Just Make Disciples

Just Make Disciples

I’ve been in youth ministry long enough to know that programs don’t change lives—people do. Relationships do. Jesus does. But somehow, in the chaos of running a ministry, we can get so wrapped up in planning events, organizing small groups, and keeping things moving that we forget the one thing Jesus actually told us to do: make disciples.

It’s not complicated, but we tend to make it that way. We chase after numbers, hype, and the next big thing, when all Jesus asked us to do was invest in people the way He invested in His disciples. He spent time with them, challenged them, walked with them through their doubts and failures, and ultimately equipped them to go and do the same for others. That’s it. That’s the strategy.

We don’t need another conference to figure this out. We just need to look at what Jesus did and do it. He chose twelve guys, poured into them, and sent them out. He didn’t start a movement by gathering the largest crowd—He started it by discipling a few and teaching them to make more disciples. That’s how the Gospel spread then, and that’s how it spreads now.

If you’re a youth pastor, a leader, or just someone who cares about teenagers, this is your job. Not to build the biggest ministry. Not to have the best worship band or the coolest Instagram page. Your job is to make disciples—real ones. Teenagers who know Jesus, follow Him, and live out their faith in a way that impacts the world.

But let’s be real—this isn’t easy. Discipleship takes time. It’s messy. It’s frustrating. Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. You pour into students, and some walk away. You pray for them, and it feels like they’re not listening. But that’s the work. That’s the call. And if Jesus didn’t quit on His disciples, we don’t get to quit on ours.

So here’s the challenge: shift the focus. Stop chasing the big and start investing in the small. Find a few students, pour into them, teach them to follow Jesus, and then teach them to do the same for someone else. If every student in your ministry learned to make disciples, the impact wouldn’t just add up—it would multiply.

This isn’t a trend. It’s not a strategy. It’s the way Jesus told us to do it. So let’s stop overcomplicating things and just make disciples. That’s the mission. That’s the calling. That’s the only plan that actually works.

Your friend and partner in ministry!

Scott

PS … If you are looking for a great resource that will help you make disciples then this one is for you. It’s called Illuminate. I wrote it to help you do just that! CLICK HERE and get your copy!