What kind of disciple are we making?

rwh26july -  Ep.374 – Run With Horses Podcast –  What kind of disciples are we making?

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Author pages with links to all books on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith

 

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If the disciple you make doesn’t make disciples, have you fully made a disciple?  True disciple making is inherently a process of multiplication and That is the topic of our show today.

 

Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!

Thank you for joining me today! “If you’re new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!”

 

**(23:00 – 0:00)* *  PART 1

 

**(00:00) END PART 1**

**(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2*

 

Part 1: What Are We Making?

 

Big Idea: Churches often aim for “converts” or “Christians” in name, but not reproducing disciple-makers.

 

1. I’m still processing the lessons from the GARBC Conference and today I a focusing on some of the comments by Tim Walker - Pastor of Restored Church in WIlkes-Barre, PA.

 

•Raise the contrast: “Are we making churchgoers or Christ-followers?”

 

If the disciple you make doesn’t make a disciple, have you fully made a disciple?

The question is really, what are you making? 

Often I think the answer is, we are making Christians, and that means something different than genuine followers of Jesus. And definitively something less than disciple makers.

 

2. Clarifying Definitions

•Disciple: Apprentice of Jesus.

•Not just knowledge, but obedience and transformation.

•Not just attending, but multiplying.

•Disciple-maker: Someone who walks alongside others to help them become more like Jesus — and teaches them to do the same.

 

3. Judo Illustration

•Great visual! Consider structuring like this:

1.Knowledge – Learning the basics of Jesus’ teaching.

2.Training – Spiritual disciplines, habits, community.

3.Practice – Real-life obedience, failure, growth.

4.Engagement – Helping others through the same path.

 

Jesus’ model — He taught, demonstrated, let disciples try, corrected them, then sent them.

 

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Part 2: Biblical Model – 2 Timothy 2:1–7

 

2 Timothy 2:1-7 - You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 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. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

 

1. Paul’s Command to Timothy

•Four Generations of discipleship:

Paul → Timothy → Faithful men → Others

•Challenge: Is that chain continuing through us?

 

2. The Three Illustrations

 

Structure each one with:

•Role

•What faithfulness looks like

•How it connects to discipleship

 

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A. The Soldier

•Characteristics: Endurance, single focus, sacrifice

•Danger of distraction: “Entangled in civilian affairs”

•Application: Have we become entangled with church programming, comfort, or cultural expectations?

 

B. The Athlete

•Characteristics: Obedience to the rules, discipline, training

•Application: Are we training people to obey everything Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:20), or just to attend services?

 

The athlete doesn’t win by enthusiasm alone—faithful repetition, intentional growth.

 

C. The Farmer

•Characteristics: Patience, seasonal awareness, daily labor

•Application: Are we cultivating spiritual lives with care, or expecting growth without effort?

 

Discipleship is often slow, messy, and deeply relational.

 

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Part 3: What Is Our Church Producing?

 

“Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it’s getting.” – Classic truth.

 

1. Evaluate the Fruit

•What is your church or small group producing?

•Are people becoming:

•Independent consumers of content?

•Or interdependent contributors to the mission?

 

2. Cultural Distractions

•The modern pull toward:

•Safety

•Security

•Comfort

•Convenience

•Contrast with Jesus’ call:

•Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Me (Mark 8:34)

•Intentional sacrifice is part of the pathway to becoming a disciple.

 

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Conclusion: Future Church Insight

•Quote Will Mancini: “The American church is strong on theology, sermons, and leadership. It is weak on making disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.”

 

1. Summary

•Making disciples must include the vision of multiplication. It is teaching people how to multiply, and giving them the encouragement and support they need to live it out.

•True faithfulness means preparing others to do the work of the ministry.

 

2. Challenge

•Evaluate your life: Who are you discipling?

•Is the pathway clear, intentional, reproducible?

•Are you willing to embrace sacrifice, discipline, and slow growth?

 

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Additional Thoughts You Could Consider Including

•Matthew 28:19-20: The Great Commission is not just evangelism. It’s teaching people to obey — long-term transformation.

 

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age

 

•Jesus’ model: He spent 3 years with 12 men. That was His “church growth strategy.”

•Barriers to Disciple-Making:

•Fear of inadequacy

•Busyness

•Over-reliance on pastors or programs

•Lack of clear models

•Encouragement: You don’t need to be a theologian — just be a step ahead and willing to walk with someone else.

 

**(1:00)** 

Disciple making is the life-long pursuit of Jesus lived out in your relationships. We all have the ongoing responsibility to invest in the lives of those around us helping them take steps towards Jesus. For some it is the first step. For many it is the next step. Pass on what you learn and live to others who will live it out and pass it on.

 

– “Thank you for listening today! 

-If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page.

Let the people around you know that you see them this week. Make an effort to intentionally communicate the hope that you have, and Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running."

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