"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus' Great Commission or "co-mission"—because we are partners with the Holy Spirit—is the primary purpose of the Church and should be the priority of anyone who claims to follow Jesus. To be a disciple is to be called to make disciples.
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus' Great Commission or "co-mission"—because we are partners with the Holy Spirit—is the primary purpose of the Church and should be the priority of anyone who claims to follow Jesus. To be a disciple is to be called to make disciples.
What Is a Disciple?
A disciple loves, hears, obeys and shares Jesus--and helps others to do the same.
Churches in the West typically view "evangelism" and "discipleship" as separate and sequential: First, a few "gifted" believers go out and share the gospel with non-believers, invite them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and come to their church. These spiritual infants are then discipled in Bible studies, and grow in knowledge and fellowship with others in the church. Few actually ever go out and evangelize. This convert-to-disciple, attractional, information-based strategy is often depicted as a linear path with discipleship steps or "stages."
Jesus, however, modeled a "mature AS you multiply" strategy that is simultaneous and symbiotic: Disciples (laborers) hear and obey Jesus' command to "go" into the world (harvest field) and disciple non-believers into the faith (helping them to hear, obey and share Jesus). Thus, disciples mature as they make a new generation of disciples. This disciple-to-conversion, missional, obedience-based strategy is more like a cycle that repeats itself over and over again--thus multiplying, rather than merely adding, to the Kingdom.
What Is a Disciple-Making Movement?
Both of the strategies described above can result in more disciples coming into the Kingdom here on earth and bowing before the throne in heaven (Revelation 7:9-12). However, the first is an addition strategy; whereas the second is a multiplication strategy. Multiplication matters for two reasons: 1) Jesus wants His disciples to bear "much fruit" (John 15:8) not just a little. And 2) While there are more Christians in the world than ever before in history, the global population is growing significantly faster. We are losing ground when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission.
That is why DC Underground is focusing on set of principles and practices that can lead to Acts-style multiplication--known as a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). Such a movement is commonly defined as rapid, viral and exponential growth--of disciples multiplying disciples, leaders multiplying leaders, churches multiplying churches , as obedient, Spirit-led disciples multiply disciples. Below are the 7 elements of Disciple-Making Movements:
1. FOCUS ON GOD’S WORD: In addition to a daily practice of reading and meditating on the Scriptures, focusing on God’s Word also involves obeying and sharing what you hear with other people, especially with non-believers. Jesus expects His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the foundation for obedience-based discipleship.
2. MULTIPLY EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER: Your prayer life now (or lack thereof) is ordinary for you. Add something to it to make it extraordinary for you. Then when that becomes ordinary, add something again to make it extraordinary. Keep repeating the process. Here are goals that disciple-makers should strive to practice (pretty extraordinary, right?):
3. CASTING VISION: Although the principles and practices of multiplying movements were modeled by Jesus in the Gospels and his early followers in the Book of Acts, the biblical basis and imperative are not well understood or taken seriously by most believers, pastors and churches in the West. Revelation 7:9-12 and 2 Peter 3:9 show God's heart to see all people reconciled to Him, and Matthew 28:16-20 and 2 Timothy 2:2 make clear all followers of Jesus are expected to play a role in bringing this about. We can do this only by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, not in our own strength and timing. Movements happen when and where the wind of the Spirit blows, but we want to be ready, with our DMM "sails up," to catch the wind and move with Him!
4. TRAINING: Those who would like to understand the 7 strategic elements (or "sails") of Disciple-Making Movements are invited to participate in a free, interactive DMM training. Eight-week sessions are held several times throughout the year via Zoom, and will take you step-by-step, in depth, through each of these 7 elements. We didn’t create this training, we received it from our brothers and sisters who are seeing miraculous movements of God, primarily overseas. The training is free, but we'd like you to: have at least two other people take the training with you as a team, because you will need them to process the paradigm shifts; ask at least 3 people to pray weekly for you during the training; and commit to attending each of the 8 weekly sessions and completing any homework assigned. Indicate your interest in an upcoming training on this form at the bottom of the DCU homepage.
5. GO OUT AMONG THE LOST: In short, this means breaking out of our Christian bubble. Of course, you should spend time loving, serving and sharing with your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. But we must also go out among the lost, which means we intentionally leave our physical and social comfort zones (churches, homes, relational networks) and spend time interacting with people we don’t know in order to make connections with non-believers. An often repeated DMM principle is, “Expect the hardest places to yield the greatest results.” What’s the goal here?
6. SEE GROUPS START: Rather than simply offering to meet with a person of peace one-on-one (this is the "addition" approach to disciple-making), ask if they would be interested in inviting their family and/or friends to get together to discover what God has to say about life (this is the "multiplication" approach to disciple-making).
7. ONGOING COACHING: The importance of ongoing coaching/mentoring for those facilitating Discovery Groups cannot be overstated. All believers should simultaneously be mentoring others while also being mentored themselves. Both require relationship and accountability on top of knowledge building.
Churches in the West typically view "evangelism" and "discipleship" as separate and sequential: First, a few "gifted" believers go out and share the gospel with non-believers, invite them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and come to their church. These spiritual infants are then discipled in Bible studies, and grow in knowledge and fellowship with others in the church. Few actually ever go out and evangelize. This convert-to-disciple, attractional, information-based strategy is often depicted as a linear path with discipleship steps or "stages."
Jesus, however, modeled a "mature AS you multiply" strategy that is simultaneous and symbiotic: Disciples (laborers) hear and obey Jesus' command to "go" into the world (harvest field) and disciple non-believers into the faith (helping them to hear, obey and share Jesus). Thus, disciples mature as they make a new generation of disciples. This disciple-to-conversion, missional, obedience-based strategy is more like a cycle that repeats itself over and over again--thus multiplying, rather than merely adding, to the Kingdom.
What Is a Disciple-Making Movement?
Both of the strategies described above can result in more disciples coming into the Kingdom here on earth and bowing before the throne in heaven (Revelation 7:9-12). However, the first is an addition strategy; whereas the second is a multiplication strategy. Multiplication matters for two reasons: 1) Jesus wants His disciples to bear "much fruit" (John 15:8) not just a little. And 2) While there are more Christians in the world than ever before in history, the global population is growing significantly faster. We are losing ground when it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission.
That is why DC Underground is focusing on set of principles and practices that can lead to Acts-style multiplication--known as a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). Such a movement is commonly defined as rapid, viral and exponential growth--of disciples multiplying disciples, leaders multiplying leaders, churches multiplying churches , as obedient, Spirit-led disciples multiply disciples. Below are the 7 elements of Disciple-Making Movements:
1. FOCUS ON GOD’S WORD: In addition to a daily practice of reading and meditating on the Scriptures, focusing on God’s Word also involves obeying and sharing what you hear with other people, especially with non-believers. Jesus expects His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the foundation for obedience-based discipleship.
2. MULTIPLY EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER: Your prayer life now (or lack thereof) is ordinary for you. Add something to it to make it extraordinary for you. Then when that becomes ordinary, add something again to make it extraordinary. Keep repeating the process. Here are goals that disciple-makers should strive to practice (pretty extraordinary, right?):
- 1 hour of individual prayer at least 5 days each week.
- 1 hour of corporate prayer with a group each week. (Note: Even if groups cannot gather physically in the same place, they can still gather virtually using free social media or video conferencing tools.)
- 1 hour of prayer walking in your neighborhood each week. Ask God to allow you to meet and serve people as you walk. Tell people you are prayer walking in the neighborhood and then ask if they have anything you could pray for them about and/or if there is a need you could meet.
3. CASTING VISION: Although the principles and practices of multiplying movements were modeled by Jesus in the Gospels and his early followers in the Book of Acts, the biblical basis and imperative are not well understood or taken seriously by most believers, pastors and churches in the West. Revelation 7:9-12 and 2 Peter 3:9 show God's heart to see all people reconciled to Him, and Matthew 28:16-20 and 2 Timothy 2:2 make clear all followers of Jesus are expected to play a role in bringing this about. We can do this only by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, not in our own strength and timing. Movements happen when and where the wind of the Spirit blows, but we want to be ready, with our DMM "sails up," to catch the wind and move with Him!
4. TRAINING: Those who would like to understand the 7 strategic elements (or "sails") of Disciple-Making Movements are invited to participate in a free, interactive DMM training. Eight-week sessions are held several times throughout the year via Zoom, and will take you step-by-step, in depth, through each of these 7 elements. We didn’t create this training, we received it from our brothers and sisters who are seeing miraculous movements of God, primarily overseas. The training is free, but we'd like you to: have at least two other people take the training with you as a team, because you will need them to process the paradigm shifts; ask at least 3 people to pray weekly for you during the training; and commit to attending each of the 8 weekly sessions and completing any homework assigned. Indicate your interest in an upcoming training on this form at the bottom of the DCU homepage.
5. GO OUT AMONG THE LOST: In short, this means breaking out of our Christian bubble. Of course, you should spend time loving, serving and sharing with your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. But we must also go out among the lost, which means we intentionally leave our physical and social comfort zones (churches, homes, relational networks) and spend time interacting with people we don’t know in order to make connections with non-believers. An often repeated DMM principle is, “Expect the hardest places to yield the greatest results.” What’s the goal here?
- First, we look for opportunities to meet people's needs/serve. That includes asking how you can pray for them--and then doing so right then and there--as well as offering to help with a practical need that they have expressed. The goals is always to be spiritually obvious without being spiritually obnoxious, and to be authentic and relational not ingenuous and transactional. People are not projects!
- Second, talking with the same people repeatedly increases the likelihood that our conversations will move from casual, to personal, to spiritual. If your conversations turn toward spiritual topics, it suggests they may be a "person of peace" (POP) who is open to an invitation to go deeper.
6. SEE GROUPS START: Rather than simply offering to meet with a person of peace one-on-one (this is the "addition" approach to disciple-making), ask if they would be interested in inviting their family and/or friends to get together to discover what God has to say about life (this is the "multiplication" approach to disciple-making).
- These informal gatherings of households or existing social circles, hosted by the POP, are called Discovery Groups (DGs), which are led by the Holy Spirit! Your role is not to lead or even attend this group, but to encourage and coach the POP outside the group.
- The prayer is that as the Discovery Group journeys through a series of Scripture passages together, everyone in the group would eventually repent of their sins and profess faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We then can lead them through getting baptized together and forming a simple church!
7. ONGOING COACHING: The importance of ongoing coaching/mentoring for those facilitating Discovery Groups cannot be overstated. All believers should simultaneously be mentoring others while also being mentored themselves. Both require relationship and accountability on top of knowledge building.
- "Believers of Peace" who start and facilitate groups (whether with other believers or non-believers) need coaching not only to make sure they understand and are instilling biblical "DNA" in Discovery Groups but also to help them mentor Persons of Peace (non-believers).
- "Persons of Peace" who start and facilitate groups with people in their social network need coaching not only to ensure they are instilling biblical "DNA" in Discovery Groups but also to help them mature spiritually from pre-believers to disciples who make disciples.
Disciple-Making Resources
BOOKS to help you grow as a Disciple-Maker
Disciple Maker by Phil Bickel (free downloadable PDF)
A Discipleship Journey by Dave Buehring
Great Commission Disciple Making by James A. Lilly
The Harvest Prayer of Jesus by Edward N. Gross
The Jesus Strategy by Tom Marshall
King Jesus & the Beauty of Obedience-Based Discipleship by D. Young
The Multiplier's Mindset by Cynthia Anderson
The Only One by Curtis Sergeant
Revival Starts Here by Dave Clayton
Spirit Walk by Steve Smith
Your Part in God's Story by Steve Addison
BOOKS about Disciple-Making Movements
North American context
Contagious Disciple-Making by David L. Watson & Paul D. Watson
From Megachurch to Multiplication by Chris Galanos
In the Way by Damian Gerke
Marks of a Movement by Winfield Bevins (Wesleyan perspective)
More Disciples by Doug Lucas
Spent Matches by Roy Moran
Superplan by Chris Clayman
Global context
Bhojpuri Breakthrough by Victor John with Dave Coles
Dear Mom & Dad by R. Rekedal Smith
The Father Glorified by Patrick Robertson & David Watson
The Kingdom Unleashed by Jerry Trousdale & Glenn Sunshine
Miraculous Movements by Jerry Trousdale
Motus Dei by Warrick Farah, editor (a rigorous academic study of DMM)
Stubborn Perseverance by James Nyman
A Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison
MAGAZINE
Global context: Mission Frontiers (bimonthly)
NETWORKS focused on catalyzing Disciple-Making Movements
North American context
1Body Church
Church Project
Contagious Disciple Making (CDM)
Disciple Making Movements
Discipleship.org Collective
eLife Network
Global Gates
KC Underground
More Disciples
New Generations North America
Global context
24:14 Coalition (Matthew 24:14)
Biglife
Beyond
DMMs Frontier Missions
Final Command Ministries
Frontier Ventures
Il l'a Dit "He Said It" (French site, click on Google translate for English)
Lifeway Mission International
Move Network
Movements
New Generations
Praxeis
Team Expansion
DOCUMENTARIES about Disciple-Making Movements
Ordinary People (2022)
Love One Another Until the Whole World Knows (2021)
Sheep Among Wolves (2019)
BOOKS to help you grow as a Disciple-Maker
Disciple Maker by Phil Bickel (free downloadable PDF)
A Discipleship Journey by Dave Buehring
Great Commission Disciple Making by James A. Lilly
The Harvest Prayer of Jesus by Edward N. Gross
The Jesus Strategy by Tom Marshall
King Jesus & the Beauty of Obedience-Based Discipleship by D. Young
The Multiplier's Mindset by Cynthia Anderson
The Only One by Curtis Sergeant
Revival Starts Here by Dave Clayton
Spirit Walk by Steve Smith
Your Part in God's Story by Steve Addison
BOOKS about Disciple-Making Movements
North American context
Contagious Disciple-Making by David L. Watson & Paul D. Watson
From Megachurch to Multiplication by Chris Galanos
In the Way by Damian Gerke
Marks of a Movement by Winfield Bevins (Wesleyan perspective)
More Disciples by Doug Lucas
Spent Matches by Roy Moran
Superplan by Chris Clayman
Global context
Bhojpuri Breakthrough by Victor John with Dave Coles
Dear Mom & Dad by R. Rekedal Smith
The Father Glorified by Patrick Robertson & David Watson
The Kingdom Unleashed by Jerry Trousdale & Glenn Sunshine
Miraculous Movements by Jerry Trousdale
Motus Dei by Warrick Farah, editor (a rigorous academic study of DMM)
Stubborn Perseverance by James Nyman
A Wind in the House of Islam by David Garrison
MAGAZINE
Global context: Mission Frontiers (bimonthly)
NETWORKS focused on catalyzing Disciple-Making Movements
North American context
1Body Church
Church Project
Contagious Disciple Making (CDM)
Disciple Making Movements
Discipleship.org Collective
eLife Network
Global Gates
KC Underground
More Disciples
New Generations North America
Global context
24:14 Coalition (Matthew 24:14)
Biglife
Beyond
DMMs Frontier Missions
Final Command Ministries
Frontier Ventures
Il l'a Dit "He Said It" (French site, click on Google translate for English)
Lifeway Mission International
Move Network
Movements
New Generations
Praxeis
Team Expansion
DOCUMENTARIES about Disciple-Making Movements
Ordinary People (2022)
Love One Another Until the Whole World Knows (2021)
Sheep Among Wolves (2019)