How to Start Discipling Someone

You may want to make disciples but wonder where to begin.

The good news is that discipleship does not have to be complicated.

You do not need to be a pastor, Bible teacher, or expert.

You simply need to love Jesus, keep growing, and be willing to help someone else grow.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

Making disciples begins when we take what Jesus is teaching us and share it with someone else.

You can begin with five simple steps:

PRAY → INVITE → READ → SHARE → MULTIPLY

You do not need a complicated program.

Start with one person.

How Do You Start Discipling Someone?

Start by praying for one person who wants to grow closer to Jesus.

Invite that person to meet with you regularly.

Open the Bible together.

Talk honestly about life.

Pray together.

Encourage each other to obey what Jesus teaches.

Then, as that person grows, help them begin doing the same thing with someone else.

Discipleship is not about knowing every answer.

It is about following Jesus together and helping another person grow.

1. Pray for One Person

Before you choose someone to disciple, pray.

Ask God to show you a person who is hungry to grow.

It may be a friend.

A family member.

A coworker.

A neighbor.

Or someone from church.

Do not look for the perfect person.

Look for someone who wants to know Jesus better.

Jesus prayed before choosing His disciples. Prayer should also be part of our first step.

You do not need a list of ten people.

Start with one.

Your next step: Ask God today, “Lord, who is one person I could help follow Jesus?”

2. Invite Them to Meet

You do not need a complicated program.

Simply ask:

“Would you like to meet each week, read the Bible, pray, and grow in our walk with Jesus together?”

That is enough to begin.

You can meet at a coffee shop.

You can meet at church.

You can meet in your home.

You can even meet over the phone.

The place is not the most important thing.

The relationship is.

Do not worry about making the invitation perfect.

Be honest and simple.

Your next step: Once God puts someone on your heart, invite that person to meet with you.

3. Open the Bible Together

God's Word should be at the center of discipleship.

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

You do not need to prepare a long Bible lesson.

Read a short passage together.

Then ask simple questions:

What does this teach us about God?

What is God showing us?

Is there something we need to obey?

Who can we share this truth with?

Talk about the answers together.

You do not need to have every answer.

Learn together.

The Bible—not the disciple maker—should remain at the center of the relationship.

Want help learning how to read Scripture this way? Read How to Read and Apply God's Word to Your Life.

4. Pray and Share Life Together

Discipleship is more than studying the Bible.

Share what is happening in your lives.

Talk about struggles.

Talk about victories.

Talk about questions.

Talk about decisions.

Encourage each other to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Then pray together.

Prayer teaches us to depend on God instead of ourselves.

Discipleship is not simply passing information from one person to another.

It is helping each other live what Jesus teaches.

Your next step: During your next meeting, ask, “What is one area of your life where you need prayer this week?”

5. Help Them Disciple Someone Else

The goal is not for someone to depend on you forever.

The goal is multiplication.

Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV)
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Look at the pattern:

Paul helped Timothy.

Timothy helped others.

Those people were taught to help still more people.

That is biblical discipleship.

As the person you are discipling grows, encourage them to begin praying for someone they can help.

Eventually, they can invite another person to read the Bible, pray, and grow with them.

You are not trying to make someone dependent on you.

You are helping them become a disciple who can make another disciple.

Remember These Five Steps

Pray. Invite. Read. Share. Multiply.

If disciple making feels complicated, remember these five words:

PRAY — Ask God for one person.

INVITE — Meet and build a relationship.

READ — Open the Bible together.

SHARE — Talk, encourage, pray, and grow.

MULTIPLY — Help them disciple someone else.

You do not need a complicated system.

What Should a Discipleship Meeting Look Like?

Keep the meeting simple.

You can use this basic plan:

1. Talk about life.

Ask how the person is doing. Talk about struggles, victories, questions, and decisions.

2. Pray.

Ask God to guide your time together.

3. Read the Bible.

Choose a short passage and read it together.

4. Ask simple questions.

What does this teach us about God?

What is God showing us?

What should we obey?

Who could we share this with?

5. Choose a next step.

Ask what each of you will do because of what you learned.

6. Pray again.

Pray for each other and for someone else you can help follow Jesus.

You do not have to make the meeting complicated.

Keep Jesus and God's Word at the center.

What If Someone Asks a Question I Cannot Answer?

You do not need to know everything before you disciple someone.

Your original guide says:

“You do not need to have every answer. Learn together.”

If you do not know an answer, say so.

Then look at Scripture together.

You can study the question before your next meeting.

Discipleship does not mean pretending to know everything.

You are a follower of Jesus helping another person follow Jesus.

Keep learning together.

First, Keep Following Jesus Yourself

You cannot help someone follow Jesus while ignoring your own walk with Him.

Keep spending time with Jesus.

Keep reading God's Word.

Keep praying.

Keep obeying.

Keep growing.

Then share what Jesus is teaching you with someone else.

Read next: What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?

Why Should Christians Make Disciples?

Jesus did not tell disciple making to remain only with pastors, missionaries, or Bible teachers.

His command was:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” — Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

Your first step does not have to be large.

It can begin with one person.

If you want to understand this calling more deeply, continue with:

Why Every Christian Is Called to Make Disciples

Learn More About Biblical Discipleship

Disciple making begins with following Jesus and helping someone else do the same.

Biblical discipleship includes learning from Jesus, obeying His Word, growing together, and multiplying disciples.

To see the larger biblical picture, continue with:

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

Ready to Go Deeper Into Disciple Making?

Starting with one person can become the beginning of something much bigger.

The Disciple Maker — Disciples Who Make Disciples was written to help Christians understand biblical disciple making and move from simply following Jesus to helping others follow Him.

If you are ready to grow as a disciple maker, this book can help you take the next step.

🌱 LEARN ABOUT THE DISCIPLE MAKER

Download the Free Printable Guide

Want a simple guide you can keep with your Bible or use with someone you are discipling?

Download the free How to Start Discipling Someone guide.

Use it to remember the five simple steps:

Pray. Invite. Read. Share. Multiply.

🌱 DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Questions About Discipling Someone

Do I need to be a pastor to disciple someone?

No. You do not need to be a pastor, Bible teacher, or expert. You need to love Jesus, keep growing, and be willing to help someone else grow. 

Who should I disciple?

Begin by praying. Ask God to show you someone who wants to grow closer to Jesus. It could be a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, or someone from church. 

How do I ask someone to be discipled?

Keep the invitation simple. You can ask, “Would you like to meet each week, read the Bible, pray, and grow in our walk with Jesus together?” 

What should we read together?

God's Word should remain at the center. Read a short Bible passage and talk about what it teaches about God, what He is showing you, what you should obey, and who you can share the truth with. 

Do I need to know all the answers?

No. You do not need to have every answer. Be honest when you do not know something, return to Scripture, and learn together. 

Is discipleship only Bible study?

No. Discipleship also includes sharing life. Talk about struggles, victories, questions, and decisions. Encourage each other to follow Jesus in everyday life and pray together. 

What is the goal of discipling someone?

The goal is multiplication. Help the person grow as a disciple and eventually help someone else follow Jesus. Paul helped Timothy, Timothy helped others, and they were taught to help still more people.

Take the First Step

You do not need to wait until you know more.

Pray for one person.

Invite them to meet.

Open the Bible.

Pray together.

Walk through life together.

Then help them do the same with someone else.

Discipleship begins with a simple decision:

Follow Jesus closely and invite someone to walk with you.

Who could you invite to begin that journey with you this week?

Pray. Invite. Read. Share. Multiply.

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.