by Dr. Adam Grill

Welcome back to our October series, "Implementing the Real Jesus in Your Church."

In Week 1, we looked at how a church discipleship program truly begins at the top. We gathered our 8 to 12 core leaders and board members to walk through Real Jesus Book 1 together. We laid a firm biblical foundation, anchored in the person and model of Jesus Christ, ensuring our leaders were spiritually nourished before trying to feed anyone else.

But discipleship was never meant to stop in a boardroom.

Jesus did not call His disciples to keep Him a secret; He called them to cast a net, to multiply, and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). That brings us to Week 2: The First Ripple : Reaching the People.

The Blueprint of 2 Timothy 2:2: From Addition to Multiplication

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." : 2 Timothy 2:2

The Apostle Paul gives Timothy a masterclass in leadership multiplication. Notice the four generations in this single verse: Paul teaches Timothy, who entrusts it to reliable people, who will then teach others also.

Most churches operate on an addition model. They put on classes, run weekly sermons, and host programs where people absorb information. While preaching and teaching are vital, addition alone cannot transform a community. If a church grows by addition, leaders burn out trying to pastor everyone individually.

When you shift to the Jesus model of disciple making, everything changes.

The Math of Multiplication

Let’s look at the simple, staggering math of Week 2:

• The Starting Core: You begin with 10 leaders who completed Week 1.
• The First Ripple: Each of those 10 leaders prayerfully selects 2 new people in the church to disciple using Real Jesus Book 1.
• Month 2 Total: That brings 30 people actively engaged in deep, life-on-life discipleship (10 leaders + 20 new disciples).
• The Second Ripple (Month 3): Those 20 new disciples each turn around and disciple 2 more people. Suddenly, your church has 50+ people deeply rooted in structured, reproducible Christian mentoring.

Suddenly, discipleship is no longer a pastoral program run by exhausted staff: it is a movement of everyday believers making disciples right where they are.

4 Practical Steps to Launch Your Church’s First Ripple

Moving from leadership training to church-wide implementation requires intentionality, prayer, and simplicity. Here is how you can guide your leaders to launch Week 2 successfully in your congregation.

1. How Leaders Pick Their 2 People

Choosing who to mentor can feel intimidating for leaders. Remind them of Jesus’ example: He prayed all night before choosing His twelve (Luke 6:12–13), looking for those who were hungry, teachable, and faithful: not necessarily the most polished.

When leaders select their two disciples, encourage them to look for:

• Availability: Someone who is willing to commit time to meet regularly.
• Teachability: Someone with an open heart to learn the Word and apply it.
• Faithfulness: Someone who follows through on small commitments and is eager to grow.

This isn’t about picking the "spiritual elite." It’s about investing in people who are hungry for a genuine, transformative relationship with Jesus.

2. How to Structure One-to-One or Small Group Sessions

Discipleship doesn't require a seminary degree or a complex curriculum. Keep your sessions relational, conversational, and anchored in Scripture:

• Connect (10 mins): Share highs, lows, and how everyone experienced God’s grace during the week.
• Study (25 mins): Work through a section of Real Jesus Book 1. Read the passages together, ask open-ended questions, and discuss practical application.
• Pray (15 mins): Lift up personal needs, spiritual growth goals, and people in your spheres of influence who need Christ.

By keeping the format simple, your new disciples instantly realize: "I can do this. I could lead a session like this one day."

Keeping It Simple, Reproducible, and Relational

The secret to a thriving Christian mentoring culture is reproducibility. If your material or structure is too complex, your disciples will think, “I’m not qualified to teach that.”

Real Jesus Book 1 is specifically designed to be accessible to every believer. It points straight back to the Gospels, letting Jesus’ words and actions do the heavy lifting. When your people see that discipleship is simply sharing what Christ is teaching them in everyday life, intimidation turns into joyful obedience.

Tracking the Ripple with the Disciple Maker App

When multiplication starts happening across your church, how do you keep track of who is meeting with whom without drowning in spreadsheets?

This is where technology serves the mission. Using the Disciple Maker app, church leaders and mentors can effortlessly:

• Track Discipleship Progress: Keep notes on weekly sessions, prayer requests, and spiritual milestones.
• Share Lessons Instantly: Send Bible-based curriculum and study materials directly to your mentee’s phone.
• Stay Connected Offline: Access offline-friendly study resources for areas with limited internet access.
• Align Church Leadership: Give church leaders a clear, birds-eye view of how the discipleship ripples are growing across the congregation.

Step Into the Ripple

Implementing a powerful church discipleship program doesn't happen overnight, but it starts with a single step of obedience. By taking what your leaders learned in Week 1 and entrusting it to two faithful people in Week 2, you ignite a spiritual awakening that can transform your entire church body.

Are you ready to see what God can do through multiplication in your church? Download the Disciple Maker app today, grab Real Jesus Book 1, and make your first ripple for His Kingdom!

Warmly in Christ,

Dr. Adam Grill
Lead Expert & Founder, Disciple Maker