How to make disciples through small groups

Introductions Who are you, where are you from and what s your involvement in small groups? My background From big church to small groups From small groups to church planting From church planting to disciple-making

Definitions Discipleship is the apprenticeship process that brings a believer into spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is achieved when a disciple reproduces after his or her kind. Small groups are typically a program initiated to foster belonging and additional learning for those attending the same worship center. Healthy Discipleship: The eruption of a naturally reproducing movement of disciple-making that multiplies beyond the 4th generation.

How important is discipleship? We have to settle this question FIRST in order to know how to settle discipleship/ small group tensions Is discipleship a ministry of the church or the mission of the church?

The Great Commission 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. -Matthew 28:18-20

What s so great about the Great Commission? If Jesus wanted to give us a clear, concise description of our mission could he do better than Stamping an order with absolute authority Make it the last word Make it the linch pin of victory

The Mission of World War 2

The Mission of World War 2 Take Berlin

The Mission of World War 2 Take Berlin Declare War

The Mission of World War 2 Take Berlin Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Mission of World War 2 Take Berlin Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Mission of World War 2 Establish Justice Take Berlin Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Mission of World War 2 Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Take Berlin Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Mission of World War 2 World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Take Berlin Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Take Berlin Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Make Disciples Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Declare War

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Make Disciples Field Hospitals Recruit Soldiers Preach the Gospel

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Make Disciples Field Hospitals Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Establish Justice Make Disciples Counsel the Hurting Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel

The Christian Mission World Peace Rebuild Cities Free the Oppressed Make Disciples Counsel the Hurting Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel

The Christian Mission World Peace End Poverty Free the Oppressed Make Disciples Counsel the Hurting Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel

The Christian Mission Worship God End Poverty Free the Oppressed Make Disciples Counsel the Hurting Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel

The Current Christian Mission Plant new Services Add a Service Provide Programs Worship Service Gather a Team Buy a Building Hire a Pastor

Why did Jesus pick this strategy? Better for teaching - life-on-life DNA transfer

What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use...the Holy Ghost does not flow through methods but through men." - E.M. Bounds

Why did Jesus pick this strategy? Better for teaching - life-on-life DNA transfer Better for expansion - Multiplying reproduction

re-church 2011 99% of Existing Ministries Called Person or Family Becomes Rock Star Launches Ministry

99% of the effectiveness is in reproduction re-church 2011 Disciple of Jesus Every single ministry can and should be done in a reproductive way SFL example Trains Apprentices Foundational Training Lays Foundations in Others

Why did Jesus pick this strategy? Better for teaching - life-on-life DNA transfer Better for expansion - Multiplying reproduction Better for community - Restored relationships Better for healing the world - True justice Better for glorifying God - True worship

Small Group & Discipleship The Resource Tension: Discipleship requires mature disciples, small groups do not. The Scope Tension: Discipleship reproduces disciples small groups reproduce small groups. The Time Tension: Discipleship can take an additional 5-10 hours per week more than the small group The Openness Tension: Since discipleship requires lifeon-life DNA transfer spiritual parents must find ways to open their life to those they disciple. The Environment Tension: Small groups mirror the commitment level of the worship service, discipleship is a call to come and die.

The Critical Question When the needs of your small group ministry and the needs of discipleship are at odds, which will win?

Do small groups naturally reproduce disciples? Willow Creek Reveal Study = No Thom Rainer 400 Church Survey = No George Barna Research = No Implication: Don t call your small groups a disciple-making ministry unless you can demonstrate it s ability to naturally reproduce disciples to the 4th generation.

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 3 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 3 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Small Group Attend Worship 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 3 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Small Group 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 3 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Small Group 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 6 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Essential Ministries Small Group 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 6 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Small Group Essential Ministries 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 6 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Small Group Essential Ministries 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 9 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Everything Else Attend Worship Small Group Essential Ministries 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 9 Hours /week

Why Disciple-Making is so hard for traditional churches The Fourth bucket problem Attend Worship Small Group Essential Ministries Everything Else 100% 50% 20% 5% The Typical Week of a Church Member: 9 Hours /week

What if we defined our mission by what we actually invested our time in? Based on 1000 congregants Activity Man hours /week Worship Service 3000 Small Group 1500 Serving in Essential Ministries 600 Everything Else 150

A Radial Proposal How to transform a small group ministry into a disciple-making movement

Step #1: Identify every mature disciple in your church

Step #2: Redefine their primary ministry as making disciples, (make everything else is secondary)

Step #3: Put them in teams of two (two singles or two families)

Step #4: Train them how to reproduce after their kind. Families in home-based rhythms and singles on mission.

Step #5: Help them find FAT people (Faithful, Available, Teachable)

Step 6: They must make a 1-2 year commitment to father and mother several spiritual orphans until they reach maturity

Step #7: Regularly celebrate what they are reproducing as the most strategic ministry in your church

What will happen Beginning with 5 teams of disciple-makers Year 1 - Your church will probably shrink Year 2 - Your church will shrink more Year 3 - You will enter the 2nd generation with 10 teams Year 4-15 teams (some will probably exist outside your church) Year 5-25 teams (your church will begin to grow again) Year 8 - Uncontrollable growth

Jesus said: Go...make disciples (Matthew 28:18) & I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) But we say: We will build your church & disciples will make themselves We have replaced our mission with a new mission It s time to get back on mission

The Christian Mission Worship God End Poverty Free the Oppressed Make Disciples Counsel the Hurting Witness to Friends Preach the Gospel