Disciple Making

I couldn't escape from this passage. Mark 8:34-38 is one of those passages that stops you in your tracks because Jesus makes it very difficult to soften, qualify or explain away what He says. Jesus calls the crowd together with His disciples and says: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Who does that apply to? Whoever. Anyone...

Is your home a spiritual refuge for you, your family and the people who enter it? As followers of Jesus, our homes should be places of physical, emotional and spiritual safety. But sometimes we recognize that something isn't right. There may be ongoing tension, compromise, confusion, unhealthy influences or even what we believe could be spiritual oppression. So what should we do? Drawing on S...

Are you serious about making disciples? Or are you just assuming it's happening? Many churches say their mission is to make disciples, but very few stop to ask the hard questions that reveal whether they're actually doing it. In this episode, I walk through seven questions that every Christian, church leader, ministry team, and disciple-maker should ask. These questions have shaped my ow...

What do occult books, expensive possessions, and following Jesus have in common? In Acts 19, the new believers in Ephesus did something that seems almost unbelievable. They publicly burned their occult scrolls, even though they were worth a fortune. Why? Because they realized that following Jesus required a clean break with their old way of life. Here we explore one of the most powerful principles...

Why did Paul cast a demon out of a girl who seemed to be telling the truth? Acts 16 contains one of the most dramatic stories in the New Testament, but there's much more happening than most people notice. A spirit attempts to associate itself with Paul's ministry. Paul rejects that connection, demonstrating that truth mixed with deception is still deception. The result? A slave girl is s...

They’ve repented of their sins. They’re trusting in Jesus. They’re beginning to follow him. Now what? When someone responds to the gospel, that is not the finish line. It is the beginning of discipleship. Jesus did not command us merely to make converts. He commanded us to make disciples. In this episode we look at four simple pillars for following up with a new believer: Bible. Prayer. Fellowship...

What if the biggest thing missing from your small group Bible study isn't a better curriculum, better questions, or better leaders? What if it's prayer? In this episode, I share a simple practice that can dramatically improve your small group Bible studies: taking 15 intentional minutes beforehand to pray. Whether you use Discovery Bible Study, traditional discussion groups, or house chu...

Sharing the Gospel isn't easy. There are moments of resistance along the way: asking someone if you can pray for them, sharing your own story, explaining the good news of Jesus, and then, perhaps hardest of all, calling for a response. In this episode, I walk through a simple, practical way to help a friend respond after you have shared the Gospel with them. We look at questions like: What do...

What do you do when living on mission feels exhausting? A comment in one of our small groups sparked this episode: “Living on mission is tiring.” And honestly, many followers of Jesus quietly feel that way. When life is busy, stressful, and draining, it can feel impossible to constantly think about evangelism, disciple making, or “doing ministry.” Sometimes you are not thriving. You are just survi...

Everyone wants a love that lasts. A love that is patient, kind, steady, and unbreakable. The kind of love described in 1 Corinthians is often read at weddings, but rarely understood in its full weight. In this podcast we unpack the reality behind that kind of love and the two catches most people miss: * This love is a package deal. You do not get to pick and choose the parts you like. * This love...

Why aren’t more Christians actually making disciples? It’s easy to blame culture, busyness, or even the church. But the biggest barriers to living on mission aren’t “out there”… they’re internal. In this podcast we break down 7 mental barriers that quietly shut down disciple-making—and how to push through them. You’ll discover: * Why some Christians never step into mission at all * How lack of sur...

What if you could start your church over… from scratch? [Note: The first line in this audio is "I finally got one" referring the an Etch-a-Sketch which I was holding up in the video version of this talk.] In this second half of the final chapter in DNA of a Christ Follower we rethink how we approach church and the Christian life, especially when it comes to making disciples.  Instead of...

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...