Stop Outsourcing Your Faith
Many believers unintentionally place the full weight of spiritual growth and discipleship on their pastor’s shoulders. While pastors are ordained by God and serve an essential role in shepherding the church, discipleship was never meant to be outsourced.
God has given every believer the responsibility to grow in faith, spread the Gospel, and disciple others. The same Holy Spirit that fills the sanctuary on Sunday morning is alive in you on Monday morning.
Jesus didn’t say, “Follow your pastor.”
He said:
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19
Your pastor is a guide and teacher, but God gave you His Word, a mind to understand it, and the Holy Spirit for discernment. We are all called to read, study, pray, and live out the Gospel daily — not just when we hear a sermon.
My Story: From Brokenness to Calling
I wasn’t planning to create Prepared and Redeemed. In fact, I didn’t think I had anything to offer God’s Kingdom.
I was a completely broken sinner — addicted to everything the flesh craves: sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. My life was a mess of bad choices, selfish living, and spiritual emptiness. I figured that if God wanted to use someone, it certainly wouldn’t be me. That was the pastor’s job, right?
The enemy whispered every failure and sin back into my mind, reminding me of my past like it was a prison cell I could never leave. I believed the lie that my mistakes disqualified me.
But God had other plans.
He didn’t ask if I felt qualified. He didn’t wait for me to “get my act together.” Instead, He called me into something greater — and, to be honest, He had to get firm with me before I even started this website.
I didn’t have faith in myself, but God had faith in the purpose He put in me. And that’s why Prepared and Redeemed exists today: not because I’m perfect, but because His plan is greater than mine.
If you’ve ever thought you’re too far gone for God to use you, let me tell you — that’s a lie straight from the pit of hell.
God Uses the Least Expected
One of the most powerful truths in Scripture is that God often chooses the people everyone else would overlook:
- Moses — a murderer and reluctant speaker, yet God used him to lead Israel out of Egypt.
- Rahab — a prostitute who protected God’s people and became part of Christ’s lineage.
- Matthew — a despised tax collector who became a disciple.
- Peter — impulsive and flawed, yet a foundational leader of the early church.
- Paul — once a persecutor of Christians, transformed into one of the boldest apostles.
- Gideon — hiding in fear when God called him to lead a nation’s army.
- David — an overlooked shepherd boy who became Israel’s greatest king.
- Jacob — a deceiver who wrestled with God and received the name “Israel.”
- Joseph — betrayed by family, sold into slavery, yet used to save nations from famine.
- Daniel — a captive in Babylon who stood firm in faith, influencing kings.
If God could use them, He can use you. Your past is not a disqualifier — it’s the very testimony that reveals His power to redeem.
Discipleship Is a Shared Mission
When Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, He didn’t speak only to pastors, missionaries, or ministry leaders. He spoke to all His followers:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
That means sharing your testimony, teaching your children about God, encouraging fellow believers, and showing Christ’s love to the world — at work, in your neighborhood, online, and at home.
If you’re wondering how to start, I recommend reading: What it Means to be Spiritually Ready for the End Times — it’s a great place to see how personal faith and action work together.
Why Relying Solely on a Pastor Is Dangerous
When we make our pastor the sole source of our spiritual food:
- We risk spiritual starvation if that leader falls away or moves on.
- We stunt our personal growth by not digging into Scripture ourselves.
- We miss opportunities to serve and disciple others in our daily lives.
A healthy church equips its members to grow in faith and lead others to Christ — but it’s up to us to pick up the tools and use them.
Taking Ownership of Your Walk with God
Here are practical steps to live as an active disciple:
- Read the Word daily — don’t rely only on Sunday sermons.
- Pray for discernment — ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions.
- Serve others intentionally — in your church, community, and family.
- Share your faith naturally — through conversation, example, and compassion.
- Mentor someone younger in the faith — be the example you wish you had.
If you’re not sure where to begin, check out: Bible Verses That Anchor Faith in Crisis for encouragement and Scripture to stand on.
Dig Deeper
I’m currently reading Living in the Daze of Deception, and it is one of the most urgent, eye-opening books for our generation. This is not just another Christian book — it’s a wake-up call perfectly timed for the days we’re living in.
We are seeing the early tremors of the birth pains Jesus warned about in Matthew 24. False teachers are multiplying, deception is rampant, and distractions are stealing the attention of God’s people. The clock is ticking, and the mission is urgent.
This book has reminded me why discipleship is not optional — it’s essential. God’s promises will not return empty. Everything He has spoken will be fulfilled, just as it always has. And in this critical hour, He is calling every believer — not just pastors — to step up, speak out, and take His truth to the world.
Final Encouragement
Pastors are shepherds, but sheep still need to move, eat, and grow. Your spiritual life is too important to delegate entirely to someone else.
God has chosen you — with your past, your gifts, and your story — to be part of His plan. If He could use Moses, Rahab, Joseph, Daniel, Peter, and Paul… He can use you.
The question is: Will you step into that calling?
If this message hit home, I encourage you to also read: How to Spiritually Discern Truth in a World of Misinformation — it ties directly into walking in your God-given purpose.
Blessings In Christ,
Jason
Prepared and Redeemed
This was a great reminder that discipleship isn’t just for pastors — it’s for every believer. I really liked how you pointed out that our past doesn’t disqualify us. If anything, God can use those scars as part of our testimony. The examples of Moses, Rahab, Peter, and Paul really drove that home.
It’s so easy to slip into the mindset that our job is just to “go to church” and let the pastor do the rest, but this really made it clear that we’re all called to live out the Great Commission in our everyday lives.
Your story hit me hard — especially when you said God didn’t wait for you to “get your act together.” That’s such an encouragement for anyone who feels unqualified.
I do have a few questions for you:
If someone is just starting to take ownership of their discipleship, what’s one small step they could take this week to get moving?
How can we encourage and mentor others in our community without making it feel awkward or forced?
In your own walk, what’s helped you stay consistent in sharing your faith outside of Sunday mornings?
Thanks for sharing this — it’s both challenging and encouraging, and I think it’s exactly what a lot of us needed to hear right now.
I get what you’re saying, and honestly, you’re right , we’ve overcomplicated discipleship. It’s not just for the people up front on Sunday, it’s for all of us. We just don’t always want to step into it because it’s messy and uncomfortable.
First step? Talk to someone about Jesus this week. Doesn’t have to be a sermon , just share what He’s done for you, scars and all. People connect with real, not polished. My testimony is a long one, of years of hiding in drugs and alcohol, rock music and straight up intentional sinning. I never knew how many people could actually relate to my testimony until I got honest and started sharing the raw uncut truth.
Mentoring? Show up. Be consistent. Listen more than you talk. Let people see you living it, not just preaching it. That’s what sticks. This is hard for me and I still catch myself trying to hammer my point home. I don’t have to though so I step back and listen when I catch myself. The Holy Spirit will give me the words to say when words are required.
For me, staying consistent comes down to time in the Word and not letting “life” push it to the back burner. If I let that slide, the fire fades. Keep that fire going, and the rest follows. Just my personal way but whatever the lord speaks to you then that’s what one should do.
Hey a interesting post you have here!
You don’t often find posts like these that talk about discipleship and whose job it is. It is really important to discuss topics like this especially with children and the young as well who have not been taught properly.
It is interesting to see how different religions teach about this.
Thanks again and have a great day!
Yeah, I get what you mean. A lot of people don’t talk about discipleship in a real, practical way, and it’s something that really needs to be taught—especially to kids and younger folks who might not be getting it at home or in church. Different religions definitely have their own spin on it, but for me, it comes back to following Jesus’ example and actually living it out day to day. Appreciate you taking the time to read and share your thoughts.
Great hard work, and thanks for your article. I have gone through and based on the article’s main points, here are a few questions that could spark further discussion or thought:
1. How can a church community effectively shift its culture from one where discipleship is seen as the pastor’s job to one where it’s embraced as everyone’s calling?
2. The article mentions the danger of spiritual starvation when relying solely on a pastor. What are some practical ways to identify and address this in your own life?
3. How can someone who feels unqualified due to their past, like the author, take the first steps toward discipling others? What does that look like in a real-world context?
4. Beyond the practical steps mentioned, what are some of the biggest obstacles or fears that prevent believers from actively engaging in discipleship, and how can they be overcome?
I very appreciate your article and topic.
I hear you on that last one. Honestly, for me it wasn’t just fear of persecution, it was that deep fear of rejection — the “what if they remember who I used to be” kind of thing. I know what it’s like to feel disqualified because of a messed-up past. For a long time, I thought God could use other people, just not me. But the truth is, those broken chapters are exactly what make our story real to someone else who’s still there. (Question 4)
When I finally stepped out, it wasn’t some big ministry moment , it was small stuff. Talking to a friend, Checking in on someone who was hurting. Just being willing to show up and be honest. Discipleship isn’t about having the perfect track record; it’s about pointing people toward Jesus while still working on your own walk. (Question 3)
The fear doesn’t magically disappear, but it shrinks when you realize it’s not about you being flawless, it’s about Him being faithful. And sometimes, the thing you’re most afraid to share is the exact thing that will set someone else free. I know I’m answering your questions in the opposite order in which you asked them but I’m answering with what comes to my mind as I respond.
The danger of spiritual starvation when relying solely on a paster was one I had to learn the hard way. The pastor isn’t with us every day, but Jesus is. My personal experience is one where I seemed to be completely reliant on a certain Pastor. This pastor stumbled and had to step down and I used it as an excuse to backslide and fall deeper into sin. I can’t go into much more detail than that. This person has since repented and walking with the lord. That is all i can say on this one, it’s very personal. (Question 2)
In my opinion, we need to stop waiting for the pastor to do it all. Start having real conversations, pray together, open your Bible together, and look out for each other outside Sunday mornings. That’s how it shifts, when we all step in instead of sitting back and waiting for instructions. The Holy Spirit will guide us. (Question 1)
I want to be clear, that a pastor is ordained by God and has many sheep to look after. I am by no means saying not to follow your pastors lead. When you are in a bible teaching church and the pastor is ordained by God we need to follow the teachings and sometimes consult with a pastor for Christian council and advise. A pastor plays a crucial role in the church and should never be discredited.
The point I try to make in this article is about taking responsibility and ownership of our own walk with God. When Jesus said, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men, I believe this is a statement that applies to all that walk with him.
Thank You for your heartfelt comment and questions. I hope this response helped to answer your questions.
Blessings,
Jason
Prepared and Redeemed
Thank you for this timely and convicting reminder that discipleship is not just the pastor’s job—it’s everyone’s calling. Your personal testimony of transformation is both encouraging and inspiring. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that spiritual growth is something that happens only within the church walls, but as you pointed out, the same Holy Spirit that fills the sanctuary on Sunday is alive in us on Monday. How can we, as everyday believers, better equip ourselves to disciple others in our daily lives?
Amen, Hanna. I think it starts with just making ourselves available and willing. You don’t have to have a seminary degree, just be in the Word, pray, and actually spend time with people. Listen more than you talk, share what God’s done in your life, and be real about your own struggles. Discipleship happens in the middle of everyday life, over dinner, on a phone call, during a walk, not just in a church service. I came back to God when I realized how broken my life had become and nothing I could do in the flesh would fix that. The gentle discipleship from people that cared about me is what opened my eyes. I wanted what they had, Peace, love, and the raw truth that is God’s word.
Blessings,
Jason,
Prepared and Redeemed