How to Become a Disciple Who Makes Disciples

Spiritual growth should not stop with you.

Jesus wants His followers to make disciples.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus said:

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

That command is not only for pastors and missionaries.

Ordinary Christians can help people follow Jesus.

You do not need to know every answer.

You do not need a Bible degree.

You do not need to be a perfect Christian.

Start with what God has already taught you.

Maybe you can read the Bible with someone.

Pray with a friend.

Encourage a new Christian.

Share how Jesus changed your life.

Invite someone to church.

Teach your children about Jesus.

Help another believer understand something God has taught you.

Disciple making can begin with one person.

You do not need to wait until you know everything.

You can begin today.

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples?

A disciple who makes disciples follows Jesus and helps other people follow Him.

They learn God's Word.

They obey what Jesus teaches.

They pray.

They love others.

They share what God is doing in their lives.

They help other people grow in faith.

Then they teach those people to help someone else.

The goal is not only to grow as a Christian.

The goal is to help others grow too.

Follow Jesus.

Help someone else follow Jesus.

Then teach them to do the same.

1. You Do Not Have to Be a Pastor to Make Disciples

Sometimes people think making disciples is only for pastors, missionaries, or Bible teachers.

But Jesus gave His followers a mission.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

You do not need a title.

You do not need a large ministry.

You do not need to know every answer.

You do not need a perfect life.

You need to keep following Jesus and be willing to help someone else follow Him.

You can begin with someone in your family.

A friend.

A neighbor.

A coworker.

Or someone at church.

Ordinary Christians can take part in the mission of Jesus.

Your next step: Ask God to show you one person you could encourage in their walk with Him.

2. Start With One Person

Making disciples may sound like a big job.

But it often begins with one small step.

You do not have to gather a crowd.

You do not have to teach a long lesson.

You can begin with one person God has placed in your life.

Think about a friend.

A family member.

A neighbor.

Or someone at church.

Ask God to show you who may need help following Jesus.

Pray for that person by name.

Look for a simple way to spend time together.

You might meet for coffee.

Talk after church.

Or read the Bible together.

Do not focus on how many people you can reach.

Begin by being faithful with one person.

Your next step: Write down one name and pray for that person today.

3. Open God's Word Together

Disciple making does not need to be hard.

Open the Bible.

Read a short passage together.

Then ask:

“What does this teach us about God?”

Ask another question:

“What should we do because of what we read?”

Talk about your answers.

Pray together.

Share what God is teaching you.

Be willing to listen when the other person has questions.

You may not know every answer.

That is okay.

You can say:

“I do not know, but we can look for the answer together.”

The Bible should remain at the center of your time together.

The goal is not simply to learn more. The goal is to follow Jesus more faithfully.

4. Show Others What Following Jesus Looks Like

People learn from more than our words.

They also watch the way we live.

They notice how we speak.

How we forgive.

How we serve.

How we pray.

How we handle hard days.

A disciple maker should not only tell people what Jesus teaches.

They should seek to live what Jesus teaches.

Be honest when you struggle.

Admit when you are wrong.

Ask forgiveness when needed.

Let others see how God's Word is changing your life.

You do not have to pretend to be perfect.

Your life can help show another person what following Jesus looks like in everyday life.

Your next step: Ask yourself, “What does my life teach others about Jesus?”

5. Helping Others Grow Can Strengthen Your Faith

Something powerful can happen when you help another person follow Jesus.

You begin growing too.

You may pray more because someone is depending on you.

You may study God's Word more carefully because you want to explain it clearly.

You may pay closer attention to how you live because someone is watching your example.

Your faith begins moving beyond yourself.

You stop thinking only about your own spiritual growth.

You begin caring about the spiritual growth of others.

That is an important part of spiritual maturity.

Growing disciples do not only grow. They help other disciples grow too.

6. Teach Others to Make Disciples

Disciple making should not stop with one person.

Imagine helping one person learn to pray.

Read the Bible.

Obey Jesus.

Share their faith.

Then that person begins helping someone else.

One life touches another life.

The work keeps moving forward.

This is how disciple making can multiply.

It does not depend on one pastor doing everything.

Ordinary believers can take part in the mission of Jesus.

As someone grows in faith, encourage them to begin helping another person.

Teach them the same simple things you have been doing together.

Pray.

Read God's Word.

Obey.

Share life.

Encourage others.

A disciple who makes disciples helps others become disciple makers too.

A Simple Plan to Begin Making Disciples

You do not need a complicated program.

Start with these six steps.

1. PRAY

Ask God to show you one person who needs help following Jesus.

2. INVITE

Ask that person if they would like to meet, read the Bible, and pray together.

3. READ

Open God's Word and read a short passage.

4. OBEY

Talk about what the Bible teaches and what you should do because of it.

5. ENCOURAGE

Pray together, share life, and help one another keep following Jesus.

6. MULTIPLY

As the person grows, encourage them to begin helping someone else.

Keep it simple.

Follow Jesus. Help someone else follow Jesus. Then teach them to do the same.

Five Habits of a Disciple Who Makes Disciples

GROW — PRAY — OBEY — LOVE — MAKE DISCIPLES

Remember these five habits.

GROW — Keep learning to follow Jesus.

PRAY — Spend time with God and pray for others.

OBEY — Put God's Word into action.

LOVE — Care for people and walk beside them.

MAKE DISCIPLES — Help someone else follow Jesus and teach them to do the same.

Spiritual growth should not stop with you.

Be with Jesus. Become like Jesus. Help someone else do the same.

Not Sure How to Begin Discipling Someone?

You may want to help someone follow Jesus but still wonder where to begin.

Start small.

Pray for one person.

Invite them to meet.

Open God's Word together.

Talk about what Jesus is teaching you.

Pray together.

Encourage them to obey.

If you want a simple step-by-step guide, continue with:

How to Start Discipling Someone: 5 Simple Biblical Steps

You Do Not Need a Crowd to Make Disciples

Do not wait until you have a large group.

Do not wait until you have a classroom.

Do not wait until you feel ready to teach many people.

Disciple making can begin with one person.

One conversation.

One open Bible.

One prayer.

One faithful step.

Read next: You Don't Need a Crowd to Make Disciples

Learn More About Biblical Discipleship

Biblical discipleship begins with following Jesus.

We learn from Him.

We obey His Word.

We grow in faith.

Then we help other people follow Him.

Disciple making is not only about gaining knowledge.

It is about helping people become faithful followers of Jesus who can help others do the same.

To learn more, visit:

Biblical Discipleship: What It Means to Follow Jesus and Make Disciples

Want to Grow as a Disciple Maker?

Are you ready to help someone else follow Jesus?

The Disciple Maker — Disciples Who Make Disciples can help you grow in your understanding of biblical disciple making.

Learn why discipleship matters, how to begin, and why helping others grow should be part of your walk with Jesus.

You do not need to wait for a large ministry.

Begin with one person.

🌱 LEARN ABOUT THE DISCIPLE MAKER

A Simple Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You.

Help me grow in Your Word.

Teach me to obey what You say.

Give me a heart that loves other people.

Show me one person I can encourage.

Help me pray with them.

Read Your Word with them.

And walk beside them as they grow.

Let my life show what following You looks like.

Help me teach others to do the same.

May my spiritual growth never stop with me.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Download the Free Disciple-Making Guide

Want a simple reminder that your spiritual growth should not stop with you?

Download the free Become a Disciple Who Makes Disciples guide.

Keep it with your Bible.

Read it during your quiet time.

Share it with someone who wants to begin making disciples.

Remember:

Grow. Pray. Obey. Love. Make Disciples.

Follow Jesus.

Help someone else follow Jesus.

Then teach them to do the same.

🌱 DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Questions About Becoming a Disciple Maker

What is a disciple who makes disciples?

A disciple who makes disciples follows Jesus and helps other people follow Him. They also teach those people how to help someone else grow.

Do I need to be a pastor to make disciples?

No. Jesus calls His followers to make disciples. Ordinary Christians can help people grow in faith by reading Scripture, praying, encouraging others, and showing what following Jesus looks like.

How do I begin making disciples?

Start with one person. Pray for them. Invite them to meet. Read the Bible together. Talk about what God is teaching you and encourage one another to obey Jesus.

What if I do not know enough about the Bible?

You do not need to know every answer. You can say, “I do not know, but we can look for the answer together.”

Can disciple making begin with one person?

Yes. You do not need a classroom, large group, or ministry program. Disciple making can begin with one person God has placed in your life.

Why should disciples make other disciples?

Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples. Helping others grow allows the mission to continue as those believers learn to help still more people.

Can helping others grow strengthen my own faith?

Yes. As you help someone, you may pray more, study Scripture more carefully, and pay closer attention to how you live.

How does disciple making multiply?

One Christian helps another follow Jesus. That person begins helping someone else. Then those believers continue helping others grow.

Take Your First Step Toward Making Disciples Today

Do not wait until you feel ready.

You may never feel fully ready.

Start with what you know.

Share what Jesus has done in your life.

Read Scripture with someone.

Pray with them.

Encourage them to obey what God shows them.

Remember the words of Jesus:

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

Ask yourself one question today:

“Who can I help take one step closer to Jesus?”

Write down one name.

Pray for that person.

Then take one simple step.

You do not need a crowd.

You do not need to know everything.

You only need to begin.

Follow Jesus.

Help someone else follow Jesus.

Then teach them to do the same.

Be with Jesus. Become like Jesus. Help someone else do the same.

About James Constable

James Constable is a Christian author, pastor, teacher, and disciple maker. His writing helps Christians follow Jesus, grow in God's Word, become faithful disciples, and help others follow Him.