A better question...

​In Isaiah 43, God asks us, "I'm doing a new thing, do you see it?" That's a rough paraphrase but I love the idea of God speaking to us about His working in the earth as a question. Questions have answers and while it is completely mysterious, God loves to lead us with questions.

From God asking Adam and Eve, "where are you? to Jacob's Theophany, "will you release Me?" to Jesus, "who do men say that I am?" don't miss that these questions are directional. They are inspirational. They open our minds and our hearts to the new idea, to the new obedient action, to the new.

Peter, do you love Me? <Insert re-alignment here.>

A recent report shows that the worldwide church is growing faster than at any time in history. This seems alarming to the West, where post COVID in particular, many churches are struggling with attendance and engagement. But God, it turns out, is not a bumbling middle manager bureaucrat in regards to His Church. He actually knows His business! In China, in India, in Africa, in Central and South America revivals are happening in astounding and encouraging numbers. My prayer is that we're next. We haven't had a Great Awakening in a minute... and for my money we're due. We know that we can't manufacture this through our cleverness or process or strategy, but we can say (like our friend and prophet Isaiah), "send me!"

In practice, the church flourishing on other continents is from a model called DMM (Disciple Making Movements). They are employing core components as they go which are really compelling... and they often take the form of a question.

One is prayer.

Extraordinary prayer before, during, after... as they go out and come in if you will. They are asking God for everything, for His presence, for His wisdom, for His plan, for His moving in this generation.

Another is asking questions, leading to vision for this generation.

Instead of being more effective adding people to the service once a week, they are asking, "what would it take to reach them all?" By "all" they mean everyone in a people group, in a city, in a school, in a geographic region, perhaps even in a nation... as God leads.

It's a great question. What would it take to reach them all? If this generation of believers is responsible for participating with God to reach this generation of souls then let's go as far as we can. If we know God's heart is to put the gospel in a credible way in front of everyone alive today - can we press into that vision? DMM says, "yes." 

It works like this.

Christian emissaries look to serve, love and bless. On the way, they are actively seeking people who are open to what God is doing next. This is the "person of peace" who serves as a relational nexus of redemptive opportunity. Our missionaries (if you will) engage and coach the person of peace to know Christ - and the person of peace starts a DBS (Discovery Bible Study) among their relational network. Often, the members of the group will also become Christians, and the DBS starts to look at things like baptism, and they become a functioning church.

There are several other distinctives, but let me call out three by way of introduction. First, DBS structure functions from questions and self-discovery from Scripture, not primarily from lecture based teaching. Think of the method as something like Holy Spirit Socratic.

Because the insights are deeply personal and self-discovered, it often results in a higher level of personalization and engagement. Second, DMM is laser focused on godly obedience. The directed response to discovered truth, rather than knowledge without action is set at highest priority. Our group encounters a passage, asks, "what does this teach us about God?" (and about people)... and then calls for a direct and specific response. What do we do in response? This is brought up again in the next meeting, with stories and progress and loving accountability. 

A third distinctive is an ingrained culture of multiplication.

Each member of the mission (or micro-church) is trained to identify their own distinct person of peace with the goal of having them start their own, new DBS. The "church member" might go to one or two meetings, but often will never attend the new DBS, instead coaching with intention before and after the new meeting - guiding the new person of peace into the founding of a DBS, and often, the planting of a new church.

So the 19-20 person church in the east can start an additional 19-20 churches, every year, with each member become a church planter and generational coach in their context.

Microwave Instructions:
1) Heat.
2) Enjoy.

At that point, the cycle repeats, with ordinary people making discipleship groups and leading them from generation to generation to generation. When Parent group has child group has grandchild group has great-grandchild group and the total number of groups is more than 100, we have a movement. And like a wildfire, it just escapes our ability to control it. 

This is a good thing.

And it's effective and efficient, not dependent on budgets, or buildings, or seminary or personality or consumer focused ministry menu items. Just real people loving real people and super spreading the gospel like a virus of marvelous light. 

There is still process, there are still support staff, there are organizational capabilities supporting the network of churches and elders who can help and teach and bless and model and assist. But it's deeply organic and generates its own momentum in a God-inspired way.

If, like us, you're one of the people that has been looking for what's next in the Kingdom of God... if you've prayed for revival and haven't seen how it could happen... if you're sensing that you could do more, be more, give more... then I would encourage you to do two things: 1) Take a hard look at DMM, it will inspire you. 2) Reach out to us at [email protected] and we would love to talk, dream and get you connected! Some amazing things are emerging in this generation, and you won't want to miss it!