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How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple
God wants to use you right where you are.
Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” can feel complicated and overwhelming. Do you wonder where to start, what it looks like, and how to fit this making-disciples thing into your busy schedule? You’re not alone.
Drawing on cutting-edge research from The Navigators and Barna Group, Alice Matagora invites you to enter Jesus’ plan to save the world wherever you are. She understands your anxieties (because she’s experienced them) and helps you to break down barriers, pointing you to the joy of engaged knowing Christ, making him known, and helping others do the same.
Her book includes plenty of support to equip you right where you are today!
No matter who you are, what you do, or where you are in your disciplemaking journey, How to Save the World will help you find joy and confidence as you discover practical ways to share your faith as you join God in saving the world right where you live.
Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” can feel complicated and overwhelming. Do you wonder where to start, what it looks like, and how to fit this making-disciples thing into your busy schedule? You’re not alone.
Drawing on cutting-edge research from The Navigators and Barna Group, Alice Matagora invites you to enter Jesus’ plan to save the world wherever you are. She understands your anxieties (because she’s experienced them) and helps you to break down barriers, pointing you to the joy of engaged knowing Christ, making him known, and helping others do the same.
Her book includes plenty of support to equip you right where you are today!
No matter who you are, what you do, or where you are in your disciplemaking journey, How to Save the World will help you find joy and confidence as you discover practical ways to share your faith as you join God in saving the world right where you live.
- GenresChristianityChristian
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2022
13 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 11, 2023
Very practical and helpful in understanding why and how to disciple, as well as gives helpful understanding of diversity across age and race.
August 9, 2022
Does disciplemaking have to be difficult? In How to Save the World, Alice Matagora casts her vision for disciplemaking made simple.
Discipleship is Deeply Personal
The book begins by examining how Jesus made disciples. As the original disciplemaker, he revealed who God is and what his kingdom is about. He taught the disciples how to have a relationship with God. Matagora shows how discipleship is deeply personal. Jesus and his disciples lived life together amongst the lost. He equipped the disciples with all they needed to continue his disciple making work when he would leave. Yes, it would have been more efficient for Jesus to use miraculous means to make his disciples. Instead, Jesus calls his disciples to join him in the story in building the kingdom.
By looking at data from the Barna group, we see a variety of revealing statistics with relevant analysis by Matagora. While GenZ Christians report an interest in disciple making, older generations do not. This is a problem because disciple making relationships often involves someone more spiritually mature and typically older investing in someone who is younger. Key ingredients in a disciplemaker involve Jesus, the word, community, the lost, and spiritual generations. After each chapter are sections on every day disciplemaker case studies. They reveal that disciplemaking is unique, yet realistic.
Cultural Considerations in Disciplemaking
What was most meaningful to me was Matagora’s understanding of cultural considerations when it comes to disciple making. For instance, because Asian Hispanic and African cultures are generally more collectivistic, the importance of community is stressed. Minority group experiences in our country play a part in their collectivistic leanings. Matagora speaks of how she grew up as one of the few Asian Americans in a majority white area, and she speaks of the racism she survived with the help of her Chinese church.
I was most moved in Chapter 4 where Matagoria speaks openly and honestly about her eating disorder. During a season of depression and loneliness during her college years, she withdrew from school for a year and a half to receive professional medical treatment for anorexia nervosa. She entered into an unhealthy dating relationship and started spending more than what she made. She would transfer to UC Irvine as a sophomore, and it was here where she would find a relationship with Christ through the Navigators campus ministry.
Motivations for Making Disciples
Interestingly enough, Matagora was struck by how ordinary everyone was. They were simply Christians who loved the Bible. While she wasn’t discipled immediately, the discipleship culture would cause her to be around older, mature Christian women. She would eventually enter into a discipleship relationship with a woman named Jane, and she would learn how to read the Bible and pray. She would learn how to engage with God and walk with Jesus on her own. She finally felt free.
After struggling with infertility, Matagora became a mother when she was 37 years old. As a parent, she shares how she now better understands the motivations for disciplemaking. By looking at more data from Barna, she goes into detail about four qualities that are common to disciplemakers and their mindset: optimistic for change, accountability driven, relationally motivated, and growth minded. The study is revealing, and can help you as you challenge yourself as a disciple and disciple maker.
Barriers to Disciplemaking
I was most challenged when learning about the barriers to disciplemaking . These include a lack of resourcing, prioritizing disciplemaking among other responsibilities, not wanting to “make it weird,” and a lack of confidence in disciplemaking. Matagora challenges us to intentionality and investment. Specifically we should invest in people who are faithful, available, intentional, teachable, and have a heart for God and people. Creating a road-map for the discipling relationship as well as a follow-up plan would be helpful. Topics to cover include the gospel and the basics of the Christian life. More mature Christians can focus on the Great Commission and begin to teach the Bible to others.
The book ends with a question, asking if you would want to see what God would do. But this doesn’t happen overnight. Discipleship is for the long haul. This book does not make the discipleship process to be like that of a machine. Being vulnerable and open to brokenness is difficult. Identifying issues of the heart takes hard work. As a therapist, Matagora is quick to caution that disciplemaking is not the same as counseling and it is not meant to replace it. Discipling in relational conflicts, broken systems, and amongst the lost will take sensitivity. What I found most helpful was how Matagora speaks on disciplemaking across cultures and socioeconomic groups. She calls us to first understand our own cultural lenses, biases, and privileges and then to become students of those we are discipling. Jesus is Lord of all and is sufficient to meet all of our needs.
I received a media copy of How to Save the World and this is my honest review.
Discipleship is Deeply Personal
The book begins by examining how Jesus made disciples. As the original disciplemaker, he revealed who God is and what his kingdom is about. He taught the disciples how to have a relationship with God. Matagora shows how discipleship is deeply personal. Jesus and his disciples lived life together amongst the lost. He equipped the disciples with all they needed to continue his disciple making work when he would leave. Yes, it would have been more efficient for Jesus to use miraculous means to make his disciples. Instead, Jesus calls his disciples to join him in the story in building the kingdom.
By looking at data from the Barna group, we see a variety of revealing statistics with relevant analysis by Matagora. While GenZ Christians report an interest in disciple making, older generations do not. This is a problem because disciple making relationships often involves someone more spiritually mature and typically older investing in someone who is younger. Key ingredients in a disciplemaker involve Jesus, the word, community, the lost, and spiritual generations. After each chapter are sections on every day disciplemaker case studies. They reveal that disciplemaking is unique, yet realistic.
Cultural Considerations in Disciplemaking
What was most meaningful to me was Matagora’s understanding of cultural considerations when it comes to disciple making. For instance, because Asian Hispanic and African cultures are generally more collectivistic, the importance of community is stressed. Minority group experiences in our country play a part in their collectivistic leanings. Matagora speaks of how she grew up as one of the few Asian Americans in a majority white area, and she speaks of the racism she survived with the help of her Chinese church.
I was most moved in Chapter 4 where Matagoria speaks openly and honestly about her eating disorder. During a season of depression and loneliness during her college years, she withdrew from school for a year and a half to receive professional medical treatment for anorexia nervosa. She entered into an unhealthy dating relationship and started spending more than what she made. She would transfer to UC Irvine as a sophomore, and it was here where she would find a relationship with Christ through the Navigators campus ministry.
Motivations for Making Disciples
Interestingly enough, Matagora was struck by how ordinary everyone was. They were simply Christians who loved the Bible. While she wasn’t discipled immediately, the discipleship culture would cause her to be around older, mature Christian women. She would eventually enter into a discipleship relationship with a woman named Jane, and she would learn how to read the Bible and pray. She would learn how to engage with God and walk with Jesus on her own. She finally felt free.
After struggling with infertility, Matagora became a mother when she was 37 years old. As a parent, she shares how she now better understands the motivations for disciplemaking. By looking at more data from Barna, she goes into detail about four qualities that are common to disciplemakers and their mindset: optimistic for change, accountability driven, relationally motivated, and growth minded. The study is revealing, and can help you as you challenge yourself as a disciple and disciple maker.
Barriers to Disciplemaking
I was most challenged when learning about the barriers to disciplemaking . These include a lack of resourcing, prioritizing disciplemaking among other responsibilities, not wanting to “make it weird,” and a lack of confidence in disciplemaking. Matagora challenges us to intentionality and investment. Specifically we should invest in people who are faithful, available, intentional, teachable, and have a heart for God and people. Creating a road-map for the discipling relationship as well as a follow-up plan would be helpful. Topics to cover include the gospel and the basics of the Christian life. More mature Christians can focus on the Great Commission and begin to teach the Bible to others.
The book ends with a question, asking if you would want to see what God would do. But this doesn’t happen overnight. Discipleship is for the long haul. This book does not make the discipleship process to be like that of a machine. Being vulnerable and open to brokenness is difficult. Identifying issues of the heart takes hard work. As a therapist, Matagora is quick to caution that disciplemaking is not the same as counseling and it is not meant to replace it. Discipling in relational conflicts, broken systems, and amongst the lost will take sensitivity. What I found most helpful was how Matagora speaks on disciplemaking across cultures and socioeconomic groups. She calls us to first understand our own cultural lenses, biases, and privileges and then to become students of those we are discipling. Jesus is Lord of all and is sufficient to meet all of our needs.
I received a media copy of How to Save the World and this is my honest review.
August 7, 2023
4.5 stars. The catchphrase “disciple-making made simple” truly fits.
Matagora uses this book to discuss the Biblical postures behind and calling to disciple-making. She does include some survey data for analysis, as well as practical ideas and tips for everyday disciple-makers. It was an easy read for sure, while also giving me some good fuel in moving forward with my own faith and serving.
This book is not a deep dive into disciple-making that more mature or experienced Christians may be looking for, but I would argue that it would still benefit even those who have been making disciples for generations. It definitely is a great book for those newly curious to this whole concept of disciple-making.
Making disciples isn’t intimidating, and as Matagora mentions, you may even be doing it now without realizing it.
Matagora uses this book to discuss the Biblical postures behind and calling to disciple-making. She does include some survey data for analysis, as well as practical ideas and tips for everyday disciple-makers. It was an easy read for sure, while also giving me some good fuel in moving forward with my own faith and serving.
This book is not a deep dive into disciple-making that more mature or experienced Christians may be looking for, but I would argue that it would still benefit even those who have been making disciples for generations. It definitely is a great book for those newly curious to this whole concept of disciple-making.
Making disciples isn’t intimidating, and as Matagora mentions, you may even be doing it now without realizing it.
August 29, 2025
For a book entitled “How to Save the World,” I was hoping for more “how to disciple” than just one chapter dedicated to this topic. I will say chapter 5 and on were very thought provoking and I was very encouraged and bolstered in my desire for disciple making. I appreciated that she had stats to back up her points but I was honestly exhausted by the sheer amount of numbers and graphs in the first half of the book. At the
end of each chapter she shares how people from different demographics and age groups are disciple making in their personal context which was great to see how we can all find a way to teach others how to walk with Jesus in our daily lives.
end of each chapter she shares how people from different demographics and age groups are disciple making in their personal context which was great to see how we can all find a way to teach others how to walk with Jesus in our daily lives.
October 15, 2022
Engaging. Inspiring. I feel both seen & better equipped. A practical and candid look at discipling in the modern world. A splendid succession in thoughts around the Word, current statistics & mostly back to Jesus. Thank you, Alice! This book is a gift.
November 15, 2022
Como começar o discipulado?
Quais as características... quais são os desafios... e como o discipulado pode salvar i mundo...
Um livro super bem informado e que nos motiva a discipular
Quais as características... quais são os desafios... e como o discipulado pode salvar i mundo...
Um livro super bem informado e que nos motiva a discipular
December 20, 2023
Read this for family devotions. It was pretty good with food ideas and suggestions for discipling others.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews