Summary of
"Making Radical Disciples"
In the trilogy of Daniel Lancaster’s work, "Making Radical Disciples" serves as the tactical manual. While the first two books focus on the where (churches) and the who (leaders), this book focuses on the how—the specific process of turning a seeker into a mature, reproducing follower of Jesus.
Lancaster’s approach is built on the "Discovery" model, which ensures that the DNA of the movement remains pure from the very first encounter.
Part 1: The Philosophy of Radical Discipleship
Chapter 1: The Great Commission vs. The Great Omission
Lancaster argues that the modern church is good at making converts but poor at making disciples.
The Definition: A radical disciple is not someone who knows a lot, but someone who obeys and multiplies.
The Mandate: He emphasizes that Jesus didn't command us to "go and start services," but to "go and make disciples."
Chapter 2: The DNA of a Disciple
What does a "Radical Disciple" look like? Lancaster identifies three "strands" of spiritual DNA:
Obedience: Immediate response to God’s Word.
Reproduction: Passing on what you learn within 24–48 hours.
Spiritual Authority: Recognizing that every believer has the Holy Spirit and the power to pray, heal, and lead.
Part 2: The Discovery Process
Chapter 3: The Power of Discovery
This is a deep dive into why we don't "lecture" disciples.
The Psychology of Ownership: People believe what they discover, not what they are told.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: Lancaster argues that when we "teach," we often get in the way of the Holy Spirit's role as the Counselor. The disciple-maker is simply a "facilitator" of a divine conversation.
Chapter 4: The 3/3 (Three-Thirds) Meeting Process
Lancaster breaks down the specific anatomy of a discipleship meeting. This is the "Radical" engine:
Look Back (1/3): Member-led worship, checking on "I will" goals from last week, and asking "Who did you share with?"
Look Up (1/3): Reading a short passage 2–3 times and retelling it in their own words.
Look Ahead (1/3): Practicing how to share the story and setting new, concrete obedience goals.
Part 3: The Curriculum of the Kingdom
Chapter 5: The Seven Commands of Christ
Lancaster provides a "starter kit" for new disciples. Instead of a complex theology course, he focuses on seven basic commands of Jesus:
Repent and Believe
Baptism
Prayer
Love (God and Neighbor)
The Lord’s Supper
Giving
The Great Commission
Each is taught via discovery, not lecture.
Chapter 6: The "I Will" Statement
This chapter is the "clinical" application of Persistent Faith.
The Mechanics: Every study ends with a specific "I will..." statement. (e.g., "I will forgive my brother this Tuesday.")
The Law of Expectation: Lancaster explains that by voicing an "I will," the disciple is stepping into their new identity in Christ. Failure to follow through is treated as a spiritual health issue, not a legalistic one.
Part 4: Advanced Discipleship Skills
Chapter 7: Training Disciples to Pray
Lancaster moves beyond "asking for things" to Intercessory Authority.
Persistent Faith in Prayer: He uses the Matthew 17 example to show that disciples must be trained to pray until the breakthrough happens.
Prayer Walking: Training disciples to "see" the spiritual needs of their city.
Chapter 8: Training Disciples to Evangelize
Evangelism isn't a "gift" in this book; it's a basic function of being alive in Christ.
The Bridge to Life: He teaches a simple way to use a person’s own testimony (Your story + God’s story) to cross the bridge into a gospel conversation.
The "Person of Peace" Hunt: Disciples are trained to identify who in their life is already "ripe" for the gospel.
Part 5: Multiplication and Purity
Chapter 9: Correcting Error Without Control
In a movement of lay-people, "heresy" is a common fear.
The Biblical Guardrail: Lancaster teaches disciples to ask one question when someone says something strange: "Where do you see that in the Bible?"
Self-Correction: This empowers the group to correct itself rather than relying on a "Priest" or "Pastor" to fly in and fix it.
Chapter 10: The Goal – Fourth Generation Disciples
Lancaster defines a "Mature Disciple" as someone who has successfully made a disciple who is now making a third disciple.
The 2 Timothy 2:2 Chain:
Paul (You)
Timothy (Your Disciple)
Faithful Men (Their Disciple)
Others Also (The Great-Grandchild Disciple)
The Exit Strategy: Once the 4th generation is reached, the original disciple-maker moves on to a new "pioneer" area.
Comparison: The Lancaster Trilogy
Starting Radical Churches
Book: Starting Radical Churches
Focus: The Structure
Analogy: The Ship
Training Radical Leaders
Book: Training Radical Leaders
Focus: The Character
Analogy: The Captain
Making Radical Disciples
Book: Making Radical Disciples
Focus: The Process
Analogy: The Engine
