Simple Reproducible Disciple-Making
How shared tools foster multiplication, relationship, and clarity in disciple-making.
Starting With One—and Multiplying
Recently, I started working through our primary introductory discipleship resource, Living Sent: Discovering Jesus, with a fourth-year computer science student. It’s been a joy to see him ask great questions and discover new dimensions of his faith.
But as soon as he finished the first chapter with me, I asked him to find another person to take through it. Sure enough, he’s now working through it with a first-year engineering student. It’s always a highlight of my week when I get to sit down with people and talk to them about Jesus. Even better, though, is when I get to hear about how Jesus is using them to reach others.
Why Simple Resources Matter
As time goes on in my context, and as I study and interact with discipleship movements around the world, I am increasingly convinced of the value of simple, easy-to-follow discipleship resources that empower and enable the disciple-making process. The common theme across almost every movement I’ve encountered is the presence of high-value shared resources, with strong community buy-in.
In our context, we use Living Sent. It’s a resource that helps people explore some of the most foundational questions of faith: Why God? Why trust the Bible? Why believe in Jesus? What is the Gospel? What are the core Christian doctrines? And who are we in Christ as a result of the Gospel?
The book is structured around sessions that include Scripture readings, discussion questions, and links to further resources. Each session ends with a guided reflection to help internalize the content and apply it personally.
The second book, Living Sent 2: Discover Disciple-Making, builds on this foundation with a deeper focus on disciple-making, evangelism, and life on mission.
While the core of disciple-making is, and must remain, learning to study the Word, there are common questions everyone needs to wrestle with. A systematic tool helps make this possible for two reasons. First, it provides coverage on the primary questions virtually everyone asks. Second, it helps ensure the foundation of disciple-making is well laid rather than ad hoc.
Overcoming the “How” Problem
When I first started teaching on multiplying disciples, one of the core challenges was that people often got stuck on the “how” of disciple-making:
How do you initiate the relationship? What do you talk about? At what pace and frequency?
A shared resource can be a powerful tool to overcome that barrier.
I do not think that video tools are usually the best vehicle here, though they can be helpful in pre-evangelism. The purpose of working through a book or similar resource is to encourage dialogue and a relationship between a discipler and a disciple. A book naturally allows people to open Scripture, pause to pray, or follow a divergent path in conversation when needed.
It’s About Relationship, Not Curriculum
Content is only one part of what a resource like this accomplishes. The equally important objective is relationship between the discipler and the disciple, and the multiplication of the process to another disciple. The book isn’t a curriculum so much as a vehicle to foster and enable a long-term relationship.
Admittedly, not everyone is positioned to develop their own resource, and it may be wiser to choose one that fits your vision, values, culture, ethos, and desired outcomes as closely as possible.
Tips for Using a Shared Resource in Community
Choose a resource and champion it. It takes several years of work to get something like this off the ground. Be patient as you create buy-in.
Don’t forget multiplication. The purpose is for everyone to go through it—and then do likewise with others. This requires intentionality.
Remember: it’s not a curriculum. Discipleship is not a program or a checklist. It’s an invitation to a disciple-making way of life.
Keep leadership involved. If the leaders don’t practice what they teach, no one else will.
Start small—really small. While resources can work in groups, they’re most effective 1:1 or 1:2, where dialogue can flourish and multiplication is more natural.
Stay engaged afterwards. With a natural relationship built through the resource, the disciple will hopefully integrate well into the church family as they begin to serve and make disciples themselves.
Don’t be a slave to the resource. The goal isn’t perfect completion. Use it as a launching point for rich time together in Christ.
Leaders: it’s OK to say “I don’t know.” That just means there’s more to explore next time.
Want to Try Living Sent?
If you want bulk copies of Living Sent, just reach out; we’d be happy to send some over.
What resources have you seen that are particularly effective? Comment and share the resources you use.
Thanks for sharing Robin. As someone who’s familiar with Living Sent I do see the value of it and all the organic questions/conversations it brings to the table. On the note of using videos as discipleship resources, they can definitely work but only as a supplementary material, not the end-all-be-all. This year we’re seeing a lot of success leveraging study videos from the Augustine Institute, as shown by the number of people (students and non-students) learning about the faith in our local church being more than double as much as last year, with it only continuing to increase every week as people bring non-believer friends and family along. Those videos, when done right, do spark questions, especially when accompanied by the questions and Scripture that come alongside those. Another resource we use is CCO Faith Study series, very similar to Living Sent.