Holiness Grows Best in Community
The Church today often emphasizes making disciples. What it doesn’t always emphasize is how disciples are to grow in holiness. An appropriate question for communities to ask then is, do we have forms in place that support people’s ongoing spiritual transformation?
Part of the problem, at least in the West, is that people tend to view most things as independent projects, including the faith journey. There’s not much emphasis on learning from others, being vulnerable, or being shaped by others. You may have heard people say things like, she made a personal decision for Christ, or he made his faith his own. That language implies singular responsibility, as if being a disciple of Jesus is only a solo gig. When we think in these terms, it’s easy to assume that the whole discipleship journey is one of independence and personal privacy: it’s my faith, my walk, my bible study, my prayer life, etc. that will make me grow most into the likeness of Christ.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
John Wesley once famously said, "There is no holiness apart from social holiness."
Wesley is saying there is no holiness apart from living in authentic relationships with others. It’s impossible to become more like Christ - to become more holy - if you are not living closely with others who want the same thing. Meaning, your spiritual growth toward holiness is radically informed by your community.
We grow toward holiness together, not alone.
How do we grow toward holiness together? In 1743, John Wesley spent some time asking this question, which eventually led him to establish small groups in the Church called Discipleship Bands. A Discipleship Band is a small group, made up of 3-4 people total, who are committed to growing in personal holiness and mutual accountability. These small bands provide the space to grow in Christlikeness by learning, processing, confessing, sharing, and encouraging one another. Discipleship Bands are still used today all over the world.
When it comes to the question of having a form that supports ongoing spiritual transformation within our communities and churches, you may want to consider adopting the concept of Discipleship Bands.
It’s easy to download the Discipleship Band Tool in the Dwellings Toolbox, which shows you what to do. You might begin by considering who are two to three individuals of the same gender you’d like to have join you for a Discipleship Band. The group meets regularly (weekly or monthly), with each person answering the same five questions, followed by prayer after each one shares.
Soul - How is it with your soul?
Sins and Struggles - What are yours?
Spirit and Scriptures - How are they speaking in your life?
Sin - Do you have sin to confess?
Secret - Do you desire to keep anything secret?
With a commitment to confidentiality, a Discipleship Band offers a form that helps people grow in personal holiness together. It takes trust, honesty, and vulnerability to answer these questions. At the beginning of any Discipleship Band, it is encouraged to ask only the first three questions. As the group progresses into deeper relationships, you can then consider when it would be appropriate to add the final two questions.
Authentic spiritual transformation always takes place within the context of relationships. God designed it this way. He designed us to function as a family, to carry each other’s burdens, to celebrate, and to mourn with one another. When we do this, we are becoming more and more like Jesus.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 New International Version
