Walking Disciples: Relational Apprenticeship to Jesus in a Faith Community

By Daniel Sim

(12 minute read)

In the movie The Lord of the Rings, hobbits were chosen to carry the ring to Mordor for destruction. Instead of elite warriors, a small and ordinary group, often overlooked and underestimated, was entrusted with the mission. It was a risky plan that required cooperation among hobbits, elves, and humans. Yet the mission succeeded in part because the hobbits were humble and unlikely heroes. Even Gollum played a role in bringing the story to its conclusion.

How, then, should Christians respond to the challenges facing the church today? If the growing decline of Christianity in America resembles an advancing army, should the church simply send its most talented leaders to the front lines?

When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, He modeled discipleship and commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations and baptize them (Matt. 28:18–20). Jesus did not call society’s elites. Instead, He invited ordinary people, fishermen, tax collectors, and others, to follow Him as disciples. Michael J. Wilkins describes this community of believers, who professed faith in Christ and committed to follow Him, as the foundation of the church, the ekklesia.

In the same way, Jesus’ call today is not limited to the most charismatic leaders or the most gifted musicians. His invitation to join His mission through discipleship is extended to ordinary believers.

Imagine if every neighborhood in our city had places where believers gathered not only for worship but also for intentional discipleship, helping one another grow closer to God and raising up disciples who make disciples. Scripture gives us a vision of this future in Revelation 7:9, where “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,” stands before the throne and worships the Lamb.

Yet the present reality in America is sobering. According to Pew Research, Christianity is declining overall, with fewer people attending church or regularly engaging in spiritual practices such as prayer, let alone intentional discipleship. As J. T. English emphasizes, the local church remains the central place where discipleship must occur, and churches must reclaim this calling.

Bill Hull reminds us that Jesus did not measure spiritual fruit by performance metrics. Instead, Jesus calls His followers to bring people to obedience (Matt. 28:19–20). Success in ministry, therefore, is not measured simply by attendance or the number of converts, but by whether disciples are making disciples. Churches often celebrate attendance and baptisms and rightly so. But Scripture reminds us that God alone gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Our responsibility is to obey Christ’s command to make disciples. Jesus did not say, “Make converts,” but “Make disciples.”

Theological Foundations of Discipleship

Pastor Robby Gallaty, Dr. J. T. English, and Pastor Greg Ogden have each reported significant growth in their ministries. Their approach is not social media strategies, impressive worship bands, or new church buildings. Instead, they emphasize faithful, biblical discipleship practiced through small groups of four called triads. Their focus is on raising disciple-makers who then make disciples, fostering mutual discipleship for spiritual maturity. While this approach may seem counterintuitive, it leads to exponential growth over time, unlike evangelistic efforts that often produce only linear growth through addition.

There is a clear need for intentional environments where discipleship is regularly discussed,

practiced, and pursued. I define discipleship as the call for all followers of Jesus to become better imitators of Christ, and disciple-making as equipping believers to help others follow Jesus as well. Though many models of discipleship exist, they share the same goal: equipping believers so that they grow from spiritual infancy to maturity and ultimately become disciple-makers.

Evangelism, while essential, is only one part of this process. Evangelism introduces people to Christ; discipleship helps believers grow as imitators of Christ; and disciple-making trains mature believers to disciple others.

Michael J. Wilkins explains in Following the Master that healthy discipleship involves a balance of spiritual disciplines, service, and doctrinal training. When these elements are neglected or isolated, problems arise. Doctrine without service can lead to pride. Discipleship without community leads to isolation and weak accountability. Service without doctrine can produce a “social gospel” that lacks the transforming power of Christ.

Discipleship also requires dependence on God. Jesus teaches, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15), yet He also reminds us that “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Growth in holiness ultimately comes from God, for “from him and through him and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). Donald Whitney similarly warns that spiritual disciplines cannot be sustained by mere willpower. When pursued only through human effort, they can become legalistic. Instead, spiritual disciplines, such as Scripture reading, prayer, fasting, and meditation, are means of grace through which believers pursue godliness and grow in Christlikeness.

For this reason, spiritual disciplines form an important foundation for discipleship. Yet, as Wilkins emphasizes, discipleship must also include sound doctrine, service, and authentic Christian community. Through these practices, the Holy Spirit renews believers and transforms their hearts (Eph. 4:23).

Furthermore, Wilkins describes discipleship as a relational apprenticeship to Jesus, not merely a mentoring relationship with church leaders. Discipleship is often misunderstood as occasional counseling or as evangelistic outreach alone. Bill Hull likewise argues in Conversion and Discipleship that discipleship is not simply inviting people to become converts or respond to an altar call. Rather, it is an invitation to lifelong apprenticeship to Christ.

The gospel calls believers to move beyond being passive recipients of grace and to become active apprentices of Jesus. Churches must therefore guard against merely filling pews or allowing members to remain consumers of religious services. Instead, the church must intentionally train believers to become disciple-makers who faithfully follow Christ and help others do the same.

Starting Walking Disciples as a Discipleship Ministry

I started Walking Disciples in September 2024 as a disciple-making community, formalizing the discipleship work I had already been doing into a more intentional ministry. Since then, more than 30 individuals have participated in various gatherings. The vision of this ministry is to cultivate a disciple-making community that trains believers in both discipleship and disciple-making, with the goal of fostering a culture of multiplication within the local church. I host the monthly Walking Disciples gatherings in my home.

Discipleship Activities of Walking Disciples

The core activities of Walking Disciples include monthly gatherings, one-to-one discipleship

conversations, and evangelism outreach. Each monthly gathering begins with a shared meal,

followed by a Bible study led by my co-leader, Ben Pasley, using an expositional method. Through studying specific passages, such as the book of Ephesians. We aim to deepen biblical understanding while also discussing key doctrinal and theological concepts related to discipleship.

After the study, participants divide into three to four people. Triads create a more intentional

environment for spiritual growth and accountability, modeled after Jesus’ close relationship with Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:1–2).

Within each triad, members reflect on the Bible passage and discuss questions that connect Scripture to everyday life. For example, when studying Ephesians 1, participants might consider how adoption into God’s family shapes their identity in Christ or whether their lives reflect rhythms of thanksgiving and prayer. The goal is not simply to recall information but to encourage repentance, obedience, and practical change.

Each triad also identifies one practical takeaway from the study. Members then share leadership within the group and encourage one another to apply the lesson throughout the week. Gender-specific triads often help participants speak more openly and foster deeper accountability.

At the end of each gathering, participants receive a simple Great Commission assignment: share one truth from the Bible study with someone in their daily life whether a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor, and pursue personal obedience to that truth. The goal is to move beyond learning toward practicing and living out what Scripture teaches.

Discipleship continues throughout the month as members encourage one another through informal meetings or phone calls. On a biweekly basis, I schedule short calls, typically 15 to 30 minutes, to read a brief passage of Scripture, discuss a key truth, and pray together. These conversations provide a simple opportunity for mutual encouragement, confession of sin, and prayer for spiritual growth.

Walking Disciples also includes monthly evangelism outreach during the warmer months. We

engage people in Gospel conversations, often using a short survey to learn about their spiritual background and introduce the message of the Gospel. These interactions create opportunities for meaningful conversations and help participants practice sharing their faith in a natural and respectful way.

Through these practices, Scripture study, triads, accountability, and evangelism, Walking Disciples seeks to cultivate a community where believers grow as disciples of Jesus and learn to help others follow Him as well.

Conclusion

When discipleship is rooted in the Gospel, it produces generations of disciple-makers who bring renewal within the church and transformation beyond its walls, impacting communities and society as a whole. What we need is not merely a momentary revival, but a lasting movement that continues until people come to know Jesus and grow in their knowledge and experience of God.

Discipleship is not simply a program; it is a way of life. It is not something new, but the very pattern that Jesus and His first disciples lived and passed down through the generations. I am deeply encouraged by the growing community of discipleship practitioners in Columbus, Ohio. I trust that God, who began a good work among us, will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6) and will continue to open doors for faithful discipleship and disciple-making throughout our city and beyond.

In Christ,

Daniel Sim

Founder, The Walking Disciples - a disciple making community.

https://www.thewalkingdisciples.org/