The problem is there are so many options that most don’t know where to start, what’s fundamental, or even what exactly they’re trying to make. In fact, most never start.

The cycle goes like this:

New disciple makers don’t know what they don’t know about how to make a disciple. They find their way by doing an internet search for discipleship curriculum, asking a friend, or simply start building a friendship without a plan in mind. If they’ve never been discipled they latch onto anything that seems like it might work. To be clear, none of this is bad. For a new disciple maker the win is in the attempt.

Those who have been discipled, simply do with others what someone else did with them. They use the same book, curriculum, or other resource to make disciple makers. And the next person does the same thing as well. And the next.

Until eventually someone doesn’t.

Eventually, someone notices a missing element in how they were discipled and decides to do it differently. Sometimes that person is skilled at teaching and communication and develops a new way to disciple someone. Sometimes it becomes a new book or curriculum so that others can use it to disciple another. Next, disciples use the same book or curriculum to disciple someone else who uses it to disciple someone else. Until eventually someone doesn’t because they notice something is missing. And so it goes.

The result of this process is there are thousands of paths available in how to make a disciple.

Is there a way to discern which path would be best? Are there tests or considerations that would help us quickly narrow the options of choosing which path gets us closer to the way Jesus discipled? How can we sort the different methods of making a disciple so that we can intentionally choose a path that will make disciples who look and act like Jesus?

Here are seven effective tests:

1. The Like Jesus Test – Does the method align with how Jesus discipled?

Jesus’ way of making disciples is the perfect way. We need to get as close to His example and method as possible. The principles He modeled can be applied within any culture or time. A good shorthand for these principles is personal, reproducible, intentional, sacrificial, and missional (PRISM).

2. The Incarnation Test – Does it require the disciple maker to be a living example or does the disciple maker just need to know or to teach something?

Many discipleship paths can function with any leader to teach or to guide a discussion, no disciple maker needed! Jesus-style disciple making requires disciple makers to be like Jesus. We should be wary of discipleship methods that don’t require the leader to be what he’s seeking to make.

3. The Consistency Test – Does the method align with the message?

As social scientist Marshall McCluen eloquently stated, “The medium is the message.” In other words, how you do is just as important as what you say. Jesus aligned His words to His ways. An effective disciple making path isn’t just going to say that relationship and the Word are important, it’s going to proclaim those truths by how(ital) it engages the disciple. When there’s a mismatch between medium and message the proclaimed truths won’t take root in the disciple.

4. The Equipping Test – Does it equip the disciple or restrict the disciple? Does it make a disciple or a book-jockey?

Disciple making should equip disciples to disciple others not restrict them to one book or curriculum in how to do it. Making equipped disciples happens by teaching tools, training them so they are skilled in using those tools, as well as helping them to discern when such tools are useful and when they aren’t. Equipped disciples become increasingly skilled with experience. Alternatively, restricted disciples know only one way to disciple others. Without that book or curriculum, they are no more equipped than a new person.

5. The Outcome Test – Does it produce a mature disciple who becomes a unique version of themselves or just a copy of the method or disciple maker?

God hasn’t created individuals to be identical to everyone else. Instead, He’s uniquely designed and gifted each person. Of course, all disciples should look like Jesus, but our individual design and gifting should result in mature disciples who look different in priority and expression.

6. The Like Us Test – Does it fit us theologically and can I envision it fitting our context? Can we envision a future in which we are using the method/approach, terminology, and tools in our community and context?

This very practical test allows us to consider if the method feels like it would fit us—or sometimes if it would fit me. Sometimes the vocabulary and style of communication feels more off-putting than endearing. We need a disciple making path that fits who God has already made us to be.

7. The Lost / Saving Test - Does it lead to making disciples of the lost?

Perhaps redundant to the like-Jesus test, but it’s worth repeating. Any disciple making method that doesn’t aim at the lost moves against the very purpose for which Jesus came (Luke 19:10).

Applying these seven tests to the thousands of available discipleship books, curriculum, and paths can help new disciple makers decide HOW to make disciples. They should also help veteran disciple makers make the decision that most have never made.

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Find this helpful? Want to grow as a disciple or disciple maker? Check out my books: The Bicycle Illustration and The Foundation of a Disciple Making Culture. Too much to read? Check out my Podcast, “The Practitioners’ Podcast” for short, hyper focused disciple making episodes wherever you get podcasts!