In Preaching Articles: "Making Disciples"

Does Street Evangelism Really Work?

By Greg Stier on Jan 28, 2025

Street evangelism can spark genuine conversions yet fail at discipleship. This piece calls for a relational and relentless approach that multiplies disciples, not just decisions.

Tags: Salvation, making disciples, Making Disciples, Gospel Conversations

Preaching That Makes Disciples: Three Texts You Must Preach

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 14, 2022

For anyone who longs to preach about something more than a fire-insurance relationship with Jesus, these three passages will help you make disciples.

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-15

Tags: Preaching, yoke, Make Disciples, conformed, his image, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Keys To Increasing Your Church's Footprint

By Jim Morgan on Dec 22, 2021

Jesus modeled discipleship and community engagement as an example for His Church to follow. He felt a small number of highly effective disciples would cover much more ground than a slew of casual followers.

Tags: Outreach, Missional, Make Disciples, local church purpose

Why Information Alone Cannot Make Disciples

By Outreach Inc. on Apr 10, 2025

The modern church excels at teaching information but often fails at formation. Real discipleship requires embodied obedience, risk, and lived imitation, not lectures alone.

Scripture: Luke 6:40, James 1:22, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Matthew 28:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Following Jesus

The Preacher's Task: Saving Souls Or Making Disciples?

By Nathan Aaseng on Jul 20, 2021

Pastors are often praised for “saving souls,” but Scripture teaches that salvation belongs to Christ alone. The preacher’s role is to proclaim the gospel and help make disciples.

Scripture: John 6:26-51, Acts 14:14-15, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 4:18, Romans 1:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: saved, evangelism, preaching, Evangelism, Soul, Preaching, Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

What If We Made Disciples And Left Church Growth To God?

By Karl Vaters on Sep 6, 2022

If we prioritized health, not as a means to growth, but as an end in itself, would we be in a greater position to represent Jesus to the world?

Tags: Discipleship, Church Growth, Make Disciples, great commission, pastoral leadership, church ministry, Growth Strategy, Equip the Saints  (view more)  (view less)

A Modest Proposal: Less Sermon Prep In Favor Of More Time Making Disciples?

By Bill Couchenour on Sep 6, 2021

Is it possible to reach the U.S. for Jesus in less than a decade by cutting sermon prep time in half?

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-28

Tags: Jesus, Outreach, Preaching, Disciples, sermon prep, Sermon Prep  (view more)  (view less)

Disciples Or Converts?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 22, 2024

We should take notice of what Jesus did not say in the Great Commission. He did not say, “Go therefore and make converts of as many people as possible.”

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-18

Tags: Preaching, preaching

You Can Make A Difference As We Make A Difference Together

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 9, 2021

Two thousand years ago, Jesus gathered some ordinary misfits into a little community called the church. He trained them as his disciples, died for their sins, rose again and breathed life into them by sending his Holy Spirit.

Tags: Outreach, Preaching, Difference, preaching

Move Your Church From Consumers To Disciples

By Bill Couchenour on Mar 22, 2024

The greatest threat to the church may not be external opposition but internal consumerism. Biblical discipleship demands recalibrating expectations, structures, and leadership.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 3:17, Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25, Matthew 28:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Attendance, Church Discipline, Leadership, Commitment, leadership, Body  (view more)  (view less)

Three Foundational Passages For Growing Disciples Of Jesus

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 17, 2025

"Try to imagine talking about your subject every single day for two years. If the idea still thrills you, you've found your topic."

Tags: Disciples, gospel, Jesus, Gospel, Growth, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Is Street Preaching Worth It?

By Greg Stier on Jul 26, 2024

Street evangelism can spark sincere conversions, but it rarely produces lasting disciples. Real impact requires shifting from cold conversations to relational disciple making.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19, Romans 10:13, Acts 2:42, Colossians 1:28, 1 Thessalonians 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Witness, Discipleship, great commission, Great Commission

6 Reasons Pastors And Leaders Need Adequate Sleep

By Charles Stone on Jun 20, 2023

For many years scientists and philosophers have pondered why we need sleep besides to not be sleepy. Of course we all intuitively know how important sleep is to our bodies, relationships, and walk with God. But as neuroscientists are learning more about the brain, they are discovering many positive brain benefits from sleep. This list below includes some of those benefits.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:12

Tags: sleep, Walk with God, decison making, paying attention

Why Didn't The Disciples Ask Jesus How To Measure Success?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 27, 2024

Imagine this scenario. Jesus is meeting with the disciples. He’s been training them for three years. He’s died, risen again and walked with them in resurrection power for almost 40 days. As the day of his ascension draws near, he gathers them together to reiterate The Great Commission.

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Luke 15:7

Tags: Disciples, success, Church Growth, Measure success

Increasing Youth Retention And Involvement In Your Church

By John Gilman Ii on Mar 24, 2021

Families have long been the cornerstone of church congregations. Parents bring their children to church every Sunday. At a certain point, it becomes the children’s choice and responsibility to decide if they want to continue going to church every Sunday or not. That’s why it’s so important to show your children God’s grace and make Him a priority in their life from an early age.

Scripture: Malachi 2:15, Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Youth, Small groups, Equipping Disciples, Youth Ministry, paying attention  (view more)  (view less)