Simple is Reproducible

Wineskins Contributor・06/28/22

If you want something to reproduce it has to be simple. Complex approaches aren't as easily reproducible as simple approaches. If your approach to making disciples requires a PhD to pull it off then the number of capable and qualified people who can carry it forward is diminished.

If you look at how your church disciples people (either intentionally or accidentally) is it simple or complex? If the requirements to make a disciple include:

Multimillion dollar facility
Trained professional staff
50+ Volunteers to pull it off
Dozens of programs

Chances are your approach is too complicated.

That doesn't mean these things are wrong...it just means they don't naturally make disciples at a pace that has speed or accessibility. Evangelism is free. The only space you need to make disciples is a living room or even a city park.

This is not a program

Making disciples doesn't happen on Sunday. Maturing disciples happens in part on Sunday but in an insufficient manner. Making and maturing disciples requires life-on-life in relational environments. That isn't complicated. It isn't expensive. Just about anyone can do it. And that is what gives it the potential to go viral.

If you want to train people in making disciples - make sure the approach is simple. Because then it can reproduce because the number of people who can carry it forward has increased exponentially.

Jesus Used Simple

It is important to remember that Jesus had a simple approach - invite them, teach them, show them how to live, send them to try it, debrief and train some more. There really wasn't much complicated to Jesus' approach on making and maturing disciples. It was so simple that even fishermen could reproduce it to thousands and tens of thousands of people within a generation.

Examples

A few examples of simple practices that are easily taught/reproduced would include:
Discovery Bible Study
Prayer Walking
Welcoming new neighbors
Sharing your testimony
Sharing the Gospel