Day 1 Highlights from the National Disciple Making Forum

The Disciple Making Problem in the Church

Jim Putman didn’t ease into it—he named the problem directly.

Research from Discipleship.org and Exponential shows that over 95% of churches don’t have a culture of Jesus-style disciple making. The tension? Disciple making is the mission—yet it’s no longer central in most churches.

Jesus Built People, Not Programs

Jesus didn’t focus on crowds—He focused on a few. Ordinary people. Real relationships. Deep investment. Jim challenged us to return to that model—because it’s actually doable.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Growth brings distraction. Programs creep in. Focus drifts. And when disciple making isn’t lived out personally, it becomes “slogans on walls instead of something happening in the halls.”

Building a Culture, Not Just a Program

Joey McLaughlin challenged how we think about discipleship.

It’s not just something you teach—it’s something you build into the culture.

Rediscover the Way of Jesus

Following Jesus was never meant to be a classroom experience. It should be an adventure—walking with Him, learning by doing, living it out together.

Culture Drives Everything

Your church can have great content, but without a culture built around disciple making, it won’t last. Culture is what we actually do—not just what we say. 

Why Movements Multiply—and Why They Don’t

Josh Howard shared what happens when disciple making shifts from addition to multiplication.

In places like India, the shift to multiplication has led to millions of disciples and thousands of churches in just a matter of years—not generations.

What’s Holding Us Back?

Three barriers stood out: weak prayer culture, too little evangelism, and a failure to equip everyday believers.

Multiplication Requires Everyone

Movements don’t happen through a few leaders. They happen when ordinary people take ownership of making disciples.

The Power of One: How Disciple Making Multiplies

Chip Pugh brought it down to something simple:

Don’t miss the one.

You don’t need a platform. You need a person.

Small Starts, Big Impact

One conversation. One relationship. One investment. Over time, that’s how multiplication happens.

You Were Made for This

Disciple making isn’t for a few—it’s for everyone. And when you take ownership, what feels small can turn into something that multiplies far beyond you.

From Programs to People: Making Disciples That Multiply

Jason Shepperd shared a hard truth—he grew up in church, knew the Bible, but never learned how to make a disciple.

Even as a pastor, he realized he had invested in the ministry… but hadn’t always invested in discipling people. So, he made a shift: from systems to relationships.

Discipleship Starts Before Conversion

Jesus didn’t separate evangelism and discipleship. It was a natural flow—good conversations, God conversations, gospel conversations. Real life. Real relationships.

If It Doesn’t Multiply, It’s Not Working

The goal isn’t what happens in church—it’s what happens after. If people aren’t living this out in their daily lives, something’s missing.

When Discipleship Is Missing, Everything Is Exposed

Robby Gallaty pointed to COVID as a wake-up call.

When church moved into homes, we realized something—we had assumed people knew how to follow Jesus, get in the Word and disciple their children… but many didn’t.

Passion Isn’t Enough

Most leaders believe in disciple making. The real question is—will you stay consistent when it gets hard? Because it will.

Don’t Do Ministry Without Intimacy

It’s possible to do a lot for Jesus… and neglect being with Him. Robby’s challenge was clear: don’t build a ministry that isn’t rooted in intimacy with Jesus.