Discipleship Not a Top Priority
The final segment of Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship study reveals that discipleship remains a low priority in many U.S. Protestant churches. While pastors agree that discipleship is vital, only 8% are extremely satisfied with their current efforts in this area. Just 11% say their church excels in discipleship compared to other functions, such as worship or outreach.
Worship and Community Take Precedence
When asked to rank six church functions, pastors most often pointed to corporate worship (30%) as their strongest area. Other functions ranked higher than discipleship included building community (16%), serving others (15%), evangelism (14%), and prayer (13%). Discipleship was the least likely choice, at just 11%.
Generational and Demographic Differences
Discipleship emphasis varies by age and background. Younger pastors (18–34) are more likely to prioritize discipleship (31%), compared to only 21% of those 65 and older. Hispanic Protestant pastors (46%) and pastors at newer churches are more likely to say discipleship receives significant effort. In contrast, Midwest pastors were the least likely (18%) to say discipleship gets the most attention.
Competing Priorities and Limited Resources
Despite acknowledging the importance of discipleship, churches face significant roadblocks. Nearly three-quarters of pastors (72%) say people don’t prioritize discipleship in their lives, and 63% cite complacency. Other challenges include a lack of disciple-makers (44%), limited interest (39%), and busy church calendars (27%).
Younger pastors are more likely to mention logistical challenges, such as a lack of training and insufficient time for ministry. Pastors of large churches cite better training systems, but still struggle with engagement.
Calls for Renewed Focus
Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell says pastors recognize the need for stronger discipleship and evangelism. “Improving discipleship and outreach will take significantly more effort and attention than these Great Commission mandates have received recently,” he noted.
As a follow-up, Lifeway plans to release new research in 2026 focusing on churchgoers’ discipleship experiences, offering additional insight into this pressing issue.
Source:
Few Pastors Believe Discipleship Tops Their Churches’ Efforts
Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash
About Post Author
