Facing Pitfalls in Disciple-Making

Today’s episode will help us face sin and temptation with honesty, accountability, and reliance on the Holy Spirit so we can grow as disciples and make disciples who walk in freedom.

 

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Overcoming Temptation in Discipleship: Strategies and Insights

 

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael delve into the common pitfalls in the journey of disciple making, with a focus on overcoming temptation and sin. They emphasize the importance of creating safe spaces for confession, addressing habitual sin early, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The episode highlights practical steps for fostering genuine, accountable discipleship relationships, and offers insights into how to empower disciples to conquer sin with divine help. Tune in for valuable strategies to strengthen your disciple-making efforts and personal faith journey.

 

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:37 Discussing Pitfalls in Disciple Making

01:43 Addressing Temptation and Sin

03:45 The Importance of Confession and Accountability

09:05 Creating Safe Spaces for Openness

13:27 The Baby Dragon Analogy

14:20 The Importance of Early Confession

15:14 The Enemy's Intent and Church Culture

16:39 Discipleship and Dragon Slaying

18:59 The Power of the Holy Spirit

19:50 Misinterpretation of Scripture

22:26 Heeding Warnings and God's Deliverance

25:24 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conviction

28:49 Encouragement and Consistent Rhythms

30:16 Final Thoughts and Invitation

 

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See Below for a longer description:

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael dive into a real and often overlooked challenge in disciple-making: dealing with sin and temptation. The episode kicks off with some light banter, but quickly shifts to a deep, honest conversation about the struggles that come with following Jesus—and helping others do the same.

Facing the Hard Stuff

Josh opens by naming the elephant in the room: temptation is part of life, even in ministry. While it’s tempting (no pun intended) to focus only on wins and high points, the guys make it clear—ignoring sin doesn’t make it go away. In fact, it makes things worse. Confronting it directly is key to personal integrity and faithful disciple-making.

Everyone Struggles—Even Jesus Was Tempted

Drawing from Hebrews, they remind us that even Jesus faced temptation. That truth doesn’t excuse sin—it encourages us. If He faced it and overcame, we can lean on Him in our fight too. Disciple-making isn’t about being perfect, but about staying honest and dependent on Jesus.

Don’t Go It Alone

Jason pushes back on the myth of solo Christianity. Isolation is dangerous, especially when struggling with sin. They paint a biblical picture of community—like the body, vine and branches, shepherd and sheep—where honest relationships offer support, accountability, and light in dark places.

Confession Brings Healing

Confession isn’t just a religious duty—it’s a path to healing (James 5). The hosts use a striking image: sins are like baby dragons. Small at first, but dangerous if fed and hidden. Naming them early—through confession and accountability—stops them from taking over.

Practical Tools for Disciple-Makers

Josh and Jason share some simple but powerful practices:

1. Safe Spaces: Create environments where people can share struggles without fear of judgment.
   
   
2. Early Confession: Address sin before it grows into something bigger.
   
   
3. Regular Reflection: Stay in step with God by confessing quickly and often.
   
   

Rely on the Holy Spirit and Scripture

They caution against white-knuckling your way through temptation. Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 10, they remind listeners that God always provides a way out. Around the world, disciple-making movements thrive when Scripture is the foundation and the Spirit is the guide.

God's Word Transforms

They emphasize that lasting change comes from God—not effort alone. When we stay rooted in Scripture and invite the Spirit to search our hearts, He brings conviction and real transformation. The goal isn’t behavior management; it’s presence-driven change led by Jesus.

No Sin Too Small—or Too Big

When it comes to cultural issues like sexual sin, they caution against playing favorites with sins. All sin separates. The best approach? Get people into the presence of Jesus and let the Holy Spirit do the heavy lifting.

Encouragement to Apply

They close by encouraging listeners to keep it simple: read Scripture, listen to the Spirit, confess quickly, and stay connected. Disciple-making happens when people walk in honesty, grace, and dependence on God—together.

Takeaway:
Sin and temptation are part of the journey—but they don’t have to derail it. Through confession, accountability, and the power of the Spirit, disciple-makers can walk in freedom and help others do the same.