When You Lose Your Why, You Lose Your Way
When a church forgets that its primary purpose is to make disciples, it loses its way. Like a pilot drifting one degree off course, churches that stray from the mission of Jesus end up miles from their intended destination. Jesus set the course: “Make disciples of all nations.” Anything else is a detour.
Intentional Jesus: A Mission That Started in Nazareth
Jesus didn’t wander aimlessly. Every step, every moment, was intentional. From his baptism to the choosing of his disciples, he operated with clarity and purpose. His life in Nazareth and travels through Galilee reflect a focused plan that would turn a small group of men into world-changing disciple-makers.
Discovering the Strategy of Jesus
Many ministry leaders are unaware of Jesus’ strategy. A turning point came with the discovery of The Harmony of the Gospels, which lays out the life of Jesus chronologically. This tool revealed the strategic patterns and movements of Jesus—far from random, deeply intentional.
A 30,000-Foot View of Jesus’ Plan
Looking at Jesus’ ministry from a high-level view, one thing becomes crystal clear: making disciples was the heart of his mission. In a single sentence in Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus reveals both the product—disciples—and the process by which they are made.
- Step 1: Engage Spiritual Explorers – Disciple-making starts with “Go.” Jesus went to the lost, shared the good news, and called them to follow. Evangelism isn’t separate from disciple-making—it’s the first step in the journey.
- Step 2: Connect Believers – Jesus connected new believers through baptism, which publicly marked their new identity and welcomed them into the faith community. Just like a newborn is welcomed into a family, new believers need spiritual families to help them grow.
- Step 3: Grow Disciples – Teaching was essential—but not just for knowledge. Jesus emphasized obedience and spiritual training. Like an athlete in rigorous preparation, disciples must train in both character and competencies.
- Step 4: Multiply Disciple Makers – Obedience includes reproducing. Jesus expected every disciple to become a disciple-maker. The early church exploded because multiplication was built into its DNA.
Simple. Strategic. Supernatural.
Jesus’ method transcends time, culture, and technology. It’s simple enough to remember, strategic enough to scale, and powerful enough to be led by the Spirit.
- Sequential Process – One step leads naturally to the next. No shortcuts. Each phase—engage, connect, grow, multiply—builds on the previous.
- Supernatural Power – While we do the labor, God brings the growth. Only he can change hearts, grow disciples, and spark movements.
- Relational Model – Disciple-making is deeply personal. Podcasts and livestreams have their place, but real transformation happens through relationships.
- Reproducible Everywhere – Jesus’ process works in urban churches, rural ministries, and persecuted nations alike. If you follow his way, you’ll see his results.
Diving Deeper into the Disciple-Making Strategy
- Engaging Spiritual Explorers. Jesus’ ministry began with a simple invitation: “Come and see.” From Andrew to Nathanael, people met Jesus and discovered truth. He stepped into their lives, met their needs, and revealed hope.
- Connecting Believers. As Jesus’ public ministry expanded, he called his disciples to follow more fully. This meant leaving behind comfort and stepping into a deeper relationship with him and with one another.
- Growing Disciples. Two years into his ministry, Jesus called twelve apostles. He trained them deeply—through sermons, miracles, and personal example. He equipped them to lead and replicate.
- Multiplying Disciple Makers. Jesus culminated his strategy with the multiplication phase. From twelve to seventy-two to a global movement, Jesus’ plan caught fire. Even persecution couldn’t stop it.
Jesus’ Plan Is Your Plan
You don’t have to reinvent ministry. Jesus already gave us the blueprint:
- Engage the lost
- Connect new believers
- Grow disciples through training
- Multiply leaders who multiply others
As Billy Graham once said, if he were starting a church, he’d invest in a small group of men, train them deeply, and then have each one do the same. That’s the Jesus model.
The Commitment Ladder
Each step requires more commitment. From exploring Jesus to leading others, fewer people will rise to the top—but those few are the “tip of the spear” who lead the movement.
Final Thoughts: Resetting the Compass
If your church has lost its way, return to Jesus’ pathway. Refocus your ministry. Invest in the few. Multiply your efforts. And trust Jesus to build his church, just like he said he would.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our books, The Disciple-Making Leader.
