The Great Commission is for everyone. Disciple-making is for everyone! But sometimes, even though we know this in our heads, there’s a gap between knowing we should make disciples and seeing ourselves as people who can do it. Let’s dive into that today!
Bridging the Gap: From Passive Follower to Active Reproducer
One of the biggest hurdles in getting disciples fired up to multiply is this mindset gap. Many believers, even if they’ve been in church for years, just don’t see themselves as disciple-makers. Both research and a quick glance around show that we feel unqualified, or think we have never really been taught how to make disciples.
And then there’s this very human thing — maybe it’s even stronger in our consumer-focused world — where it feels better to join something that’s already up and running, rather than starting something new and a bit scary. This can lead to a church culture where discipleship means passively listening to talks, going to services and even attending small groups, instead of actively getting involved in the relational work of helping others follow Jesus.
The feeling of "I'm not good enough" often comes down to an identity issue. Believers feel unqualified because they haven't been told who they are in Christ and what the Great Commission is really about. They look at pastors or other leaders and think, "That's for them, I don't have that level of Bible knowledge. I'm not holy enough!" But that ignores the way Jesus did things! He called ordinary people and was more interested in their willingness to follow Him than if they felt qualified.
Sometimes the way our church programs are set up, even if they’re great for learning, encourages us to sit and receive rather than engage in ministry. If sermons, sabbath schools and small groups are not intentionally designed to get us actively involved in ministry, they will not.
Helping people develop a disciple-maker mindset means a real shift in how they see themselves. Leaders need to keep saying, loud and clear, that every believer is called and equipped by the Holy Spirit for this amazing work. We need to take the mystery out of it, showing that making disciples isn’t mainly about giving expert lectures but simply walking alongside others, sharing life, and pointing them to Jesus. We need to deliberately work on shifting our church culture away from consuming religious stuff and towards active member participation in the mission of making disciples.6
Understanding the Motivation and Purpose
Feeling like you should make disciples isn’t enough to keep you going in the long run. We need a deep understanding of why we’re doing it. We need to know and teach the real motivation and purpose for discipleship. Biblically, making disciples is shown as an act of love — loving God, which makes us want to obey His commands, and loving people with compassion. The goal is to build relationships that help people trust and follow Jesus. Ultimately, it’s bigger than just changing people. It’s about God getting the glory from His kingdom growing. It’s a movement of disciples making disciples that can change families and communities. Eventually, it will reach every corner of the world.4
When we really understand the eternal importance of this work — what’s truly at stake for people who don’t know Christ — and when we connect with God’s heart for those who are lost, we will become fully committed to disciple-making. The fuel for a long-haul commitment to disciple-making comes from seeing the world through Jesus’ eyes. Motivation is a huge factor in whether we stick with it. If we’re just trying to make disciples because it’s a program, or to grow church numbers, or just out of a sense of duty, we’re probably not going to last when things get hard.
Let’s face it, discouragement, people saying no, and slow progress are common in this work. It’s that deep, love-based motivation — a genuine desire to see others come to know God and grow in Christ, flowing from our own relationship with Him — that gives us the perseverance we need. Keeping our focus on Jesus’ love for the lost, rather than getting too caught up in strategies and methods, helps keep us going.
When we train people, we need to talk about not just the ‘how-to’ (the skills) but also the ‘why’ (the heart). Growing a disciple-maker’s heart means helping them love God more deeply, feel more compassion for others, and connect more strongly with God’s big rescue plan for the world—the church!
Sharing stories of how lives have been changed, showing disciples the needs around them and reminding them what an amazing privilege it is to partner with God in His mission — can be powerful sparks for developing that essential, love-driven motivation.
So, it’s about identity and heart! When we know who we are in Christ and why we’re called, it changes everything. Next week, we’ll look at the foundational character traits that are like the bedrock for anyone who wants to be a multiplying disciple. You won’t want to miss it!