Pastor Doug Beutler
It’s been a little while since my last post. Life has been full—in the best and most exhausting ways. Over the past four months, my wife and I listed our home, sold it within two months, purchased another house, hosted all 24 members of our family for Christmas, and even managed a three-week trip to Florida. It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least. But now, as things begin to settle, I’m excited to return to this series: So You Want to Be a Disciple-Maker… Where Do You Start?
Today, I want to explore a critical topic—the weaknesses of the Service Style of disciple-making.
Years ago, when I served as Chief Operations Officer for Lifeline Youth & Family Services (2004–2013), I often told new employees something that surprised them: if we only helped people become well-adjusted and emotionally stable, we hadn’t fully succeeded as a ministry. True success meant making a spiritual impact.
That didn’t mean forcing beliefs on anyone or pressuring people into faith. It meant engaging in meaningful spiritual conversations—walking with people through their confusion, questions, and struggles as they considered who Jesus is. One of our core purposes was to help people find Jesus, especially those who were open but unsure.
Over time, I began to notice that working with people in pain—those facing hardship, loss, or instability—revealed a significant weakness in the Service Style of disciple-making.
Let me explain.
Weakness #1: The Service Style assumes that helping people will naturally lead them to Christ.
I remember observing a church food pantry where volunteers worked hard to serve families in need. They were organized, kind, and respectful. Conversations were friendly, and the process ran smoothly. But week after week, I noticed something missing—no one mentioned Jesus.
Around that same time, I visited a local township trustee’s office that also provided food assistance. The interactions there looked almost identical to what I saw at the church.
That comparison raised a question: What makes us different?
When I asked the volunteers why they didn’t pray with people or engage in spiritual conversations, their response caught me off guard: “We thought that by helping them, they would eventually figure it out and find Jesus.”
Unfortunately, that assumption is more common than we’d like to admit. We hope that by serving well, Jesus will somehow “rub off” on people. But the reality is, the gospel is not something people simply absorb—it must be shared.
Weakness #2: The Service Style emphasizes giving hope without sharing the gospel.
How often have we said, “It’s going to be okay,” even when we know the situation may not improve anytime soon?
Most of the time, those words come from a sincere place. We care deeply and want to offer comfort, even when we don’t know what to say. But as followers of Christ, we also know that true and lasting hope is found only in Jesus.
Without Him, there may be temporary relief—less stress, a full stomach, a moment of peace—but those circumstances often return. The deeper need remains unmet.
We say we believe Jesus is the source of hope, but if we never speak His name or share His truth, our actions can unintentionally communicate something else.
Weakness #3: The Service Style mistakes helping the hurting as the highest priority.
Jesus gave His followers a clear mission in Matthew 28:19–20—to go and make disciples.
Serving others is good. It matters deeply. It reflects the heart of Christ. But it is not the ultimate goal.
If we’re honest, it’s often easier to meet physical needs than to step into spiritual conversations. Handing out food or supplies feels safe and immediate. We can see the impact right away—the gratitude, the relief, the sense that we’ve made a difference.
But disciple-making requires something more. It calls us to build relationships, share our stories, and talk openly about the gospel. That can feel uncomfortable, even intimidating.
Yet, that is the mission Jesus gave us.
Helping others can make us feel good—and it should—but it must not replace the greater calling to lead people toward Christ.
A Final Thought
Let me be clear: serving others is essential. It is a vital expression of the love of Jesus and a powerful way to open doors for ministry.
But service alone is not enough.
People don’t “figure out” the gospel on their own. They need someone to walk with them, to explain it, to live it out, and to invite them into it. They need someone willing to step beyond acts of kindness into conversations that lead to transformation.
As Paul writes in Romans 10:13–15, how can people call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe if they have not heard?
