If you understand the goal of disciple making, you will not get bogged down with the details. Making a disciple is different than making a church attender. A disciple is someone dedicated to Jesus, following what He does and says, and learning to bring Him into others’ lives.

To grasp the concept of disciple making, think about the following children’s story first. This was one of the first books I read to my first child, and the Lord showed me recently how this is a parable for what disciple-makers do. Read along, this is fun, but I warn you, the conclusion is unflattering. And so refreshing!

Making a disciple is a lot like cooking soup

Here is an adapted version of the story Stone Soup by Ann McGovern.

A young man came to a village one time after walking a long, long way. He was hungry but had no food or money. He stopped at a house and knocked on the door to see if someone might have something they could give him. The owner shooed him away.

The young man went to the next door and told the people he was hungry. The lady hiding behind the door told him to go away because she did not have any food. And so the next house responded and the next. No one wanted anything to do with the surprise guest and no one had anything to give him.

The young man got an idea. he walked down to the creek and found a round, smooth stone. He picked it up and and went back to the village. “Here,” he announced to the wary residents, “I have a soup stone. We can all eat well now.”

“Really?” asked one villager. “I have never heard of soup from a stone.”

The man began to build a fire.

“You do not have a kettle,” someone said.

“True,” the young man said, “I do not have a kettle to cook my stone in. I wonder if someone here has a kettle. I would gladly share my soup with them.”

The woman who had hid behind her door came back in a hurry, carrying a big kettle. “Here, you can use mine. I have never heard of soup from a stone.”

A man came with water. “You can’t make soup without water.”

Soon the pot was full of boiling water. The traveler looked around at the curious crowd with a smile. “Now, I shall put in my soup stone.” He slid the stone into the pot and it landed at the bottom with a thud.

After the water had boiled for a while, the chef bent over the pot and inhaled the steam.

“Is it ready?” someone asked.

“Not yet. It smells good, but it needs something. Does anyone have some onions?”

A farmer said, “Sure, I do.” And he ran to get a few.

After adding the chopped onions, the chef inhaled again. “I think it needs a little celery.”

“I’ll be right back,” said another, heading for the garden.

A few moments later, “Carrots?” And then, “Does anyone have potatoes they would like to add?” Yes, they sure did! “Mmmm,” the chef said with a spoon to his lips, “it is tasting better and better. It needs some salt, and…” the villagers brought more and more ingredients at his request.

“This would be even better with some meat. Would anyone have anything?”

“We just butchered a chicken,” an old man said, heading to his house to get it.

Finally, the chef looked at the crowd with satisfaction. “The soup is done.”

“It smells so wonderful,” someone said.

The chef reached into the pot with his ladle and scooped out the stone. He put it aside to cool. “This stone is still good for many more pots of soup.” Then, he called them all around to share in what they had made.

“It does not look much different than when you put it in there,” someone said. “I would never have believed it. I have never heard of soup from a stone.”

Is disciple making on your menu?

This fanciful parable illustrates disciple making in a fun way. The village represents the potential disciples whom the Lord has placed around you. You are the stone. See? Unflattering for sure.

Jesus puts you into the boiling pot of others lives so that you can draw out the best in them. The people were not interested in helping the young man just as most people are too bothered for Jesus—they have no time for Him. Yet the Lord brings you into other’s lives so He can use you as a catalyst to bring change in their lives.

You know you have a made a disciple when someone’s life becomes a sweet aroma and a good taste to the Lord.

Many of us who serve the Lord got the wrong impression. We thought we had to bring all the ingredients into others’ lives. Did we forget that God knew this person before they were even born? He calls each one into His body and gives them a specific strength—something to add to the body.

Church planters and new ministers often feel they have to “do it all.” New comers never become disciples because they learn to expect the pastor to pray for the sick, cast out the devils, and share the gospel to the ones they can get to come to church. In many ways, ministers today have been conditioned to think that we are the master chefs instead of Jesus selecting and preparing the ingredients in His church.

Good church attendance does not make a disciple

You can get new believers to become faithful church attenders, but that does not mean they will become contributing servants in the Kingdom. Someone has to draw out their gifts. Someone needs to inspire them to contribute what they have.

Many preachers think they have to bring all the ingredients to the table. Jesus pulled great things out of His disciples with simple questions: “What do you think about this?” While we must have solid teaching and preaching, this is not all that can be on the table. What happens in church services cannot be all new believers are exposed to. They need a stone in their kettle.

When they come to you (the stone, the catalyst), and say, “My co-worker says he doesn’t believe the Bible but he keeps asking questions about Jesus, what should I do?” Encourage them to bring out their ingredients: “Tell them what Jesus has done in your life.” And then, draw on them for another ingredient of growth: “Ask the Lord what that person needs. Pray for them and see what He tells you to say or do for them. The Lord will show you where He is working in their life. He has put you in their path for this moment.”

You know the Lord is making a disciple when they hear from Him

Be the catalyst by asking simple questions like: “What has the Lord taught you this week?” Or, “What have you been seeing in the Scriptures lately?” Of course, at first most folks will respond with “I’ve got nothin’.” But as the water boils and they catch that sense of expectancy, they will catch on and soon have something to add to the mix.

Be like Jesus: He made disciples by asking questions. Simon Peter exploded with joy at the realization of who Jesus was. Jesus drew this out of him with a simple question: “So, who do you say the Son of Man is?” Peter would not have gotten it if someone had simply told him. He was learning to hear from heaven!

What is cooking in the lives of your discipleship group? Do you teach? Are you raising children? If the Lord removed the stone (you) from your group right now, would they be able to continue without you? Have they learned to hear from Jesus? Are they learning to bring their gifts and ministry strengths to the table? As a parent, Bible study teacher, blogger, author, pastor, and in anything else I do, I am just a rock. Someday I will be removed from those circles of influence. I have to let the master chef work in their lives for anything notable to come of my time in any circle of influence He has given me.

You know you are making disciples when they turn around and become a catalyst to let Jesus work in others’ lives. Lead, invest, keep making a disciple of everyone you can. But do it knowing that you are just a stone that will be removed from their lives one day. Your group, your disciples, should continue on and even improve after you are out of their lives if you help them learn to hear from the Master Chef!

We would love to hear your thoughts. Who was your catalyst? Who helped draw out the ingredients the Lord knew were already there? What have you learned about helping others respond to Jesus?