The Lost Art of Disciple Making

By: LeRoy Eims

ISBN: 031037281X

READ: June 2000 + more.

RATING: 9/10

Summary: In this is a classic disciple making text, LeRoy Eims lays out a thoroughly practical book. He writes as a practitioner, not a theoretician. I’d highly recommend this book to any disciple maker. It’s one of the few books that’s stood the test of time (originally published in 1978). On the whole the insights are just as relevant today as they were forty years ago. There are a few things I’d not go along with today though. For that reason, it’s a 9, not a 10. Still, if you are making disciples and haven’t read this classic, pick it up. I guarantee you’ll take something useful away!

Chapter titles are: 1. The Need for Multiplying Disciples 2. Biblical Examples of Discipleship Training 3. Making Disciples in the Early Church 4. People Help People 5. The Process of Making Disciples 6. Training Objectives for a Disciple 7. The Workers are Still Few 8. How to Develop Workers 9. Training Objectives for a Worker 10. The Need for Leadership 11. How to Train Leaders 12. Confident and Unashamed Appendix 1. Training Objectives for a Disciple Appendix 2. How to Multiply the Ministry Appendix 3. Profiles of a Convert, Disciple, Worker, and Leader Appendix 4. The Time Elements Involved in the Three Training Processes

Chapter 1: The Need for Multiplying Disciples

“As he [a committed disciple who had been going about ministry by the “book”] sat across the coffee table from me in his home, he told me, ‘LeRoy, I’ve got little to show for my time there. Oh, there is a group of people who meet in our assembly, but I wonder what will happen to them when I leave. They are not disciples. They have been faithful in listening to my sermons, but they do not witness. Few of them know how to lead another person to Christ. They know nothing about discipling others. And now that I am leaving, I can see I’ve all but wasted my time here.’” Pg. 23





“I tried to explain that the thrust of the passage [Eph 4:11-12] was that God had given leaders to the church in order to build up and train the rest of us in the work of the ministry. I said that the ministry of the gospel was to be done by all of us—laymen and clergy alike. All of us together are to be a great witnessing brotherhood, but we need training.” Pg. 24





Chapter 2: Biblical Examples of Discipleship Training

“When you read the prayer [John 17] carefully, you’ll notice that he did not mention miracles or multitudes, but forty times He referred to the men whom God had given him out of the world. These men were his work. His ministry touched thousands, but he trained twelve men. He gave his life on the cross for millions, but during the three and half years of his ministry he gave his life uniquely to twelve men.” Pg. 28

“He did not hastily rush out and grab the first people who showed interest. To him this was a momentous decision that would have far-reaching consequences. How far reaching? Humanly speaking, we can’t even guess, but we do know this. The consequences of that ministry have continued to this day and by the grace of God will continue through our lives into the lives of thousands in the years to come.” Pg. 29

“it is much easier to ask a man to come with you than to ask him to leave if you learn, much to your chagrin and sorrow, that you have chosen the wrong man.” Pg. 29

“Not only were they common men, they were individuals. They were not all alike, twelve photocopies of each other. …For example, Simon the Zealot hated the Romans who occupied Palestine, while Matthew the tax collector worked for them….In our making disciples, we should not select only those who are like us in temperament or personality.” Pg. 29-30

“Every person must count the cost and enter into discipleship training willingly.” Pg. 31

“And it is equally true that to train men a person must be willing to spend time with those men in hours of conversation and association in the normal affairs of life.” Pg. 31

“…it is imperative that you allow those men to get the mind of God on the matter, to know exactly what’s involved , and to realize that you’re getting together is not primarily for your benefit, but for theirs.” Pg. 32

“The effect this ministry of making disciple by association has on the men in training is powerful, dramatic, and life changing.” Pg. 33

“Every pastor has in his congregation men who today are merely spectators in the kingdom of God, but who would pay any price to be involved with him in the real heart of the ministry. But it will cost him. Such men need his sermons and instruction, but he will have to share his life with them. And that costs.” Pg. 33

“He [Jesus] had two things in mind in the training of the Twelve. One, that they would be of help to Him then and there in carrying out his mission. Two, that they would carry on after he was gone.” Pg. 34

“Shallow training and halfhearted commitment would not stand the test.” Pg. 34

“His training was out where the battle raged.” Pg. 35

“In summary three things are a must for the person who would help others become stalwart, loyal, productive disciples in the ministry of Jesus Christ. 1. He must have clearly in mind what he wants them to know and understand of the things of God; he must know what are the basic ingredients in a life of discipleship. 2. He must have a clear picture of what he wants these disciples to become. He must know what bedrock elements of Christian character must be theirs and what kind of people they should be. 3. He must have a vivid vision of what he wants them to learn to do and a workable plan to help them accomplish it.” Pg. 36





Chapter 3: Making Disciple in the Early Church

“If we want to see a certain performance or certain attitude develop in those with whom we are working, we must remember the tremendous power of the personal example.” Pg. 44

“Again, it was what had been shown him and taught him that made him an effective witness.” Pg. 44.

“When they left the apostles, they were not forgotten. The apostles followed them with their prayers and with their concern.” Pg. 45

“What then is the problem today? Why don’t we see more of this going on? Why are fruitful, dedicated, mature disciples so rare? The biggest reason is that all too often we have relied on programs or materials or some other thing to do the job. The ministry is to be carried on by people, not programs. It is to be carried out by someone and not by some thing. Disciples cannot be mass produced. We cannot drop people into a program and see disciples emerge at the end of the production line. It takes time to make disciples. It takes individual, personal attention. It takes hours of prayer for them. It takes patience and understanding to teach them how to get into the Word of God for themselves, how to feed and nourish their souls, and by the power of the Holy Spirit how to apply the word to their lives. And it takes being an example to them of all of the above.” Pg. 45-46

“He [Paul] worked at it all the time, with all the strength God gave him.” Cf. Col 1:28-29 Pg. 47

“The devil tried his best to stop them [the apostles], but they got the job done. They stuck with it. Their commission had been clear: ‘Therefore go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19). And they did. They proved to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work the Lord had sent them to do.” Pg. 47





Chapter 4: People Help People

“To get people involved in a discipleship ministry and to help them become disciples, three things are necessary initially. They must be motivated to become disciples, they must have regular fellowship with Jesus Christ, and they must witness to Him.” Pg. 51

“The first step in forming a band of people who are eager for discipleship training is motivation. They must be motivated in two directions—inward and outward. Inwardly they must be motivated to have fellowship with Jesus Christ, and outwardly they must become witnesses for Jesus Christ. The whole process should be approached with much prayer and through, perhaps illustrated by the way a new building project is handled.” Pg. 51

“To begin a discipleship training ministry in the church takes the same kind of foresight and planning. The key is to do it slowly and not try to do too much with too many too soon. The spectators are still out there and many of them want to remain that way.” Pg. 52

“To accomplish this [raising up a core team] you much make sure that you people are not dependent for their spiritual food on weekly sermons but are able to feed themselves on a daily basis from the Word.” Pg. 53

“The problem is not that there is no spiritual food. The problem is that many Christians do not know how to get it for themselves. They are like babies in a pantry surrounded by all kinds of canned goods—meats, fruits, vegetables.” Pg. 53

“Our first and foremost responsibility as Christians is to maintain a strong day-by-day abiding fellowship with the Lord Jesus by feeding on His Word. And we need to help others do the same.” Pg. 54

“People will not witness unless they first spend time with Jesus Christ. Two principles must be taught to the people: one God does it, and two, He sues people.” Pg. 54

“Evangelism is what will keep your discipleship program alive.” Pg. 56

“A question I often ask church leaders is this: ‘What would you rather have in your congregation, one hundred people who are 90 percent committed or ten people who are 100 percent committed?’ Your answer to that question will determine your philosophy of the ministry and how much effort you would be willing to put forth in developing a committed band of spiritually qualified workers for Jesus Christ.” Pg. 57





Chapter 5: The Process of Making Disciples