10 Ways to Make Disciples Today
by Heather Perrin
Most of us can quote Jesus’ final words in the Gospel of Matthew, what we call “The Great Commission:”
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
What does it mean to “make disciples,” anyway?
A disciple is someone who follows the teachings of another. So to make a disciple is to teach someone how to follow your teacher - in our case, Jesus Christ. To introduce them to Jesus, and show them what it looks like to follow Him.
But we tend to overcomplicate it, don’t we? We assume that to make disciples involves a class, a program, or maybe an advanced degree. But Jesus issued these instructions to the same unlikely band of followers who had been fumbling along for three years and would soon turn the world upside down. And He issues them to us still.
Keith often reminds us at New City that the “Go” in verse 19 is better translated “As you go.” If disciple-making is what we do as we go about our regular lives, what could it look like on this very mundane Thursday, with dishes to wash, reports to file, and people asking what’s for dinner again?
The 10 ideas below are just ideas, simple ways you can practice discipleship in your home, with your kids, or with friends and coworkers. Remember, discipleship is for every person. The unbeliever needs discipleship because he needs to hear the good news about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and believe. The believer needs discipleship because he needs to grow in Christ-like maturity and be transformed by that same gospel.
And helping others live in light of the gospel doesn’t require a curriculum - it only requires our own personal love for Jesus, dependence on God’s work in people’s lives, and a little bit of practical forethought.
But this is important - do not try to do all 10. Pick one. Even if it feels too small or too easy. I mean it, don’t pick 3. Pick one, implement it, work on it until it is natural, then try another one. You’ll build the muscles of discipleship as you practice them, one rep at a time.
10 Ways To Make Disciples Today
Pray out loud
In your home: This one is surprisingly simple, but also surprisingly difficult. If it’s not something you do often, it can feel awkward. Remind yourself (and your kids) that God actually is real, and He actually is listening. Pray before meals, at bedtime, when you hear an ambulance siren, or when it’s especially beautiful outside. Normalize talking with God in the everyday stuff of life and teach your children that God is intimately involved in every detail.
With others: When a friend talks to you about a situation they’re going through or something they’re frustrated by, offer to pray for them right then. It not only communicates your care, but powerfully demonstrates that you believe God hears our cries. Also, don’t be afraid to pray in front of people, even if they’re not a part of it. Pray at your desk, in line at the grocery store, at the restaurant. Even if it feels silly, it won’t stay that way if you practice.
2. Read the Bible (or a story Bible)
In your home: Every family will have different rhythms depending on the age of their kids and their season of life, but there are a lot of ways to do this together. With littles, bedtime is a daily routine that lends itself well to a story Bible. Or if you have older kids, maybe once a week and a passage from an actual translation works better. With preteens, consider asking them to read a passage on their own and come to dinner on Tuesday (or whenever) with two questions about it. Just read it.
With others: Is there a friend you could meet with for coffee once a week and read the Bible together? You don’t have to be a teacher, just suggest reading and learning together. Asking the 4 questions (Who is God? What has He done? Who am I? What should I do?) is a simple and helpful way to approach a passage that requires very little preparation. Again, the idea to practice this in front of others applies here too. Maybe you start reading your Bible while you eat lunch in the breakroom once a week. You don’t have to start an office Bible study, just pull it out and be ready for people to ask what you’re doing.
3. Memorize Scripture together
In your home: Typically, kids can memorize way faster than adults, so take advantage of these years to hide God’s Word in their hearts. You can just choose one verse and read it every day for a month, and you’ll be surprised what everyone picks up. With really little ones, hand motions can work wonders. Come up with them together and they’ll stick even faster.
With others: Just about any spiritual discipline is strengthened by a community of like-minded people. Just the accountability of working on it with someone else will motivate and keep you invested. It’s scary to be the first one to ask, but most of us want to help each other grow. You don’t have to meet to do it, just send one another a text when you’ve got a verse down, check in weekly on how it’s going, or (if you’re brave) send voice messages with you reciting the passage.
4. Apologize and ask forgiveness
In your home: As a parent, I don’t ever want to fail my kids. But as a human, I do. So I can choose to cover it up and teach my kids that I’m not under God’s law that I teach, or I can confess, repent, and demonstrate my own need for salvation. It’s painful at times, but the last thing I want to teach my kids is that “mom doesn’t fail, so you better not either.” I am desperately needy, and I want to teach my kids how to run to Jesus when they fail too.
With others: Apologizing first in any relationship can feel like swallowing an anvil, but it is distinctively Christian behavior. To unbelievers and believers alike, the humility to apologize first reflects Christ and rejects the world.
5. Maximize meal time
In your home: Every year studies reaffirm the power of regular family meals, but they are also a great time to build a discipleship rhythm. You could use a resource like the Gospel Conversation cards (we have these on the kids’ resource shelf!), read the Lord’s Prayer, or print a list of the attributes of God with simple definitions and read one each night. You could even start a tradition of asking each person to pray before the meal, or every family member praying for the person to their right after asking for prayer requests (maybe do this during the meal, not during the hangry right-before-dinner moments). The possibilities are endless, and dinner happens (mostly) every night.
With others: While we may not have dinner with the same group of people each night, the rhythm of mealtimes is a fantastic opportunity to make disciples. Invite someone in for dinner, meet a friend out, or commit to having people over once a month. Sharing a meal is meaningful on its own, but it also provides an opportunity to ask good questions and hopefully point one another to the gospel. Intentionally talk about what you’re learning about God, or ask them a spiritual question. Again, the possibilities are endless, and everyone has to eat.
6. Sing
In your home: Did you know we have Spotify playlists of all the songs we sing, the specific songs we’re singing this week, and theologically rich (and actually enjoyable) kids' music? I don’t have to tell you how to sing with your kids in the car, while you clean, or before bed, but I do sometimes have to be reminded to actually do it. And in case you’re like me and you easily forget, it’s good for your soul too.
WIth others: If you are a person who likes to sing with others, do it! But for all of us, there’s a place where our active, loud, joyful, (even off-key) participation is a means to strengthen the faith of our neighbors: Sunday mornings. Read more here and here.
7. Bring them to church
In your home: The church is the family of God, the community of believers who stir one another up to love and good works. And while the church isn’t a building or a service, the weekly gathering is integral to the life of faith and it is a blessing to participate in. Not only is the actual service a means of discipleship, but your regular faithfulness of attending week after week teaches your kids that active participation in the family of God is important. It isn’t all we do, but it is essential.
With others: And of course, it is a great place to bring your friends who are interested in your faith. It is one of the places they can meet other believers, see and experience the gospel sung, proclaimed, and embodied, and feel the welcome of Christ’s body. Don’t underestimate the value of inviting someone to church.
8. Pay attention to what they learn at church
In your home: If your kids regularly attend our New City Kids classes, take an interest in what they are learning and reinforce it. Every class sends home an activity sheet with the memory verse, key ideas, and even occasionally an activity to do as a family. You can let these get lost in the van on the way home, or you can use them to take an active interest in what your kids are being taught. Practice the memory verse or read the story in your actual Bible or another kid's Bible during the week.
With others: OK, so your friends don’t have worksheets to review together, but you can still take an active interest in what they’re learning. If you go to lunch with friends after church, ask what stood out to them from the sermon. Or tell them what was most impactful for you. In your MC, actively participate in sermon discussion. Think about the main points beforehand and how you might apply the truths of the gospel to your own heart and how you can encourage others to do the same.
9. Serve with them
In your home: Because Christ served us, we serve others. It is part of our identity as followers of Christ, and it is deeply formational. Take a meal to a family who had a baby, offer to babysit for your foster parent friends, participate in your MC’s missional partnership. These are all things you can do alone or with your kids! And when you do, remind them why - that we have been given overflowing blessings in Christ so we respond with gratitude and love and share those good things with others.
With others: The same ideas can apply to friends and neighbors, but many of our unbelieving friends are more engaged in passionate, meaningful service than we are. We don’t set out to compete or prove anything by serving (that’s pride), but we should take stock of the places where we are apathetic or hard-hearted and ask the Lord to give us new desires. Join your friends in the places they are serving, even (and especially) in non-Christian settings. Give of your self sacrificially when you’ll get nothing in return.
10. Make conversation about God normal
There’s really no distinction here, but a desire to practice until it is normal. It doesn’t start that way, but it will be over time. We talk about the things we love, so if the gospel isn’t ready on your lips, don’t beat yourself up and try to do better. Spend time rehearsing the good news to yourself, and then tell someone what you learned. It may take a long time before it is natural, but it will never become that way if we don’t stumble through the first awkward attempts. We confess that God is the most beautiful, worthy, glorious One in the universe and that He has set His love on us because of Christ. It’s an amazing story. So take a look at it again, and then talk about it. You can’t mess it up.