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.

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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.

Episodes

2 days ago

We’re finishing up our special series on Disciple Making Culture with 2 special interviews with Brandon Guindon. Brandon is the founding pastor of Real Life Ministries in Texas and today he’s talking with Matt Dabbs about developing a disciple-making culture within your church by sharing his insights on the challenges faced in maintaining perseverance and the American pragmatism that often discourages long-term discipleship.
Check out Real Life Texas at: reallifetexas.org 
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture).
Buy Brandon Guindon's book Disciple-Making Culture at 45% off — just $9.99 — for a limited time by using code "DISCIPLESHIP" during checkout here: https://himpublications.com/product/disciple-making-culture/ 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Diving Deep into Disciple Making Culture
06:16 Exploring the Biblical Foundation of Disciple Making
16:49 The Challenge of Discipleship in Modern Churches
19:50 Discovering the Path to Discipleship
20:43 A Divine Encounter and a New Direction
21:14 The Essence of True Discipleship
23:37 Intentional Leadership in Discipleship
29:00 Building a Disciple-Making Culture in the Church
32:51 The Long-Term Commitment to Discipleship
33:46 Exploring Future Projects and the Importance of Grit
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

4 days ago

For Part 1 of this conversation click HERE
In this episode, Matt Dabbs talks with Todd Wilson for part 2 on their conversation about the challenges the American church faces in creating a culture of disciple making. A national study shows only 4% of churches have a disciple-making culture, and Todd gives us insight as to why that is, focusing on the fact that churches with a lot of programs or consumer-driven churches actually hinder discipleship. We need a change in our church’s operating systems. Todd introduces six key elements that are crucial for establishing a new model that prioritizes relational disciple making.
Check out Renew Movement: https://renew-movement.org/ 
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. 
Check out the National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches
Interested in taking an assessment on Disciple Making: Individual Disciple Maker Assessment
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Diving into Disciple Making Culture in American Churches
01:26 The Challenge of Changing Church Operating Systems
05:37 Exploring the Impact of the Church Growth Movement
14:21 Redefining Success: From Mega Churches to Disciple Making
23:01 The Operating System of the Church: A Deep Dive
25:06 Unveiling the Constraint: The Operating System in Church Growth
26:05 The Illusion of Model Tweaking in Church Growth
27:12 The Gravity of Programmatic Reproduction in Church Planting
28:19 Breaking Free: The Challenge of Escape Velocity in Church Innovation
29:47 The Asymptotic Barrier: Navigating Growth Limits in Churches
31:50 Rethinking Church Growth: The Need for a New Operating System
34:17 Introducing a New Operating System for Church Planting
37:43 Dissecting the New Operating System: Elements and Questions
46:05 Mobilization and the Future of Church Planting
46:26 Wrapping Up: The Importance of Disciple Making Culture
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Wednesday Mar 20, 2024

We have the privilege of speaking with Todd Wilson in this episode. He’s the former founder of Exponential and the current directional team leader of the Renew Movement. Todd and Matt Dabbs dive into the challenges and statistics surrounding disciple making in U.S. churches. Our current plan to use church programs for church growth has created a barriers to a real disciple-making culture. Wilson argues for a shift towards relational disciple making as a primary way of growth, especially after the impact COVID has had on church trends. We need a new paradigm. You know it and I know it. We need one that embraces relational disciple making to ensure the future of church growth.
Check out Renew Movement: https://renew-movement.org/ 
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket. 
Check out the National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches
Interested in taking an assessment on Disciple Making: Individual Disciple Maker Assessment
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:24 Exploring the Mission and Impact of Exponential
00:45 The Tipping Point in Church Planting and Discipleship
02:14 Strategic Shifts in Church Planting Post-Exponential
03:21 Renew Movement: A New Direction in Church Planting
04:06 The Impact of COVID-19 on Church Dynamics
06:56 Unpacking the Study on Disciple Making Culture
09:13 Challenges and Realities of Institutional Church Growth
16:17 Redefining Church Culture for Future Generations
41:09 The Economic and Paradigm Shifts Required for Change
46:12 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture
 

Monday Mar 18, 2024

This episode features a conversation with Matthew Anderson, who has been instrumental in planting churches and making disciples in Utah through Plant Utah. Be prepared for an in-depth exploration of disciple-making and church planting in a region where Evangelical Christians represent a very small minority. Matthew shares insights into the unique challenges of ministry in Utah, emphasizing relational and experiential engagement over traditional apologetics. This conversation covers the evolution of their ministry model from house churches to a network of microchurches, and the essential role of genuine relationships, intentional discipleship, and reliance on the Holy Spirit in their mission. 
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket. 
For more information about Matthew Anderson and the work he is doing you can visit: https://www.plantutah.com/ 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Meet the Disciples: Matt Dabbs and Matthew Anderson
00:33 The Mission in Utah: Disciples Making Disciples
01:07 The Challenges of Evangelism in Utah
01:37 The Strategy: Discipleship and Church Planting
01:52 The Reality of House Churches and Missional Communities
03:23 Understanding the Culture and Context of Utah
06:23 The Approach: Intentional and Relational Disciple Making
08:17 The Impact: Stories of Transformation and Growth
14:27 The Process: From Discovery Groups to Micro Churches
30:01 The Power of Intentionality and Culture in Discipleship
35:52 Conclusion: The Long-Term Commitment to Disciple Making
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Wednesday Mar 13, 2024

Exploring Discipleship.org: Free Resources, Podcasts, Events, and More
You may not be aware of this, but discipleship.org is a great resource for disciple-making tools. In this episode, Matt Dabbs and Bobby Harrington discuss those tools and they cover our free and premium resources, including blogs, ebooks, podcasts, books, assessments, videos, and specific toolkits, all designed to facilitate disciple-making. This conversation also highlights some key figures in disciple-making, their content, and their contributions to the Discipleship.org community. They also talk through upcoming events and more.
Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introduction to Discipleship.org
01:41 Understanding the Mission of Discipleship.org
02:18 The Difference Between Being a Disciple and Making Disciples
02:58 Exploring the Resources Available on Discipleship.org
04:30 The Importance of eBooks in Discipleship
09:42 The Role of Podcasts in Discipleship
11:06 The Value of Books in Discipleship
14:07 The Power of Free Tools in Discipleship
16:50 The Impact of Premium Content in Discipleship
19:50 The Significance of Assessments in Discipleship
22:22 Exploring the YouTube Channel of Discipleship.org
34:43 Conclusion: The Vision of Discipleship.org
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Monday Mar 11, 2024

Understanding Spiritual Warfare with Marcus Warner
Marcus Warner is the president of Deeper Walk Int’l and an author very familiar with spiritual warfare. In this episode, Matt Dabbs and Marcus talk about the often overlooked aspects of spiritual warfare like demonic possession in the battles of our minds, and also compulsive behavior and emotional struggles. Warner talks about the how weird it is that in American Christianity we don’t see this a lot, but there is an acute awareness of spiritual warfare in other cultures. We need to be able to recognize spiritual attacks and address them with a biblical worldview rather than solely relying on scientific solutions. Marcus’s journey, influenced by his father's pioneering work in spiritual warfare and deliverance, showcases the transformation possible when individuals and communities recognize and address the spiritual dimensions of their struggles.
Check out Deeper Walk International
For a link to Dr. Marcus’s book “Understanding the Wounded Heart” Click HERE 
Check out Deeper Walk’s podcast On The Trail Podcast
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket. 
 
Watch The Video 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:47 Understanding Spiritual Warfare
01:53 The Impact of Secularization on Spiritual Awareness
03:11 Examples of Spiritual Warfare in Everyday Life
06:42 The Role of Spiritual Warfare in Evangelism
07:54 The Levels of Spiritual Warfare
09:31 Personal Journey into Spiritual Warfare
14:32 The Process of Helping People Overcome Spiritual Warfare
19:54 Closing Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare
22:24 Understanding the Desire for Quick Fixes
22:50 The Fear of Stirring Up Demons
23:57 The Role of Participation in Deliverance
25:12 The Journey Beyond Personal Deliverance
25:38 Addressing Congregational Level Issues
29:05 The Danger of Weaponizing Spiritual Warfare
31:11 Practical Steps for Individual and Congregational Healing
35:47 The Mission of DeeperWalk International
37:31 The Importance of Addressing Heart Level Issues
40:39 Reflections on the Conversation
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Wednesday Mar 06, 2024

Transforming Lives through Relational Discipleship: Insights from The Crossings Church
In this episode we’ve got Ashlee Catizon, who, along with her husband RJ, leads the youth ministry at The Crossings Church in Missouri. Ashlee and Matt Dabbs discuss the church's successful, decades-long journey in disciple-making and integrating the youth through relational, intentional practices rooted in Christ's teachings. Ashlee shares insights into their discipleship approach, emphasizing relational evangelism, small group interactions, and the importance of creating a welcoming environment for both believers and seekers.
Link to the Crossings Church -- https://www.thecrossingschurch.com/
Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket. 
Watch The Video 
 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:37 Discussing the Process of Discipleship
00:51 The Importance of Relationship in Discipleship
01:21 The Role of Small Groups and Personal Interaction
01:44 The Structure of Weekly Meetings and Devotionals
02:56 The Process of Bringing New People into the Group
05:52 The Importance of Personal Investment in Discipleship
08:50 The Role of Love in Discipleship
11:13 The Importance of Repentance in Discipleship
14:13 The Role of Gender in Discipleship Groups
18:24 The Importance of Obedience in Discipleship
20:57 The Importance of Repentance in Faith
21:34 The Role of Grace and Repentance in Personal Growth
22:13 The Power of Transformation through Faith
23:15 The Impact of Faith on Personal Relationships
25:03 The Growth and Success of the Church
26:59 The Importance of Diversity in the Church
37:11 Personal Reflections on Faith and Growth
41:49 Closing Thoughts and Reflections
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Monday Mar 04, 2024

In this podcast, Dan Leitz of the Bonhoeffer Project, discusses the changing interpretations of the Gospel and the need for robust, shared definitions of key terms within our church communities. He raises issues around the contemporary Gospel narrative, highlighting the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of original biblical texts, emphasizing the need for people to see the Gospel as a message given to them, rather than something they themselves can create and tailor to their needs. As churches in today’s world, we need to be solid on creating and maintaining a clear, accurate picture of the Gospel message for their congregations.
Check out the Bonhoeffer Project
Check out our brand NEW Audio Book: National Study on Disciple Making
Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/
 
Watch The Video 
 
Key Takeaways 
The Importance of Understanding the Gospel Message
00:00 Understanding the Gospel
01:36 The Kingdom of God and the Gospel
02:33 The Importance of Belief and Response
04:39 The Gospel and Transformation
08:32 The Gospel and Accountability
09:57 The Importance of Clear Definitions in Discipleship
12:51 The Impact of Ambiguous Language in the Church
15:44 The Importance of Defining Terms in Interfaith Dialogues
17:53 The Importance of Definitions in Communication
18:26 The Importance of Context in Interpreting Scriptures
19:53 The Influence of Culture on Language and Meaning
20:19 The Challenge of Understanding Historical Context
21:56 The Evolution of Gospel Interpretation
22:35 The Shift in Gospel Presentation and Its Implications
26:13 The Impact of Cultural Changes on Gospel Understanding
27:29 The Challenge of Articulating the Gospel in Modern Times
31:45 The Need for a Clear Definition of Gospel
37:07 The Role of Churches in Promoting Gospel Understanding
38:35 The Importance of Repetition in Gospel Communication
40:04 Conclusion: The Role of the Bonhoeffer Project in Gospel Understanding
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Wednesday Feb 28, 2024

Highlight – “Revival is going to come in your generation.”
In this podcast episode we’ve got Grant Skeldon. Grant heads up the Nxt Gen Summit, and today he speaks with Matt Dabbs about his experiences working with churches and his observations on how generational gaps can be bridged. He discusses the role of mentorship and discipleship in helping younger generations grow up in faith, and shares in-depth insights into the various challenges that millennial and Gen Z generations face and how the older generations can guide them. Skeldon emphasizes the mutual benefits of connecting generations in ministry and the positive impact it has on church health. He provides practical advice based on his observations and experiences working with churches, drawing insights from various sources including movies, sports, and even….canine behavior.
Check out our NEW ebook – The State of Disciple Making Churches
Check out the Next Gen Summit
Check out Thinq
Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/
 
Watch The Video 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introducing the Guest and His Work
01:04 Discussing the Challenges of the Next Generation
01:39 The Impact of Parenting and Culture on the Next Generation
02:35 The Influence of Technology and Convenience on the Next Generation
03:19 The Role of Faith and Consequences in Growth
05:56 The Effects of Coddling and Criticism on the Next Generation
06:33 The Confusion and Cancellation of the Next Generation by Culture
07:54 The Impact of Debt on the Next Generation
08:39 The Importance of Mentorship and Discipleship
16:34 Addressing Common Excuses for Not Discipling
23:46 The Role of the Church in Discipleship
25:22 The Power of Movies in Addressing Racial and Generational Reconciliation
26:08 Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Generational Differences
27:20 Identifying Enthusiastic Older and Younger Leaders in the Church
29:11 Creating a Movement Within: The Power of Influence
30:35 Identifying the Ringleaders Among Generations
42:35 The Importance of Mutual Encouragement and Energy in Discipleship
48:52 The Power of Hope and Joy in the Church
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Monday Feb 26, 2024

Highlight – “Do you know what a disciple is?”
In part two of our insightful conversation with Jim Putman, we delve deep into defining discipleship as per biblical context. Using Matthew 4:19 as a basis, Putman discusses how we must understand and apply Jesus' invitation effectively to cultivate a deeper relationship with disciples. He emphasizes realizing shared understanding, a shared process, and shared methodology to facilitate unified discipleship. By using Christ's transformed New Testament definition of the church, Putman helps readers redefine words like 'disciple' and 'church' in the original biblical sense. Drawing parallels with sports teams and their teamwork, he underlines the importance of understanding terms and expressions in alignment with culture and scripture to avoid communication deficits. Tune into this enlightening discussion, especially if you're a church leader seeking to improve your understanding and approach to discipleship.
Check out our NEW Disciple Shift Ebook
Check out the entire book Disciple Shift
Join Jim Putman at our national Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/
 
Watch The Video 
 
 
Key Takeaways 
00:00 Defining Discipleship: The Importance of Clear Definitions
02:23 The Importance of Shared Understanding in Discipleship
05:36 The Invitation to Ordinary People
08:54 The Importance of Alignment and Consistent Definitions
10:52 The Role of Church in Discipleship
15:42 The Five Spheres of Discipleship
17:39 The Impact of Church Leadership on Home Life
19:11 Societal Shifts and Their Impact on Church Attendance
20:54 The Role of Love in Christian Discipleship
23:28 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Discipleship
32:36 The Power of Invitational Relationships in Discipleship
35:27 The Challenges and Opportunities of House Church Movements
 
Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

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Join us this May

“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.

 

Join Shodankeh, Jason Shepperd, Jim Putman 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.Jim-Putnam-465x465.jpg  McDowell_Sean_Headshot-465x465.jpeg

 

Dive Deeper with more Disciple Making Culture Resources:

Click the images below to learn more:

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