Being Disciples Making Disciples

1. Being Disciples Making Disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

2. What is it all about? • It is about whole life discipleship (not putting our lives into compartments) • It is about making following Jesus a lifestyle (living for him 24/7) • It is about understanding that without discipleship, mission will eventually fail (discipleship leads to mission not the other way round) • It is also understanding that mission is not a programme or event, rather mission starts with who we are (Being rather than doing) • It is choosing to live and intentionally do God’s mission (Radical Disciples) • It is understanding that being disciples is not only for Church leaders or a special few, it is what we are all called to be (missionary disciples)

3. Identifying our mission field The starting point is for us to think as missionaries in a foreign country would. Our mission fields: • Home • School • Work • Leisure or voluntary activities • Catford(around the Point and Holbeach)

4. What we are already doing as a Church that is missional or has potential for mission • English Class • Youth Work • Catford Market • Monthly Craft Mornings at the Point

5. Action Point We want to • Encourage • Empower and • Equip everyoneto become a missionary disciple

6. Options of proceeding forward • Continue to do Church as we currently do it (Attractional) • Transition to a missional community • Transition to a simple Church planting model • Combine elements of options 2 and 3

7. What is a Missional Community? • A missional community is a group of about 8-35 people with the intention of mission in a particular area or to a group of people (people or places). There can be smaller groups within this larger group. • Missionalcommunities are like small groups or house groups operating like an extended family to reach out and serve the community. • They are also a place where we can be known, supported and challenged to go deeper in our relationship with God and with each other.

8. What is a Missional Community? Missional communities will have these four elements in their DNA: • Missional (intentionality) • Accountability (network of support and feedback) • Support (pastoral, encouragement) • Challenge (take risks, adventure, encourage boldness)

9. What is a Simple Church Plant Model? • A Simple Church Plant Model is an intentional discipleship movement that leads to Church plants that can be easily replicated and multiply. • These Church Plants are devoid of institutional, denominational and administrative concerns that can usually dry out energy from the life of a local Church. They are called ‘simple’ because they should be easy to multiply. • The Church plants that result from making disciples can be started in people’s homes, pubs, skate parks, community centres, cafes and so on.

10. What is a Simple Church Plant Model? • This model of Church Planting does not expect non-Christians to come to our Church services, neither does it expect newly converted Christians to transition to our Church. • The process of starting a Simple Church Planting Model is centred around 7 Ps: Pray, People and Places, Preach, Power, Person of Peace, Plant and Persecution

11. Questions for group discussions • Are you living as a disciple? • Do you find it difficult to share your faith in those areas identified as mission fields? (home, work, leisure or voluntary activities and school) • What can the Church do to support you in those mission fields? • Do you see Catford as a mission field for us as a Church, or do you see it as a place where we just meet together? (Please note: we are not saying people should move to live in Catfordas that is not possible) • What do you think of the idea of missional communities? • How do you think it could work? • Is this something you would like to be involved with? • What do you think of the idea of intentional discipleship that leads to Simple Church Plants that can be replicated and multiply?