livethedlife

Evangelism

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Evangelism: Sharing the Gospel Through Everyday Disciple-Making

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Evangelism is at the heart of the Christian faith. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His followers one clear mission:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)

That mission has never changed.

Every believer is called to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Yet many Christians hesitate because they feel unprepared, intimidated, or unsure of what to say.

The good news is that evangelism doesn't have to be complicated.

At D-Life, we believe evangelism is simply introducing people to Jesus while living a life that points others to Him. Through practical disciple-making tools and biblical training, believers can confidently share their faith wherever God places them.

What Is Evangelism?

Evangelism is sharing the gospel—the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that everyone who trusts in Him can receive forgiveness and eternal life.

Evangelism is not about winning arguments or having all the answers.

It is about faithfully sharing the hope we have in Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts.

Our responsibility is to share.

God's responsibility is to save.

Jesus Modeled Personal Evangelism

Jesus consistently sought out people who needed hope.

He spoke with individuals, taught crowds, healed the hurting, and invested deeply in His disciples.

His ministry reminds us that evangelism is relational.

He met people where they were and invited them to follow Him.

As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same.

Evangelism Is Part of Disciple-Making

Evangelism and discipleship were never meant to be separated.

Jesus didn't tell His followers to make converts.

He told them to make disciples.

That means evangelism is the beginning of a lifelong journey of spiritual growth.

At D-Life, evangelism is woven into our disciple-making process. We encourage believers not only to study God's Word but also to live on mission by sharing Christ with others and inviting them into authentic discipleship relationships.

The D-Life disciple-making process follows the model Jesus demonstrated through six biblical practices:

Fellowship
Teaching
Prayer
Ministry
Multiplication
Accountability

Evangelism naturally flows from these practices.

As believers grow together in Scripture, prayer, and accountability, they become equipped and encouraged to share their faith with confidence.

The D-Life Approach to Evangelism

Why Many Christians Struggle with Evangelism

Many believers want to share Christ but wonder:

What if I don't know enough?
What if someone asks a difficult question?
What if I say the wrong thing?
What if they reject me?

These concerns are common.

The solution isn't becoming an expert.

The solution is becoming faithful.

God uses ordinary believers who are willing to love people, share the gospel, and trust Him with the results.

Practical Evangelism Tools

One of the greatest barriers to evangelism is not knowing where to begin.

D-Life provides practical resources that make sharing your faith simple and biblical.

The Revive New Testament

The Revive New Testament was created to help believers confidently present the gospel.

This specially designed New Testament includes:

Colored thumb tabs
Highlighted Scripture passages
A simple gospel presentation
Gospel presentation wristband
Wallet card for witnessing

Instead of wondering what verses to use, believers can simply walk through the highlighted passages and clearly explain the message of salvation.

It is an excellent tool for personal evangelism, outreach events, mission trips, and church training.

Bible Study That Produces Gospel Conversations

Healthy evangelism begins with believers who are growing in God's Word.

The D-Life Journals help Christians develop consistent habits through:

Daily Bible reading
Scripture memory
Weekly discussion guides
Personal application
Prayer requests

As believers grow spiritually, they become more confident sharing what God is teaching them with others.

Evangelism in Small Groups

Evangelism Training for Churches

One of the most effective places to encourage evangelism is within a discipleship group.

D-Groups provide:

Prayer for lost friends and family
Accountability for sharing the gospel
Encouragement after gospel conversations
Opportunities to serve together
Practical training from other believers

Evangelism becomes less intimidating when Christians encourage one another and go on mission together.

Many churches desire to become more evangelistic but aren't sure where to begin.

D-Life offers practical disciple-making and evangelism training designed to equip churches to make disciples who multiply.

Our training includes:

Disciple-Making Boot Camps
Virtual Workshops
Leadership Training
Conferences
Church Consulting

Participants learn practical ways to share the gospel, disciple new believers, and create a culture of multiplication within their churches.

Evangelism Is Reproducible

Jesus' ministry wasn't built around adding followers.

It was built around multiplying disciples.

He invested in people who would go and invest in others.

That same multiplication is the heartbeat of D-Life.

Our goal is not simply to help believers share the gospel once.

Our goal is to equip them to become lifelong disciple-makers who continually invest in others.

When one believer shares Christ, disciples another person, and equips them to do the same, the gospel spreads naturally from generation to generation.

Evangelism Is for Every Believer

You don't have to be a pastor, missionary, or professional speaker to share your faith.

Every Christian has a story.

Every Christian has the gospel.

Every Christian has opportunities to point people to Jesus.

God can use conversations at work, meals with neighbors, family gatherings, coffee shops, schools, and everyday moments to change lives forever.

Start Living on Mission

If you want to grow in your confidence to share the gospel and help others follow Christ, D-Life provides practical resources and training to equip you every step of the way.

Ready to become more confident in sharing your faith? Contact us today to learn more about our evangelism resources, disciple-making tools, and training for individuals, churches, and ministry leaders.

Because evangelism isn't reserved for a few gifted people—it's the calling of every follower of Christ.

Old Testament Bible Study | Daily Reading Plan & D-Life Journal

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 18:24:51 GMT

Old Testament Bible Study: A Practical Guide to Growing Through God's Word

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

The Old Testament is the foundation of the Christian faith. From creation and the covenant with Abraham to the Psalms, Proverbs, and the promises of the prophets, the Old Testament reveals God's character, His plan of redemption, and His faithfulness throughout history.

Yet many Christians struggle to study the Old Testament consistently. Some aren't sure where to begin, while others become overwhelmed by long reading plans or difficult passages.

A structured Bible study plan can make all the difference.

The D-Life Old Testament Journals help individuals, churches, small groups, and home groups study Scripture in a simple, practical, and reproducible way.

Why Study the Old Testament?

Build a Daily Habit of Bible Study

One of the greatest challenges believers face is consistency.

The D-Life Journals make daily Bible study manageable by guiding you through one chapter a day, five days a week . This simple rhythm helps establish lifelong habits without feeling overwhelming.

Instead of trying to rush through large sections of Scripture, you'll have time to read, reflect, pray, and apply what God is teaching you.

D-Life Journal | Old Testament 1

The D-Life Journal | Old Testament 1 walks readers through 260 Old Testament stories over the course of one year.

Each week includes:

Daily Bible reading assignments
Weekly Scripture memory
Discussion questions for D-Groups
Prayer requests
Space for personal application using the SPACE Bible Study Method

Along the way you'll study many of Scripture's most significant accounts, including:

The Fall of Man
The Call of Abraham
The Sacrifice of Isaac
Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
Moses and the Burning Bush
The Ten Commandments
The Fall of Jericho
Gideon and His Army
The Love of Ruth
David and Goliath
David's Mighty Men
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Jonah and the Great Fish

These stories help believers understand God's faithfulness throughout history while applying timeless biblical truths to everyday life.

The D-Life Journal | Old Testament 2 focuses on three of the Bible's most practical books:

Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes

Over one year, you'll read one chapter a day, five days each week while exploring topics such as:

The Blessed Man
Our Majestic Lord
The Perfect Law of the Lord
The Lord Is My Shepherd
God's Refuge
Walking with Integrity
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Life Lessons from an Ant
The Blessings of a Godly Home
Chasing After the Wind
Going to the House of God

These books provide wisdom for everyday living while encouraging believers to deepen their relationship with God.

Bible Study Designed for Disciple-Making

The D-Life Journals are more than personal devotionals.

They are designed to help believers become disciple-makers.

Each journal includes:

Daily Bible reading plans
Weekly Scripture memory verses
Guided discussion questions
Prayer request pages
Personal application through the SPACE Bible Study Method

These tools make it easy for churches and D-Groups to study the same passages together while encouraging accountability and spiritual growth.

D-Life Journal | Old Testament 2

Perfect for Churches, Small Groups, and Home Groups

Whether you're leading a church-wide discipleship initiative or gathering with a few friends in your living room, the D-Life Journals provide a consistent, biblical framework for group discussion.

They are ideal for:

Churches
D-Groups
Small groups
Home Bible studies
Sunday School classes
Men's ministries
Women's ministries
Individual Bible study

Because everyone follows the same reading plan throughout the week, group discussions become deeper, more meaningful, and focused on applying God's Word.

Study God's Word with the SPACE Method

Every D-Life Journal incorporates the SPACE Bible Study Method , helping believers move beyond simply reading Scripture to living it.

As you read each chapter, ask:

S – Is there a Sin to confess?
P – Is there a Promise to claim?
A – Is there an Attitude to change?
C – Is there a Command to obey?
E – Is there an Example to follow?

This simple approach encourages personal application and helps believers develop lifelong habits of biblical reflection.

Growing Together in God's Word

Bible study was never meant to be a solitary activity.

God designed believers to encourage one another, pray together, and grow in community.

The D-Life Journals help churches create a culture where disciples are continually growing, encouraging one another, and multiplying leaders who invest in others.

That's the heart of disciple-making.

Begin Your Old Testament Bible Study Today

Whether you're reading the Old Testament for the first time or leading a discipleship group, the D-Life Journals provide a practical and biblical way to study God's Word.

With daily reading plans, Scripture memory, discussion guides, and personal application, you'll not only gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament—you'll also develop habits that strengthen your faith for years to come.

Ready to grow deeper in God's Word? Contact us today to learn more about the D-Life Old Testament Journals and discover how they can help your church, small group, or family grow together through Scripture.

Because studying the Bible isn't just about gaining knowledge—it's about becoming more like Christ and helping others do the same.

The Old Testament is much more than a history book.

It teaches us about:

God's holiness and faithfulness
His covenant relationship with His people
The importance of obedience and trust
Wisdom for everyday living
The promises fulfilled through Jesus Christ
God's plan to redeem the world

Jesus Himself regularly quoted the Old Testament and taught from it. Understanding these Scriptures gives believers a richer understanding of the entire Bible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Old Testament Bible Study

Spiritual Growth

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:01 GMT

Spiritual Growth: How to Grow Closer to God Through Daily Discipleship

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Every Christian desires to grow closer to God, but spiritual growth doesn't happen by accident. Like any healthy relationship, our relationship with Christ grows through intentional time, consistent habits, and faithful obedience to God's Word.

Jesus didn't simply call people to believe in Him—He called them to follow Him. That journey of following Christ is what spiritual growth is all about.

At D-Life, we believe spiritual growth is more than gaining biblical knowledge. It is becoming more like Jesus and helping others do the same.

What Is Spiritual Growth?

Spiritual growth is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit and the consistent practice of biblical disciplines.

As believers grow spiritually, they begin to:

Know God's Word more deeply
Trust God more completely
Love others more intentionally
Pray with greater confidence
Serve with humility
Share their faith boldly
Make disciples who make disciples

Spiritual maturity isn't measured by how much we know—it is measured by how faithfully we live out God's Word.

How Does Spiritual Growth Happen?

While God is the One who transforms our hearts, He has given us practical ways to grow.

Read God's Word Daily

The Bible is the foundation of spiritual growth.

When we consistently spend time reading Scripture, God shapes our thoughts, strengthens our faith, and teaches us how to live.

Daily Bible reading isn't about checking a box. It's about hearing God's voice and allowing His truth to transform our lives.

Pray Consistently

Prayer is how we communicate with God.

As we pray, we grow in dependence on Him, learn to trust His guidance, and align our hearts with His will.

Healthy spiritual growth always includes both listening to God through His Word and talking with Him through prayer.

Apply What You Learn

Knowledge alone does not produce maturity.

Jesus taught His followers to obey His commands, not simply hear them.

One of the most effective ways to grow spiritually is by asking, "How should this Scripture change my life today?"

The D-Life Journals encourage believers to record personal application points from every daily Bible reading, helping turn biblical truth into everyday action.

Grow With Other Believers

God never intended Christians to grow alone.

Throughout the New Testament, believers encouraged one another, prayed together, studied Scripture together, and held one another accountable.

Small groups, D-Groups, and Bible study communities provide encouragement, accountability, and opportunities to grow alongside other believers.

Spiritual Growth Through Disciple-Making

One of the greatest ways to grow spiritually is by helping someone else grow.

Jesus invested in His disciples by teaching them, praying with them, serving alongside them, and preparing them to lead others.

As we disciple others, our own faith grows stronger.

Disciple-making isn't just the result of spiritual growth—it is one of the ways God grows us.

Many Christians begin Bible reading plans but struggle to remain consistent.

D-Life Journals make daily Bible study simple and practical by providing:

Four years of Bible reading plans
New Testament and Old Testament studies
Weekly Scripture memory verses
Guided discussion questions
Space for personal application
Prayer request pages

Rather than simply reading Scripture, believers learn to apply God's Word and share what they are learning with others.

Bible Study That Leads to Transformation

Spiritual Growth Anytime, Anywhere

Life is busy, but spiritual growth shouldn't stop because of a busy schedule.

D-Life Online gives believers the flexibility to study God's Word from virtually anywhere.

The digital platform includes:

Four years of Bible reading plans
Weekly study guides
Scripture memory
Printable and online discussion slides

Whether your group meets in person, online, or in homes throughout the week, everyone can stay connected and continue growing together.

Spiritual Growth Begins at Home

Discipleship doesn't begin at church—it begins at home.

Parents have a unique opportunity to help their children develop lifelong habits of reading God's Word and following Christ.

D-Life for Families provides weekly New Testament studies, discussion questions, and prayer prompts that make family discipleship both simple and meaningful.

Strong families help build strong churches.

Learn How to Make Disciples

Growing spiritually also means learning how to invest in others.

Dr. Bill Wilks' book, The Greater Work , offers practical, biblical guidance for anyone who wants to become a disciple-maker.

Combined with D-Life Journals , online resources , and disciple-making training , it provides a complete pathway for spiritual growth and leadership development.

Spiritual Growth Is Meant to Multiply

Begin Growing Today

Healthy Christians naturally influence others.

As your faith grows, you'll find opportunities to encourage, mentor, teach, pray with, and disciple people around you.

That is the heart of D-Life.

Our mission isn't simply to help individuals grow spiritually.

Our mission is to help believers become disciple-makers who multiply disciples in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.

No matter where you are in your faith journey, the next step is simple: spend time with Jesus every day, study His Word, pray faithfully, and invest in others.

D-Life provides practical resources to help you do exactly that through Bible reading plans, discipleship journals, online Bible studies, family resources, leadership training, and disciple-making tools.

Ready to grow deeper in your faith? Contact us today to learn more about D-Life Journals, D-Life Online, and our disciple-making resources. We'd love to help you take your next step toward lifelong spiritual growth.

Because spiritual growth isn't just about learning more—it is about becoming more like Christ and helping others do the same.

Christian Mentoring

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:00:11 GMT

Christian Mentoring: Following Jesus' Model of Making Disciples

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Christian mentoring is more than offering advice or meeting for coffee once a month. True biblical mentoring is an intentional relationship centered on helping someone grow in their faith, become more like Christ, and ultimately disciple others.

Jesus gave us the perfect example of Christian mentoring. Rather than simply teaching large crowds, He invested deeply in a small group of disciples. He walked with them, taught them, prayed with them, challenged them, served alongside them, and prepared them to continue His mission after He returned to the Father.

That same disciple-making model is the foundation of D-Life.

What Is Christian Mentoring?

Christian mentoring is intentionally investing in another person's spiritual growth through biblical teaching, encouragement, accountability, and shared ministry.

Unlike secular mentoring, which often focuses on career or personal development, Christian mentoring has an eternal purpose: helping people become faithful followers of Jesus who make disciples of others.

The goal isn't simply gaining knowledge—it's life transformation.

Jesus Modeled Christian Mentoring

Everything we know about Christian mentoring begins with Jesus.

He didn't simply preach sermons and send people home. He invited ordinary people into a relationship with Him where they learned by watching, listening, serving, and growing together.

The D-Life disciple-making process follows the same biblical model through six essential practices that Jesus demonstrated.

The Six Practices of Disciple-Making

1. Fellowship

Jesus first invited His disciples into relationship.

Christian mentoring begins by building genuine friendships rooted in Christ. Spiritual growth happens best when people know, encourage, and care for one another.

2. Teaching

Jesus consistently taught His disciples through Scripture, stories, questions, and meaningful conversations.

D-Life centers every group on God's Word because the Bible is our only textbook. Rather than relying on endless curriculum, believers read Scripture together and discuss how to apply it to everyday life.

3. Prayer

Jesus regularly prayed with His disciples and taught them how to pray.

Prayer strengthens mentoring relationships by creating dependence on God while encouraging believers to pray faithfully for one another and the people they hope to reach.

4. Ministry

Jesus didn't keep His disciples in the classroom.

He equipped them to serve others and share the gospel.

Christian mentoring moves beyond Bible study by encouraging believers to participate together in ministry and evangelism. Faith grows stronger when it is put into action.

5. Multiplication

Perhaps the greatest difference between biblical mentoring and many modern discipleship programs is multiplication.

Jesus never intended His disciples to remain followers forever.

He prepared them to become leaders who would make more disciples.

At D-Life, multiplication is not optional—it is the goal.

Jesus made disciples who made disciples.

We strive to do the same.

6. Accountability

Jesus lovingly challenged His disciples to continue growing in their faith.

Healthy mentoring relationships include encouragement, accountability, and a commitment to consistently pursuing Christ together.

Accountability isn't about perfection.

It's about helping one another faithfully follow Jesus.

Many mentoring programs rely primarily on books or personal experiences.

D-Life is different.

The Bible is the foundation of every D-Group.

Participants spend time reading Scripture each day, memorizing God's Word, discussing biblical truth together, and applying it to their daily lives.

When God's Word becomes the center of mentoring, spiritual growth naturally follows.

Christian Mentoring Is Rooted in Scripture

Christian Mentoring Is Missional

Jesus never intended discipleship to remain inside the walls of the church.

Healthy mentoring relationships encourage believers to actively participate in ministry and evangelism.

As disciples grow together, they also serve together.

Whether helping a neighbor, sharing the gospel, supporting a local ministry, or encouraging someone through prayer, Christian mentoring produces believers who live on mission every day.

Christian Mentoring Is Reproducible

One of the greatest strengths of Jesus' ministry was its simplicity.

His process could be repeated by anyone willing to follow Him.

D-Life follows that same model.

The disciple-making process is intentionally simple enough for churches of every size, home groups, college ministries, families, and individual believers.

You don't need advanced theological training to mentor someone.

You simply need a willingness to faithfully follow Christ and invest in others.

Tools That Strengthen Christian Mentoring

D-Life provides practical resources that make mentoring relationships easy to begin and sustainable over the long term.

Our disciple-making resources include:

Four years of D-Life Journals
Daily Bible reading plans
Weekly Scripture memory
Discussion guides for D-Groups
D-Life Online for digital discipleship
The Greater Work by Dr. Bill Wilks
D-Life for Families
Disciple-making Boot Camps
Virtual workshops
Leadership training

These resources give mentors and group leaders a consistent pathway for helping others grow spiritually.

Christian Mentoring for Churches, Small Groups, and Families

The Goal Is Multiplication

Whether you're discipling one person or leading an entire church, Christian mentoring works in every setting.

D-Life is used by:

Churches
Small groups
Home groups
Sunday School classes
Men's ministries
Women's ministries
College ministries
Families
Individual believers

Our mission remains the same in every environment:

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Many churches measure success by attendance.

Jesus measured success by multiplication.

His goal was never to remain with His disciples forever.

He prepared them to go and make disciples of all nations.

Christian mentoring follows that same pattern.

As believers grow in their relationship with Christ, they become equipped to mentor others, who then mentor others, creating generations of faithful disciple-makers.

Without multiplication, discipleship never reaches its full potential.

Begin Your Christian Mentoring Journey

Whether you're looking to mentor one believer, launch a D-Group, strengthen your church's discipleship ministry, or train future leaders, D-Life provides the biblical tools and practical training to help you succeed.

Contact us today to learn more about our disciple-making resources, mentoring tools, D-Life Journals, online Bible studies, and training opportunities. Together, we can help your church build disciples who make disciples.

Because Christian mentoring isn't simply about sharing knowledge—it's about helping people follow Jesus and equipping them to lead others to do the same.

Christian Leadership

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:43:21 GMT

Christian Leadership Training: How to Become a Leader Who Makes Disciples

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Strong churches are built on strong leaders—but biblical leadership looks very different from leadership in the business world.

Jesus didn't measure success by titles, influence, or popularity. He measured it by faithfulness and multiplication. He invested in a small group of disciples, taught them to follow Him, and then sent them to make disciples of others.

That same model is at the heart of D-Life.

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, or simply someone who wants to grow in your faith, Christian leadership begins with becoming a disciple who helps others follow Christ.

What Is Christian Leadership?

Christian leadership is the responsibility of influencing others to know Christ, obey His Word, and grow as His disciples.

Biblical leaders don't simply manage people—they shepherd them. They teach God's Word, model obedience, encourage spiritual growth, and help others become disciple-makers themselves.

Jesus summarized His mission with the Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19)

Christian leaders don't just gather followers. They multiply disciples.

The Foundation of Great Christian Leaders

Healthy leadership begins with healthy spiritual habits.

Before we can lead others, we must first be growing ourselves.

Great Christian leaders consistently:

Spend time in God's Word
Pray faithfully
Memorize Scripture
Apply biblical truth
Invest in others
Lead by example
Remain accountable
Continue learning

Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about faithfully following Christ and inviting others to do the same.

Disciple-Making Is Leadership

Many churches focus leadership development on organizational skills.

While those skills have value, Jesus focused first on disciple-making.

The strongest church leaders know how to:

Build relationships
Study Scripture with others
Ask meaningful questions
Encourage accountability
Pray together
Equip future leaders
Multiply disciples

When leaders develop disciple-makers instead of simply leading programs, the church grows healthier and stronger.

D-Life provides practical resources that help leaders consistently grow while equipping others to do the same.

D-Life Journals

Our four-year discipleship journals guide leaders and groups through daily Bible reading, Scripture memory, and weekly discussion guides.

Each journal includes:

Daily Bible reading plans
Weekly Scripture memory
Discussion questions for D-Groups
Prayer request pages
Personal application space

These journals create consistency for individual growth while giving leaders confidence to facilitate meaningful conversations.

D-Life Online

Leadership doesn't stop when people can't meet in person.

D-Life Online allows churches and groups to disciple people anytime and anywhere through:

Digital Bible reading plans
Weekly discussion guides
Scripture memory
Printable and online study slides
Four years of discipleship content

Whether your group meets in person, online, or a combination of both, D-Life Online keeps everyone moving together through Scripture.

The Greater Work

Great leaders never stop learning.

Dr. Bill Wilks' book, The Greater Work , teaches believers how to build a disciple-making culture modeled after Jesus.

Rather than presenting another ministry program, the book provides a practical framework for making disciples who multiply.

It has become a trusted resource for pastors, church staff, deacons, elders, Sunday School teachers, and ministry leaders who desire to build healthy, disciple-making churches.

Leadership Begins at Home

Christian leadership isn't limited to church buildings.

Parents are called to disciple their children and model faith every day.

D-Life for Families equips parents with weekly Bible studies, discussion questions, and prayer prompts that make family discipleship simple and intentional.

Strong churches begin with strong families.

Christian Leadership Tools That Equip Leaders

Christian Leadership Training for Every Church

Resources are important—but training helps leaders put biblical principles into practice.

D-Life offers practical Christian leadership training designed to equip believers to make disciples in their everyday lives.

Disciple-Making Boot Camps

Our four-hour Boot Camps provide hands-on, practical training for churches and ministries.

Participants learn:

The biblical model of disciple-making
How to lead effective D-Groups
How to multiply disciples
Practical leadership skills
How to build a disciple-making culture

Through teaching, role-playing, and real-life examples, participants leave prepared to begin making disciples immediately.

Virtual Leadership Workshops

Need training without travel?

Our online workshops provide the same biblical principles in a convenient virtual format.

Churches, ministry teams, and individuals can participate from anywhere while learning practical disciple-making strategies together.

Leadership Conferences and Retreats

Dr. Bill Wilks and Rondie Wilks regularly speak at:

Church leadership conferences
Men's conferences
Women's retreats
Leadership retreats
Ministry conferences
Church staff training events

Their teaching combines biblical truth with practical application, helping leaders strengthen their personal walk with Christ while equipping them to lead others effectively.

Whether speaking to pastors, volunteers, church leaders, or entire congregations, their passion is to help believers embrace disciple-making as a lifestyle.

Leadership That Multiplies

Start Building Disciple-Making Leaders

The healthiest churches are not built around one great leader.

They're built by leaders who intentionally invest in others.

When one disciple becomes two, two become four, and four become eight, the church experiences the kind of multiplication Jesus modeled .

That is the heart of Christian leadership.

If your church wants to develop leaders who are grounded in Scripture and equipped to multiply disciples, D-Life provides the tools and training to help you succeed.

From journals and digital Bible studies to leadership books, Boot Camps, virtual workshops, and conferences, our resources are designed to equip believers for a lifetime of faithful leadership.

Ready to strengthen the leaders in your church? Contact us today to learn more about our disciple-making resources, leadership training, and speaking opportunities. We'd love to help you equip your people for a lifestyle of disciple-making.

Because Christian leadership isn't about building a platform—it's about building people.

Bible Study Tools

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 03:07:50 GMT

Bible Study Tools for Churches, Small Groups, and Families

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

A healthy church is built on people who know God's Word and live it out. While there are countless Bible study resources available today, the best tools do more than simply provide information—they help believers grow in their relationship with Christ and equip them to make disciples who make disciples.

Whether you're leading a church, a Sunday School class, a small group, a home group, or simply studying God's Word on your own, having a clear and intentional Bible study plan can make all the difference.

At D-Life, our mission is simple:

DISCIPLE-MAKING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

Our Bible study resources are designed to help believers consistently read Scripture, apply God's Word, and multiply disciples in every season of life.

Why Bible Study Matters

The Bible isn't meant to sit on a shelf. It is God's living Word, transforming our hearts and renewing our minds. Regular Bible study helps believers:

Grow closer to Jesus
Understand God's character
Apply biblical truth to everyday life
Build strong Christian friendships
Develop confidence in sharing their faith
Become disciple-makers who influence others

The challenge many churches face isn't a lack of Bible study options—it's finding resources that are simple enough for anyone to use while being deep enough to produce lasting spiritual growth.

That's where D-Life comes in.

Bible Study Resources Designed for Disciple-Making

Rather than creating another curriculum that people simply complete, D-Life provides practical tools that help believers develop lifelong habits of Bible reading, Scripture memory, accountability, prayer, and disciple-making.

D-Life Journals

The D-Life Journals provide four complete years of Bible study through:

New Testament 1
New Testament 2
Old Testament 1
Old Testament 2

Each journal includes:

Daily Bible reading plans
Weekly Scripture memory verses
Guided discussion questions
Prayer request pages
Space for daily application
Leadership tools for D-Groups

Instead of asking, "What should we study next?" churches always have a clear path forward.

The journals work equally well for:

Churches
Small groups
Home groups
Sunday School classes
Men's groups
Women's groups
Individual Bible study

Study the Bible Every Day

Bible Study That Leads to Conversation

One of the greatest barriers to spiritual growth is inconsistency.

The D-Life reading plans encourage believers to read one chapter a day, five days a week, making Bible study achievable even for busy schedules.

Over time, these daily habits become lifelong disciplines that strengthen faith and prepare believers to disciple others.

Great Bible studies don't end with filling in blanks.

They lead to meaningful conversations.

Every D-Life Journal includes weekly discussion guides filled with thoughtful questions that help groups:

Apply Scripture
Encourage one another
Share life experiences
Pray together
Grow spiritually

Whether your church meets in homes, classrooms, coffee shops, or online, these studies create engaging conversations centered on God's Word.

D-Life Online: Bible Study Anywhere

Not every group meets in the same room.

Some members travel.

Others live in different cities.

Many churches have online groups.

That's why D-Life Online makes disciple-making possible anytime and anywhere.

Participants receive:

Four years of digital Bible reading plans
Scripture memory verses
Weekly discussion guides
Printable and digital study slides
Easy access from virtually anywhere

Churches no longer have to distribute printed materials before launching new groups.

Leaders can start discipleship groups quickly and confidently.

The Greater Work

Many Christians understand what disciple-making is.

Far fewer know how to build a culture of multiplication.

Dr. Bill Wilks' book, The Greater Work , provides a practical, biblical roadmap for churches and believers who want to follow Jesus' model of making disciples.

Rather than focusing on programs alone, the book teaches readers how to develop intentional disciple-making relationships that multiply over time.

It has become a valuable resource for pastors, ministry leaders, Sunday School teachers, deacons, and anyone passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission.

D-Life for Families

Discipleship doesn't begin at church.

It begins at home.

D-Life for Families helps parents intentionally teach their children God's Word through 52 weekly New Testament studies.

Each lesson includes:

Family Bible reading
Discussion questions
Prayer prompts
Practical application

It serves as an excellent companion to the D-Life Journals and helps families build biblical conversations into everyday life.

A Complete Bible Study System for Every Church

One of the greatest strengths of D-Life is that all of the resources work together.

Churches can provide members with:

Personal daily Bible reading
Weekly small group discussions
Digital study options
Family discipleship tools
Disciple-making training
Leadership development resources

Instead of using unrelated studies each semester, churches build a consistent disciple-making culture that continues year after year.

Simple Enough for Anyone. Powerful Enough for Every Church.

Some disciples we will lose through attrition, and others we intentionally multiply out to lead new groups. So—as a way of life—we begin fishing for people today who will join our groups in the future.

When my youngest son goes fishing, he often says, “These fish are not going to catch themselves.” This is true. But we can trust the Lord to fill our nets when we cast them out regularly to catch some disciples. So let’s go fishing! These fish are not going to catch themselves.

Discover the three key levels of discipleship and why third-level disciple-making is essential for church growth.

Living the D-Life ,

Bill

Three Key Levels of Discipleship

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 10:37:06 GMT

In what ways do you serve in your church? I've asked this question to many Christians across the country in churches where I've led training in disciple-making. "I'm a greeter, deacon, teacher, choir member, nursery worker, small group leader, or security team member" are typical answers that people give.

All of these areas of service are important. However, the one thing I've never heard anyone say is that "I'm a disciple maker." No one seems to view personal disciple-making as the main way that he or she serves in the church. This must change for us to reach our world for Christ.

The problem is that a vast number of American churches fail to equip their people to be disciple makers. Though most churches have at least one level of discipleship, there are three levels that are important. Regrettably, the third and most vital level is the one most often neglected.

FIRST LEVEL DISCIPLESHIP

The first level of discipleship is what many call Life Groups or Sunday School. These are small to larger sized groups that generally meet at the church on Sunday mornings or in other settings throughout the week. The main purposes of these groups is to study the Bible, build community, pray together, and care for one another.

This is a basic or entry level of discipleship with a rather low degree of accountability. However, these groups often serve a vital role in the church. This is frequently where Christians are introduced to the basics of Bible study, build a strong sense of biblical community, and do great ministry in caring for others within the group.

SECOND LEVEL DISCIPLESHIP

A second level of discipleship is some form of midweek Bible study. These are medium sized groups that generally meet on a Wednesday night or midweek morning.

These groups are important in that they provide mid-level discipleship involving a deeper level of Bible teaching and doctrinal education. Homework and personal study is often expected and there is a slightly higher degree of accountability involved in these groups.

As helpful as this level of discipleship can be for spiritual development, the sad reality is that most believers get stuck at this level. Over the years they merely go from one Bible study to the next and never progress to the third level. The consequences of this on the church are catastrophic.

THRID LEVEL DISCIPLESHIP

A third level of discipleship involves small discipleship groups or what many call D-Groups. These are smaller groups of three to five people who can meet anytime and anywhere for intentional disciple-making. There is a much higher degree of accountability in these groups related to practicing the spiritual disciplines of daily Bible reading, journaling, and prayer. These groups involve personal mentoring, interactive Bible study, and serving together in missional ministry and evangelism outside the walls of the church.

A high priority of these groups is leadership development and reproducing new disciple makers. Participants in these groups learn to make disciples who make disciples as a way of life, and leaders frequently multiply out to begin new groups. Multiplication is a must at this level of disciple-making.

This third and highest level of disciple-making is the missing link in most churches. It's what holds churches back from truly reaching our world for Christ. The Great Commission of the church is to make disciples who make disciples. It's tragic that most church goers at best are stuck in first or second level discipleship and rarely progress to the third level.

Even more tragic is the fact that many pastors fail to understand their responsibility to train third level disciple makers. As a pastor, you want your church to be successful in all three levels of discipleship. However, if you could lead your church to excel in only one level of discipleship, it should be the third level. Jesus started His disciples out at this level and it resulted in a disciple-making movement that changed the world. We desperately need to reignite this disciple-making movement in our world today, but most pastors and have no real plan for how to accomplish this.

This is where D-Life can help. D-Life exists to equip common people to be Christ-like disciple makers. Through D-Life, we are helping churches across the country to make great strides in third level disciple-making and these churches are seeing exciting results. It is in these churches that people are beginning to say, "I'm a disciple maker." And when people begin to see personal disciple-making as the main way they serve in the church, it makes all the difference.

Learn how loving accountability helps believers grow spiritually, serve faithfully, and make disciples who make disciples through intentional relationships.

For more information on D-Life or to schedule D-Life training in your church, please contact us .

Three Levels of Discipleship: The Missing Link in Disciple-Making

Loving Accountability: The Disciple Maker's Responsibility

Sat, 11 May 2024 10:35:04 GMT

As the father of three boys, I’ve spent a lot of time at the ballpark. All of my sons were good athletes and my middle son, Jake, received a scholarship to play college football as a running back for the Samford University Bulldogs in Homewood, Alabama. Over the years, I’ve sat through hundreds of ball practices from little league all the way through college. The sounds and smells of football practice are etched in my memory. At every phase of the sport, I would often hear a coach say to a player, “Do your job! Don’t worry about anyone else; just do your job!” Good coaches hold their players accountable to do their jobs.

Likewise, loving spiritual accountability is a vital part of personal disciple-making. When Jesus called His disciples, He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Throughout the four gospels, we see Jesus holding His disciples accountable to do their jobs. At one point He sent them out two by two to do the work of ministry and had them report back to Him. Ultimately, He held them accountable to multiply out to become fishers of men. Like Jesus, it is the responsibility of all disciple makers to provide loving accountability to those whom they disciple.

LIVES ARE CHANGED THROUGH SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

It has often been said that people don’t do what they are supposed to do, they do what they are held accountable to do. That is why accountability is an essential part of the disciple-making process.

First, we most hold our disciples accountable to reading the Word of God. It's important for your discipleship group to agree on a daily Bible reading plan and to hold one another accountable to the plan. This will have a great impact on their lives. People who have never read the Bible with consistency will begin to read it daily. This alone is transformational.

Second, we must hold our disciples accountable to their walk with God. As you lead your group to read and discuss the Bible, you should ask personal questions that relate to how each one is applying the biblical truths that they are reading. Loving accountability is especially important when someone in the group is struggling in a certain area of his or her spiritual life. Spiritual strongholds related to alcohol, drugs, pornography, sexual identity issues, and many others can be overcome through the loving accountability of a discipleship group.

Third, we must hold our group accountable to our work and witness for God. Ministry and evangelism are vital parts of the disciple-making process that will not happen by accident. We must hold one another accountable to be faithful servants and witnesses for Christ. We must lead our group to go outside the walls of the church to show the love of Christ in practical ways and to share the gospel of Christ. Aa a minimum, your group should plan a ministry project every other month and go do it. At least six times a year your discipleship group should hold one another accountable to go out and serve together in ministry and evangelism.

LEADERS ARE CALLED THROUGH SPIRITUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

After Jesus' death and resurrection, it was time for His disciples to do their jobs. He had called them and spent three years training them to be fishers of men. Now, He had important job for them to do, and He held them accountability to do it. Despite their fears and flaws, the time had come for them to multiply out to become personal disciple makers. Jesus provides a great example of loving spiritual accountability in the life of Simon Peter.

Toward the end of Jesus's ministry, He warned Peter that Satan had requested to “sift him like wheat” (Luke 22:31). He told Peter that He was praying for him and, when he turned back again, he should strengthen his brothers. Peter took offense to this. He told Jesus he would never deny Him and that he was ready to go with Him both to prison and to death. To this Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34).

We know where this is going. After Jesus was arrested in the garden, Peter was with a group of people warming by a fire. One in the group accused him of being with Jesus. Peter said, “Woman, I do not know Him.” A little later, someone else accused him of being one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter said, “Man, I am not.” After about an hour, still another insisted that he was with Jesus. This time Peter’s old fishing vocabulary came back out. Throwing in a few choice words, he said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Immediately, while Peter was still speaking, the rooster crowed, “Cock-a-doodle-do!” Peter was a broken man. The only thing he knew to do was to go back to his old way of life. He felt like an utter failure and a disappointment as a disciple. He had denied his teacher and Lord. He had flunked out of Discipleship Class 101. Three years earlier, he had dropped his fishing net and left everything to follow after Jesus. Now, he picked his net back up and returned to the one thing he knew how to do. It was the one thing he felt he was good at. He went back to being a fisherman. He went back to being Simon, which was his name before Jesus changed it to Peter—the Rock. He sure didn’t feel like a rock at this point in his life.

If it were not for the loving accountability of Jesus, Simon might not have ever returned to being Peter again. He may have spent the rest of his life living with guilt and regret, thinking about what might have been. He was ready to quit and throw in the towel as a disciple of Christ. His plan was to return to his former trade as a fisherman, but Jesus had another plan. Jesus went to Peter to restore him and to hold him accountable to his commitment as a disciple.

One night, while Peter was fishing with his friends, the risen Jesus went to them and stood on the shore of the sea. Unrecognized at first, He asked the men if they had caught any fish. When they answered, “No,” He instructed them to cast the net on the right side of the boat.

For Peter, this was déjà vu. Remember, this had happened earlier in Peter’s walk as a disciple and it totally wrecked him. He and his companions hauled in such a great catch of fish that the Bible said, “Their nets were breaking” (Luke 5:6b). It was then that Peter fell down on his knees and confessed his sins to Jesus as his Lord (Luke 5:8). I believe this was the moment when he experienced true salvation. Lovingly, Jesus was taking a broken and humbled Peter back to that moment when he first believed.

Three years had passed since Peter brought in his first great catch of fish. Now, Jesus asked Peter once again to let down his nets for a catch. Unlike before, there was no hesitation. As soon as the net hit the water, it filled up with large fish, 153 of them to be exact. Although there were so many, this time the Bible says that “the net was not torn” (John 21:11). There is a big point in this tiny detail. It was a picture of Peter’s growth as a disciple. Peter didn’t know it yet, but the broken net was now mended. Peter had been broken, and now, he was finally ready to be a fisher of men. He was fully equipped for the greater work that Jesus had called him to do.

When Peter saw this second great catch of fish, he did his best Forrest Gump imitation. He didn’t wait on the boat to come into shore. He jumped out of the boat to swim to Jesus.

Jesus’ model of loving accountability with Peter is an example to follow. Three times he had denied Jesus, and three times Jesus confronted him with his commitment as a disciple. He didn’t say, “Peter, I told you so.” He didn’t condemn him for his failures. Instead, Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to tell Him that he loved Him and three reminders of his call as a disciple to “feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Jesus was patient and loving with Peter, but He held him accountable to his commitment to the greater work. In spite of his failures and shortcomings, Jesus reminded him that he was called to make disciples who make disciples. In a loving way, Jesus was saying to him, “Do your job.” Through his brokenness and humility, Peter was finally ready to become a fisher of men.

This is true for every one of us. Despite our failures, insecurities, inadequacies, and shortcomings, we are called to be disciple-makers. We are called to do our jobs.

LOVING ACCOUNTABILITY IS A VITAL KEY TO MULTIPLICATION

A very humble Peter was reconciled to Jesus. The rest of the story is history. He became one of the greatest disciple-makers the world has ever known. He became the rock that Jesus always knew he could be. He preached the first sermon of the New Testament church and launched a disciple-making movement that turned the world upside down.

Humble people make great disciple-makers. They are willing to listen and learn. How about you? At some point, you must humble yourself and take a long, hard look in the mirror. You must ask yourself some tough questions. Am I living in obedience to the Great Commission? Am I doing the greater work of making disciples who make disciples?

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12a). He didn’t say you “might” do the works that He did. He said that you “will” do them. He didn’t say you will make fewer disciples than Him. He said you will do “greater works” of disciple-making than Him. How is this possible?

According to Jesus, it’s simple. It all begins with a small group of people who meet anytime and anywhere for intentional discipleship. This is how Jesus taught us to do it. To do the greater work involves either participating in a discipleship group or leading one. You should participate in a D-Group until you are ready to lead one. Then you should multiply out to begin a new one. This is how Jesus taught us to live a lifestyle of disciple-making. Let's go do our jobs.

Discover why multiplying disciples is central to biblical disciple-making.

D-Life exists to equip common people to be Christ-like disciple makers. Contact us to learn more.

Why Loving Accountability Is Essential to Disciple-Making

Multiplying Disciples: The Disciple Maker's Mission

Thu, 02 May 2024 10:33:27 GMT

The Kingdom principle of multiplying disciples is the most necessary and neglected practice of disciple-making. Churches often fail to grasp the importance of multiplication in their discipleship ministries. Jesus did not teach His disciple to add; He taught them how to multipy.

When Jesus invited twelve men into His D-Group, He knew that He would not be with them forever. His goal was not to remain with them but to send them out. His disciples knew that they would each go out and do what He had trained them to do. They would multiply and make other disciples. Likewise, all D-Groups must be committed to the practice of multiplication.

Jesus made disciples who made disciples. He didn’t make any other kind. Disciple-making requires the multiplication of disciples; apart from multiplication there is no real discipleship.

Later in the Bible, we are introduced to a man named Paul. He was not one of the original disciples. In fact, when we first meet him, he is no disciple at all. He was a skeptic who did not believe in Jesus and who persecuted those who did. Through a supernatural encounter with Jesus on a desert road, his life was radically changed. Paul the skeptic not only became a disciple of Jesus, but he went on to become one of the greatest disciple-makers who has ever lived.

As a man on a mission, Paul’s whole life was committed to making and multiplying disciples. He took groups of disciples with him on his missionary journeys and left behind disciple-making leaders in every city where he stopped. The impact of Paul’s life cannot be measured because of his relentless commitment to the greater work.

Someone very special to Paul was a young disciple named Timothy. As he approached the end of his life on earth, Paul wrote a letter to his young disciple giving Timothy his own version of the Great Commission. With tenderness and strength Paul said, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

This is one of the clearest descriptions of genuine discipleship in the entire Bible. There is no way it can be misunderstood that multiplication is an essential quality of discipleship. According to Paul, multiplication is a disciple-maker’s mission. As a D-Group leader, you must lead your group to multiply.

THE MULTIPLICAITON OF DISCIPLES IS EMPOWERED

Knowing that the time for his departure was at hand, Paul realized that Timothy would need God’s strength to carry on the greater work he had trained him to do. With the love of a father, he encouraged Timothy to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). The word “strengthened” is the Greek word, endunamoó. From the root of this word, we get the word “dynamite.” Here, Paul was reminding Timothy that God’s grace would be with him to empower him for making disciples.

The same is true for you. As you lead your D-Group, God will be with you. The Spirit of the greatest disciple-maker who ever lived dwells in you. He is the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. He will continually empower you with great strength and explosive power to make disciples who make disciples.

THE MULTIPLICATION OF DISCIPLES IS EXPLAINED

Nowhere in the New Testament is the process of disciple-making more clearly laid out as Paul explains it here.

Paul said, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). In this one sentence, we see four generations of discipleship: 1) Paul, 2) Timothy, 3) faithful men, and 4) others also. Paul had discipled Timothy. Now it was Timothy’s turn to disciple some faithful men. In turn, these faithful men were to go disciple others also.

This is how God’s kingdom is intended to grow. This is growth without gimmicks. The great expansion of the early church did not happen by addition. It was the result of the explosive process of multiplication. Concerning the early church, the Bible says, “The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7).

When you step up to lead a D-Group, you are on the front lines of the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. It’s not the preacher in the pulpit but the disciple-maker in the trenches who determines if the kingdom grows. It is important for you to do your job. You are empowered for this. Don’t be duped by the misleading allure of addition. Simply put, your job is not to grow a bigger group but to multiply new groups. It’s only through the multiplication of disciples that you will witness the result of exponential kingdom growth.

As a true disciple-maker, you must make multiplication your primary goal. Intentionally and methodically, strive to send out at least one new disciple-maker every year to lead a new D-Group. You may not always achieve this goal, but you should make it your aim. This is a reasonable and worthy objective.

According to the Bible, the Father is glorified when “you bear much fruit” (John 15:8). Perhaps, you do not realize the greatness of your fruit-bearing potential. When you live a lifestyle of disciple-making, you possess unlimited potential to bear much fruit and to bring great glory to the Father.

Consider the possibilities. What if you simply discipled three people every year—just three? Then, what if you sent out one of them each year to do the same? If this became your lifestyle for the next twenty to thirty years, the fruit of your life would be immeasurable.

Let’s take a deeper look. As a D-Group leader, here is your goal…

You simply disciple at least three people every year.
You send out one disciple each year to do the same.

As you make disciples who make disciples, the unlimited nature of your fruit-bearing potential is seen in the graphic below on “Multiplying Disciples” …

THE MULTIPLICATION OF DISCIPLES IS EXCITING

Few things are more exciting and fulfilling for a true follower of Christ than to lead a D-Group that is continually multiplying. It also adds great significance to your life.

Like Jesus, Paul made disciples who made other disciples. There is no way to measure the eternal impact of his life. We can be certain that his rewards in heaven were great.

Likewise, if you commit to a lifestyle of disciple-making there will be no way to measure the impact of your life either. Your rewards will be great. A lifetime lifestyle of making and multiplying disciples is the disciple maker's ultimate commitment.

Learn more about why disciple-making happens outside the church walls .

D-Life exists to equip common people to be Christ-like disciple makers. Contact us to learn more.

Wow! What if only half of this happened! This is your fruit-bearing potential for the Father. In just ten years, over five hundred discipleship groups and more than fifteen-hundred disciples could trace their roots back to you. In twenty years, over five-hundred thousand discipleship groups and a million-and-a-half people would be discipled because of you. In thirty years—well, we won’t even go there—because I know what you're thinking. You’re thinking that such a disciple-making movement could never happen because of you. But, why not you? Don’t you think the early disciples must have thought the same?

Nevertheless, it all begins with just three and one—discipling three people a year and multiplying one out to do the same. If you could have the faith to do just this, you have the potential to reach thousands of people for Christ. That’s a lot of fruit! Exponential kingdom growth is the ultimate result of multiplying disciples.

When I think about the raw reality of this, my heart weeps over the failure of the church to do our job. Disciple-making is our job! Jesus taught it, modeled it, and commanded it. Paul taught it, modeled it, and commanded it. We have no excuse!

In thirty-three years, just one person has the potential to reach the entire globe for Christ. But wait, what if there were more than one person? A global grassroots disciple-making movement would mean that the world is still within our reach.

Why Multiplication Is Essential to Disciple-Making

Outside the Walls: The Disciple Maker's Lab

Wed, 01 May 2024 10:29:53 GMT

Have you ever wondered why most ministry takes place inside the walls of the church? You don’t see this with Jesus. Almost all of the personal ministry of Jesus took place outside the walls of the temple or synagogue.

As believers who make up the church, the Bible says, “You are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We are His hands and feet, but we often tie up His hands with matters inside the church. We fail to make a difference in the world when we keep His hands and feet inside the walls of the church.

In the New Testament, we see Jesus leading His disciples outside the walls of the synagogue to proclaim the message of the kingdom. His disciples watched as He touched the leper, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and showed compassion for the sinner. Then He “began to send them out two by two” to do the same (Mark 6:7). It was their turn. The Bible simply says, “So they went” (Mark 6:12).

In Jesus’ D-Group, doing ministry outside the walls of the synagogue was not an option. It shouldn’t be for us either. This is an important part of leading a D-Group. You deceive yourself if you think you can disciple others solely from a classroom. Disciple-making requires on the job training. Would you fly on a plane with a pilot whose only training was in a classroom? Of course not! Pilots need real experience and so do disciples. Disciple-making requires a lab, and the world is our lab.

LEAD YOUR GROUP TO PLAN MEANINGFUL MINISTRY PROJECTS

In your D-Group, take time to plan for meaning ministry. Ask, "How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus where His presence is needed?" Pray for the Holy Spirit to direct your path. Plan for meaningful ministry projects where you can bring light into darkness and hope to those who are hurting.

Such incarnational ministry is best fleshed out in a D-Group. Real people rub shoulders daily with other real people. Meaningful ministry happens when a disciple says, “I know where a real need is. I saw it with my own eyes.” This is when a group will take ownership of the ministry that needs to be done.

I’m sure you have heard of the 80/20 principle. It’s a principle that says that eighty percent of the work in a church is carried out by only twenty percent of the people. This is a real concern for some people in the church today. But what is really concerning is that the vast majority of the work done by the twenty percent takes place within the walls of the church. It makes you wonder if any percent of the work of ministry takes place outside the church.

Now, think about Jesus and His disciples. What percentage of the twelve disciples did the work of ministry? All twelve did; it was one hundred percent. Even Judas did, though he complained about it. Also, almost everything they did was outside-the-walls ministry.

How did this happen? It was because this is what Jesus had discipled them to do. In the church today, we could obliterate the 80/20 principle if we could simply get the twenty percent to disciple the eighty percent to do the work of ministry. What’s more, is that we could shift the focus of our ministry outside the walls of the church.

LEAD YOUR GROUP & DO MEANINGFUL MINISTRY PROJECTS

After your group makes plans for meaning ministry, then go out and do it. Sharing in ministry together as a D-Group is both fun and fruitful. It builds deeper community within your group.

Ministry projects may include things such as feeding the homeless, doing lawncare for someone’s yard, doing a project at a local school, building a wheelchair ramp, adopting a family for Christmas, prayer walk evangelism, offering assistance to other social ministries in your area, and many other creative ideas. The opportunities are endless. D-Groups can even make plans to go on a mission trip together.

A minimum goal for your D-Group should be to do at least one meaning ministry project every two months. This means that your D-Group will do six ministry projects a year. Again, it is important to keep your goals reasonable and attainable. If we truly desire to impact our world for Christ, this is a reasonable minimum goal.

Think about the significance of this on your church’s ministry to your community. If your church started only four D-Groups, this would result in twenty-four ministry projects outside the walls of your church in one year. Simply multiplying to ten D-Groups would result in sixty ministry projects. What if someday you could train one hundred believers to lead D-Groups? This would result in six-hundred ministry projects each year outside the walls of your church. Can you imagine how many lives would be touched?

LEAD YOUR GROUP TO PRACTICE LIFT UP YOUR EYES EVANGELISM

Meaningful ministry opens doors for Gospel conversations. When unbelievers see the love of Jesus displayed in a practical way, they are more willing to listen to what we have to say.

As a D-Group leader, you want to lead your group to practice lift-up-your-eyes evangelism. Jesus instructed His disciples saying, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35b).When your D-Group does a ministry project, lift up your eyes and see those who are around you. See those who are watching you and wondering why you are there. Look for an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. When you lead others to Christ, you will seek to connect them with your D-Group, and when possible, to your church.

In many churches today, intentional evangelism does not exist. No one is being discipled to share his or her faith. However, to be a true disciple-maker, you must unite evangelism and discipleship into one process. Think about it. You can do evangelism without being a disciple-maker, but you can’t be a disciple-maker without doing evangelism. Discover the power of prayer in disciple-making .

D-Life exists to equip common people to be Christ-like disciple makers. Contact us to learn more.

Why Disciple-Making Happens Outside the Church Walls

Thy Kingdom Come: The Disciple Maker's Prayer

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:23:30 GMT

It would be hard to think of anything in life that is more needed than the power of fervent prayer. If there has ever been a time when every believer in Christ should pray passionately and fervently, that time is now. We need a great movement of God to bring revival to the church, and prayer is essential to this. Unfortunately, the great power of prayer is often neglected.

As a disciple-maker, you must lead your D-Group to pray together and to practice the spiritual discipline of prayer in their daily lives. This is a very important part of disciple-making.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray. In Matthew 6:9-13, He gave them a model prayer that we often refer to as, “The Lord’s Prayer.” He gave this prayer in response to one of His disciples who said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

The reason why many believers don’t know how to pray is because they have never been discipled in the discipline of prayer. The best way for us to learn to pray is by praying with others who are more mature in faith.

Great things happen when God’s people join together in prayer. The late evangelist Ron Dunn said, “Prayer is the secret weapon of the kingdom of God. It is like a missile that can be fired toward any spot on earth, travel undetected at the speed of thought, and hit its target every time" (Ron Dunn, “Don’t Just Stand There, Pray Something”).

TEACH YOUR GROUP THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER

As a D-Group leader, you should never meet with your group and not pray. Prayer should take priority over other things. No matter where you meet, you must pray, even in public places. By making prayer a priority in your D-Group, you are leading your group to make it a priority in their daily lives.

As your group comes together, grab some coffee and spend a few minutes in fellowship together. A great way to transition away from your fellowship time is to ask your group to share prayer requests.

Don’t rush this. This is often when someone will open up and let you in, especially those who have been in the group for a while. When trust has been built, he or she may take off the mask and reveal the fears, hurts, addictions, struggles, and weaknesses that might not be shared with anyone else. This will be a breakthrough moment; you must handle it carefully. Take time to really listen. Spend extra time in sincere prayer over the matter. As the leader, you should follow up with this person during the week, express appreciation for the transparency shown, and pray over the matter again. These are special moments of discipleship and one reason why a group of no more than three to five is best. Such openness is unlikely to occur in a larger group. Always remember that openness calls for strict confidentiality. If you violate a person’s trust, he or she will never open up again.

As prayer requests are shared, encourage your group to write them down so that they can continue to pray over the requests during the week. The person that you have assigned to pray should lift up these specific requests in prayer each week.

If your D-Group meets in a public place, it is not uncommon for others to be watching and listening. Though you must never pray for show, you must not be ashamed of your faith either. You may be surprised at the opportunities for ministry this may open for you.

My wife, Rondie, was meeting with her D-Group at a local Panera Bread. An employee for the café had taken a table near them to attend to some work. Though she appeared to be preoccupied with her work, she was really listening. As Rondie was about to wrap up their meeting, the lady came over to the table. See confessed that she was listening in on their conversations and that it was just what she needed to hear. She was going through a difficult time in her life, and the Bible story they were discussing spoke directly to her need. She apologized for listening in but spoke of how encouraging it was for her. Tears flowed as Rondie and her group prayed over her right there in the café.

I hear stories like this regularly from disciple-makers around the country. The Holy Spirit is the author of divine appointments. Keep your eyes open for them. They will be peak opportunities for ministry and will lead to many Gospel conversations.

MODEL FOR YOUR GROUP THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER

How does a new or spiritually immature believer learn to pray? Certainly, one could read some good books about prayer. However, the best way to learn to pray is by praying with other believers. Listening to the prayers of those who are more mature in their faith will nurture the practice of prayer in those less mature.

The Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer and an example for us to follow. It was not given for us to memorize and repeat. It was given as an example of how we should pray. In this prayer, there is adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. These are the elements of a mature prayer. In leading a D-Group, you and other seasoned believers in the group should model praying a mature prayer.

The ACTS acrostic is a helpful tool to help you remember the elements of a mature prayer, which includes:

Adoration – Praising God for who He is.
Confession – Confessing your sins to God.
Thanksgiving – Thanking God for the great things He has done.
Supplication – Interceding for others and lifting up personal requests.

Mature believers should model mature prayers. In your D-Group, be sure to include all these elements of a mature prayer when you pray over your weekly requests.

It’s likely that you will have someone in your group who has never prayed out loud with others and doesn’t feel comfortable doing so. Be patient with this. Perhaps he or she can tell the Bible story or read the text, but there is no reason to assign one to pray who is not ready. Give it time. In a few months of praying with others, this one who has never prayed out loud, may volunteer to pray. This is a great breakthrough in discipleship. He or she might be petrified but is likely to pray a most humble, beautiful, and sincere prayer. It may not be a mature prayer yet, but it will be real. Everyone in the group should applaud and affirm this new prayer warrior in the making.

NURTURE IN YOUR GROUP FAITH IN PRAYER

I love the story in the Bible where a group of early disciples gathered in a home to pray for Peter’s release from prison. Peter had been seized by King Herod for preaching the Gospel; he was locked up in prison and was being guarded by four squads of soldiers. Herod had bad intentions. His desire was to kill Peter after the Passover. The outlook seemed hopeless for Peter, “but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church” (Acts 12:5).

Indeed, prayer is the secret weapon of the kingdom of God. As the church was praying, an angel of the Lord was sent to deliver Peter from prison. The chains miraculously fell off his hands, the gate leading to the city opened of its own accord, and Peter was set free.

The humorous part of the story happened when Peter arrived at the house where the church was praying. When he knocked on the door of the house, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, she returned to the prayer meeting with joy to announce his arrival. You think there would be great celebration but not with this group of mighty prayer warriors. They told Rhoda she was out of her mind, and they left Peter standing at the door. Peter was released from the prison cell but couldn’t get into the prayer meeting.

As soon as I start to chuckle at this story, I come under conviction. I picture myself in that room, chastising a poor servant girl for interrupting my prayer time with her false hope. It was false hope, wasn’t it? Well, this group certainly thought so. That is, until they finally let Peter in. How often are we just like them? Perhaps, they have one up on us. They at least had the faith to come together to pray.

As a D-Group leader, you must nurture faith in the power of prayer. This may be a stretch for you, as it is for me. I often feel like the man who prayed, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)! However, the more I have prayed with my D-Group, the more my faith has grown. Faith nurtures faith. The more answers to prayer I see, the more I begin to believe that prayer really is the secret weapon of the kingdom of God. I believe that no situation is hopeless, chains can be broken, doors can miraculously open, and people can be set free.

Sometimes the darkness in our land is overwhelming. Is there any real hope for revival in our land? In The Lord’s Prayer, the first actual request is, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come.” That petition is a request for revival. As God’s kingdom advances through His church, His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Ultimately, this request is for Christ’s return, but until His return, I long to see revival on earth. If Jesus taught us to pray for revival, then there is hope.

In the Bible, God gave us a great promise to claim. He said, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Do we believe this? If we do, we should pray, “Thy kingdom come,” every day.

As a D-Group leader, one thing you must lead your group to do every time you meet is to pray for revival and spiritual awakening in our land. As you take prayer requests, remind your group of this request every week.

As a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, I had the privilege to study under Dr. Roy Fish. In a class on Spiritual Awakening, I recall Dr. Fish teaching that there is one thing that has preceded every great spiritual awakening throughout history. That one thing was a grassroots movement of common people confessing their sins and crying out to God for revival.

I long to see that movement happen again. I long to see people meeting in D-Groups all over the world, confessing their sins, crying out to God for revival, and praying the words of our Lord’s model prayer, “Thy kingdom come!”

D-Life exists to equip common people to be Christ-like disciple makers. Contact us to learn more.

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