The phrase, "make disciples" seems to be an instruction to introduce people to Christ with the idea of bringing them into the family of God. We don't do as good of a job of that as we should, but at least we do tell people how to be saved and we do baptize them when they profess Christ. At that point, they are babes in Christ. They are 1 Corinthian 3:1-3 Christians and have not yet gotten to the meat of followship.
Where we really fall short is at part 2 of the Commission: "...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Too often we baptize them, give them a short introductory course for new Christians and then leave them to find the meat of followship on their own. The frequent result is that new Christians fall into false doctrine as they try to figure out for themselves how to live as Christians.
"Learning" is defined as a relatively permanent change of behavior as a result of internal and external stimuli. What that means in the case of Christian growth is that as we grow in Christ we learn how to change our behavior and our attitudes to conform to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.")
At one time many churches had what was called "Training Union" or "Church Training" or perhaps "Discipleship Training." Although they were often implemented in a boring and cumbersome way, their purpose was to teach Christians how to mature in Christ. Sadly, because they were instituted as "programs" and/or "organizations," they began to be seen as useless.
It is still true (since the Bible tells us to do so) that Christians need to be taught how to obey Christ. While preaching might inspire the desire for obedience, and Bible study might lay out what needs to be learned, the actual teaching of followship has been diminished or dropped altogether.
How does one reach someone else for Christ? How does the church accomplish missions? How do we confront the cults, apostasies, heresies and false doctrines that abound? How do we handle our finances in a Biblical way? How do we teach a class? What is a deacon and what are deacons supposed to do? How does one become a leader in a particular ministry? How does a new Christian learn to "rightly divide the Word of Truth?" How do we raise children in the "fear and admonition of the Lord?" How does a new Christian develop discernment? How does one conduct music at a gathering? How does a Christian lead or participate in hospitality? How does one learn to speak in front of a group?
These and many more things need to be deliberately and actively taught by the church in order for Christians (of all stages of spiritual development) to grow as disciples. There should be a well thought out, Holy Spirit led, organized ministry that leads new Christians to grow and seasoned Christians to more fully mature in their walk with Christ. This should be a ministry that focuses on the "HOW TO DO," rather than the "what needs to be done." Individuals should be afforded the opportunity to practice what they're learning under the leadership of a mature Christian.
Whatever the church chooses to call this ministry (Discipleship Training, Christian Growth or some other descriptive term), it should have an overall leader who plans, coordinates and evaluates the ministry. There should be measurable goals for the ministry and ways to do the measuring.
(In case you are one who thinks organization is not spiritual, try reading about the building of the temple in Kings, the rebuilding of the wall in Nehemiah, the layout of the tents of Israel in Numbers or the dividing of the land in Ezekiel. You'll find organization to be a chief characteristic of the God we serve.)
By establishing a ministry of growth for Christians of all ages, the church will move toward fulfilling the second part of the Great Commission. Churches should not only make disciples of the unsaved, they should teach them how to obey everything Jesus has commanded them to do.
