
What does it mean to follow Jesus today—when life is busy, culture is noisy, and faith can feel like an afterthought?
The Disciple Standard Podcast is a raw, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous conversation about church, Christianity, and living as faithful disciples of Jesus in a modern world. Hosted by pastors Aaron Mamuyac and Scott Vander Ploeg from Sunlight Community Church, this podcast is all about raising the standard of what it means to walk with Christ—not in theory, but in real life.
We talk about spiritual growth, church life, cultural issues, theology, habits, and the real challenges of being a Christian in today’s world. No fluff. Just discipleship that actually matters.
Subscribe and listen today!

Two powers in Christianity never fade: the Gospel and personal relationships. It’s simple: all disciples are called to be disciple-makers. Jesus’ decentralized system of distributed disciple-making promotes exponential growth by multiplication.

Two powers in Christianity never fade: the Gospel and personal relationships. It’s simple: all disciples are called to be disciple-makers. Jesus’ decentralized system of distributed disciple-making promotes exponential growth by multiplication.
Subscribe and listen today!
The Story Behind the Podcast.
We believe something needs to change.
The church has operated on an idea that has been lost over time. Through the Disciple Standard, we are creating a movement that is seeking to upgrade the operating standard of the church. That is where the podcast comes in. This podcast was created to get people thinking and allow others to join our revolutionary movement.
Recent Episodes
What is Your Most Difficult Spiritual Discipline and Why? | Season 3 Episode 7
In Episode 7 of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor Aaron, Pastor Zach, and Pastor Scott dive into the heart of ...spiritual disciplines—why they matter, how to begin them, and how to stay consistent even when it's hard.
We explore:
🙏 What spiritual disciplines are and why they’re life-changing
📖 How to overcome the struggles of staying consistent
🔥 Practical tips to build healthy spiritual rhythms
💡 How investing in spiritual disciplines can transform your walk with God
Whether you're new to spiritual practices or trying to rekindle them, this conversation is full of real, honest encouragement to help you grow.
Invest Booklet: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/356724949/
Invest Sermon: https://youtu.be/_WAKKL--3Wg?si=VGCUPIW-3R2_NGiw
🎙 New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube—don’t forget to subscribe to The Disciple Standard Podcast!
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
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In Episode 7 of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor Aaron, Pastor Zach, and Pastor Scott dive into the heart of ...spiritual disciplines—why they matter, how to begin them, and how to stay consistent even when it's hard.
We explore:
🙏 What spiritual disciplines are and why they’re life-changing
📖 How to overcome the struggles of staying consistent
🔥 Practical tips to build healthy spiritual rhythms
💡 How investing in spiritual disciplines can transform your walk with God
Whether you're new to spiritual practices or trying to rekindle them, this conversation is full of real, honest encouragement to help you grow.
Invest Booklet: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/356724949/
Invest Sermon: https://youtu.be/_WAKKL--3Wg?si=VGCUPIW-3R2_NGiw
🎙 New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube—don’t forget to subscribe to The Disciple Standard Podcast!
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https://disciplestandard.com/
Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/
Connect with us - https://multiply222.com[+] Show More

Sign up for the PRoS Worship Service
https://sunlightcc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/947752
📖 Episode Timestamps: The Disciple Standard Podcast
00:00 – A New Worship Service? What Are We Even Doing
00:50 – Meet the Maestro and the Bishop: Worship and Wisdom Collide
01:28 – Kids Worship Like You've Never Heard Before
02:05 – Reacting to a Viral Worship Moment
02:38 – Glow Sticks for Easter: Creative or Cringe?
03:52 – Worship as a Celebration: Is That Biblical?
04:27 – Wrapping Up the Evening Psalms Series
04:56 – A Catholic Critique of Protestant Worship
06:00 – “Protestant Worship Is Gross” – Over-the-Top or Honest?
07:26 – What Is True Christianity Anyway?
08:29 – Should Worship Be Cultural or Counter-Cultural?
09:14 – Mystery or Clarity: Which Makes Worship More Holy?
10:31 – Can Worship Be Both Culturally Relevant and Spiritually Deep?
11:46 – When Worship Tries Too Hard to Be Cool
12:17 – From Beatles Sundays to Buzz Lightyear in Church
13:24 – Is Church Division Killing the Church Itself?
14:01 – How Will the World Know We Are Christians?
14:36 – A Catholic Funeral and the Power of the Eucharist
15:53 – Do Catholics Re-Sacrifice Jesus in Every Mass?
16:20 – Are Our Worship Services Missing the Point?
17:35 – How Culture Shapes Worship Expression
18:19 – Are Glow Sticks Corny or Contextual?
19:21 – What Does “Corny” Really Mean in Worship?
20:09 – Are We Entertaining or Ministering to Spiritual Needs?
21:22 – The Gospel Is the Real Need—Are We Centering It?
23:11 – How Music and Lyrics Shape Our View of God
24:13 – Sponsor: Melissa Dodie of Meaningful Moments
24:46 – Launching the Public Reading of Scripture Worship Service
25:26 – Could Listening to the Bible Together Change Everything?
27:30 – What Worship Looked Like in Jesus' Day
29:03 – Why Ancient Worship Services Included 45 Minutes of Bible Reading
30:24 – The Bible Was Meant to Be Heard, Not Just Read
31:57 – Literate, Yet Still Listening: Why It Matters
33:04 – What the Early Church Did Every Sunday
34:41 – Should We Preach Less and Read More Scripture?
36:26 – Are We Giving God’s Word Enough Time on Sunday?
37:36 – What if Most Christians Aren’t Reading the Bible at Home?
38:07 – Why Singing the Psalms Might Change Everything
39:04 – How Singing Scripture Leads to Memorization
40:42 – Can You Modernize the Psalms Without Losing the Meaning?
41:26 – The Psalms Were Jesus’ Worship Playlist
42:32 – Church Councils Once Banned All Non-Psalm Worship Songs
43:48 – Memorizing All 150 Psalms: Once a Requirement
45:02 – The Reformation and the Return to Psalm Singing
46:44 – Singing Psalms Was Once the Norm in Every Church
48:38 – God Gave the Lyrics—You Provide the Tune
49:57 – Why Modern Worship Might Be Missing Something
51:42 – What the Psalms Offer That Today’s Worship Songs Don’t
52:59 – What the New Worship Service Will Look Like
53:53 – A Sunday of Breakfast, Psalms, and Scripture
55:23 – Two Services, One Mission: Hearing from God
56:36 – Could This Worship Experiment Spark Renewal?
💐 Special thanks to our sponsor, Meaningful Moments and Events by Melissa! From weddings to ministry events, Melissa brings purpose and beauty to every moment. Check her out on social media to learn more! https://meaningfulmomentsandeventsbymelissa.com/
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
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Connect with us - https://multiply222.com[+] Show More

In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor Aaron, ...Pastor Zach, and Pastor Scott dive into the controversial topic of AI in the church.
We discuss:
🤖 The power of AI and its potential dangers
📖 Should pastors use AI to write sermons?
🧐 Is AI moral, and can it be Spirit-led?
🔍 What aspects of faith and leadership are irreplaceable by AI?
🚀 The future of AI and how it will shape the church
With technology evolving rapidly, it’s crucial to ask: Is AI a tool to advance the Kingdom, or is it something to be cautious of?
🎙 New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube! Subscribe now!
📸 Special thanks to our sponsor, Jake Motisi Photography! If you’re looking for stunning, professional photography, visit jakemotisiphotography.mypixieset.com to check out his work!
Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:38 | Intro
00:38 - 03:34 | Exciting Updates at Sunlight
03:34 - 22:58 | Power of Ai
22:58 - 24:10 | Sponsor
24:10 - 31:49 | Power of Ai
31:49 - 35:23 | Using Ai for bad
35:23 - 43:06 | Future of Ai
43:06 - 51:37 | Ai for sermons
51:37 - 54:26 | Danger of Ai
54:26 - 01:00:05 | Is AI Ethical for Christians?
01:00:05 - 01:05:05 | Can AI Be Led by the Holy Spirit?
01:05:05 - 01:07:11 | What AI Can Never Replace in Ministry
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In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor Aaron, Pastor Zach, and special guest ...Seron Brown (Sunlight’s Worship Director) unpack the true heart behind corporate worship.
We discuss:
🎶 What is the real goal of worship?
🎤 How does leadership play a role in worship ministry?
🤝 How do you go from full control to trusting volunteers?
🔥 What makes a strong leader, and how do we raise them up?
📖 Why rotating preachers is healthy for a church
Worship isn’t just about the songs—it’s about leading people into the presence of God. If you’re a worship leader, pastor, or just someone who loves worship, this episode is for you!
🎙 New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube! Subscribe now!
🙌 Special thanks to our sponsor, Nicole Vasco Copywriter! If you need high-quality writing for your business or ministry, visit https://nicolevasco.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 - 01:14 | Intro
01:14 - 04:30 | Who is Seron Brown?
04:30 - 08:57 | Cultural Differences
08:57 - 12:07 | Music Influences Growing Up
12:07 - 18:01 | Upcoming Highlights in Worship
18:01 - 22:01 | The Goal of Corporate Worship
22:01 - 25:05 | A Changing Perspective on Worship
25:05 - 28:33 | Is Production a Distraction in Worship?
28:33 - 31:20 | Hymns
31:20 - 37:09 | Seron’s Journey to Article 43
37:09 - 39:22 | The Power of Leadership
39:22 - 41:36 | Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
41:36 - 46:06 | Reflection of Overconfidence
46:06 - 46:59 | How to Let Go of Control and Empower Volunteers
46:59 - 47:53 | Nicole Vasco Sponsor
47:53 - 52:41 | Key Qualities to Look for in Developing Leaders
52:41 - 55:17 | Feelings on preaching for the first time
55:17 - 01:01:16 | Benefits of rotation of preachers
01:01:16 - 01:06:45 | Will It Preach?
01:06:45 - 01:13:07 | Outro
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
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We’ll explore:
🔹 How to determine your calling and step into it with confidence
🔹 Overcoming fear when stepping into leadership
🔹 The key qualities to look for in future leaders
🔹 A simple, practical framework for raising up leaders
🔹 Advice for current and future leaders in ministry and beyond
If you're searching for clarity in your calling or looking to develop as a leader, this episode is for you!
🎙 New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube!
Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:48 | Intro
00:48 - 04:34 | Who is Pastor Zach?
04:34 - 09:01 | Go until someone says stop
09:01 - 12:24 | Stop until someone says go
12:24 - 21:20 | Qualities in a leader
21:20 - 24:42 | Why Zach felt ready to become campus pastor
24:42 - 31:27 | How to determine your calling
31:27 - 33:39 | How to handle fear when God has called you
33:39 - 35:12 | Seeking out leaders
35:12 - 37:52 | Qualities in a leader to look for
37:52 - 42:55 | Leadership training mistakes
42:55 - 45:10 | Is constantly raising leaders typical?
45:10 - 48:03 | Societal Influence of pastors
48:03 - 51:36 | What to look for in a pastor
51:36 - 54:57 | Framework for raising leaders
54:57 - 59:48 | Friendships in Christ
59:48 - 01:01:43 | Advice for any leader
01:01:43 - 01:03:39 | Fear when called
01:03:39 - 01:04:22 | Outro
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Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/
Connect with us - https://multiply222.com[+] Show More

In this episode, Pastor Aaron and Pastor Scott tackle the hard questions:
🔹 Why are fewer people attending church?
🔹 Is there a leadership crisis in ministry?
🔹 Why are seminary students less prepared than before?
🔹 What is the most effective approach to discipleship today?
The decline of the church isn’t just a numbers issue—it’s a discipleship issue. The first step in rebuilding the church starts with making true disciples who disciple others. Join us for this eye-opening discussion as we explore real solutions to strengthen the body of Christ.
🎙 New episodes every Thursday on YouTube! Subscribe now!
222Discipleship ⬇️
https://222disciple.com/en
Join PROs ⬇️
https://www.proscripture.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 - 02:59 | Statistics on Decline
02:59 - 11:00 | Why do you think church has declined?
11:00 - 20:44 | What can we do to fix decline?
20:44 - 23:47 | What can we do to fix decline?
23:47 - 26:31 | Leadership crisis
26:31 - 31:23 | How is this effecting seminaries?
31:23 - 33:27 | Consensus of church decline and leadership crisis
33:27 - 36:10 | How to solve this church decline problem?
36:10 - 37:53 | Make Disciples vs Making Disciples to Make Disciples
37:53 - 38:51 | Is a disciple only a disciple until they start teaching?
38:51 - 41:20 | Can everyone be a teacher?
41:20 - 45:32 | First step to fixing church decline
45:32 - 47:57 | What is the most effective approach to discipleship?
47:57 - 53:13 | Slow to go fast, deep to go wide
53:13 - 54:52 | How do I start discipleship?
54:52 - 59:39 | Impact of 222Discipleship
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/
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Join us as we explore the early church’s practice of public Scripture reading, the importance of one-on-one discipleship, and how the Psalms can be recaptured as model prayers for today. We’ll also discuss the growing demand for excellence in churches and ask—what kind of Christian does that build?
Join PROs ⬇️
https://www.proscripture.com/
222Discipleship ⬇️
https://222disciple.com/en
Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:14 | Intro to The Disciple Standard Podcast
00:14 - 2:12 | What to expect from new DSP format
2:12 - 6:42 | What is Pastor Scott most excited about in 2025?
6:42 - 12:04 | How do you define modern church?
12:04 - 13:00 | What did people want more of from church?
13:00 - 15:37 | The rise of church shopping
15:37 - 19:32 | The demand of quality of churches
19:32 - 23:42 | Why bible literacy has decreased
23:42 - 25:15 | PROs of the early church
25:15 - 33:13 | Benefit of having the scripture read out loud
33:13 - 34:08 | PROs history
34:08 - 36:49 | The more you read the Bible the more you want the bible
36:49 - 42:26 | Why is the desire to read the Bible stronger when you start reading it?
42:26 - 47:50 | PROs and Discipleship
47:50 - 50:56 | Transform your life with the Bible
50:56 - 53:07 | Recapturing scripture
53:07 - 58:06 | Praying through the Psalms
58:06 - 1:02:06 | Praying practice
1:02:06 - 1:07:35 | Early church history of psalms
1:07:35 - 1:11:17 | How do we recapture the psalms for people today?
1:11:17 - 1:12:30 | Creating systems
1:12:30 - 1:15:00 | Outro to The Disciple Standard Podcast
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
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Welcome back to the Disciple Standard Podcast! We're back with more content ready than ever. Kicking off our Season 2, Scott and Jake talk about what we've been ...doing while we're away, and dive into or vision for the future![+] Show More

Follow us on social media to stay updated throughout the week. @thedisciplestandard
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@thedisciplestandard
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What People Say






What is 222 Disciple?
All true disciples of Jesus are called to become disciple-makers. We have developed a process called 222Disciple, which prepares and equips every believer to join in Jesus’ mission and learn how to become disciple-makers.
222Disciple is a robust discipleship program experienced through a one-on-one relationship. This comprehensive course is squarely built upon the Gospel (Sin – Salvation – Service) and includes 27-lessons. The design is clear: we long to “make disciples who make disciples” taking inspiration both from the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and II Timothy 2:2. 222Disciple also leverages two powerful realities–the power of the Gospel and the power of genuine personal relationships.
This will be life-changing in and of itself. But the real change will come as you move from being a receiver to a giver. If it is time to take your faith to the next level, this is exactly the right step to take!
Meet Your Host

Scott Vander Ploeg
Scott Vander Ploeg is the founder of 222Disciple and has been the senior pastor at Sunlight Community Church of Port Saint Lucie since 2004. He began this ministry in the early 2000’s, which was called Sunlight Discipleship Center at the time. Since then, he’s authored all of the lessons, is front and center in its tutorial videos, all while mentoring more than 40 people himself. The ever-expanding ministry has now grown to over 580 people under his leadership. He’s passionate about one of 222Disciple’s driving principles: disciples are called to be disciple-makers.
Meet Your Host

Aaron Mamuyac
Aaron Mamuyac brings over two decades of ministry experience and a deep love for discipleship to The Disciple Standard podcast. A long-time member and now pastor at Sunlight Community Church, Aaron has served in ministry for more than 11 years and was discipled under the faithful leadership of Scott Vander Ploeg. As an ordained Minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church, Aaron combines biblical depth with practical wisdom, helping listeners follow Jesus with clarity and conviction. Whether he’s unpacking Scripture, interviewing guests, or offering reflections from the trenches of pastoral life, Aaron brings a warm, insightful, and grounded voice to every episode.
Become a Sponsor

Our Audience Wants to Hear From You
Want to support discipleship while getting your brand or ministry in front of a thoughtful, faith-driven audience? Sponsor an episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast!
Here’s what you get as a sponsor:
🎬 Lower Thirds Bar: Your name or logo featured on-screen during the video version.
🎙️ Shoutouts: A verbal thank-you mid-episode and at the end.
🔗 Link Sharing: Your website or link featured in the episode description on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Whether you’re a business, ministry, or just someone who believes in the mission, your sponsorship helps us keep creating honest, Christ-centered conversations.