Finding Success In

Disciple Making Can Feel...

Like Trying to Find Waldo!

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Among the sea of a hundred good ways to make disciples, there is a Waldo of disciple-making.

It’s the method you use!

Increase Involvement

Have a Clear Goal

Get Measurable Results

Sustainable Discipleship is a different disciple-making method that makes disciples the hero of their story!

And the method makes the difference...
  • Disciples learn more quickly when you leverage God's design of how we think, process, and connect what we learn.
  • Disciples mature more quickly and follow God on their own as you leverage God's design of how and why we choose what we choose to do.
  • Disciples begin to navigate the unknowns of life as they learn to connect various truths to address those grey areas of life.
  • Groups are more effective as your leaders learn about group dynamics and leverage proven techniques for group learning.
  • Leaders are confident because they have a simple, repeatable, proven method for how to make disciples. They know what to do and when to do it.
  • Know exactly where your disciples are and what they need by knowing the fourteen checkpoints that every disciple takes along the way to maturity.

Learn the method that is resulting in ninety-percent success for every church that applies it.

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It’s a how-to guide to make self-sustaining, self-replicating followers of God.

It’s not more theory. It’s proven.

It's all in a book. It's all in a workshop.

  • A simple and succinct definition of discipleship bringing clarity to what we are doing and making.
  • The secret sauce that results in exponential growth and generations of disciples.
  • The science, tricks, and psychology of building groups that leverage God's design for the body of Christ to make disciples.
  • The seven core practices of the Sustainable Discipleship Model.
  • The four foundational elements in every successful disciple making effort.
  • Three measurable goals and three simple strategies to make well-made disciples.
  • And so much more...
  • A step-by-step guide to making great disciples including tips, tricks, ideas, and illustrations.
  • The 14 step discipleship pathway allowing you to customize discipleship.
  • An assessment tool to help you identify where disciples are and how to get them to the next step.
  • Two irrefutable, Biblical models of how to make disciples like God made disciples.
  • A practical guide to running a discipleship meeting that results in immediate growth.
  • A personalized, one-year plan to start, grow, or supercharge your or your church's disciple-making.

Everything God has taught us
that led to our success in disciple-making!

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or

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The method makes the difference.
  • Stop wanting for great leaders.
  • Stop struggling to find volunteers.
  • Stop struggling with church finances.
  • Break the 80/20 rule as your people follow God into joyful service.
  • Kill the drama, division and politics as your people apply God's truths in community.

Make self-sustaining, self replicating followers
in a simple, repeatable way!

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What People are Saying...

Sustainable Discipleship has transformed the people of our church in ways that 800 sermons could not. My prayer is that 100 years from now the Sustainable Discipleship method will be accepted and followed by so many that it will be considered as a “Christian classic”. Doug Burrier is a great person and a gifted writer. The Sustainable Discipleship book is my absolute favorite on this subject.
Daren Patrick
Senior Pastor, Crossroads Church
I first met Doug at a disciple-making conference we both attended. If you ever have the privilege of meeting Doug you'll experience his deep humility, his contagious passion for disciple-making, and his commitment to help people be all that God created them to be. Doug is a gifted author and a skilled practitioner.
Jonathan Pitts
Southeast Regional Director, Sonlife
I am honored to recommend Doug Burrier. He is a pastor, blogger, leader of leaders, author, systems builder, out of the box thinker, and one of the brightest minds in GA. Doug is not new to disciple making and has built a disciple making system that works, is multiplying disciples of Jesus, and based on the methods of Jesus. Everyone I send Doug's way have nothing but good comments.
Dr. Scott E. Sullivan
Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Discipleship Catalyst, SPARK Conference Leader
The first time I met Doug Burrier I knew I was talking to someone unique. It felt like I had met a mad-scientist of disciple-making. At a conference, someone had just asked, “How long does it take to make a disciple.” He responded confidently, “Three years!” Then went on to explain the 14 steps on the journey to developing a fully committed follower of Christ. Doug took Jesus’ three-year strategy for developing leaders that would change the world and distilled it into a practical, flexible, usable system that helps pastors raise up disciples in their church. And it works! He’s proven it through years of working closely with members of his church and through helping pastors in their churches. I HIGHLY recommend Doug Burrier as a speaker and coach for pastors and ministry leaders. He’s a voice that is desperately needed in the church today.
Joël Malm
Author, Pastor, and Founder of Summit Leaders
We are a better, happier ministry because of Doug and his team. And, we are better at executing our mission to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Their method works.
Chris Whitaker
Lead Pastor, Overdrive Church
Passion! There are very few people that display the passion that Doug Burrier lives out for making disciples of Jesus Christ! He takes it seriously and simply is his life’s call! Doug is a decision scientist. He has combined his passion for Jesus with his passion for how people make decisions in their everyday lives. With this powerful combination, he has created a system to help people follow the commandment of Christ to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. I am thankful that The Lord connected us for mission and ministry and I know you will be too!
Dr. Robert Mullins
Lead Pastor, Crossroads Community Church, Elmore, AL Executive Director, PassionTree Pastor’s Network
Doug does a wonderful job explaining his journey in the disciple making process. He shares his failures and successes. The concept of being before doing was an “aha” moment for me. His explanation of how extroverts and introverts process decision making was extremely helpful. His disciple making process is all Bible and prayer focused. His book is the most detailed and informative book on how to launch disciple making that works.
Mike Brown
Pastor

We’d love to share what he has taught us.

And you can name your price!

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or

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FAQs

You decide! We are committed to sharing what God has shown us. It costs us about $495/person to cover the support staff, materials, and to provide a few scholarships for smaller churches. But, we leave it up to you. If funds are really tight, shoot for $117 (the cost of materials & food). If you can support those who make this possible, add a few hundred/person. If God has blessed you, sow a seed, help others attend, support your workshop leader, and help us spread the joy and success. No matter what, you pick your price!  

Yes. We love helping smaller church leaders and bi-vocational pastors when God blesses us through those who have been blessed. We even have a network of host homes for the conferences in Atlanta. You get to set your price but if you need more help email our team.

Think of it as the difference between reading a textbook and taking a lab with a college professor. The workshops bring Sustainable Discipleship to life, give you hands-on help developing your plan, and give you access to the latest data, successes, and failures.

You get a free print or digital copy of How to Make Disciples, a 40-page workbook, a complete disciple-making plan for your church, 50 disciple assessment sheets, a free copy of Well Made (Doug's latest breakout book), an opening dinner, and continental breakfasts. And, of course, you get a system that will get you more disciples that make disciples with a 90% success rate.

Day One begins with a mixer & dinner at 5:30. Then,

  • 6:00 Overview & Introduction
  • 6:45 What is Discipleship?
  • 7:30 Break
  • 7:45 The Discipleship Pathway
  • 9:00 End of Day 1

Day Two begins with continental breakfast at 8:30a. Then,

  • 9:00 How to Make a Disciple - Part 1
  • 12:00 Lunch Break
  • 1:30 How to Make a Disciple - Part 2
  • 4:00 End of Day 2

Day Three begins with continental breakfast at 8:30a. Then,

  • 9:00 How to Make a Disciple - Part 4
  • 10:30 The Sustainable Discipleship System - Part 1
  • 12:00 Lunch Break
  • 1:30 The Sustainable Discipleship System - Part 2
  • 2:30 Finalizing Your Personal Disciple Making Plan
  • 4:00 End of Workshop

The workshops we host are held in the community space at Three Taverns Church in metro-Atlanta (about 25 miles north of the airport, a 45-minute drive). You can find us at 3575 Acworth Due West Road, Acworth, Ga. 30101, or use this map. Regional and national workshops are held at various locations.

The workshop will be held in the community space at Three Taverns Church. You can see hotels on this map. We have a special rate at the Hampton Inn & Fairfield Inn in Acworth.

Absolutely! Sustainable Discipleship is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) religious non-profit that operates as a business-for-mission model, striving to be self-sufficient. You can help us continue our research, development, testing, writing, and sharing by sowing financial gifts above and beyond the actual costs of ministry.

Workshop Registration

How to Make Disciples

Two Chapter Preview

How to Make Disciples

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SD Coaching Deck Week 3
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12
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14

WEEK three – CARD ONE

Your focus

This is your first week to hear how their Bible review time went. Results will be varied. Listen well and listen to the Spirit as you guide.

WEEK three – CARD two

Your focus

You are reminding them to prevent "cross talk", to keep prayers focused, and to have disciples look for applicable truths.

WEEK three – CARD three

your focus

You are a cheerleader this week. The method works but it takes time for disciples to get it. Which means leaders need to be patient.

WEEK three – CARD four

your focus

You are preparing them to introduce the Quick Smart Start workbook as extra reading.

WEEK three – CARD five

coach them

ask

How did your group go overall?

Did everyone show up?
Did everyone participate?

How do you feel it went?

Was there much cross-talk?
We you able to keep to keep control and guide individuals?

Encourage them to embrace the fact that SD Groups are different and to be patient as folks get with the plan.

WEEK three – CARD six

coach them

ask

How did the prayer time go? Did you interrupt anyone to get them focused on what you asked them to pray?

Did anyone seem put off by your guidance?
Did they get the idea?

What questions do you have?

Introduce the SNAP Method.

WEEK three – CARD seven

snap prayer time method

The SNAP Method gives disciples a simple way to think about what D-Group prayer time is all about and how to talk to God personally.  As if Jesus walked in the room and said, “What can I do for you?” 

S – SPECIFIC
If they pray, “God help me financially,” you may guide saying, “What exactly do you need? Fifty dollars? Wisdom on budget planning.” Disciples need to learn to ask God for exactly what they need. 

N – NECESSARY
If they pray, “God give me a boat,” it might be interesting to ask, “Hey Bob, do you need a boat?”

A – ANSWERABLE
If Mary prays, “God save my husband,” you probably need to stop and say, “Mary, can God save your husband or does he have to choose God on his own? What can you ask God for that he can do in this situation?”

P – PERSONAL
Guide them to ask for what they need. Not what their aunt or boss needs.

WEEK three – CARD eight

coach them

ask

How did the Bible review go?

  • Did most highlight applicable truths?
  • Was there significant cross-talk?
  • Did you cover all of the reading?
  • What did you do if you didn’t know the answer?

It is safe to assume that most, if not all, groups DID NOT cover all the chapters. This is to be expected. It takes time for the disciples and the leader to get in the groove.

Use the tips on card nine, “Keeping Bible Review on Track,” to help them keep efficient.

Share “When and How to Catch Up” on card ten.

WEEK three – CARD nine

keeping bible review on track

It takes a few weeks to get Bible review efficient. Here are some startup tips.

  1.  Are they reading highlighted verses or just telling you what they highlighted and why? If everyone re-reads the verses out loud, it can double Bible review time.
  2.  Are you asking, “How does that apply?” for every highlight? If they seem to have gotten the truth, just affirm and move on. Listen to the Spirit. If you aren’t sure what to do, move on. Trust God to use His word and His Spirit.
  3. Is some “engineer” or “scholar” highlighting everything in the world? Gently guide them to highlight what the Spirit makes jump off the page instead of what they are searching for. It can take time for folks to adjust from needing to learn everything to just reading and highlighting what jumps off the page.
  4. Are they staying focused on applicable truths? In the first few weeks of Bible review, you will be teaching and re-teaching the highlighting method. Remember, this is a process and takes time to get going. Stay positive.
  5.  Challenge your group saying, “Let’s see if we can beat our chapter review record from last week.”

WEEK three – CARD ten

when and how to catch up

If you get behind in Bible review and have to leave some chapters undone, here are a few ideas and tips to decide if and how you should catch up.

Always Finish the Current Week First
It can feel hopeless never moving forward. So if you left a few chapters undone last week, ignore them until you finish this week. If you don’t finish this week, don’t even mention last week.

Always Cast Hope
We want to finish review so everyone gets everything they can get. But remember that the truths they highlighted (and everything else they read) is in them. God can and will use it to transform them. If you can’t finish, be positive. Maybe say, “I know we are still getting this down (or we had a tough week), don’t worry about it. When we get time, we will get back to those chapters. We will get this down.”

Use the Quick Fire Method
When you are doing pretty well getting each week done, chop ten minutes out of extra-Biblical review and say, “We missed X chapters last week. Let’s see how many highlights we can flush in the next ten minutes. Ready? Go!”

WEEK two – CARD eleven

coach them

talk

This week you will be handing out the first extra-Biblical reading, Quick Smart Start.

Quick Smart Start is a sixteen week workbook answering the top sixteen questions that disciples have asked during Discipleship One.

Share the “how to use” the workbook instructions found on card twelve.

WEEK two – CARD twelve

Using quick, smart start

share

Quick, Smart Start is the introduction of reading beyond the Bible. The workbook is highly praised and wildly successful at helping jumpstart value for the disciples. Here is how the SD Team uses it.

  1. Each week the disciples work through the next of the sixteen lessons.
  2. Each lesson has sections numbered one to six or seven. Disciples should complete one section a day. This helps build a good discipline but, more importantly, avoids the loss of learning when disciples pack too much in too quickly.
  3. Each week, you review what they read working through the answers to the questions, section by section. Make sure to lean in on the summary questions at the end of each lesson.

WEEK two – CARD thirteen

coach

ask

How else can I help?

Listen well.

WEEK two – CARD ONE

Your focus

This is your first week to ask them how their d-group went. This is your first opportunity to rejoice with them while giving hints and pushes.

WEEK two – CARD two

Your focus

You are preparing them for their first week of covering Bible reading using the highlight method.

WEEK two – CARD three

your focus

You are preparing them to implement the "no cross talk" method.

WEEK two – CARD four

your focus

You are reminding them how to positively encourage disciples to find what is there and focus on applicable truths.

WEEK two – CARD five

coach them

ask

How did your first group go?

Were they excited?
Did they talk?
Was anyone a challenge?
Did they get the plan?


How did you feel?
Were you able to answer their questions?

WEEK two – CARD six

coach them

ask

Were you able to keep control, to be the leader, of your group?

Did anyone repetively interrupt?
Was anyone super silent?
Did anyone try to co-lead?

What questions do you have?

Did you use the Six Hats illustration yet?

WEEK two – CARD seven

six hats detail

Six Thinking Hats is a great book by DeBono on leading groups. Read Six Thinking Hats and how I use it in my first or second meeting before you coach this week. Lead and encourage d-group leaders to share the handout and a brief summary ending with the blue hat. Here are some tips. 

  1. Remind how critical it is that they are in control of the meeting and keeping all discussion one-on-one.
  2. Share the Six Thinking Hats infographic.
  3. Give them a 30,000 foot picture of the hats.
  4. Remind them that they have to keep possession of the blue hat.
  5. Walk through a few examples of how to light-heartedly grab the hat back.
  6. Remind them that this method of one-on-one and leader control is new to most disciples.
  7. Listen to their questions.

WEEK two – CARD eight

coach them

ask

Are you ready to cover their highlights?

  • Who goes first?
  • What do you ask?
  • When do you ask?

Remind them that creating thought vacuums for the Holy Spirit to speak is the goal. Remind them to only speak if they must.

Share the Power of a Question.

  • What do you do if you don’t know an answer?
  • When do you say, “Next highlight?”
  • Do you cover your highlights?

WEEK two – CARD nine

coach them

ask

Are you guys good on the "no cross talk method?

  • Why is no cross-talk important?
  • How do you gently guide this new practice?
  • How do you explain the goal?

Remind them that everyone is in individual discipleship even in a group.

Remind them that their job is protect individual discipleship by not letting anyone interrupt anyone’s moment with the Holy Spirit.

WEEK two – CARD ten

coach them

talk

In the first six weeks, one of your most important tasks is keeping them focused what the Bible actually says and on things that apply.

WEEK two – CARD eleven

highlight focus detail

share

Year one is all about getting truth in them and helping them see the why. It is exegetical learning focused on what the Bible actually says. And it is focused on cool truths and things that apply – not on shekels. Here are some tips. 

  1. Guide them away from “I think this means” and “To me this means.” Affirmingly say, “Cool. But can I ask, what does it actually say?”
  2. Guide them to use “I” language and away from “God is saying to us…” Many disciples will have to break the habit of teaching the room or trying to draw others into their conviction.
  3. Ask how does that apply when there is an application they may not see. This is the hint method. Go easy. When they see it, just move on.
  4. When it just an “aha”, obvious truth, or something they get, just move on saying, “Cool. Next highlight.”

WEEK two – CARD twelve

second meeting agenda

Remind

The second meeting has a unique agenda because leaders need to explain how the meeting works to include Six Hats and no cross-talk.

PRAYER
5 minutes total
“What one thing do you need?”

SIX HATS – CROSS TALK
20-30 minutes

BIBLE REVIEW
55minutes

WEEK two – CARD thirteen

coach

ask

How else can I help?

Listen well.