What if the greatest obstacle to disciple multiplication is not failure… but success? In this episode, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps explore the powerful deception of successful addition and why bigger doesn’t automatically mean deeper. Discover how churches can experience visible growth while still struggling to produce multiplying disciples—and why the metrics we celebrate quietly shape the culture we build.

What question is quietly shaping your church?

Most leaders ask, “How many people came?” And that question matters. But if it becomes the dominant question, it will shape what your church prioritizes and produces.

In this episode, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps compare two questions: “How many came?” and “Who is becoming more like Jesus?”

One builds a gathering engine.

The other begins to build a formation engine.

This conversation will help church leaders examine the questions driving their meetings, metrics, and celebrations—because the questions you repeat don’t just measure culture. They aim it.

What is your church really keeping score of?

In this episode, Jason Phelps and Brian Phipps expose the hidden scoreboard shaping church culture. What you measure, celebrate, and discuss most often will quietly define what your church becomes.

If your system rewards attendance, activity, and programs, you’ll keep producing addition. But if you want disciple multiplication, your scoreboard has to change.

This episode will help church leaders see what their current systems are producing—and what needs to shift.

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

Most leaders want multiplication. But desire doesn’t produce it—systems do.

This season of the Disciples Made Podcast exposes the hidden scoreboards, assumptions, and patterns that keep churches stuck in addition instead of multiplication.

This isn’t about doing more.

It’s about seeing clearly.

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 conversation, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps unpack a pivotal shift for Disciples Made in 2026: moving from acceleration to a flywheel.

Acceleration can create movement. But a flywheel creates sustainable momentum—slow, steady, faithful momentum built through relationships, coaching, cohorts, and culture change.

This episode names why growth by addition can wear leaders out, why real multiplication takes time, and why steady obedience compounds into long-term Kingdom impact. Brian and Jason also look back on a year of prayer, clarity, and bold decisions as Disciples Made re-centers its mission around equipping church leaders to build disciple-making cultures that last.

If you’re a pastor, church leader, or disciple-maker who is hungry, humble, and ready to move beyond programs toward generational impact, this conversation will give you clarity, courage, and a next step.

The flywheel is turning.

In this month’s Disciples Made Podcast, Jason Phelps and Brian Phipps unpack what it truly means to live and lead like Jesus through an incarnational approach to discipleship. Rather than staying at a distance, Jesus stepped directly into people’s real stories—present, attentive, and fully engaged.

This episode highlights why proximity is the catalyst for genuine transformation and how modern disciple-makers can cultivate Jesus-shaped habits that are practical, relational, and sustainable. Drawing wisdom from Hugh Halter’s FLESH, the conversation equips leaders with actionable steps to deepen their influence and guide others toward a Fully Alive life.

In this episode, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps unpack how true disciple-making flows from love for Jesus, not leadership obligation. Learn how abiding, accountability, and obedience transform ministry from burnout to worship that multiplies Fully Alive disciples.

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.

After nearly 20 years in ministry, Jason Phelps found himself exhausted from carrying the weight of leadership alone. In this episode, he and Disciples Made founder Brian Phipps share how a 12-month coaching journey sparked spiritual renewal, raised up everyday disciple-makers, and helped shift an entire church culture. If you're ready to move from burnout to breakthrough, this conversation is for you.

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.

Too often, churches celebrate activity over transformation. But thriving disciple-makers know that clarifying and celebrating the right wins—those rooted in character and calling—shapes culture and multiplies impact. Discover practical ways to shift your focus and fuel real Kingdom growth.

Obedience is greater than competence—and in this episode, the Disciples Made team unpacks what it means to follow Jesus in real-time, Spirit-led ways that transform character and calling.

Through powerful stories and practical insight, you’ll discover how simple obedience—not expertise—leads to a fully alive life of impact.

How does neuroscience shape our faith and disciple-making? In this thought-provoking episode of The Disciples Made Podcast, Brian Phipps sits down with Dr. Stan Wallace to explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, neurotheology, and spiritual formation. They dive into groundbreaking discoveries about the brain’s role in belief, the power of neuroplasticity, and why understanding both body and soul is essential for human flourishing. Drawing from his book Have We Lost Our Minds?, Dr. Wallace unpacks the significance of holistic dualism and the impact Christian professors can have in shaping faith within academia. If you're passionate about discipleship, spiritual growth, and the science behind transformation, this episode is for you!

Today's conversation revolves around the importance of discipleship and the need for the older generation to invest in the next generation. Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps interview Grant Skeldon and Noah Herrin as they share their personal experiences and how they were inspired to prioritize disciple making. They emphasize the need for older generations to believe in and honor the younger generation, and for the younger generation to honor and appreciate the wisdom of the older generation. They also highlight the significance of spiritual habits in personal growth and relationship with God. The conversation concludes with a discussion on future trends in disciple-making, including the importance of biblical literacy, transformation of the heart, and bold preaching of the gospel. There is a lot to unpack in this conversation and we are excited for you to listen to it!

On today’s episode Brian Phipps welcomes Mandy Smith in the Disciples Made Studio today! Mandy is a pastor and speaker. She has also authored The Vulnerable Pastor, Unfettered, and her newest book Confessions of an Amateur Saint. Brian and Mandy chat about her book and how leaders can use the art of confession to avoid burnout and chase a life that is completely dependent on God. We can’t wait to hear about all the ways this book has made an impact. Learn more at https://thewayistheway.org. 

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In this conversation, Brian Phipps interviews Jason Phelps about the highs and lows of being a disciple-making pastor. They discuss Jason's background, his passion for disciple-making, and pivotal moments in his life that shaped his journey. Jason shares his experiences in various ministry roles, including youth ministry, worship leading, church planting, and teaching. He also highlights the importance of intentional disciple-making relationships and the transformation it brings. The conversation emphasizes the value of pouring into one another, holding each other accountable, and seeing lives changed through disciple-making. In this conversation, Brian Phipps and Jason Phelps discuss the challenges and joys of disciple making. They highlight the downsides of disciple making, such as the gravitational pull of traditional church metrics and the slow progress of intentional disciple making. They also discuss the importance of vulnerability and hard conversations in disciple making. On the upside, they share the joy of seeing disciples grow and multiply, and the support they have received from their senior leadership. Jason expresses his passion for equipping more churches and leaders to shift their paradigm and start movements of disciple making.

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What is with the crickets at Disciples Made? It has been 11 months since our last episode, but we have not been napping. In fact, we have been preparing for our biggest season ever. Tune in to this brief episode to hear all of the ways we have upgraded our ability to serve you!

In today's episode Mitch Rice and Brian Phipps announce the launch of Live Fully Alive! Join us for a launch event tonight, August 31. This five session experience is on our Digital Community and we cannot wait to see how impactful this will be in transforming lives and helping you live fully alive. We encourage you to share this with your friends and family and go through this experience together.

In this episode Brian Phipps and Mitch Rice chat about the Disciple's Made Digital Community and what this means for the future of Disciples Made. For more info email us at podcast@disciplesmade.com or go to DisciplesMade.com

WE HAVE MADE A GIANT LEAP FORWARD IN VISION... and it has required us to build a much larger foundation to build from. We have completely revamped Disciples Made to better equip even more disciple-makers... especially ones that do not work at a church and have a church budget to work with. There is a sneak peek at the end of this short update of that vision and how we plan to get there.

More stories of normal people living the Fully Alive life, and the efforts they are making to help others live it as well, are coming soon, so make sure you are subscribed and share this with your friends and family!