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“Today’s episode will help us understand the importance of personalized, small-circle disciple-making and practical strategies for fostering deep, transformative relationships within our church communities.”

In this session, Steve McCoy, Lead Pastor in Sarasota, Florida, goes deep into the principles and practices of disciple-making, emphasizing the importance of one-to-one relationships inspired by Jesus' ministry. This second session of Small Circle covers topics such as the Two Circle Operating System, engaging everyday people in disciple-making, and the significant role of customized, intimate conversations in facilitating life change. Pastor McCoy stresses the need for a paradigm shift in church culture to foster deeper, more personalized discipleship. The session includes interactive exercises, prayer, and practical strategies for building a sustainable disciple-making culture within the church.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 

Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 

Key Takeaways

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:43 Opening Prayer and Reflections

01:49 Recap of Previous Session

02:17 The Concept of Small Circle

03:12 Jesus' Ministry Model

04:37 The Importance of One-to-One Interactions

05:29 Challenges and Benefits of Customized Conversations

10:20 The Role of Everyday People in Disciple Making

13:15 The Need for Tools in Discipleship

23:12 Exercise: Identifying Comfortable Conversation Spaces

32:03 The Importance of Sharing in Church Groups

32:43 The Role of Trust and Transparency

33:09 Challenges Faced by Pastors

34:16 Secrets and Their Impact

35:24 The Power of the Holy Spirit and Tools

36:10 Engaging Everyday People in Discipleship

39:00 Building Strong Relationships

39:47 The Four Quadrants of Discipleship

48:15 Practical Discipleship Strategies

51:26 Balancing Church Activities and Discipleship

54:59 The Journey of Discipleship

59:44 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

Resources on Discipleship  

Reaching & Discipling Women: A Guide to Women’s Ministry in Your Church

Family Discipleship Blueprint: A Year-by-Year Guide to Family Discipleship

Becoming a Disciple Maker

In this episode, Steve McCoy, a lead pastor from Sarasota, Florida, talks about effective disciple-making strategies. He kicks things off by creating a relaxed atmosphere, inviting attendees to sit on the floor or counters if they prefer. After introducing himself and sharing his background in church planting and disciple-making, Steve dives into his Small Circle concept.

He explains their church's "two-circle operating system": a large circle for worship services and a mid-sized circle for smaller groups like home groups and Bible studies. He draws parallels to Jesus’ ministry, noting that profound changes often happen in those personal, one-on-one interactions, much like Jesus’ encounters with the woman at the well, Nicodemus, and Zacchaeus.

Steve highlights that intimate settings allow for deeper conversations that address individual needs, comparing it to using a fork for pie and a spoon for soup—each tool has its specific use. The episode includes a hands-on exercise where attendees discuss sensitive issues like job loss or marriage conflicts in small groups, showing that such conversations thrive in trusted, smaller circles.

He stresses that disciple-making should focus on both knowledge and transformation, not just transferring information. Steve introduces a four-quadrant framework for discipleship: building a strong foundation in the Word of God, living a sacrificial life for Christ, forming deep relationships, and encouraging multiplication.

Steve advocates for a slow, deliberate pace to build trust and transparency, which can take six months or more. He suggests balancing group meetings with intentional one-on-one interactions for a sustainable approach.

He wraps up by referencing Acts 1:8 and 8:1, highlighting that everyday believers played a crucial role in early church disciple-making. Steve calls on leaders to equip their congregations for this mission, emphasizing intentionality in fostering deep relationships and equipping all believers for effective disciple-making.

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