Disciple Making

Why do so many churches feel like they’re spinning in circles? In this excerpt from DNA of a Christ Follower, I use a striking analogy from “whirling disease” in fish to expose a deeper issue in the modern church. After more than 20 years in pastoral ministry, including work as a transitional pastor in churches in crisis, I’ve seen both the beauty and the brokenness of the church up close. There i...

What is the place of patriotism for a follower of Jesus? Is it wrong to love your country, celebrate national holidays, or pray, “God bless Canada,” “God bless America,” or “God bless my country”? In this video, I talk about patriotism, nationalism, loyalty to Jesus, and the tension Christians may face when following Christ clashes with national identity, political pressure, or cultural expectatio...

In the Way- Church As We Know It Can Be a Disciple Making Movement (Again) by Damian Gerke has become a foundational book in the 12Church philosophy.  I once had the privilege of being in a 6-month coaching relationship with Damian.  Here is a brief summary of some of the key disciple making lessons that have stuck with me.  --------------------- Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here: htt...

Why do so many Christians today struggle to recognize false teaching? The answer may be simpler and more uncomfortable than we think: biblical illiteracy. In a world saturated with podcasts, sermons, social media clips, influencers, and now AI-generated answers, Christians are constantly exposed to thousands of interpretations of Scripture. Some are helpful. Many are not. And if you don’t know wha...

Prophetic words. Words of knowledge. Personal prophecy. What do you do when someone says, “God told me this about you”? In this video, I walk through several real-life experiences, some confusing, some clearly off, and a few that were actually helpful. I use these examples to answer the bigger question: How do you discern whether a prophetic word is from God… or not? You’ll see: Why flattery and “...

Are you wise… or foolish? And more importantly—how do you grow in wisdom? In this episode, a simple but powerful strategy for immersing yourself in the Book of Proverbs and letting it shape your life. Whether you’re new to Scripture or have been walking with Christ for decades, Proverbs is one of the most practical places to grow in real, lived wisdom. 🌱 Learn more about feeding yourself spiritua...

#discipleship   #disciplemakingmovements   #disciplemaking  Most churches say “discipleship matters.” The problem is that many discipleship plans don't actually make disciples.  In this episode I lay out the essentials of an effective Disciple-Making that can move people from the starting point of repentance and faith in Jesus, to mature, on-mission disciples who can make disciples. If you’re...

#discipleship   #disciplemakingmovements   #disciplemaking  Making disciples is very different from simply "doing church." Here are some things we are learning about disciple making movements at 12Church.  Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap....

In this message, we explore the gift of evangelism through the lens of Ephesians 4, the APEST framework, and disciple-making movements. Scripture shows us that Christ doesn’t just give gifts to individuals, He gives gifted people to the church so the whole body can grow into maturity and reflect the fullness of Jesus. Many churches can “do church,” but struggle to effectively make disciples. One m...

Foundational disciple-making books for living all in on mission with Jesus, becoming a disciple who makes disciples. These are some of the books that have shaped my disciple making journey. I would put each of these on the "must-read" list for anyone who wants to grow as a disciple maker.  Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here: https://www.twelvechurch...

See the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/8EV6KYq7xIA These books are neither Christian nor about disciple-making! Yet the lessons in them have huge implications for how we should engage on mission.  Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalm...

One of the simplest ways you can enchance your personal devotions and strengthen your prayer life is by using an old hymn book!  Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video...

Are you using the right tools for disciple making? In this video, you’ll learn how to lead a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) — a simple, powerful, and reproducible way to help people hear from God, obey His Word, and make disciples who make disciples. You’ll discover: ✅ What a Discovery Bible Study is and why it works ✅ The step-by-step process for leading one ✅ Key facilitator tips that keep it fo...

Every time a "blood moon" appears or war breaks out somewhere in the Middle East, the internet fills up with videos claiming Bible prophecy is being fulfilled right now! Blood moons. Wars with Iran. Headline-based prophecy speculation. And somehow it’s always “this time it’s different.” I’ve been hearing this for more than 50 years. From The Late Great Planet Earth… to A Thief in the Nig...

Jesus ends His greatest sermon with a warning — not everyone who calls Him Lord truly follows Him. In Matthew 7, He exposes false prophets, shallow faith, and the danger of hearing His words but not obeying them. Watch to learn: What Jesus meant by “Judge not” The narrow road few will find Why building on the rock is a matter of eternal life and death This is Part 3 of “The Sermon on the Mount” —...

In Matthew 6, Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of religious performance. He teaches that real devotion isn’t about impressing others — it’s about intimacy with the Father.  Prayer, fasting, giving — all of it loses meaning when it’s for show. Watch to learn: How to practice faith when no one’s watching What Jesus meant by “pray in secret” How to break free from worry and live for God alone This is Pa...

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a message that flips the world’s values upside down. In Matthew 5, He blesses the poor, the meek, and the persecuted and calls His followers to live as salt and light in a dark world. Watch to learn: What Jesus really meant by the Beatitudes Why His vision of blessing is the opposite of the world’s How to live out the Kingdom life today This is Part 1 of T...

Too many Bible studies feel boring, shallow, or lecture-heavy. But the Bible is alive and powerful and our studies should reflect that. ----------------------- Take the full Personal Evangelism Crash Course here: https://twelvechurch.net/personal-evangelism-crash-course Learn more at https://12church.net Get any tools mentioned in this video here: https://www.12church.net/get-tools Discover the Mi...

This episode a tension most believers feel but rarely talk about: the pull between slow, relational evangelism and the urgent reality that opportunities don’t last forever. Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net/ Find the 12Church evangelism training here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course He...

Why don’t people today “get” Christianity? Many of our friends, neighbors, and even family members don’t have any church background, don’t speak our language, and often see Christianity as just another religion. Drawn from George Hunter’s classic book How to Reach Secular People, this training explores what has changed in our culture and how followers of Jesus can respond with compassion, understa...

How to get closer to God? What does it mean to seek God? We all chase something—success, security, happiness—but Scripture says there’s only One who can truly satisfy. In this short message from Psalm 63 and Isaiah 55, Daren unpacks how David’s desperate thirst in the desert points to the heart’s deepest need: God Himself. Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net/ Find the 12Churc...

Most Christians want to share their faith, but they don't know how to start. Here are five simple ways you can boldly witness for Christianity and evangelize with confidence, starting today. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/JyeT7IOTlZo Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net/ Find the 12Church evangelism training here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-cour...

James 5 tells us to seek prayer for healing in Jesus' name. Here is a little study to prepare you to receive prayer and anointing with oil for physical healing. Get the healing study, inventory here: https://www.12church.net/get-tools Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/GhxoriMgmMA Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net/ Find the 12Church evangelism training here: https:...

How do you know if you are ready to engage in spiritual warfare? Here are seven questions to ask yourself to check your preparation for spiritual battle. Watch the Video Here: https://youtu.be/b7Bhdwds7Mw Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net / Find the 12Church evangelism training here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Pe...

A lot of Christians and churches focus on getting someone saved and attending church. But actual mission is something bigger. Watch the Video Here: https://youtu.be/JSoSyE6rL4U Learn more about 12Church at https://www.twelvechurch.net/ Find the 12Church evangelism training here: https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course Learn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Cours...