The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Resources Available to Help You Make Disciples (feat. Bobby Harrington) Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Exploring Discipleship.org: Free Resources, Podcasts, Events, and More

You may not be aware of this, but discipleship.org is a great resource for disciple-making tools. In this episode, Matt Dabbs and Bobby Harrington discuss those tools and they cover our free and premium resources, including blogs, ebooks, podcasts, books, assessments, videos, and specific toolkits, all designed to facilitate disciple-making. This conversation also highlights some key figures in disciple-making, their content, and their contributions to the Discipleship.org community. They also talk through upcoming events and more.

Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/

Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction to Discipleship.org

01:41 Understanding the Mission of Discipleship.org

02:18 The Difference Between Being a Disciple and Making Disciples

02:58 Exploring the Resources Available on Discipleship.org

04:30 The Importance of eBooks in Discipleship

09:42 The Role of Podcasts in Discipleship

11:06 The Value of Books in Discipleship

14:07 The Power of Free Tools in Discipleship

16:50 The Impact of Premium Content in Discipleship

19:50 The Significance of Assessments in Discipleship

22:22 Exploring the YouTube Channel of Discipleship.org

34:43 Conclusion: The Vision of Discipleship.org

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Helping People Deal with Demonic Strongholds (feat. Deeper Walk Int'l) Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Understanding Spiritual Warfare with Marcus Warner

Marcus Warner is the president of Deeper Walk Int’l and an author very familiar with spiritual warfare. In this episode, Matt Dabbs and Marcus talk about the often overlooked aspects of spiritual warfare like demonic possession in the battles of our minds, and also compulsive behavior and emotional struggles. Warner talks about the how weird it is that in American Christianity we don’t see this a lot, but there is an acute awareness of spiritual warfare in other cultures. We need to be able to recognize spiritual attacks and address them with a biblical worldview rather than solely relying on scientific solutions. Marcus’s journey, influenced by his father's pioneering work in spiritual warfare and deliverance, showcases the transformation possible when individuals and communities recognize and address the spiritual dimensions of their struggles.

Check out Deeper Walk International

For a link to Dr. Marcus’s book “Understanding the Wounded Heart” Click HERE

Check out Deeper Walk’s podcast On The Trail Podcast

Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket.

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:47 Understanding Spiritual Warfare

01:53 The Impact of Secularization on Spiritual Awareness

03:11 Examples of Spiritual Warfare in Everyday Life

06:42 The Role of Spiritual Warfare in Evangelism

07:54 The Levels of Spiritual Warfare

09:31 Personal Journey into Spiritual Warfare

14:32 The Process of Helping People Overcome Spiritual Warfare

19:54 Closing Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare

22:24 Understanding the Desire for Quick Fixes

22:50 The Fear of Stirring Up Demons

23:57 The Role of Participation in Deliverance

25:12 The Journey Beyond Personal Deliverance

25:38 Addressing Congregational Level Issues

29:05 The Danger of Weaponizing Spiritual Warfare

31:11 Practical Steps for Individual and Congregational Healing

35:47 The Mission of DeeperWalk International

37:31 The Importance of Addressing Heart Level Issues

40:39 Reflections on the Conversation

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

How We Disciple People Into Repentance and Baptism (feat. Ashlee Catizon) Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Transforming Lives through Relational Discipleship: Insights from The Crossings Church

In this episode we’ve got Ashlee Catizon, who, along with her husband RJ, leads the youth ministry at The Crossings Church in Missouri. Ashlee and Matt Dabbs discuss the church's successful, decades-long journey in disciple-making and integrating the youth through relational, intentional practices rooted in Christ's teachings. Ashlee shares insights into their discipleship approach, emphasizing relational evangelism, small group interactions, and the importance of creating a welcoming environment for both believers and seekers.

Link to the Crossings Church -- https://www.thecrossingschurch.com/

Registration to our National Disciple Making Forum (Disciple Making Culture) is now open. Use discount code podcast to get $25 off your ticket.

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation

00:37 Discussing the Process of Discipleship

00:51 The Importance of Relationship in Discipleship

01:21 The Role of Small Groups and Personal Interaction

01:44 The Structure of Weekly Meetings and Devotionals

02:56 The Process of Bringing New People into the Group

05:52 The Importance of Personal Investment in Discipleship

08:50 The Role of Love in Discipleship

11:13 The Importance of Repentance in Discipleship

14:13 The Role of Gender in Discipleship Groups

18:24 The Importance of Obedience in Discipleship

20:57 The Importance of Repentance in Faith

21:34 The Role of Grace and Repentance in Personal Growth

22:13 The Power of Transformation through Faith

23:15 The Impact of Faith on Personal Relationships

25:03 The Growth and Success of the Church

26:59 The Importance of Diversity in the Church

37:11 Personal Reflections on Faith and Growth

41:49 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Having a Clear Articulation of the Gospel (feat. Dan Leitz) Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

In this podcast, Dan Leitz of the Bonhoeffer Project, discusses the changing interpretations of the Gospel and the need for robust, shared definitions of key terms within our church communities. He raises issues around the contemporary Gospel narrative, highlighting the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of original biblical texts, emphasizing the need for people to see the Gospel as a message given to them, rather than something they themselves can create and tailor to their needs. As churches in today’s world, we need to be solid on creating and maintaining a clear, accurate picture of the Gospel message for their congregations.

Check out the Bonhoeffer Project

Check out our brand NEW Audio Book: National Study on Disciple Making

Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/

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Key Takeaways

The Importance of Understanding the Gospel Message

00:00 Understanding the Gospel

01:36 The Kingdom of God and the Gospel

02:33 The Importance of Belief and Response

04:39 The Gospel and Transformation

08:32 The Gospel and Accountability

09:57 The Importance of Clear Definitions in Discipleship

12:51 The Impact of Ambiguous Language in the Church

15:44 The Importance of Defining Terms in Interfaith Dialogues

17:53 The Importance of Definitions in Communication

18:26 The Importance of Context in Interpreting Scriptures

19:53 The Influence of Culture on Language and Meaning

20:19 The Challenge of Understanding Historical Context

21:56 The Evolution of Gospel Interpretation

22:35 The Shift in Gospel Presentation and Its Implications

26:13 The Impact of Cultural Changes on Gospel Understanding

27:29 The Challenge of Articulating the Gospel in Modern Times

31:45 The Need for a Clear Definition of Gospel

37:07 The Role of Churches in Promoting Gospel Understanding

38:35 The Importance of Repetition in Gospel Communication

40:04 Conclusion: The Role of the Bonhoeffer Project in Gospel Understanding

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Next Gen Discipleship (feat. Grant Skeldon) Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Highlight – “Revival is going to come in your generation.”

In this podcast episode we’ve got Grant Skeldon. Grant heads up the Nxt Gen Summit, and today he speaks with Matt Dabbs about his experiences working with churches and his observations on how generational gaps can be bridged. He discusses the role of mentorship and discipleship in helping younger generations grow up in faith, and shares in-depth insights into the various challenges that millennial and Gen Z generations face and how the older generations can guide them. Skeldon emphasizes the mutual benefits of connecting generations in ministry and the positive impact it has on church health. He provides practical advice based on his observations and experiences working with churches, drawing insights from various sources including movies, sports, and even….canine behavior.

Check out our NEW ebook – The State of Disciple Making Churches

Check out the Next Gen Summit

Check out Thinq

Join Discipleship.org this coming may for our national Forum on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introducing the Guest and His Work

01:04 Discussing the Challenges of the Next Generation

01:39 The Impact of Parenting and Culture on the Next Generation

02:35 The Influence of Technology and Convenience on the Next Generation

03:19 The Role of Faith and Consequences in Growth

05:56 The Effects of Coddling and Criticism on the Next Generation

06:33 The Confusion and Cancellation of the Next Generation by Culture

07:54 The Impact of Debt on the Next Generation

08:39 The Importance of Mentorship and Discipleship

16:34 Addressing Common Excuses for Not Discipling

23:46 The Role of the Church in Discipleship

25:22 The Power of Movies in Addressing Racial and Generational Reconciliation

26:08 Addressing the Elephant in the Room: Generational Differences

27:20 Identifying Enthusiastic Older and Younger Leaders in the Church

29:11 Creating a Movement Within: The Power of Influence

30:35 Identifying the Ringleaders Among Generations

42:35 The Importance of Mutual Encouragement and Energy in Discipleship

48:52 The Power of Hope and Joy in the Church

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Defining Discipleship (feat. Jim Putman) Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Highlight – “Do you know what a disciple is?”

In part two of our insightful conversation with Jim Putman, we delve deep into defining discipleship as per biblical context. Using Matthew 4:19 as a basis, Putman discusses how we must understand and apply Jesus' invitation effectively to cultivate a deeper relationship with disciples. He emphasizes realizing shared understanding, a shared process, and shared methodology to facilitate unified discipleship. By using Christ's transformed New Testament definition of the church, Putman helps readers redefine words like 'disciple' and 'church' in the original biblical sense. Drawing parallels with sports teams and their teamwork, he underlines the importance of understanding terms and expressions in alignment with culture and scripture to avoid communication deficits. Tune into this enlightening discussion, especially if you're a church leader seeking to improve your understanding and approach to discipleship.

Check out our NEW Disciple Shift Ebook

Check out the entire book Disciple Shift

Join Jim Putman at our national Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/

Watch The Video

Key Takeaways

00:00 Defining Discipleship: The Importance of Clear Definitions

02:23 The Importance of Shared Understanding in Discipleship

05:36 The Invitation to Ordinary People

08:54 The Importance of Alignment and Consistent Definitions

10:52 The Role of Church in Discipleship

15:42 The Five Spheres of Discipleship

17:39 The Impact of Church Leadership on Home Life

19:11 Societal Shifts and Their Impact on Church Attendance

20:54 The Role of Love in Christian Discipleship

23:28 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Discipleship

32:36 The Power of Invitational Relationships in Discipleship

35:27 The Challenges and Opportunities of House Church Movements

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Making the Shift to Disciple Making (feat. Jim Putman) Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Highlight – “Out of the Being Comes the Doing.”

In this episode, Matt Dabbs engages Jim Putman, founder and senior pastor of Real Life Ministries, to have a meaningful conversation that offers valuable insights drawn from Putman's book 'DiscipleShift', uncovering the five critical shifts churches can make to inspire disciples who create more disciples. Putman encourages a shift from reaching people to making disciples, from informing people to equipping disciple-makers. This candid exchange offers potent observations that challenge traditional church structures, bringing ministers and disciples closer to realizing the abundant life promised by Jesus.

Check out our NEW Disciple Shift Ebook

Check out the entire book Disciple Shift

Join Jim Putman at our national Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/

Watch the Video

Key Takeaways

00:00 Meet Jim Putman

00:40 Discussing the Book 'Disciple Shift'

01:04 Understanding the Five Shifts

02:37 The Importance of Relationship in Discipleship

03:20 The Challenges of Staying on Course

04:51 The Role of Relationship in Leadership

08:49 The Disconnect in Church Methodology

11:08 The Struggles of Pastors and the Need for Relationship

14:14 The Importance of Discipleship in the Church

18:45 The Role of Relationship in Discipleship

27:51 The Pace of Discipleship

28:41 Understanding Different Learning Styles and Pace in Discipleship

29:38 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Discipleship

31:20 The Challenges of Being an Introverted Pastor

32:21 The Shift from Accumulating to Deploying in Ministry

35:15 The Importance of Teamwork in Church Leadership

36:13 The Importance of Balance in Church Leadership

37:39 The Dangers of One-Dimensional Churches

39:56 The Importance of Submission in Discipleship

48:28 Conclusion: The Importance of Being a Disciple Before Making Disciples

49:24 The Importance of Honesty and Vulnerability in Discipleship

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Church Discipleship Culture (feat. Ken Adams from Impact Discipleship Ministries) Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

“There is a huge difference between a church with discipleship and a disciple making church. A disciple making church, or a church with discipleship, usually sees discipleship as another program that they add on to everything else they're doing. And in disciple making church, discipleship is a part of it. But disciple making is all we do, not just one thing we do. It's all we do. – Ken Adams”

In this enlightening podcast, Matt Dabbs from Discipleship.org is joined by Ken Adams of Crossroads Church and Impact Ministries, discussing how the implementation of discipleship in local churches can lead to an impactful and transformative journey, just as Jesus designed 2000 years ago. Adams also shares insights from his 35-year pastoral journey and explains the profound value of maintaining a focus on discipleship. Additionally, he talks about the services offered by Impact Discipleship Ministries to assist churches in developing strategies and implementing discipleship driving growth and fulfilling God's mission.

Check out The Disciple-Making Church Podcast: Click HERE

To Learn more about Impact Discipleship Ministries: Click HERE

Watch the Video

Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:42 The Importance of Discipleship in Church Growth

04:21 The Impact of Longevity in Ministry

05:27 The Power of Discipleship in Church Multiplication

08:13 The Vision for a Disciple Making Church

17:50 The Challenges and Successes in Disciple Making

26:29 The Role of Impact Discipleship Ministries in Church Revitalization

29:53 Adapting Disciple Making to Different Church Styles

33:25 The Role of Assessment and Prescription in Disciple Making

36:22 The Implementation of Disciple Making and the Importance of Follow-up

37:11 Additional Services Offered for Churches

38:25 The Role of a Pastor in Disciple Making

39:49 The Importance of Implementing Disciple Making in Everyday Life

40:52 The Personal Experiences and Reflections on Disciple Making

Check out our Audio Book on Becoming a Disciple Maker

Interested in more great content check out our Nashville City Tour Videos.

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Creating a Culture of Men Discipling Men (feat. Chris Harper) Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Highlight – “80% of all churches in North America have a functioning women’s ministry, less than 7 percent have a functioning men’s ministry.”

In this interview, Chris Harper of Betterman discusses the concept of 'Discipling Men' in our churches. He highlights the fact that a small group study can be tremendously beneficial for a man, offering opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about Biblical manhood and masculinity, but also that a lot of guys simply wouldn’t choose this kind of community for themselves or even understand why they need it. Church leadership plays a big role in that. Chris talks about seeing a shift from academic spaces to communal spaces in our churches. We should feel an urgency to encourage multi-generational discipleship to prevent men from leaving the church and to build a stronger church community that can affect societal change.

Check out the BetterMan Podcast: Click HERE

To Learn more about BetterMan: Click HERE

Discipleship in the Modern Church: Empowering Men with Chris Harper

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Prayer

05:38 The Four W's: Word, Woman, Work, World

06:39 The Impact of the Four W's

11:46 The Role of the Church in Men's Discipleship

14:59 The Importance of Small Group Discussions

22:28 The Shift in Church Culture and Its Impact on Men

28:58 The Media's Negative Portrayal of Men

29:50 Breaking Stereotypes: Redefining Masculinity

32:42 The Struggles of Church Leadership

35:21 The Need for Men's Ministry

37:34 The Power of Personal Testimony

39:32 The Urgency of Addressing Men's Issues

46:56 The Potential for Revival

Check out the Disciple Making Culture 10 Minute E-Book

Interested in more great content check out our Nashville City Tour Videos.

Join us at our National Forum this May on Disciple Making Culture

Everyday Disciple Makers (feat. Steve McCoy) Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

Today’s episode is a follow-up conversation between Steve McCoy and Matt Dabbs. They continue their discussion on fostering a culture of discipleship by utilizing everyday people within the church. They wanna help ordinary people like me and you with accessible tools for sharing the Gospel and for making disciples. This episode serves as an encouragement and guide for us individuals listening and also for churches to foster a more intentional approach to disciple-making by utilizing the collective strength of their community.

Highlight – “If you want to have a disciple making culture within your organization, your ministry, or your church, it is absolutely 100 percent impossible unless everyday people are in the game – Steve McCoy”

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Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction to the Discipleship Talk

00:14 The Importance of Everyday People in Discipleship

01:15 The Challenges of Expert Culture in Churches

02:38 The Role of Discipleship.org in Empowering Everyday People

06:44 The Impact of Discipleship on Church Culture

06:47 The Effect of COVID-19 on Church Culture

14:43 The Importance of Relational Depth in Discipleship

27:16 The Impact of Discipleship on Church Growth and Leadership Development

29:14 Conclusion: The Excitement of Discipleship

To Learn more about Small Circle Click HERE