--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Making disciples isn’t about gathering…" description: "\"Making disciples isn’t about gathering pupils to listen to your teaching. The real focus is not on teaching people at all–the focus is on loving them.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/francis-chan-548_disciple_making-disciples-isn-t-about-gathering-p_948103.png" --- # Making disciples isn’t about gathering pupils to listen to… ![“Making disciples isn’t about gathering pupils to listen to your teaching. The real focus is not on teaching people at all–the focus is on loving them.” quote by Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/francis-chan-548_disciple_making-disciples-isn-t-about-gathering-p_948103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/francis-chan-548_disciple_making-disciples-isn-t-about-gathering-p_948103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/francis-chan-548_disciple_making-disciples-isn-t-about-gathering-p_948103.png) > “Making disciples isn’t about gathering pupils to listen to your teaching. The real focus is not on teaching people at all–the focus is on loving them.” [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True discipleship is measured by love, not instruction; caring for people outweighs merely teaching them. **In simple terms:** Discipleship is about love, not lessons. Key Takeaway Prioritize love over lecturing. Themes love relationships spiritual growth Mood compassionate reflective Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - church community - personal mentorship - volunteering - counseling Key Concepts Christianity servant leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can love be expressed without neglecting truth? - What does loving someone teach them? A Different Perspective Love alone may not convey essential doctrine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple/) [Disciples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciples/) [Disciples Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciples-isn-1671079/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Gathering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gathering/) [Listen Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-teaching-1671080/) [Making Disciples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-disciples-295396/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pupils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pupils/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-people-1139521/) ## Related quotes > [“I wonder, then, why the last thing Jesus told us was to go into the world, making disciples of all nations, teaching them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/i-wonder-then-why-the-last-thing-jesus-told-us-was-to-go-into-the/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [ “\[Jesus said,\] “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.” MATTHEW 13:12 Y” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/jesus-said-to-those-who-listen-to-my-teaching-more-understanding-will/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Making disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching people the Word of Christ and then enabling them to do the same thing in other people’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/making-disciples-by-going-baptizing-and-teaching-people-the-word-of/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [We have to assess: Are we making disciples along the way as we draw people to our churches?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-stetzer/we-have-to-assess-are-we-making-disciples-along-the-way-as-we-draw/) [Ed Stetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-stetzer/) > [“Making Disciples through the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ in the Spirit of Excellence!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blunk/making-disciples-through-the-transforming-power-of-jesus-christ-in/) [Hans Blunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blunk/) > [“Every believer should be able to answer two questions. Who am I discipling? And who is discipling me? Every church should be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-gallaty/every-believer-should-be-able-to-answer-two-questions-who-am-i/) [Robby Gallaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-gallaty/) > [“But attendance, busyness, construction, finances, and programs are not real indications of success. The core question of effectiveness — the question that ultimately matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-putman/but-attendance-busyness-construction-finances-and-programs-are-not/) [Jim Putman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-putman/) > [The church changes the world not by making converts but by making disciples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/the-church-changes-the-world-not-by-making-converts-but-by-making/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [I must add, though, that I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-must-add-though-that-i-don-t-believe-making-disciples-must-equal/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“The New Testament church was all about being and making disciples of Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-putman/the-new-testament-church-was-all-about-being-and-making-disciples-of/) [Jim Putman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-putman/) > [Even though we say Church Growth, we are actually saying, Making Disciples of Christ. Having a large church with only a few true disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/even-though-we-say-church-growth-we-are-actually-saying-making/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Every church needs to be able to answer two questions. First, what is our plan for making disciples? And second, does our plan work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/every-church-needs-to-be-able-to-answer-two-questions-first-what-is/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“we were made to be disciples who make disciples until the day when we see the face of the One we follow, and together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-were-made-to-be-disciples-who-make-disciples-until-the-day-when-we/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Jesus said go and make disciples, but so often we just sit and make excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/jesus-said-go-and-make-disciples-but-so-often-we-just-sit-and-make/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [God my Creator said, 'Go and make disciples.' So I don't want to sit and make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-my-creator-said-go-and-make-disciples-so-i-don-t-want-to-sit-and/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## More by Francis Chan > [If you want to see the big stuff that God has, you've got to take some risk and trust only in the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/if-you-want-to-see-the-big-stuff-that-god-has-you-ve-got-to-take-some/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“In the midst of our failed attempts at loving Jesus, His grace covers us. Each of us has lukewarm elements and practices in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/in-the-midst-of-our-failed-attempts-at-loving-jesus-his-grace-covers/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Jesus' call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/jesus-call-to-commitment-is-clear-he-wants-all-or-nothing/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Yes, it is God who works in you. And, yes, there is work for you to do. Yes, the Spirit empowers you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/yes-it-is-god-who-works-in-you-and-yes-there-is-work-for-you-to-do/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-point-of-your-life-is-to-point-to-him-whatever-you-are-doing-god/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-love-others-but-do-not-seek-to-love-others-as-much-as/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Life is comfortable when you separate yourself from people who are different from you. That epitomizes what my life was like: characterized by comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/life-is-comfortable-when-you-separate-yourself-from-people-who-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Christ can come back at any time so the one thing you want to have in your life is a focused prayer time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/christ-can-come-back-at-any-time-so-the-one-thing-you-want-to-have-in/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“Awe Factor” video at www.crazylovebook.com to get a taste of the awe factor of our God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/awe-factor-video-at-www-crazylovebook-com-to-get-a-taste-of-the-awe/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“What I want you to do right now is to go online and look at the “Awe Factor” video at www.crazylovebook.com to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/what-i-want-you-to-do-right-now-is-to-go-online-and-look-at-the-awe/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Multi-tasking is keeping me from whole-hearted worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/multi-tasking-is-keeping-me-from-whole-hearted-worship/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The stress that some of us feel - it's a lack of faith, it really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/the-stress-that-some-of-us-feel-it-s-a-lack-of-faith-it-really-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [We have become dangerously comfortable- believers ooze with wealth and let their addictions to comfort and security numb the radical urgency of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-have-become-dangerously-comfortable-believers-ooze-with-wealth-and/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Not being able to understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/not-being-able-to-understand-god-is-frustrating-but-it-is-ridiculous/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) [Explore all 479 Francis Chan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) ## More Disciple quotes > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. 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Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed... My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is in God's hands...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-madrid/i-am-part-of-the-fellowship-of-the-unashamed-my-past-is-redeemed-my/) [Patrick Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-madrid/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [It is conceivable that God might have ordained to preach the Gospel directly to man through dreams, visions and revelations. But as a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/it-is-conceivable-that-god-might-have-ordained-to-preach-the-gospel/) [J. 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