From First Conversation to Disciple-Maker: The Four Moves Every Church Needs

Episode Overview

What does it actually look like for a church to make disciples—not just attract people or teach them more information? Brian Miller talks with Jim Jansen about building a clear discipleship pathway that moves people from initial relationships to mature faith and eventually equips them to help others do the same. Jim outlines four essential movements—relational outreach, a conversion moment, faith formation, and evangelization formation—and explains how a coaching approach helps churches discover what each of those should look like in their own context.

Key Ideas & Takeaways 1. Start with Relational Outreach

• Churches have to answer a basic question: Where and how are we connecting with people outside the church?

• Evangelism doesn't have to look like door-knocking or street preaching.

• Coaching helps individuals identify their existing relationships, interests, communities, and natural spheres of influence.

• Churches can ask the same question collectively: Where has God already given us relationships and influence?

2. Evangelism Should Fit the Person

• People often resist evangelism because they have one particular model in mind that doesn't fit who they are.

• A coaching approach asks how someone naturally connects with people rather than imposing a predetermined method.

• The early church demonstrates that relational outreach doesn't depend on buildings, budgets, institutional credibility, or cultural influence.

3. Create a Conversion Moment

• Relationships alone aren't the entire discipleship process.

• Churches need intentional opportunities for people to encounter the gospel and decide whether they will follow Jesus.

• Jim points to Alpha as one example, but the specific ministry isn't the point.

• The better question is: What would an authentic conversion opportunity look like for our church and our community?

4. Don't Copy Someone Else's Method

• Brian describes discovering that traditional altar calls didn't fit him particularly well, while Communion provided a meaningful, tangible opportunity to invite people to respond to Jesus.

• What works in one church or for one pastor may not work somewhere else.

• Coaching helps churches discern the right tool rather than simply importing someone else's successful program.

5. Faith Formation Is More Than Information

• Once someone decides to follow Jesus, they need to learn how to live as a disciple.

• Churches tend to be strongest in this area, but often default to classrooms, Sunday school, or other information-heavy approaches.

• Formation is relational and experiential as well as intellectual.

• A critical coaching question is: How do we want people to live differently as a result of this experience?

6. Start with the Outcome, Not the Curriculum

Instead of immediately asking what should be taught or when a class should meet, Jim encourages churches to ask:

• What do we want people to do?

• How do we want them to live?

• Who already lives this way?

• What experiences helped form them?

Those questions often produce a very different discipleship strategy.

7. Evangelization Formation Creates Multiplication

The fourth movement may be the most frequently overlooked: helping disciples become people who make disciples.

• People need to recognize that sharing their faith is part of their calling.

• They also need to discover how their unique gifts shape the way they participate.

• Basic skills—sharing your story, starting spiritual conversations, facilitating groups, and explaining the gospel—can be developed.

• People also need community and encouragement because evangelization works best as a team sport.

8. A Discipleship Pathway Connects All Four Movements

Jim shares the story of St. Francis Cabrini Parish in Omaha, which had experienced decades of decline. The church intentionally developed each stage:

• Building relationships in the surrounding community.

• Using Alpha to introduce people to Jesus.

• Developing home-based small groups for formation.

• Equipping people to understand their gifts and become disciple-makers.

The result was a dramatic turnaround in attendance, giving, engagement, and the overall vitality of the church.

Memorable Quotes & Ideas

• "Where do you naturally have influence and connection?"

• "We have a responsibility. We have a mission field."

• "What does it look like for us to preach the gospel?"

• "What do you want them to do? How do you want them to live?"

• "The person talking is the person learning."

• "Evangelization, at its best, is a team sport."

• "There is a call on my life to share my faith, but the Lord has made me to do that in a very unique way."

• A healthy discipleship pathway answers four questions: Where do we connect with people? Where do we introduce them to Jesus? How do we mature them as disciples? How do we send them out to make disciples?