The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast

The Disciple Makers Podcast exists to tell stories about disciples of Jesus who make disciples. Discipleship.org, who sponsors the podcast, exists to Champion Jesus‘ way of disciple making. Episodes are published in thematic seasons. To learn more, visit www.discipleship.org or email us at info@discipleship.org.

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • PlayerFM
  • Podchaser
  • BoomPlay

Episodes

3 days ago

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/ 
God's mission has been made abundantly clear through His word. He wants and deserves the worship of people from every place in the world. This track will help you discover how to envision those you lead for the impact multiplication principles can make in the community your church is planted in.

5 days ago

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/ 
In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, host Josh Howard issues a prophetic call to Christians, especially leaders, urging a return to a New Testament style of Christianity. Josh identifies widespread dissatisfaction among believers and interprets this as the Holy Spirit's urging toward a deeper, more authentic faith. He emphasizes that Jesus called his followers to a life marked by boldness, power, holiness, and mission, not one of comfort or superficial religiosity. Josh critiques modern Christianity for straying from the practices and fervor of the early church, and outlines seven distinctives of New Testament Christianity: fostering an upper room mentality, practicing gospel boldness, expecting divine power, maintaining uncompromised holiness, living a Luke 10 lifestyle, committing to disciple-making multiplication, and embracing joyful abandonment. He calls on leaders to lead by example, fostering real transformations that align with Jesus' life and teachings. Josh closes by urging listeners to make a collective vow to reject status quo Christianity and fully commit to this Jesus-centered way of life.

Wednesday Jan 14, 2026

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/ 

Monday Jan 12, 2026

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/ 
Building a Multiplying Church from Scratch - Disciple Makers Podcast
Join host Josh Shower in this insightful episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast as he explores the concept of starting from scratch to build a multiplying church by 2026. Dive deep into practical strategies rooted in prayer, fasting, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, and learn how to identify 'people of peace'. Discover how simplified gatherings and obedience-based discipleship can lead to exponential growth and a powerful movement. Perfect for church leaders and believers who are passionate about making disciples who make disciples. Tune in and be inspired to take bold steps in your faith journey!
00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:05 Starting from Scratch: A Radical Approach03:43 The Power of Prayer and Dependence07:56 Finding People of Peace12:27 Discipling a Few: Quality Over Quantity15:16 Building Simple, Reproducible Gatherings19:28 Refusing Complexity and Embracing Simplicity21:01 Normalizing Immediate Obedience22:36 Conclusion and Call to Action

Wednesday Jan 07, 2026

Ed will explain the strategy of one of the nations top Disciple Making Churches.
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/ 

Monday Jan 05, 2026

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/ 
Building a Disciple-Making Plan for 2026 | Disciple Maker's Podcast
Join us for the first Disciple Maker's Podcast episode of 2026, where we dive into creating an effective disciple-making plan for your church. We'll explore the importance of focusing on multiplication over mere church growth, setting clear visions and goals, and designing intentional pathways to help your congregation follow Jesus and make disciples who make disciples. Learn how to define success, choose the right vehicles for disciple-making, create impactful rhythms, and invest in key multipliers within your church. Embark on a year-long journey to transform your church's approach to discipleship and witness significant Kingdom impact. For more resources, visit discipleship.org.
00:00 Introduction and Vision for 202600:42 The Importance of Multiplication Over Growth02:18 Defining the Destination: What Kind of Disciples?06:54 Choosing the Right Vehicles for Disciple Making10:25 Reality Check: Assessing Your Current Disciple Making15:20 Hijacking Church Programs for Disciple Making17:16 Building a 2026 Disciple Making Plan22:50 Creating Multiplication Rhythms26:14 Identifying and Investing in Multipliers27:48 Embedding Prayer and Fasting28:52 Simplifying the Pathway for New Believers30:15 Conclusion and Call to Action

Wednesday Dec 31, 2025

Joey will explain the strategy of one of the nations top Disciple Making Churches.
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/ 

Monday Dec 29, 2025

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/ 
Avoiding the Top 10 Mistakes in Disciple Making Movements
In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, host Josh Howard discusses the essential shifts needed to transition from addition to multiplication in disciple making. He focuses on the top 10 common mistakes that leaders and churches make when pursuing disciple-making movements, such as prioritizing models over missions, innovating before imitating, and treating disciple-making as a side hustle. Josh provides practical principles and corrective actions to help leaders avoid these pitfalls, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness, adaptability, and deep leadership development. Ideal for church leaders and anyone passionate about multiplying disciples effectively.
00:00 Introduction and Recap01:10 Top 10 Mistakes in Disciple Making Movements03:02 Mistake 1: Falling in Love with the Model07:51 Mistake 2: Innovating Before Imitating11:59 Mistake 3: Doing the Work for People14:36 Mistake 4: Spreading Too Thin17:45 Mistake 5: Ignoring Structures21:26 Mistake 6: Treating Movement as a Side Hustle23:13 Mistake 7: Expecting Microwave Speed25:55 Mistake 8: Fearing Mistakes28:54 Mistake 9: Confusing Language with Culture31:11 Mistake 10: Quitting Too Soon33:39 Conclusion and Encouragement

Wednesday Dec 24, 2025

Check out the 12 Days of Disciple Making: https://days-of-disciple-making.lovable.app/
Submitting to God: Discipleship, Fasting, and Prayer | Shodankeh Johnson
In this video, Shodankeh Johnson, from Sierra Leone, shares how God uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Emphasizing that the key difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is God's divine touch, Johnson discusses the critical importance of discipleship, fasting, and prayer. He underscores Jesus' ultimate act of submission in the Garden of Gethsemane and how followers are called to be like Jesus in saying, 'Thy will be done.' Johnson cautions against 'pick and mix religion,' urging believers to fully align with God's word to see divine power manifest in their lives.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction and Greetings07:48 Prayer and Fasting Practices12:28 Testimonies of Transformation19:56 The Power of Persistent Prayer28:12 Praying for the Nation32:37 Introducing Dave and Mandisa37:59 The Importance of Fasting and Prayer49:27 Dave's Journey to a Praying Church56:36 Encouragement for Church Leaders
Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr
Other Videos about Shodankeh Johnson:
Why Radical Obedience Is Necessary for Discipleship https://youtu.be/VGq_EfdCCSY?feature=shared
A Powerful Prayer For The Movement of God in America https://youtu.be/EdZIlDnRrT8?feature=shared 
What the North American Church Largely Missed on the Holy Spirit!https://youtu.be/a8FdA69TwUY?feature=shared 
A Disciple Making Movement In West Africa: https://youtu.be/xx3Kr79-kos?feature=shared 
Discipleship Principles for North American Churches https://youtu.be/wOaMm2OB0YU?feature=shared 
How to Raise Up Movement Leaders in Christianity : https://youtu.be/aJssQ6JdQD8?feature=shared 
Discovery Bible Study: https://youtu.be/TC12QGzQvZk?feature=shared 
Summary:In this powerful video, spiritual leaders gather to discuss the significance of prayer, fasting, and disciple-making in contemporary Christianity. The video opens with Shodankeh Johnson, a renowned Christian leader from Sierra Leone, Africa, sharing extraordinary testimonies about the transformative power of prayer and fasting. Shodankeh emphasizes that these spiritual disciplines can turn ordinary people into extraordinary individuals who can accomplish God's work.
Shodankeh illustrates his points by sharing compelling stories from his own life and ministry. He explains how submission to God through prayer and fasting can open doors for disciple-making and transforming communities. His stories include instances where prayer and fasting led to miraculous conversions, including a confrontation with a militant leader who eventually became a Christian and now serves as part of Shodankeh's ministry.
Shodankeh argues that disciple-making involves three levels of submission to God: the disciple-maker, the lost, and the spirits. He highlights how prayer and fasting are active ingredients that empower these stages. Through fasting and prayer, ordinary men and women have become powerful instruments for God's work in Sierra Leone, leading to entire villages and tribes coming to know Jesus.
As Shodankeh's session concludes, Dave Clayton and Mandisa join the conversation. Dave Clayton, a pastor from the Nashville area, shares his journey of integrating prayer and fasting into his church's practice. He narrates their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing how persistent prayer and fasting have begun to catalyze a spiritual shift within their community. Dave explains his vision to mobilize churches across Nashville to pray and fast over every name, neighborhood, and nation represented in the city. His goal is to spark a broader movement of prayer and fasting throughout America.
Mandisa, known for her work in the Discipleship First Tribe and her music career, talks about her realization of the need for desperation in prayer. She compares her experiences in American churches with those she observed during international tours, noting a stark contrast in the desperate fervor for prayer and fasting. She is moved to challenge herself and others to cultivate a similar level of spiritual desperation.
Throughout the video, the speakers discuss cultural differences and the challenges faced by the American church in adopting these spiritual disciplines. Shodankeh explains that fasting and prayer are disruptive, yet necessary for true disciple-making. The leaders highlight the importance of humility, learning from the global church, and bringing a disruptive disciple-making mindset to North America.
In conclusion, this video is a stirring reminder of the power of prayer and fasting in disciple-making. It challenges viewers to reconsider their spiritual practices and embrace a deeper, more committed walk with God for the sake of personal transformation and broader community impact.
Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ 
#DiscipleMaking

45 Degrees Part 2

Monday Dec 22, 2025

Monday Dec 22, 2025

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/ 
45 Degree Shifts: From Addition to Multiplication in Church Growth - Part 2
In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, host Josh Howard delves into four additional key shifts that churches need to make to move from addition to multiplication. Josh explores the transition from creating consumers to forming missionaries, empowering the priesthood of all believers, focusing on controllables over uncontrollables in metrics, and shifting from a church growth mindset to kingdom expansion. Using principles, stories, and practical examples, this episode is a must-listen for those looking to make a lasting impact for the Kingdom. Tune in to learn how small 45 degree shifts can lead to exponential growth and transformation.
00:00 Introduction and Recap01:49 Shift 5: From Consumers to Missionaries06:56 Shift 6: From Professionals to the Priesthood of All Believers12:27 Shift 7: From Tracking Uncontrollables to Controllables19:09 Shift 8: From Church Growth to Kingdom Expansion22:29 Conclusion and Call to Action

Image

New Resource on Disciple Making Culture!

A disciple making church culture is what your church actually does in disciple making; strategy is your plans on paper. Unfortunately, while we have good intentions to make disciples, our strategy and church culture do not always line up. 

Read this 10 minute book – a visual summary – and share it with your leaders so everyone can better understand what it means to have a disciple making culture.

Image

Watch the recordings from our most Recent National Disciple Making Forum

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

The Harvard Business Review describes it this way: “The values, beliefs and behaviors practiced in an organization formed over time because they are rewarded or punished (i.e. by formal or informal rules, rituals, and behaviors.”

The McKinsey Institute put it more simply: “culture is how we do things around here …”

That statement, often attributed to the most influential management guru of our time, Peter Drucker. What Drucker meant by “culture eats strategy for breakfast” was that lasting change in an organization comes only when the culture of an organization changes. Applying this to church, if you do not change the culture of a church, the church will not change.

Many leaders fail to account for this reality.

This gets at the root of why our disciple making plans can so easily fail. We try great strategies—preaching on disciple making, small groups, D-Groups, etc. But our churches will not change—indeed cannot change—because “culture” easily defeats the strategies we adopt.

 

Listen to conversations from these individduals Shodankeh, Jason Shepperd,Sean McDowell and others as we dive into this vital conversation at the Discipleship.org 2024 National Disciple Making Forum.

Shodankeh-Johnson-465x465.jpg  Jason-Shepperd-465x465.jpg.  McDowell_Sean_Headshot-465x465.jpeg

 

Dive Deeper with more Disciple Making Culture Resources:

Click the images below to learn more:

Becoming-UpdatedWooC

DM-Culture-Visual-Introduction

NationalStudyCover

Discipleship-That-Fits-eBook

Revisiting-The-Master-Plan.png

Copyright 2024 Discipleship.org. All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125