Feeling stuck in auto-pilot ministry? You’re not alone. We’ve been diving deep into 5 key disciple-making habits, but what’s the real point? Here’s why it’s crucial to assess how you’re creating a ripple effect of disciples who make disciples.
STOP, REFLECT, and REIGNITE your disciple-making strategy:
1. Reignite Your Why:
Have you ever been on autopilot? Ministry can become routine. Summer’s a perfect time to rediscover your passion!
Reflection Question: What gets you FIRED UP about your ministry?
2. Evaluate Your Impact:
Is your ministry bearing fruit? Take a courageous look at the results. Are you excited, frustrated, or somewhere in between?
Reflection Questions:
What’s THRIVING?
What NEEDS WORK?
What NEEDS to CHANGE?
3. Make the Main Thing THE Main Thing:
Busyness can steal your focus on what truly matters: disciple-making disciples!
Reflection Question: What activities are DISTRACTING you from your core purpose?
4. Simplify Your Disciple-Making Cycle:
Busy schedules cloud the essentials. Refocus on the actions that truly transform lives.
Reflection Exercise: What are the FEW, CRUCIAL STEPS to cultivate apprentices of Jesus ?
5. Refine Your Invitation:
A clear, compelling invitation is key! Think about your own journey to faith. What drew you in?
Reflection Question: What are you inviting people to become, as followers of Jesus?
Ready to Refine Your Strategy? The Napkin Challenge Awaits!
In our Discipleship Collective, we challenge participants to describe their entire disciple-making cycle in a 3-minute video using just a napkin!
Here’s how:
Grab a napkin (or paper).
In 3 minutes, sketch out your disciple-making cycle.
Keep it SIMPLE, CLEAR, and COMPELLING.
The previous five blogs have been dedicated to unpacking 5 discipleship habits. In case you missed them, here they are:
For over 30 years, I’ve witnessed countless approaches to discipleship. The beauty of that? It’s not a one-size-fits-all game; new methods are constantly emerging, fueled by imagination and the ever-changing world.
But what if you’re facing a unique challenge? What if the people you are coming alongside, or those you are leading, are not seeing the results they want to see? Things are taking much longer than expected; they are experiencing setbacks. Deep down, their commitment is wavering, and they are asking if it is time to quit!
The answer lies in a powerful secret weapon: Strategic Partnerships.
Think of it as a three-legged stool. Each leg represents an essential partnership:
Leg 1: Your unwavering connection with God. This is your source of strength, wisdom, and spiritual fortitude.
Leg 2: The bond with your disciples. You walk alongside them, a trusted companion on their path of self-discovery.
Leg 3: The guidance of experienced apprentices of Jesus. Their experiences keep you focused, and provide invaluable insights as you navigate challenges.
Each leg is crucial. Try becoming and making disciples with just one or two, and things get wobbly. But when you leverage all three? That’s where the magic happens.
Imagine a community of fellow apprentices of Jesus encouraging each other. They celebrate the victories, big or small – a first-time prayer, an act of service, a deepening faith. This supportive network becomes the wind beneath your wings, amplifying your impact.
You are not doing this alone! It goes back to the principle of synergy: 1+1=3! You are part of a community that is pulling in the same direction.
But what about reaching those outside the faith, especially in a secular world? Creativity is key. I found the use of 3 Thirds Groups to be a helpful format to introduce newer disciples to, and a tool that allows everyone to engage regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey.
A 3 Thirds Group is a group format that’s structured into three segments.
Looking Back: this first segment gives group members the opportunity to provide care and support for one another based on what’s happening in their individual lives. It also provides accountability for the goals each person sets for themselves.
Looking Up: this second segment directs the group to “look up” to the Holy Spirit for direction, guidance, and revelation for the group’s journey through a passage of Scripture. What is the Spirit saying? What can we learn from this about God? About ourselves?
Looking Forward: this last segment offers the opportunity to look ahead and explore how each person can apply what they have learned or discovered.
Discipleship and disciple-making is a collaborative effort. By cultivating strategic partnerships with God, your newest disciples, and mentors, you unlock a community of support. It’s about walking hand-in-hand, celebrating victories, and weathering challenges together. Unleash the power of partnerships and watch your disciple-making journey take flight!
Curious about your unique strengths as an apprentice of Jesus?
Ignite Your Disciple-Making Engine: Start with the Big Why
Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels when it comes to disciple-making? It’s easy to get lost in tactics without a clear vision. That’s why, before you build your strategy, you need to answer the fundamental question: What am I trying to achieve?
1. Mission Trumps Religion: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Discipling
A shocking statistic: 1 in 3 churchgoers stopped attending church during the pandemic. This revealed a crucial truth: true faith goes beyond religious routine. Church leaders who were already making disciples saw this as an opportunity to double down on their mission. Others, forced to re-evaluate, discovered the power of a clear purpose.
2. The Gospel Thrives in Adversity: Crisis Breeds Innovation
“Thriving” might not be the first word you associate with a pandemic, but in this case, it describes the spirit of those who embraced the challenge. Some churches chose fear and isolation, while others chose to be open, curious, and explore new ways to connect. The results speak for themselves: churches with disciple-making communities or strong small groups thrived, while those without scrambled to catch up.
3. Disciple-Making Needs a Playbook: Keep It Simple, Keep It Shareable
We challenged a group of leaders we were training in our Leadership Collective to a fun competition: explain your disciple-making process using only a napkin and a 3-minute video. This forced them to distill their approach into its core essence. The result? Reproducible systems. Leaders with clear, transferable processes invested their energy in multiplying disciples who could then multiply themselves. Others refined their existing methods, making them easier to share and implement.
Ready to ignite your own disciple-making engine? Start with the big “why.” What are you trying to accomplish? Once you have clarity, you can build a strategy that gets you there. To help you understand your “why” – begin with the question: “What is the fruit of a disciple?” The answer will propel you into your disciple-making cycle.
“In order to develop a framework, it is necessary to be clear about what you are trying to accomplish; what are the identifiable traits of loving God, loving others and making disciples. You need to start with the big picture.”As You Go… Make Disciples by Colin Noyes
Here are a couple of coaching resources to help you assess, refine, or create your disciple-making cycle.
Resources to cultivate disciples that make disciples!
Humans aren’t designed to be islands; we’re wired for connection. It’s in our DNA, dating back to our hunter-gatherer days when survival depended on strong social bonds. Science now backs this up, showing that isolation can be as detrimental to our health as smoking. Strong relationships boost our immune system, lower stress hormones, and even help us live longer.
Beyond Survival: The Power of Shared Experiences
Connection isn’t just about survival; it’s about the richness life offers. Sharing laughter with friends, offering a shoulder to cry on, celebrating victories together – these moments weave the tapestry of our lives. They bring joy, provide comfort, and give our experiences meaning.
Building Bridges, Not Walls: Connection and Growth
Think about a time you learned something new or grew as a person. Often, it wasn’t in a vacuum. Maybe a friend challenged your perspective, or a mentor offered guidance. Connection exposes us to different ideas and experiences, helping us grow and evolve. It also allows us to share our own gifts and make a positive impact on others.
The Ripple Effect: Connection Creates Community
The connections we build don’t exist in isolation. They form a web that strengthens our communities. When we connect with our neighbors, support local businesses, or volunteer our time, we create a ripple effect of positivity. This sense of belonging fosters a more vibrant and supportive environment for everyone.
Connection Fuels Disciple Making
In the context of faith, connection takes on an even deeper meaning. Jesus himself modeled the power of relationships. He wasn’t just preaching to crowds; he was building a community of disciples. It’s through genuine connection that we can share our faith authentically, answer questions, and walk alongside others on their spiritual journeys.
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