How is your church making disciples? What pedagogical methods do you use to nurture faith among children, youth and adults? How has your congregation revised its approach to Christian formation in the last 10 to 20 years?
We need to ask and answer these questions because Christian formation is at the heart of what the church is called to do. Despite the significance of this mission, we often take for granted that we are making Christ followers simply because we are using a curriculum from a Christian publisher. We forget to ask: How should we make disciples today?
In this week’s episode of Leading and Thriving in the Church, Reggie Blount sits down to talk about the core convictions churches need to embrace for faithful Christian formation in a contemporary context. Blount serves in various leadership roles at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, including as Director for the Center for the Church and the Black Experience.
Dr. Blount helps us reimagine traditional methodologies to meet multi-generational needs in the modern Christian church. While megachurches can hire dozens of specialists, many churches are not able to hire a full complement of seminary trained staff.
Blount pitches a few ideas about how to invest in the laity to develop the most vibrant teaching team possible. He shares wisdom about the use of digital platforms as we continue to adapt to a post-pandemic reality. If you’re thinking about what Christian formation needs to look like today, check out this episode.
Reggie Blount: New Approaches to Christian Formation
In the third episode of our third season, Prince talks with Reggie Blount, who serves as the Murray H. Leiffer Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership and Culture and director of the Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Resources
Are young people still interested in religion and spirituality?
The answer is yes, but if churches want young folks to return, they must repair the harm done by the religious right, says the woman who gave the Young People’s Address to the UMC.
By Alejandra Salemi
Here’s how churches can play a crucial role in the anti-racist formation of children and youth
Three explicit shifts can help shape programs that counter public efforts to limit teaching about racism and injustice.
By Henry Zonio
Fuller Seminary heads up ambitious ecumenical project to engage millions of young people
Five years in the making, the TENx10 project aims to “help faith matter more” for 10 million teens in 10 years. The effort has involved many groups across the church and might serve as a model for more collaborations.
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Before you go…
In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus sends his disciples out to make more disciples. From this text and other New Testament passages, it becomes clear that discipleship requires work. Christians must be formed with intentionality because we are constantly influenced and shaped by perspectives that may or may not be anchored in a Christian narrative.
As I reflect on my own spiritual formation, I can see that not all Christian education happens in a classroom or small group. So much of our formation happens through relationships and the culture of the local church community.
What are the community’s priorities? How do people act toward one another? What models of leadership are in place? What do the patterns of worship say about who God is? Congregational leaders need to take the time to think about these questions as we grapple with how to nurture Christian faith in an increasingly post-Christian culture.
I think you’ll be challenged and inspired by this conversation with Dr. Blount. You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity