Turning left now, it’s time to consider the other option. We looked to the right as far as we could down the standardized discipling path. That trail is broad, familiar, and well-worn.

The path of tool-based discipling to the left is narrow and largely undefined, but it’s also well-maintained and oddly enticing.

Tool-based discipling is a method of discipling that integrates becoming, customized training, equipping, and individual ownership for the purpose of both maturity and multiplication. Each aspect happens in the context of a dynamic relationship where the disciple maker intentionally engages the disciple through an open Word (Bible), an open faith (how they are trusting God now), and an open life (sharing current struggles and successes).

The process of tool-based disciple making goes like this. The disciple maker invites one or two disciples into a disciple making relationship. The invitation is delivered relationally, explicitly, and highlights the destination (for them to become a mature disciple maker). Then, they start working together to reach that destination. During meetings, the disciple maker uses the Scriptures, questions, tools, and suggested applications to spur transformation in the disciple.

The disciple maker has at least three over-arching outcomes that he wants to help the disciple to reach. First, to establish the disciple in faith and spiritual practices that will help him abide with Jesus. Second, to equip the disciple with vision, heart, and skill to establish others in faith and spiritual practices. Third, to grow the disciple in depth of conviction in becoming just. like. Jesus. The final phase includes becoming a unique member (character, calling, competence) of the Body of Christ as God created them to be.

As the disciple grows, she will actively help someone else grow in the same things. Typically, she shares “pass-onables” (such as the wheel, the hand, the disciple maker’s wheel, the serving/training illustration that carry Biblical concepts from the Scriptures into a person’s life). In this way, tool-based discipleship naturally connects understanding to sharing, and training to transformation. The consistent outward movement normalizes learning from the disciple maker and then immediately sharing it with someone else. This habit greatly increases the likelihood of long-term multiplication and identification as a disciple maker.

Tool-based disciple making results in deeply formed, well-equipped disciple makers who appreciate the vital connection between their growing maturity and the ability to disciple well.

So, with all the strengths of tool-based discipling, why don’t more people practice it?

The short answer is because most have never been exposed to this type of discipling. When that reality coupled with the fact that it feels overwhelming at first, most turn the other way. Tool-based discipling is difficult for new disciple makers. It is slow and costly. If a disciple wasn’t trained this way, it just feels like a lot. That’s understandable. Of those who do start, many quit because this path consistently intersects with both the disciple’s and the disciple maker’s weaknesses. Just like with the standardized discipling approach there’s a price to pay in order to practice tool-based discipleship. Unlike the standardized discipling path, this path demands payment upfront and offers results much later.

The Price of Tool-Based Disciple Making

There are at least four costs to the tool-based discipling approach. Each is the result of connecting a disciple maker’s character and personhood to the process. Tool-based practitioners believe that these connections are absolutely necessary in order to raise up disciple makers who look, act, and smell like Jesus.

1. The Price of Demonstration

Jesus was the flesh and blook example for the Twelve. Their whole goal was to become just like Him (Luke 6:40). In tool-based discipling the disciple maker is that example. Paul embraced that reality. He invited those he discipled to follow his example as he followed Christ and to do as he did (2 Tim 2:2). In the same way, disciplemakers are called to live out their faith in front of those they disciple. If that intimidates you, then you aren’t alone.

It's not something everyone is ready to do, but it is something everyone could do.

It’s a question of maturity. Just as children aren’t physically ready to carry heavy weight, the weight of demonstration is meant to be carried by more mature disciples. Tool-based disciple making doesn’t seek to remove the burden of demonstration. nor does it seek to minimize it so that “anyone can do it.” Instead it spurs disciples to grow by tying growth to fruitfulness (Luke 6:40, 2 Tim. 2:20-21).

2. The Price of Preparation

At a practical level, tool-based disciple making requires some skill. Just as many faithful disciples don’t automatically know how to do inductive Bible study or lead a small group, many don’t know how to disciple another. Would-be disciple makers need to develop vision, heart, and skill in disciple making and that takes a significant amount of time.

The idea of training skilled disciple makers is resisted by many. The pushback isn’t focused on the skills, but rather on the time cost. Let’s be clear it does take time.

Those who do invest the time to prepare skilled disciple makers find that their investment yields a great return. It’s true that making better disciple makers results in more disciple makers. As individuals devote themselves to the skill of disciple making they not only become more skilled, but also more committed to making disciples out of who they are, instead of just as something they do.

3. The Price of Customization

Tool-based disciple makers never disciple any two people in exactly the same way. How could they? The goal of tool-based disciple makers is to partner with God to help each disciple grow to maturity (Col. 1:28). Since each disciple is uniquely designed and uniquely gifted they need to be discipled uniquely so that they can mature uniquely.

Such customization is costly and challenging. The disciple maker needs to consider the design of the disciple, their current maturity level, and how to join in with what God is already doing in his life. As challenges arise the disciple maker needs to assess and adjust appropriately.

The price of all this customization is paid by the disciple maker. He must listen well to the disciple and the Holy Spirit. He must willingly and skillfully adjust to help the disciple grow into mature disciple maker.

4. The Price of Supervision

The disciple maker owns the discipleship process in a tool-based approach. If things don’t go well, there’s no curriculum or structure to blame. Instead the disciple maker must look first at himself and his choices. Is he playing too much defense? Does he need to be more intentional? Has he been consistently praying for growth in the disciple? Are the conditions inside the relationship conducive to growth and godliness?

Truthfully, this cost is actually a feature, not a bug. The task of stewarding and supervising the process of disciple making keeps us dependent. And isn’t that the way it should be? After all, even Jesus was dependent on God’s leading as He discipled (John 5:19, 17:4-18). So any discipling that leads us to trust in something else is a mistake. No curriculum, book, or even tool-based skills are sufficient to accomplish the task. Instead we must lean on the Holy Spirit and the co-creative process that happens between the Spirit of God, the disciple maker, and the disciple. This holy interaction (and sometimes tension) is what disciple making is meant to be.

Conclusion

Tool-based disciple making has some incredible strengths. The approach of tool-based discipling calls disciples up to take their place as spiritual mothers and fathers (1 Thess 2:8-12), as disciple makers. Practitioners of this path believe that anyone can do it, but it’s not easy. It requires a willingness to follow Jesus into difficult places in order to become just like Him. Since the disciple maker is the example, it impedes both hiding and substituting information transfer in place of real-life application. It passes on a vision of disciple making that comes out of the very identity and gifting of the disciple maker. In doing so it lights the path for the disciple to envision a mature version of themselves that deeply impacts others in their unique way.

The downside of tool-based discipling is that it’s slow and expensive. The high cost of life integration deters many. Those same things inspire others to “count the cost” and stretch into the vision of disciple making. Each of the costs mentioned above are real and persistent. Tool-based disciple making connects personhood to the process. It incentivizes disciple makers to grow in maturity, skill, and connection to the Holy Spirit because those are connected to fruitfulness (2 Tim. 2:20-21). In short, tool-based disciple making requires the disciple maker to live it, not just to know it or talk about it.

So now the choice is yours. Will you choose to practice standardized discipling or tool-based discipling? Which do you think Jesus chose for Himself? For those He discipled?

Choose wisely! Your decision will be felt by generations of disciples.

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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. Not a reader? Check out my Podcast, “The Practitioners’ Podcast” for short, hyper focused disciple making episodes wherever you get podcasts!