4 Chair Discipling

1. Jesus' Disciple-Making Model: A Four-Chair Framework

Jesus’ disciple-making strategy follows four challenges He posed to His followers: “come and see” (John 1:39), “follow me” (John 1:43), “follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19 ESV), and “go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).

Four Challenges. The book introduces a simple, transferable model for disciple-making based on Jesus' challenges to His followers. This model uses four "chairs" to represent the stages of spiritual growth:

• Chair 1: The Lost (Come and See)
• Chair 2: The Believer (Follow Me)
• Chair 3: The Worker (Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men)
• Chair 4: The Disciple-Maker (Go and Bear Fruit)

Organic Growth. The four-chair model reflects the natural growth process from spiritual infancy to maturity, mirroring the progression from seeker to disciple-maker. It emphasizes that disciple-making is not a program but a journey.

Intentionality. Jesus intentionally moved people through these stages, meeting them where they were and challenging them to go deeper. This model provides a framework for Christians to intentionally guide others in their spiritual development.

2. Understanding Jesus' Full Humanity is Key to Imitating Him

His Deity was unexpressed, so that His humanity could find full expression.

Fully God and Fully Man. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus as both fully God and fully human. Recognizing His humanity allows us to see Him as a model we can imitate, not a superhuman figure beyond our reach.

Kenosis. Jesus "emptied Himself" (Philippians 2:7), veiling His deity to fully experience human life. He didn't rely on divine power to live His earthly life, but instead depended on the same resources available to us: the Holy Spirit, prayer, Scripture, and supportive relationships.

Model for Life. Jesus is our model for life and ministry. He showed us how to live in total dependence on the Father, relying on the Spirit, prayer, and the Word. By understanding His humanity, we can overcome the misconception that we can't do what He did.

3. Love God and People: The Motive Behind the Mission

Love is the greatest Christian motive.

Great Commandment. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) to love God and love our neighbor is the driving force behind the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Love motivates us to make disciples.

Inseparable. Loving God and loving people are inseparable. We cannot claim to love God if we hate our brother, and we cannot love God without also loving people. This love manifests in compassion, mercy, and a willingness to reach out to those in need.

Mission and Motive. The Great Commission establishes our priorities, while the Great Commandment clarifies our passion. Our mission is to make disciples, and our motive is love. These two elements must be held together for effective disciple-making.

4. Chair 1: Reaching the Lost - Entering Their World

The lost don’t need to be rehabilitated. They need to be resurrected.

Spiritual Death. Those in Chair 1 are spiritually dead, incapable of knowing God on their own. They need a new life, a resurrection, not just a little more religion.

Missionary God. God is a missionary God, and Jesus modeled how to reach the lost by entering their world. He became a "friend of sinners," meeting people where they were and responding to their needs.

Spiritual CPR. Reaching the lost involves a process of Cultivation, Planting, and Reaping. We must cultivate relationships, plant the seed of the gospel, and pray for the harvest.

5. Chair 2: Nurturing New Believers - Foundational Growth

Baptism is the outward expression of this inner transformation and should accompany this act of faith.

New Creation. Chair 2 represents the new believer, a "new creation" in Christ. They have experienced a radical inner transformation and need nurture and care to grow in their faith.

Spiritual Children. New believers are like infants, needing spiritual parents to guide them. They need to learn the basics of the Christian life:

• Understanding their identity in Christ
• Learning to walk, talk, and feed themselves
• Learning to live a cleansed life

Modeled Priorities. Jesus modeled dependence on the Holy Spirit, prayer, obedience, the Word, exalting the Father, and intentional relationships. These priorities are foundational for new believers.

6. Chair 3: Equipping Workers - The Power of the Spirit

I will make you fishers of men.

Workers. Chair 3 represents the worker, the young man or woman who is actively engaged in ministry. They are learning to serve others and share their faith.

Ministry Team. Jesus challenged His disciples to become "fishers of men," calling them to be part of His ministry team. He intentionally trained them to reproduce their lives in others.

Spirit-Filled Life. A key lesson in Chair 3 is learning to live in the power of the Spirit. This involves surrendering to the Spirit's leading, confessing sin, and claiming God's forgiveness.

7. Chair 4: Multiplying Disciple-Makers - Bearing Lasting Fruit

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Fully Trained. Chair 4 represents the fully trained disciple-maker, the spiritual parent who is bearing lasting fruit. They are equipped to make disciples who can make disciples.

Friends of God. Jesus calls His Chair 4 disciples "friends," indicating a deep relationship of trust and intimacy. They know His heart and are committed to His mission.

Go and Do. The challenge here is to go and do what Jesus did, repeating the disciple-making process in others. This involves abiding in Christ and allowing Him to produce fruit through us.

8. Overcoming Sticking Points: Addressing Barriers to Growth

The wages of sin is death.

Parable of the Soils. The parable of the soils (Mark 4) illustrates the barriers that can hinder spiritual growth. These include:

• Hardened hearts (seed along the path)
• Lack of roots (seed on rocky places)
• Worries, wealth, and wants (seed among thorns)

Spiritual CPR. Overcoming these barriers requires intentional effort. We must cultivate relationships, plant the seed of the gospel, and pray for the harvest.

Commitment. We must commit to moving beyond no life, no roots, and no fruit to become fruitful followers of Christ. This involves addressing the specific sticking points that hinder our growth.

9. The Church: A Family of Disciple-Makers

The church family needs to be that family for new spiritual babies.

New Testament Model. The New Testament emphasizes the church as a family, a community of believers who support and encourage one another. This model replaces the top-down, master-student relationship of the Old Testament.

Gifts. In the church, each member uses their gifts to build up others. New believers, mature believers, seekers, and workers all contribute to the community.

Balanced Living. The church provides a context for balanced living, where we can learn from each other, grow together, and share our lives on mission.

10. Leadership: Equipping Others for the Work of Ministry

Disciple-making is the primary mission of the church.

Overseers. The Bible identifies leaders as shepherds, elders, and overseers. These leaders are responsible for managing God's household and ensuring that the church fulfills its mission.

Disciple-Makers. Leaders must be proven disciple-makers, modeling the process and equipping others to do the same. They must prioritize the mission of making disciples who can make disciples.

Servanthood. Leadership is not about position but about servanthood. Leaders must be willing to serve others and empower them to use their gifts for the glory of God.

Last updated: April 5, 2025