By Dr. Adam Grill
Let’s be real for a second: High school is a social minefield. You’re navigating classes, sports, social media, and the constant pressure to "fit in." When you hear the word “discipleship,” your mind might jump to a very specific image, the kid who stands on a literal soapbox in the quad, clutching a giant Bible and shouting at people as they head to Chem class.
Nobody wants to be that kid.
Because of that fear, most Christian students stay silent. They keep their faith in a neat little box reserved for Sunday mornings and youth group nights. But here’s the truth: Jesus never intended for his followers to be "weird" for the sake of being weird. He called us to be salt and light. Salt makes things better; light helps people see.
Making disciples in high school isn't about being the loudest person in the room or having a seminary degree. It’s about being a genuine friend who lives life with Jesus and invites others to come along for the ride. I’ve seen students across the globe, from suburban US schools to rural villages in Africa, transform their entire campuses using a model that is remarkably simple.
The "Life-on-Life" Model: How Jesus Actually Did It
When Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, He said: “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 what He didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Wait until you’re forty,” or “Make sure you have a PowerPoint presentation ready.” He gave this command to a group of young, mostly uneducated guys who were just learning how to follow Him.
Jesus’ model for making disciples was "life-on-life." He didn’t just hold a weekly lecture; He walked with His disciples. He ate with them. He sat by the fire with them. In a high school context, your "fire" is the lunch table. It’s the bench after soccer practice. It’s the group chat for your history project.
Discipleship is simply helping someone else take their next step toward Jesus. That’s it. And you are perfectly positioned to do that because you’re already in the lives of people your youth pastor or parents can’t reach.
The TMCC Framework: Your Campus Strategy
At Disciple Maker, we use a framework called TMCC. It sounds technical, but it’s actually the most natural way to grow a relationship. Here is how it looks in the hallways:
1. Teach
This isn't about giving a sermon. It’s about sharing what you’re actually learning. When a friend is stressed about a test, you might mention a verse that helped you find peace. Or, when you’re hanging out, you might mention a cool insight you got from one of the Bible-based courses on the Disciple Maker app.
2. Model
This is the "walk the walk" phase. Your friends are watching how you handle a bad grade, how you treat the kid everyone else ignores, and how you respond when people are gossiping. Modeling is living out your faith in a way that makes people curious. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be authentic. When you mess up, apologize. That’s modeling, too.
3. Coach
Once a friend starts asking questions, you move into coaching. This is where you say, “Hey, I’m working through this study on the app about identity. Do you want to check it out with me?” You aren't their boss; you're their teammate. You’re helping them figure out how to pray or how to read a passage of Scripture for themselves.
4. Commission
The goal of a disciple isn't just to follow Jesus; it’s to help others follow Jesus. Commissioning is when you encourage your friend to share what they’ve learned with someone else. This is how a small spark in a locker room becomes a movement that changes a school.
You Don’t Need to Be an Expert
One of the biggest lies students believe is: "I don't know enough about the Bible yet."
Guess what? You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know the Person who does. If a friend asks a question you can't answer, the best response is: "That's a great question. I don't know, but let's look it up together."
This is where the Disciple Maker app becomes your best friend. It’s designed specifically to take the pressure off you. You don't have to write a curriculum; we've already done that. You can choose a course, maybe something on "Dealing with Anxiety" or "The Basics of Faith", and go through it together. The app allows you to track progress and share lessons easily, making the "Teach" and "Coach" parts of TMCC a breeze.
Practical Tips for the Campus Disciple-Maker
If you’re ready to start, but don't want to be "weird," follow these three rules:
- Start with One: Don't try to change the whole school on Monday. Think of one person God has already placed in your life. Someone you actually like hanging out with.
- Keep it Low-Pressure: You don't need to start with "If you died tonight, where would you go?" Start with "Hey, I've been reading this thing that really helped me with my stress. Can I show it to you?"
- Listen More Than You Talk: People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Be the friend who actually listens.
Your 5-Step Action Plan
Ready to go? Here is your game plan for the next week:
- Pray for "Person X": Ask God to show you one person who needs encouragement or has questions about faith.
- Download the Tool: Get the Disciple Maker app and browse the courses so you know what’s available.
- Initiate a Normal Conversation: Ask your friend how they are actually doing. Move past the "I'm fine" surface level.
- Share a "God-Moment": Mention something God did for you this week. It could be as simple as, "I was really worried about that game, but I prayed and felt a lot of peace."
- Invite Them In: If they seem interested, ask if they’d want to look at a 5-minute lesson on the app with you during lunch or after school.
High school is a short chapter in your life, but the impact you make there can last forever. You have the Holy Spirit in you, a world-class tool in your pocket, and a group of friends who are searching for something real.
You were made for this.
Dr. Adam Grill
CEO, Disciple Maker