When Church Leaders Say, “I'm too busy for discipleship.”

If you’ve ever tried to move discipleship forward and heard this response, you’re not alone:

“We’d be open to discipleship… but only during Sunday School. Weekdays are just too busy.”

That question landed in my inbox recently from a pastor who is genuinely trying to lead well.

I get it. Sometimes, church leaders are overwhelmed and busy.

And after more than 20 years of pastoring—through seasons of tiny budgets, exhausted volunteers, and my own seven-kid household—I can tell you this:

That response isn’t rebellion. It’s a leadership moment.

Let’s talk about how to respond wisely, without discouragement or burnout.

First: Take the Win You Can Get

Let me be clear. If leaders are willing to engage in any form of discipleship, that’s a gift. Sunday School discipleship is not bad. I’d take it. I’d bless it. I’d encourage it.

Of course, you and I know that the greatest disciple-making impact usually happens outside of church time—in homes, coffee shops, workplaces, and everyday life.

Jesus didn’t limit discipleship to scheduled religious hours, and neither should we. But let's not shoot down someone just because they're not convinced yet. Let's not turn down involvement just because it they're not 100%.

Convincing Church Leaders that are Too Busy For discipleship

Here’s the mistake many pastors make (and I’ve made it myself): We spend too much energy trying to convince the least open people.

Some folks live by an unspoken motto:

“I shall not be moved.”

Trying to drag those people forward will exhaust you. Instead, ask a better question:

Where is God already stirring hearts?

That’s where disciple-making movements actually begin.

Practical Steps You Can Take Right Now

Here are some concrete actions I encouraged that pastor to take—and I’ve seen these work repeatedly in small churches.

1. Pray First (and Seriously)

The enemy hates disciple-making churches. If discipleship feels unusually difficult to launch, don’t ignore the spiritual dimension. Ask God for wisdom, courage, and protection as you lead... you're going to need it!

2. Personally Recruit 1–2 People

Announcements rarely build discipleship cultures. Instead, practice what I call “tapping people on the shoulder.” Invite one or two people to coffee. Share the vision. Ask them to pray with you about finding one person to start discipling in the next two or three months.

That’s it. Sometimes getting one person to be a disciple-maker is what it takes to get others excited. While it's great to get your church board to move forward on discipleship, it's also important to get congregation members who are passionate about it.

3. Preach About Discipleship

Yes—preach. The pulpit is still the rudder of the church. Say something like:

“I believe there may be one or two people here who feel called to walk with a brand-new believer. If that’s you, pull out your phone right now. Text me right now and just say, ‘I’m interested.’ I'll be in touch and we'll figure it out."

You’ll be surprised who God brings forward.

4. Promote the Vision Creatively

People often need to see discipleship before they commit to it.

If you haven’t watched the movie The Forge, it’s worth your time. Great discipleship movie! Consider hosting a movie night in your home. Invite people you believe might be open to disciple-making.

Feed them. (This matters more than we admit.)

Then talk about what discipleship could look like in your church.

5. Repeat

A wise pastor once told me:

“Nothing succeeds like success.”

When hesitant leaders start seeing lives change—and hearing testimonies—interest grows.

A Biblical Reminder

The apostle Paul understood this principle well:

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Paul didn’t wait for universal agreement. He invested in faithful people. That’s still the model.

Final Encouragement

You don’t need everyone on board to begin.

You need:

• Prayer

• Courage

• And a few faithful people willing to say yes

Discipleship rarely starts with permission... so don't wait for it.

It starts with obedience.

If you're interested in learning how to do discipleship in the local church, check out NewStart's turnkey discipleship program for any size church.