Last month I wrote about how what we were seeing work in the field matched the APEST gifts in Ephesians 4:11 and the Parable of the Sower. Here are three more paradigms that match the 5 things that are working for us in practice:
(I’m noticing my titles aren’t quite capturing it all, but I’m sticking with them for now, for consistency. For example, listening to their story also implies a response, and debriefing is so that people know what to multiply.)
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two (Luke 10:1-9)
- God is Here
- After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
- Being personally sent out by God is so much more empowering than feeling guilty about not doing enough, or trying to make a difference.
- Talk with Him
- He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go!”
- Jesus tells them about the harvest. He instructs them to pray. Then he answers their prayer. It’s interactive.
- Hear their Story
- I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
- He sends us out vulnerably, so we’re open to help from people. People open up their homes to us, showing us something of their life. We don’t just talk to people on the street (the JW’s missed this point) because it’s an intimate encounter. We’re looking for people who are open to receive what we have to offer. That’s the whole thing.
- Eat Together
- Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- We’re in this with them. They’re feeding us on behalf of God, who sent us out to share the gospel with them. We model reciprocity from the outset. This isn’t about us having everything to give, and they just receive. It’s all about God.
- Debrief
- When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
- Jesus summarizes what he said, so his disciples could explain to people that what they experienced is the kingdom of God coming near.
The Seven Commands of Christ – George Patterson (this 5 minute video of him explaining this approach is awesome) – his dramatic fruitfulness using obedience-based discipleship became a foundation for DMM
- God is Here
- Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15)
- Talk with Him
- Pray (Matthew 6:9-13; 7:7,8)
- Hear their Story
- Love God, your neighbor, fellow disciples, the needy, your enemies (Matthew 22:36-40; John 13:34-35; Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 5:43-48)
- Give (Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35)
- Eat Together
- Break bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him (Matthew 26:26-28)
- Debrief
- Baptize (Matthew 28:19)
- Make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20)
Acts 2:42-47 The Fellowship of Believers
- God is Here
- Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. – v43
- Talk with Him
- They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – v42
- Hear their Story
- All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. v44-45
- Eat Together
- Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts – v46
- Debrief
- They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching – v42
- praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – v47
Odd Sense of Zero 
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