What steps can we take to prioritize discipleship in our communities? Embrace Christ’s Call to Discipleship “ ‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ ” (Matthew 4:19) Step 1: Cultivate a Personal Walk Worth Following • Daily Scripture intake (Luke 9:23; John 15:4) • Consistent prayer and obedience—discipleship begins with imitation (1 Corinthians 11:1) Step 2: Identify and Invite • Pray for eyes to see potential disciples • Extend a clear, relational invitation just as Jesus did (Matthew 4:19) • Engage people where they are—workplace, school, home gatherings Step 3: Teach the Word Consistently • Center every meeting on Scripture (Acts 2:42) • Use expository study, memorization, and discussion • “Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20) Step 4: Model Obedience in Everyday Life • Let others accompany you in normal routines—errands, family meals, service projects • “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me… put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9) Step 5: Provide Life-on-Life Mentoring • Meet regularly in pairs or triads for honest conversation • Older believers train younger (Titus 2:3-4) • Keep groups small enough for transparency Step 6: Equip for Multiplication • Teach disciples how to share the gospel, lead studies, and answer questions • “Entrust to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2) • Give practice opportunities: short testimonies, leading prayer, teaching a passage Step 7: Create a Culture of Accountability and Encouragement • Schedule consistent check-ins; ask about obedience, challenges, victories • “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Celebrate milestones publicly to reinforce the value of discipleship Step 8: Release and Support • Commission disciples into new groups, ministries, neighborhoods (Luke 10:1-3) • Provide ongoing coaching and resources while granting real responsibility • Follow the pattern of Paul and Barnabas appointing leaders (Acts 14:21-23) Step 9: Evaluate and Adjust • Look for measurable fruit: transformed lives and new disciple-makers (John 15:8) • Use Colossians 1:28 as the goal—presenting everyone mature in Christ • Refine methods but never the message; Scripture remains the unchanging standard Practical Community Applications • Integrate discipleship tracks into children’s, youth, and adult ministries • Pair every outreach event with a follow-up plan for ongoing study • Turn hospitality into training: open-home meals that blend fellowship and Bible discussion • Allocate budget and volunteer hours specifically for disciple-making efforts • Share testimonies regularly during services to keep the vision before the body |
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