SpiriseBible
🌳 Meet Robert Davis: The Spiritual Multiplication Expert
In a coffee shop corner that has become his unofficial office, 72-year-old Robert Davis meets with his current group of seven men, ranging in age from 22 to 58. This scene has repeated itself weekly for 45 years, with different faces but the same purpose: spiritual multiplication through intentional discipleship.
Robert's legacy isn't measured in buildings or programs, but in people—over 400 individuals he has personally discipled, who have gone on to disciple thousands of others. His simple philosophy: "You can't give what you don't have, and you can't keep what you don't share."
🤝 On Selecting and Starting Disciples
Young Leader: "Robert, how do you choose who to disciple?"
Robert: "Great question! I look for what I call the 'F.A.T.' qualities—Faithful, Available, and Teachable. Not the smartest person, not the most charismatic, but someone who shows up consistently, makes time for growth, and doesn't think they already know everything."
"Jesus chose fishermen, not theologians. I look for people who are hungry to grow, willing to be vulnerable about their struggles, and committed to passing on what they learn. I'd rather spend two years with one person who will disciple others than twenty years with someone who just wants to be discipled."
📈 The Power of Spiritual Multiplication
Robert's 45-Year Discipleship Tree
Generation 1 (1978-1985): The Foundation
12 men discipled - Young professionals and college students who learned basic discipleship principles
Generation 2 (1985-1995): The Multiplication Begins
72 individuals - First generation disciples each mentoring 6 others on average
Generation 3 (1995-2005): The Expansion
400+ disciples - Second generation creating a network of mentoring relationships
Generation 4 (2005-2015): The Movement
2,000+ impacted - Third generation disciples leading churches, missions, and businesses
Generation 5 (2015-Present): The Legacy
10,000+ influenced - Fourth generation disciples on every continent, in every profession
🛤️ On the Discipleship Journey
Young Leader: "What does your discipleship process actually look like?"
Robert: "I use what I call the 'Jesus Model'—He spent three years with twelve men, focusing on character formation, not just knowledge transfer. My process has three phases: Foundation (months 1-12), Formation (year 2), and Multiplication (year 3)."
"Foundation year is about spiritual basics—prayer, Bible study, evangelism, Christian living. Formation year goes deeper—theology, character development, spiritual gifts, life purpose. Multiplication year is about them learning to disciple others. By year three, they're not just being discipled—they're doing the discipling."
🎯 45 Years of Discipleship Insights
The Davis Discipleship Principles
- Life-on-Life, Not Program-to-Person: "Discipleship happens in real life, not just in Bible studies. I invite disciples into my family dinners, my struggles, my daily decisions."
- Model Before You Teach: "They need to see faith lived out, not just talked about. Your life is your curriculum."
- Ask Questions, Don't Give Lectures: "Socratic method works better than sermonizing. Help them discover truth rather than just downloading information."
- Focus on Character, Not Just Competence: "Skills can be taught quickly; character is formed slowly. Spend most of your time on who they're becoming, not just what they're doing."
- Expect Graduation: "Successful discipleship ends with independence, not dependence. Train them to mentor others, then celebrate when they do."
💔 On When Disciples Fall Away
Young Leader: "How do you handle it when someone you've invested in walks away from faith?"
Robert: "Oh, that's the hardest part of discipleship ministry. I've watched young men I poured my heart into fall into addiction, adultery, or just spiritual apathy. It breaks my heart every time."
"But I learned something from a wise mentor early on: my job is to be faithful, not successful. I plant and water; God gives the growth. Even Jesus lost Judas—not because He was a poor discipler, but because people have free will. I grieve the losses, pray for the prodigals, and keep investing in those who are ready to receive what God wants to give them."
✨ Transformational Mentoring Moments
When Everything Clicked
Story 1: "I was meeting with Tom, a successful businessman who was spiritually frustrated. For months, he couldn't understand why God seemed distant. One Tuesday morning, I asked him to show me his calendar. Packed solid, 70-hour weeks, no margin for anything. 'Tom,' I said, 'you wouldn't treat an important client this way. How are you treating the most important relationship in your life?' That question changed everything. He restructured his entire schedule around spiritual priorities."
Story 2: "Marcus was a brilliant seminary graduate who could quote theology but struggled to connect with ordinary people. I took him to homeless ministry for six months. Watching him learn to share the gospel with someone who hadn't showered in days taught him more about incarnational ministry than any textbook could. Now he pastors one of the most effective urban churches in our city."
🌲 The Discipleship Tree: How One Life Multiplies
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2
🔢 The Mathematics of Multiplication
Robert's Four-Generation Vision:
- You: One person committed to discipleship
- Generation 1: You disciple 5 people over 3 years
- Generation 2: Each disciples 5 others = 25 people
- Generation 3: Each disciples 5 others = 125 people
- Generation 4: Each disciples 5 others = 625 people
"In just 12 years, one faithful disciple-maker can influence 625 people for the kingdom. That's the power of multiplication over addition."
👨👧👦 On Spiritual Parenting vs. Spiritual Teaching
Young Leader: "What's the difference between teaching someone and parenting them spiritually?"
Robert: "Ah, that's the heart of discipleship! Teachers transfer information; spiritual parents transfer life. A teacher shows up for the scheduled class. A spiritual parent is available when their spiritual child has a crisis at 2 AM."
"Paul said to the Corinthians, 'I became your father through the gospel.' Spiritual parenting means you're invested in their character, their choices, their growth, their failures, and their victories. You celebrate their wins and walk with them through their struggles. It's not a program—it's a relationship."
📋 The Davis Discipleship Methodology
The Three-Year Journey
Year 1: Foundation Building
- Weekly one-on-one meetings
- Basic spiritual disciplines training
- Character assessment and development
- Accountability in daily life choices
- Scripture memory and study habits
Year 2: Spiritual Formation
- Deeper theological understanding
- Ministry involvement and skill development
- Spiritual gifts discovery and application
- Leadership opportunities in small settings
- Personal mission and calling clarification
Year 3: Multiplication Training
- Learning to identify potential disciples
- Mentoring skills development
- Oversight of their first discipleship relationships
- Launching into independent ministry
- Establishing ongoing relationship as peer/friend
🏆 On Building Eternal Legacy
Young Leader: "How do you measure success in discipleship ministry?"
Robert: "Success isn't how many people I've discipled—it's how many people my disciples have discipled. I don't want to be remembered as a great mentor; I want to be forgotten as the grandfather of a great movement."
"My greatest joy is getting Christmas cards from people I've never met—spiritual great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. When someone tells me, 'My mentor's mentor was influenced by you,' I know the multiplication is working. That's legacy—when your influence outlives you and continues growing exponentially."
🌱 Growing Your Own Discipleship Tree
You don't need special training to begin discipling others. Robert's wisdom shows that anyone can multiply their spiritual influence:
🎯 Starting Your Discipleship Journey
- Begin with One: Don't try to disciple a crowd. Start with one faithful, available, teachable person
- Share Your Journey: Teach from your experience, not just from textbooks. Vulnerability creates connection
- Meet Regularly: Consistency builds trust and creates momentum for spiritual growth
- Focus on Character: Skills are important, but character determines longevity and impact
- Plan for Graduation: From day one, prepare them to disciple others. Success is measured by their independence, not their dependence
🎓 Robert's Final Mentoring Lesson
After 45 years of discipleship, Robert's ultimate wisdom:
"A student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher." Luke 6:40
"The scariest part of discipleship is realizing that your disciples will become like you—not just in knowledge, but in character, priorities, and spiritual maturity. This verse keeps me on my knees, constantly asking God to make me worthy of imitation."
"I don't disciple people to make them like me—I disciple them to make them like Jesus. But I've learned that they'll catch my heart attitudes, my prayer habits, my integrity level, and my love for God's Word. The question isn't whether they'll imitate you—it's whether you're living a life worth imitating."
🔄 Your Discipleship Opportunity
Every Christian can participate in spiritual multiplication:
💪 This Week's Discipleship Challenge
- Identify Your Sphere: Who in your life could benefit from spiritual mentoring?
- Start Small: Invite one person to join you for regular coffee and spiritual conversation
- Share Your Story: Be vulnerable about your own spiritual journey and growth areas
- Ask Good Questions: Instead of giving advice, ask questions that help them discover truth
- Pray for Multiplication: Ask God to raise up disciples who will disciple others
🙏 Multiplication Prayer
Lord Jesus, You invested three years in twelve men who changed the world. Thank You for faithful disciples like Robert who understand that the Great Commission is fulfilled through multiplication, not just addition.
Help us to see discipleship not as an optional church program, but as the heartbeat of Christian living. Give us eyes to see the potential in others, hearts to invest in their spiritual growth, and wisdom to model a life worth imitating.
Whether we're being discipled or discipling others, help us to remember that transformation happens in relationship. Make us faithful spiritual parents who raise up spiritual children who will become spiritual parents themselves. Let our lives multiply Your love through generations we may never meet but will celebrate with in eternity. Amen.