The church of the 21st century is more about real people in community, discipleship and mission. The future church is returning to its ancient roots in experiencing Jesus as the incarnational and living presence in the midst of God’s people. The larger congregation is a network of interrelated smaller communities – some intentional, some generic, some spontaneous. Pastors and leaders are called to be incarnational representatives of Christ among the people, seeing Jesus as their primary model of life and ministry. This is personal and interpersonal church. Christian formation and Spirit transformation are about participating with others in Jesus’ pathway of discipleship – seeing Jesus as the source, maturing presence and mature target of Christian faith. Both the Old Testament and New Testament are about God’s people walking together on the way with God to complete God’s mission and become a complete and whole humanity. 

What Others Have Thought: 

"This course has challenged my view of discipleship and has given me the tools I need to write a curriculum for my church." 

"My own paradigm in small group ministries has shifted for the better as a result of this course. The concept of community has become front and center while small groups serve as a vehicle in the process of discipleship." 

Course Project:    

All students will come up with a ministry plan for incarnational ministry and write a manual on how to train incarnational leaders for ministry.    

Sample Readings From This Course May Include:   

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. Harper & Row, 1954.    

Comiskey, Joel. The Relational Disciple: How God Uses Community to Shape Followers of Jesus. CCS Publishing, 2009.   

Hammett, Edward. Reframing Spiritual Formation: Discipleship in an Unchurched Culture. Smith and Helwys, 2002.   

Ogden, Greg. Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time. InterVaristy Press, 2003.      

If you would like more information about this course please email the DMIN office at dmin@fuller.edu 

For a sample course description please click here.  NOTE: This is not to be used as a source for course preparation.