FeaturedDiscipleship
Designing a simple discipleship flow
How to build a study a new leader can reproduce without training materials.
4 min read
Disciple Making Blog
Helpful articles for creating discipleship resources that work in real people's languages and contexts.
Latest articles
Simple Church Patterns
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing Holy Spirit Baptism
Summary: Being together in one place, being united in prayer, and being baptized in the Holy Spirit can all be experienced in a small group.
2 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Discipleship DNA: Resources
Summary: Rather than “owning” things, they stewarded what was in their hands for the benefit of others.
2 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing the Lord’s Supper
Summary: If Jesus didn’t make the Lord’s Supper complicated, we don’t need to either.
1 min read
Micro-church Multiplication
Multiplication DNA: Wins
Summary: When small group members see that one person’s win is a win for the whole group, a culture of celebration is cultivated.
1 min read
Every Believer a Minister
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing Prayer
Summary: Make sure members know they do not have to pray long – that simple, heartfelt prayers are enough.
2 min read
Micro-church Multiplication
Multiplication DNA: Vision
Summary: Barnabas didn’t bring the vision to Saul, he brought Saul to the vision.
1 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing Worship
Summary: A good rule of thumb is to use scripture in worship — verses that declare who God is and what He has done — and give space for praise and thanks.
1 min read
Every Believer a Minister
Simple Church Pattern DNA: Spiritual Gifts
Summary: All followers of Jesus have a responsibility to minister to one another, through the Holy Spirit, so that the church is edified, grows healthy, and multiplies.
1 min read
Updates
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing Generosity
Summary: After we pray for one another’s needs, we can offer a simple question: “How can we help?”
1 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Discipleship DNA: The Three Thirds Model
Summary: “Looking back helps us be accountable to share what God has given us, to pay attention to God’s work in our lives, and to become aware of our response to the Holy Spirit’s leading.”
3 min read
Disciples who Make Disciples
Small Group Toolbox: Practicing Baptism
Summary: Many small groups use a bath tub or lake. The small group gathers around and it can be a very meaningful time.
2 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Discipleship DNA: Formats and Patterns
Summary: If the format we use makes space for open sharing, prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, small group participators will leave encouraged, grow healthy, and keep small group bible studies as the core of their spiritual development.
1 min read
Updates
Small Group Toolbox: Simple Church Practices in Small Groups?
Summary:
1 min read
Micro-church Multiplication
Small Group Toolbox: Highlights from 2025
Here are the highlights of our Small Group Toolbox in 2025. The Toolbox answers simple questions about leading a small group to become healthy, multiplying disciples.
2 min read
Every Believer a Minister
DNA: The Gospel
Summary: The Gospel is the fulcrum around which a healthy micro-church pivots and gains momentum.
1 min read
Every Believer a Minister
Small Group Toolbox: Confidence to Share
Summary: Role-playing gives just enough stress (and a lot of laughter) for us to experience stress-inoculation.
1 min read
Obedience-based Discipleship
DNA: Fruit
Summary: Love is the fruit Jesus is looking for.
1 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: What’s the best size for a small group?
Summary: Groups that are between 3-8 people are the best size for healthy accountability, full participation, spiritual growth and multiplication.
2 min read
Micro-church Multiplication
Discipleship DNA: Send & Release
Summary: Jesus wasn’t being reckless. He was being resourceful.
1 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Handling Wrong Ideas about God and Salvation
Summary: When we let the Holy Spirit speak through scripture, we keep relationship with the person and make room for the word of God to correct and transform their ideas.
1 min read
Disciples who Make Disciples
DNA – Modeling is Training
Summary: After watching my mom do this action repeatedly, I had picked it up from observation and didn’t even know it.
1 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Handling Questions
Summary: This response gives time to find a scripture passage or story where the answer can be discovered in a bible study.
1 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Micro-Church Model
Summary: Simplicity is vital for participation and reproducibility. A micro-church model can be participated in by everyone and passed on by anyone.
1 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Listening to the Holy Spirit
Summary: Thirty seconds or a minute of silence communicates that we value what the Holy Spirit has to say to us.
1 min read
Micro-church Multiplication
Micro-Church Multiplication
Summary: We intentionally plan for entire households to turn to Christ! Stories from the New Testament guide our expectations.
2 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Cultivating Accountability
Summary: Repeating a lesson that wasn’t put into practice communicates that followers of Jesus do not just learn about him, but respond to him in practical, loving ways.
2 min read
Disciples who Make Disciples
Disciples Who Make Disciples
Summary: In fact, helping others follow Jesus will look more like a family than it will a factory . . . When it comes to making disciples, circles are better than rows.
1 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Starting New Groups
Summary: They may not feel they “have what it takes.” But you can tell them with a smile, “You are actively discovering, responding and sharing. I trust you and encourage you to try.”
2 min read
Disciples who Make Disciples
Disciples Who Make Disciples
How did Jesus define what a disciple is? Jesus intended that his command to “go and make disciples of all nations” would be lived out by all his future followers.
1 min read
Simple Church Patterns
Small Group Toolbox: When To Start and Where to Meet?
Summary: Life shared over a table may be authentically richer than life shared across a pew.
1 min read
Obedience-based Discipleship
Obedience-Based Discipleship
We are familiar with Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations – “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” But it’s easy to skip the next phrase: “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given to you.” (NLT)
2 min read
Small Group Toolbox
Small Group Toolbox: Talkers & Listeners
In the “Toolbox” series of blog posts, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about leading Small Groups. If you have questions you’d like answered, drop us a message !
2 min read
Every Believer a Minister
Every Believer a Minister
Note: This post is the first in our “Discipleship DNA” series that covers what we consider core values for discipleship. We’ll post one “DNA” blog each month and one “toolbox” article, which will give practical advice for your disciple-making efforts. ___________
2 min read
Disciples who Make Disciples
How to Practice Simple Sharing
Practicing sharing about Jesus may seem uncomfortable at first. That’s ok! However, when you’re in the safety of a small group, everyone can learn, grow, and practice together. This will bring confidence. The Holy Spirit is with us even when we practice. Below is a simple way to practice sharing your story. While you can do this on your own, it’s helpful to practice with a friend or in a small group.
2 min read
Obedience-based Discipleship
A Daily Examen
As we begin a new year, many are looking for new ideas for their devotional life. Below is an idea for recapping your day. One of the best ways to grow as a follower of Jesus is to become aware of his daily interactions with us. The simple practice of “An Examen” reflects backward, names experiences, and looks forward with prayer.
1 min read