Toolbox for Disciple Makers
Toolbox for Disciple Makers
3 key resources to mobilize more disciple makers
There are two graphs I often use when training pastors and leaders in the area of disciple making and mobilization. The first is from a Barna study in 2021 that polled 1,643 people and asked the question, “Why are you NOT making disciples?” Here are their answers.
80%+ of people aren’t making disciples because they’ve either never thought about it, never been asked, or don’t feel equipped.
This percentage lines up with a second question that was asked a few years earlier to over 1,000 churchgoers. Participants were asked, “Have you heard of the Great Commission”? Here are their answers.
Again, roughly 80%+ of the people interviewed couldn’t explain what the Great Commission meant, let alone put it into practice. These two graphics represent the current reality of disciple making in local churches. It seems that most disciple making efforts are only taking place through pastors and key staff members.
“If people aren’t intentionally invited to make disciples and if they aren’t trained in a specific process, it is likely to never happen”
Sad but true.
The current operating system of most local churches does not include intentional training of disciple makers. To help in this effort, Groundswell now offers three resources for pastors and leaders.
Courses
1- “Mobilizing Disciple Makers” (Part 1)
This is our signature course created exclusively for PASTORS. The first part of this course is divided into six sections that are designed to help pastors form a strategy for recruiting and training disciple makers. The core topics are listed below.
Session 1- The Mission
Session 2- The Gathering
Session 3- The Workers
Session 4- The Spaces
Session 5- The Change
Session 6- The Fuel
We begin the course by recalibrating around the primary mission of the church and then explain how to leverage the weekend worship gathering to mobilize more workers through the rhythm of gathering and scattering.
“We then help pastors identify the people God has given them, the spaces for effective disciple making, and the simple principles involved in leading change in a local congregation.”
In the final session we use the imagery of a sailboat.
Recruiting the right people and developing the right processes are the equivalent of “raising the sails” on a sailboat. However, to create movement, we need to posture ourselves to also receive the wind of God’s power and anointing.
This leads to our second course for disciple making.
2- “Launching Discipleship Groups” (Part 2)
This second course dives into the tactical side of disciple making and is for both PASTORS and LAY LEADERS. This six-session course provides a specific model of training to launch discipleship groups.
Session 1- The Framework
Session 2- The Practices
Session 3- The Process
Session 4- The Movement
Session 5- The Launch
Session 6- The Result
We begin by detailing the training, practices, and processes necessary to make disciples and then wrap up with practical next steps in launching a disciple-making movement and sustaining momentum.
“If you are interested in signing up for one of these courses CLICK HERE and we will reach out.”
Resources
3- “Banding Together”
In addition to our two courses, we also provide a simple resource to help people in their efforts to make disciples.
“Banding Together is a short, 100-page book that trains people to form discipleship groups and facilitate Bible reading, accountability, and prayer for the lost.”
We also encourage people to use the Banding Together Journal to facilitate hearing from the Holy Spirit through a simple process we call S.O.A.P.S. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer, Share).
Banding Together is being translated in languages around the world, and a large global missions organization recently made the decision to train all of their missionaries using this simple model.
Finally, churches and ministries can also customize these journals with their own logo or verbiage.
“If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book or journal or if you want to customize them for your local church or ministry, see the details below.”
4- “Banding Together Podcast” COMING SOON!
Finally, we are working on a Banding Together Podcast that provides a simple, 5-minute summary of the daily Bible reading. We are currently working our way through Psalms and a sneak peak can be found on Spotify (CLICK HERE).
I’m praying for God’s favor on your church and ministry as you mobilize more disciple makers!