Disciple Multiplication
Couple days ago, I wrote on Discipleship Tides, where it seems that things really start cranking, and you can’t tell why. The tide is just moving in, and you need to roll with it, because there are plenty of times when there just doesn’t seem to be any movement, any energy. My bet it that this happens to keep us reliant on the Holy Spirit, so that we don’t think it is because we have such a great ability, or that we have a system we can sell to others. Best thing we can do, is do things Jesus’ way: plant, water, and let Him give the increase.
Here is a micro-look at what I am after, what I pray for and work for: multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches.
The multiplication of disciples means that I make a disciple who makes a disciple and it just keeps on. The house group that started in our house spawned another house group. When that one spawns a new one, I will be stoked!
Right now, the fire is in Life Transformation Groups (LTGs). An LTG is an intense small group. Small. Minimum 2, 4 people max. When you reliably have 4 people, you reproduce. One guy can head out if he feels led, and the other 3 try to find another member. Or the group reproduces into 2 groups, and hopefully just keeps on multiplying. What would be too cool is if four people head out and start 4 new groups!!!! LTGs are seriously organic. No training needed. They lead themselves. It is focused on mutual accountability with weekly questions, and reading Scripture in community. The questions are tough; whiners won’t make it. The Scripture reading pace is quick. Neil Cole has a great book that talks about it, Cultivating A Life For God. If you are interested, please let me know and I can help you get cranking.
Sometimes they just pop. Started one about a month ago. That one led to another. Which just this morning has sent out a leader for a third group. Who knows what is next? Do they continue to multiply, each group sending out new groups? Does it fade out? The Spirit knows. What I know is that I will keep on keeping on. Right now, the key is that there is a new guy at church who is on fire for Jesus, and committed to disciple-making. Another dude has set up a kind of incubator to get people together who want to grow together and multiply disciples! That is exactly what Jesus said would happen.
Sow broadly.
Birds will eat some.
Other seed falls on hard soil.
Some gets choked out by weeds.
But one falls in good soil, and produces a multiplying harvest.
Jesus did not say you know what kind of soil you are sowing into, and I think that is on purpose, like I said at the beginning, so we don’t get proud, thinking we have it figured out. And I also think this is true: soils change. What was sowed before did not take. But try again, and like dead soil that has a bunch of compost forked in, stuff will grow.
Here’s the deal. LTGs are not so much a plan as they are a way to help you carry out the Great Commission. You can do it all kinds of ways, just so long as you are hopped up on the Great Commission! The thing I love about Neil Cole’s book, Cultivating a Life For God, is that at the end he describes all kinds of other methods people are using. Try it! You will grow spiritually… and make disciples!