LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Disciple Making Plan
Submitted to Dr. Jonathan Geukgeuzian
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500 – B03
Discipleship Ministries
by
Michael Frazier
March 1, 2020
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Passages...........................................................................................................................................2
Principles........................................................................................................................................3
Philosophy.......................................................................................................................................5
Practices..........................................................................................................................................7
Proof..............................................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
Vision, goals, direction, perspective and an organized way of tracking growth and the
over all process is key to the overall success of a disciple making plan. Every church, ministry
and missions should be focused on disciple making in their ministry or they are not following
God’s plan for them. It takes a leader who is disciple making minded and an understanding of
what God’s word says to create a solid plan and accomplish what all God wants you to do
according to his will.
There is a ministry out there that is not fully developed online. There is a sector of society
that is not social in the aspect of leaving the house and meeting people. They are an online
community who play games, browse YouTube videos, reddit and other non-interactive social
media platforms. These people will not be reached unless someone begins reaching out to them.
These lost are looking to fill their lives with something and are afraid of social in person
interactions on the most part. Low self-esteem, awkward interactions, or just afraid of being
judged, but God still loves them. Once these people are reached and led to the cross and
salvation, they will need guidance on how to continue living a life for Christ and how to become
a disciple so they can reach their friends and bring them to the cross. As Cole states, “the church
is always the slowest to upgrade.” “The result is that the church is often left behind and soon
irrelevant.” [1] This paper is going to describe how a ministry will be built to reach those who
live only within the social networks of the internet. YouTube will be the landing base for the
videos, but links will be shared across game platforms, reddit and various other places. The 5 P’s
of ministry will be used to develop this plan: passages, principles, philosophy, practices and
proof.
1 Cole, Neil. Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church. p 4.
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Passages
As stated in the previous paper, Jesus gives us the great commission in Matthew 28:19,
“Go ye, therefore, and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”[2] This passage as well as what Luke records Jesus speaking in
Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is the
core mission of the Disciple-Making Plan of this ministry. Reaching to the ends of the earth,
whether ion reality, or virtual reality.
The beginning of any Disciple-Making plan must begin with salvation. The Romans
Road to salvation will be the first step. Romans 3:23, They must understand that everyone has
sinned. They are sinners just like the people they avoid interacting with for what ever reason.
Everyone has fallen short of what God has planned for them, and the game is not winnable. But
there is a bonus life they can win and obtain, Romans 6:23a. Romans 5:8 explains that Christ
died for them even though they reject him. But they have a chance for the second life and an
opportunity to win the game, Romans 10:9-10. Once they make this choice, then they are able to
claim victor in Jesus, Romans 8:1 and 6:23.
After they are led to salvation, there will be an opportunity for them to follow online via
YouTube, short videos they can follow to grow as Christians and disciples for Christ. With
opportunities to chat via messages and ask questions as they interact with the video’s and other
social media platforms, they will begin to understand the need for a personal relationship with
Jesus. As this plan develops there will be live online classes will develop where there is an
opportunity for real personal interactions within the group. Disciple making requires
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version (Nashville:
Holman Bible Pub., 2013.)
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accountancy within the group and giving them the ability to reach out from a safe place for them
where they feel comfortable being fully honest with their issues and shortcomings will allow
them to be more open to what is required of them to follow Christ and become a disciple maker
themselves. Most of these people desire someone to care about them and show them love. They
hide behind these online personas out of fear of rejection or pain from rejection. By showing
them love we are following Christs words in John 10:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye have love one to another”
Once we grow these into disciples many will become disciple leaders, like Dempsey tells
us, “From a growing number of disciples, Great Commission leaders will emerge. Christian
discipleship and Christian leadership are inexorably linked.” [3] With each disciple that is
developed and grows spiritually, leaders will grow from this and they will in turn grow other
disciples from within this hidden world online. We will not just be teaching them how to live for
God, but we will be giving them the tools and resources to go out and win others into the
kingdom.
Principles
As Putman tells us, “The biblical purpose of the church is to make biblical disciples in
relationship who can make biblical disciples.” [4] These are the 4 core values that will help
develop this ministry: Lost people matter, Continued growth, Community, Full devotion to
Christ. These core values are derived from a biblical foundation, which is essential for the
success of any ministry.
3 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Spiritual Formation Is. p.202
4 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift : Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples p.215
3
Lost People Matter: As Luke 5:30-32 tells us, “But the Pharisees and the teachers of the
law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax
collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the
sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Everyone is important
and needs salvation. Jesus went to the “sick” and ministered to them where they felt most at
home and comfortable. In this environment they were more receptive to his message and were
reachable. This is the main core value of this ministry, reaching the lost where they are.
Continued Growth: For continued growth to happen we must all be honest and have no
fear of judgment. As Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:25, “Therefore each of you must put off
falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” We are ion
this together. This group of new believers will be able to count on each other as a group of
accountability to help each other grow spiritually and as a disciple. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaks,
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Everything done will be done though the scriptures and through love. As Hirsch and Sweet tell
us, “For the follower of Jesus discipleship is not the first step toward a promising career. It is in
itself the fulfillment of his or her destiny.” [5] That is the only way for real continued growth in
discipleship.
Community: Real life-changes happen within a community of like believers. Our small
group will be that community. Acts 2:44-47 shows us, “All the believers were together and had
everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had
need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
5 Alan Hirsch and Leonard Sweet, The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church (Grand Rapids,
MI: Brazos, 2007. p 103.
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homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all
the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” The ones
that we will be reaching are from the online community mindset. They live their life online in
communities that most people never see. They wake up together, play games together, discuss
life events and social issues around the world that proves to them that separating them from the
outside world is the right way to go. Imagine if one of them starts sharing the gospel to these
groups and they begin to daily share the word and begin praising God together as a community.
We must go to their communities and witness to them.
Full Devotion to Christ: These lost are not dumb, or slow as a lot of society thinks.
These are very smart skilled and talented people. As Paul states in 2 Corinthians 8:7, “ But since
you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the
love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” We will grow
these disciples in the desire that they will give full devotion in reaching the lost for Christ.
Without Christ we are just lost sheep in this world destined for death. But, with Christ in our
hearts and our desires as is his, we will devote everything in fulfilling the kingdom goals set
forth by Christ.
Philosophy
Putman tells us, “When they understand that every believer is to be a minister who serves
Jesus and others with all they have, and then eventually to make disciples themselves, it changes
the dynamic of the church.” [6] Basically, what Putman is saying is that we are here not to
entertain but to teach and grow. We are here to be accountability partners, councilor and friends
to those that join the group. Without relationships the group will not grow, people must feel a
connection and the feeling of united oneness with those that they come together with. As
6 iBid., 206
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McRaney explains, “Connection is the key to follow-up. If new believers are not connected with
other Christians and discipled, they typically will fall into patterns that leave them confused
about what to do next” [7]
Christ gave us two commandments, Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the greatest
commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the
second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these
two commandments.” And John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another.” This is the philosophy of this ministry love like
Christ loved us and love God with all that is within us. If we show love to those and demand or
ask nothing in return, they will be open to the gospel that we share. God did not call us as
disciples to force people to believe as we do, but to love everyone and share the gospel. That is
what has turned so many off from God. Condemnation of Christians instead of love for the
sinners and lost. We cannot change anyone; it has to come from God. By loving them and
teaching them according to the bible and the example Christ has given us, we will be able to
grow disciples into Disciple making leaders within these online communities.
The following are the key terms that will drive this ministry:
Gospel: The undeniable word of God. From “In the beginning” to the final Amen in
Revelations is what will drive our ministry. Our focus will be the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John), Acts and Romans. Paul and his teachings according to these gospels will help guide
the teachings and making of disciples.
7 Will McRaney, The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture (Nashville, Tenn.:
Broadman & Holman, 2003), 220.
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Discipleship: Training, taught, and developed from an infant to a mature Christian. Our
goal is to take infants in Christ and develop them into mature Christians who are able to go out
and reproduce the same principles and teachings based on biblical truths and grow future
disciples in Christ.
Evangelism: As told to us in the great commission, we are to reach the world. This also
includes the communities in our lives, whether it be across the street or across the internet. All
lives matter and it is our kingdom goal to reach them and grow them into disciples for Christ and
Disciple leaders in their communities
Pastor: A leader of group of believers. In this ministry titles like this will not be used
because it will come with some baggage for some who have been hurt by a church or other
Christians. Team leader, Master Chief, Shepard or some other term that may develop organically
will be what will be used. These terms are relatable to this community being reached.
Practices
This is a different approach to disciple making and outreach that what we are accustom
to. God has laid this ministry on our hearts this year and the structure and systems are being
prayed over and developed currently.
Organization: The structure of this ministry will be Organic. We will be meeting online
and via live video and chat capabilities. There will also be a focus on videos on a
YouTube channel that they can watch and help to understand and build questions from.
This is to help them be reached when they avoid all social interaction in real life. As
Putman puts it, “In this model, a group of believers might gather together in an informal,
relational way for teaching, worship, service, and fellowship, yet there would be very
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little organizational structure involved” [8] Even though there is no real structure in the
normal sense of church, the focus will still be conforming into the likeness of Christ, as in
Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Small Group Philosophy: As Bill hull has stated, “The glory of a coach is that of being
the discover, the developer, and the trainer of the powers of other men.”” [9] That will be
the mentality we will use. Small groups that will be committed to praying with each
other, studying together. We will have 1 coach who will guide and lead this group
together as they discover what Christ has for them, learn what it means to be a disciple
and be taught to be a leader who will seek out others to become disciples of Christ. Each
group meeting, we will talk about each other’s week, pray for those needs that have
arouse and praise for the victories. We will focus on a bible study format to get the word
into their daily lives. Everything will be backed up by scripture and they will be asked to
memorize scripture over the next week. As Dempsey tells us, “Our leadership philosophy
is to equip the disciple makers so they can develop people to reach their full
potential.”[10]
Calendar of Events: We are looking to implement this ministry in the fall of 2020.
Beginning this summer, we will begin seeking out these communities of online gamers
who hide behind the keyboard. Once we begin developing relationships with these
gamers and witnessing to them, or even find other believers we will begin setting up a
night a week. Usually Mondays are non-important gaming nights, lessons learned back in
8 Jim Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift : Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples p.26
9 Hull, Bill. The Disciple-Making Pastor: Leading Others on the Journey of Faith. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Books, 2007. P. 234
10 Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Spiritual Formation Is. p.237
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the World of Warcraft days. Raids usually are on weekends, Tuesday, Wednesday nights.
At the beginning of summer, we will begin making videos discussing topics of seeking
God. What Christs plan for our lives are and how to be a disciple. Links will be left in
forums and Reddit groups for people to go and watch. These will be the seeds of change
that are planted, and God will water and grow as people’s hearts and touched. Once we
start getting in communication with those who have questions and are seeking real
fulfillment in their lives, we will begin building those relationships that are needed to
form a small bonded group.
Budget Personnel: With this being an online ministry, there is no overhead nor real
budget needs. And as we grow as a ministry, disciple leaders who develop from this
ministry will begin to lead groups their selves. Any monies earned through video views
on YouTube will be used to grow the ministry needs in equipment and all that is left over
will be given to the local church in Conway, Arkansas, Rock Solid Church.
Curriculum: We will begin first growing these infants of Christ by relating what they
know to them. Study guides such as Bits and Pieces: a Devotional for Gamers, by Robert
Michael Gallant, websites such as gamerfaith.com will also be part of the curriculum.
These resources can develop topics that relate to gamers. Gamers are not just young
teenagers, there are gamers from 12 -50 years of age that need to be reached for Christ.
There is an army waiting to be built that can go forth within these communities and reach
the lost that are ignored or forgotten. Each topic will be developed and geared to guiding
each person to grow spiritually with the end goal of parental Christians.
Slogans: Slogans are our specialty. Being graphics designers in marketing creativity will
have to be used to catch the attention of gamers. They expect flashy looks and cool
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graphics. “Call of Christ” could be a potential slogan playing off the Call of Duty theme
of games. But each slogan that is developed it will use some theme relatable to the
gamers we are reaching.
Communication plans: Emails, text groups, a discord server for meeting together and
live chatting and discussions, a Line group for daily communication will be set up also.
With the endless opportunities on online, there are virtually hundred if not thousand of
ways to reach out to others. As the ministry grows, we will investigate Occulus Quest
options in the event of being able to have virtual services where we can meet within the
world of virtual reality. But that is on down the road.
Proof
Jesus tells us in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and
I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” The proof that
we will see in our ministry that we are following Christs teachings and developing disciples is
growth. Growing leaders from the group that goes out and grows within the ministry is the true
proof of growth of a ministry. With Christ at the center we will produce fruit and grow as a
ministry reaching more and more for the kingdom of God. Putman gives us five key components
that are necessary for a successful ministry of disciple making to grow. These five key
components are: a clear goal of discipleship, an intentional leader who makes disciples, a
biblically relational environment, a reproducible process, and a supporting organization. Putman
states, “When you have all five of these key components in place, the ministry is aligned with the
disciple making process.” [11 ]
11 im Putman, Bobby Harrington, and Robert E. Coleman, DiscipleShift : Five Steps That Help Your
Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples p.178
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Conclusion
This ministry is not a church-based ministry, but we will be reaching out to our local
pastor for guidance as we grow this ministry. This ministry is along the lines of a typical organic
church model that we will use to minister to those who avoid all social gathers and face to face
interactions. Once we develop disciples for Christ, we will encourage them to find a local church
to slowly grow and develop intentional relationships with people of like mindedness and have
face to face interactions.
Bibliography
Cole, Neil. Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass,
2010.
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Spiritual Formation Is. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018
Dempsey, Rod, and Dave Earley. Disciple Making Is. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2018
Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. Winnipeg: Manitoba
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Education and Advanced Learning, Alternate Formats Library, 2014.
Hull, Bill. The Disciple-Making Pastor: Leading Others on the Journey of Faith. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Books, 2007.
Malphurs, Aubrey. Strategic Disciple Making: a Practical Tool for Successful Ministry.
Grand Rapids: Baker Pub. Group, 2009
McRaney, Will. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing
Culture (Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 2003)
Putman, Jim, Harrington, Bobby, and Coleman, Robert E. DiscipleShift : Five Steps That Help
Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
Stedman, Ray C., and Jim Denney. Body Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House, 1995.
Waggoner, Brad J. The shape of faith to come: Spiritual formation and the future of discipleship.
B&H Publishing Group, 2018.
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