MAKING

DISCIPLES
CONTENTS
1. What is Discipleship? ……………………… 1
2. Discipleship Principles …………………….. 5
3. Discipleship Priorities ……………………… 11
4. The Discipleship Process ………………….. 15
5. How to Lead
Discipleship Groups …………………….….. 19
6. How to Start the
Discipleship Process ……………………..… 29

Appendix
A. How to Become a Disciple …………………37
B. The Discipleship Wheel …………………….40
C. Answers ……………………………………..41
 In 1990, because of growing pains and the desire to reach unbelievers more
INTRODUCTION effectively, we developed what is now being called the “Ephesians 4:12 Strategy”
for discipleship and church growth. This strategy has enabled our church to
consistently grow in numbers, strength, and influence. It has enabled us to
Discipleship is not supposed to be complicated. Difficult sometimes, complicated
empower thousands of ordinary believers to make disciples in small groups all
never. Two thousand years ago, it was so simple that a carpenter explained it to
over Metro Manila.
uneducated fishermen in one sentence (Matthew 4:19). The fishermen
understood it, acted on it, and they changed the world. If modern discipleship is
The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy is not just a Filipino phenomenon. It is being applied
confusing or complicated, it is because we have strayed from the biblical pattern
underground in closed Communist nations like China and Vietnam. It has been an
that Jesus and the original twelve modeled for us.
effective evangelism strategy in Muslim nations like Iran and Bangladesh. It has
brought many Buddhists to Christ in Thailand and Myanmar. And it is also
For Jesus, discipleship was and is top priority. Yes, he fed the hungry and healed
bearing fruit in western Christian or post-Christian cities like London, Nashville,
the sick, but He always gave the twelve disciples His prime time. His final word
and Washington, D.C. If applied with wisdom, consistency, and prayer, it will
to them before He ascended into heaven was a commission not just to be
bear fruit in your city and on your campus, too.
disciples, but to make disciples. Like the original followers of Jesus, we are
supposed to be disciples and we are supposed to make disciples. In other words,
we are supposed to follow Jesus and we are supposed to help others follow Him.
Steve Murrell
Manila, Philippines
The problem is that while most Christians agree that discipleship is important,
June 2005
even essential for Christian maturity, precious few have a clear strategy for
discipleship. Even fewer have a simple definition for discipleship.

Making Disciples was written in part to give a simple, biblical definition of

discipleship, rather than a complicated theological definition based on a particular
church tradition. It was also written to present a clear discipleship process that
any church can adapt to meet its evangelism, discipleship, and maturity needs.
And finally, it was written to help individuals and churches get started in the
discipleship process in a way that will ensure maximum fruitfulness.

Since 1990, the church I pastor in the Philippines has been built around the
discipleship principles presented here. The church was originally established in
1984 and for the first six years grew through a combination of special outreach
events and one-to-one discipleship.
 1 What is
Discipleship?
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
MATTHEW 4:19
D iscipleship. All Christians know it is important, but few know exactly what it
means. Even fewer have a clear strategy to make disciples. By looking at
Jesus in the Gospels, we can see a clear discipleship strategy and pattern.
When Jesus calls a person to be His disciple, He issues a three-fold call.
1. Discipleship is a call to ______________________________________.(1)
The starting point of being a disciple is to follow Jesus.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19
13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they
came to him. 14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles[a]—that they
might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.
Mark 3:13-14
The first twelve disciples were able to physically follow Jesus as He ministered
around Galilee. During Paul’s time, Jesus was no longer walking the earth in flesh
and blood. Paul taught the Corinthian believers to follow Jesus by imitating and
following godly people.
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many
fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I
urge you to imitate me.
2. Discipleship is a call to ___________________(2)
1 Corinthians 4:15-16
for___________________. (3)
Jesus expects all who follow Him to reach out to the lost.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Mark 1:17
Following Jesus does not mean we cut off all contact with non-Christians.
Rather, it means we actively seek to introduce them to Jesus. Matthew
answered the call to discipleship and immediately had a party at his house to
introduce his friends to Jesus.
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax
collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed
him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors
and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees
saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
and ‘sinners’?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a
doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not
sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13
3. Discipleship is a call to ___________________(4) with other believers.
None of the original disciples attempted to follow Jesus alone. Following Jesus
meant following along with other disciples. In time, as they walked with Jesus
and with each other in close fellowship, their relationships developed into a
spiritual family.
Biblical fellowship is more than greeting a few church members in the lobby PERSONAL APPLICATION
before or after a worship service. Real fellowship means Christ-centered What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?
community.
____________________________________________________________
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. ____________________________________________________________
Acts 2:42
____________________________________________________________
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
1 John 1:7

26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing
nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the
disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his
home.
John 19:26-27

In summary, the call to discipleship is a call to build relationships with God, God’s
people, and lost people.

• The call to follow is a call to build relationship with

___________________.(5)
• The call to fish is a call to build relationships with
___________________(6) people.
• The call to fellowship is a call to build relationships with God’s
___________________.(7)
 2. A ________________- based discipleship strategy

2
Most of the best discipleship material is produced by para-church ministries.

Discipleship The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy is designed to work in a local church.

Foundational Discipleship Principles

Principles
Following are four foundational discipleship principles that are essential for the
Ephesians 4:12 Strategy to work. These principles are timeless and apply to all
cultures and church sizes.

1. Every church, every ministry, and every discipleship group can

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up…
EPHESIANS 4:11-12
_____________________. (3)
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he
who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things
grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and
each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

M ost Christians agree that making disciples should be top priority. Many fail
to make disciples because they do not know how to start or what to do.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8

The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy gives a clear starting point and direction to the
discipleship process.
What is the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy?
1. A ________________ - based church growth
strategy
There are many ways to grow a church. Few are
discipleship-based. While excellent worship,
preaching, community service, kids’ ministry, and
other traditional pillars of church growth are
important, the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy sinks or
swims on small group discipleship.
• v. 6 plant, water, ______________________ (4)
• v. 7 plant, water, ______________________ (5)
• v. 8 plant, water, one _____________________ (6)
The one purpose of planting and watering is growth. The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy
DISCIPLESHIP will help every church, every ministry, and every discipleship group consistently
grow:
Many Christians feel quite content
to allow paid clergymen and staff
to do all the work. “After all,” they
may ask, “if I am not a preacher or • _____________________(7)
missionary or something of the
kind, how can I be properly • _____________________(8)
engaged in ministry?” The answer
lies in their seeing the Great • More _____________________(9)
Commission as a lifestyle
encompassing the total resources
of every child of God. Here the
ministry of Christ comes alive in
the day-by-day activity of
discipling.
Robert Coleman
The Master Plan of Discipleship, 1998
2. Every disciple should make _____________________(10)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Matthew 28:18-19
• No matter where you _____________________(11)
• No matter what your _____________________(12)
• No matter when you were _____________________(13)
Too often, we act like only full-time ministers or people who have been
Christians for a long time can make disciples. The Apostolic Mandate to make
disciples (Matthew 28) was originally given to men who had questioned, doubted,
and even denied Jesus. Spiritual progress, not perfection, qualifies a person to
make disciples.
3. Every minister should prepare others to _____________________ (14)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people
for works of service...”
EPHESIANS 4:11-12
The Protestant Reformation emphasized the priesthood of all believers, restoring
the biblical pattern of relating to God. The modern church needs a “Discipleship
Reformation” that will emphasize the ministry of all believers, restoring the
biblical pattern of ministry. The job of the “minister” is to prepare others to
minister, not to do all the ministry.
One goal of the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy GOAL OF
is to get ministry out of the hands of EPHESIANS 4:12 STRATEGY
the experts and into the hands of every
believer. One goal of the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy
is to get the ministry out of the hands of
the experts and into the hands of every
believer.
Three Levels of Preparation
• God prepares good works for us in advance.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
• Spiritual leaders prepare us for good works through discipleship.
…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up…
Ephesians 4:12
• We prepare ourselves for good works by keepingour lives clean.
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble
purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
2 Timothy 2:21
All three levels of preparation are necessary for us to be and do all God has
called us to be and do.
4. Every soul is valuable to _____________________(15)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Value is determined by the price one is willing to pay. God paid the ultimate
price to redeem lost souls. Since God places such a high value on lost people, we
must learn to see them the way He sees them.
 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36

When we see people the way God sees them, we will have compassion on them
and we will see that they are:

• _____________________ , (16)
• _____________________ , (17) and
• ripe for _____________________.(18)

PERSONAL APPLICATION
What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
 3
Discipleship
Priorities
19“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:19,20
W hat are we trying to accomplish in the discipleship process? What are our
goals? If we do not understand basic discipleship priorities, the Ephesians
4:12 will become just another lifeless church program. The following five
priorities represent what we are trying to accomplish in the discipleship process.
Five Discipleship Priorities
1. ________________________ (1)
The first goal of discipleship is to establish spiritual foundations in the life of each
disciple. The following scriptures teach three important truths about foundations.
• Obedience establishes spiritual foundations.
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came
down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it
did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:24,25
• Jesus is the only foundation.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11
•
Repentance is foundational.
Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:
"The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of
the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
2 Timothy 2:19
2. _________________________(2)
One goal of discipleship is freedom from all destructive habits and sin patterns.
Discipleship produces breakthrough when we realize that freedom comes from
Jesus.
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:17,18
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:36
3. _______________________(3)
Faith was always an issue when Jesus discipled the twelve. He stretched their
faith, commended people with faith, and corrected those with little faith.
. . . for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has
overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were
called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him 5. ________________________(5)
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Jesus expected His disciples not just to follow Him, but to walk with one another.
Hebrews 11:6 He spoke of them as family.

4. ________________________(4) 47Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to
Since we believe that every disciple should make disciples, one goal of discipleship speak to you.”48He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my
is fruitfulness. John 15 speaks of five levels of fruitfulness. brothers?” 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister
• No Fruit and mother.”
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit . . . “ Matthew 12:47-50
John 15:2
Paul used family terms such as father, brother, and mother to describe
• Fruit discipleship relationships.
“. . . while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes . . .”
11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own
John 15:2
children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who
• More Fruit calls you into his kingdom and glory.
“. . . while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12
more fruitful.”
John 15:2 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's
people and members of God's household,
• Much Fruit Ephesians 2:19
5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he

will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. PERSONAL APPLICATION
. . . 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?
be my disciples.”
John 15:5, 8 ____________________________________________________________

• Lasting fruit ____________________________________________________________

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-
____________________________________________________________
-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
John 15:16
 4 The Discipleship
Process
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach
others.
2 TIMOTHY 2:2
H aving looked at the priorities, we can now turn to the process of discipleship.
The priorities are what we hope to accomplish in discipleship. The process is
how we will go about accomplishing the priorities of discipleship.
The Discipleship Process
The process of Discipleship in the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy is built on the five E’s:
1. __________________________________________(1) God
Because we were all created for an intimate relationship with God, prayer and
worship is where we encounter and intimately know the Holy Spirit.
37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind.’38This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37, 38
Once we encounter the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to reach out to the lost and
make disciples.
2. ________________________________________(2) the lost
It is important to understand that the discipleship process begins with evangelism.
When Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew
28:18, 19), they did not interpret this to mean that they should help people who
were already following Jesus to follow Him better. They knew they were sent to
the world, not to the church, but to make disciples.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Acts 1:8
Luke 19:10
3. ____________________________(3) new believers
It is not enough to evangelize the lost. If we want to make disciples, we must help
establish them in faith, in the Word, and in the church.
“Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus
Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,”
Romans 16:25
“if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out
in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every
creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
Colossians 1:23
4. _________________________(4 ) to minister
The discipleship process begins with evangelism and establishing, but it must not
end there. In order to make disciples, we must equip all the believers to minister.
“11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works
of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Ephesians 4:11, 12
5. _______________________(5) to make disciples
If we equip without empowering, we will have frustrated disciples. The whole point
of equipping to minister is so that each disciple will be empowered to make
disciples.
 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the PROCESS GOALS TOOLS/
ENVIRONMENT
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19, 20 Bible
ENCOUNTER with God Personal Prayer Devotion
(Matthew 22:37-38) Intimacy Soaking in the River
The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy in a local church Prayer Meeting
Applying the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy to a local church greatly simplifies church
administration and activities. As the following chart shows, there are only six basic
Bible
church activities in the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy: outreach groups, leadership groups, One 2 One
worship services, River Weekend, Spiritual Family Class, and Making Disciples EVANGELIZE the Lost
One Verse Evangelism
Life Groups
Seminar. (Acts 1:8 & Luke 19:10) Preach the Gospel
Outreaches
Campus
Community
Corporate

Life Groups
Life Group Materials
Spiritual Family
ESTABLISH new believers Establish in the Faith, Purple Book
(Matthew 7:24-27 & 1 Corinthians 3:10) the Word, Prayer and Purple Book Study Guide
Church River Weekend
Preparing for Victory
Experiencing Victory

EQUIP believers to minister Life Groups

Equip in Basic Ministry Making Disciples
(Matthew 4:19 & Ephesians 4:11-12)
Skills

EMPOWER disciples Life Groups

Make Disciples with
to make disciples Empowering Leaders
Confidence and
(Matthew 28:19-20 & 2 Timothy 2:2) Internship Process
Competence
Commissioning
PERSONAL APPLICATION
What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
 5 How to Lead
An Ephesians 4:12 Discipleship Group is not a . . .
Discipleship
Groups
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and
sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them,
saying…
MATTHEW 5:1-2
J esus made disciples in small groups(life groups). He also ministered to the
individual disciple when the need arose. Life group discipleship versus one-on-
People in a healthy life group may meet needs, study the Bible, and fellowship
with each other, but the primary purpose is to make disciples.
one discipleship is not either-or, but both-and. Jesus did both. Rather than
discipling twelve men individually and independently of each other, Jesus built a
team spirit into His disciples. When one needed private ministry, Jesus
ministered to the man privately, but most of their discipleship was a group
project. It is not enough for disciples to relate to Jesus, they must relate to each
other. If we want to get past addition to multiplication, then we must minister to
the twelve and to the one, to the group and to the individual.
What is a Healthy Ephesians 4:12
Discipleship Group?
Just as a human body consists of small cells, the church body is made of life
groups. Everyone agrees about the nature of a biological cell, but there are many
different ideas about church cells or discipleship groups. To understand the
Ephesians 4:12 Strategy, we must understand what a discipleship group is and
what it is not.
• Need-focused care group where each person comes to talk about
problems and receive personal pastoral care.
• Leader-centered Bible study where each person comes to listen to and
learn from a Bible expert.
• Fellowship-based social time where each person comes to meet Christian
friends.
• Spiritual gift experiment group where people can try out spiritual gifts on
each other.
• Accountability group where everyone goes through a spiritual checklist.
• Home group where food is served and whole families gather for
fellowship.
• Mini-church service complete with worship, offerings, and preaching.
• The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy utilizes two types of
discipleship groups:
______________________(1)
We need to reach out to every sector of the society. Our
outreaches are focused on three main sectors of the society:
• The CAMPUS is the ground where the nation’s future
leaders are studying.
• The COMMUNITY is where the family, the basic unit of
society is located.
• The CORPORATE is where the marketplace people are
found.
______________________(2) groups
A life group is a combination of non-believers, new believers and
mature believers. The goal is to equip and empower them to do
the great commission.
 • The LEADERSHIP group is a life group where individuals answer. If the lesson takes more than one meeting to complete, use a different
who has the potential of being a leader are trained. This is warm-up question each week.
where they are empowered to be the next life group leaders.
W O R D9”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on

Good warm-up questions: earth, where moth and rust destroy, and
where thieves break in and steal. 20But
• The life group in the Ephesians 4:12 Strategy exists store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

• Have no right or wrong answers where moth and rust do not destroy, and

for one reason:

where thieves do not break in and steal.
21For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also.”

• Ask for opinion or experience Matthew 6:19-21

Money is much more than an economic

issue; it is a heart issue. Jesus said,

•
where your treasurer is, there your heart

To make ____________________ (3) Require no Bible knowledge will be also. Two-thirds of Jesus’
parables addressed to money. There
are over 700 direct references to
money in the Bible. Why is money such

• Are not controversial a popular subject in the Bible? Because

money is a window into the heart.

OUTREACH LIFE GROUP How we handle money exposes the

values and priorities of our heart.

• Are connected to the Bible study topic Following are biblical warnings
concerning money.
Who open to all open to all 1. Money is dangerous.
9People who want to get rich fall into

temptation and a trap and into many

Size Limit
foolish and harmful desires that plunge
None twelve 2. _________________ (5) (10-15 minutes) men into ruin and destruction.10For the
love of money Is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have
The Word time is a short and practical Bible teaching wandered from the faith and pierced

Time Limit
themselves with griefs.
sixty minutes ninety minutes 1 timothy 6:9,10

on the text or topic of the week. This brief teaching is 8 Money many money

Purpose grow the group grow the leader followed by a time of personal application where each person is encouraged
to share how they will put the lesson into practice. During the warm-up and
Gender Open men-men, women-women
personal application, everyone is encouraged to talk, but during the Word
Where Anywhere anywhere time, only the leader talks.

When Anytime anytime

Each lesson begins with key verses and introductory comments which can be read
Process evangelize and establish equip and empower out loud or summarized. Don’t pretend to be an expert or a Bible know-it-all.
How much of the Bible you obey is more important than how much you know.
How to Lead an Outreach
The outreach is the starting point of the discipleship process, which is designed to Tips: USING AN LIFE GROUP MATERIAL
• The outreach meeting is more
introduce people to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. In leading an
than a Bible study. It requires a
outreach we can use a verse on the Bible or a life group material. An E412 good leader, not an expert Each lesson has several main points,
outreach has four parts: teacher. followed by a verse, comments, and
• Let the Bible speak for itself. questions. These questions are not
1. ____________________ (4) (10-15 minutes) • Remember, the goal is to designed to be asked during the
Each outreach begins with a warm-up question. The warm-up is designed to give minister to the needs of the outreach meeting. Rather, they are
everyone a chance to speak and to get to know each other. Each lesson in the people, not to finish a Bible to help the leader to prepare the
lesson and to think of ways to
life group material includes two or three warm-up questions. Use only one lesson.
communicate the point.
warm-up question each meeting. The outreach leader should introduce the
warm-up question, designate who will answer first, and encourage everyone to
 • Be led by the Spirit, not the material.
• Use illustrations and tell stories to explain the Bible verses.
• Some lessons are too long to complete in one discipleship meeting. Take
two, three, or four weeks if necessary.
3. Personal _____________________ (6) (10-15 minutes)
In an outreach, we teach the Bible so people can do it, not so they can know it.
The whole point of teaching is for practical and personal application.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man
who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has
heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:22-25
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall,
because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house
on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
Tips:
OUTREACH TIMETABLE
• Most lessons include several
Warm-up ……….. 10-15 minutes
application questions.
• Choose only one. Word …………… 10-15 minutes
• Feel free to add your own Application ……… 10-15 minutes
questions. Prayer …………… 10-15 minutes
• An effective standby application question can always be used is: “What
did you learn from this lesson and how will it affect your life?”
• Ask the application question and designate who will answer first.
• Do not allow people to argue or be critical of others.
• Remind everyone to apply the lesson to their own life, not someone
else’s.
• Outreach leaders must cry out for wisdom to know when to balance or
correct weird and unbiblical applications. Insensitive correction or
criticism can kill the group, as can unchecked heresy.
4. ____________________ (7) (10-15 minutes)
Prayer is probably the most important part of the outreach. Make sure you spent
plenty of time left so your prayer time is not rushed. This is not a “closing
prayer,” but a time to take specific requests to God.
Tips: LOOK WHO’S TALKING
• The prayer time may begin with a brief
Warm-up …….... Everyone
reporting of answers to prayers to Word …………..Leader Only
encourage and build the faith of each one Application ……. Everyone
Prayer …………. Everyone
present.
• Keep your prayers simple, sincere, and short. Most non-believers have
never heard an ordinary Christian just talk to God, and will be touched
by the sincerity and simplicity.
• Conversational prayer, not intercessory warfare prayer. Remember, your
group will include new believers and unbelievers who will probably be
scared and confused by “strongholds,” “territorial spirits,” “binding and
loosing,” and other common phrases used in warfare prayer.
Conversational prayer is generally thanksgiving and petition. No shouting
at strongholds or binding devils; plenty of thanks, adoration, and specific
petition.
• Spend your time praying for one another, not sharing prayer requests.
Because of the inordinate amount of time spent discussing prayer
 requests, many prayer meetings should be called “prayer request
meetings.”
• Don’t preach, pray. Encourage each person to pray simple sentence
prayers, not loud sermon prayers or long dissertations on theology
addressed to God, somehow designed to impress less spiritual. There is
a time and place for everything. The celebration service is the place for
prayer.
• Pray in a language that people can understand. No foreign languages,
tongues of angels, or hyper-religious jargon.
• Listen! Keep one ear turned to whoever is praying at the moment and
the other to the Holy Spirit. Listen carefully during the warm-up and
application time for things that may need prayer.
• Be creative. Don’t pray in the same way and order every time.
• Expect God to answer your prayers.
How to Lead a Life Group
A life group meeting lasts from sixty to ninety minutes every week to help one
another follow Jesus, fish for people, and fellowship with other believers. It takes
the disciples on journey to Encounter God, to Evangelize the lost, to Establish
them in Word, Faith and Prayer, to Equip them to make help others follow Jesus,
and to Empower them to make disciples. A life group usually has 3 parts:
1. ____________ people to Follow Jesus (8)
Discipleship is a journey to know Christ more and more. The goal of discipleship
is not just to teach truths found in the Word of God but to apply this truths in
order to bring transformation in our lives. We encourage the members of the
group to apply the truths in their lives.
2. ____________ everyone to have Fellowship with Others (9)
This is a time for every member to give testimonies, updates, and reports from
what happened to them within the week to encourage one another with their
walk with Jesus. It is also a time to share frustrations and problems in their life
groups. Many times it is not the group leader who has the answer to the
problem, but another member of the group who has overcome a similar situation.
Remember the goal is to develop relationship with one another.
3. ____________ everyone to Fish for People (10)
In the life group we empower everyone to fish for people. We do this by
encouraging each one to be involved in the outreaches where the fishes are or to
start one whether campus, corporate or community.
Preparing for the Life Group Meeting
Leading a life group well requires preparation for the life group meeting. Here are
some tips:
• Choose the material you will use for your group, either sermon-based
material or the life group materials. Using the life group material is the same
as using the outreach material.
• Spend time reading and meditating on the Scriptures.
• Choose the questions that will best fit your group.
• Pray for those who will attend and ask God to use you to minister to them
and for them to grow in their relationship with God.
• Remind the group about the schedule/venue.
How to Kill a Discipleship Group
The Ephesians 4:12 Strategy of outreach groups and leadership groups work in
small churches and large churches, in Asian nations and European nations. As
simple as it is, there are several proven ways to fail. The following lessons were
learned the hard way:
1. No mixing ______________(11) with discipleship
2. No mixing ______________(12) with discipleship
3. No ______________(13) ministry to the opposite sex.
4. No ______________.(14)

5. No borrowing ______________.(15)

6. No ______________(16) of para-church ministries or any event,

spiritual or secular, through the small groups.

7. No ______________(17) speakers.

8. No receiving ______________(18) and offerings.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
 6
How to Start
the Discipleship
Process
41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell
him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he
brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon
son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is
Peter]).
JOHN 1:41, 42
T he outreach is the heart and soul of Ephesians 4:12 Strategy for discipleship-
based church growth. If the outreaches are healthy, then the disciples will
multiply. If the outreaches become ingrown, then the whole system shuts
down. The purpose of small group ministry is to make disciples, and discipleship
begins with evangelism.
The Right Attitude
Evangelism must be more than a method or a message to be effective. We must
have the right attitude.
1. Attitude of _____________________ (1)
• Evangelism is about restoring relationships.
18Allthis is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18,19
2. Attitude of an _____________________ (2)
• Evangelism is about representing Christ.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his
20
appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20
3. Attitude of _____________________ (3)
• Evangelism is about reaching out to others.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and
“sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.11 When the Pharisees saw this,
they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the
sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13
The Right Focus
Rather than attempting random acts of evangelism targeting strangers, outreach
groups focus on relational evangelism, especially:
1. _____________________ (4)
Evangelism is in the New Testament was not just about the individual, but also
the family.
13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to
Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which
you and all your household will be saved.’
Acts 11:13, 14
15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to
her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at
my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15
 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your Who are the Lost?
household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others When Jesus sent His twelve disciples into the ripe harvest fields, He told them to
in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their go to the lost.
wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer
brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among
because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of
Acts 16:31-34 Israel.
Matthew 10:5, 6
8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and
many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. In the same way, we are also called to the lost. But, who are lost? Jesus
Acts 18:8 compared the lost in need of a Savior to the sick who needs a doctor. Who are
the sick and lost that we are to reach?
2. _____________________ (5)
The best place to start making disciples is with people who know and trust us. • Unsaved
Matthew and Cornelius are good examples for us to follow.
• Unchurched
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax • Backsliders
collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed
him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors • _____________________ (6) and counterfeits
and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw • _____________________ (7) sheep
this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
‘sinners’?” • _____________________ (8) sheep
Matthew 9:9-11 • _____________________ (9) sheep
• _____________________ (10) sheep
23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter • _____________________ (11) sheep
started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The
following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had • Sheep without _____________________ (12)

called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 10:23, 24
How to Start an Outreach The VIP Prayer List
The goal of the outreach is to make disciples by reaching the lost, beginning with The following worksheet is designed to help identify people who will patiently be
lost friends and family. There are three keys to getting off to the right start: interested in your outreach group.

1. _____________________ (13) two or three others who desire to make

disciples by reaching the lost.
RELATIVES
Your outreach can start with a maximum of four (you and three others). It will ___________________ OLD FRIENDS AND
grow as the four of you pray for and reach out to lost friends, family, and SOCIAL CONTACTS
(Sports, Clubs, Hobbies)
___________________
___________________
FAMILY FRIENDS
____________________
acquaintances. ____________________ ___________________ ____________________
____________________ ___________________
2. _____________________ (14) for your lost friends, family members, ____________________ ___________________
____________________
____________________
and acquaintances. ____________________
____________________
___________________
___________________
____________________
____________________
At the first meeting, each member of the new outreach will make a list of at least ____________________ ___________________ ____________________
____________________ ___________________
ten friends, family members, or acquaintances who are not active church ____________________ ___________________
____________________
____________________
members. The group will fast and pray together for one month, specifically ____________________
____________________
___________________ ____________________
____________________
praying for the needs of these people. ____________________ ____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
3. _____________________(15) friends, family, and acquaintances to your ____________________
outreach group. ____________________
CHURCH VISITORS
After four weeks of prayer and fasting, some of the people you are praying for ___________________
___________________
will be more open to the gospel and will be more interested in visiting your small ___________________
___________________
group. ___________________
YOU ___________________
OFFICE MATES OR
CLASSMATES ___________________
(Note: “Outreach” is a term we use internally. We never invite a person to an ____________________ ___________________
___________________
outreach. We invite them to a “Bible study” or a particular topic that might ____________________
____________________ ___________________
interest them, or we invite them to a “men’s group,” a “prayer group,” or a ____________________
____________________
___________________

“women’s fellowship.”) ____________________

____________________
____________________
____________________ NEIGHBORS MISC. CONTACTS
____________________ ____________________ (Barber, Tailor, Dentist)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
PERSONAL APPLICATION
What did you learn from this lesson and how will you apply it to your life?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________
Appendix A 2. Confess Jesus as Lord.
There can be no discipleship without Lordship. Submission to Christ as Lord is
____________________________________________________ starting point.

HOW TO BECOME That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart

A DISCIPLE that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Before we can make disciples, we must be disciples. Here are four basic steps to But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
becoming His disciple: answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect,
1. Count the cost.
1 Peter 3:15
Jesus made it clear that there would be a price to pay to follow Him. He warned
all followers to count the cost before starting the discipleship journey.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him . . .
27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my Colossians 2:6
disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down
and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 1. Choose God’s will and God’s people
Luke 14:27, 28 Discipleship means we choose God’s will over our own.
4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great
“If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes
endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and
from God or whether I speak on my own.”
riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience
John 7:17
and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the
power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the
Discipleship also means choosing God’s people. When Matthew chose to follow
left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet
Jesus, he was also choosing to follow along with Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live
If we want to follow Jesus, we must follow along with others who also follow
on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making
Him.
many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God
rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
Hebrews 11:24,25
2. Carry your cross.
The cross was an instrument of death. As we follow Jesus, we must carry our
own cross and continually die to sin and self.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone
would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me.
Mark 8:34

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23

18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many
live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is
their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18, 19
Appendix B Appendix C
THE DISCIPLESHIP WHEEL
ANSWERS
The following illustrations were developed by Dr. Greg Mitchell, pastor of the CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 6
Every Nation church in Vancouver, Canada, to help explain the discipleship What is Discipleship? The Discipleship Process How to Start the
1. Follow Jesus 1. Encounter Discipleship Process
process. 2. Fish 2. Evangelize 1. Reconciliation
3. Men 3. Establish 2. Ambassador
4. Fellowship 4. Equip 3. Friendship
5. God 5. Empower 4. Family
6. Lost 5. Friends
7. People CHAPTER 5 6. Compromisers
How to lead Discipleship 7. Lost
CHAPTER 2 Groups 8. Sick
Discipleship Process 1. Outreach 9. Starving
1. Discipleship 2. Life Group 10. Abused
2. Church 3. Disciples 11. Wandering
3. Grow 4. Warm-up 12. Shepherds
4. Grow 5. Word 13. Identify
5. Grow 6. Application 14. Intercede
6. Purpose 7. Prayer 15. Invite
7. Stronger 8. Lead
8. Larger 9. Encourage
9. Influential 10. Empower
10. Disciples 11. Business
11. Work 12. Politics
The Process of Transformation 12. Age 13. Private
13. Saved 14. Matchmaking
FAITH 14. Minister 15. Money
15. God 16. Promotion
16. Harassed 17. Guest
17. Helpless 18. Tithes
18. Harvest

CHAPTER 3
TRUTH Discipleship Priorities
1. Foundations
2. Freedom
3. Faith
4. Fruitfulness
5. Family

REPENTANCE
Process of Spiritual Growth