Real Life Theology Podcast

Aligning Your Church for Disciple Making

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Aligning Your Church for Disciple Making: Five Shifts, One Mission
This session is on aligning churches around Jesus’ method of intentional, relational disciple making. They share personal ministry journeys and describe the challenge of shifting established, often attractional church systems toward obedience-based disciple making rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28) and maturity in Christ (Colossians 1). Using an iPhone vs. Android operating system metaphor, they argue disciple making can’t be added as a side program but must reshape the whole church. They present research findings that fewer than 5% of U.S. churches have a culture rooted in Jesus-style disciple making and outline four core practices seen in exemplary churches: convictional leadership, a contextual and reproducible model, high expectations, and cultural alignment.
00:00 Welcome & Why Disciple-Making Alignment Matters04:03 Jeff Story: From Slogans to a Disciple-Making Culture08:23 Paul: Leaving Membership Metrics for Making Disciples13:24 Training Process Overview + The iPhone vs. Droid ‘Operating System’ Metaphor18:59 State of Disciple-Making in North America + Jesus’ Intentional Relational Method21:40 The Great Commission Explained: ‘Make Disciples’ and Obedience-Based Faith27:09 Beyond ‘Evangelism’ vs ‘Discipleship’: One Mission—Salvation to Maturity32:38 Bobby’s Journey: Coleman, Church Systems, Disciple Shift, and Renew’s Theology41:07 Research Findings: Why Most Churches Aren’t Disciple-Making Churches44:57 The 4 Core Practices: Convictional Leadership, Model, Expectations, Alignment50:09 Why Revelation’s First 3 Chapters Matter Most (Jesus & the Churches)52:38 Legacy Church Challenge: Shifting to a Discipleship Culture Without Blowing It Up54:05 Defining a Disciple: Follow Jesus, Be Changed, Join the Mission56:01 Personal Discipleship Story: Learning to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples57:24 Why People Struggle to Disciple: The Baseball Analogy01:00:15 Early Momentum & Staff Culture Change: Baptisms, Next Steps, Monday Stories01:02:01 The Discipleship Mandate ‘Cumulative’: Jesus, Church, NT, Leaders, Gathering01:11:43 Alignment Killers: Competing Agendas, Wrong Metrics, Instant-Result Expectations01:13:36 10 Levers to Use (Not Demonize): Large Church, Sunday, Pulpit, Tradition, Doctrine01:23:20 Five-Part Roadmap: Missional, Theological, Philosophical, Organizational, Relational01:27:57 Break, Then Missional Alignment Deep Dive: Love God, Love People, Then Make Disciples01:32:38 Avoiding Counterfeit Missions: Tradition, Buildings, and Other Substitutes01:33:20 C.S. Lewis on the Church’s One Job: Make Disciples01:34:12 Mission-Driven vs Member-Driven (and Keeping Jesus’ Mission Central)01:35:04 Theological Alignment: Why Clarity Is Kindness01:36:52 Beyond ‘Essentials/Non-Essentials’: A Better Doctrine Framework01:42:29 A Replicable System for Teaching Core Doctrine (Catechism DNA)01:44:35 Micro Groups & ‘Trust and Follow Jesus’: Simple, Proven, Reproducible01:47:42 Philosophical Alignment: The Jesus Way—Intentional, Relational, Transformational01:52:29 Organizational Alignment: Leading Change Without Blowing Up the Church02:00:26 Relational Alignment: Love, Conflict, and the Messiness of Real Discipleship02:11:31 Next Steps & Final Charge: Join the Alignment Training + Keep Making Disciples
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Renew Creative on Discipling Creatives

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In this episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast, recorded during the 2025 RENEW Gathering Monday Night Session, leaders from Renew Creative explore why creatives are essential to disciple making in the local church—and how discipling artists helps the whole church slow down and savor what truly matters

Disciple Making Across Europe, Africa, and Central Asia

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In this episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast, recorded during the 2025 RENEW Gathering Monday Evening Session, we hear from Joseph, Director of Disciple Making Trainings with TCM International Institute, as he shares firsthand stories of disciple making across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and Ukraine

Multiplying Disciples on the College Campus and Beyond (Part 3)

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The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on useful disciple-making tools accompanied by a Q&A. 

Multiplying Disciples on the College Campus and Beyond (Part 2)

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The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on a specific disciple-making process,

Multiplying Disciples on the College Campus and Beyond (Part 1)

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The episode features Carl and Alicia Williamson from Harding University discussing a training session on disciple-making called 'Multiplying Disciples on College Campuses and Beyond.' This session is on big-picture strategies. Carl, a Bible professor, and Alicia, a Bible faculty member, share their experiences in church planting and working with emerging adults. They emphasize the role of prayer, accountability, vision, and expectation (PAVE) in fostering a disciple-making movement. They recount various personal stories and examples of how these principles have led to the multiplication of disciple-making groups among students, ultimately inspiring transformational faith journeys. The script also includes a practical component where participants are encouraged to pray and reflect on God's role in their disciple-making efforts.

Have a New Disciple By Friday

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This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, hosted by David Young, focuses on practical ways of making disciples with a sense of urgency. David emphasizes that disciple making requires genuine love for others and the willingness to invest in relationships. He uses personal anecdotes and examples from scripture to illustrate the importance of relational disciple making. Various strategies and methods, such as Discovery Bible Studies, are discussed to help individuals and churches cultivate a disciple-making culture. David also addresses challenges like disciple-making fatigue and suggests integrating discipleship into existing church activities. The podcast concludes with actionable steps, emphasizing prayer, intentionality, and leveraging current relationships to start discipling others effectively.

Theological Thunderdome

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This episode features the 'Theological Thunderdome' session from the 2025 Renew gathering. Hosted by David Young, with several panelists. The discussion explores the radical ethics of the early church and their relevance today. They examine whether these ethics are reproducible in the modern era, touching upon issues like multi-ethnicity, care for the poor, non-violence, radical sexual ethics, and a pro-life stance. The panel also delves into the tension between living these ethics and participating in democratic governance, and the importance of humility in living out these values.

Family Discipleship

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This episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast explores the crucial topic of family discipleship. Featuring contributions from Daniel McCoy, Mike Rozenboom, Caitlyn Rozenboom, and Jason Henderson, the discussion emphasizes the role of parents as primary disciplers and offers practical strategies for nurturing faith in children. Key points include creating intentional rhythms and routines, the importance of relational engagement, and forming meaningful connections. The episode also addresses the challenges posed by modern distractions and provides frameworks for answering tough questions children might have about faith. The overarching theme stresses the urgency and importance of embedding God's principles within the family setting.

Discipling Through Sermon-Based Small Groups (Part 3)

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This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast is part three of a series discussing the implementation and benefits of sermon-based small groups in church communities. Hosted by Josh, lead pastor, and his brother Andrew, the family pastor, the episode explores the challenges and transformations experienced in their youth ministry and how those lessons have been applied to adult small groups in their church. They emphasize the importance of active and empathetic listening in engaging with God's word and integrating small groups with sermon teachings. The discussion also covers practical strategies for managing small group dynamics, such as the use of seasons for group commitments, the role of apprenticeships in growing groups, and maintaining engagement despite busy family schedules. The episode concludes with a Q&A session addressing various aspects of small group management and their holistic approach to church discipleship.

Discipling Through Sermon-Based Small Groups (Part 2)

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This episode of the Real Life Theology podcast, part two of a three-part series, divess into sermon-based small groups. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recasting the vision regularly, referring to it as the Nehemiah Principle, and highlights church attendance issues. Speakers TC and Ben share personal stories of transformation and faith, stressing the effectiveness of small groups in discipleship, modeled after Jesus’ methods. They discuss key aspects such as setting the pace, close proximity to group members, patience, and continuously pointing members to God's purpose. They also share practical advice on maintaining connection and fostering personal growth within small groups.

Discipling Through Sermon-Based Small Groups

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