Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).

1. Making
Disciples
who Make
Disciples

2. Making
Disciples
who Make
Disciples

3. Most Christians have
never been
intentionally and
personally discipled!

4. “Discipling is a process that
takes place within accountable
relationships over a period of
time for the purpose of bringing
believers to spiritual maturity in
Christ.”

5. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19 Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching
them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with
you always, to the end of the age.”

6. Joel Baker asked the question,
“What is impossible to do in
your church / ministry, but if
it could be done, would
produce the greatest
change?”

7. “What one problem
in our church, if
solved, would
change everything
else?”

8. Most Christians have
never been
intentionally and
personally discipled!

9. For us the question becomes:
“How can we grow Christians
into self-starting,
reproducing, fully devoted
followers of Jesus Christ?”

10. The answer: “The primary way
people grow into self-starting,
reproducing, fully devoted
followers of Jesus Christ is by…

11. …taking part in highly
accountable, relational groups of
three or four—by discipling
them”

12. What is discipling?

13. “Discipling is a process that
takes place within accountable
relationships over a period of
time for the purpose of bringing
believers to spiritual maturity in
Christ.”

14. Note that
discipling…
Is a process (a
series of steps
and changes)

15. Involves
relationships
People are
accountable (for
their life and
actions)

16. John Wesley used
questions, such as:
Am I honest in all
my acts and
words, or do I
exaggerate?
Can I be trusted?

17. Am I a slave to dress, friends,
work or habits?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give it time everyday?
Am I enjoying prayer?

18. Is truth-centred
Involves groups
of 3-4 people
Involves people
who will invest in
others (time,
energy etc.)

19. Making Disciples
who Make
Disciples

20. Most Christians have
never been
intentionally and
personally discipled!

21. “Discipling is a process that
takes place within accountable
relationships over a period of
time for the purpose of bringing
believers to spiritual maturity in
Christ.”

22. Discipleship is a
journey of
transformation (being
changed) into
Christlikeness

23. This process often is best seen
taking place in small groups.
Why are small groups powerful
at bringing about change in
people?

24. They make
multiplication
possible—people
who are discipled
are given the power
to disciple others.

25. You

26. Your
First
Group

27. Their
First
Group

28. Their
Disciples
First
Group

29. They develop
intimate (close)
relationships—
deep trust is a
bridge to real life
change.

30. They provide accountability—
we lovingly speak truth to
others.
They help us get to know
more of the Bible—this gives
us a big picture of the
Christian life.

31. They are the
starting point
for doing
spiritual
disciplines—
prayer, fasting,
silence, worship…

32. Based on the model of
Jesus and Paul—who
deliberately grew
followers into
responsible,
reproducing disciples
who made disciples.

35. How have you seen God’s goodness this
week?
How are you doing with loving the
people God has already put in your life?
How has God been speaking to you
through his Word and prayer?
Who are two or three people who are
not yet following Jesus that you are
praying for?

36. 4 Groups
2 Nepali speaking ladies
- Phebe in the Study Centre
- Mamtha in the Chapel

37. 1 Nepali speaking men
- Surjay in this Classroom
1 English speaking group
- Soso in Richard’s Office

38. The following ideas
are based upon
Greg Ogden’s work
in Transforming
Discipleship

39. The Discipleship
Gap—what should
a disciple be?

40. Where are you in
discipleship and
disciple making?

41. Max Depree,
“The first responsibility
of a leader is to define
reality”

42. Jesus said, Luke 14:28,
“But don’t begin until you count
the cost. For who would begin
construction of a building
without first calculating the cost
to see if there is enough money
to finish it?”

43. disciple makers need to know
where they are

44. disciple makers need to know
where they are

45. John Stott was asked about
how he would describe the
growth of the church in
recent decades, he replied,
“Growth without depth”

46. What we do is to make converts
much better than we make
disciples—we are good at telling
people to make a decision, but
poor at seeing life
transformation take place.

47. Good
- making converts
- telling people to
make a decision

48. Poor
- making disciples
- seeing life
transformation
take place.

49. Americans who claim to be born
again,
“...most Americans who confess
their sins to God and ask Christ to
be their saviour—live almost
indistinguishable lives from the
unrepentant sinners, and their lives
bear little, if any fruit, for the
Kingdom of God.”

50. The question is:
What kind of followers of Jesus
are we producing?
How deep is our discipleship?

51. 1. Ministers: Passive
or Proactive?

52. The Bible describes
the church as full of
active ministers.

53. In many churches
most members see
themselves as
passive, receiving
ministry from the
pastor.

54. 1 Peter 2:9,
…for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy
nation, God’s very own
possession. As a result, you can
show others the goodness of
God, for he called you out of the
darkness into his wonderful light.

55. 1 Cor 12:7,
“A spiritual gift is given
to each of us so we can
help each other.”

56. “The NT describes a full
employment plan that dignifies
and gives all believers value
based on the contribution their
gifts make in building up and
extending the church”
Greg Ogden

57. In most churches:
20% of the people
provide ministry
for 80% of the
people,
20% of the people
give 80% of the
finances.

58. Of the 80% who are fairly
uninvolved church, when asked
80% of these church members
wanted to be involved,
trained, given responsibility and
inspired to Christian service.

63. Paul expresses the idea that
every member of the body
should have some idea of their
spiritual gifts, and have
opportunity to put them into
action.