Why Disciple Making Needs Metrics

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The speaker, Dann Spader, discusses disciple-making metrics, which is the subject of an e-book he has written.

The main points of the session are outlined by the following four questions:
What is a disciple, or the "prototype we're trying to produce"?
What is a disciple-maker?
What is the disciple-making process or "pathway"?
How and when should disciple-making be measured, and what are the methods for measuring it?

The speaker shares two core convictions:
Jesus's entire life was focused on creating a movement of multiplication. The speaker emphasizes that Jesus's mission was not to reach the world himself, but to create disciples capable of reaching the world, which is supported by the principle of multiplication. He illustrates the power of multiplication over addition with an anecdote about his daughter and a math problem involving doubling a dollar over 30 days versus receiving a million dollars a day for 30 days.

Jesus repeatedly instructed his followers to do what he had done. Jesus showed the pattern for creating a movement of multiplying disciples and told them to follow that pattern, walk as he walked, and even do "greater things".

Definition of a Disciple

A disciple is defined using Matthew 4:19, which is described as being "relational, intentional, and missional":
Following Christ: This is a lifelong journey.
Being Changed by Christ: Jesus's promise, "I will make you," is an intentional process.
Committed to the Mission of Christ: Being a "fisher of men," or a reproducer of disciple-makers.
Definition of a Disciple-Maker

A disciple-maker is a person who intentionally enters into relationships with people to help them follow Christ, be changed by Christ, and commit to the mission of Christ (Matthew 4:19). The speaker stresses that disciple-making is the process of winning the lost, growing the believer, and equipping the workers to repeat the process, and that all Christians are called to this task.

The speaker also clarifies the importance of terminology, preferring disciple-making over discipleship. Disciple-making is the whole process, while discipleship historically refers to only one piece of the process, specifically growing people up in Christ, as coined by Charles Adams around 1850.

The Disciple-Making Process (Four Chairs Metaphor)

The speaker presents four challenges Jesus gave, using the metaphor of four chairs to explain the disciple-making process:
Chair 1: "Come and See" (Seeker): A low-level challenge designed for seekers who are investigating the faith.
Chair 2: "Follow Me" (New Believer): A challenge for new believers, which means to "line up behind, walk in my steps, learn from me" (using the Greek word akoloutheo).
Chair 3: "I will make you a fisherman" (Worker): A challenge to learn to reproduce.
Chair 4: "Go and bear fruit that should remain" (Disciple-Maker/Friend of Jesus): A challenge to reproduce one's life in others. Fruit represents character, conduct, and converts. The speaker asserts that God wants everyone to eventually reach this stage and "bear much fruit".
Metrics for Measurement

The speaker plans to discuss specific metrics in the following sessions to measure the end product of each step in the disciple-making journey:
Conversions: Measuring the conversion growth rate.
Service: Measuring the percentage of people who have become "other-oriented".
Reproduction: Measuring how many people have seen a friend come to Christ through their influence or guidance.
Multiplication: Measuring how many people have made a disciple who is making a disciple, becoming "spiritual grandparents".

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Check out the following eBooks from Discipleship.org:

-- What Is Church? And How Important Is It?
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-- Family Discipleship Blueprint: A Year-by-Year Guide to Family Discipleship
https://discipleship.org/shop/family-...

-- Becoming a Disciple Maker
https://discipleship.org/shop/becomin...

-- National Study: The State of Disciple Making Churches: A 10 Minute Visual Guide
https://discipleship.org/shop/nationa...

-- Reaching & Discipling Women: A Guide to Women’s Ministry in Your Church
https://discipleship.org/shop/reachin...