Why Every Christian Is Called to Make Disciples

Following Jesus is about more than believing in Him. Jesus also calls us to help other people follow Him.

This calling is not only for pastors, missionaries, or church leaders. Every follower of Jesus can have a part in making disciples.

You do not need a Bible degree. You do not need a church position. You do not need to know everything.

You can begin by following Jesus yourself and helping one other person follow Him.

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

Jesus gave His followers a clear mission: make disciples.

Is Every Christian Called to Make Disciples?

Jesus gave His followers the mission to make disciples.
Disciple-making is not only the work of pastors and missionaries. Ordinary Christians can help other people learn to follow Jesus.
Making disciples does not mean you have all the answers. It means you follow Jesus, share what He is teaching you, and help another person grow.
You can start with one person.
Read Scripture together. Pray together. Talk about life. Encourage each other to obey Jesus.
Then help that person learn to do the same for someone else.
This is how disciples make disciples.

1. Follow Jesus First

Before we can help someone follow Jesus, we must follow Him ourselves.

Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Notice the order.

First, follow Jesus.

Then Jesus begins changing you.

Spend time with Him. Read His Word. Pray. Obey Him. Trust Him.

As you walk with Jesus, you learn what it means to live as His disciple.

But your growth is not meant to stop with you.

Jesus can use what He is teaching you to help someone else grow.

Try this today: Ask yourself, “What is Jesus teaching me right now that could help someone else?”

2. You Do Not Have to Know Everything

Many Christians think, “I don't know enough about the Bible to disciple someone.”

You do not need to know everything.

Share what Jesus is teaching you.

If God teaches you about forgiveness, share what you learned.

If He helps you through a hard season, tell someone how He helped you.

If a Bible verse changes the way you think, share that truth.

You can also be honest when you do not know an answer.

Disciple-making is not about showing someone how much you know. It is about helping someone know and follow Jesus.

Try this today: Think of one truth God has recently taught you. Who could you encourage with that truth?

3. Help Someone Who Can Help Someone Else

Biblical discipleship does not stop with one person.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) teaches:

“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.”

Think about the pattern:

Someone helps you grow.

↓

You help someone else grow.

↓

That person helps another person grow.

This is disciple-making multiplication.

You are not trying to make someone depend on you forever. You are helping that person follow Jesus and eventually help someone else follow Him.

Try this today: Pray for one person you could begin encouraging in their walk with Jesus.

4. Make Disciples in Everyday Life

You do not need a stage, classroom, or large group to make disciples.

Disciple-making can happen around a kitchen table.

It can happen over coffee.

It can happen during lunch with a coworker.

It can happen during a conversation with a friend.

Read Scripture together.

Pray together.

Talk about life.

Encourage each other.

Help one another obey what Jesus teaches.

Discipleship is life shared with Jesus at the center.

Try this today: Invite someone to meet with you for coffee or lunch. Ask how you can pray for them.

5. Start With One Person

You do not have to reach hundreds of people.

Start with one.

Ask God to place someone in your life whom you can encourage, pray with, teach, and help follow Jesus.

Meet with that person.

Open God's Word together.

Ask what God is teaching each of you.

Pray for each other.

Encourage obedience.

Then help that person learn how to do the same with someone else.

God can use ordinary people to make an eternal difference.

Try this today: Write down the name of one person you could begin helping follow Jesus.

How Do I Start Making Disciples?

You can begin with five simple steps:

1. Pray
Ask God to show you one person you can encourage.

2. Ask
Invite that person to meet with you regularly.

3. Read
Read a short Bible passage together.

4. Talk and pray
Discuss what God is teaching you and pray for each other.

5. Multiply
As the person grows, encourage them to begin helping someone else follow Jesus.

You do not need a complicated program to begin.

Start with Jesus, Scripture, prayer, obedience, and a relationship.

A Simple Disciple-Making Path

Remember these five words:

FOLLOW — Be with Jesus.

GROW — Become more like Him.

SHARE — Tell others what Jesus is teaching you.

DISCIPLE — Help someone follow Jesus.

MULTIPLY — Help them learn to help someone else.

Disciple-making begins with following Jesus and continues when one disciple helps another disciple grow.

Learn More About Biblical Discipleship

Making disciples begins with understanding what a disciple of Jesus is.

Biblical discipleship is more than gaining Bible knowledge. It means following Jesus, becoming more like Him, obeying His Word, walking with other believers, and helping others do the same.

Continue learning: Read Biblical Discipleship — What It Means to Follow Jesus and Make Disciples.

Ready to Learn How to Make Disciples?

You may understand that Jesus calls us to make disciples but still wonder:

Where do I start?

Who should I disciple?

What should we do when we meet?

What if I don't know enough?

The Disciple Maker — Disciples Who Make Disciples was written to help Christians move from understanding the Great Commission to living it.

It gives practical help for ordinary believers who want to follow Jesus and help someone else do the same.

Download the Free Printable Guide

Want a simple reminder of your call to make disciples?

Download the free Why Every Christian Is Called to Make Disciples guide.

Read it, keep it with your Bible, or share it with another Christian who wants to help others follow Jesus.

🌱 WHY EVERY CHRISTIAN IS CALLED to MAKE DISCIPLES PDF

Questions About Making Disciples

What does it mean to make disciples?

Making disciples means helping another person follow Jesus, learn His Word, obey His teaching, grow in faith, and eventually help someone else follow Jesus.

Is every Christian called to make disciples?

Jesus gave His followers the command to make disciples in Matthew 28:19. Disciple-making is not limited to pastors, missionaries, or church leaders.

Do I need to know the whole Bible before discipling someone?

No. You can share what Jesus is teaching you while continuing to grow yourself. You can also study questions together when you do not know an answer.

How do I start discipling someone?

Start by praying for one person. Invite them to meet with you. Read Scripture, talk about what God is teaching you, pray together, and encourage each other to obey Jesus.

Where can disciple-making happen?

Almost anywhere. You can meet at home, at church, over coffee, during lunch, or anywhere you can talk honestly about Jesus and Scripture.

How many people should I disciple?

You do not need to begin with a large group. Start with one person and help that person learn how to help someone else.

Take Your Next Step

Do not wait until you feel like an expert.

Follow Jesus.

Grow in His Word.

Walk with someone else.

Help them follow Jesus too.

The Great Commission belongs to every follower of Christ. Your part may begin with just one person.

Who is one person you can begin helping follow Jesus today?

About James Constable

James Constable is a Christian author, pastor, teacher, and disciple maker. His writing helps Christians grow closer to Jesus, become faithful disciples, and help others follow Him.