Dr. JR Woodward’s journey into church leadership began with an unexpected conversion in a frat house. “Not many people come to Christ through a college fraternity,” JR chuckles, recounting his transformation from a party-loving student to a passionate evangelist. This dramatic shift set the stage for a lifetime of innovative thinking about discipleship, church planting, and leadership.
In a recent episode of the Pivot Podcast, JR shared profound insights from his latest book, “The Scandal of Leadership,” offering a fresh perspective on how churches can navigate the challenges of our current cultural moment.
The Crisis of Discipleship
JR argues that the church is facing a crisis, but it’s not the one we often hear about. “In some ways, the crisis of the church is a discipleship crisis,” he explains. Many congregations assume that the majority of their members are already discipled, with only a few newcomers needing basic instruction. JR challenges this assumption, suggesting that everyone needs ongoing discipleship.
According to JR, the crisis stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what discipleship truly entails. “We’ve often reduced discipleship to a program or a class, rather than seeing it as a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ,” he says. The result is a church filled with members who may have knowledge about Jesus but struggle to embody his teachings in their daily lives.
JR points out that the discipleship deficit has far-reaching consequences. “When we fail to disciple effectively, we create a gap between belief and behavior,” he says. This not only affects individual spiritual growth but also hampers the church’s ability to be a transformative presence in society. “We end up with Christians who look a lot like the surrounding culture, rather than being distinctively Christ-like.”
Moreover, this crisis of discipleship directly impacts the church’s mission. “If we’re not forming deep disciples, how can we expect to make new ones?” JR asks. He argues that the lack of vibrant, lived-out faith among church members is a significant factor in the decline of church influence and growth in many parts of the world.
The Four Spaces of Belonging
But how can churches create a culture of discipleship? Drawing from sociological research and Jesus’ own ministry model, JR proposes an approach based on what he calls “the four spaces of belonging.”
- Intimate Space (3-4 people): For deep vulnerability and accountability
- Personal Space (5-12 people): Ideal for discipleship and equipping
- Social Space (20-50 people): Perfect for mission and community building
- Public Space (70+ people): For worship and broader gatherings
“Jesus lived into these spaces in his time,” JR notes. “He confided with the three, trained the 12, mobilized the 70, and spoke riddles or parables to the crowds.”
In the intimate space, individuals find deep accountability and vulnerability, fostering personal transformation. This is where people can share their deepest struggles and victories, forming bonds that support long-term spiritual growth. JR emphasizes that this space is crucial for developing the trust necessary for true discipleship.
The personal space allows for focused discipleship and equipping, where people can ask questions and wrestle with their faith in a safe environment. Here, believers can delve into scripture, explore spiritual practices, and receive mentoring tailored to their specific stage of faith journey. JR notes that this space is ideal for developing spiritual habits and a deeper understanding of Christian theology.
Social spaces provide opportunities for mission and broader community building, allowing Christians to practice their faith in relationships with both believers and non-believers. These spaces, often centered around shared meals or common interests, create natural environments for evangelism and embodied faith. JR points out that social spaces are where the church becomes visible and accessible to the wider community.
Finally, the public space offers a sense of belonging to something larger than oneself, connecting individual faith to the broader body of Christ. This is where corporate worship, teaching, and collective mission take place. JR stresses that while this space shouldn’t be the only expression of church life, it plays a vital role in shaping collective identity and vision.
“When all four spaces are functioning well, people experience a 360-degree discipleship that touches every aspect of their lives,” JR says. “It moves faith from a compartmentalized activity to an all-encompassing way of life.”
Find the “Third Places”
For churches struggling to explore beyond more traditional models, JR suggests starting with social spaces. These can be informal gatherings, often in “third spaces” where both Christians and non-Christians feel comfortable (i.e. don’t invite people to your fellowship hall, go to where they’re already gathering).
“When you give people a place to belong,” he observes, “they start to behave differently, start to mimic in some ways the core of that group, which is the disciples. And then they start to believe differently.”
JR shares a compelling example from his own experience: “When we were planting churches in LA, we started a weekly ‘Dollar Dinner’ at UCLA. It was simple – home-cooked food for just a buck. Students, both Christian and non-Christian, would come for the affordable meal, but they’d stay for the genuine community. The only overtly spiritual element was a brief prayer before the meal. Everything else was just natural conversation and relationship-building.”
He also mentions another effective third space gathering: “One of the church planters we’ve worked with hosts a monthly ‘Cultural Potluck’ in a local community center. People from various backgrounds bring dishes from their cultural heritage. It’s become a vibrant space where neighbors connect, share stories, and naturally discuss values and beliefs. Church members are present not to preach, but to listen and build authentic relationships.”
JR emphasizes that the key to these third space gatherings is their low barrier to entry and focus on genuine human connection. “Whether it’s a book club in a local coffee shop, a community garden project, or a neighborhood sports league, the goal is to create spaces where faith can be lived out and shared organically in the context of everyday life,” he explains.
Resisting “The Powers”
Creating third spaces and fostering authentic community are powerful tools for missional leadership. However, JR points out that many church leaders struggle to make this shift. “There are often unseen forces at work that can hinder our ability to lead in these new ways,” he explains.
This is where JR introduces the concept of “the powers” that influence church leaders. These subtle yet pervasive influences can tempt leaders to prioritize institutional preservation over missional innovation, or to chase after personal prestige rather than servant leadership.
“The powers often manifest in ways that seem ‘normal’ or even ‘successful’ in church leadership,” JR says. “They can make us hesitant to step out of our comfort zones and into these third spaces where we might lose control or status.”
For instance, the pressure to maintain a certain church image might make a leader reluctant to engage in messy, unpredictable community outreach. The drive for institutional growth might prioritize attractional programs over relational, grassroots ministry. Or the allure of being seen as a strong, charismatic leader might overshadow the quiet, patient work of cultivating discipleship in small groups.
JR identifies three primary manifestations of these powers that leaders must be aware of:
- Image: The temptation to be possessed by one’s public persona
- Institution: The drive for organizational survival at all costs
- Ideology: The adoption of rigid belief systems that demonize others
Understanding these powers is crucial, JR argues, because they can subtly shift a leader’s focus from serving the community to serving the institution or even themselves.
“We will either imitate the powers and submission to Satan, which leads to idolatry, dishonoring God and dehumanization,” JR warns, “or we will imitate Christ in submission to his Father, which frees us from idolatry and leads to honoring God and human flourishing.”
The Way Forward
For church leaders grappling with polarization and cultural shifts, JR’s insights offer a hopeful path forward. By focusing on creating spaces of belonging, fostering genuine discipleship, and resisting the allure of worldly power, churches can pivot towards a more faithful and fruitful future.
The journey won’t be easy, but as JR’s own story demonstrates, the transformation that comes from truly following Jesus is worth every step. His innovative approaches to discipleship, community building, and leadership provide a roadmap for churches seeking to thrive in today’s complex cultural landscape.
