I believe in the indispensable place of building the local church, preaching sermons, and speaking at conferences. The problem is we can do these things and still not make disciples who make disciples (Matt.28:18-20).
That involves focusing on a few.
It is one thing to know about Jesus’ plan of discipling the 12 over a three-year period for the sake of the world; it is another thing to actually follow Him in a similar strategy. I think I am finally getting it.
Geri and I drastically shifted our global strategy in our trip to Korea and Singapore this August. Instead of doing large EH Leadership conferences, we chose to invest ourselves in a small group of highly committed people in both countries.
This picture below is Geri and I speaking last year. (We are the little dots on the stage).
Are you impressed? Don’t be.
Now this picture below is Geri and I speaking this year with a small group of 16 people (8 pastors and their spouses) with whom we spent 4-5 days slowly, and sometimes painfully, doing life-on-life application of EHS.
I had moments where I wondered if we were crazy. We flew 10,000 miles to share life-on-life with a few people. It didn’t look or feel impressive. It was messy. But I knew it was God leading us into the simple strategy of Jesus.
During our 29 years at New Life as pastors, despite the pressures of preparing sermons, running the church, etc., Geri and I have consistently led intensive small groups and mentored a few. (Geri, however, deserves the credit for tenaciously holding my feet to this fire!) And we are now following a similar strategy in the USA and Canada as churches embed The EHS Course and The EH Relationships Course.
So amidst the tidal wave of our global and church culture that wants the big, the flashy, and the quick, let me invite you to focus on the few. Here are next steps you can take:
- You Follow Jesus. Jesus’ words to Peter are His words to us: Su moi akolouthei = (lit.) You Me Follow which translates You must follow me (Jn.21:22). We can only bring people as far as we have gone.
- Bring Rich Content. Use the missing components of 21st century discipleship that EHS provides for deep, beneath the surface transformation (e.g. genograms, silence, grief and loss, etc).
- Offer Access to Your Life. We assume that if we give people information they can figure it out. That is an illusion. Jesus knew that classroom style was not enough. People need access to your life.
- Be Patient. It has rightly been said that one of the greatest sins of Christian leaders today is impatience. Remember Jesus. Remember the mustard seed.
What might be one step He is inviting you to take with the few today?
– Pete
@petescazzero
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