Discipleship Pathway Audit

Is Your Church Truly Making Disciples, or Just Running Programs?

Pastor, does your church calendar feel full while your pews feel spiritually empty? You’re not alone. Many churches are stuck in a program-driven model, measuring success by attendance and activity. But Jesus called us to a deeper mission: making disciples.

This audit is designed to give you an honest, bird's-eye view of your current discipleship process. It will help you identify the critical gaps between your church's activities and your ultimate mission.

PART 1: The CONNECT Pathway

How effectively do you connect first-time guests and new believers to the life of the church?

First Impressions: Do we have a clear and welcoming process to identify, greet, and gather information from a first-time guest on a Sunday morning?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Immediate Follow-Up: Do we have an intentional, multi-step follow-up plan that begins within 48 hours of a guest's first visit to make them feel seen and valued? (This includes more than just an automated email).

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Relational Next Step: Do we offer a simple and obvious next step for a guest to connect with leaders and other members in a relational environment (e.g., a newcomers' lunch, a coffee with a pastor)?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

New Believer Integration: When someone makes a decision for Christ, do we have a clear and immediate plan to help them understand their decision, get baptized, and take their first steps in their faith journey?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

PART 2: The GROW Pathway

How effectively do you guide people from being passive attendees to active, growing disciples?

Biblical Literacy: Do we provide clear and accessible opportunities for our congregation to consistently engage with and understand the Bible beyond the Sunday sermon?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Small Groups: Is participation in a small group, Sunday school class, or other community-based group the primary and expected way for people to build relationships and grow spiritually in our church?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Spiritual Disciplines: Do we actively teach and model core spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and solitude as essential components of a mature faith?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Leadership Development: Do we have an intentional pathway to identify potential leaders and equip them for ministry, moving them from participant to leader?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

PART 3: The SERVE Pathway

How effectively do you help people discover their gifts and use them to serve the church and community?

Gift Discovery: Do we have a clear process to help members discover their spiritual gifts and personal passions?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Serving On-Ramp: Is it easy and obvious for someone to find a place to serve in our church? Is the process for joining a ministry team clear and efficient?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Purposeful Roles: Do we connect serving to spiritual growth, helping our volunteers understand that their role is not just "filling a slot" but is a vital part of their discipleship?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Ministry Impact: Do our serving teams have a clear sense of mission and do they see the tangible impact their service is making in the lives of others?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

PART 4: The GO Pathway

How effectively are you equipping and sending your people to be disciple-makers in their everyday lives?

Evangelism Equipping: Do we regularly equip our congregation with the practical tools and confidence to share their faith with friends, family, and coworkers?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Community Mission: Is our church actively engaged in serving our local community in a way that builds relationships and opens doors for the Gospel?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Multiplying Disciples: Are we actively challenging and equipping mature believers to intentionally disciple others, creating a culture where disciple-making is the norm?

1- We have nothing for this.

2 - We’ve talked about this, but have no clear process.

3 - We do this, but it’s inconsistent and not very effective.

4 - We have a clear and consistent process for this.

5 - This is a core strength of our church; it’s clear, consistent, and effective.

Name

First Name

Last Name

example@example.com

Scoring Legend

60-75 (Discipleship-Driven): You have a strong and effective discipleship pathway. You are consistently seeing people move from guests to mature, disciple-making leaders. Now, how can you refine and scale this process?

45-59 (Program-Reliant): You have some good elements in place, but your process is likely inconsistent or has significant gaps. Your church is active, but you may be struggling to see deep, lasting life change.

30-44 (Program-Driven): Your church is likely stuck in a cycle of running programs. You work hard, but your efforts feel disconnected from the core mission of making disciples. There is a lack of a clear, intentional strategy.

15-29 (Urgent Need): Your church is surviving, not thriving. Without a clear discipleship pathway, you are likely struggling with guest retention, volunteer burnout, and a lack of spiritual growth. It's time for a fundamental shift.

What Does Your Score Reveal?

Look at your lowest-scoring sections. Is your "front door" (Connect) broken? Is your "living room" (Grow) empty? Is your "kitchen" (Serve) disorganized?

An unclear discipleship pathway is the #1 reason churches fail to grow. People are looking for a guide, not just a series of events.

Ready to build a clear, intentional, and consistent strategy to make more and better disciples?

This is what I help pastors do every day. If you're tired of being stuck in a program-driven mission and ready to build a thriving, discipleship-driven church, let's talk.

Click NEXT to to schedule a FREE 30-Minute Discipleship Strategy Call!

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