Disciple Standard Podcast – Multiply Disciples Multiply Churches

The Disciple Standard Podcast sparks the conversations the church can’t afford to avoid.

In an age where shallow faith and cultural conformity often pass as discipleship, we believe it’s time to raise the standard. Hosted by pastors Aaron Mamuyac and Scott Vander Ploeg from Sunlight Community Church, this show is part rallying cry, part discipleship manual, and part therapy session for believers who are hungry for something real. What started as a side conversation between church leaders has become a growing movement to restore the clarity, power, and urgency of biblical discipleship.

Subscribe and listen today!

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Subscribe and listen today!

Youtube

Spotfiy

Apple

Patreon

Instagram

Facebook

The Disciple Standard Podcast sparks the conversations the church can’t afford to avoid. In an age where shallow faith and cultural conformity often pass as discipleship, we believe it’s time to raise the standard. Hosted by pastors Aaron Mamuyac and Scott Vander Ploeg from Sunlight Community Church, this show is part rallying cry, part discipleship manual, and part therapy session for believers who are hungry for something real. What started as a side conversation between church leaders has become a growing movement to restore the clarity, power, and urgency of biblical discipleship.

Subscribe and listen today!

Youtube

Spotfiy

Apple

Instagram

Facebook

Patreon

Why This Podcast Exists

The modern church is facing a discipleship crisis.

Despite an abundance of programs, sermons, and Christian content, many believers remain spiritually underdeveloped, relationally isolated, and missionally disengaged. We believe the way forward is not louder hype or flashier services—but deeper, more honest conversations about what it really means to follow Jesus in today’s world. That’s why we created this podcast: to open up the kinds of conversations we wish more churches were having. No fluff. No fear. Just truth, grace, and guts.

Recent Episodes

A Life Full of Meaning from Proverbs

In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, the guys dive into Proverbs, wisdom, foolishness, and the stages of life. From midlife crises and career thinking to deep theological reflections ...on Christ as the true wisdom of God, this conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and rich biblical insights.
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0:00 – Intro & catching up with Zach and Jerry
1:07 – Why Proverbs? Connecting it with James
2:32 – Christ as the true wisdom in Proverbs
6:04 – Can unbelievers live wisely?
7:23 – Bubble cars & iPhone doorstops: Using things as designed
8:16 – Midlife crises and living wisely in each stage of life
9:03 – Saving Private Ryan, the “earn it” life, and why it misses the gospel
12:41 – Earthly wisdom vs. wisdom from above
18:00 – Defining wisdom and foolishness
20:09 – Can people without God still live wisely?
22:08 – The Holy Spirit’s role in wisdom & sanctification
26:09 – Reading Proverbs with hope in light of Christ
27:53 – Smooth brains & fools: Modern language for Proverbs
30:18 – The problem with participation trophies and avoiding correction
33:36 – Why transitions in life matter for wisdom
35:15 – Teaching wisdom to kids (Jerry’s lawnmower story)
37:15 – Naming our own foolish areas (phones, reels, status, ministry)
42:00 – Career vs. calling: How pastors think differently
48:32 – Favorite Proverbs & lessons on contentment
53:21 – Wrestling with discontentment in life and ministry
57:05 – God’s provision, integrity, and contentment
59:46 – Wrap-up & Multiply Conference details

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Get tickets to the Mulitply Conference - conference.multiply222.com
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A Life Full of Meaning from Proverbs

In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, the guys dive into ...

The Whole Gospel: Why Good News Needs the Bad News

When you hear the word gospel, what comes to mind — music? A churchy ...

When you hear the word gospel, what comes to mind — music? A churchy phrase? Or the life-changing announcement of God’s rescue plan? In this episode of the Disciple Standard ...Podcast, we unpack what the whole gospel really is, why it matters for every sermon, and how it transforms lives and churches. From personal stories to Puritan wisdom, we explore sin, salvation, and service in a way that’s clear, practical, and freeing.

Timestamps:
00:00 – What comes to mind when you hear the word “gospel”?
02:18 – College story that revealed the gospel as good news
06:17 – Why many see Christianity as bad news first
08:38 – The “don’ts” gospel vs. God’s actual good news
10:39 – Understanding sin in context of salvation
13:27 – Justification and sanctification through Christ’s death & resurrection
14:09 – What God feels when we sin
15:31 – Consequences vs. condemnation
16:08 – Why clarity on the gospel matters today
19:36 – “Sin, Salvation, Service” — and other gospel frameworks
22:08 – Why frameworks are just the starting point
27:10 – Triple Lutz preaching: from basics to beauty
28:31 – The expulsive power of a new affection
32:16 – The gospel as healing for the human heart
34:02 – The danger of only preaching good news or bad news
36:20 – The harm of fear-based conversions
38:42 – Grace for strays: preaching from personal brokenness
41:00 – Why ignoring sin keeps people from healing
44:08 – Shame, masks, and the silent social contract
46:05 – Why failure is harder to admit than sin
47:23 – How culture hides failure
49:15 – Owning your flaws before others do
50:29 – Why honesty in church is hard — and necessary
51:18 – 94% of pastors don’t clearly preach the gospel
54:18 – Why people resist the gospel
55:23 – Why some pastors avoid preaching it
57:11 – Preaching the gospel to yourself daily
01:00:01 – The importance of gospel-centered community for pastors
01:02:15 – What happens when a whole church truly grasps the gospel
01:04:46 – Signs of hope and room to grow
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Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/
Connect with us - https://multiply222.comShow More

Why We Need to Raise Leaders—and Then Let Them Lead

How do you raise up the next generation of church leaders—and then get ...

How do you raise up the next generation of church leaders—and then get out of the way? In this episode, Aaron sits down with Jary Reed and Scott Vander Ploeg ...to unpack how discipleship really works, why leadership starts young, and how churches can unlock the 90% of leadership potential sitting idle in their pews.

They cover everything from the theology of adulthood to why pastors shouldn’t fear being replaced. It’s raw, funny, and full of wisdom from decades of raising leaders—and watching them surpass you.

🔔 Subscribe to join the movement of disciples making disciples.
📍 Learn more about the Multiply Conference: conference.multiply222.com
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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

00:00 – The Boys Are Back: Meet Jerry, Scott & Aaron
01:30 – Jerry’s Legacy of Discipleship: 40 Years of Raising Leaders
05:00 – What Would They Say at Your Funeral?
07:30 – How One Student Called During Labor to Ask a Theological Question
10:00 – Why the World Delays Adulthood (and Why the Church Shouldn't)
13:00 – The Hutterite Mindset: Treating Kids Like Adults
16:00 – Spotting Future Leaders: Look at the Kids in the Background
19:00 – What’s More Fruitful—A Meeting or a Middle Schooler?
23:00 – The Real Priority: Investing in People Over Projects
25:30 – Sowing vs. Harvesting: Why Most Leaders Get It Backward
28:00 – Decentralizing Leadership: Why Multiple Preachers Matter
31:00 – Addressing Insecurity in the Pulpit
34:00 – Preaching, Power, and Letting Others Lead
36:00 – Youth Group as the Leadership Training Ground
40:00 – How Do You Know You’re Called? External vs. Internal Calling
44:00 – 58% Want to Lead for Jesus. Only 10% Have Been Asked.
47:00 – What Happens When You Ask, “Who Knows What God Can Do?”
51:00 – Limitless Potential: What If the Church Unlocked the Other 90%?
54:00 – Creating Systems and Spirit-Led Culture
58:00 – Greg, Jerry, and God’s Unexpected Plan
59:30 – Multiply Conference Preview – You’re Invited!Show More

Budget Cuts, Coaching Gaps, and the Future of Church Plants

What’s the future of church planting in the CRC? We talk with Marco ...

What’s the future of church planting in the CRC?
We talk with Marco Ávila, East Coast Regional Leader for Resonate Global Mission, about raising up church planters, coaching leaders, and navigating ...the recent funding changes coming in 2026.

From the essentials every church plant needs, to the challenges of vision and funding, this conversation digs into the practical steps for multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches in the years ahead.

1:08 – Meet Marco Ávila: From Honduras to Resonate leadership
2:39 – What is Resonate? Global & local mission explained
3:27 – A day in the life of a regional leader
5:23 – Article 43 & 23: Licenses for preaching
6:49 – Why church planter assessments and preparation matter
8:31 – Inspired by last week’s podcast on multiplication
10:07 – The CRC’s vision for multiplying disciples & churches
11:39 – Vision: Top-down vs. bottom-up
12:42 – Why church planting vision is often missing
13:31 – Accountability and support for church planters
15:07 – How funding and coaching used to work
16:39 – Gaps in support: coaching vs. being “left alone”
18:12 – Why hands-on church planting experience is essential
20:51 – Marco’s story of guiding a new planter into an internship
22:21 – The workload of planting: preaching, setup, leadership
23:00 – Why coaching matters (but not all coaching is equal)
26:06 – How Resonate connects planters to coaches
27:31 – The value and cost of good coaching
29:53 – Mentorship vs. coaching: helping planters discern their path
33:04 – Resonate funding cuts explained (Kevin’s Synod clip)
35:16 – How cuts impact current church planters
39:16 – Short-term plan: fundraising from churches for 2026
40:39 – Why vision must come before fundraising
41:59 – Scott’s conference for multiplying disciples, leaders, churches
43:29 – A call for collaboration: “Better together” in church planting
46:33 – The need for a clear roadmap & accountability
46:52 – Why internships should be standard for planters
48:42 – How internships reveal gifting and readiness
50:42 – Proximity in coaching: why local involvement matters
53:20 – Building the DNA of a church plant
57:13 – Unity vs. uniformity in multiplying churches
1:00:03 – Non-negotiables for Sunlight church plants
1:02:10 – Marco’s heart for serving in church planting locally
1:03:09 – Final thoughts: Vision, collaboration, and the future

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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.comShow More

The Movement Starts Here: 2,000 Leaders in a Decade

The future is now! In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, ...

The future is now! In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we dive deep into raising leaders from within the church, the journey of finding your own preaching voice, ...and why the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Scott shares why leadership multiplication matters, Saron reflects on his first sermon (Psalm 137), and we talk about insecurities, discipleship, and the Holy Spirit’s role in preaching. Plus—an unexpected story about a Q-tip, Psalm 40, and hearing God’s Word clearly.

⏱️ Timestamps:
1:14 – Life updates: “Little Sir” the grandchild
5:20 – Excitement and involvement as a grandparent
6:14 – Sermon recap: Saron’s first preaching experience
8:08 – Overcoming hesitation & preparing to preach
9:10 – Two months and 200+ hours of sermon prep
10:50 – Balancing prep time vs. weekly preaching rhythm
11:18 – Finding your own preaching voice
13:32 – Mimicking others before discovering your style
14:15 – Why every preacher’s style is unique
15:28 – The role of the Holy Spirit in preaching outcomes
16:12 – Experimentation: sermon successes & “duds”
16:33 – Voices that influence preaching style
17:12 – Pastors & preachers who shaped delivery
18:18 – The Simpsons & storytelling in preaching
19:12 – Storytelling & music in teaching (VBS connection)
21:09 – The Bible’s story & soundtrack (Psalms)
22:03 – Christ’s voice first in the Psalms
24:14 – Psalms as Jesus’ songbook
25:28 – Psalms as prayer & soundtrack for discipleship
27:50 – Applying this to Psalm 137 and Saron’s sermon
29:03 – Justice, blessing, and Christ in the Psalms
29:21 – Saron’s reflections on preaching Psalm 137
30:02 – Handling nerves before preaching
31:19 – Audience reactions & encouragement
32:11 – Feedback: strengths & areas to grow
33:14 – Theme, purpose, and need in preaching
35:24 – Connecting sermons to listeners’ lives
36:12 – Why raise leaders from within the church
37:23 – Matthew 9: The harvest is plentiful, the workers few
38:48 – From the harvest, for the harvest
40:35 – The megachurch model vs. multiplying preachers
41:58 – Why raising multiple preachers matters
43:24 – Cultural & spiritual reasons leaders stay invisible
44:24 – Disciples make disciples: multiplication vision
45:35 – Tracking leaders trained & raised up
46:46 – Insecurity about training better preachers
48:50 – Worship analogy: better musicians make a better team
49:58 – Hoping for 100 better preachers in the church
50:55 – Doing things imperfectly & learning by trying
54:29 – Sowing vs. reaping: measuring ministry by faithfulness
55:29 – Discipleship as a long-term investment
56:47 – God answering prayer by sending workers
57:11 – Gratitude for being discipled and passing it on
58:17 – Discipling younger musicians & leaders
59:43 – Leadership development takes time and persistence
1:00:07 – Books that shaped leadership growth
1:00:29 – Scott’s Q-tip story: clogged ear & Psalm 40
1:02:47 – God “digging out our ears” to hear His Word
1:04:03 – Public Reading of Scripture as discipleship
1:05:47 – Scripture & prayer as core of spiritual growth
1:07:11 – Recovering relationship with God through Scripture
1:08:01 – Doctor visit details: ear cleared & hearing restored
1:09:29 – Spiritual parallel: God clearing our ears to hear Him

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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.comShow More

Is a New Vision for Church Planting Emerging in the CRC? | Season 3 Episode 20

In this episode, Scott Vander Ploeg returns from Europe with spiritual ...

In this episode, Scott Vander Ploeg returns from Europe with spiritual clarity and a renewed mission: reverse the Christian Reformed Church's decline through a gospel-centered plan of multiplication. From standing ...on the Apostle’s Step in Greece to delivering a game-changing floor speech at Synod 2025, Scott shares the urgency of the moment and a roadmap for hope.

If you're a pastor, church leader, or just passionate about the future of the CRC, this episode is a must-watch!

🔗 Resources, speech links, and Paul VanderKlay’s video: https://youtu.be/uflCO1yddMY

00:00 – Welcome back + Scott’s European vacation
01:45 – Why Greece? Biblical geography + visiting Apollonia
05:00 – The Apostle’s Step + preaching where Paul once stood
07:00 – Slowing down as a pastor + spiritual discipline reflections
09:00 – Explaining Synod + what it is and how it works
11:00 – Why Synod 2025 matters: decline, sexuality, and the real issue
13:20 – 2017 overture: raising the alarm on denominational decline
15:00 – Multiply vision: 40 leaders in 10 years
17:00 – Strategy birth: how the 2009 crisis reshaped a classes
22:00 – 2023 overture fallout and planting momentum
26:00 – How overtures work + advisory committees explained
29:00 – Floor speech strategy: from frustration to motion
32:00 – Paul VanderKlay’s “Mr. VanderPloeg Goes to Synod” video
36:00 – The funding crisis: Resonate’s painful announcement
39:00 – Church planting cutbacks & why it shocked the classes
41:00 – Scott’s floor speech clip: “We don’t lack anything”
47:00 – Gospel identity vs. blame + why decline must be addressed with action
52:00 – Jesus-centered leadership: problem-solving as gospel witness
56:00 – Multiply disciples. Multiply leaders. Multiply churches.
1:03:00 – Final floor motion: what passed and why it matters
1:06:00 – What’s next? Creating a denomination-wide plan
1:11:00 – Hesitations, leadership, and stepping into responsibility
1:13:00 – The 3-part plan: Disciples → Leaders → Churches
1:16:00 – Call to prayer + rallying the CRC for a gospel future

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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.comShow More

Defunding Church Planting? Here’s Why That’s a Dangerous Move | Season 3 Episode 19

In this powerful episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor ...

The #1 Need Every Church Planter Has Today | Season 3 Episode 18

What is the #1 need every church planter has today? In this raw and ...

What is the #1 need every church planter has today? In this raw and deeply insightful conversation, Pastor Aaron sits down with Dave Hancock, church planter and pastor of The ...Grove Church in Port St. Lucie, to discuss the realities of church planting—from unexpected struggles, family suffering, and spiritual endurance to the hopeful vision of planting churches that welcome both believers and skeptics.

You’ll hear how Dave’s gospel-centered identity sustained him through heartbreak, why longing is a powerful evangelistic tool, and how denominations can better support church planters for the future.

🔗 Subscribe for more gospel-centered content
🔗 Visit The Grove Church: https://www.thegrovechurch.co/
🎙 Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DiscipleStandardPodcast

00:00 – Intro: What surprised you most in church planting?
01:00 – Dave & Aaron’s friendship history
02:30 – Turning 40: A shift from growing to giving
03:45 – From worship leader to church planter
05:15 – Frustration with the church & unreached people
06:00 – Curiosity, doubt & being shut down in Catholic school
07:00 – Doubt as a path to deeper faith
08:00 – Safe places for skeptics in the church
09:10 – The universal longing for “more”
10:30 – The 27 Club & the hollowness of worldly success
12:00 – Emptiness after reaching the top (Deion Sanders story)
13:00 – Cultural idols: comfort, fame, success
14:15 – Gospel identity combats false measures of success
15:00 – Creating space for skeptics & believers to journey together
15:50 – The hardest part: planting a church while caring for a sick son
18:00 – Exhaustion, hospital visits, and spiritual storms
20:00 – Writing sermons while suffering
22:00 – Preaching truth before emotionally feeling it
24:00 – The need for gospel-centered identity in pastors
26:00 – Grove Church size & slow-growth model
28:20 – The real need: training for church planters
30:00 – Wearing all the hats: pastor, accountant, leader
31:00 – Why church planters learn what culture is really saying
32:40 – Established churches should learn from church planters
34:00 – What kind of people does a church plant need?
36:00 – Givers, businesspeople, skeptics, and new believers
38:00 – Team sizes and sending strategies
40:00 – Why churches are afraid to send planters
42:00 – The call to tithe your best people to new plants
44:00 – Why fewer people want to plant churches today
45:00 – Importance of a church planting coach
47:00 – Straight talk for denominational leaders: take the risk
49:00 – What makes a denomination attractive to planters?
50:00 – MNA (PCA) church planter assessment explained
51:30 – The importance of pre-plant training
52:00 – Final question: What are church planters learning?
53:00 – Hosting live Q&A after every sermon
54:30 – Unity in theological diversity
55:30 – How Grove Church handles infant baptism & disagreement
57:00 – Grit, endurance & faith stretched out
59:00 – How to preach to both believers & skeptics
1:00:00 – Longing: the thread that unites Christians & skeptics
1:01:00 – Why hope can feel cruel unless it leads somewhere
1:03:00 – The longing for justice, righteousness & a perfect king
1:04:30 – People want a life well-lived, not just good sermons
1:05:00 – Closing & how to support the podcastShow More

Why Defunding Church Planting Could Hurt the Church’s Future | Season 3 Episode 17

In this episode, the Disciple Standard team unpacks the controversy at ...

What Does the Bible Really Say About Fatherhood? | Season 3 Episode 16

In this Father’s Day-inspired episode of The Disciple Standard ...

Is Children’s Ministry More Powerful Than We Think? | Season 3 Episode 15

In Episode 15 of The Disciple Standard Podcast, we dive into the heart ...

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What You'll Hear

Real talk for real disciples. Each episode dives into the issues that matter most—from spiritual formation and biblical theology to leadership, culture, relationships, and how to live as a disciple-making Christian in a distracted world. It’s unfiltered, often funny, and deeply practical. We also share how our 222Disciple process is helping everyday believers grow in the gospel, get personally invested in others, and become the kind of disciple-makers Jesus envisioned in Matthew 28 and 2 Timothy 2:2. If you’re ready to take your faith seriously and multiply your life in others, this podcast is for you.

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.

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🎙️ Shoutouts: A verbal thank-you mid-episode and at the end.
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Whether you’re a business, ministry, or just someone who believes in the mission, your sponsorship helps us keep creating honest, Christ-centered conversations.