Learning to Make Disciples

I'm in the lower level of the Des Moines convention center at a "break out" session here at the LCMC annual gathering.  There are quite a few down here listening to Bob Rognlien, a pastor from California.  He is sharing in depth about a ministry model (based on "huddles*") that we are also working on at Crossroads.  These "huddles" are, and will be, practical ways for us to move step by step, toward being more than just a group of believers who happen to worship together--toward being a truly disciple-making church.  After all, Jesus final words to his followers here on earth was to make disciples... not to just make "church members."

At Crossroads, we want to be what God is calling us to be: a transformational "extended family" of believers who live in relationship with each other and learn to be disciples from one another.  We're getting a good start!  Pastor Bob is giving us a picture of how that works in a larger context. 

This "huddle*" model of disciple making is found over and over again in the Bible, particularly in the stories of Jesus and his disciples.  One example of this is found in Luke 6:

"...Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles... He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon." (Luke 6:13-14, 17)

In this scripture passage and many others, you'll see how Jesus lived in three dimensions.  He lives "UP," that is, in a close relationship with God the Father.  He lives "IN" a small group of, in his case, twelve disciples (and, in that small group, he teaches them by his example).  Then Jesus lives "OUT" toward the many who are in need -- the "multitude." 

There's more to say, but I need to get off to the next session!

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*A "huddle" is a group of 8-10 Christians who meet regularly.  Marcus Haug is leading Crossroads first huddle.  We have met four times so far.  For more see Huddle Logistics.

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