In a thought-provoking episode of Barna Group’s ChurchPulse Weekly podcast, Carey Nieuwhof sat down with renowned speaker and author Lisa Bevere to discuss the evolving nature of discipleship over the past five years. The conversation shed light on critical issues within the church, ranging from the role of women to the growing trend of spiritual privatization and the rise of digital discipleship. Here are some key takeaways from their discussion and how they impact the church today.
The Crisis in Discipleship
One of the most eye-opening points Bevere highlighted is the current crisis in discipleship. Only 36% of Christians believe that one-on-one discipleship is very important for spiritual growth, revealing a significant shift in how believers approach their spiritual journey. Additionally, 56% of Christians consider their spiritual lives entirely private, showing a departure from the communal aspects of faith that once defined Christian life. This shift has created a crisis within the church, where people are more isolated in their faith and disconnected from the rich, relational fabric that true discipleship requires.
Bevere pointed out, “We’ve adopted the wrong [discipleship] pattern. The pastor says, ‘Come to church and I’ll disciple you.’ We didn’t necessarily let people in the church disciple others. … This really limits our ability to reach people on a widespread level.” Discipleship has long been a relational, life-on-life process, and relegating it to the pulpit undermines the broader community's role in mentoring and guiding others in their faith walk.
Deconstructing Without Destroying
In addressing the challenges that younger generations face, Bevere discussed the balance between deconstructing faith and destroying it altogether. Many young Christians are questioning traditional church structures, which is not inherently negative, but Bevere warns that there is a fine line between healthy critique and total destruction.
“The next generation knows that God has his hand on their life for something, but they don’t know what that thing is. … They’re becoming critics instead of constructors,” Bevere noted. This generation, she argues, is called to prophecy—to speak under divine inspiration—but often falls into the trap of tearing down without rebuilding. Deconstruction can be valuable, but it needs to be paired with the construction of something meaningful and grounded in truth.
Women and the Church
Women, in particular, face unique challenges and opportunities in discipleship. Bevere shared that 47% of Christian women report being distracted during their time with God, compared to 40% of men. Moreover, 73% of Christian women have been hurt by someone they deeply trusted, a much higher percentage than their male counterparts (56%). These statistics highlight the deep emotional and spiritual wounds that women carry into their faith journey, and the church must provide spaces where healing, mentoring, and real connection can occur.
Bevere emphasized that women are not just looking for spiritual platitudes; they want to know how to live out their faith in the everyday messiness of life. This calls for a discipleship model that is authentic, transparent, and deeply rooted in lived experience. “The greatest platform you and I will ever live on is our lives,” Bevere said, underscoring the need for mentors who are not just preaching from a stage but living out their faith in real, visible ways.
Digital Discipleship: A Starting Point, Not the End
As churches increasingly embrace digital platforms for discipleship, Bevere offered a critical perspective: while digital discipleship is a valuable tool, it should only serve as an entrance, not the endpoint, for spiritual growth. “Digital discipleship should be an entrance, not an end place for people to grow in their walk with Christ,” she explained.
The digital world offers convenience and access, but real, deep discipleship happens in the context of relationships and shared life experiences. The challenge for churches moving forward is to ensure that their digital efforts lead to in-person community and discipleship, where the messiness and beauty of real relationships can occur.
Conclusion: Reimagining Discipleship
Lisa Bevere’s insights are a clarion call for the church to reimagine how it approaches discipleship in today’s culture. There is a need to empower individuals within the church to disciple others, to balance critique with construction, and to provide sacred spaces for healing and growth, particularly for women who have faced hurt and distraction in their spiritual journeys.
In a time when digital discipleship is gaining traction, we must remember that the ultimate goal is relational discipleship—life-on-life mentoring that goes beyond screens and Sunday sermons. As Bevere reminds us, the greatest discipleship platform is our lives, lived out in authentic faith, vulnerability, and accountability.
As churches continue to adapt to changing cultural tides, these conversations challenge us to rethink how we make disciples in an age of distraction, disconnection, and digital convenience.