I think Jesus was more interested in making cookies than creating cookie jars. It seems like many churches in America today, and in other parts of the world, seem to be obsessed with cookie jars. Even though Jesus didn’t have much to say about cookie jars, most pastors want one that’s full of cookies.
A few years ago when I attended the Lifeworkx training developed by Steve Aldrich, I learned a lot about myself and who God had made me to be. It was a wonderful five-week learning experience and I’m so grateful for Steve’s commitment to creative learning techniques and interactive training. I’m also very grateful for Dave and Debbie who mentored my wife and I through the entire process.
To cultivate a disciplemaking movement, you need to be intentional about multiplication. Think: Multiply Everything! Multiply disciples. Multiply disciplemakers. Multiply disciplemaking groups. Multiply disciplemaking initiatives.
Missional Initiatives aren’t just about meeting needs and serving others. Missional Initiatives are connected directly to the mission of Jesus. We serve and bless and meet needs as we are on mission to make disciples who make disciples.
I struggle with obeying God. That’s right. I do. And I bet you do too. As I’ve said many times, “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.” But it’s not. It’s hard to obey.
Following Jesus is the greatest joy in life. Discipleship is all about following Jesus. Disciplemaking is all about helping others to follow Jesus — and helping others to help others to follow Jesus. Discipleship and Disciplemaking go hand in hand.
A disciple of Jesus is a reflection of God in the world. When Jesus talked about discipleship, it was an all-in kind of thing.
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple.
I still remember the feelings of anticipation as we waited in the fairly short line to go on the ride. You could actually look down inside to see people spinning before it was your turn to go on the ride. Often I hoped as I waited that no one got sick and threw up before we got in. Of course, I also hoped that I wouldn’t throw up when it was my turn to go in. (Fortunately, I never did.)
Do you dream of the future? Do you picture a reality that’s different than what you experience today? I’ve been dreaming lately of a different future for the Church. A future that I believe is based on the mission of Jesus.
The focus of our energy at Missional Challenge is to advance missional movements globally.
