How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple

Featuring original research from The Barna Group on the state of disciplemaking in the American church, How to Save the World is a guidebook for the everyday (read: non-ministry) Christian who is wanting to lean into Jesus’ calling for all of his followers to make disciples of all nations and who needs a little help or motivation along the way.

While only 30% of American Christians are making disciples, the Barna research illuminates some of the most common barriers and challenges to people actually making disciples. It turns out, most are actually quite conquerable! Fear of making it weird, not knowing how to fit another thing into their already busy lives, not feeling equipped enough, and so on.

In this book, I offer some biblical foundations for disciplemaking, informed and targeted solutions to overcome the challenges and barriers brought to light by the Barna research, as well as some concrete and practical perspectives, skills, and tools from my years of experience in disciplemaking ministry to help you start making disciples wherever you live, wherever you are in your journey with Jesus.

I truly believe that as men and women are faithful to Jesus’ calling to make disciples where God has them, together with God we could save the world.

Here’s what some people have to say about the book!

David Kinnaman, President, The Barna Group

Disciplemaking has been an undercurrent of the research we do at Barna from the beginning. That’s because disciplemaking was the original “last call” from Jesus to his followers―the thing we’re each meant to do as we walk with Jesus. The research our team conducted alongside this book demonstrates the urgency of a renewed commitment and imagination for the basic Christian practice of inviting people into a life with Christ.

Ed Stetzer, PhD, Professor and Dean, Wheaton College

With honesty and humility, Alice Matagora encourages believers to be engaged in disciplemaking in their everyday, normal lives. This is the need of the hour. Using helpful information from Barna and employing her training as a therapist, she shows how vital and yet how accessible it is for every believer. If you find yourself a bit hesitant to disciple others, this book will encourage and instruct you to be the disciplemaker you were saved to become

Michelle Ami Reyes, Vice President, Asian American Christian Collaborative, and author of Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures

A book on disciplemaking with sass. With groundbreaking research from Barna, How to Save the World helps us demystify the concept of disciplemaking for the twenty-first century. Alice Matagora interweaves case studies, statistics, and personal anecdotes to offer a useful introductory guide for Christians of all ages on how to create a lineage of faith from one generation to the next. Great for small-group study!

Marvin Campbell, US Navigators President

Alice has masterfully condensed the practice of making disciples into an understandable, step-by-step process. Incorporating current Barna research data, she presents a practical and holistic worldview of disciplemaking within cultural, ethnic, and non-majority people groups. I strongly recommend this book for all believers looking to put their faith into Great Commission action.

Joyce Koo Dalrymple, Pastor of Discipleship and Attorney

This practical and inspiring book demystifies what discipleship is and motivates people to start making disciples, no matter who they are or what they do. Whether you have been following Jesus for five months or fifty years, you will find helpful insights to help you get started, overcome barriers, or become more effective in making disciples. This easy-to-read book is a gem that you will refer to again and again, as you partner with God. Right where you are.

Brandon Cook, Executive director of named ministries; author of learning to live and love like jesus; coauthor of the cost of cheap grace

How to Save the World is a phenomenal resource for normal Christians who know and sense that more is possible in their everyday lives. It is a simple (not simplistic) primer on discipleship and disciplemaking that is both a call to action and a how-to kit. It lays out not only the why of disciplemaking (and how the church has lost its way) but also lots of practical insights into how to become a disciplemaker. This book, quite simply, can radically change someone’s Christian life. It is a phenomenal primer on disciplemaking and a much-needed resource for a church badly in need of a disciplemaking reformation.

publishers weekly (june 2022)

“Readers will appreciate Matagora’s friendly tone and willingness to admit her own hesitations and shortcomings . . . which help make her suggestions feel realistic. Christians looking for advice on spreading God’s message would do well to start here.” [Click here to read more.]

The SOLA Network

“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.” [Click here to read more.]