exploring faith for the first time, and walking with families through grief who have never been part of church life.

These moments are not interruptions to disciple-making. They are openings for it.

In baptism, we welcome someone into the covenant community and pray for a lifetime of growth in Christ. In confirmation, we call young people and adults to own their faith publicly. In Holy Communion, we are nourished again and again by the grace of Christ. Word and sacrament form the soil in which disciples grow. John Stott himself embodied this balance, firmly evangelical, deeply committed to expository preaching, and fully at home within Anglican worship.

A disciple-making parish church, therefore, keeps Scripture at the centre in practice, not just in theory. Preaching must do more than inform; it must call people to repentance, faith, and obedience. Teaching must equip believers to handle Scripture for themselves. Small groups create space for prayer, accountability, and growth. One-to-one Bible reading and mentoring become normal rather than exceptional.

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NIV) teaches that pastors are given “to equip his people for works of service.” The role of the vicar is not to perform all ministry but to equip disciple-makers. In a healthy parish, lay leaders are trained and released. Mature believers are encouraged to invest in younger ones. Evangelism becomes the natural overflow of discipleship rather than a separate department.

When disciples understand that they are called to make disciples, the culture changes.

Instead of asking, “What does the church offer me?” people begin to ask, “Whom is God asking me to serve?” Parents pray intentionally for their children’s faith. Small group leaders look for potential apprentices. Longstanding members take responsibility for welcoming and mentoring newcomers. Faith spreads along lines of trust, at the school gate, in the workplace, across the garden fence.

This approach is especially important in Britain today. Many people have limited biblical literacy and little trust in institutions. They are unlikely to respond first to formal programmes. They respond to relationships. The parish model, with its long-term presence in a specific locality, provides exactly that stability. We are not passing through. We are rooted in a place. That steadiness allows patient, relational discipleship across generations.

The work is slow and often unseen. Discipleship rarely produces instant results. It involves meeting regularly with someone to read Scripture, praying consistently for a neighbour, or walking alongside a struggling believer for months or years. Yet this steady investment reflects the pattern of Jesus himself. He spent three years forming twelve men who would, in time, turn the world upside down.

A disciple-making parish church, therefore, combines clarity and patience. We are clear about the gospel. We are clear about biblical obedience. We are clear that every believer is called to help someone else grow. At the same time, we are patient with those exploring faith and gentle with those taking early steps. We trust that the Holy Spirit brings conviction and transformation. Our role is to be faithful and available.

For me, this vision is not a programme layered onto parish life. It is the heart of parish life. The parish exists so that disciples might be formed in a particular place and sent out from that place. When ordinary Christians see themselves as disciple-makers, the church becomes a living network of relationships shaped by Scripture, prayer, and mission.