How Core Discipleship Reflects the Heart of John Wesley’s Approach

As I’ve walked with people in Core Discipleship, I’ve often been surprised by how much our simple, biblical approach echoes what John Wesley did hundreds of years ago in England. He wasn’t trying to start a new denomination—just like we’re not trying to build an organization. He simply wanted to help everyday people follow Jesus in a deeper, more committed way. That same desire fuels Core Discipleship.

Before I share the similarities, here’s a little background on Wesley that helped me understand his heart and vision more clearly.

A Bit About John Wesley

John Wesley was an Anglican priest in the 1700s during a time when the church in England had become cold, formal, and disconnected from everyday people—especially the poor. He and his brother Charles began to preach a message of personal conversion, holiness, and grace through faith in Christ. But what made Wesley different wasn’t just his preaching—it was his method.

He organized new believers into small groups for spiritual growth and accountability. These weren’t just church meetings—they were communities where people shared life, confessed sin, prayed together, and helped one another live like Jesus. Over time, these groups became the foundation of what we now know as the Methodist movement.

Wesley once said, “There is no holiness apart from social holiness.” In other words, if our walk with Jesus doesn’t impact our relationships, it’s not the real thing.

This deeply connects with how we practice discipleship today.

Small Groups Where Life Is Shared and Faith Grows

In Core Discipleship, we meet in small Core Groups—usually in homes. These are places where people can be honest, study Scripture together, pray for one another, and encourage each other to follow Jesus in real life.

Like Jesus’ “inner core” of three—Peter, James, and John—a Core Discipleship Group is made up of three and no more than four believers of the same gender who intentionally grow in relationship with God and one another. This isn’t just a Bible study group—it’s a spiritual family. Core is a biblical process that can build a life-transforming network of discipleship and community in your church or ministry where no one stands alone, struggles alone, develops alone, or grows up alone.

Wesley’s class meetings and bands worked the same way. He saw that real change doesn’t happen in the crowd—it happens in close community.

In my experience, people change the most when they know they’re safe to be honest—and when they’re encouraged to obey Jesus step by step. Our Core Groups aren’t about impressing anyone. They’re about real growth in real life.

Accountability That Helps Us Grow in Obedience

Discipleship isn’t just about information—it’s about transformation. In our Core Groups, we ask questions like: “How have you obeyed what God showed you last week?” and “Who did you share with?”

Wesley’s groups practiced similar accountability. They regularly asked, “How is your soul?” and helped each other walk in holiness—not out of pressure, but because they genuinely cared for one another’s spiritual health.

I’ve seen people cry, repent, and find healing in these moments of accountability. When it’s done in love, accountability becomes a gift—not a burden.

Focus on the Margins—Reaching the Overlooked

In Core, we encourage disciples to reach out to those who might feel overlooked or excluded from traditional church settings. Many of the 300+ Core Groups across Asia and Africa are walking with Muslims, Hindus, and families in places where the gospel has rarely, if ever, been heard.

Wesley was deeply burdened for the poor, the working class, and people who felt ignored by the established church. He preached in open fields, in coal mines, and wherever people would listen—even though religious leaders criticized him for it.

In my own ministry, I’ve visited with people who had never heard the name of Jesus before. That’s where the gospel shines brightest—on the margins.

Raising Up Everyday Leaders

We believe every believer has a role in making disciples. In our movement, people don’t need formal titles to lead. If they’re walking with Jesus, we help them lead a Core Group and make disciples.

Wesley believed the same. He trained lay preachers—ordinary people, both men and women—who could teach and disciple others.

One of our training directors was a former village imam (Muslim who leads prayers in a Mosque). After he believed and was taught how to make disciples, he began discipling others right away. He didn’t wait to be perfect—he just obeyed.

Obedience-Based, Not Just Knowledge-Based

We want people to apply what they learn. In every Core Group, we ask, “What is God saying to you?” and “What will you do about it?” The goal isn’t head knowledge—it’s heart change and obedience.

Wesley also emphasized practical holiness. He didn’t want people to just believe the right things—he wanted them to live it out.

I’ve seen people take small steps of obedience—like forgiving someone or sharing the gospel—and it has changed their whole family. That’s the fruit we’re after.

Spirit-Led, But Also Intentional

We follow the Spirit, but we also use simple, reproducible tools like How to Make Disciples to help people grow. This structure helps everyone engage with Scripture, not just those with formal training.

Wesley’s approach was very intentional. People even nicknamed his followers “Methodists” because of how disciplined and structured they were. But for him, the structure was meant to support—not replace—the work of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve found that structure doesn’t grieve the Spirit—it actually helps people stay consistent. When we’re faithful with simple tools, the Holy Spirit often moves in powerful ways.

What We’re Seeing Today

It appears what we read in the Book of Acts is happening again in Bangladesh, Uganda, and other places around the world. These movements are spreading the gospel and discipling people, helping churches reach their communities more efficiently and effectively.

Core Discipleship is being used as a disciple-making process, along with free training and resources that are biblical, simple, organic, and easily reproducible. It’s currently being used in 40+ locations across six continents.

Over the past two years, by God’s grace, we’ve seen nearly 60,000 people evangelized, 5,372 people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and 2,089 people baptized. We’ve also seen more than 300 people complete Core Discipleship Leader Training, and the number of Core Groups has now exceeded 300.

These are not just numbers to us—they’re people, stories, and lives changed. We give all glory to God, who is moving far beyond what we could ask or imagine.

When I think about Wesley’s life and the movement he sparked, I’m reminded that discipleship isn’t new. What we’re doing in Core Discipleship is part of a long tradition of following Jesus closely, together, in community. Whether in 18th-century England or a 21st-century Bangladeshi village, the goal is still the same: help people love God, love others, and make disciples who do the same.