The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast

5 Intentional Steps to a Disciple Making Culture (feat. Doug Burrier)

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“Today’s episode will help us rethink traditional disciple-making methods, emphasizing transformative relationships over numerical growth and guiding us through practical, data-informed, and biblical approaches to sustainable discipleship.”
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In this session, Doug tackles the topic of church growth and disciple making. Drawing comparisons with Jesus's ministry and statistical data, he emphasizes the importance of individual transformation over mere numerical growth. The discussion covers the idea that real disciple making often leads to temporary 'shrinkage' before genuine growth, and outlines practical methods for sustaining and nurturing disciples. Topics include addressing resistance in leadership, the importance of commitment, and effective strategies for implementing a successful disciple making program.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction: What Does Shrinkage Have to Do with Disciple Making?
13:04 Stages of Disciple Making
18:45 The Cell Stage: Conviction and Change
29:49 Rescue Techniques for Struggling Disciples
32:10 The Repertory Stage: Fixing the Church
36:47 The Shrinkage Stage: Accountability and Loss
38:24 Seeking Stage: Embracing Evangelism
Doug's blend of humor and conviction compels listeners to rethink conventional disciple-making methods, emphasizing quality over quantity and resilience in the pursuit of authentic transformation. The episode provides a comprehensive exploration of sustainable discipleship, bridging scriptural wisdom with practical application.
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Culture Is Not Taught, Bought, or Caught; It’s Adopted (feat. Doug Burrier)

Click here to view Sustainable Discipleship: https://www.sustainable-discipleship.com/ 
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“Today’s episode will help us understand the importance of practical, Scripture-based discipleship methods that focus on transformation, intentionality, and long-term independence in making disciples.”
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In this episode we feature Doug Burrier from Sustainable Discipleship. He emphasizes the importance of practicality, passion, and personal transformation in creating a successful disciple-making culture. Through humorous anecdotes and powerful examples, he outlines a simple yet effective methodology for making disciples who are prepared, confident, and skilled. The speaker also addresses common challenges, such as leadership resistance, and highlights the necessity of adopting a genuine disciple-making model for long-term impact. Join this session to discover actionable insights and proven strategies for transforming lives and fostering a thriving disciple-making community.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Resources on Discipleship  
Reaching & Discipling Women: A Guide to Women’s Ministry in Your ChurchWhat Is Church? And How Important Is It?
Family Discipleship Blueprint: A Year-by-Year Guide to Family Discipleship
Becoming a Disciple Maker
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The State of Manhood: Faith, Family, and Work (feat. Dr. Chris Harper and Kent Evans)

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This insightful discussion tackles the significant religious shift in North America, highlighting the alarming decline in male church attendance and engagement. With references to Jim Davis's 'The Great Dechurching,' the speaker emphasizes the critical role of men in the church and society. Addressing how societal views have vilified men, the script suggests a shift from shame-based to affirmational methods to encourage men's return to church. It underscores the importance of wisdom, strong familial structures, and the pivotal role fathers play in mending homes, churches, and communities. The discussion also explores practical steps for church leaders and fathers to nurture a spiritually strong and knowledgeable generation.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 The Role of Men in the Church
07:25 The Importance of Fathers
18:51 Wisdom and Fatherhood
29:12 Chick-fil-A Obsession
35:44 Challenges of Modern Manhood
37:23 The Role of Fathers in Discipleship
44:58 Effective Communication
49:58 The Power of Asking Questions
53:45 Closing Thoughts and Prayer
54:24 Q&A Session
Resources on Manhood 
Discipleship in the Modern Church: Empowering Men | Chris Harper
How to Disciple Men Q&A | Anthony Walker, Chris Harper & Bobby Harrington
How to Disciple Men | Chris Harper
Breakout Forum 4: How Discipling Men Changes Everything  (2016 Nat'l Forum)
In this episode we dive into the pressing issue of men withdrawing from both the church and society, exploring the deep-rooted cultural and family problems behind this trend. The discussion highlights a troubling fact from Jim Davis's book, "The Great Dechurching": nearly 45 million people in North America have stopped attending church over the past two decades.
The episode reveals a significant gender gap in church attendance, with congregations typically being 61% female and 39% male. This disparity reflects a broader societal issue where men are undervalued and underrepresented. The lack of male engagement with faith is seen as a barrier to their spiritual growth and leadership in their families and communities.
Oxford researcher Jim McNamara points out that mass media often portrays men negatively, which erodes their self-worth and further decreases their involvement in religious settings.
Rather than shaming men into returning to church, the episode advocates for affirming and encouraging them. It stresses the need to educate and mentor men, helping them understand their roles and responsibilities rather than reprimanding them.
Kent Evans, founder of Manhood Journey, is introduced as a key advocate for revitalizing the family as the cornerstone of society. His focus is on equipping fathers to raise godly men, which strengthens families and churches. Evans shares personal stories and insights on fatherhood, highlighting the importance of wisdom, communication, and aligning actions with God's teachings.
He also addresses common challenges fathers face, such as time management and communication, and offers practical advice on improving these areas. The episode concludes with an interactive segment where Evans discusses wisdom through the book of Proverbs, urging fathers to lead by example and be open to feedback.
 
In summary, "BetterMan 4" calls for a reevaluation of how the church engages with men, promoting a supportive and empowering approach that encourages men to embrace their roles as leaders in their families and communities.
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Men Need the Word of God: Courageously Following God's Word (feat. DeLario Bolton)

Click here to view BetterMan: https://betterman.com/ 
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Join us in this session of BetterMan as we dive deep into the importance of men engaging with the word of God. Chris Harper and Delario Bolton discuss the foundation of Better Man, emphasizing God's word and community. Learn why loneliness and isolation are significant threats to men's lives today and how Better Man addresses these issues. Delario shares a touching personal story and highlights the core beliefs of Better Man centered on loving, protecting, and serving. Chris Harper provides practical steps on how men can understand and apply the Bible in their daily lives, drawing insights from profound biblical lessons. Engage with a Q&A that covers various aspects of male involvement in faith communities, strategies to attract men to church activities, and the vital role of women in supporting this mission. Don't miss out on these timeless lessons and inspirational stories aimed at transforming lives.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Session Overview
06:58 The Story of Jephthah
11:09 Lessons from Jephthah's Vow
13:28 The Importance of Knowing God's Word
20:11 Practical Ways to Engage with the Bible
35:39 Renewal of the Mind
40:09 Practical Advice for Bible Reading
46:47 Encouraging Men to Engage
54:17 The Role of Women in Supporting Men
58:18 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts
Resources on Manhood 
Discipleship in the Modern Church: Empowering Men | Chris Harper
How to Disciple Men Q&A | Anthony Walker, Chris Harper & Bobby Harrington
How to Disciple Men | Chris Harper
Breakout Forum 4: How Discipling Men Changes Everything  (2016 Nat'l Forum)
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This episode dives into the theme of godly manhood, emphasizing its roots in the word of God and community, as taught by the Better Man program. Right from the start, the speakers stress the importance of beginning the day with spiritual engagement, grounding daily activities in God's teachings. They outline key topics like complementarianism and manhood, highlighting the need for men to engage with the word of God in these areas.
One speaker shares a personal story about giving an invocation at a nonprofit event for abused women. Despite advice to avoid mentioning Jesus, he insisted on doing so, demonstrating that true manhood follows Jesus's example.
The narrative highlights Better Man's pillars: God's word and community, citing a U.S. Surgeon General’s statistic that loneliness and isolation are top killers of men. Better Man combats this by offering God's word and community.
Introducing Delario Bolton, Better Man's National Launch Director, the session discusses men's current relationship with God's word and necessary actions. Delario outlines Better Man's four core beliefs: following God's word, loving and serving God's woman, improving God's world, and leading with biblical courage.
Delario uses anecdotes, like his grandmother’s frequent Proverbs citations, to stress wisdom and scriptural foundations. He also shares American Bible Society statistics showing older Southern Black women as the biggest Bible readers, while 18 to 40-year-old males from the Northeast are the least engaged—a significant concern.
The lesson delves into the biblical story of Jephthah from Judges 11, highlighting the dangers of ignorance of God’s word. Delario emphasizes that men should read the Bible as sons gaining wisdom, brothers sharpening each other, and fathers imparting knowledge.
Men are encouraged to use a Bible reading methodology with five key questions: What does this passage say about God? About me? Is there a principle to apply? A promise to cling to? A sin to avoid? This practice helps build personal biblical understanding and reduces dependence on external interpretations.
A humorous anecdote about a drone mishap underscores the importance of engaging with the Bible, likening it to an instruction manual for life. The speakers address the issue of biblical illiteracy despite easy access to scriptures, arguing that knowing God's word is crucial for leading families and communities.
In the Q&A session, practical questions arise, such as how to get men into Bible study groups. The response suggests engaging approaches rooted in real needs. Another question on men and women’s spiritual relationships highlights the positive impact women can have in encouraging men’s faith.
The episode concludes by reiterating Better Man's core principles: deep Bible engagement, strong community bonds, and transforming lives through God's teachings. The speakers challenge men to be torchbearers of faith, biblical truth, and godly manhood, as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
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Discipling Men: Who, How, When, and Why (feat. Dr. Chris Harper)

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Click here to view BetterMan: https://betterman.com/ 
Join Chris Harper from Better Man at Discipleship.org as he passionately discusses the crucial need for genuine discipleship in men's ministries. With over 30 years of history evolving from Men's Fraternity to Authentic Manhood, and now Better Man, Harper emphasizes the substantial gap in men's ministries and the pressing need to reclaim authentic manhood. He explores causes like the 'curse of modernity,' historical church movements, and the feminization of the church, offering a comprehensive, clear path to restoration. Through personal anecdotes and concrete steps, Harper illustrates how returning to multi-generational, gender-based discipleship can vitalize the church and cultivate real transformation in men's lives.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Background
13:18 The Importance of Multigenerational Discipleship
28:13 The Path to Winning Men Back to Church
30:54 The Concept of Better Man
36:23 The Father's Blessing
57:11 Closing Remarks and Prayer
Resources on Manhood 
Discipleship in the Modern Church: Empowering Men | Chris Harper
How to Disciple Men Q&A | Anthony Walker, Chris Harper & Bobby Harrington
How to Disciple Men | Chris Harper
Breakout Forum 4: How Discipling Men Changes Everything  (2016 Nat'l Forum)
 
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In this episode, Chris from Better Man leads a discussion about men's discipleship. Better Man, which builds on 30 years of men's fraternity and manhood initiatives, now focuses on Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. Chris points out the urgent need for men to be guided spiritually, noting that while 80% of Western churches have functional women's ministries, fewer than 7% have similar programs for men. He critiques superficial men's ministries that only offer occasional gatherings.
Chris introduces Better Man's two-year program designed to create effective men's ministries. Instead of reinventing manhood, the program aims to restore it, modeled after Jesus Christ as the ultimate example. Using anecdotes like his conversation with his son about a classic car's lack of Bluetooth, Chris emphasizes restoring rather than modernizing, aligning this idea with Ephesians 2:8-10, which describes men as God's masterpieces meant to be restored to their original value.
Chris highlights a masculinity crisis, noting that 41% of men now grow up in fatherless homes, compared to 4% in 1960. He links this to a generational disconnect in values, similar to the biblical Judges 2 scenario where a new generation lacked knowledge of the Lord. He attributes today's issues in men's discipleship to three historical shifts:
Curse of Modernity: This era, as discussed by Anthony Gideons, saw men shift their spiritual responsibilities to church leaders, turning pastors into potential celebrities and distancing men from active church roles.
Church Growth Missteps: Based on Donald McGavran’s 1970 book, churches focused on attracting children and women, which feminized many congregations and led to male disengagement, with women outnumbering men in church activities.
Shift to Communal Spaces: From the 1980s, church education moved to age-segregated life groups, which stifled multi-generational discipleship. Chris advocates for a return to mentoring models where older men guide younger ones.
Chris also addresses the "masculinity fog," where confusion about manhood leads to flawed types of men:
Uninitiated Men: Passively follow their wives, lacking direction.
Self-Initiated Men: Pursue accolades at the expense of their personal and professional lives.
Peer Initiated Men: Engage in prolonged adolescence without real growth.
Culture-Initiated Men: Follow societal trends due to weak foundational principles.
In contrast, Chris calls for "Spirit-Initiated Men," like Caleb from the Bible, who have the courage and spirit to follow God’s path.
 
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Impacting the Local Community through Disciple Making Networks (feat. Vicki Gatchell)

Click here to view The Navigators Church Ministry: https://www.navigators.org/ 
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Creating a Disciple-Making Culture: Insights and Methods
In this episode, Vicki Gatchell from Navigators Church Ministries discusses the importance of creating intentional disciple-making cultures within communities and churches. She shares personal stories, practical steps, and biblical foundations for building effective networks aimed at making disciples who make disciples. Key topics include forming networks, the importance of relational ministry, and engaging with the community through various strategies. Join in as Vicki and her team provide valuable lessons and inspiration for transforming communities through disciple-making.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks
01:32 Personal Background and Ministry Journey
03:52 Understanding and Building Disciple-Making Cultures
05:41 Community Impact and Cultural Stories
09:22 Strategies for Effective Disciple-Making
19:23 Networking and Collaboration
25:21 Scriptural Foundations and Examples
33:39 Practical Steps and Final Thoughts
Resources on Disciple Making Culture 
Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction
Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church
Disciple-Making Culture
This episode features Vicki Gatchel from Navigators Church Ministries, based in the Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana area. The session begins with a warm acknowledgment of the beautiful weather, highlighting the importance of starting on time and expressing gratitude for everyone’s eagerness to participate and learn together.
Vicki opens the session with a heartfelt prayer, seeking divine guidance and unity among the participants. She then shares her personal and professional journey, recounting her experience with Navigators Collegiate at Ohio State in the 1980s, which played a crucial role in her spiritual development. Vicki describes her transition from a successful career in physical therapy to full-time vocational ministry, emphasizing the fulfillment she finds in helping churches cultivate a culture of disciple-making.
The session highlights the critical importance of developing a disciple-making culture within churches. Vicki reflects on themes introduced by previous speakers, such as intentionality and the significance of building core teams—groups of individuals united by a common vision, ownership, relational resilience, and endurance in their mission.
Vicki shares personal anecdotes that illustrate how her family has influenced her ministry work, including the academic and professional pursuits of her daughters. She discusses her youngest daughter's experience of cultural transition after moving to Hicksville, Ohio, using this story to illustrate how different community values shape behaviors. This serves as a parallel to how intentional disciple-making can transform church cultures.
To guide attendees in fostering intentional disciple-making, Vicki outlines a three-step model: "go to," "come to," and "do good." She emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with the community by building genuine relationships, participating in local organizations, and performing acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. The ultimate goal is to embody Christ-like love, creating a welcoming environment that naturally leads to spiritual conversations and discipleship opportunities.
Throughout the session, Vicki supports her points with scriptural foundations, citing passages from Colossians that highlight how early Christians formed supportive communities. These biblical examples provide a blueprint for modern churches to collaborate and extend their impact beyond individual congregations.
Vicki reinforces her message with practical examples from her work in Fort Wayne, discussing how local networks like "Love Fort Wayne" unite diverse church communities for coordinated efforts in prayer, service, and outreach. By building networks based on shared purposes and collaborative approaches, churches can mobilize resources and personnel more effectively, enhancing their collective impact.
Her strategy for initiating these networks revolves around leveraging existing relationships. Vicki explains how she reaches out to key individuals within her church who are passionate about disciple-making, gradually expanding her network through personal referrals. This organic growth fosters a sense of mutual support and shared mission, enriching the church’s disciple-making efforts.
The session also includes interactive elements, inviting participants to discuss their motivations for disciple-making, their reactions to the session, and the potential benefits of networking with other churches. This engaging approach encourages community-building among attendees and prompts them to consider actionable steps they can take in their own contexts.
In closing, Vicki encourages participants to reflect on their local areas, identifying specific communities they wish to reach and potential allies who can support their disciple-making initiatives. She concludes with a powerful call to action, urging attendees to take concrete steps based on what they’ve learned and reflected upon during the session.
Overall, this episode provides a rich exploration of how intentional disciple-making cultures can transform churches, emphasizing the need for genuine community engagement and the importance of building supportive networks.
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Developing a Church Culture of Disciple Making (feat. Cliff McDowell and Steve Tice)

Click here to view The Navigators Church Ministry: https://www.navigators.org/ 
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Creating an Intentional Disciple-Making Culture | Navigators Church Ministries
In this episode, Steve Tice, the Northeast region director for Navigators Church Ministries, joins senior pastor Cliff McDowell of East New York Church of God to discuss the transformational impact of incorporating an intentional disciple-making culture within churches. They share real-life examples and strategies for fostering disciple-makers who are rooted in their communities. The session highlights the importance of purposeful leaders, having a clear picture of a disciple, pathways for discipleship, practitioners, and monitoring progress. Tune in to hear more about their shared experiences, practical tips, and how to avoid common pitfalls while building such a culture in your own congregation.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
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Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:07 Navigators Church Ministries Overview
00:17 Personal and Professional Journey
00:50 Introduction to Cliff McDowell
01:40 Transformational Impact of Disciple Making
02:47 Interactive Session and Prayer
03:33 Recap and Illustration
04:55 Intentional Disciple Making Culture
07:27 Biblical Foundations of Intentional Culture
10:38 Cliff McDowell's Journey and Church Culture
14:17 Intentional Commitments and Changes
15:18 Interactive Table Discussion
17:15 Building Maturity in Church Culture
22:17 Church Planting and Cultural Shifts
24:58 Purposeful Leaders and Discipleship
26:25 A Life-Saving Friendship
27:43 Homegrown Leadership
28:03 Defining Discipleship
29:10 The Four Seasons of Life
32:42 The Pathway for Discipleship
37:50 Building a Culture of Discipleship
39:21 Navigating Challenges in Discipleship
42:41 Adapting to Context and Diversity
45:05 Final Thoughts and Q&A
Resources on Disciple Making Culture 
Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction
Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church
Disciple-Making Culture
In this episode Steve Tice and Cliff McDowell share their experiences with the Navigators organization, focusing on building intentional disciple-making cultures in churches.
Steve, the Northeast regional director for Navigators Church Ministries, opens the discussion by sharing his background as a musician and bi-vocational minister. He and his wife run a music school on Long Island, and with over 35 years of experience, he now attends church services without occupational duties.
Cliff, senior pastor of East New York Church of God, discusses his extensive leadership roles, including a six-year term as vice presiding elder of the National Association of the Church of God. He emphasizes his collaboration with Navigators, impacting churches across New York and beyond.
The session centers on the importance of cultivating an intentional disciple-making culture, which supports disciple-makers embedded in their local contexts. Steve highlights that the discussion will feature real-life examples and allow for audience questions.
He stresses the need for intentional leadership to avoid half-hearted ministry efforts. Citing Bill Mallory’s book "Designed to Flourish," he contrasts intentional cultures with those driven by competing agendas. Steve uses biblical references, including Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, to illustrate how early Christian communities embodied intentionality.
Cliff shares his pastoral journey, detailing how he intentionally shaped his congregation's culture. He reflects on transitioning from a cell church model to a disciple-making church, aided by his bi-vocational experience and trust built within the community.
To encourage table discussions, Steve and Cliff pose reflective questions about participants' church cultures, identifying intentional practices and obstacles. They then explore how mature disciples and intentional cultures support each other, with Cliff sharing his experience of mentoring three men over three years, which strengthened their faith and leadership.
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The Foundation of a Disciple Making Culture (feat Justin Gravitt)

Click here to view the Navigators Church Ministries: https://www.navigatorschurchministries.com/ 
Check out our eBooks: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
 
Building a Strong Foundation for Disciple Making Cultures - Workshop with Justin Gravitt
In this workshop, Justin Gravitt from Navigators Church Ministries dives into the critical process of developing a sustainable disciple making culture within the church. Drawing on over a decade of experience, Justin explains the importance of having a strong foundation and shares actionable steps to grow and maintain it. He uses the analogy of a Jenga tower to illustrate how foundational weaknesses can cause a disciple making culture to collapse. Throughout the session, Justin emphasizes the importance of forming a core team and making disciple making a foundational part of church culture, not just an additional program. He also answers practical questions about how to start and sustain this initiative, ensuring that both leaders and participants are equipped to become effective disciple makers.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Workshop Overview
00:51 The Importance of Actionable Steps
01:49 Building a Foundation for Disciple Making
02:33 Jenga and Disciple Making Culture
04:14 Challenges in Disciple Making
11:32 Creating a Core Team
17:13 Common Vision and Team Dynamics
25:02 Relational Resilience in Teams
28:09 Navigating Team Conflict
28:37 The Importance of Relational Depth
29:08 Endurance in Team Building
32:55 Three Barriers to Culture Change
37:51 Starting Disciple Making in Your Church
40:21 Q&A: Practical Steps and Challenges
51:10 Concluding Thoughts and Resources
Resources on Disciple Making Culture 
Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction
Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church
Disciple-Making Culture
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In this session, Justin Gravitt from Navigators Church Ministries in Dayton, Ohio, leads a workshop on creating an intentional disciple-making culture in churches. He starts by introducing himself as the director of innovation and advancement for Navigators.
Justin focuses on developing a disciple-making culture, sharing insights from his ten years of experience. He highlights that the goal of the workshop is to equip participants with actionable strategies for effective discipleship in their communities.
He shares a story about a conference attendee who found valuable insights but lacked specific steps to implement them. Justin agrees and aims for attendees to leave with practical strategies for building a disciple-making foundation.
To illustrate the importance of a strong foundation, Justin compares it to a game of Jenga. He explains that just as removing key pieces from the bottom weakens the tower, neglecting foundational aspects of disciple-making can undermine a church's culture.
Engaging the audience, he encourages them to see parallels between Jenga and disciple-making, emphasizing the need for strategic planning in complex environments.
Justin warns against viewing disciple-making as an extra task rather than a core priority. He stresses that if it's not ingrained in the church's foundation, other activities will overshadow it, leading to ineffective efforts.
Drawing from his experiences with various churches, Justin notes that initial successes in disciple multiplication can plateau without a solid foundation. This realization inspired him to contribute to an ebook on disciple-making culture.
He outlines the workshop's structure, which includes two goals: transforming a group into a team with a shared mission and ensuring every member becomes an active disciple-maker.
The workshop covers establishing a common vision, fostering ownership of disciple-making, building relational resilience, and ensuring endurance in the process, all crucial for a sustainable disciple-making culture.
Justin emphasizes the importance of diversifying the team to reflect the church community, selecting members based on their faithfulness, availability, and teachability, rather than just experience.
He differentiates between a team and a group, noting that teams share a mission and diverse skills, which promotes accountability and purpose. The leader plays a vital role in facilitating these changes.
He also highlights the need for team members to embrace disciple-making as part of their identities, sharing fictional examples of common obstacles they might face, like feeling inadequate.
The session addresses these obstacles, encouraging leaders to engage with team members to understand their struggles and foster genuine connections. Building relational resilience is key for support beyond surface-level interactions.
To track progress and avoid burnout, Justin suggests practical exercises to evaluate relationship depth within the team and demonstrates healthy conflict resolution. He stresses the importance of ongoing support and engagement from leaders to keep the team motivated.
Finally, Justin emphasizes the need for clear and consistent communication about disciple-making to prevent cultural drift. Leaders should regularly revisit foundational principles to maintain focus. He also discusses how to scale teams according to church size, ensuring effective coordination.
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Growing intentional Disciple Making Cultures (GIDC) Process (feat. Donnie Hoover)

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Addressing the Church Culture Crisis: From Spectators to Disciple Makers
In this session, we explore the critical problem facing many local churches today: a culture that produces spectators rather than disciple makers. This episode dives into understanding and managing church culture to foster intentionality and the know-how necessary for disciple making. Key concepts discussed include the results pyramid by Connors and Smith, the importance of cultural beliefs, and the role of leadership in managing culture. The goal is to shift from producing spectators to creating a disciple-making culture through intentional experiences and leadership modeling.
Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 
Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 
Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction: Identifying the Problem
02:04 The Importance of Culture
05:22 Understanding the Results Pyramid
08:33 Beliefs and Their Impact
10:24 Creating Inescapable Experiences
14:46 Assessing and Shifting Culture
17:29 The Role of Leadership
26:30 The GIDC Process
34:00 Conclusion and Next Steps
Resources on Disciple Making Culture 
Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction
Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church
Disciple-Making Culture
This presentation addresses a critical issue faced by local churches: problematic church culture. It argues that many churches produce spectators rather than disciple-makers due to a lack of intentionality. The speaker emphasizes that healthy cultures yield better results and stresses the need to transform church culture to focus on disciple-making.
Drawing from Connors and Smith's "Change the Culture, Change the Game," culture is defined by how people think and act collectively. The "new hire question" reflects this ethos: "How do things work around here?" To achieve desirable outcomes, the focus should be on foundational experiences and beliefs, as highlighted in the Results Pyramid model.
The speaker notes that focusing solely on actions and results leads to short-term compliance rather than long-term commitment. Real change requires addressing the experiences that shape underlying beliefs. Creating “inescapable experiences” can challenge and shift these beliefs.
An understanding of the current (C1) and desired culture (C2) is necessary for change. This involves assessing existing experiences (E1), beliefs (B1), actions (A1), and results. The Navigator Church Ministries’ process begins with clarity about the goal: producing disciple-makers. Essential elements for creating a disciple-making culture, summarized as the seven P's, include:
Passion for God and the Gospel
Purposeful leaders with a clear picture of what a disciple looks like
Pathway to developing that picture
Practitioners actively participating
Progress markers to assess growth
A clear, shared picture of a disciple-maker is crucial. Practitioners must embody the disciple-making lifestyle, with significant influence from senior pastors who should model discipleship actively.
The presentation introduces the GIDC (Growing intentional Disciple-making Cultures ). This involves interconnected elements aimed at producing local disciple-makers.
In summary, this presentation provides a comprehensive approach to transforming church culture to focus on disciple-making, emphasizing the importance of experiences and beliefs in achieving long-term, meaningful change.
Check out the Navigators culture building visual: https://navigatorschurchministries.org/resource/growing-intentional-disciplemaking-cultures/ 
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On Mission WITH Jesus: Listening Prayer & Spiritual Warfare in Disciple Making (feat. Marcus Warner, Dawn Whitestone, and Duane Sherman)

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Mission with Jesus: Listening Prayer & Spiritual Warfare Basics
In this fourth session of the 'Deeper Walk International' series, the focus is on the practice and principles of listening prayer and spiritual warfare basics. The session starts with an introduction from the vice president of strategic partnerships, followed by insights into the development of a new community center, the Joy Center. Dawn, the resident expert on listening prayer, leads the session with personal stories and practical applications, emphasizing the importance of hearing God's voice and recognizing spiritual warfare. The session includes interactive components like Q&A and a guided exercise on listening prayer through scripture. The session concludes with teachings on the significance of spiritual warfare, daily disciplines, and how to identify and address demonic influences and mental health challenges.
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Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction to Session Four: Mission with Jesus
01:36 Opening Prayer and Setting the Tone
03:11 Discerning God's Leading Through Listening Prayer
04:17 Personal Journey and Experiences with Listening Prayer
21:04 Levels of Prayer: Developing a Deeper Connection
27:07 Introduction to Spiritual Warfare Basics
32:08 Understanding Authority in Spiritual Warfare
33:00 Recognizing Permissions and Removing Them
35:53 The Four C's Method for Spiritual Warfare
37:53 Levels of Spiritual Warfare and Preparation
41:40 Real Prayer: A Model for Listening to God
45:45 Daily Spiritual Practices and Emotional Resilience
53:29 Team Approach and Differentiating Spiritual Warfare from Mental Disorders
Resources on Disciple Making Culture 
Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction
Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church
Disciple-Making Culture
In this episode of The Disciple Makers Podcast the host welcomes the audience to the fourth session, "Mission with Jesus," focusing on listening prayer and spiritual warfare. The session includes practical exercises and a Q&A segment.
Key speakers Dawn and Dwayne, recognized for their expertise, are introduced, with Dawn being highlighted as an expert in listening prayer. The agenda covers discerning God's guidance, understanding spiritual warfare basics, and troubleshooting disciple-making challenges.
Dawn starts with a prayer for divine guidance and introduces the session's trail map. She shares her journey from a cessationist background to embracing listening prayer, influenced by the book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. Dawn explains the different levels of prayer engagement:
Level One (Rote Prayers): Simple, memorized prayers.
Level Two: Personal requests and talking to God.
Level Three (Conversational Prayer): Engaging in dialogue with God.
Level Four: Listening to God for others.
Level Five: Intercessory prayer for broader needs.
Dawn recounts how listening prayer transformed her life, leading to significant personal and professional changes.
On spiritual warfare, Dawn discusses the misunderstood aspects and introduces the "Steps to Freedom in Christ" for addressing spiritual strongholds. She explains the SOUL framework (Sin, Occult involvement, Unforgiveness, Lies, Lineage) and the Four Cs method (Confess, Cancel, Command, Commit) for counteracting spiritual attacks.
The session ends with a Q&A where participants ask about combining spiritual disciplines with listening prayer, maintaining daily spiritual protection, and differentiating between mental health issues and spiritual warfare. Marcus Warner provides practical insights on balanced emotional and spiritual health.
Overall, "Deeper Walk 4" offers a guide to listening prayer, spiritual warfare, and resilience through spiritual disciplines, emphasizing prayer as a conversation, dismantling spiritual strongholds, and following God's guidance.
 
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