Does the modern church's reliance on programs weaken its effectiveness?

Paul Carrington suggests a direct correlation between the number of programs in the church and the weakness observed in the modern church today. Carrington critiques the trend of learning through structured programs and seminars, comparing it to learning to swim in a classroom setting. Instead, he advocates for experiential learning, like actually getting in the water to learn to swim. He suggests that the church should focus on discipleship and interactions among its members, allowing God's word to gradually take over all aspects of their lives.

In Carrington's view, the beauty of the church lies in its diversity, where older and younger members can learn from each other's experiences. This mirrors the natural way in which Jesus developed disciples, by walking with them day by day. Carrington encourages the church to move away from assembly line-like production and instead return to the biblical way of discipleship, which is gradual, experiential, and deeply personal.

1 John 2:6 (NKJV): 'He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.'