I was first introduced to the Trust & Follow Jesus manual for disciple making through Bobby Harrington. He came and did a practical seminar on how to replicate disciple making groups on Harding University’s campus. The steps for creating a group and the “simple, effective, and reproducible” process immediately caught my attention because this is what I have seen in disciple making movements around the world. My wife (Alicia) and I previously spent 14 years church planting. We now are training students on campus to be disciple makers.
We need a clear model to effectively reproduce disciple makers.
We need something that disciples can use to train others wherever they end up.
We need something that will work in North America.
We need a process that will get even “scared” church members to give it a try.
The last 2 years we have used the Trust & Follow Jesus manual to train students to form and multiply groups. It has proven successful in the forming and multiplication of groups on our campus and in churches. We are seeing disciple making movement leaders form because they are intentionally living as disciple makers and training others to be disciple makers.
“The last 2 years we have used the Trust & Follow Jesus manual to train students to form and multiply groups.”
Revised Edition of Trust & Follow Jesus
Recently, RENEW.org published a revised edition of Trust and Follow Jesus, and we believe that the replication and multiplication of groups will be enhanced by this new revised manual. Here are five additions that make this revised manual necessary:
- The “how to train” for starting a disciple making group. This leads to disciples being able to train disciple makers.
- An added section of discussion questions for each chapter, since this manual is written to encourage “disciple making conversations.” Think about what Jesus did with his disciples.
- A group covenant example to encourage intentionality and multiplication.
- A step-by-step process for sharing your spiritual autobiography, because accountability is necessary for maturing disciples.
- Two Bible study outlines for disciple makers to use, train, and equip others.
My desire is for the Bible to be my curriculum for disciple making, and I believe this resource is helping to make that happen. As I consider the mission field of our towns and locations in North America, I recognize the need for simple resources to help well-meaning church members start the process of disciple making. This tool provides the courage necessary for many followers to start.
“This tool provides the courage necessary for many followers to start.”
If you are using the Trust & Follow Jesus manual, I encourage you to buy a copy of this revised edition for each of your group members. I’m doing the same. The reason is for all those I am in relationship with to have a tool for replication. Something in their hand that they can easily walk someone else through. I want students who leave Harding to have a resource that will provide them the step-by-step process for starting Jesus-style disciple making groups.
A Game Plan
So, here is what you can do. You buy the book and enough for those that you want to train. Then after reviewing the material in the “how to” section, you train others, eventually encouraging those you train to start their own groups. This means that you are participating in the training of disciple makers which is next-level spiritual maturity. Further, you have now provided each disciple with the ability to meet and train others in the same “simple, effective, and reproducible” process.
The reality is that we can always be looking for the next new model, but at some point, we have to choose one way and it should be something that is easily replicated. Alicia and I have found this to be a wonderful tool for disciple making.
If you are looking for someone to train your church in how to use Trust and Follow Jesus, I will be glad to send a couple of students or recent graduates who have themselves started groups and are training people to be disciple makers. My goal is not to produce public speakers who are great at training others, but to give every follower of Jesus the ability both to make disciples and to train disciple makers. Imagine the work force in our churches when we provide simple tools that church members can utilize for the kingdom of God.
“Imagine the work force in our churches when we provide simple tools that church members can utilize for the kingdom of God.”
I want you to know that this revised edition is designed for effectiveness. The reality is that I was already printing out a sort of “how-to guide” when I did trainings and provided it along with the “Trust & Follow Jesus” manual for everyone in my disciple making group. But now, we have it all together in one place and I believe that will help the effective spreading of the gospel by providing a tool for multiplication.
