Welcome back to the Disciples Made Here podcast. In this first-ever guest episode, Drew sits down with longtime friend and “big brother” in the faith, Jeff Vanderstelt, to talk about why discipleship has to be more than a Sunday event.

Together, they wrestle with what it looks like to be “gotten by the gospel,” not just knowing the good news, but being transformed by it in a way that spills into everyday life. This conversation is all about why Mondays matter, how we equip the saints for the work of ministry, and how the church gathers to glorify God and scatters to make disciples where we live, work, and play.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why being “gospel-centered” is not the same as being transformed by the gospel
• Signs a church (or a disciple) has drifted toward a Sunday-driven model
• The difference between attracting people to gather and equipping people to scatter
• What to stop doing (and start doing) if we actually want disciples who make disciples
• Practical ways to grow disciples through demonstration, experience, practice, and reflection

Listen, share, and keep the conversation going with us.

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Website: https://vintagegrace.org/dmhpodcast
Shownotes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tBzbhGx7b-3YZ_iG_fSUVoVvMNNCN9Yd?usp=drive_link

Last episode, we asked a foundational question: What is a disciple? We looked at how Jesus defines discipleship through the three great relationships we see throughout Scripture, and we named the importance of having a clear target. If you have not listened yet, Episode 1 will give you key context for today.

In Episode 2, we peel back another layer and begin with something even more basic than calling: identity.

Our culture is constantly trying to define identity through achievement, personality, performance, or what we do. But the story of Scripture points us back to our Creator. Identity is not something we earn. It is something we receive. We were made by God, for God, and our deepest joy is found in being with Him.

From there, calling begins to make sense. Calling is not primarily your job title, your role, or your platform. It is who you are following. When identity is secure as sons and daughters of the King, sentness becomes a natural overflow. God works through ordinary people in ordinary places, and that is where disciples are made.

This episode also revisits the R cubed framework and addresses what happens when we lean hard into one or two relationships while neglecting the others. The invitation is simple, but it is not shallow. Follow Jesus with your whole life, with your head, heart, and hands.

In This Episode
• Why identity must come before calling
• How the Garden shapes our understanding of who we are
• Calling as faithful following, not a job description
• The danger of living 2 out of 3 relationships
• Two reflection questions to help you take your next step

Follow Along the Journey with Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disciplesmadehere/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disciplesmadehere
Website: https://vintagegrace.org/dmhpodcast
Shownotes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19Bp99_53X7eyfeDAJx38Ym2_you8zsqK?usp=sharing

In this first episode of the Disciples Made Here Podcast, Drew Sodestrom and Heather Hodson begin unpacking one of the most important and often misunderstood questions in the Christian life: What is a disciple?

Many followers of Jesus work hard, stay busy, and remain deeply committed, yet still feel unsure whether they are aiming at the right thing. In this conversation, Drew and Heather challenge the idea that discipleship is about church attendance, programs, or religious activity. Instead, they invite us back to the simple and demanding call of Jesus: follow Me.

Drawing from Scripture, personal stories, and years of pastoral experience, this episode explores how unclear definitions can lead to misplaced effort. When we misunderstand the mission, we may work hard but toward the wrong goal. Jesus never told His followers to make churchgoers. He invited them into a relational journey that transforms who we are and how we live.

You will also hear the foundation of how discipleship is understood at Vintage Grace through the lens of three intersecting relationships. A deepening relationship with God, life changing relationships with other believers, and engaging relationships with those yet to believe. This framework shapes everything that follows in the podcast and gives listeners a clear target for growth.

In This Episode
• Why defining discipleship matters
• How good effort can still miss the mission
• The relational heart of following Jesus
• Simple reflection questions to assess your own journey

As the episode closes, lets reflect personally and prepare for the next conversation, where this definition will continue to be built out in practical ways.

Follow the Journey with Us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disciplesmadehere/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disciplesmadehere
Website: https://vintagegrace.org/dmhpodcast
Shownotes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12jB7McnPlePejtYI5l3fXmo-vNnkmYXL?usp=drive_link