Beyond Sunday: What Effective Disciple Making Churches Do Differently
Learn the Language of Disciple Making
One of the biggest roadblocks for churches is unclear or inconsistent definitions. Without a shared understanding, disciple making efforts lose focus.
That’s why we created this short video teaching on Disciple Making Definitions—to give leaders a clear, biblical framework for what a disciple is, what disciple making looks like, and what it means to build a disciple making culture.
In this video, we break down:
- The biblical definition of a disciple.
- The difference between “discipleship” and “disciple making.”
- The marks of a Level 5 disciple making church.
Disciple Making Definitions Video
To deepen your grasp of disciple-making language and to equip everyone—leaders and laypeople alike—you might download Everyday Disciple Makers, a free eBook filled with practical strategies and biblical insights to help you live out these definitions daily.
This shared vocabulary will help you align your leaders, your congregation, and your strategy around the mission Jesus gave us.
The Challenge Facing Churches Today
Across North America, most churches fall into one of three categories: subtracting, plateaued, or just adding disciples through programs. While these churches may be growing in numbers, very few are multiplying disciples the way Jesus modeled.
In fact, research shows that less than 5% of churches are truly reproducing disciple makers. And until recently, almost no Level 5 churches (multiplying disciple-making movements) could be identified in North America.
You can view our study through the following eBook: National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches
So what makes these rare churches different?
Our Research
Dr. Bobby Harrington and the Discipleship.org team spent years studying churches across the U.S. and Canada to discover what sets the “exceptional few” apart.
We started with:
- The Disciple Making Church Cultural Assessment (a tool used by hundreds of churches).
- Recommendations from national leaders, denominational networks, and disciple making organizations.
- Personal interviews with pastors and leaders from across North America.
The result? A shortlist of churches with Jesus-style disciple making cultures—where reproducing and multiplying disciple makers is the norm.
The 5 Levels of Disciple Making Churches
Churches can be understood through five stages of disciple making:
- Level 1: Subtracting – Churches declining in disciple-making impact.
- Level 2: Plateaued – Neither helping nor hindering disciple-making.
- Level 3: Adding – Growing through programs and preaching.
- Level 4: Reproducing – Equipping members to personally make disciples.
- Level 5: Multiplying – Nearly everyone is making disciples who make disciples, creating generational movements
Examples of Top Level 4 & 5 Churches
Some of the exceptional churches identified include:
- Tampa Underground (Florida) – A network fueling disciple-making movements in the city.
- Lift Church (Ontario, Canada) – Mobilizing young leaders for multiplication.
- Real Life Ministries (Idaho & Texas) – Pioneers of relational disciple-making.
- Christ’s Church of the Valley (Arizona) – A large church intentionally equipping disciple makers
Five Best Practices They Share
While each church has its own unique context, the research uncovered five consistent practices across all Level 4 and 5 churches:
- Prayer & Fasting – Seeking God’s power and guidance.
- Convictional Leadership – Leaders deeply committed to disciple making.
- Simple, Reproducible Models – Disciple making is clear, not complicated.
- Core Expectations – Every member is expected to engage in disciple making.
- Cultural Alignment – The entire church culture, from top to bottom, reinforces disciple making
Why This Matters
These churches prove it’s possible to move beyond programs and attendance to a culture of disciple making that lasts. Their stories show us that with clarity, conviction, and alignment, multiplication is possible—even in North America today.
Take the Next Step
We’ll be publishing the full research report—including an expanded list of churches and detailed best practices—later this year.
If you want to dive deeper into this topic download this free eBook:
The Exceptional Few: Lessons From Effective Disciple Making Churches
What sets effective disciple making churches apart from the rest?
Learn how leading churches across North America are reproducing disciples and igniting movements.
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The greatest mission on earth is making disciples of Jesus who make more disciples. Let’s learn from those who are doing it best—and join them.
