• Through the use of home and business computers, adults can network with other Christians and non-Christians. Computer communication can revolve around dialogue related to business ethics, church-state relationships, and seeking divine direction for modern issues and problems in the family, church, business, and community.

• The telephone provides a convenient but powerful tool for discipling adults. With it adults can touch base, offer support, and create or deal with teachable moments. It provides an easy way to follow up on the use of audiovisuals or reading materials that have been shared through mail or computer hook-ups.

• Videotapes dealing with issues of concern to today’s adults are readily available and can be used in homes, offices, vacation spots, cars, boats, and so on. Audiotapes offer even more flexibility of use. Many sermons, conference notes, and books are available for personal listening and study. Audiovisuals provide instruction at the most teachable moments.

• The 1980s birthed support groups of every kind and for every conceivable group. The teachable moment for adults is when they need to learn. When they are asking the right questions about faith, the church has the opportunity to help by grouping people of similar needs together to seek God’s direction and mutual support.

• Mentoring relationships are accountable associations with someone who has proven themselves worthy of ministry in the workplace, community, or world. Connecting with mentors who understand the situation and will serve as prayer warriors can lend invaluable support.

• Learning clusters may act as a community, support group, or prayer group. Clusters can help one move forward, stay focused, and maintain integrity and hope in potentially difficult situations. Learning about the work, trials, and struggles of others is vitally important.

• Travel and leisure time offer opportunities for adults to use media, conference, or retreat resources to focus on personal spiritual development.

• Sermons that deal with a perceived human or world need or current issue from a Christian perspective set the stage for dialogue either in a group or one-on-one setting. Dialogical sermons can provide pathways for the discipleship process.

• Adults can discover the relevancy of the Scriptures by finding their story in God’s story. Narrative theology can facilitate personal growth in the family and community of faith.

• For those adults who “cocoon” in their homes, spiritual direction can help them in their struggle with the issues of faith and real life. Spiritual direction can be done by any child of God who is trained in the discipline. The setting can be one on one, with families, in vocational groupings, or in groups of other Christians.

• Retreats, seminars, and workshops offer excellent short-term or long-term discipline for adults. In today’s world of pleasure-seekers, leisure fanatics, and noncommitment to long-term obligations, retreats offer much incentive. A place located away from the church setting can help persons deal relationally and didactically with current issues and work to integrate their faith with those issues.

• Sharing a meal at a restaurant or in the home with family members, work associates, neighbors, or other adults lends an opportunity for focusing on one’s spiritual development.

• Intergenerational experiences can be very effective discipling tools. Many adults need family time and can learn from persons of all ages about issues of life and faith.

Discipling remains our Lord’s mandate for believers. No longer is this task relegated to the church building and programs. The church must make necessary adaptations to encourage spiritual growth of Christ’s followers.

Among the innovations needed are shifts in job and ministry descriptions for clergy and laity. Consider some possibilities for reorienting church members and professional ministers away from program and institution maintenance and toward team building and discipling persons inside and outside the walls of the church.

From The Gathered and Scattered Church: Equipping Believers for the 21st Century, by Edward H. Hammett, pp. 54-56