October 2, 2026
Disciple-making is at the heart of Christian ministry, yet it often stirs up deep-seated fears. The call to make disciples, as seen in Matthew 28:16-20, is clear, but so are the doubts and concerns accompanying it. Understanding who makes a disciple, what discipleship entails, and how to navigate the fears involved is crucial for every believer. This article is also a topic at our 2024 SPARK Conference. You can engage this topic and nearly 30 others at 6 locations all over Georgia. Learn more about it at www.thesparkconference.com.
1. Who Makes a Disciple? Jesus Does, We Help.
The simple yet profound answer to this question is that every follower of Jesus is called to make disciples. Matthew 28:16-20, known as the Great Commission, reminds us that Jesus commanded this task and that we are never alone. We see a few things in this passage that help clarify our role and Jesus' role in disciple-making.
The Disciples Saw Jesus but Still Doubted: Even after witnessing the resurrection, some disciples doubted their part in making disciples. This reminds us that doubt is a common human experience, even among those closest to Jesus.
Go and Make Disciples, Not Programs: Jesus’ command was not to create programs or institutions but to make disciples. This shifts the focus from only relying on programs and studies towards seeing people and understanding where their next step to be closer to Jesus is for them.
Make Disciples by Baptizing, Teaching, and Observing: Discipleship involves baptizing believers, teaching them the truths of Jesus, and encouraging them to observe His commandments. We can use bible studies and resources to help us achieve this, but it does not replace the person-to-person disciple-making process Jesus established.
Jesus is With Us Always: The final and most reassuring point is that Jesus promises to be with us “always, to the end of the age.” We are never alone in disciple-making. To say it another way, Jesus makes disciples. He is with us always, and while we are a significant part of the process, we are human and fall short and need to all look towards a blameless savior who took our sins on the cross.
2. Defining Disciple and Discipleship
To effectively make disciples, it’s essential to understand the terms we use. We can forget that many are not just because we are familiar with a term as leaders in a church context. We use the following definitions for our discipleship team here at Georgia Baptist.
Disciple: A committed, passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This is not merely someone who believes in Jesus but someone whose life is actively shaped by their relationship with Him.
Discipleship is a life-long process by which a follower of Jesus grows toward Christ-likeness and multiplies the experience. It is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey that involves learning, growing, and leading others along the same path.
3. Fears in Disciple-Making
One of the most significant obstacles in disciple-making is fear. Jesus chose Judas as one of His twelve disciples, knowing Judas would betray Him. In John 6:66-71, Jesus acknowledges Judas’ eventual betrayal, which was not a mistake. We often fear having a “Judas” in our midst—someone who could hurt or betray our trust. However, Judas’ story teaches us that even in the face of betrayal, Jesus continued His mission.
Open to Hurt for Love to Win: This fear of being hurt is not unfounded but should not prevent us from making disciples. Jesus was open to hurt for love to win; we are called to do the same. Consider the example of Matthew, a tax collector hated by the Jews before meeting Jesus. Matthew’s transformation after encountering Christ is a powerful reminder that love can redeem even the most unlikely individuals.
Our fears in disciple-making often extend beyond betrayal to include vulnerability, change, accountability, expectations, conflict, knowledge, and commitment. These fears are real, but they should not hold us captive. Instead, we should embrace them, knowing Jesus walks with us through every challenge.
4. Your Impact is Not Numbers but People
In disciple-making, the goal is not to count numbers but to invest in people. Dallas Willard once said, “Most disciples are trained beyond their obedience.” This reminds us to focus on obedience to Christ, not on how many people we can claim as disciples.Numbers help us keep our targets and goals and inform us how we can best reach people. However, the target is not a number; it’s real people needing real change for a real Savior who loves them.
Acts 8:34-38 tells the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch, upon understanding the gospel, immediately wanted to be baptized. Philip did not hesitate or wait for approval from others—he acted in obedience, showing us that disciple-making is about immediate, faithful response to God’s leading.
Billy Graham said, "Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you everything.” If your journey in making disciples hasn’t cost you anything, examining whether fear is holding you back might be worth exploring. Remember, you are part of God’s plan. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples, meaning we must take up our cross and follow Him, regardless of the cost.
Fear Not: We are in this Together. Disciple-making is a sacred calling filled with challenges and fears. However, we can move forward in faith with the assurance of Jesus’ presence (Matthew 28:20) and the understanding that our impact is on individual lives, not just numbers. Remember, you are not alone—Jesus is with you always, and you have the strength to make disciples through Him. This is also why your Georgia Baptist Mission Board has events like SPARK. We exist to serve churches to advance the Gospel in Georgia. We encourage you and all your church leaders to join us at one of 6 locations statewide. Register for this total church-equipping conference at www.TheSparkConference.com.
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Dr. PJ Dunn serves the Georgia Baptist Mission Board as a Discipleship consultant.
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