Disciple-Making Pastor, Part 9

Making it Work in the Local Church:

1. Reminder 1 – Make sure to have a plan, know where you are going.
2. Reminder 2 – Explain your plan.
   1. Declare the priorities.
   2. Publish it in church literature.
   3. Model it at the leadership level.
3. Reminder 3 – Present a model of how you plan to work.

Phases Through Which Believers are Guided:

1. Phase 1 – Come and see (John 1:39-4:46) – gather, consider, expose, interest and inspire. 
   1. The Sunday morning meeting: where we interest you.
   2. The mini-congregation: where we care for you.
   3. Velcro ministries:
      Choirs, sports, men’s groups, retreats, Bible studies, children’s activities, social action.
2. Phase 2 – Come and follow Me (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20): training, establishing and maturing.
3. Phase 3 – Come and be with Me (Mark 3:13-14, Luke 6:13): this phase is for only a few serious disciples.

Making the transition:

1. They had already been with Him, when He challenged them they were ready.
2. He extended an invitation, not a responsibility: “I will make you into something useful…”
3. He called them to a vision, not a job: the driving force behind commitment is vision.

The Discipleship Group:

1. Only those who make the commitment are approved.
2. The group must be small enough to avoid spectators, but large enough to provide variety.
3. The group must meet often enough and long enough for the training process to work.
4. The group must teach basic skills that act as tools to reach the objective (Bible study, prayer, relationships, outreach)
5. The group must last long enough and be demanding enough to surface new leaders.