Meetings don’t make disciples—people do. True disciple making happens life on life.
Even as many of us pursue Disciple Making Movements (DMM), we can easily drift back into old patterns of thinking. Modern Christianity has become heavily meeting and event‑oriented. We schedule gatherings, programs, and studies, hoping that disciples will emerge from them. While meetings have value, discipleship is far more than a weekly event.
To make disciples who will make disciples, we must invest deeply in relationships. Disciple-making requires life‑on‑life discipleship.
Jesus Invested Relationally
Jesus didn’t train His disciples through a weekly class. He lived with them. Day after day, He shared life, modeled obedience, answered questions, corrected misunderstandings, and sent them out to practice what they were learning. If we want to see movements multiply, we must shift our understanding of discipleship away from only meetings and toward deep, personal relationships.
Tools like Discovery Bible Study and T4T groups are helpful and effective. But on their own, they will not produce disciple-makers. An hour a week is simply not enough time for people to mature, grow, and learn how to follow Jesus and help others do the same. Without relational investment, discipleship remains shallow and ineffective.
A Painful Lesson Learned
I could tell a story of successful life‑on‑life discipleship, but instead I want to share a failure.
Years ago, we were close to a woman who worked in our home. In Asia, it’s common and affordable to hire help, and we deeply valued the relationships we built. She asked us to visit her younger brother and his wife after they experienced the grief of a miscarriage.
During several visits, they were open to prayer and conversation. As we shared the hope found in Jesus, they accepted Christ. I began meeting with them to study Scripture and teach obedience. Soon, they were baptized.
But life was busy. Travel, leadership responsibilities, and training programs consumed my time. Eventually, I encouraged them to attend a local church regularly and assumed they would be fine. I checked in occasionally but only visited when problems arose.
They wanted to be discipled—but I didn’t make the time.
Years later, I learned they had returned to Hinduism. I was deeply saddened. I had led them to faith but failed to walk with them. My many ministry activities had distracted me from Jesus’ clear command: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18–20).
What Does It Take to Make Disciple-Makers?
Making disciple makers requires deep relationships of trust. This takes time and consistency, and can’t happen only in meetings. It also requires both quality and quantity—focused time with a few people over an extended period. Disciple-making means taking people with you, modeling what obedience looks like, and letting them learn by watching and doing. Many disciple‑making principles are caught, not taught.
It also requires focus. To say yes to making disciples, we must say no to other good things. The investment is significant, but the fruit is eternal.
More Than a Meeting
Who are you investing in life on life? Meetings and programs have their place, but they won’t produce disciples on their own. We can’t do this with everyone, but if you will invest deeply in a few and teach them to do the same, the fruit will be great.
Commit today to make disciples—not just converts or church members. Train them to do the same, and you’ll be on your way to seeing a movement released.
What do you find most difficult about discipling people life-on-life? How have you resolved this? Share in the comments below or join our Dare To Multiply free or paid memberships, and discuss this with others in our members-only groups.
Comments
A million thanks for this. This is exactly where I have been “missing it.” Doing lots of Bible study meetings with little life on life investments. I cannot thank you enough for the “wake-up” call