Seven Practices That Spark Disciple Making Churches

Josh Howard introduces the episode as a presentation of a recorded talk from the 2026 pre-conference, focusing on the seven core practices shared by top disciple-making churches. The research involved identifying churches across North America that exemplify these practices, despite the rarity of such churches historically—initially none in 2019 and now only ten known churches. The episode emphasizes that while these churches employ different models, they share common principles that can be adopted regardless of the specific church structure, aiming to help other churches cultivate a disciple-making culture.

The research process involved extensive assessment and interviews with churches that reached Level 4 or 5 on a disciple-making scale, using an online assessment tool developed by discipleship.org and exponential. The data was analyzed by Mason Eagle, with effort put into ensuring accuracy through interviews and data verification. The findings revealed nine new churches that exemplify disciple-making impact, highlighting the ongoing discovery of such churches and encouraging continued research to understand and emulate their practices.

The main part of the episode discusses the seven fundamental practices identified in disciple-making churches: 1) Conventional leadership—leaders, especially senior pastors, must be visibly committed to the mission; 2) Obedience-based, reproducible models—simple tools and systems that everyone can use, emphasizing obedience over knowledge; 3) Prayer and Scripture as foundations—constant prayer, fasting, and commitment to Scripture; 4) Relational community—building deep relational environments that foster accountability and spiritual growth; 5) Clear pathways and expectations—defined, singular pathways for spiritual growth with high expectations; 6) Mission beyond the walls—prioritizing outreach and disciple-making outside the church; 7) Leadership alignment—every person in the church, regardless of role, understands and aligns with the core mission of disciple-making. The discussion stresses that these principles are adaptable and foundational, rather than rigid steps.

Throughout the episode, practical examples from churches like Elevate City Church in Atlanta and others illustrate how these principles are implemented in real life. Emphasis is placed on cultivating a culture of prayer and fasting, establishing clear pathways with high expectations, and ensuring all staff and volunteers see their primary role as disciple makers. The importance of relational environments that motivate obedience and engagement is highlighted, encouraging churches to adopt these core practices to foster multiplication and a vibrant disciple-making culture.

Josh Howard encourages churches to adopt these principles, suggesting that practicing these core elements will lead to spiritual multiplication and growth. The episode ends with an invitation for further questions and a mention of additional resources and assessments available through Discipleship.org to help churches implement these practices effectively.