In Part 2 of this series, Ben Borgman, Pastor Glenn Underhill, and Pastor Craig Etheredge continue unpacking the State of Discipleship study from Lifeway Research, focusing on solutions to the challenges facing churches today.
While many churches say discipleship is a priority, this episode highlights a key issue: confusion around what discipleship actually means. The team draws a clear distinction between “discipleship”—often centered on information and spiritual growth—and “disciple making,” which follows the model of Jesus Christ and leads to life transformation and multiplication.
They explain that disciple making is a defined, intentional process with a clear goal: developing followers of Jesus who reproduce their faith in others. In contrast, many modern church approaches stop at knowledge or program completion, creating consumers rather than multipliers.
The conversation also emphasizes the need for a holistic strategy—one that shapes every ministry in the church rather than being confined to a single department. True effectiveness comes when churches move beyond information-based models and begin equipping people to live out and multiply their faith.
Overview:
- 00:00 Analyzing church discipleship plans
- 05:13 Understanding modern discipleship practices
- 09:12 The process of disciple making
- 11:26 Importance of alignment in ministries
- 16:40 Shifts in recovery approaches
- 18:15 New experiences in church groups
- 21:11 Discussing disciple-making and multiplication
- 24:57 Importance of Clear Communication
- 27:15 Free coaching and evaluations available
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think so many churches lack a clear and unified discipleship strategy?
- How would you define the terms “discipleship” and “disciple making”, and do you see a meaningful difference between them?
- The hosts mention that discipleship is often seen as post-salvation work, while Jesus’ model engaged people before conversion. What impact does this limited view have on how churches approach outreach and growth?
- Craig Etheredge states that “the word discipleship is not in the Bible.” How might this fact affect the way we use and understand the concept in modern church settings?
- In what ways has your own church or spiritual community used the term discipleship, and do you think it’s clear to everyone what is meant by it?
- Have you observed modern discipleship being overly focused on educational models rather than life transformation and multiplication in your context, and what are the potential downsides?
- What are some practical steps to make disciple making part of your church’s DNA?
- How do you measure the effectiveness of your church’s discipleship or disciple-making efforts? What indicators might show whether people are multiplying and living out their faith?
- The hosts talk about the importance of not merely teaching information but fostering obedience and practical application. What are some ways your community already does this, or could do it better?
- Reflecting on the hosts’ experiences and perspectives, what changes (if any) do you think your church should make regarding terminology, strategy, or expectations around disciple making?
