What We Do: Make Disciples (Chris Zauner)

Key takeaways

The primary mission of the Church is to make disciples, not merely to attract crowds.
Discipleship is a continuous, relational process that requires engagement and authenticity.
Effective discipleship happens through personal connections and life-on-life interactions.
Every believer plays a vital role in building the Church by making disciples.
Abiding in Christ is essential for spiritual fruitfulness; striving without connection leads to fruitlessness.

Summary

The Call to Discipleship

Pastor Chris Zauner emphasizes that the Church’s primary calling, as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, is to make disciples. Rather than measuring success by attendance or crowd sizes, the focus must be on producing genuine followers of Jesus who can lead others. This reflects the original mission established at Creation — to multiply and fill the earth with God’s image through discipleship.

Discipleship as a Process, Not a Program

Making disciples is described as a lifestyle rather than a structured program. Pastor Chris encourages vulnerability and authenticity in discipleship relationships, implying that true transformation occurs through life-on-life connections and shared experiences. Engaging culture, establishing foundations in the Word, equipping believers, and empowering them to make disciples are the core elements of this process.

The Importance of Relationships in Discipleship

Discipleship thrives in relational proximity, where disciples observe and interact with each other’s lives. Chris notes that before ministry duties, Jesus brought His disciples close to Him. This emphasizes that mentoring and spiritual formation are contingent on trustworthy relationships where individuals can speak into one another's lives.

A Strong Church Through Discipleship

A vibrant, growing church is not the result of a few professionals leading. Instead, it thrives through the active contributions of everyday believers who follow Christ. Pastor Chris highlights that church leaders are meant to equip members for ministry, illustrating that a strong church emerges when all members engage in the mission of making disciples.

Abiding vs. Striving

Pastor Chris concludes with a powerful analogy of the vine and the branches, urging listeners to realize that spiritual fruitfulness stems from remaining connected to Jesus rather than striving in their own strength. He encourages all followers to focus on their relationship with Christ, stating that true discipleship is evidenced through abiding and not through relentless effort.

Show notes

In week two of our "What We Do" series, Pastor Chris Zauner brings a passionate and timely message titled "Make Disciples," reminding us that the Church’s primary calling is not to build crowds or host great services, but to fulfill the Great Commission. From the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20, Pastor Chris draws us back to the original mission: to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded.

This sermon is a clear call to reorient our lives around the heart of God’s plan for the Church — multiplication through discipleship. Discipleship is not a modern church innovation or a trendy ministry tool; it was God’s design from the beginning, seen as far back as Genesis 1. Jesus didn’t come to build platforms or produce spiritual consumers. He came to raise disciples who would live like Him, love like Him, and lead others to do the same.

Pastor Chris challenges every believer to ask a vital question: Who are you helping follow Jesus? He emphasizes that discipleship is not about spiritual perfection or expertise. If you've been following Jesus for even a few days, you have something to offer. Making disciples is not a program or a curriculum — it’s a lifestyle of proximity, authenticity, and spiritual formation. It requires people willing to open their lives, not just share their knowledge.

Throughout the message, we are reminded that fruitful discipleship is not the result of striving, but abiding. Just as branches don’t strain to bear fruit but stay connected to the vine, we are called to remain in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to multiply what we surrender. This kind of multiplication, rooted in God's presence and empowered by His Spirit, builds strong churches and sends transformed people into their cities with purpose.

As Grace City Church Eugene steps into a new season of growth and opportunity, this message grounds us in what matters most. Our mission — both locally and globally through our Every Nation family — is simple and unshakable: honor God and make disciples. That clarity shapes every service, every group, every act of service, and every conversation. This is not a slogan. It’s obedience to Jesus’ final charge.

Whether you're new to faith, still exploring, or looking for your next step in following Jesus, this sermon will challenge you to move from attending to engaging, from consuming to contributing, from watching to multiplying. Let this message stir you toward spiritual depth and Kingdom impact.

Stay connected with us for more messages and resources from Grace City Church Eugene as we continue to pursue Jesus and make His name known.

Scripture references include: Matthew 28:18–20, Genesis 1, John 15, 2 Timothy 2:2, Mark 3, Luke 6:40, and Ephesians 4.

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