The Disciple Maker‘s Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Come to the 2025 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 

Today’s episode will help us understand why disciple-making should be the church’s core mission and how we can integrate it into our daily lives through prayer, intentional relationships, and simple, faithful steps.

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Disciple Making: Making It the Core Mission 

Welcome back to the Disciple Maker's Podcast! In this episode, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael embark on a new series focusing on the '10 Core Principles of Disciple Making.' This episode dives into making disciple making the core mission of the church. Jason and Josh discuss why it's important to remind the church and individuals that disciple making should be the core mission. They share personal stories, confront the common disconnect between knowledge and action, and provide practical steps on how to make disciple making integral in our personal lives and within the church. Join us as we explore the significance of intentionality, prayer, and the importance of hands-on disciple making. Stay tuned for more insights and real-life stories aimed at equipping you to fulfill the Great Commission. Don't miss out on the details of upcoming events, including the Discipleship.org National Disciple Making Forum in Houston, Texas.

Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/ 

Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Banter

01:04 Introducing the 10 Core Principles of Disciple Making

01:41 Principle 1: Making Disciple Making the Core Mission

03:24 Challenges in Prioritizing Disciple Making

04:42 Personal Stories and Practical Applications

05:56 The Importance of Personal Commitment

10:29 Evangelism and Disciple Making: A Unified Mission

11:49 Practical Steps for Effective Disciple Making

17:05 Conviction and Commitment to Prayer

17:49 Praying for a Doctor Friend

19:25 Overcoming Fear to Pray

20:33 A Miraculous Healing

22:26 The Power of Intentional Prayer

24:20 Facing Rejection in Evangelism

27:38 Encouragement to Make Disciples

29:48 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ 

See Below for a longer description:

In the first episode of the Disciple Maker’s Podcast, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael dive into the heart of disciple-making, breaking it down in a way that’s both practical and relatable. They kick things off with some lighthearted banter before getting serious about their core message: making disciple-making the central mission of both the church and individual believers.

Josh introduces the podcast’s framework—10 Core Principles of Disciple-Making—developed by him and Bobby Harrington. Each episode will unpack one principle, starting with the foundational idea: disciple-making must be the church’s primary focus. While this seems obvious, they acknowledge that many churches still struggle to put it into practice.

Jason challenges the audience by pointing out the gap between knowing disciple-making is essential and actually doing it. He shares his own struggles in aligning his life with Jesus’ teachings—like when his wife’s blunt question about tithing revealed an area he hadn’t fully surrendered. Moments like these highlight how disciple-making isn’t just for pastors—it’s a calling for every believer.

The conversation turns to practical steps. Josh and Jason emphasize that disciple-making isn’t a lofty goal but something woven into everyday life. Josh shares a personal story about being convicted for not praying for non-believers, leading him and his wife to start praying daily. This simple act opened doors, including a surprising ministry opportunity with a previously resistant doctor.

They stress that disciple-making happens in small, intentional relationships—"ones, twos, and threes," not massive crowds. It’s about praying for people by name, being available, and stepping out in faith. They also tackle the misconception that evangelism and discipleship are separate tasks, reinforcing that Jesus saw them as one mission: leading people to faith and maturity.

Before wrapping up, they preview a major study on thriving disciple-making churches, which will be shared at an event in Houston, Texas. Their final challenge? Don’t overcomplicate it. Trust God, take small faithful steps, and make disciple-making a natural part of life.

This episode is both inspiring and practical—packed with real stories, honest struggles, and clear next steps for anyone looking to live out the Great Commission.

In the first episode of the Disciple Maker’s Podcast, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael dive into the heart of disciple-making, breaking it down in a way that’s both practical and relatable. They kick things off with some lighthearted banter before getting serious about their core message: making disciple-making the central mission of both the church and individual believers.

Josh introduces the podcast’s framework—10 Core Principles of Disciple-Making—developed by him and Bobby Harrington. Each episode will unpack one principle, starting with the foundational idea: disciple-making must be the church’s primary focus. While this seems obvious, they acknowledge that many churches still struggle to put it into practice.

Jason challenges the audience by pointing out the gap between knowing disciple-making is essential and actually doing it. He shares his own struggles in aligning his life with Jesus’ teachings—like when his wife’s blunt question about tithing revealed an area he hadn’t fully surrendered. Moments like these highlight how disciple-making isn’t just for pastors—it’s a calling for every believer.

The conversation turns to practical steps. Josh and Jason emphasize that disciple-making isn’t a lofty goal but something woven into everyday life. Josh shares a personal story about being convicted for not praying for non-believers, leading him and his wife to start praying daily. This simple act opened doors, including a surprising ministry opportunity with a previously resistant doctor.

They stress that disciple-making happens in small, intentional relationships—"ones, twos, and threes," not massive crowds. It’s about praying for people by name, being available, and stepping out in faith. They also tackle the misconception that evangelism and discipleship are separate tasks, reinforcing that Jesus saw them as one mission: leading people to faith and maturity.

Before wrapping up, they preview a major study on thriving disciple-making churches, which will be shared at an event in Houston, Texas. Their final challenge? Don’t overcomplicate it. Trust God, take small faithful steps, and make disciple-making a natural part of life.

This episode is both inspiring and practical—packed with real stories, honest struggles, and clear next steps for anyone looking to live out the Great Commission.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 

Today’s episode will help us understand why most churches struggle with disciple-making, how culture—not just strategy—is the key to change, and what practical steps leaders can take to spark a movement.

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Creating a Disciple-Making Culture: Insights and Strategies from Experts

Join hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael in this exciting episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast as they discuss a recent study revealing that less than 5% of churches in America have a functional disciple-making culture. The hosts dive into their mission to elevate this percentage to 16%, as inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's 'Tipping Point.' Learn about the importance of shifting church culture toward disciple-making, practical tips for leaders, and the significance of leading by example. This episode is packed with insights, personal anecdotes, and practical strategies to inspire and equip churches and individuals to become effective disciple-makers. Don't miss this engaging and informative discussion!

Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/ 

Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Banter

01:23 The Disciple Making Study

02:15 The 16 Percent Goal

03:31 Challenges in Shifting Church Culture

05:17 Personal Experiences and Sarcasm

08:28 The Reality of Church Culture

13:47 Practical Steps for Culture Shift

19:52 Consumerism in Church Culture

21:11 Leadership Starts with Us

22:00 The Power of Discipleship

23:51 Catalysts and Early Adopters

26:49 Failing Forward in Ministry

28:36 Celebrating Small Wins

30:51 Real Ministry and Making Disciples

37:08 Encouragement and Resources

Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ 

See Below for a longer description:

Disciple Makers Podcast: Shifting Church Culture Towards Disciple-Making

In this episode, hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael tackle the challenge of building a true disciple-making culture in churches. With years of ministry experience, they have an honest, practical conversation about why so many churches struggle—and what it takes to turn things around.

Josh shares a startling stat from Discipleship.org—less than 5% of American churches have a functioning disciple-making culture. The problem isn’t a lack of knowledge but a lack of implementation. They explore how church culture, more than strategy or programs, is the key factor holding disciple-making back.

Josh and Jason unpack Discipleship.org’s vision: increasing that 5% to 16%. Drawing from Malcolm Gladwell’s “tipping point” concept, they explain that once 16% of churches embrace disciple-making, it can trigger a larger movement across the country.

The issue isn’t that people don’t know how to make disciples—it’s that they don’t want to. Josh and Jason stress that real change happens when disciple-making becomes embedded in a church’s DNA, not just another ministry program.

Jason shares how his Iowa church is reshaping its culture—turning every ministry into a disciple-making opportunity. Whether serving coffee or leading worship, everything is intentionally tied to discipleship.

Josh reminds leaders that culture starts at the top. Leaders must model disciple-making, celebrate progress (not just success), and reinforce the mission constantly.

The hosts emphasize the importance of celebrating even small disciple-making efforts. They introduce the idea of “sucking forward”—embracing failures as part of the journey and encouraging leaders to keep pushing forward.

Josh and Jason challenge leaders to be among the first to embrace disciple-making, even before it’s mainstream. These pioneers will be key to hitting the 16% tipping point and sparking a larger movement.

Josh closes with a powerful analogy: Leaders shouldn’t just measure church culture; they should set it. Shaping a disciple-making culture requires intentional action, not passive observation.

The episode wraps up with an invitation to engage with Discipleship.org for resources and support. Josh and Jason also invite listeners to their upcoming forum in Houston, where they’ll continue the conversation and equip leaders for disciple-making.

The New Year is right around the corner! With the new year comes some sad but exciting changes. Today's episode features Dave Stovall Host of The Disciple Makers Podcast and Josh Howard Director of Vision and Mobilization for Discipleship.org. 

In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, Dave Stovall bids an emotional farewell while introducing the new host, Josh Howard. Josh, who is the new Director of Vision and Mobilization at Discipleship.org, discusses his role and shares insights on the impact of disciple making both locally and globally. The conversation dives into the importance of creating a disciple-making culture in churches and features personal anecdotes and future visions for the organization. They also touch on the significance of contextualizing the gospel to reach various cultures and the exciting developments expected from Discipleship.org in the coming years. Tune in to hear about the changes coming to the podcast and to get inspired about making disciples.

Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Farewell Announcement 00:24 Meet the New Host: Josh Howard 01:00 Vision and Mobilization Explained 02:30 The Importance of Discipleship 03:36 Current State of Discipleship in America 04:19 Icebreaker Questions and New Year's Resolutions 09:27 Josh's Overseas Experience 11:54 Contextualizing the Gospel 15:51 Vision for Discipleship.org 19:05 Podcast Future and Conclusion

“There is a huge difference between a church with discipleship and a disciple making church. A disciple making church, or a church with discipleship, usually sees discipleship as another program that they add on to everything else they're doing. And in disciple making church,  discipleship is a part of it. But disciple making is all we do, not just one thing we do. It's all we do. – Ken Adams”

In this enlightening podcast, Matt Dabbs from Discipleship.org is joined by Ken Adams of Crossroads Church and Impact Ministries, discussing how the implementation of discipleship in local churches can lead to an impactful and transformative journey, just as Jesus designed 2000 years ago. Adams also shares insights from his 35-year pastoral journey and explains the profound value of maintaining a focus on discipleship. Additionally, he talks about the services offered by Impact Discipleship Ministries to assist churches in developing strategies and implementing discipleship driving growth and fulfilling God's mission.

Check out The Disciple-Making Church Podcast: Click HERE

To Learn more about Impact Discipleship Ministries: Click HERE

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:42 The Importance of Discipleship in Church Growth

04:21 The Impact of Longevity in Ministry

05:27 The Power of Discipleship in Church Multiplication

08:13 The Vision for a Disciple Making Church

17:50 The Challenges and Successes in Disciple Making

26:29 The Role of Impact Discipleship Ministries in Church Revitalization

29:53 Adapting Disciple Making to Different Church Styles

33:25 The Role of Assessment and Prescription in Disciple Making

36:22 The Implementation of Disciple Making and the Importance of Follow-up

37:11 Additional Services Offered for Churches

38:25 The Role of a Pastor in Disciple Making

39:49 The Importance of Implementing Disciple Making in Everyday Life

40:52 The Personal Experiences and Reflections on Disciple Making

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Highlight – “80% of all churches in North America have a functioning women’s ministry, less than 7 percent have a functioning men’s ministry.”

In this interview, Chris Harper of Betterman discusses the concept of 'Discipling Men' in our churches. He highlights the fact that a small group study can be tremendously beneficial for a man, offering opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about Biblical manhood and masculinity, but also that a lot of guys simply wouldn’t choose this kind of community for themselves or even understand why they need it. Church leadership plays a big role in that. Chris talks about seeing a shift from academic spaces to communal spaces in our churches. We should feel an urgency to encourage multi-generational discipleship to prevent men from leaving the church and to build a stronger church community that can affect societal change.

Check out the BetterMan Podcast: Click HERE

To Learn more about BetterMan: Click HERE

Discipleship in the Modern Church: Empowering Men with Chris Harper

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Prayer

05:38 The Four W's: Word, Woman, Work, World

06:39 The Impact of the Four W's

11:46 The Role of the Church in Men's Discipleship

14:59 The Importance of Small Group Discussions

22:28 The Shift in Church Culture and Its Impact on Men

28:58 The Media's Negative Portrayal of Men

29:50 Breaking Stereotypes: Redefining Masculinity

32:42 The Struggles of Church Leadership

35:21 The Need for Men's Ministry

37:34 The Power of Personal Testimony

39:32 The Urgency of Addressing Men's Issues

46:56 The Potential for Revival

Check out the Disciple Making Culture 10 Minute E-Book

Interested in more great content check out our Nashville City Tour Videos. 

Today’s episode is a follow-up conversation between Steve McCoy and Matt Dabbs. They continue their discussion on fostering a culture of discipleship by utilizing everyday people within the church. They wanna help ordinary people like me and you with accessible tools for sharing the Gospel and for making disciples. This episode serves as an encouragement and guide for us individuals listening and also for churches to foster a more intentional approach to disciple-making by utilizing the collective strength of their community.

Highlight – “If you want to have a disciple making culture within your organization, your ministry, or your church, it is absolutely 100 percent impossible unless everyday people are in the game – Steve McCoy”

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction to the Discipleship Talk

00:14 The Importance of Everyday People in Discipleship

01:15 The Challenges of Expert Culture in Churches

02:38 The Role of Discipleship.org in Empowering Everyday People

06:44 The Impact of Discipleship on Church Culture

06:47 The Effect of COVID-19 on Church Culture

14:43 The Importance of Relational Depth in Discipleship

27:16 The Impact of Discipleship on Church Growth and Leadership Development

29:14 Conclusion: The Excitement of Discipleship

To Learn more about Small Circle Click HERE

Check out the National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches

Interested in taking an assessment on Disciple Making: Individual Disciple Maker Assessment

“Fight to have that David, Jonathan, Jesus, John, Paul, Timothy Relationship. An Everyday person can pick up the tools and just move with it, an everyday person can become a disciple maker.” 

In today's discussion, Matt Dabs talks with Steve McCoy, the founder and lead pastor of the 360 Church in Sarasota, and developer of the Small Circle App. The emphasis is on the importance of personal, one-to-one discipleship, using the methods Jesus exemplified in his ministry. They explore the value of both group settings and individual discipleship, explaining that larger group settings often don't facilitate the deep, transformative conversations that occur in more intimate settings. Steve stresses the importance of intentionality in choosing who to invest in for discipleship, urging listeners to aim to invest in those who will themselves invest in others. 

To Learn more about Small Circle Click HERE

Check out the new Disciple Making Culture Visual Guide

Interested in taking an assessment on Disciple Making: Individual Disciple Maker Assessment

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

02:33 The Unique Relationship Between Jesus and John

05:53 The Need for Deep, Intimate Relationships in Discipleship

07:06 The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Discipleship

08:57 The Importance of Intentionality in Discipleship

17:24 How to Get Started with One-on-One Discipleship

19:01 The Role of Everyday People in Discipleship

21:00 The Challenges and Rewards of One-on-One Discipleship

25:23 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Highlight – “Everything Jesus did was Discipleship.” 

In today’s episode, Jason Shepherd discusses his revolutionary approach to Church Projects, a movement that started in 2010. He emphasizes the importance of distributing pastoral leadership, decentralizing church gatherings, and fostering diverse discipleship communities grounded in shared scripture. He also discusses the function of house churches and how they enrich the church community. Furthermore, he provides practical tips for managing kids within a house church setting and fostering powerful church growth. The discussion is tied together with a focus on aligning all church activities with Biblical teachings, values, and examples.

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Introduction and Prayer

07:09 The Concept of Distributed Pastoral Leadership

11:28 The Importance of Diverse Discipleship Communities

14:30 The Balance Between Large Gatherings and House Churches

19:18 Protecting Sound Doctrine in House Churches

20:30 The Role of House Church Pastors

23:56 The Health of House Churches

27:19 The Structure of House Church Gatherings

29:17 The Role of Children in House Churches

33:18 The Benefits of a Separate Sunday Gathering

36:59 The Church Project Network

Check out our popular ebook on Becoming a Disciple Maker

Interested in taking an assessment on Disciple Making: Individual Disciple Maker Assessment

To learn more about church project visit: https://www.churchproject.org/ 

Today we continue the conversation between Bobby Harrington and Matt Dabbs looking into the book "Discipleship that Fits." They discuss the importance of different types of discipleship relationships, such as the divine space, public space, social space, personal space, and transparent space. They also mention the benefits of different church sizes and advocate for prioritizing the divine space and transparent space for leadership development. They discuss how different spaces can be used in various church contexts and how they can troubleshoot problems by understanding the purpose of each space. If you are interested in taking an assessment on your church click HERE.  For access to the book and a free tool check out the links below: 

Interested in a FREE TOOL related to this episode click HERE

For access to the complete book Discipleship that fits click HERE 

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Key Takeaways 

00:00 Exploring the Concept of Discipleship

02:59 The Importance of Personal Relationships in Discipleship

03:18 The Five Discipling Relationships

06:33 The Role of Church Size in Discipleship

08:19 The Importance of Personal Relationship with God in Discipleship

18:00 The Role of Church Leaders in Discipleship

24:27 Troubleshooting Problems in Discipleship

28:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Disciple Making Culture Matt Dabbs interviews the point leader of Discipleship.org Bobby Harrington. They’re talking about steps to help your churches make disciples who then in turn make other disciples. They explore the importance of shifting focus from informing to equipping, from program to purpose, from activity to relationship, and finally from accumulating to deploying. This episode instills the value of creating that disciple-making culture within your church and integrating it into the everyday lives of your churchgoers.

NEW!!! Making the DiscipleShift in Your Church The Basics in 5 Minutes

For more information on the book Disciple Shift click HERE

For more information about Disciple Making Culture click HERE

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Episode Highlights:

00:00 The Importance of Disciple Making Culture

01:30 The State of Churches in Disciple Making

01:57 The Importance of Disciple Making Culture in Churches

02:53 The Consequences of Not Making Disciple Shifts

03:17 The Five Shifts to Help Your Church Make Disciples

06:35 The Importance of Discipling Relationships in Churches

16:22 The Importance of Deploying Disciples into Communities

23:34 The Importance of Practicing Discipleship