The Importance of Relational Discipleship in the Church

Is it possible that modern churches are missing a crucial aspect of discipleship, one that Jesus himself demonstrated? Kevin Swanson suggests that many of today's churches are focusing too much on programs and not enough on relationships. He asserts that Jesus spent significant time with his disciples, building a long-term relationship with them over the course of three years. This level of relational discipleship is not typically seen in the modern, mass-produced approach to church programs and discipleship. According to Swanson, the discipler or teacher needs to cultivate a loving relationship with those they are discipling, following the pattern set by Jesus who loved his disciples so deeply that he gave his life for them. This relational discipleship, he suggests, is key to effective spiritual growth and development, and is something that many modern churches may need to reconsider. John 15:12 (NKJV): 'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'