Joshua Reshey


The Consumer Church and Christian Discipleship in Small Groups

April 8th, 2008

Reshey’s essay assesses the influence of modern consumer culture upon Christian discipleship in ‘small groups’. His argument is framed around what he terms the power of the “invisible yet heavy hand of the market economy,” that makes itself felt in every aspect of life, including the church in America. He believes that, “consumerist mentalities affect interpersonal relationships through the imperative of personal preference,” meaning that he local church is often forced to cater to individual tastes. This problems especially true with regard to prevailing small group discipleship structures. Reshey argues that the consumer-oriented church fails to adequately disciple its believers in small groups because their content and structure reinforce consumerism. He concludes that churches need to address small group discipleship with an affective Trinitarian ethic of love and engagement to counteract the prevailing consumerist orientation.

The Consumer Church and Christian Discipleship in Small Groups