Discipleship: The Challenge

July 21st, 2026
by Deacon Sigmund Thomas

Discipleship is an intentional, lifelong journey of learning and applying the teachings of Jesus. The primary challenges include a lack of time in modern schedules, trust barriers in reserved individuals, pride or ego, and the temptation to treat it as mere “information transfer” rather than life transformation.

Key Challenges

Time and Pace: Modern, fast-paced cultures often clash with the slow, relational work of discipleship
Fear and Ego: A reluctance to be vulnerable, admit struggles, or surrender personal agendas makes accountability difficult.
Lack of Clear Pathways: Many struggle to know where to begin feeling ill-equipped to teach, or falling into the trap of just sharing knowledge, rather than modeling behavior.
Consistency: Maintaining spiritual practices (like engaging with the Scriptures amid daily life) is a common struggle.

Proven How-To's

Embed Discipleship into Everyday Life: You don't need to add hours of formal teaching to your calendar… Model your approach after Jesus, who did life with his followers eating together, working together, and teaching naturally… as you go.
Prioritize Bible Engagement: Focus on both hearing and practically applying the text, rather than just accumulating head knowledge.
Build Transparent Communities: True discipleship thrives in one-to-one or small-group settings where leaders make themselves vulnerable. Share your own failures and victories to build a foundation of trust.
Use Practical Resources: Overcome the barrier of “winging it” by utilizing established frameworks and study plans.