Have you ever had one of those “aha!” moments that happen when you aren’t even looking for it?
I recently picked up a book titled 7 Practices of Disciple Making Churches. It is a fascinating read—one of the few I’ve found that digs into the traits of North American churches that are quietly adopting the powerful principles used by global disciple-making movements. Unlike the high-profile mega-churches that usually dominate our newsfeeds, these networks often fly under the radar, focusing more on depth than on the spotlight.
Not long after I finished it, I was catching up with a leader who catalyzes disciple-making groups in his congregation. We were talking about the common struggle of knowing if we are actually “winning” at the right things. He looked at me and asked, “I know we’re busy, but are we actually making disciples? I wish I had a simple tool to help my team look under the hood and see how our ministry is really doing.”
That conversation sparked an idea. I wanted to take those seven powerful practices and turn them into a practical coaching guide—something you can sit down with, reflect on, and use to determine your very next step.
The 7 Practices: Where is Your Pulse?
I want to invite you to take a moment and look at these seven areas. As you read through them, ask yourself: Where are we thriving, and where is the fog starting to set in?
- Convictional Leadership: Making disciples isn’t just a program; it’s the “main thing.” What is your church’s actual main thing right now?
- Obedience-Based, Reproducible Models: We move from “how much do they know?” to “how are they obeying?” What metrics are you using to see if multiplication is happening?
- Prayer and Scripture as Foundations: Disciples can’t grow on human effort alone. How are prayer and the Word integrated into your daily process?
- Relational Community: Growth happens best in circles, not just rows. What percentage of your community is in a real disciple-making relationship?
- Clear Pathways and Expectations: “If it’s foggy in your head, it’s confusing on a napkin.” Could your average member draw your discipleship pathway on a napkin in five minutes?
- Mission Beyond the Walls: We make disciples for the sake of those who don’t know Jesus yet. How are you encouraging your people to step into the “Harvest”?
- Leadership Alignment: Everyone needs to be working from the same blueprint. What is your plan to keep your leaders focused and engaged for the long haul?
Content used with permission from www.discipleship.org
Take the Next Step
If that leader’s question resonated with you, I’ve put together a tool to help you get the clarity you’re looking for. It’s a simple assessment designed to be done with your team. You’ll rate each practice to get clarity and determine where to focus.
It isn’t about judgment; it’s about stewardship. It’s about ensuring that the energy you and your team are pouring out is actually resulting in the Kingdom expansion we all long to see.
Are you ready to see where you stand? I’ve created an assessment to guide you and your team through the process to spark crucial conversations.
CLICK HERE to assess the Disciple-Making culture in your church!
Let’s move together from just managing crowds to truly multiplying the Kingdom. I’d love to hear what you discover as you walk through this with your team!
