Most churches can tell you how many people showed up Sunday. Far fewer can tell you whether those people are actually growing.

Lifeway Research's recent discipleship study, which is the largest of its kind, surveyed thousands of Protestant pastors and churchgoers to answer a deceptively simple question: how do you know if discipleship is working? The answers revealed eight measurable signposts that show up in the lives of people who are genuinely growing in faith. They include Bible engagement, serving others, sharing Christ, building relationships, and exercising faith, among others. The research found that when these markers are present and increasing, churches are healthy. When they stall, so does everything else, including attendance, giving, volunteerism, and outreach. The study also revealed a critical gap: many churchgoers don't understand that salvation is the starting line, not the finish. Without an intentional discipleship pathway, people plateau and quietly drift.

What this means for your church: This study reframes what "growth" actually looks like. A church gaining attendees but not forming disciples is building on sand. The churches that thrive long-term are the ones measuring transformation, not just traffic. If you can't point to where your people are growing spiritually, you've found the real bottleneck: your discipleship strategy. Three steps to act on this week:

Why Should We Just Accept AI? | You Are Not Your Own Substack 

In this piece, Alan Noble argues that just because AI is available doesn't mean every use is wise. The rush to adopt digital technology, from social media to classroom tablets, has repeatedly produced consequences we didn't see coming, and AI is following the same pattern. Noble’s framework is practical for church leaders: ask whether the efficiency gain comes at the cost of something spiritually or relationally valuable. Summarizing Genesis with ChatGPT skips the formative work of studying Scripture. Using AI to handle admin tasks that free you for pastoral care? Different conversation. For churches building discipleship pathways, not every shortcut serves the mission.

This week: Ask your staff: where are we tempted to use technology as a substitute for the relational and spiritual work only people can do?

Elevation Church's New College Reflects a Shift in Christian Higher Ed | Christianity Today

Elevation Church partnered with Southeastern University to launch Elevation College: a hybrid program embedding accredited ministry degrees inside the local church. Students earn two- or four-year degrees while doing practicum work at Elevation's campuses, at roughly $19,000 per year. SEU has built similar partnerships with churches in Nashville, Miami, Phoenix, and Sacramento. The model raises a question for churches of any size thinking about discipleship: what does it look like to develop the next generation of ministry leaders from within your own congregation?

This week: Look at your volunteer and intern pipeline. Is there a clear path for someone who feels called to ministry to develop their gifts under your leadership? Even a simple mentorship structure is a start.

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