Why aren’t more Christians actually making disciples?

It’s easy to blame culture, busyness, or even the church. But the biggest barriers to living on mission aren’t “out there”… they’re internal.

In this podcast we break down 7 mental barriers that quietly shut down disciple-making—and how to push through them.

You’ll discover:

* Why some Christians never step into mission at all
* How lack of surrender (Romans 12) blocks obedience
* The truth about the Great Commission (Matthew 28)
* Why many believers feel stuck and don’t know how to start
* The hidden mindset that keeps ministry “professionalized”
* How the wrong model of church limits real impact

This isn’t about guilt or pressure.
It’s about clarity—and stepping into what Jesus actually called us to.

If you’re serious about following Jesus, this matters.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

What if you could start your church over… from scratch?

[Note: The first line in this audio is "I finally got one" referring the an Etch-a-Sketch which I was holding up in the video version of this talk.]

In this second half of the final chapter in DNA of a Christ Follower we rethink how we approach church and the Christian life, especially when it comes to making disciples.

Instead of patching old systems, what if we went back to a blank slate and rebuilt everything around the actual mission Jesus gave us?

This teaching walks through a simple but challenging framework:

Step 1: Clearly State the Purpose
Are we truly focused on making disciples, or have other priorities taken over?

Step 2: Know What the Target Looks Like
What is a real follower of Jesus in character and conduct? If we don’t define it, we will drift.

Step 3: Build for the Result
Are our ministries producing disciple-makers, or just informed attendees?

Along the way, this segment addresses:

* Why modern church systems often struggle to produce disciples
* The danger of consumer Christianity
* The gap between teaching and actual equipping
* Why repentance, faith, and baptism must be the starting point

If you care about real disciple-making, this will challenge how you think about church, leadership, and your own walk with Christ.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Why do so many churches feel like they’re spinning in circles?

In this excerpt from DNA of a Christ Follower, I use a striking analogy from “whirling disease” in fish to expose a deeper issue in the modern church. After more than 20 years in pastoral ministry, including work as a transitional pastor in churches in crisis, I’ve seen both the beauty and the brokenness of the church up close.

There is much to be grateful for. The church has cared for people, proclaimed truth, and carried the gospel forward for generations. But there is also confusion, drift, and a lack of clarity about what we are actually called to do.

Jesus gave a clear mission:
Make disciples.

Yet many churches have never clearly defined what a disciple is, and even fewer have aligned their time, energy, and resources around actually making them.

So the question becomes:
If we’re not measuring disciple-making… what are we doing?

In this excerpt we explore:

Why churches lose focus and “spin”
The danger of chasing what people want instead of what Jesus commanded
The difference between making disciples and making attendees
Why clarity and measurement matter in fulfilling the Great Commission

If you care about the future of the church, or want to live on mission as a follower of Jesus, this is a conversation worth engaging.

Scripture referenced:
Matthew 28:18–20
Acts 2:41
Acts 4:4

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

What is the place of patriotism for a follower of Jesus?

Is it wrong to love your country, celebrate national holidays, or pray, “God bless Canada,” “God bless America,” or “God bless my country”?

In this video, I talk about patriotism, nationalism, loyalty to Jesus, and the tension Christians may face when following Christ clashes with national identity, political pressure, or cultural expectations.

Followers of Jesus are called to be salt and light wherever God has placed them. We should pray for our leaders, work for the good of our communities, and seek the welfare of our nations. But our highest loyalty is never to a flag, a party, a government, or a national identity. Our highest loyalty is to Jesus Christ.

We’ll look at what it means to pray for your country biblically, why “God bless my country” is not a request for God to endorse everything we do, and how Christians can live with courage, wisdom, and faithfulness in increasingly complex times.

Scripture referenced:
Acts 4
Galatians 5
1 Timothy 2

If you are a Christian leader, pastor, disciple-maker, or follower of Jesus trying to think clearly about patriotism and faith, this is an important conversation.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

In the Way- Church As We Know It Can Be a Disciple Making Movement (Again) by Damian Gerke has become a foundational book in the 12Church philosophy.

I once had the privilege of being in a 6-month coaching relationship with Damian.

Here is a brief summary of some of the key disciple making lessons that have stuck with me.

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Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples. It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Why do so many Christians today struggle to recognize false teaching?
The answer may be simpler and more uncomfortable than we think: biblical illiteracy.

In a world saturated with podcasts, sermons, social media clips, influencers, and now AI-generated answers, Christians are constantly exposed to thousands of interpretations of Scripture. Some are helpful. Many are not. And if you don’t know what the Bible actually says, it becomes almost impossible to separate truth from error.

In this video we explore:
Why biblical literacy has always mattered
Why the internet and modern media have made discernment harder
How AI adds another layer of confusion
Why knowing Scripture yourself is essential for spiritual maturity
Practical ways to become biblically literate

If we want to follow Jesus faithfully in a confusing world, we must become people of the Book.

Practical steps discussed in this video:
• Reading Scripture consistently
• Reading both quickly and slowly
• Memorizing key passages
• Studying the Bible in community
• Asking the Holy Spirit for discernment

Biblical literacy is not about becoming a scholar. It’s about building a foundation that allows you to recognize truth.

Subscribe for more content on:
Disciple making
Missional living
Biblical worldview
Spiritual formation
Living on mission as a follower of Jesus

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Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples. It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Prophetic words. Words of knowledge. Personal prophecy.

What do you do when someone says, “God told me this about you”?

In this video, I walk through several real-life experiences, some confusing, some clearly off, and a few that were actually helpful. I use these examples to answer the bigger question:
How do you discern whether a prophetic word is from God… or not?

You’ll see:
Why flattery and “nice-sounding words” are often red flags
How personal prophecy can be misused to manipulate or control
Why your past patterns of obedience matter more than one dramatic word
The role of community in discerning major life direction
How Scripture—not experience—is the foundation for testing everything

We also look at key biblical anchors like 1 Thessalonians 5:19–22 and Romans 12:1–2 and what it actually means to “test everything and hold fast to what is good.”

If you’ve ever been confused, pressured, or intrigued by prophetic words this will give you a grounded, biblical framework for discernment.

And yes… I also share the most recent “prophetic word” I received (about a camera upgrade). You can decide for yourself!
Here's the video about the camera: https://youtu.be/ZptnQ0Stm4o

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Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples. It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Learn more at 12Church.net

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Are you wise… or foolish?
And more importantly—how do you grow in wisdom?

In this episode, a simple but powerful strategy for immersing yourself in the Book of Proverbs and letting it shape your life. Whether you’re new to Scripture or have been walking with Christ for decades, Proverbs is one of the most practical places to grow in real, lived wisdom.

🌱 Learn more about feeding yourself spiritually at: https://www.12church.net

Learn more at 12Church.net

Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:
https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-course

Discover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.com

Learn more about 12Church: https://12church.net

Get access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:
https://www.12church.net/tools

The 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dna

https://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples.

It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.