Our goal is to help followers of Jesus dive deep into what it means to be an everyday disciple maker. In these 20 minute episodes, we will talk about culture, practice, and multiplication of disciple making in the local church.
Episodes
Mar 22, 2023
Mar 22, 2023
20 min
This episode is perfect for someone in or leading culture!
- Vision Division
Jesus observed that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matt. 12:25). Unhealthy cultures have division over the vision. When people disagree on the desired destination they are unable to see a shared future. The lack of a common vision and shared future can give birth to every other symptom on this list.
2. Relational Isolation
The lack of relational depth and connection contributes to people thinking ME instead of WE. When individuals care more about themselves than the mission, their culture feels prickly. Such cultures choose to regulate rather than relate.
3. Communication Chaos
Secrecy, gossip, poorly addressed or unaddressed conflict, and debate about what’s factually true are great examples of communication chaos. There are also well-known elephants and sacred cows around every corner that aren’t discussed or acknowledged. Communication symptoms take many forms, but each one leaves individuals feeling unsafe and vulnerable. At its worst communication chaos leads to a lack of trust and cycles of conflict.
4. Act, Don’t Ask
Instead of a culture that invites cooperation and co-creation, unhealthy cultures draw bold lines between the leaders and the led. Leadership isn’t interested in robust dialogue, discussion, or co-creation. Instead their focus is to get people to act and submit to the plan. Some contexts call for such leadership (a battlefield, natural disasters, etc.) Normally though, such cultures suffocate and inhibit personal development. Often such cultures see individual development as a threat to output. Potential is secondary to production
5. Affinity Based Authority
marked by leadership being transitioned from one to the next based on personal affinity rather than performance. In such cultures, character and fruitfulness are secondary to current leadership’s similarity and relational connection to future leadership. When authority is affinity-based rather than earned, it leads to inauthentic styles of relating.
Takeaway: Culture is what most people do most of the time. Unhealthy culture will infect the movement you are trying to lead.
Action Step: Do a cultural check-up to examine these aspects of culture and look for symptoms that indicate bigger problems.
Show Notes:
https://www.justingravitt.com/blog/5symptoms-unhealthyculture
Mar 7, 2023
Mar 7, 2023
20 min
Right Theology leads to Right Living
1 Tim. 4:16, “Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Community keeps us from being deceived…
Takeaway: On their own, doctrine and doing are dangerous. Healthy disciples need both doctrine and application to become like Jesus.
Action Step: Watch your life and doctrine closely AND invite others to keep watch with you!
Show Notes:
James 1:22
1 Cor. 8:1-3
Matthew 7:22-23
Proverbs 19:2
1 Tim. 4:16
Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
19 min
Perfect for: Anyone who is or has been confused about the difference between accountability and disciple making.
Takeaway: Accountability and disciple making are not the same.
Action Step: Take some time to evaluate your disciple making relationship and ask the question, am I making disciples or just doing accountability?
Show Notes:
https://www.justingravitt.com/blog/accountability-disciplemaking
Feb 7, 2023
Feb 7, 2023
20 min
In this episode, Tony and Justin explore one of the best tools in a disciple makers toolbox - how to ask good questions!
Takeaway: We can’t make disciples like Jesus did if we don’t use questions like Jesus did.
Action Step: Develop some regular questions that will help you as you make disciples
Show Notes:
Luke 2:46-47
Mark 8:27-30
Jan 24, 2023
Jan 24, 2023
21 min
Perfect for: Anyone who struggles with the sin in their life.
Takeaway: God’s grace is big enough to cover the gap between what you know you should do and what you actually do.
That gap should still be
Action Step: Spend some time thinking about the progress you’ve made in obedience over the past year. Then praise God for His grace to you!
Show Notes:
Grace Gap Illustration - Downloadable link
Jan 10, 2023
Jan 10, 2023
19 min
Takeaway: Mature disciples always move towards obedience that’s driven by surrender.
Action Step: Reflect and identify which level of obedience best describes your walk with Jesus.
Show Notes:
https://www.justingravitt.com/blog/5-levels-obedience
Dec 29, 2022
Dec 29, 2022
19 min
Perfect for: Anyone who is or has been confused about the difference between coaching and disciple making.
- Coaching is non-directive, but disciple making is directive.
Disciple making however is directive, but don’t mistake directive with inflexible. Disciple makers are experts/models for what it means to follow Jesus. A disciplee is someone who recognizes his need to learn from the discipler.
- Disciple making requires faithfulness to Jesus, coaching requires faithfulness to a process.
A discipler can’t develop someone further than she’s developed. She must not only be a maturing disciple, she must also know how to help another become a maturing disciple.
Coaching however depends on the process of listening and inquiry. This allows a coach to coach doctors without being a doctor or lawyers without being a lawyer.
- Coaching assumes you know what you need to know, disciple making assumes you don’t.
Disciple making assumes you know some things and don’t know others.
- Coaching is primarily self-focused, but disciple making is primarily others centered.
Disciple making relationships begin because the discipler wants to help another grow to maturity.
Takeaway: Coaching and disciple making are not the same.
Action Step: “Take some time to evaluate your disciple making relationship and ask the question, am I coaching or am I making disciples.”
Show Notes:
https://www.justingravitt.com/blog/coaching-disciplemaking
Luke 6:40, Matthew 4:19, 1 Cor. 11:1
Dec 13, 2022
Dec 13, 2022
20 min
This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to see movement in their church or in their life!
Takeaway: God’s movements start with our surrender.
Action Step: Go home draw a circle around yourself, get on your knees, and don’t leave until He answers.
Show Notes:
Nov 29, 2022
Nov 29, 2022
19 min
In this episode, we talk about devotionals and time with the Lord.
Takeaway: It’s ok to eat differently from others.
Action Step: Commit to daily nourishment.
Show Notes:
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
44 min
Justin joins Dennis Allen to discuss “Leaders as Disciples,” which focuses on how church leaders can turn the tide of disciple making in their local church.