#17 Nine Actionable Ways You Can Make Disciples

On being a disciple with a lifestyle of discipleship

When it comes to making disciples there are some practical life-hacks you can start to implement straight way. It doesn’t have to be THAT complex!

These tips are relevant in all our relationships, whether with Christians or those who haven't yet encountered Christ. Remember that if every person is on a spiritual journey, our role is to walk alongside others and help them take a step towards Jesus, regardless of their starting point. This is the essence of discipleship.

Discipleship is not just a top-down process but can also happen peer-to-peer. So start with your Christian mates first. Create a disciple making culture together. Don’t wait for your Church leaders to do it for you!

By implementing a few of these practical tips, we can make discipleship more of a focus in our lives…

To make disciples, you must first be a disciple. Follow Jesus as your first priority. Let others see Christ at the centre of your life in and beyond the Church.

Let me share a little example: just the other day, I was chatting with my eldest daughter on the phone. She had a bunch of lively Cornish friends by her side, all on speakerphone. As she sought advice on a particular tricky situation, I shared my faith-perspective and talked about how I intended to keep her in my prayers. Instead of regarding me as a religious nutter, one of her friends said at the end, "When can we meet you?"

Choose to be your Christ-fuelled self in all situations. Show that your relationship with God makes a positive difference in your life.

You gotta see it before you can be it. 

Please don't do that thing where you befriend someone just so they become a Christian and then drop them if they don’t. Just be an amazing friend who loves people and Jesus! Do something Christ-like for others this week.

When a person starts to walk alongside us and knows we are a Christian, they are not just making big decisions about God, they are making micro decisions about us.

Do I trust this person? Can I be open with them? What difference does their God make to them? Do I want what they have? Do they care about me?

Build trust. Let love comes first.

I am known at home and work as a prolific storyteller.

Most people groan when I start a sentence with “So there was this one time that I….”

I have stories about everything from discovering newborn giraffes in the African bush to the time President Obama flew directly over my head. They are all 100% true.*

But the most memorable story we can ever tell is one with Jesus at the centre.

So put Christ more into your conversation this week. People remember stories, so tell them about something God has done in your life and how it has impacted you. Be a storyteller and engage others with the transformative power of Jesus.

Start a conversation about what you are reading in your Bible with others.

This means you have to be intentional about reading or listening to the Bible yourself first. I am a huge fan of the Dwell App right now. This year it has helped me appreciate the New Testament in a fresh way with its short chunked readings, engaging (British 🙌) voices, and subtle background music. It’s awesome!

Share scriptures over WhatsApp with others, moving beyond gif driven exchanges with friends to discuss the wisdom of the Bible. Is it just me or is it crazy how little we talk about scripture outside of formal religious settings?

Just me then? 

Use social media as a platform to make people think about worthwhile topics rather than just post selfies and food pics. Share your personal lived experiences and the benefits of following Jesus in the 21st century. The good people at YESHEIS on Instagram have loads of hints for how to share your faith online. It is aimed at Young Adults but super helpful for the young at heart like me! I am often surprised at who comes out of the proverbial woodwork when I post something interesting about my faith. It doesn't have to be clever - it just has to be YOU. 

Recommend a podcast to someone that can stir faith or provoke spiritual curiosity. It doesn't have to be explicitly Christian; it just has to be a conversation starter.

For example, I have shared Lewis Howes' The School Of Greatness podcast with non-Christians because as a secular host he often explores Christian spirituality with his guests from an open-minded perspective. It is insightful hearing someone who hasn't quite figured out their faith yet speak to Christians about what they believe. One Episode with Krista Tippett is an interesting example of this type of discussion. You may not even agree with all of it - but it might create a spiritual itch for someone. And it may be a gateway to something deeper.

Alternatively why not share some of your favourite faith builders with fellow Christians to help aid spiritual formation. The Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools Podcast is a cracker on the subject of prayer at the moment!  What are your current faves?

Hospitality is more than just a meal; it's a state of being.

Invite someone you wouldn't normally spend time with to share a meal. Treat them like a VIP and create an atmosphere where meaningful conversations can take place. One of the worst parts of the lockdown during the pandemic for our family was that we could no longer gather people around our large IKEA extended wooden table in our dining room. We could not wait to open our home again! Why? Because food is the catalyst that helps us move beyond the “small talk cycle” and sail past “fine thanks, how are you?” Hospitality is more than a meal; it is a state of being. And from that state of being comes discipleship. 

Take advantage of digital media and discipleship resources available online.

My wife uses The Bible Project videos with our children and Spoken Gospel is amazing for helping find Christ in every corner of scripture.

Always give a ‘next step’ to someone who is asking you about faith. It's brilliant when people gather together for something like the Alpha Course but it is not always practical to join a 12 week in-person course.

There are plenty of options for digital content that can move the dial of discipleship. I may be a little biassed as I helped create it when I was a Pastor but I think the Mosaic+ Content available on YouTube is an effective way to cover the basics of Christianity in a bitesize format. You can listen on Spotify to the short 10 minute Mosaic+ playlist that covers everything from Who is God? to What is Baptism? Offer to chat with others about the content and answer any questions they may have.

Discipleship = Content + Connection in the Context of Community. 

Prayer plays a crucial role in making disciples. I am finding God is using me to help point others to Jesus, whether it is through the unexpected call late at night, a chat over coffee, a creative project I am working on, or a chance conversation with a colleague. The funny thing is that when I pray, this seems to happen more frequently than when I don't.

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Matthew 9:38

Make this your number one prayer request: Pray for more workers to be sent into the mission field and recognise that you can be one of those workers.

It’s time to put one of these tips into action.

Let me know how you get on in the comments! 

*Yes, my stories are 100% true. Watch this space for the Tale of the Flying Obama.