The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast
Track Session 4: The First 5 Steps to Create a Disciple Making Church
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- The greatest mission of the church is to be disciples and make disciples.
- Clear communication and conviction around the church's mission are critical for fostering a disciple-making culture.
- Personal involvement of church leaders in disciple-making is essential for leading a church towards this vision.
- Effective disciple-making should focus on relationships and obedience to Jesus's teachings rather than just education or programs.
- Churches must develop clear frameworks and practices that support disciple-making at all organizational levels.
Summary
Transitioning to a Disciple-Making Church
Bobby Harrington introduces the concept of transitioning from an attractional church model to a disciple-making church model. He shares his journey and emphasizes the need for clear mission, focusing on making disciples and deepening relationships within the church community. The importance of personal discipleship by church leaders is highlighted as crucial for fostering a culture of disciple-making.
The Core Mission of the Church
The podcast discusses the core mission of the church, which is to help people turn to Jesus and grow closer to Him. Bobby explains that this mission goes deeper than simply following the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and emphasizes the need for clarity in mission among congregants amidst the many distractions in modern church life.
Understanding Disciple-Making Frameworks
Bobby outlines a disciple-making framework that includes key activities like conversion (baptism) and teaching obedience to Jesus’s commands. He critiques the current church practices which often prioritize programs over relational discipleship, arguing for a model that fosters personal relationships and direct discipleship.
Challenges and Misconceptions in Disciple-Making
The podcast notes the challenges churches face in fostering a disciple-making culture, including misconceptions about what disciple-making entails (often mistaken for just Bible study). Bobby stresses that effective disciple-making involves intentional relationships and modeling to others the love and teachings of Jesus.
Developing Effective Practices for Disciple-Making
Bobby shares practical suggestions for church leaders looking to implement a disciple-making framework. He emphasizes the importance of aligning all areas of church life—leadership, theology, programs—with a disciple-making mission, while encouraging leaders to be engaged personally in the disciple-making process.
Sponsors
- Discipleship.org · Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making.
- 2026 National Disciple Making Forum · Join us at the 2026 National Disciple Making Forum.
Show notes
Bobby will explain the first 5 steps every minister/pastor must make to transition a church to truly become a disciple Making Church.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/
Join us at the 2026 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/2026-national-disciple-making-forum/
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