The Importance of Disciple-Making Movements

Disciple-making movements are a strategy for making disciples that have been used throughout history. 

They are a way of multiplying disciples rapidly and effectively. A disciple-making movement is a group of people who are actively making disciples, and those disciples are also making more disciples. This creates a chain reaction that can quickly spread the gospel to many people.

Disciple-making movements are important because they are a way of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in a way that is scalable and sustainable. They are not dependent on a single leader or a large budget. 

Instead, they rely on ordinary people who are willing to obey God’s command to make disciples.

The 4 Fields: A Biblical Pathway for Making Disciples

The 4 Fields is a strategy for making disciples that is based on the life of Jesus. It is a way of planting and multiplying churches that can quickly spread the gospel to many people. 

The 4 Fields are:

1. Entry

This is the process of finding people who are open to the gospel. It involves building relationships, sharing the gospel, and inviting people to follow Jesus.

2. Gospel

This is the process of sharing the gospel message with those who are open to it. It involves proclaiming or sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and inviting people to repent and believe.

3. Discipleship

This is the process of helping new believers grow in their faith. It involves teaching them the basics of the Christian life, such as reading the Bible, praying, and sharing their faith with others.

4. Church Formation

This is the process of forming new churches. It involves gathering believers together, training them to be leaders, and empowering them to start new disciple-making movements.

5. Leadership Formation

Leadership development is a crucial step in building a sustainable church planting movements or disciple-making movements. It involves identifying and training practitioners who can model the disciple-making process and empower others to do the same, ensuring the movement continues to grow and multiply.

Step-by-Step Guide to Facilitating a Disciple-Making Movement Using the 4 Fields

Now that we understand the importance of disciple-making movements and the 4 Fields strategy, let’s look at a step-by-step guide to building a disciple-making movement.

Step 1: Pray

Prayer is the foundation of any disciple-making movement. We must seek God’s guidance and wisdom as we begin this journey. Pray for God to lead you to people who are open to the gospel, and for Him to empower you to share the gospel message with boldness.

Step 2: Find People Who are Open to the Gospel

The first field in the 4 Fields strategy is Entry. This involves finding people who are open to the gospel. Look for opportunities to build relationships with people in your community. Be intentional about sharing your faith with them, and invite them to church or small group gatherings.

Step 3: Share the Gospel Message

The second field in the 4 Fields strategy is Gospel. This involves sharing the gospel message with those who are open to it. Share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ with those you have built relationships with. Use your own personal testimony to share how Jesus has transformed your life.

Step 4: Help New Believers Grow in Their Faith

The third field in the 4 Fields strategy is Discipleship. Once someone has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it is important to help them grow in their faith. Teach them the basics of the Christian life, such as reading the Bible, praying, and sharing their faith with others. Help them to understand the importance of being part of a church community.

Step 5: Form New Churches

The fourth field in the 4 Fields strategy is Church Formation. As new believers grow in their faith, it is important to gather them together and train them to be leaders. Empower them to start new disciple-making movements in their own communities. Encourage them to share their faith with others and to start new small groups or churches.

Step 6: Identify and Train Practitioner Leaders

For a disciple-making movement to be successful, it is essential to have leaders who are not only knowledgeable but also obedient and hands-on practitioners. These leaders are the key to sustaining and multiplying the movement. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and train these leaders.

Identifying potential leaders involves observing their character, passion, and willingness to obey God’s commands. Look for those who are actively engaged in disciple-making, have a heart for serving others, and are committed to obeying God’s word. Once identified, invest in their development by providing hands-on training and mentoring. This training should focus on developing their skills in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership.

Leaders That Practice Making Disciples Matters

The goal is to develop leaders who are not only knowledgeable about the principles of disciple-making but are also actively engaged in the process. 

These leaders should be able to model the disciple-making process and empower others to do the same. They should be able to lead others through the 4 Fields process and start new disciple-making movements in other areas.

By identifying and training practitioner leaders, you can ensure that the disciple-making movement continues to grow and multiply, and that more people come to know Christ. 

These leaders will be the ones who will continue to spread the gospel and make disciples long after you are gone. They will be the ones who will carry on the work of the movement and expand it to new areas. Therefore, it is essential to invest in their development and empower them to lead others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, identifying and training practitioner leaders is a crucial step in building a sustainable disciple-making movement. 

These leaders should not only have knowledge but also be actively engaged in the process of making disciples. They should be able to model the disciple-making process and empower others to do the same. By investing in their development, you can ensure that the disciple-making movement continues to grow and multiply, and that more people come to know Christ.

Starter Tools and Stories of Hope

To help you get started with building a disciple-making movement, check out the Starter Tools and Stories of Hope resources available on the Multiplying Disciples website. These resources provide practical tools and real-life examples of disciple-making movements that have been successful in different parts of the world. 

They can help you to understand the 4 Fields strategy in more detail and give you practical tips on how to implement it in your own community.

The Starter Tools include resources such as a Commands of Christ Starter Guide. These tools can help you to understand the principles of disciple-making movements and provide you with practical tips on how to implement them in your own context.

Conclusion

Making disciples is the primary mission of the Church. 

It is the responsibility of every Christian to make disciples of all nations. Disciple-making movements are a strategy for making disciples that have been used throughout history. They are a way of multiplying disciples rapidly and effectively. 

The 4 Fields is a strategy for making disciples that is based on the life of Jesus. It is a way of planting and multiplying churches that can quickly spread the gospel to many people. By following this step-by-step guide and using the resources available on the Multiplying Disciples website, you can be a part of the multiplying discipleship movement in your own community, City, or even region.

Remember to pray for guidance and wisdom, find those who are open to the gospel, share the gospel message, help new believers grow in their faith, and form new churches. By doing so, you can fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples who make disciples.