by Dr. Adam Grill

If you’ve spent more than a week in a modern church, you’ve probably heard the word “discipleship” thrown around a hundred times.
We talk about it in sermons, we print it on our bulletins, and we launch "discipleship programs" every fall like clockwork. But if we’re being honest, many of us feel more like we’re managing a spiritual manufacturing plant than following the Master.

We’ve turned the most personal, revolutionary process in human history: helping someone follow Jesus: into a series of six-week classes, fill-in-the-blank workbooks, and attendance trackers. We’ve traded "life-on-life" for "seat-in-a-row."

At Disciple Maker, we believe it’s time to stop overcomplicating things. As Dr. Adam Grill often says, Jesus didn’t leave behind a manual for running a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; He left behind a model for transforming the world through a few deeply invested relationships.

If you’re feeling burned out by "programs" and want to get back to the way Jesus actually did it, this is for you.

Handcrafted vs. Mass-Produced: The Heart of the Matter

Think about the difference between a table you buy at a big-box furniture store and one handcrafted by a master carpenter. The mass-produced table is efficient, identical to ten thousand others, and functional. But the handcrafted table? It has character. It was made with specific wood, for a specific purpose, by someone who touched every square inch of it.

Modern church culture has a "mass-produced" problem. We try to disciple people in batches. We assume that if we get enough people into a room and give them the right information, they will automatically become like Jesus. But information doesn’t equal transformation.

Jesus’ model was fundamentally "handcrafted." He didn't just stand on a hill and shout instructions at the 5,000; He spent the vast majority of His three-year ministry with twelve specific men. He ate with them, traveled with them, and let them see His life up close.

This is the essence of Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Notice He didn't say, "Enroll them in a course." He said, "Teach them to obey." Obedience isn't learned in a classroom; it’s caught in the context of a relationship. It is "life-on-life."

The Framework: Teach, Model, Coach, Commission

So, how do we practically reclaim this simplicity? We don't need a 50-page strategy document. We just need to follow the natural rhythm Jesus used with His friends. We call this the TMCC Framework: Teach, Model, Coach, and Commission.

1. Teach

Everything starts with the Truth. Jesus taught the good news of the Kingdom and the commands of God. In our context, this means providing a clear biblical foundation. We aren't just sharing our "opinions" on life; we are grounding people in the Word of God.

At Disciple Maker, we provide Bible-based courses that give you the "what" of discipleship. But remember, the teaching is just the starting line. It’s the roadmap for the journey, not the journey itself.

2. Model

This is where most modern programs fall short. In a class, you hear a teacher talk about prayer. In Jesus’ model, the disciples watched Him pray. They saw how He handled exhaustion, how He treated the marginalized, and how He responded to criticism.

If you are discipling someone, your life is the curriculum. You aren't showing them how to be perfect; you’re showing them what it looks like to follow Jesus as a real human being. You are modeling "life-on-life."

3. Coach

Once Jesus taught and modeled, He didn't just leave them to it. He sent them out (think of the Seventy in Luke 10) and then: critically: He debriefed with them. He coached them through their failures and their pride.

Coaching is the art of asking good questions. "How did that conversation go?" "What was hard about sharing your faith this week?" "Where did you see God moving?" It’s providing a safe space for the disciple to practice what they’ve learned while you walk alongside them.

4. Commission

Finally, there is a release. Discipleship isn't meant to be a permanent "mentee" status. The goal is multiplication. Jesus eventually told His disciples, "Now it’s your turn. Go and do for others what I have done for you."

True discipleship always ends in the disciple becoming a disciple-maker. If your "program" doesn't have a clear path to commissioning, it’s a cul-de-sac, not a highway.

Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication

You might be thinking, "This sounds great, but I'm busy. I have a job, a family, and a million responsibilities. How do I track all of this without it becoming another 'job'?"

This is exactly why Dr. Adam Grill and our team built the Disciple Maker app. We didn't want to create another "distraction" on your phone. We wanted to build a tool that gets out of the way and lets you focus on the person sitting across the table from you.

The app is designed to support the "handcrafted" model by:

• Providing Structured Lessons: You don't have to be a seminary professor to lead a study. Our features include easy-to-use, Bible-based resources that you can share instantly.
• Progress Tracking: In a relational model, it's easy to lose track of where someone is in their journey. The app allows you to see their progress, not to "grade" them, but to know how to better pray for and coach them.
• Offline Accessibility: Whether you're in a high-rise in New York or a rural village in Africa, you can access the materials you need to invest in your people.
• Global Community: You aren't doing this alone. You’re part of a global network of believers all working toward the same mission.

No Seminary Degree Required

The beauty of the Jesus model is that it belongs to the entire church, not just the "professionals." You don't need a title, a stage, or a PhD to make a disciple. You just need a willing heart, a few people to invest in, and a simple framework to follow.

We’ve made it too hard for too long. We’ve acted like discipleship is a product to be sold, rather than a life to be shared.

As you look at your own life and ministry, ask yourself: Am I building programs, or am I building people?

If you're ready to start your own journey of "handcrafted" discipleship, we’d love to walk with you. You can download the app here and join a movement of people who are reclaiming the simplicity of Jesus' model.

Let's stop overcomplicating things. Let's get back to the basics. One life at a time.

— Dr. Adam Grill

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