P2: Disciple Making
Day One Preparation:
Lifetime
Day Two Conception:
0-3
Day Three Prenatal 1:
4-6
Day Four Prenatal 2:
7-9
Day Five Birth:
10-12
Plant Development Chart
Life Cycle Stage Timeline Growth Health
1. Preparation Lifetime 2 Foundations
2. Conception First Trimester 10 Dream Team
3. Prenatal One Second Trimester 40 Prospecting: “W”
4. Prenatal Two Third Trimester 80 Small Groups
5. Birth Fourth Trimester 120 Startup Ministries
Beyond Bootcamp
6. Growth - Maturity First Year 200 DM Classes: I/E
7. Reproduction Third Year Daughter Reproducing DNA
Planter Profile
1. Spiritual Leader
2. Missionary Leader
3. “V” Team Builder
4. Resource Developer
5. People Gatherer
6. People Developer
7. Ministry Developer
Barna Study: 2000
• Many programs– Almost every church in our
country has some type of discipleship program or set of activities.
• Few Disciples– Stunningly few churches
have a church of disciples.
Monvee
• 25-45% of congregation dissatisfied with their spiritual life.
• This is why they …– Jump to your plant.– Jump to next plant.
• Crowd vs. Core
Simple & Organic
• I have bad news for simple, organic planters. It breaks down after 40 people.
• With numerical growth comes increasing complexity and the need for intentionality. The issue is how you manage ministry complexity.
• Prenatal: KISS• Under 100: 3-5 Programs
Five Biblical Stages
Win: Mt. 28:19
Build: Col.2:6-7
Equip: Eph. 4:11
Develop: II Tim.2:2
Send: Acts 1:8
Harvard Student
• Harvard Business School– Willow Creek Case Study
• “If I understand them correctly, they are trying to turn atheists into missionaries and that is one hell of a deal.”– Business Student
Legitimate Criticisms
• Discipleship is messy.• Discipleship isn’t linear.
• SaddlebackSmall Group: 20,000+Tithers: 13,842Quiet time: 14,000Ministry: 15,000Missions: 7,000
Discipleship Is Complex
• Sinner/Saint• Wheat/Tares• Grace/Truth• Ancient/Future• Rich/Poor• Men/Women• Hispanic/Norwegian• Hymns/Praise music• Red/Blue States
Complex to Simple
• OT Laws: 613– 248: Affirmative (Do)– 365: Negative (Don’t)
• Jesus: Two– Love God– Love Others
C. People Connection
• Many times people don’t take the next step because of the process.
• They take the next step because of the people connection.
D. Alignment
• Align all ministries around the process.
• When a church is fully aligned, all ministries are operating from the same ministry blueprint.
• Each ministry department mirrors the process in that particular area.
Most Churches
• Ministry Silos– Women … Children … Youth
• In a church that lacks alignment, everyone is competing for the same space, resources, volunteers, and time on the calendar.
• Ministry competition not body coordination
E. Keep Focus
• Eliminate anything that doesn’t fit.
• Most small churches have too many programs.
• Keeping the main thing the main thing!
F. No Credit
• You don’t get credit for leaving runners on base.
• It is not the seating capacity of the church that counts, it is the sending capacity.
Design Process
• Don’t have to be original
• Do have to be biblical– Biblical stages?
• What is your disciple making process?