This and subsequent blogs on the subject of “things we know that aren’t necessarily so” are written in the conviction that there is much we can yet learn about how to be effective in ministry. And sometimes what we need to learn may go against conventional mission wisdom and practice. These counter-intuitive lessons are not just interesting theories. They are based on practical ministry experience in multiple contexts among the world’s least-reached m*ss*ng peoples.

Consider the following:

Disciple to conversion, don’t convert to make disciples.

Isn’t this what Jesus did? Think about how he worked with Peter, and James and John, and even Thomas, along with the other disciples. Who can say how or when they took their final step into the Kingdom. By working with these men as he did, Jesus ensured that they had a growing “obedience DNA” built into them.

In discovery Bible study, the expectation is that God will speak to each person, so the DNA of everybody obeying what they’re learning is built in from the beginning. The individuals discover truth together and hold each other accountable for what they’re learning. They pray together, share their growing faith with outsiders, and learn what it means to be a community of people in love with God. That DNA starts happening from the first days they meet. 

“What is so transformative is getting lost people praying together, obeying what they’re discovering about God, learning about thanksgiving, and thanking the Creator God for things in their life. They begin to pray and see God answer in awesome ways. By the time they get to the message of the Cross in the discovery Bible study, there’s no need for an altar call. They’re ready to respond in baptism.  

“We start slow with a few people, not trying to get them to say a sentence salvation prayer, but getting them to obey what they know along the way.”*

As stated in Part 1, the purpose in sharing these lessons is to stimulate fresh thinking that goes beyond simply hearing what’s happening in someone else’s ministry. Could it be that this counter-intuitive lesson, being learned among the often forgotten m*ss*ng peoples of the world, is a gift from God to the worldwide Church today?

In what ways might this approach shed light on how you can be more effective in your respective ministry, wherever you are serving?

*Used by permission of CityTeam Ministries (David Watson, church planting strategist)