The document discusses relational disciple-making and how it reflects the method of Jesus. It emphasizes that disciple-making is about processes, relationships, transformation and reproduction rather than just programs or information. While programs have their place, relational models focusing on building relationships based on love and truth are preferred. Jesus made disciples relationally in small groups, being most intimate with Peter, James and John. The document suggests churches can reflect Jesus' method through large group ministry, small groups, but are often missing the most intimate discipleship of triads. Disciple-making triads of 3-4 people are proposed to provide a relational environment like Jesus had with some of his closest followers.

1.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
1
RELATIONAL
DISCIPLE-­‐MAKING
WHY?
• Focus:
Using
a
relational
model
for
multiplying
disciples.
• Disciple-­‐making
is
about:
o Process
NOT
Program
(though
programs
may
be
a
part
of
the
process)
o Relationships
NOT
Classes
(though
classes
can
be
vehicles
for
relationships)
o Transformation
NOT
Information
(though
information
is
necessary
for
transformation)
o Reproduction
NOT
just
Depth
(though
depth
will
occur
as
disciples
reproduce)
• Programs
have
limitations.
In
his
book,
Transforming
Discipleship,
Greg
Ogden
observes
4
limitations
to
programs:
o They
tend
to
be
information
or
knowledge-­‐based
o They
tend
to
have
one
person
preparing
to
teach
many
instead
of
all
preparing
to
participate
o They
tend
toward
a
regimentation/synchronization
of
teaching
instead
of
customization
for
the
individual
disciple
o They
tend
to
have
low
personal
accountability
for
spiritual
growth1
• Relational
models
are
preferred!
Ogden
concludes,
“Though
all
approaches
to
disciple
making
will
have
programmatic
elements,
such
as
structure
and
curriculum
(even
if
it
is
the
Bible),
the
growth
process
of
the
individual
is
always
preeminent
in
a
relational
setting.”2
• KEY
WORD:
Intentionality!
Relational
discipleship
requires
an
intentional
focus
on
building
solid
relationships
based
on
love
that
lead
to
a
focus
on
the
truth
for
spiritual
growth.
Consider
Ephesians
4:15:
“Rather,
speaking
the
truth
in
love,
we
are
to
grow
up
in
every
way
into
him
who
is
the
head,
into
Christ”
(ESV)
o Speaking
the
truth
–
Focus
on
intentionality
o In
love
–
Focus
on
relationship
o We
are
to
grow
up…into
Christ
–
Resulting
in
discipleship
• Common
ingredients
in
all
biblical
models:
o The
Word
of
God
o The
Spirit
of
God
o The
Discipler
o The
Disciple

2.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
2
THE
METHOD
OF
JESUS
• How
did
Jesus
make
disciples?
o Jesus
made
disciples
a
few
at
a
time.
o "He
appointed
twelve-­‐-­‐designating
them
apostles-­‐-­‐that
they
might
be
with
Him
and
that
He
might
send
them
out
to
preach
and
to
have
authority
to
drive
out
demons."
Mark
3:14-­‐15
• In
the
passages
below
from
Mark
9-­‐13,
note:
o The
audiences
with
whom
Jesus
interacted.
o The
setting
of
the
encounters.
o The
method
of
Jesus’
teaching.
o The
general
content
of
the
teaching
in
the
encounters.
! 9:2-­‐12
! 9:14-­‐29
! 9:30-­‐32
! 9:33-­‐37
! 10:1-­‐12
! 10:17-­‐31
! 10:32-­‐34
! 10:35-­‐44
! 11:12-­‐26
! 12:1-­‐40
! 12:41-­‐44
! 13:1-­‐37
• Jesus
had
different
relationships
with
different
audiences.
The
smaller
the
audience,
the
more
intimate
the
revelation
of
Jesus’
true
self.
(See
Mark
9-­‐13)
The
3
(Peter,
James,
John)
The
12
The
Masses

3.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
3
REFLECTING
THE
METHOD
OF
JESUS
• How
do
our
disciple-­‐making
platforms
reflect
the
methods
of
Jesus?
o Most
churches
reflect
Jesus’
method
to
some
degree
with
respect
to:
! The
Masses
–
Pulpit
and
platform
preaching
and
teaching,
large
group
teaching
and
ministries.
! The
12
–
The
environments
of
Sunday
School,
small
groups,
discipleship
classes
can
be
applied
here.
(It
should
be
noted,
however,
that
these
environments
in
the
local
church
can
be
focused
more
on
information
than
transformation.
This
illustration
speaks
more
to
size
of
environment
than
quality
of
content)
o Unfortunately,
most
churches
do
not
reflect
Jesus’
method
in
the
place
where
relationships
were
most
intimate
–
the
3.
As
we
observe
the
ministry
of
the
apostles
in
the
Book
of
Acts,
we
can
note
that
these
3
apostles
formed
the
“inner
circle”
for
Jesus
and
were
the
key
leaders
of
the
movement:
Peter
and
John
were
the
leaders
and
spokesmen
for
the
apostles
and
the
church,
and
James
is
the
first
apostle
to
be
martyred.
(See
Acts
2:14-­‐41,
3:1-­‐4:22,
5:1-­‐11,
10:1-­‐31,
11:1-­‐18,
12:1-­‐5,
12:6-­‐18)
The
3:
????
The
12:
Sunday
School/
Small
Groups/
Classes
The
Masses:
Pulpit,
Large
Group
Teaching
&
Ministry

4.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
4
DISCIPLE-­‐MAKING
TRIADS
Disciple-­‐making
triads
are
groups
of
3
people
(sometimes
4)
who
meet
together
for
the
purpose
of
discipleship
with
the
goals
of
spiritual
growth,
authentic
relationships,
and
multiplication.
These
groups
provide
a
relational
discipleship
environment
akin
to
Jesus’
relationship
with
Peter,
James,
and
John.
The
discipler
should
begin
the
first
triad
with
a
goal
of
multiplication
over
time.
If
you
are
leading
in
a
church
setting,
avoid
the
temptation
to
promote
triads
as
a
program
for
all
and
enlisting
leaders
who
have
never
experienced
this
format.
The
“DNA”
of
the
first
triad
will
reproduce!
If
the
first
one
is
not
focused
on
the
goals
of
transformation
and
multiplication
none
of
their
“offspring”
will
be
either.
Some
exceptions
to
this
would
be
(1)
starting
2
or
3
groups
using
leaders
the
discipler
can
have
an
on-­‐going
accountability
relationship
with
who
are
debriefed
weekly;
(2)
enlisting
a
competent
person
of
the
other
gender
to
begin
a
triad
for
his/her
gender.
NOTE:
These
groups
should
consist
of
the
same
gender
in
order
to
increase
accountability
and
transparency
as
well
as
to
avoid
ethical
pitfalls.
• Elements
of
a
Triad3
o Truth
of
God’s
Word
o Transparent
Relationships
(Build
a
safe-­‐zone
over
time)
o Mutual
Accountability
• Starting
a
Triad
o Prayerfully
select
2
people
who
are
“ripe”
for
discipleship.
(Luke
6:12-­‐16)
! Be
prayerful
! Be
discerning
–
Candidates
may
not
be
the
“usual
suspects”
! Be
selective
–
You
select
them,
they
don’t
select
you
! Be
prepared
to
be
accused
of
“playing
favorites”
o Ask
them
to
commit
to
these
expectations:
! Meet
weekly
for
60-­‐90
minutes
for
6-­‐12
months
! Study
the
Bible
! Memorize
Scripture
! Pray
together
! Witness
to
the
lost
! Share
their
struggles
within
the
triad
o Ask
them
to
commit
to
multiplication
by
leading
a
new
triad
when
this
one
is
complete
with
the
same
expectations.
o Lead
them
through
a
weekly
guided
Bible
study.
! Study
a
book
of
the
Bible
by
reading
a
chapter
each
week
! Or
use
an
appropriate
study
guide
or
method
(see
resources
below)
! Memorize
the
same
Scripture
weekly
and
recite
to
one
another
! NOTE:
The
Triad
model
is
not
dependent
upon
a
specific
curriculum
guide
or
piece
of
literature.
The
key
is
immersion
in
God’s
Word
in
the
context
of
transparent
relationships
characterized
by
mutual
accountability.

5.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
5
o Ask
accountability
questions
such
as:
! What
has
God
taught
you
this
week?
! How
has
He
taught
you
that?
! Were
you
able
to
share
the
Gospel
with
anyone?
! Were
you
faithful
to
your
family
this
week
in
thoughts
and
actions?
! How
can
we
pray
for
you?
o At
the
end
of
the
agreed
upon
time
multiply
by
launching
new
triads!
! Cast
the
vision
for
multiplication
weekly.
! Begin
praying
with
them
about
who
they
will
invite
about
half-­‐way
through
your
time
together.
! Ask
them
to
bring
a
list
of
10
people
from
whom
they
might
select
2
or
3,
three
months
before
you
expect
to
end.
! Pray
through
the
lists
until
they
have
prioritized
the
first
5
the
Spirit
has
led
them
to
invite.
! Charge
them
to
make
the
invitation
one
month
before
your
triad
concludes.

6.
Brian
Upshaw
bupshaw@ncbaptist.org
Page
6
DISCIPLE-­‐MAKING
RESOURCES
• Resources
for
Specifically
Designed
for
Triads
o More
Structure
(Workbook
Format)
! Discipleship
Essentials
by
Greg
Ogden
http://gregogden.com/
o Some
Structure
(Reading,
Bible
Study)
! DNA
Groups
(Discipleship,
Nurture,
Accountability)
–
Soma
Communities
http://www.gcmcollective.com/article/gospel-­‐dna/
o Less
Structure
(Bible
Reading,
Accountability
Questions)
! Life
Transformation
Groups
–
Cultivating
a
Life
for
God,
Search
and
Rescue,
Neil
Cole
http://www.cmaresources.org/files/Cultivating-­‐NeilCole-­‐chap8.pdf
• Other
Resources
o LifeWay
-­‐
http://www.lifeway.com/n/Bible-­‐Study/Discipleship-­‐Groups
o NavPress
-­‐
http://www.navpress.com/
o Gospel-­‐centered
discipleship
-­‐
http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/
o GCM
Collective
-­‐
http://www.gcmcollective.com/resources/
o Verge
Network
-­‐
http://www.vergenetwork.org/
o T4T
-­‐
http://t4tonline.org/
o Downline
Ministries
-­‐
http://www.downlineministries.com
• Other
Books
Worth
Reading
(“Must
Reads”
are
marked
with
a
“*”)
o Chan,
Francis.
Multiply.
(2012)
o Chester,
Tim
and
Steve
Timmis.
Everyday
Church.
(2012)
o *Coleman,
Robert.
The
Master
Plan
of
Evangelism.
(1963,
but
updated
several
times)
o Dodson,
Jonathan.
Gospel-­‐Centered
Discipleship.
(2012)
o Gallaty,
Robby.
Growing
Up.
(2013)
o *Kalinowski,
Caesar.
Transformed.
(2013)
o Millwood,
Randy.
To
Love
and
To
Cherish
from
This
Day
Forward.
(2010)
o *Ogden,
Greg.
Transforming
Discipleship.
(2003)
o *Putman,
Jim
and
Bobby
Harrington
with
Robert
Coleman.
DiscipleShift.
(2013)
o Smith,
Brandon,
ed.
Make,
Mature,
Multiply.
(2014)
o Smith,
Steve
and
Ying
Kai.
T4T,
A
Discipleship
Re-­‐Revolution.
(2011)
o *Willard,
Dallas.
The
Great
Omission.
(2006)
o Wright,
Christopher.
The
Mission
of
God.
(2006)
1
Greg
Ogden,
Transforming
Discipleship
(Downers
Grove,
IL:
InterVarsity
Press,
2003),
42-­‐46.
2
Ibid.,
46.
3
Greg
Ogden,
Discipleship
Essentials,
exp.
ed.
(Downers
Grove,
IL:
InterVarsity
Press,
2007),
10-­‐11.