2025 RCS Church Vision for Discipleship

Beloved Church Family,

As we gather today at the dawn of 2025, I want to express the deep gratitude of your elders for your faithfulness to God’s Word and to one another.

Over this past year, we’ve seen the Lord’s goodness through our Men and Women of the Word.

Studying through the books of the Bible has blessed us, sharpened our understanding of Scripture, and encouraged our fellowship.

Yet, as we reflect prayerfully on Christ’s Great Commission—to make disciples who make disciples—we realize there is more ground to cover, and greater fruit to bear.

Romans 15:14 says: "I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another."

This verse paints a picture of the church culture we are pursuing this year:

A community where men and women are not only students of the Word but also instructors, encouragers, and disciplers.

This vision is not lofty or unattainable—it is the natural outflow of Christ working through His Spirit in His people.

This is the culture we long to cultivate: disciples who are making disciples.

A Shift in Focus

Up until now, our Men of the Word and Women of the Word gatherings have centered on studying books of the Bible together once a month.

These studies have been helpful and edifying, but we recognize they have not yet fully realized the biblical call to multiplication.

The command to “make disciples” isn’t simply to grow in knowledge, but to take what we learn and pour it into others—to multiply.

Too often, preparation for these studies has been inconsistent.

Some come well-prepared, others come unprepared, and still, others come simply to listen. Some come inconsistently and some not at all.

But this year, we want to aim higher, together.

The reality is that disciple-making requires more than monthly gatherings.

It requires weekly, daily, intentional relationships.

After all, we must understand that discipleship is fundamentally about relationships, not mere academics.

Since it is rooted in relationships, it will require time, sacrifice, prioritization, commitment, and mutual investment—a two-way street where both individuals are actively engaged in each other’s growth.

We must be asking ourselves hard questions:

Are our groups expanding and multiplying? If not, why not?

Are we being faithful to the task of inviting others, of pouring into their lives, and helping them grow in Christ?

A New Direction for 2025

This year, Men and Women of the Word will take on a sharper focus.

Instead of simply studying through books of the Bible together, we will:

Teach Specific Topics:

Our elders and teachers will lead sessions on essential, practical topics, beginning with a biblical understanding of relationships, with an emphasis on marriage and singleness.

Assign Bible Studies with Tools:

Each semester, we will assign specific books of the Bible to study, using the booklets we’ve been providing to guide us in exposition and application.

Multiply Small Groups:

Men will gather with men, and women with women, during the week to study these Scriptures together.

These smaller, intentional gatherings are where discipleship truly happens.

If you are already meeting with a group, praise God—but remember, the goal is multiplication.

If your group has not grown, ask yourself why.

What needs to change?

Invite Others:

Each gathering is an opportunity to invite others—whether they are believers seeking growth or those who have yet to hear the gospel.

A Special Evening of Discipleship

To strengthen this vision, I’m excited to announce a special evening in February where we will gather as a church to focus on Discipleship in the Church and Discipleship in the Home.

This evening will include:

Dinner Together: A time of fellowship over a shared meal.

Two Teaching Sessions: I will teach on biblical discipleship with a focus on marriage, families, and singleness.

Breakout Groups: Practical sessions designed to help you apply what you’ve learned in your specific context.

For those with families, we will provide childcare during the event.

Donations for childcare will help raise money for our students attending camp this summer, giving us an opportunity to support both discipleship and our youth ministry.

A High and Holy Priority

This vision will require something of all of us.

It will mean reprioritizing our schedules, perhaps sacrificing other activities to make discipleship a weekly and prayerful priority.

Yet, let us not see this as a burden but as a glorious privilege.

This is what we were saved for:

To grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and to help others do the same.

We cannot do this in our own strength, but we can do this through the power of Christ who strengthens us.

This is attainable, not because we are strong, but because He is faithful.

Prayerful Steps for Reflection and Action

As we embark on this vision, I invite you to prayerfully consider these steps:

Examine Your Heart: Ask the Lord to show you any areas where you may have grown complacent or where fear has held you back from multiplying disciples.

Commit to Gather: Make it a priority to attend Men of the Word or Women of the Word and to participate in the February evening of discipleship and a weekly study group.

Invite Others: Begin praying about who you can invite into your life for discipleship. This might be a friend, coworker, or neighbor who needs to grow in Christ or hear the gospel.

Pray for the Work: Pray fervently for our elders, our teachers, and for one another as we seek to be faithful to God’s call.

Let’s be a people who live out Romans 15:14—full of goodness, filled with knowledge, and able to instruct one another for the glory of Christ.

Together, let us press into this calling to make disciples who make disciples, for the sake of His name and His kingdom.

Let us pray: Father, we thank You for the high calling You have given us to make disciples of all nations.

Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may grow in goodness, knowledge, and wisdom.

Help us to be faithful, intentional, and sacrificial as we seek to multiply disciples for Your glory.

Give us boldness to invite others, humility to learn from one another, and perseverance to press on.

Lord, may this year be one of growth, multiplication, and joy in Christ.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.