Become a Disciple

Becoming a
Disciple-Maker
I’m A
DiscipleMaker
 Defining Discipleship
 Spiritual Life Stages
 Discovering Disciples
 Making Disciples
 Resources
 Next Steps
Matthew 28: 19 - 20
“Go therefore and make disciples
of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.”
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Table of Contents
Defining Discipleship
page 3
Spiritual Life Stages
page 4
Discovering Disciples
page 5
Making Disciples
page 6
First Steps in Establishing a Discipling Relationship
page 7
Discipling in Groups of 3-5
page 8
Relating to Disciples
page 9
Resources Review
page 10-11
Resources for Spiritual Stages
page 12-13
The Discipleship Wheel
page 14
Next Steps
page 15
* The content of this booklet is from the 2016 Disciple-Making Summit at First Baptist Melbourne.
The speaker notes are in summary form from the conference presentation. *
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Defining Discipleship
Dennis Smith
Common Elements of Discipling
Becoming a disciple-maker begins by praying for someone to disciple and looking for people in your
life path. The process is intentional and includes listening for people’s questions and needs, and
offering to help. The discipler and disciple are both blessed and on a journey as relationships are
developed. There are a variety of resources available, and the relationship can be formal or
informal, depending upon the person and the need.
Discipling is leading the lost and the saved closer to Jesus.
The First Baptist Melbourne definition of disciple is a person who knows and follows Jesus, is
becoming more like Jesus, and leads the lost and the saved closer to Jesus.
Discipling Principles: Following Means Fishing
Matthew 4:19
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
“Follow Me”
Discipling starts with an invitation from Jesus to follow Him; we are not pursuing God; He is
pursuing us (Rom 3). Discipling calls for a response – the disciples respond to His invitation – they
left everything and followed him immediately (Mt. 4: 20, 23). Discipling is about a relationship with
a leader and follower- He leads, we follow; we become more like Him.
“I will make you “
I will– Jesus is the focus, He is the One who makes us, not ourselves. Make- discipling is a process;
it is a journey and not an event. Transformation/metamorphis into his likeness in thought, attitude,
and action (Phil 1:6). You- we are each a new creation taught to obey all things (Mt. 28:20).
Maturity/Christ-likeness means to be complete, whole, perfect (Eph 4:13, Rom 8:29, Col 1:28).
Maturity doesn’t stop with yourself. The Great Commandment is to love God and love others. We
grow and mature as a disciple, but as we grow we see more of God’s purpose not only in our lives
but in the lives of others.
“Fishers of men”
Lk. 5:1-11 Jesus changed their focus from a job to be fishers of men. We all have jobs but our focus
is fishing for men. Jesus modeled discipling 12 men who would then fish for men – this was and is
central to being a disciple. Fishing for men means leading the lost and the saved closer to Jesus.
Following Jesus means fishing for men. Being a disciple and a disciple-maker go together and are to
be the one and the same.
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Spiritual Life Stages
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I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am
writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you,
young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you
know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I
write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you
have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:12-14
Stages Review
Discipler Roles
Lost/Dead
Without Jesus
Sin/self-centered
Transition point: From death to life: Spiritual Birth/Infancy
Share
The Gospel
Spiritual Infant
Learning About Jesus
Spiritually self-centered
Begins serving
Learning God’s mission
Transition from infant to child: able to feed themselves the Word
Share
Your Life
New Truth
New Habits
Spiritual Child
Connect
Growing in Jesus
To God
Becoming God-centered
To Small Group
Serving
To Purpose
Transition to God’s mission
Transition to Young Adult: able to prepare the Word for themselves and others; serving becomes
focused
Spiritual Young Adult
Train to Minister
Rooted in Jesus
Equip for Ministry
Becoming Others-Centered
Provide Ministry Opportunities
Being on God’s mission
Release to do Ministry
Transition to Parent: move from serving in ministry to intentionally discipling others through ministry
Spiritual Parent
Built up in Jesus
God/other-centered
Training others
Partnerships
Release to Be a Disciple-Maker
Explain the Discipleship Process
Release to disciple with help
Release to disciple alone
Be a ministry partner
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Discovering Disciples
Life Circles
1. What is the next step/stage for them in their spiritual growth? What do I see and hear
about their needs, hurts, desires, and questions?
2. What is the #1 thing they need to grasp in order to go to the next stage?
3. How can you personally invest in them to help lead them to that next stage? Write
down a plan and identify the first step.
4. Begin praying for these steps
5. Invite to help or come alongside
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Making Disciples
Scott Wilson
Has making disciples become personal for you? It is important to know how to disciple, but even more
important is that we want to make disciples and have a passion for disciple-making. Gal. 4:19 says, “My
little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” It can be painful to birth and
grow.
5 Questions on how to make disciples
1. Who would you have me disciple?
Who is F.A.T.? F (faithful) A (available) T (teachable) – all 3 need to be present.
2. Where is this person at spiritually? 5 stages on the Discipleship Wheel. Heb. 5: 12-14 – by this time
you ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you, you are still on milk and not solid
food. Those of age are mature and can have solid food. A new Christian needs to know how to have
a quiet time. If you have a quiet time, you can teach someone else. The phrases from the stage give
clues for their need. Guard your heart – none of us have arrived spiritually, we are not just trying to
peg people into categories. Do they need AP level or basics? Four areas to explore and keep in
check– God; family – marriage, children; church; world and their work.
3. What should this discipling relationship look like?
Formal discipling – both parties know that discipleship is the goal and purpose of the time together,
meet with some regularity, use some resource or Bible study. Strengths – we do need to pass on the
Word to others; topics from the curriculum may never come up in normal conversation but a
resource can bring it up. Weakness – it can become a routine appointment and it is completion of a
study and not life involvement. They need to see it modeled as well as taught.
Informal discipling – not doing a specific study, it can be friends spending time together but still with
a focus. For example, accountability partners are discipling each other through the review.
Accountability is part of informal discipling. The style, formal or informal, needs to fit you as a
disciple maker.
4. What is my goal? What am I praying is going to happen in this person’s life? Growth is in stages,
moving them further. Transition points: dead – be saved; infant – learned to be a self-feeder; child
to young adult – from self to others, learn to serve; from young adult to parent – to go from serving
to discipling by serving.
5. How do you know it is time to move on? There are some you never move on from. With others, it
can be a negative reason, like F.A.T. It can be a positive reason – there is growth and they can pour
into others.
God has not given the great commission to 100% of the Christians for only 3% to do it.
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First Steps in Establishing the Discipling Relationship

Either the discipler invites someone to join them for a study or focus, or the one
wanting to be discipled inquires or requests assistance or guidance.

Recognize this relationship as mutual growth and not top down only; both (or all of you,
if a triad or quad) are following Jesus together. Jesus is the one we are becoming more
like. Be “Alongsiders.”

Share your faith stories.

What is on your hearts now? Struggles, desires, life issues, events, or questions, growth
needs, etc.

Is there something more urgent or important at this time? What needs work and
attention? Some things are critical; some are not.

What is the next step/stage for them in their growth?

How can you personally invest in them and help them to that next step/stage? Sharing
life and experience is as important, maybe more important, than material to cover. The
word of God is always central.

Agree upon a plan to move toward that step/stage. Specify the plan, time, place, and
length of duration. It can be as simple as reviewing what you hear God saying through
sermons, Sunday School/Life Group, Bible reading, and life events or as involved in study
or ministry as you desire.

After the commitment, review with each other and evaluate from time to time to see if
it is working, needs adjustment, or is time to stop.
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Discipling in Groups of 3-5
Growing Up: How to be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples by Robby Gallaty
D-Groups are groups of three to five people who meet weekly for the express purpose of
becoming disciples who make disciples. The goal of every D-Group is for the mentee, the one
being discipled, to become a mentor; to multiply—make other disciples. In essence, the DGroup is designed for the player to become a coach.
Your weekly meetings should focus on four elements:
1) Study the Word together. The H.E.A.R. method of studying the Bible: Highlight, Explain,
Apply, Respond.
2) Hold each person accountable for Scripture memory by reciting the previous week’s passage
before the group.
3) Ask accountability questions of each other. Hold each person accountable for achieving their
goals. For example, “How is your relationship with Linda? You mentioned last week that you
were working on the way you spoke to your wife.”
1. Have you spent time in the Word and in prayer this week?
2. Have you shared the gospel or your testimony with an unbeliever this week?
3. Have you spent quality time with your family this week?
4. Have you viewed anything immoral this week?
5. Have you had any lustful thoughts or tempting attitudes this week?
6. Have you told any lies or half-truths to put yourself in a positive light before others?
7. Have you participated in anything unethical this week?
8. Have you lied about any of your answers today?
4) Pray together before departing.
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Relating to Disciples
Jim Campbell
The goal is to help people be independent disciple makers. This is a relationship and not just a
service. They become friends, mutual encouragement.
John 17: Jesus’ model of relating to his disciples
1. He prayed for Himself to have the Spirit’s filling and that He would be faithful. We have
to be a disciple with a daily relationship with Jesus. We do create what we are; be a
follower first.
2. He prayed for His disciples. They are God’s and not ours.
3. He taught them the truth, v8. We need to know the truth first. Teach them how to learn
and answer biblical questions. It is OK to not know everything. Be comfortable enough
to say, “I don’t know, but how can we learn about it?” It takes trust. We are teaching
God’s word and not ourselves.
4. He spent quality time with them. Don’t be afraid to meet with people for a short period
of time.
5. He protected them. He guarded them. He made a relational commitment. They are not
a client; they are valuable and important to us. Don’t fall prey to the guru myth – that
you are awesome and they need to be like you. Jesus is awesome. Realize that each of
us needs to have someone investing into our life.
6. He loved them. Love is spelled T-I-M-E. He invested his life; He was with them. We guard
our flaws and we need to be transparent. His disciples saw Him all the time. People will
only be as open as we are; it is a risk.
7. He sent them into the world. Be praying about who they are going to meet with after
you. Discuss early on that this is something they need to do also. Disciples make
disciples. The second relationship is the hardest.
8. He challenged them to test their faith, to be more than what they know. James 1:3
talked about the importance of testing our faith. He used teachable moments.
Everything is not pre-packaged; it needs to be in the rhythm of life.
9. He passed the baton (v 11 and 8). People need to be released to disciple others. We only
teach. We shouldn't define our walk with Christ by someone else's outcome, because
even Jesus had Judas. 1 Corinthians 15:58 reminds us that nothing we ever do for the
Lord is useless. The results are up to them and Jesus, not us.
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Resources Review
Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual
Discover a new vision for your personal disciple-making and small-group ministry by thinking
about how you make disciples. Do as Jesus did: Make disciples who go out and make disciples,
who go out and make disciples. This training manual will help develop the heart of a discipler
by learning what a disciple is, how disciples grow, and how to be an intentional leader.
The Ways of the Alongsider
Disciple-making can be intimidating. Would it surprise you to know that disciple-making is
just a lifestyle in which you offer people love, comfort and encouragement where they
live, work, and play? This ten-week Bible study with discussion questions spells out the
“how” of making disciples through an alongsider approach to life.
Yes, You Can Make Disciples
This is a practical tool for guiding a new believer from his spiritual birth to a mature
believer who can reproduce. Using the phases of growth that a baby goes through, the
author identifies seven steps of this journey to maturity: the need of a family, learning to
eat, to talk, to walk, to share, to live under authority, and reproduction.
I Believe, Now What?
In this book you’ll find 40 of the most frequently asked questions by new believers. You’ll
learn what it means to build bridges of trust and communication with God; explore and
develop God’s call in your life; expect the surprises, struggles and sin that can interrupt
intimacy with God; find a community of believers to worship with; and more.
Discipleship Essentials
Jesus’ own pattern of disciple-making was to be intimately involved with others. This
workbook is a tool designed to deepen your knowledge of essential Christian teaching
and strengthen your faith. It includes 25 studies designed for use in mentoring
relationships.
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Resources Review
One on One with God
One on One with God is a fifteen-week process of discipleship training that connects you
directly to God through prayer and reading His word. You’ll develop a path that leads to
knowing Jesus personally, a lifestyle of walking daily in intimate fellowship with him, and
the tools for making disciples and producing disciple-makers.
MasterLife Series
MasterLife is a sequential, developmental, small-group discipling process that enables
you to make Christ Master and to master life by developing a personal, lifelong, obedient
relationship with Him. MasterLife consists of four, six-week courses: The Disciple’s Cross,
The Disciple’s Personality, The Disciple’s Victory and The Disciple’s Mission.
Navigator’s 2:7 Series
The 2:7 Series offers approaches for strengthening your own life in Christ
and for helping others move closer to God. The series includes three books:
Book 1 – Growing Strong in God’s Family; Book 2 – Deepening Your Roots in
God’s Family; and Book 3 – Bearing Fruit in God’s Family.
Disciple’s Path series
Disciples Path is a series of resources founded on Jesus’ model of discipleship. Created
by experienced disciple-makers across the nation, it offers an intentional pathway for
transformational discipleship and a way to help followers of Christ move from new
disciples to mature disciple-makers. There are six books in the series.
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Resources for Spiritual Stages
Spiritually Dead
“Share Jesus without Fear” by Bill Fay
“Just Walk across the Room” by Bill Hybel
Josh McDowell
Lee Strobel
“Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles with His Father” by Gregory Boyd
Roman Road
“The Story” tract/app for phone
Two Ways tract
“The Reason for God” by Tim Keller
Your Testimony
“So Many Questions: How to Answer Common Questions about Christianity”
Spiritual Infant
“I Believe, Now What?” by Greg Laurie
“Yes, I Can Disciple” by Larry Bazer
“I Have Been Born Again, What Next?” By Charles Brock
“The Story” by Randy Frazee
“Believe: Living the Story of the Bible to Become More Like Jesus” by Randy Frazee
“Discipleship Essentials” by Greg Ogden (Part 1: Growing Up in Christ; Part 2: Understanding the
Message of Christ)
“Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Knows” by Wayne Gruden
“Masterlife 1: The Disciple’s Cross” (basic disciplines of the word, prayer, fellowship, witness,
ministry)
The Navigators 2:7 Series – Growing Strong in God’s Family
Right Now Media (Streaming video Bible studies and online resources)
“Multiply” by Fran Chan (How to study the Bible; Overviews of O.T. and N.T.)
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Beginning: First Steps as a Disciple
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Spiritual Children
The Navigators 2:7 Series: Deepening Your Roots in God’s Family
The Navigators 2:7 Series: Bearing Fruit in God’s Family
Discipleship Essentials (Part 3 Becoming Like Christ)
“Masterlife 2: The Disciple’s Personality” (developing Christ-like character; living by the
Spirit)
Right Now Media
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Way: More Intimate with Jesus
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Call: Your New Identity
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Truth: Exploring Doctrinal Truths
One on One with God, Jerry and Marilyn Fine
Spiritual Young Adult
“Discipleship Essentials” (Part 4: Serving Christ)
Uniquely You: Membership and Ministry Profile (used in BodyLife)
“Real Life Discipleship Manual”
“Masterlife 3: The Disciple’s Victory” (applying spiritual armor to daily living and ministry)
Right Now Media
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Life: Essential Disciplines
“One on One with God” by Jerry and Marilyn Fine
Spiritual Parent:
“Real Life Discipleship Manual” (explanation of the discipleship process)
“The Ways of the Alongsider”
“Masterlife 4: The Disciple’s Mission” (identifying spiritual stages and assisting in growth)
Right Now Media
Brevard Baptist Association – extension classes
Aspire – Seminary level training at FBC Melbourne
Disciples Path Series (Lifeway) The Mission: Joining God in His Work
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Real Life Ministry Discipleship Wheel Basic Version
Source - Real Life Discipleship Manual
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Next Steps
Disciple-making is leading the lost and the saved closer to Jesus. Make a commitment to
being a disciple who makes disciples here and everywhere for the glory of God.
Who is one person that you can invest in to disciple?
What stage are they in their spiritual walk?
What is the #1 thing you could do to help them in their next growth step?
What is your next growth step?
Who is someone who can help you in your next growth step?
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