It is with great pleasure that I am announcing to you that Josh Howard and the Ignite the Nations group has taken over the leadership of Discipleship.org.

For the last 2+ years, I have worked with Josh on a weekly basis where he has established both his competency and experience as a speaker and leader of disciple making and disciple making movements. On September 1, 2026 he took over all leadership of Discipleship.org and we believe that it can significantly multiply the impact of this ministry, of which you have been a part.

I will be serving as the founder and advisor to Josh and his team. This transition gives me the opportunity to focus my efforts in disciple making through RENEW.org. The mission of RENEW.org is to renew the teachings of Jesus to fuel disciple making and I believe that my unique gifts and aptitude are best focused on shoring up the teachings of Scripture in the face of the challenges of progressivism and in the midst of the undermining of Judeo-Christian beliefs in our culture. I am also transitioning out of my role as lead pastor at Harpeth Christian Church over the next 21 months, so I will have a sole focus.

Many of you have created blogs and eBooks for Discipleship.org and we are trusting that we can continue to use them and I’m sure Josh will be asking for even more material in the future. If you’d like to reach out to Josh, you can email him at: josh@discipleship.org.   

Please join with me in welcoming Josh as we all look forward to an even brighter future through the ministry of Discipleship.org.

For King Jesus,

Bobby Harrington

The post Josh Howard is Now Leading Discipleship.org appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Definitions create worlds. They describe exact targets and outcomes. They are the foundational essentials.

We have the ideal eBook available for you and your team so that you can arrive on good definitions for your church. But it will only be available until July 1st. 

Definitions are at the heartbeat of a growing movement that God is stirring across North America and beyond. In 2015, I (Bobby) had the privilege of hosting a gathering of national disciple making leaders at our church in Franklin, Tennessee. Leaders like Jim Putman, Bill Hull, Robby Gallaty, Dann Spader, representatives from the Navigators, and others known for their commitment to biblical disciple making came together. We spent focused time agreeing on key definitions and core convictions that could fuel national and international disciple making efforts. That meeting helped to crystallize what we now call the DNA of a Disciple Making Movement.

This eBook is the fruit of our agreed upon definitions and focus. They are not new inventions but a return to the clear teaching and example of Jesus and the early church. If they resonate with you, we invite you to join us in fanning the flames of this movement.

The DNA strands described in this eBook do not represent abstract theology. They are practical marching orders for ministers/pastors, church planters, small group leaders, and everyday believers. At RENEW.org and Discipleship.org, we have seen these convictions bear fruit as we prioritize relational disciple making anchored in Scripture.

The 2015 meeting, noted above, was a pivotal moment. Leaders from different backgrounds and organizations laid down preferences and aligned on essentials. We left with shared language and renewed conviction. That unity has rippled outward, influencing churches, networks, and movements hungry for more than programs—hungry for the kind of disciple making Jesus practiced.

Why does this matter now? North American churches face a discipleship crisis. Many have excellent teaching and vibrant Sunday gatherings but produce few reproducing disciples. The solution is not another program but a return to the DNA of the movement Jesus started. When the gospel includes disciple making as its natural outcome, when love drives relationships, when fruit is measured by multiplication, and when leaders are equipped to build movements, the church becomes what Jesus intended.

We want to fan the flames and pour gasoline on the fires of this disciple making movement. If your heart resonates with these beliefs—if you long to see Jesus-style disciple making become normal in your church—join us. Let’s start with the best definitions. Train leaders using Jesus’ model. Measure success by the disciple makers you send into the world.

The day we envision is possible because God is moving. Jesus is still building His church, and He invites us to participate in the greatest movement in history. 

Let’s commit together to be and make disciples who make disciples, for the glory of God and the advance of His kingdom.

CLICK HERE to download the FREE eBook, Foundations for Disciple Making before July 1^st!

For King Jesus,

Bobby Harrington, Point Leader

Discipleship.org

The post Definitions Create Worlds: Download the Essential eBook on Disciple Making Definitions appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Several times a year, we train our disciple making staff, leaders, and groups at my home church. In our training we try to use effective multi-media videos, diagrams, etc. So, if you are like me, it is helpful if I can use short 2 to 4-minute videos that help me to train leaders.

Good news…

We have created 5, really helpful short videos that are yours to use for free, as a subscriber to the Discipleship.org newsletter. Check them out below.

2 Timothy 2:2 Disciple Making Reproduction

Paul’s blueprint for generational disciple making and how to identify the Timothys in your own life.

Watch these short videos and share with your church and team.

The Discipleship.org team has worked hard to create these videos to help you… please use these valuable video resources widely to train disciple makers in your context.

For King Jesus,

Bobby Harrington

The post Free, Short Disciple Making Training Videos appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Dear Discipleship-First Friends,

I’m pleased to introduce you to my friend, Chip Pugh. Chip is a follower of Jesus and an incredible disciple maker. In addition to founding Be1Make1, a ministry that trains/coaches disciple makers, Chip is currently serving as the Director of Team Development and Chaplain for the Tennessee Titans football organization. Chip is the author of Made to Win, that is out now with Oaks Press. What follows is an interview with Chip that not only gives us a glimpse into the meaning behind the book, but what it means to live out the mission of Jesus.

See details at the end to receive your free print copy of the book!

D.org: “A lot of people see following Jesus as a one-time decision. What shifted for you personally that made you see it as a lifelong process instead?”

CHIP: When I was a teenager, I saw one of my friends get baptized. I remember thinking to myself, “What is his next step?” It seemed like his baptism was his finish line, but I knew that didn’t make sense. He was just getting started in his faith journey. This got me thinking about my own spiritual growth process. Every other area of my life (athletics, academics, future career opportunities, etc.) shows a process of growth, but why don’t we view our spiritual growth the same way?

D.org: “As an NFL chaplain, you spend a lot of time around high-performing athletes. But how will your book challenge and impact non-athletes, or Christians who aren’t really interested in sports?”

CHIP: Whether we literally play sports or not, we are all “athletes” in life. I know this because the Bible frequently uses athletic metaphors for life. Viewing ourselves as competitive runners in the race of life can help us strive to maximize our potential. This is how God designed us to live. As we run our race with all our might, we will help others join the race too. I am hopeful my book will challenge readers to be their best and help them experience the freedom that discipline can bring to our lives.

D.org: “You talk a lot about identity in Made to Win. Why do you think so many believers struggle to live out who they already are in Christ?”

CHIP: We are constantly being bombarded with messages that attempt to steal our joy. We are told we are not enough—both from the outside and from within. We see things that make us think we don’t measure up as we compare ourselves to others. This leads us to find identity in things that make us feel better about ourselves. It is the easy way, but as we know, the easy way is not usually the best way. When we let Jesus remind us who we are in his eyes, we find true joy, love, and peace.

D.org: “What do you think is missing in the way discipleship is typically taught in churches today—and how does this book try to fill that gap?”

CHIP: Many times we think of discipleship as a church program or a class. But Jesus calls each of his disciples by name (John 10:3). He sees them as unique individuals who follow his voice in their everyday lives, and he leads them to serve others right where they are—in their jobs, in their neighborhoods, and their families. This means discipleship is about following a Person, not a program. My book provides a system to help individuals connect to Jesus and learn to follow him in every aspect of their lives.

D.org: “If someone reads Made to Win and actually lives it out, what should be different about their life six months from now?”

CHIP: Everything begins with expectation. When we expect to win, we will follow through on the actions that are necessary to win in life. I hope readers take hold of their true identity in Jesus and learn they can expect to win. This will give them permission to dream bigger, so they can truly maximize their potential in the mission of God. They can make a difference in this world by becoming who Jesus made them to be.

For King Jesus,

The post Meet Chip Pugh, Author and NFL Chaplain for the Tennessee Titans appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Robby Gallaty is one of North America’s leading disciple making advocates and practitioners. He is the founder of Replicate Ministries, the author of numerous disciple making books, and has served as the senior pastor of Long Hollow Church, a highly impactful, disciple making mega-church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, since 2015.

Robby’s story is powerful. Before entering ministry, he struggled with severe addiction to heroin and cocaine, resulting in devastating personal losses. During that season, he witnessed the deaths of eight friends from drug-related causes, while six others were arrested. After two rounds of rehabilitation, Robby experienced a radical conversion to Christianity on November 12, 2002, through the gospel message shared by a college friend.

He was personally discipled by David Platt for two years, and through that process developed a deep passion for disciple making. That journey ultimately led him to launch Replicate Ministries, which now equips believers around the world to make disciples.

Robby Gallaty will be a main-stage speaker on the first day of the Forum, and his team from Replicate will also be present to share the many disciple making resources they have developed.

We are also honored to welcome Ralph Moore, who has spent over fifty years as a master maker of disciple makers. His ministry emerged from the Jesus Movement in Southern California in the early 1970s, but his greatest impact came in Hawaii, where God used his disciple making movement to reach 1% of the Hawaiian population.

Even more significantly, Ralph established a reproducible model of disciple making churches. When the Exponential Church Planting team tracked the churches that emerged from Moore’s original church plants, they were astonished: 2,639 churches have been planted from churches he planted. There is no other movement like it in North America.

The pattern Moore established has repeated itself again and again: disciple making disciples in personal, life-on-life relationships—places where church events cannot reach—and doing so in a way that is simple enough for ordinary people to reproduce.

The genius of the model is not complexity; it is clarity. In Moore’s “disciple making model,” the Word of God is not merely heard—it is obeyed, guided by four simple questions:

• What did God say to you?
• What will you do about it?
• How can we help you obey?
• Who else should you tell?

These questions create a culture where listening leads to action, action leads to testimony, testimony leads to courage, and courage leads to more disciples. That is where disciple making multiplication begins.

CLICK HERE to view a recent interview with Ralph Moore.

At the 2026 National Disciple Making Forum, Discipleship.org, in partnership with RENEW.org, will also release a revised and updated edition of Ralph Moore’s book on this model. The book, Making Disciples: Developing Lifelong Followers of Jesus… it is filled with practical, everyday stories and will be one of three free disciple making books which attendees can choose from at the Forum (as a part of your Forum ticket).

We look forward to learning together and being equipped to make disciples who make disciples.

The post Announcing Robby Gallaty and Ralph Moore’s Addition to the National Disciple Making Forum appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Christians rightly focus on Jesus’ message—but often overlook His method. Yet the way Jesus made disciples reveals divine wisdom for transforming lives today. His approach wasn’t just effective for the first century—it remains the perfect model for every generation.

Jesus’ method of disciple making remains the perfect model for transforming lives through love, relationships, and intentionality.

The Forgotten Half of the Gospels

Christians have long studied what Jesus said, but not enough have studied what Jesus did. The way He made disciples embodied love, wisdom, intentionality, and deep understanding.

Scripture affirms that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge dwell in Christ” (Colossians 2:3).

Yes, Jesus adapted to His culture and used familiar teaching methods. But His approach went far beyond the rabbis of the day—it reflected the heart and mind of God Himself. The principles He modeled are transcultural: they have been found to work among all peoples, in every place, at all times.

Jesus, the perfect human being, demonstrated the perfect way to form disciples.

“If we truly want to understand Jesus’ mission, we must study not only His message—but His method.”

To help us grasp the significance of His approach, here are six reasons Jesus’ method remains the best model for disciple making today.

1. Jesus’ Method Makes Love Central

During seminary, I conducted a study to identify the top themes emphasized in the New Testament. One virtue stood above all others: agape love. Paul wrote that love surpasses spiritual gifts, knowledge, and even sacrificial service (1 Corinthians 13:1–3). Without love, “I gain nothing.” Faith, hope, and love endure, “but the greatest of these is love.”

Jesus also said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Yet most churches today are not designed to cultivate love. Large gatherings and packed schedules often leave little room for deep, relational investment. Many Christians are so busy focused on preaching, praise & worship, and programs that they struggle to simply find time to love people well.

In contrast, Jesus’ model makes love the foundation of discipleship. When we follow His example, love becomes both the environment and the outcome of spiritual growth.

2. Jesus’ Method Reaches Both the Lost and the Saved

Jesus discipled people before and after they came to faith. His intentional and relational approach was consistent throughout their journey.

In truth, according to Matthew 28, evangelism and discipleship aren’t two separate this—they’re the front end and back end of one continuous process. Jesus’ Great Commission captures this beautifully:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”— Matthew 28:19–20

The first step—leading people to faith and baptism—introduces them to Jesus. The second—teaching them to obey—helps them mature.

Evangelism, then, is pre-conversion discipleship. As my friend Alex Absalom puts it, “Discipleship begins at hello.” And it ends with “Go and make disciples of others.”

“People far from God can begin learning from Jesus before they ever believe in Him.” Whether reaching unbelievers or maturing believers, Jesus’ method proves effective for both.

3. Jesus’ Method Produces Real Transformation

Many Christians today live much like non-Christians. Sermons inspire, but often don’t transform. Programs inform, but seldom shape hearts.

Meanwhile, social media, work environments, school, and entertainment disciple people daily—shaping values, priorities, and desires. The church now faces a discipleship crisis, where digital culture often forms believers more than their faith communities do.

Jesus’ method offers the solution. His approach was life-on-life: eating, walking, talking, and serving with His disciples. Through close, intentional relationships, He modeled what obedience looked like in everyday life.

We follow Jesus’ method today when we enter into people lives to intentional help them trust and follow Jesus … as we invite them into our homes, meet them at coffee shops, join them at church assemblies, text them, call them, and hang out with them.

Jesus showed that disciples aren’t mass-produced—they’re hand-crafted, one at a time.

4. Jesus’ Method Unites Churches and Leaders

In a world of division and ideological diversity, unity within the church can feel elusive. Yet Jesus’ method gives church leaders and churches in different faith traditions a shared anchor.

Robert Coleman’s classic The Master Plan of Evangelism (1963) persuaded generations of Christian leaders that Jesus’ way is the best way. For over 55 years, Coleman taught this model in leading seminaries around the world.

Older leaders appreciate it for its biblical foundation; younger leaders love it for its relational authenticity. Across generations and denominations, Jesus’ method builds unity around a common mission.

Younger leaders are particularly drawn to Jesus method today. The love the emphasis on relationships, authenticity, transparency, and intentionality.

“The closer we align with Jesus’ method, the more united we become around His mission.”

5. Jesus Commanded Us to Make Disciples—Using His Method

Jesus didn’t merely command disciple making; He modeled it.

He showed His followers how to raise up intentional, relational leaders (Luke 10:1–12). He emphasized the supremacy of love (John 13:34–35) and then commissioned His disciples to reproduce what He had done with them.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher.”
— Luke 6:40

The apostle Paul modeled and taught the same method (2 Timothy 3:10-14).

The Great Commission assumes that we will disciple others as Jesus discipled us. His command includes His method.

6. Jesus’ Method Works—Then and Now

From the beginning, Jesus invested deeply in a few. He called His first disciples early (Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 6:13) and spent most of His time with them.

Scholar Bill Hull estimates that Jesus spent up to 90% of His ministry with the Twelve. They traveled, ate, worked, suffered, and learned together. Through that investment, Jesus shaped the men who would carry His mission to the ends of the earth.

Paul continued the same model—discipling Timothy, Silas, and others. He wrote:

“The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
— 2 Timothy 2:2

From Jesus to Paul to today, the intentional, relational way of disciple making remains effective because it reflects God’s design for growth.

Conclusion: Returning to the Ways of Jesus

Programs can fill rooms, but only Jesus’ method fills hearts. His life-on-life approach—rooted in love, relationship, and obedience—remains God’s plan for transforming the world one person at a time.

If the church truly wants renewal, we must return to the way of the Master. Jesus’ method isn’t outdated—it’s divinely timeless. When we follow it, we don’t just make converts; we make people who look like Jesus.

Takeaway

The message of Jesus cannot be separated from the method of Jesus.
His way is not just a way—it’s the way to make disciples who transform the world.

Recommended Reading

• The Master Plan of Evangelism — Robert E. Coleman
• The Disciple Maker’s Handbook — Bobby Harrington & Josh Patrick
• Discipleship That Fits — Bobby Harrington & Alex Absalom

For King Jesus,

Bobby Harrington

The post The Perfect Method: How Jesus Made Disciples appeared first on Discipleship.org.

We are living in a time in North America where there are increased Holy Spirit stirrings and many of us a hoping it is the early signs of revival. We have seen encouraging reports on Gen Z from the Barna Group, a tremendous response to the gospel in light of Charlie Kirk’s death, and college ministries that are booming with many public baptisms.

Could it be revival?

Os Guinness knows the history of revivals. He is an internationally respected author, social critic, and cultural analyst who has written or edited more than thirty books, including The Call, Time for Truth, and The Magna Carta of Humanity, and just last week, he released his latest book, America Agonistes: America’s 250th and the Restoration of a Nation in Conflict with Itself and Its Past. Educated at Oxford, where he completed his doctorate in the social sciences, Guinness has a respected voice like few others in the Evangelical world. He addresses audiences across the globe, from universities and think tanks to parliaments and business forums.

I recently completed an in-depth interview with Os for RENEW.org Network (a theology network for discipling making) to gain his insight on this cultural moment. As a part of that larger interview, I asked Os about revival and what the reality looks like.

Click here to check out America Agonistes: America’s 250th and the Restoration of a Nation in Conflict with Itself and Its Past and the rest of Os Guiness’ books.

—————–

HARRINGTON: So, let’s talk about renewal and revival. You have the advantage and the wisdom to guide us when it comes to understanding revival movements in history. I have personally been saying for several years that we want to be that faithful remnant, while we’re praying for revival. I think an honest observer will say, especially with young men, that there are some signs of revival today—some of the things Charlie Kirk was doing, some of the things I’m seeing on college campuses. I was talking with a young man just earlier today who’s involved in a disciple making movement in a West Coast university, where there are 1,500 students coming together. We are seeing mass baptisms on college campuses.…I’m hearing from Barna Research that there’s an uptick, especially with Gen Z, in church attendance, especially with young men coming back to church. Are we seeing revival? And how do we know when revival is, in fact, coming to us?

GUINNESS: Well, I’m encouraged by, say, young people coming back to faith, even in countries like Britain, and most surprisingly, France, which is so skeptical and secular. So, there are trends. But I’d tell people to be very wary of just looking at it sociologically. Too many people are looking at renewal here, resurgence there, and pronouncing revival. I’m a believer that we should be looking, for example, at the first or second awakening.

HARRINGTON: So, you are seeing some good trends?

GUINNESS: Look for the preaching of the Word, in power and conviction, and for repentance, and for an outpouring of the Spirit in power. They were a work from the Lord and from heaven.

I was listening before we were on the call today to a Christian leader whom I’m a friend of, saying we’re seeing revival. But no, I don’t think we are. We’ve seen local revivals, say the Asbury experience two years ago, and so on…but that was local.

When you look at the great revivals, they sweep countries, and now in the global era we need to sweep the world. And the Lord can easily do that, and that’s what we should be praying for, I think. But we mustn’t pronounce any revival yet. You know, I remember in the 80s when I came to Washington, there was a lot of talk about boomers turning to God and revival. Well, it was a renewal, because boomers wanted faith to teach their children. It was a resurgence, it was a renewal at a human level, but it wasn’t revival. There are churches, for example, in the South, who have a week-long campaign and call it a revival, but that’s not revival.

HARRINGTON: So, what do we look for at a deeper level?

GUINNESS: You know, I come from the Guinness family. Many people don’t realize my ancestor, Arthur Guinness, whose signature is on the beer bottle, came to faith through John Wesley. His grandson, my great-grandfather, was in the Irish Revival of 1859. He was 23, and he would mount on the back of a carriage and speak, and there were crowds of 25,000-30,000 people. And the Spirit would fall. And in that part of Ireland, about a quarter of Ireland, for the next year after the revival of 1859, there was only one recorded crime.

HARRINGTON: Wow, I pray for that to happen again!

GUINNESS: Millions of pounds’ worth of stuff that had been stolen from businesses was returned. In other words, the revival was very profound. It was a conviction of the Word and of sin, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So, while we pray for revival, let’s reserve the word for the full meaning. All we contribute to revival is need and prayer. We are looking to the Lord.

HARRINGTON: In your experience, and in your study of history, is there a clear connection between prayer movements and revival itself?

GUINNESS: Absolutely. That is always the beginning: a level of need that drives a few people. You take revival in New England, where people had been just praying in a haystack. And the Irish Revival started in a little town called Kells, where it was just a handful—I think it was four people; that’s all. And they prayed so urgently that the Spirit fell in power. That’s what we need. So, let’s not just baptize any renewal, or resurgence, or whatever. I was listening this afternoon to a friend who said that Charlie Kirk’s memorial has set off revival. I thank God for the witness in what happened, especially through his wife, Erika. Wonderful, but I don’t think that’s what we should call a revival. A renewal, maybe.

HARRINGTON: So, how will we know when we’re witnessing a revival? What does it look like?

GUINNESS: Well, the first thing you see very clearly is the Spirit falls, and there is a massive, powerful conviction of sin. We’re not quite broadly seeing that yet today.

HARRINGTON: Does that conviction about sin have a connect to the Word?

GUINNESS: Oh, absolutely! It is the preaching of the Word. You take Jonathan Edwards, or John Wesley in the mid-1700s, through whom my ancestor came to faith, or George Whitefield, who in many ways was behind the American Revolution. No one else had traveled from the North to the South and preached almost everywhere, except George Whitefield. And he was mighty in preaching the Word and the conviction of sin that followed.

HARRINGTON: Okay, so there’s a lot of exposure to the Word, which causes conviction, massive conviction of sin, which leads to repentance. And at the heart of revival is repentance. Am I getting that right?

GUINNESS: Absolutely. You know, we all know the Greek word for repentance, metanoia, and it means that radical about-turn of heart and mind and spirit. It’s a very radical word. The Hebrew word for repentance, teshuvah, runs even deeper. Yes, it means the radical about-turn of heart and mind and spirit, but it also means homecoming—coming back to the truth, back to the Lord, back home.

HARRINGTON: Tell us more.

GUINNESS: It’s the prodigal son. When he came to himself, then he headed home. And America has the word “homecoming,” you know, going back to your alma mater and watching a football game or whatever. The biblical idea of homecoming is much more radical than that. We need to pray for an American “homecoming,” national repentance and revival.

HARRINGTON: I’m good friends with Robert Coleman, who wrote the book The Master Plan of Evangelism, which to us is the gold standard when it comes to Jesus-style disciple making. He was a part of the Asbury revival of 1970. He said there are a lot of things to note about that localized revival, but most importantly he said everybody just wanted 1) to confess their sins and 2) tell you how much they loved you. That must have been a cool thing.

GUINNESS: Wonderful. My father was a witness to the Hebridean Revival and Donald Campbell in the 1950s. It was deep and profound, but it was largely local. We need to so pray for something that is a movement across the whole country.

HARRINGTON: So, a true revival is much bigger than Asbury in 1970 or other localized experiences. Let’s all be praying for a true, broad revival. Here is my own conviction. I believe that at the heart of revival, when it comes, will be disciple making. I think there’ll be a correlation of disciple making, where everyday people are engaged in God’s Word, with Holy Spirit conviction, with, as in Asbury, a sharing of loving relationships. Furthermore, there will be a correlation between revival and a revival of everyday people being disciples who are making disciples and spreading the flame. Is there anything in history that would lead us to think that that might be possible?

GUINNESS: Of course: the Reformation. For a long time, the Catholic Church had put its emphasis on monks and monasteries. And they were very, very powerful in their way. But then Martin Luther, and in particular John Calvin, recovered the notion of calling everyone, everywhere, in everything.

HARRINGTON: That is it. Disciple making, more than any other emphasis in the church, will bring empowerment so that it is, as you say, 1) everyone, 2) everywhere, and 3) in everything! That is a disciple making movement!

GUINNESS: It will be a following out of the will of Christ as disciples. That is what many people say made the modern world. The notion of calling—it was dynamic and pervasive.

HARRINGTON: When revival comes, is it often led by younger leaders? You mentioned one of your relatives; I think you said he was 23. Is it typical that it’s younger people who lead revival movements?

GUINNESS: Usually. Wesley? Whitfield? Edwards? They were all young at the height of the revival, you know? But, then, old men—I’m in my 80s—you think of dear old Caleb. You look at Moses, whose eye was not dimmed at 120.

HARRINGTON: I love it. Well, even though I’m in my 60s, we’re both going to sign up to be anything the Lord wants.

GUINNESS: Absolutely. Absolutely, Bobby.

HARRINGTON: You can count the two of us in. So, in your book America Agonistes, you talk about the danger of turning to idols of power instead of the living God. What happens in the USA if there is not revival? What’s going to happen?

GUINNESS: Well, we’re at this civilizational moment. The West will go down the tube, pretty soon, unless there’s a profound renewal. And so will America.

HARRINGTON: My biggest hope right now is based upon what I am seeing with Gen Z and younger Christians, those who are sold out for Jesus. The Great Revival, so many called it, was often associated with the Methodist revivals in England that began in the 1730s–1740s, sometimes dated around 1739 when open-air preaching and mass conversions really took hold in the USA. Here’s how the ages worked out in 1739:

• George Whitefield – 24 years old
• John Wesley – 35 years old
• Charles Wesley – 31 years old

May we pray for revival and support all young leaders who step forward when it starts!

For King Jesus,

The post Is it Revival? Q&A with Os Guinness appeared first on Discipleship.org.

Dear Discipleship-First Friends, While the term, ‘getting back to basics’ may sound cliché, it is fundamental for anyone who desires to make disciples of Jesus to be crystal clear on the essentials of the faith. In the post that follows, Brian Mosley, President of RightNow Media, along with Victoria Becker, Senior Marketing Specialist of RightNow Media, share some keen insights that will be helpful, no matter where you are on your disciple making journey. For King Jesus, Why Clarity on the Essentials Is the First Step in Making Disciples By Brian Mosley, President of RightNow Media, with Victoria Becker Several years ago, I found myself coaching my son’s baseball team. At our early practices, baseballs flew everywhere, kids ran to the wrong bases, and chaos took over. After a few frantic practices, I realized the best way to grow is by starting with the basics. So we went back to the simple stuff: throwing, catching, and hitting. Even the biggest names in professional baseball dedicate countless hours to these same basics. Once my son’s team focused on the essentials, progress followed. That lesson on the baseball field changed the way I think about discipleship too. In a world full of noise and complexity, getting clear on the essentials of our faith is one of the most powerful ways to grow and help others do the same. When we start with the essentials, we give disciple-makers a roadmap and equip disciples with clear directions, which leads to multiplication. The Crisis of Confusion in Modern Discipleship Despite unprecedented access to programs, digital content, and resources, many Christians today navigate their faith with surprising uncertainty about foundational truths. We’re overwhelmed with information but often lack direction, which breeds confusion rather than confidence. Consider the disciple-maker’s dilemma: faced with a new believer, where do you start? What truths demand priority? Search these questions online and you’ll find thousands of answers. Thankfully, the biblical response is simple. Paul’s words to the Corinthians reveal his disciple-making approach: “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1–2, NIV). Paul understood what we often forget: transformational discipleship starts with clarity on the essentials of our faith. Disciple-Makers Need a Roadmap In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul says he focused on “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul’s striking clarity here serves as a model, or roadmap, for how disciple-makers should prioritize what to teach. Like Paul, disciple-makers can use the essentials of faith as a roadmap for the journey of discipleship. Instead of leading disciples on a complex journey through secondary issues, disciple-makers should prioritize the essentials of faith that have unified believers for centuries—foundational truths like the deity and resurrection of Christ, the gospel, salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture, and the Trinity. While it is important for disciple-makers to teach a wide variety of topics, including secondary issues, these lessons should never come at the expense of the basics. When disciple-makers use the roadmap of essential Christian doctrine, they no longer have to approach discipleship relationships wondering where to begin. Instead, they can teach through each of the core beliefs of a Christianity, ensuring new believers understand and apply the essentials before moving onto secondary topics. Disciples Need Clear Direction With so much information coming at us online, it can be hard to know what’s true. All the noise and mixed messages can leave Christians feeling confused.  Disciples need clear direction, and they can find it in studying the essential doctrines of Christianity. Scripture calls for both new and mature disciples to be directed by the essentials of our faith. Peter encourages new believers: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2, NIV). The writer of Hebrews challenges mature believers: “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again” (Hebrews 5:12, NIV). The message of both passages is clear: no matter where we are in our spiritual journey, we never outgrow the essentials. In fact, growth means diving deeper into foundational truths until they become the lens through which we see everything else. When disciples possess clear understanding of the essentials of Christian doctrine, they develop the capacity to evaluate ideas biblically, navigate cultural pressure with spiritual resilience, and remain anchored while helping others find their way. Our team at RightNow Media saw an opportunity to support disciple-makers in teaching essential Christian doctrine, so we created Essentials of Faith—a Bible study series about the core truths of Christianity. The stories we’re hearing from churches using this resource confirm what we thought was true: disciples of all maturity levels need clarity on the essentials. Our Destination: Multiplication When we prioritize understanding the essentials of the Christian faith, disciple-makers have a roadmap to teach from, and disciples have clear direction to grow. The result? We reach our destination of multiplication. Paul understood this principle when he instructed Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV). This multiplication principle carries profound implications. If I had taught my son’s baseball team incorrect throwing mechanics, they would have practiced those flawed techniques repeatedly, eventually leading to injury. If not corrected, those players could someday teach their son’s baseball teams incorrect throwing form. Similarly, if we multiply unclear or incomplete spiritual foundations, we create disciples who lack the stability necessary for long-term growth and effective ministry. Multiplication only occurs when the message is both clear and transferable. This is why focusing on essentials can be a catalyst for genuine discipleship movements. When we pursue a deeper understanding of basic Christian doctrine and apply it, we become more like Christ and discipleship multiplies. The Power of Essentials Fundamentals compound over time. That young baseball player who masters proper throwing mechanics doesn’t just throw better—those fundamentals become muscle memory. When pressure mounts in the ninth inning, they don’t have to think about form; their body knows what to do. In the Christian life, when disciples internalize essential truths, crisis won’t send them scrambling for answers. Instead, their faith responds from deep, practiced conviction. Here’s the challenge: Are the people you disciple confident in the basics? Can they explain the gospel, salvation, the authority of Scripture, or the mission of the church? If not, don’t panic—instead, start small. Pick one essential truth and dive into it with those you lead. Just like Paul, begin with Jesus Christ and him crucified. Everything else builds from there. My brief time as a baseball coach taught me that excellence comes from simple things done well. Making disciples has taught me the same lesson: lasting impact begins with a clear understanding of the essentials of faith. To learn more about the Essentials of Faith discipleship journey, visit www.RightNowMedia.org/essentials-of-faith.

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We are excited to share the following article with you, authored by Dr. Warner has a passion for taking some of the more complex topics around disciple making and making them practical and accessible for everyone. Discipleship.org is also very excited to be partnering with Dr. Warner and the Deeper Walk International team, for a 2-day disciple making event in the Nashville area, August 15-16. This interactive event will include teaching, small group table discussion and practical exercises—all designed to help you experience the power of heart-focused discipleship.

Bobby Harrington, Point Leader

Discipleship.org

Have you ever heard of the Enigma machine? During World War II the Germans used it to encode secret messages. These codes were nearly impossible to decipher because the machine was capable of producing 150,000,000,000,000,000,000 – that’s 150 quintillion – possible solutions. The only way the code was able to be cracked was the creation of the world’s first electromagnetic computers. According to an article at CIA.gov, by the end of the war, the British were still only deciphering about 10 percent of all German Enigma communications.

Sometimes cracking the discipleship code can feel just as complicated. We may not have 150 quintillion possible solutions, but it can feel just as overwhelming.

Every church I know considers itself a disciple-making church. After all, the Great Commission is pretty clear: “Go and make disciples.” I’ve never met a pastor who said, “We don’t believe in discipleship around here.” That would just be ridiculous. The challenge for us pastors has been identifying how to do discipleship effectively. We want a process that multiplies disciples, by producing disciples who make disciples who make disciples. But we also want a process that produces mature disciples. We all want to avoid creating a church that is a mile wide and an inch deep. Numbers don’t always tell the whole story.

The good news is that the answer to our problem is found in THE good news. The gospel lays out the path to effective disciple-making. It is a path that combines multiplication and maturity.

I call this gospel-based paradigm of disciple-making the FISH Model. You can think of it as FISH and Go FISH. The premise is simple. There are four core foundations of the gospel. These four foundations are events that happen instantly at conversion and then become the foundation for a lifetime of growth and transformation. Each of the four foundations can be linked to baptism.

1 – Freedom

First, we are buried with Christ in baptism as a sign that we have died with Christ. But why do we need to die with Christ? Why is this necessary? The simple answer is freedom. We die to be set free from what enslaves us. We die to sin (Romans 6:8), so we can live a life free from sin. We die to the Law (Romans 7:4) to be set free from the Law in order to live in the Spirit (7:6). We died to the elementary principles of this world (Colossians 2:20) to be set free from the snares of religious perfectionism. We have died to the flesh (Galatians 5:24) in order to be set free from bondage to the flesh.

All of these changes happen in an instant. Just as slavery can be ended with a single legal act, so our slavery to what enslaves us happened when we died with Christ. However, as you likely know, freedom may be granted in a moment, but it takes a lifetime to learn how to live it out. We don’t instantly stop sinning. We don’t instantly stop living in the flesh. And we don’t instantly resist the temptation to rebuild the Law in our lives. Teaching people how to live in freedom is the role of discipleship.

People who experience freedom from the evils that enslave them love to tell people what Christ has done for them. At Deeper Walk, we have seen thousands of people discover healing from traumatic events in their past who immediately become evangelists for how God has changed their lives. They love to tell others how Christ met them in their need and set them free. They want that same freedom for others. We have seen thousands of people released from demonic bondage and rediscover the joy of their salvation. They, too, long to see others experience the same freedom. When people lose the joy of their salvation, it is a safe bet that there is some area of bondage that has them stuck. Thus, a discipleship process that emphasizes helping people experience healing and freedom is essential to the multiplication process.

2 – Identity 

The second foundation of discipleship linked to baptism is the idea that we are raised with Christ to a new life. The old is gone; the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Again, we have to ask, “Why are we raised with Christ? What is the purpose?” I would suggest there are two related purposes.

(1) We are raised to eternal life. The old person who was destined for destruction dies, and a new person is raised in whom the Spirit of God lives as a pledge or guarantee of eternal life to come (Ephesians 1:13-14).

(2) We are raised to a new identity. An integral part of our new identity is that we are sanctified so that we become a temple in which the Spirit of Christ is able to live. There is a lot of theology packed into that sentence, but it is crucial to understand. In the Old Testament, sacred space was defined as a plot of ground that had been set apart as God’s. It was a location where heaven intersected with earth. The temple was the ultimate sacred space and those who entered it had to go through rituals of purification to enter that space. In the New Testament, we become the sacred space in which God lives. We become the temple.

At conversion, our identity changes in an instant. We are pardoned for our sin. We are adopted into God’s family. We become citizens of heaven. We are sanctified as a fit dwelling for God’s Spirit. That all happens once and for all as an act of God’s grace. But growing our capacity to live out our new identity requires discipleship.

Christians who are unclear on who they are often lack joy. They often feel the pressure to perform in order to be accepted by God. Such Christians may evangelize, but they do it out of duty, shame, and fear. They are performing to avoid criticism and condemnation, and, eventually, performers burn out. On the other hand, Christians who are clear on their identity love to share with others how they too can have a firm foundation for life.

When I have shared the gospel with people, I have often found that for many the light really comes on when they discover that becoming a Christian isn’t just about admitting they are sinners who are going to try to be good. The light comes on when they understand the completely new identity that will be theirs in Christ. It is a joyful thing to share with people that God wants to give them the highest status in the universe that is available to them. He wants to make them children of God.

3 – Spirit & Scripture

Baptism provides a beautiful picture of our death and resurrection with Christ. It also captures beautifully the idea of being born again. Our death and resurrection in Christ form the foundation of legal changes to our identity. They mark our entry into the New Covenant, which is a legal document that defines our relationship with God in Christ. However, conversion is more than just a legal transaction. We are not simply adopted. We are born again. As many have observed, the Greek word translated “again” in John 3:3 can also be translated “from above.” Thus, to be born again is to be born from above, which is described in John 3 as being born of the Spirit (3:5-6). The indwelling of the Spirit is so foundational to what it means to be a Christian that Paul can write, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9).

Once again, the experience of being born of the Spirit is something that happens at conversion. But learning to walk in the Spirit requires discipleship. Not surprisingly, people who walk in the Spirit are far more likely to share their faith and live life on mission than those who live in bondage to the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit combines two important elements: (1) experiencing a relationship with God by keeping in step with the Spirit, and (2) anchoring that relationship in God’s Word. Since the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of Scripture, the study of God’s Word cannot be separated from the practice of living in the Spirit. In fact, when the Bible is separated from the Spirit, it can actually become a weapon that harms people. Who has not been “beaten up” emotionally by a narcissist justifying himself or herself with the Bible? The experience of suffering spiritual abuse at the hands of a leader in the name of the Bible is so common, the church is known as much for its abuses as for its charity. This sad reality prompted a friend to share his desire to write a book with the title, “Christian Roadkill: The Church’s Other Bus Ministry.” Clearly, the Bible itself is not the problem. It is the misuse of the Bible that creates such problems. This is all the more reason to keep Spirit and Scripture connected.

4 – Heart-Focused Community 

Most pastors believe in relational discipleship. It is hard to argue with the fact that both Jesus and Paul were extremely focused on building relationships in their work of making disciples. Jesus invested in hundreds of disciples and especially in the twelve and in Peter, James, and John. Paul didn’t just make individual disciples—he started churches and established spiritual families.

Just as every church I know considers itself a disciple-making church, every church I know believes it is committed to community. Most simply need to point to the number of people in their small groups. However, I think we all know that not all small groups are created equal. Some are highly engaging and transformative. Others are pretty shallow and may even feel like a waste of time.

The goal of a heart-focused community is to start groups that have freedom, identity, Scripture, and Spirit woven into their DNA. Such groups are not shallow. They are also not boring. People enjoy being together. They work through their issues and navigate conflict. They focus on helping each other be the people God made them to be.

Calling All Code-Breakers

The church does not need to go back to traditional discipleship with its primary focus on academics, behavior, and church activity. Nor does the church simply need discipleship that focuses on multiplication at the cost of maturity. The good news is that by focusing on growing maturity using the FISH model, you automatically get maturity and multiplication.

Would you like to learn more about the FISH model of heart-focused discipleship? Make plans to join us at the Discipleship.org/Deeper Walk International event on August 15^th & 16^th in Nashville (Franklin), Tennessee!

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What is the reason disciple making stalls in our churches?… Is it because we’re measuring the wrong things?

Most churches don’t set out to lose focus. We track attendance, giving, baptisms, building projects—all good things. But over time, these metrics can become the mission instead of serving it.

That’s why disciple making Principle #10, is so important:

We must reinvent our scorecard to reflect true disciple making.

Why?  Because people will aspire to that which we celebrate. And what we track is what people will work toward.

A New Kind of Scorecard

Let’s be honest—most churches are still tracking what’s easiest to count:

Attendance
Giving
Buildings
Events
Baptisms

But Jesus didn’t say, “Go and get more people in the seats.” He said, “Go and make disciples.”

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul says:

“You yourselves are our letter… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God… on human hearts.”

Disciples with changed hearts—that’s the scorecard of a disciple making movement.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Josh shares in the video on this same principle, that in his India disciple making network, they shifted what they celebrated.

They didn’t stop tracking baptisms—but they also tracked baptizers.
They didn’t just count church attendance—they looked for disciple makers.

They asked:
Who’s sharing their faith weekly?
Who’s leading Discovery Bible Studies?
Who’s raising up new disciple makers?
How many groups are multiplying—and how far?

They also taught people to separate what only God can do (like heart transformation), from what we are responsible for (like prayer, obedience, seed-sowing, and invitations).

Why This Matters for Leaders

If you’re leading a church or ministry, here’s the challenge:

Revisit your scorecard.

Ask hard questions.
And be bold enough to change what you count.

Because when disciple making becomes what we celebrate—it becomes what our people pursue.

Here’s how you can start:

• Track life-on-life discipling relationships
• Track raising new disciple makers
• Celebrate multiplication, not just attendance
• Elevate obedience, not just inspiration

And remember this encouragement from Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20:

“What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?…” And then pointing to all the disciples Paul had raised up, he said, “Is it not you?”

The real scoreboard is people—disciples who walk with Jesus and help others do the same.

Want to Go Deeper?

We just released a brand new video teaching on Principle #10: Reinventing the Scorecard—filled with real stories and practical ways churches are shifting how they measure success.

WATCH NOW – “Reinventing Your Scorecard”
https://discipleship.org/10-disciple-making-principles/

You’ll learn:

Why your current metrics may be holding you back
What disciple making churches around the world are tracking
How to build a culture of intentional, multiplying discipleship

Let’s stop counting what’s convenient—and start measuring what truly advances the Kingdom.

For King Jesus,

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