Real Church Growth Starts With Real Discipleship

Author: Caesar Kalinowski
Published: Mon 01 Sep 2025
Episode Link: https://everydaydisciple.com/episodes/real-church-growth-starts-with-real-discipleship

Let’s be honest: much of the Church today operates with what could be called a “functional Great Commission.” It sounds more like, “Go into all the world and make worship attenders, baptizing them in the name of small groups, and teaching them to volunteer twice a month.”

This week on the Everyday Disciple Podcast, we talk with our friend Will Mancini—author and in-demand church consultant—about why real church growth only happens through intentional disciple-making. Programs and strategies have their place, but they aren’t a substitute for living out Jesus’ original commission.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

Why many churches are living out a “functional” version of the Great Commission

How your language and phrasing reveal your real priorities as a church

What 3 types of church models we’ll see most over the next 20 years

Why people—not programs—are what attract and grow the Church

Get started here...

From this episode:

“The dirty little secret among so many pastors is that we are really good at faking disciples rather than making disciples. The quantity and quality of our programs—and our sheer busyness keeping it all going—distract us from the truth.”

Each week the Big 3 will give you immediate action steps to get you started.
Download today’s BIG 3 right now. Read and think over them again later. You might even want to share them with others…

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Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Coaching and Mentorship in Missional Living by Caesar and his wife Tina

Resources for missional living and group training - Missio Publishing

Get Caesar’s latest book: Bigger Gospel for FREE… Click here.