The Disciples Made Podcast

What question is quietly shaping your church?

Most church leaders ask some version of this question every week: “How many people came?”

It is not a bad question. Attendance matters. Gathering matters. But when that question becomes the dominant question, it can quietly shape what your church prioritizes, rewards, celebrates, and ultimately produces.

In this episode of Breaking the Addition Addiction, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps compare two very different leadership questions: “How many came?” and “Who is becoming more like Jesus?”

One question can build a gathering engine. The other begins to build a formation engine.

This conversation helps church leaders examine the questions that dominate staff meetings, leadership conversations, ministry reports, and public celebration. Because the questions you repeat do more than measure culture. They aim it.

You’ll hear why attendance cannot be the only scoreboard, how language reveals what we believe about discipleship, and why inherited questions often produce inherited outcomes. Brian and Jason also offer a simple exercise for leaders: write down the top five questions that show up most often in your leadership culture and ask what those questions are actually building.

If your church says it values disciple-making, but your meetings, metrics, and celebrations are mostly built around attendance and activity, this episode will help you see the gap without shame and begin leading with greater clarity.

Take the free Disciple Multiplication Capacity Assessment:
https://disciplesmade.com/assessment

The Hidden Scoreboard of Your Church: Are You Multiplying or Just Adding?

In this episode, Jason Phelps and Brian Phipps dive deep into the unseen architecture of church leadership. They explore the concept of church scoreboards, examining how the metrics we choose to track ultimately define the health of our organizations. By contrasting traditional addition-based metrics with multiplication-focused systems, Jason and Brian reveal how leadership and organizational culture are directly shaped by what is celebrated and measured.

The conversation emphasizes the critical need to align internal systems with the ultimate goal of disciple multiplication. Brian Phipps shares insights on how shifting the focus from attendance to spiritual reproduction can transform a church's impact. Whether you are navigating systemic issues in growth or looking to assess your church’s multiplication capacity, this episode provides a roadmap for shifting from a culture of addition to a movement of multiplication.

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to see where your leadership truly stands? To evaluate your current trajectory and move toward a culture of reproduction, take the Disciple Multiplication Capacity Assessment today at disciplesmade.com/assessment.

Notable Insights

Scoreboards shape behavior and culture. Clarity in vision is like alignment in a car; without it, the entire organization pulls in the wrong direction. Your church's system reflects its core values, and true growth is found in celebrating disciple-makers over simple attendance numbers.

Keywords

church leadership, disciple making, church growth, multiplication, church systems, leadership culture, spiritual reproduction

What if your church is growing… but disciples aren’t multiplying?

Most leaders want multiplication. But very few have systems designed for it. And that’s the problem.

Many churches are seeing growth—more people, more programs, more activity. But beneath the surface, something isn’t reproducing. Because you don’t get what you intend. You get what your system is designed to produce.

In this season, we expose the hidden system shaping how churches actually operate. Why growth is not the same as multiplication. The invisible scoreboard driving decisions. And why activity so often replaces real transformation.

This isn’t about doing more. It’s about seeing clearly.

If you want to understand what your system is actually producing, take the Disciple Multiplication Capacity Assessment:
https://disciplesmade.com/assessment

Follow the Disciples Made Podcast so you don’t miss Episode 1: The Addiction We Don’t See: Growth vs. Multiplication.

Because once you see it… you won’t be able to unsee it.

What if acceleration isn’t enough?

In this vision-casting episode of the Disciples Made Podcast, Brian Phipps, Founder of Disciples Made, and Jason Phelps unpack a pivotal shift for 2026: moving from acceleration to a flywheel.

A flywheel is slower, steadier, and more sustainable. It builds momentum through relationships, coaching, cohorts, and culture change—not hype, pressure, or quick wins.

Looking back on a year of prayer, clarity, and bold decisions, Brian and Jason share why Disciples Made is re-centering its mission around equipping church leaders to build multiplying cultures. This conversation names why growth by addition can become exhausting, why multiplication takes time, and how steady obedience compounds into long-term Kingdom impact.

You’ll hear why acceleration alone cannot sustain a movement, the difference between addition and multiplication, why addiction to addition wears leaders out, and how Disciples Made is re-centering around equipping church leaders.

Brian and Jason also walk through why “flywheel” is the word shaping 2026, how relationships and cohorts create lasting momentum, how Breaking the Addition Addiction is shaping disciple-making cultures in real time, and how the Disciples Made 3-Phase Multiplication Pathway helps leaders move from activity to generational impact.

This episode is especially for pastors, church leaders, and disciple-makers who are tired of maintaining programs and ready to build a multiplying culture.

Ready to take your next step?

Take the Disciple Multiplication Capacity Assessment to get clarity on where your church is right now.

Explore the Multiplication Pathway at disciplesmade.com and choose Start Multiplying Disciples.

Join the Fully Alive App and choose Start Leading to explore coaching, cohorts, and leadership resources.

If finances are the only barrier, scholarships may be available for leaders who are ready, humble, and hungry.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean by searching Disciples Made.

Watch on YouTube by subscribing to the Disciples Made channel.

Steady. Faithful. Focused.

The flywheel is turning—and your next step may be closer than you think.

In this month’s Disciples Made Podcast, Jason Phelps and Brian Phipps explore what it means to live and lead like Jesus in an incarnational way. Instead of discipling from a distance, Jesus stepped into people’s real lives—up close, personal, and fully present.

In this episode, you’ll discover why proximity is the engine of transformation and how disciple-makers today can model the life of Jesus in practical, sustainable ways. This conversation also unpacks insights from Hugh Halter’s book, FLESH and offers clear next steps for those sensing a call to deeper leadership.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• What “incarnational discipleship” really means
• Why Jesus’ method was built on proximity and presence
• How structure (like Leaders Made) actually fuels relationships
• The power of vulnerability, availability, and consistency in disciple-making
• How digital environments can still be deeply personal
• The rise of Ready Leaders inside the Fully Alive community
• A practical on-ramp to start: the 5-week BLESS Those Around You course
• A bold vision for 2026: Scholarship 20 churches for a full year of coaching

Are You a Ready Leader? Start Here:

1. Take the Discipleship Effectiveness Assessment
2. Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to go over your results
3. Receive a free preview of Chapter 4 of Breaking the Addition Addiction

Support the 2026 Vision

We’re stepping into a God-sized goal:

🎯 $130,000 to scholarship 20 churches into a full year of disciple-making coaching.

Partner at → disciplesmade.com/give

Your generosity helps churches break the addition addiction and multiply Fully Alive disciples.

Resources Mentioned

• FLESH by Hugh Halter
• BLESS Those Around You (5-week Develop Course) — inside the Fully Alive app
• Leaders Made — discipleship & leadership multiplication journey
• The Fully Alive App → Explore Courses, Assessments, Community

Christmas Blessing

We close the episode with a blessing for a Christmas filled with the presence of Jesus—the One who moved into our neighborhood so we could become Fully Alive.

In this month’s episode, Discipleship as Worship, Brian Phipps (Founder of Disciples Made) and Jason Phelps (Houston-based Disciples Made Coach) dive deep into Key #3 to Leaving a Disciple-Making Legacy — remembering that discipleship is worship.

They unpack how Romans 12:1 and John 21 redefine what it means to serve God — not as performance or obligation, but as an act of love and surrender. Drawing from decades of ministry experience, Jason shares why he shifted from leading worship on stage to leading disciples in everyday life, emphasizing that “character is greater than craft.”

Brian follows with a powerful personal story from his seminary years that reshaped his understanding of disciple-making — from duty to devotion. His encounter with John 21 and Jesus’ words to Peter, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep,” re-centered his entire ministry as an overflow of love for Jesus, not merely a job or mission.

Together, they explore how pastors and leaders can keep disciple-making rooted in worship through abiding, accountability, and obedience, ensuring their impact flows from intimacy with Christ rather than burnout.

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🧭 Key Insights for Church Leaders

• Discipleship ≠ Duty — It’s the highest expression of worship when it overflows from a life abiding in Jesus.

• Character > Craft — Ministry fruitfulness starts with who you are becoming, not just what you’re producing.

• Abiding Fuels Multiplication — True transformation and generational impact come through spiritual habits that keep leaders connected to Christ.

• Love for Jesus → Love for People — We disciple others not because they’re easy to love, but because we love the One who first loved us.

• Every Disciple Is a Worship Leader — Whether you’re a pastor, parent, or professional, helping others live Fully Alive in Jesus is worship in motion.

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💡 Reflection Questions

1. How can I ensure my disciple-making remains an act of worship, not a task list?

2. Where might I be valuing “craft” over “character” in my leadership?

3. Who in my church or network needs to rediscover disciple-making as worship?

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🔗 Mentioned in This Episode

• Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…”

• John 21:15–17 – “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”

• Adopt a Church Campaign – Help fund coaching for churches eager to multiply disciples.
  → Learn more or give at disciplesmade.com/give

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👥 About the Hosts

Brian Phipps — Founder of Disciples Made, equipping disciple-makers and church leaders to multiply movements of transformation through measurable growth in character and calling.

Jason Phelps — Pastor, coach, and storyteller helping leaders live and lead Fully Alive through intentional disciple-making environments.

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🏁 Closing Challenge

Don’t just attend worship — become worship.
Disciple-making is your opportunity to love Jesus back by helping others live Fully Alive in Him.

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⏱️ Chapter Markers

• 00:02 – Welcome & Fall Vibes
  Brian opens the November webinar, quick intros and seasonal check-in.

• 00:31 – Houston Weather & Hobbies
  Jason on “does it ever get cold?” and why fall is prime fishing.

• 00:57 – Thanksgiving Traditions
  Backpacking with kids, a pop-up camper, and Brian’s family legacy trip.

• 03:20 – Today’s Focus: Discipleship as Worship
  Setting the frame: why this key sustains a disciple-making legacy (Romans 12:1).

• 05:15 – From Stage to Shepherd
  Jason’s vocational shift: why character > craft and “disciple-maker first.”

• 08:56 – Everyone’s Craft = Disciple-Making
  Reframing roles across the church: worship, kids, tech—start as disciple-makers.

• 09:23 – What Worship Looks Like Daily
  Abiding practices: Bible engagement, accountability, prayer, journaling.

• 10:04 – Keeping Disciple-Making as Worship
  Living sacrifice in real relationships; holy and pleasing rhythms.

• 13:12 – Duty vs. Delight
  When abiding feels like duty—and how community fruit restores delight.

• 15:21 – Measuring What Matters
  You can measure transformation, not the totality of impact.

• 16:21 – Brian’s Reset: John 21
  Russia, discouragement, and Jesus’ question: “Do you love Me?… Feed My sheep.”

• 21:38 – Love for Jesus → Love for People
  Choosing to disciple beyond preference; worship over mere mission.

• 23:11 – Don’t Grow Weary
  Pouring out after Jesus has poured in (Gal. 6 language; perseverance).

• 24:59 – Priesthood of All Believers
  Feeding sheep isn’t just “the pastor’s job”—it’s our shared calling.

• 26:40 – Adopt a Church: Year-End Invitation
  Why coaching accelerates culture change; $1,500 cohort underwriting, $6,500 tailored coaching; closing notes and tech hiccup sign-off. disciplesmade.com/give 

What if accountability helped you grow, not feel guilty? In this episode, Brian Phipps and the Disciples Made team redefine accountability as a 360° support circle that fuels your spiritual legacy.

🔹 Learn the 3 key relationships: Paul, Barnabas, Timothy  
🔹 Hear stories of real-life transformation  
🔹 Understand how to give and receive life-giving accountability  
🔹 Learn how to build a lasting disciple-making rhythm

Featuring: Jason Phelps, Tiffany Danley, Craig Watson

🔗 Free Resource: Who Do I Need on the Journey? → https://app.gofullyalive.com/share/-M1UezL0cSLdIis4?utm_source=manual  
🔗 More from Disciples Made → https://disciplesmade.com

📬 Questions or feedback? Email us: info@disciplesmade.com  
🔔 Subscribe & share this episode with someone in ministry

What story are you living in? In this episode of The Disciples Made Podcast, host Jason Phelps is joined by Brian Phipps and Myra Schraeder to explore how understanding the unified story of God — from creation to restoration — transforms our faith, leadership, and disciple-making. Together, we unpack the four movements of God’s grand narrative and discover why Jesus is the center of the story. You’ll learn how seeing Scripture as one continuous story helps you live Fully Alive, lead with clarity, and step confidently into God’s mission of restoration. We’ll also talk about how growth in character and calling through outcome-focused disciple-making expands your capacity for intimacy and influence, helping you participate fully in God’s reconciling work. Through a partnership with the Holy Spirit, your life and leadership become catalysts for transformation — both personally and within your community. This conversation will inspire you to embrace your role in God’s story, pursue intimacy with Jesus, and multiply your influence where you live, work, learn, and play. Take the Next Step 📲 What Story Am I In?
Discover where your story connects to God’s bigger story by enrolling in the free Develop Level Discipleship Course on the Fully Alive App.
👉 Download the Fully Alive App and start today. 🚀 Ready to Build an Ecosystem of Disciple Multiplication?
If you’re ready to create a culture where multiplication becomes possible and measurable, it’s not too late to join us! Our Platinum Coaching Plan kicks off new cohorts in September 2025.
👉 Learn More & Schedule a Call Connect with Disciples Made 🌐 Website: disciplesmade.com
📱 Fully Alive App: app.gofullyalive.com
📧 Contact Us: info@disciplesmade.com

Feeling burned out in ministry? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to lead alone either.

In this episode, host Jason Phelps sits down with Brian Phipps, founder of Disciples Made, to unpack the why behind their 12-month Platinum Coaching Journey. Discover how churches across the country are raising up everyday disciple-makers, renewing their culture, and sharing the load of ministry.

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or marketplace missionary, this conversation will challenge and encourage you with real stories, practical tools, and a proven path to sustainable leadership.

In This Episode:

• Why so many pastors feel burned out

• How shared leadership leads to spiritual renewal

• What makes the Platinum Coaching Journey unique

• How one church moved from surviving to multiplying

• Next steps for your church or ministry team

Resources:

• Learn more: Platinum Coaching Package at disciplesmade.com

• Watch the full webinar on YouTube

• Contact us: disciplesmade.com/contact

Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode encouraged you.

Leveraging Assimilation to Fuel Disciple-Making: Why Clear Pathways, Not Just Programs, Lead to Multiplication

In this powerful episode of the Disciples Made Podcast, host Brian Phipps is joined by special guest Joe Klassen, Pastor at Westside Family Church in Leavenworth, KS, as well as the Disciples made coaching team to explore the critical distinction—and synergy—between assimilation and disciple-making pathways. You’ll hear real stories, biblical insights, and practical strategies to help your church or ministry move beyond connection and into true spiritual multiplication.

Whether you're a pastor, volunteer leader, or disciple-making catalyst, this conversation will challenge and equip you to clarify your next steps, contextualize your process, and cultivate a disciple-making culture where every believer lives Fully Alive.

Top Takeaways:

• Intentionality is crucial in disciple-making.
• Assimilation and disciple-making pathways serve different but interconnected purposes.
• Measuring success is essential for ministry health.
• Every believer has a role in the Great Commission.
• Effective pathways must be clear, contextualized, and reproducible.
• Assimilation should fuel discipleship—not be mistaken for it.
• Disciple multiplication leads to exponential growth and community transformation.

Next Steps:

Ready to Multiply Disciple-Makers in Your Church?

If you’ve been longing for a more sustainable, Spirit-led approach to discipleship—one that transforms passive attendance into multiplying movement—the Platinum Coaching Package from Disciples Made is your next step.

This 12-month coaching journey is built to elevate your disciple-making strategy with measurable spiritual impact and the tools to raise up new leaders from within your church. You’ll walk alongside a coach and a peer cohort through a proven process that includes immersive leader training, digital resources via the Fully Alive app, and influence-level IDEs—designed to create a culture of transformation that lasts.

Imagine seeing a 25% boost in spiritual vitality and 1–2 new disciple-makers emerge for every 10 trained. This isn’t theory—it’s proven.

With only 30 spots available for our Fall 2025 Promo ($6,000 total value), now’s the time to register your team and begin the mission mapping process.

Secure your spot with a $500 Mission Mapping Call today. Begin building a fourth-generation disciple-making culture that multiplies long after the programs end.

Learn more and register now at DisciplesMade.com