Disciples Who Make Disciples

Many sincere and devoted believers faithfully read God’s Word and focus on sharing the gospel — helping others come to know Christ and make a decision to follow Him. This is a beautiful and essential part of our calling, but there’s a problem: it’s only the beginning. Jesus didn’t just call us to make converts—He called us to make disciples. And, if that’s the case, it requires us to rethink our church strategies to go beyond large group gatherings and Sunday School classes.

So what is discipleship? Pastor Robby Gallaty gives an excellent definition when stating what discipleship is: “intentionally equipping believers with the Word of God through accountable relationships empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to replicate faithful followers of Christ.” In other words, through relationships, a disciple learns what Jesus said and lives out what Jesus did (Matthew 28:19-20).

When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee, He didn’t start a large church service and draw in people from across the region. He began with twelve. Just twelve. And out of those twelve, he had three that were the closest to him; Peter, James and John. And what He commanded them to do is still the all-consuming mission for us today: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

The church is not called to simply gather converts or fill buildings. We are called to make disciples who make disciples—to reproduce the life of Christ in others in such a way that they are equipped and empowered to do the same.

The Pattern of Jesus

Jesus invested deeply in a few. His model was intentional, relational, and transformational. He spent time with His disciples, walking with them through the highs and lows, patiently teaching, correcting, and encouraging. And His method worked. After His resurrection and ascension, these same disciples turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

Jesus’ example shows us that disciples are not mass produced. Disciples are intentionally developed in close-knit relationships. And when we pour into a few with purpose, we multiply our reach far beyond what we can imagine through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Why Multiplication Matters

1. It’s Communal
   When we rely on the Sunday morning service for evangelism and discipleship, the only person who is responsible for disciple making is the lead pastor. While your pastor is undoubtedly gifted, it is a high bar (and a wrong one at that) to place the discipleship of the church in the hands of one man. Remember, Jesus himself only focused on twelve, and he was the Son of God! Focusing on multiplication allows the Great Commission to be done by all Christians, not only the formally educated or salaried.
2. It’s Effective for Transformation
   Church programs, no matter how excellent, cannot replace the life-on-life discipleship Jesus modeled. Programs may attract, educate, and inspire, but people filled with the Spirit transform. When discipleship becomes a class or program, it can focus more on information transfer than life transformation through genuine relationships.  
3. It’s Missional
   Multiplication fuels missions. It is through the accountability of discipleship relationships that individuals are continually challenged to live looking for opportunities to share the gospel. As disciples make more disciples, the gospel reaches neighborhoods, cities, and eventually the world.

What Does It Look Like Today?

Making disciples doesn’t take a seminary degree, but it does take work. It’s about being available, intentional, and obedient. Here’s what that might look like in practice:

• Start small – Choose a small group of people to walk with spiritually. Meet regularly, read and memorize Scripture together, pray, and talk about life. It is helpful to have a small group rather than one-on-one discipleship for many reasons, but we’ll save some of those for a later time.
• Model authenticity and accountability – Be real about your struggles and your walk with Jesus. Remember, discipleship is caught as much as taught.
• Train and release – Don’t just teach people what to know. Show them how to live it, and send them out to do the same.

One proven approach is the D-Group model — small, gender-specific discipleship groups of 3–5 believers who meet weekly for about 12–18 months. These groups focus on spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, Scripture memory, prayer, accountability, and multiplication. The end goal is not just spiritual growth but replication. At the end of the season, each participant is encouraged to launch their own group, multiplying what they’ve received.

This model is simple, reproducible, and deeply relational — just like Jesus’ way of discipling. And again, a disciple hasn’t completed the process until he or she has replicated themselves. And a disciple-making disciple has an exponential impact as they continue to replicate over the course of their lives.

Multiplication Is Slow… and Worth It

Jesus walked slowly — not because He lacked urgency, but because He was committed to the work of discipleship. Rather than rushing from one crowd to the next, He moved at a pace that allowed His disciples to watch, learn, and grow. He asked questions, told stories, and shared life over meals and along dusty roads. 

Discipleship happens not through events, but through everyday relationships — one disciple at a time.

So ask yourself: Who am I discipling right now? And who are they discipling?

You don’t need a stage or a title to change the world. You just need to obey Jesus’ command and invest your life in others. The mission hasn’t changed. The call is still the same.

Let’s be disciples who make disciples.