The term “disciple” is not a word commonly found in our everyday secular language, yet it remains a biblical word that is fundamentally wholesome, strong, powerful, and soul-satisfying. While it may feel like “inside baseball” to those outside the Christian faith, understanding this term is essential for anyone seeking to follow the model of ministry established by Jesus Christ. Within the biblical record, the word appears over 300 times in the New Testament, almost exclusively within the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Interestingly, while the term disappears from the lexicon of the later Epistles, the concept remains central to the mission of the early church as they transitioned from being followers to being believers, saints, and the early church body. To understand what it means to make disciples, one must first explore what it means to be a disciple.
The Identity of a Disciple: Truth and Love
The Gospel of John provides two primary markers that identify a true disciple of Jesus. The first identifying mark is a deep respect and affection for the scriptures, or the revealed words of God. Jesus taught that if one abides in His word, they are truly His disciples, leading to a knowledge of the truth that ultimately sets the individual free. This love for truth is compared to the excitement of finding a 1909 S penny or a hidden cache of gold in one’s own backyard; the words of God are not common, but precious and life-altering.
The second identifying mark of a disciple is a genuine and patient love for people, beginning with fellow believers. This love is not merely a shallow sentiment but is modeled after the way Christ loved His own followers. The original disciples were often “rouseabouts” who misunderstood teachings, jockeyed for status in the kingdom, and frequently overextended themselves, yet Christ remained patient and gentle as He discipled them through their various picadillos. This gritty reality of patient love and forbearance is what identifies a matured follower of Christ to the world.
The Strategy of Disciple Making: Paul and Timothy
To make a disciple is to engage in a strategic, relational investment designed to reproduce a love for and passion for Christ in another person. A helpful framework for this is the concept that every believer should have a “Paul” and a “Timothy” in their life. A “Paul” is a mentor who pours into you, providing the roots and guidance necessary for spiritual growth. A “Timothy” is a person you are discipling—someone you are pouring yourself into and giving everything you have to see them matured in the faith. This cycle of mentorship is meant to change throughout different seasons of life as individuals move into new communities or stages of ministry.
This model is clearly articulated in 2 Timothy 2:2, where the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to take the things he has heard in the presence of witnesses and entrust them to reliable men who will be able to teach others also. This establishes a four-generation ripple effect: Paul to Timothy, Timothy to reliable men, and those men to a fourth generation of students. By following this pattern, a movement can achieve far greater reach than mass-proclamation alone; while a single event might reach 500 or 700 people at a shallow level, a dedicated effort to produce 10 or 12 disciples who each train another 10 or 12 can eventually impact thousands and tens of thousands. The strategic insight of discipleship is that we get farther when we go deeper.
The Context of PassionLife: Disciple Making as Movement
For PassionLife, the transition from being a proclamational or teaching ministry to a disciple-making ministry is essential to the mission of rescuing the vulnerable where abortion is most concentrated. With the United States accounting for only 3% of annual global abortions, the 97% remaining constitutes a world missions challenge that requires a movement-based approach. This involves identifying national leaders who can take ownership of the material—specifically the “four questions” regarding the sanctity of human life—and reproduce it in their own cultures.
A successful example of this is Brother Anderson in Colombia, who was mentored and trained until he could teach the biblical call to rescue more effectively in Spanish than any Westerner could through a translator. Similarly, in Cuba, Sandy is making disciples, and in India, Amit is doing the same, ensuring that the work continues even in the absence of the original teachers. This process involves a deliberate “hand-off” of authority; for instance, during a 2022 mission to Africa, the training team taught almost exclusively the first time, but by the fifth session, the African pastors from Zambia were running the entire show while the mentors merely provided introductions.
Discipleship in Everyday Life
Discipleship is not confined to formal classrooms or pastoral training; it is a way of living where one’s DNA rubs off on others through shared experiences. The Great Commission in Mark 16:15 can be understood as an instruction to make disciples “as you go” through life. This practical approach means taking a “Timothy” along on routine errands, such as a trip to the grocery store to buy peanut butter, so they can witness how a believer treats a checkout clerk or navigates daily stressors.
While it can be intimidating to let others see one’s “old DNA” or flaws, Jesus entrusted this very task to his imperfect followers, knowing that their lives would become an imitation of His own over time. There is an extraordinary sweetness in seeing a former “Timothy” succeed and stand on their own as a leader. Frequently, these mentees become “Pauls” back to their original mentors, offering new insights and gifts that demonstrate their spiritual maturity.
Technical Reproduction and Global Expansion
The disciple-making model also applies to technical and medical aspects of mission work. A current initiative involves bringing Malifa, a trained sonographer from Zambia, to the United States for specialized training on a high-tech handheld ultrasound unit. Once Malifa is thoroughly trained, she will return to Africa to become the primary trainer for other doctors and nurses in countries like Nigeria. This strategy of “mass reproduction” ensures that the ability to use life-saving technology is handed down from person to person within the continent, reducing the need for constant international travel while empowering local experts.
Ultimately, making disciples is about turning humility into boldness and helping others find their own confidence in the proclamation of the Gospel. Whether through teaching the “four questions,” utilizing the tiny baby fetal model (which represents a child at 9 weeks after conception), or training in medical technology, the goal remains the same: to work oneself into a new role of mentorship rather than a permanent job as the sole expert. At its core, this is good old-fashioned biblical discipleship, which remains the most satisfying and effective way to partner with God in His work across the globe.
This article is adapted from the episode transcript.