Pastor Training

Create a culture in your church where disciple-makers are the rule, not the exception.

Workbook (PDF)

Leader’s Intro to PursueGOD

Posted: July 12, 2021
The mission of the church is to make disciples – but are we actually doing it?

Talking Points:

  • Most churches today are broken – built to minister to crowds, but leaving individuals confused and helpless. Preaching great sermons doesn’t accomplish the goal of discipleship. Matthew 9:35-36
  • The biblical solution is empowerment – sending regular people into the world to actively make disciples. The pastor’s job is to equip people to do the work of the ministry. Matthew 9:37-38, Ephesians 4:11-12
  • The payoff is maturity for every believer – and a church that is growing and healthy. Growing churches are only healthy churches if they’re built on disciple-making. Ephesians 4:13,16
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Read Matthew 9:35-36. What is Jesus’ emotional state in this passage, and why? How would most pastors feel after preaching to a large crowd?
  3. Share about a time when someone left your church “confused and helpless”. What did you do about it?
  4. Make a list of the primary things (a) pastors and (b) people do at your church. Compare this to Ephesians 4:11-12.
  5. What’s the difference between a growing church and a healthy church? How can you tell if a church is healthy?
  6. Have you ever seen a church that was built on disciple-making? What is your church built on?
  7. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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The Picture and The Process of Disciple-making

Posted: November 14, 2021
Disciple-makers everywhere – but how do we empower regular people to do it?

Talking Points:

  • A “full circle” disciple is someone who trusts Jesus, honors God, and makes disciples. This is the vision that Jesus has for every one of his followers. Matthew 28:19-20
  • PursueGOD is a library of Bible-based conversation starters designed to help people pursue God one topic at a time.The strategy is to empower regular people with tools to talk about life, faith, family, and more.
  • The process for making “full circle” disciples is defined by 3 E’s: Engage (by covering topics), Establish (by completing The Pursuit), and Empower (by helping them connect to someone who wants to be mentored).

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Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Who discipled you in the faith? How did they do it?
  3. How does your church define a “disciple”? How many people in your church would define it this way?
  4. Read Matthew 28:19-20. Identify the three marks of a disciple in this passage.
  5. What, if anything, is the process of “discipleship” in your church? How many people have followed that process?
  6. Why is it important to define a picture (what is a disciple) and a process (how to make disciples) as a church? What can happen to a church that is unclear on these points?
  7. Do you think the pursueGOD picture and process would work in your church? Why or why not?
  8. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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Pastor Essentials

Posted: August 20, 2019 | 0 comments
What's the pastor's role – and the leaders – in empowering a discipleship culture?

Pastor Essentials:

  1. Be the first to make disciples. If you don’t set the example as a healthy leader, no one will follow. 1 Corinthians 11:1
  2. Leverage the church for “handoffs“. Always be connecting people to disciple-makers. 2 Timothy 2:2
  3. Find a way to measure and celebrate. Churches have always measured what matters, and what they celebrate they elevate. 
  4. Eliminate sideways energy. Get rid of programs and sacred cows that are not driving toward the vision of disciple-making.
  5. Never give up. Driving toward a discipleship culture is harder than you think, but it’s worth the effort.  
Discussion:
  1. What jumped out at you in this topic?
  2. When was the last time you discipled someone? How did you do it?
  3. Brainstorm a list of ways to leverage the church for handoffs.
  4. What do you measure right now in your church? How can you start measuring the 3 E’s of disciple-making?
  5. Brainstorm a list of ways to celebrate disciple-making in your church.
  6. What are some programs or sacred cows in your church that might get in the way of disciple-making?
  7. Make a list of 3-5 people in your church who are faithful, available, and teachable – your “first wave” of disciple-makers. Take them through The Pursuit and then release them to start making disciples in your church.
  8. Need help with a pursueGOD consultant? Fill out this form.
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Slides (ZIP)
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