The extraordinary thing is that He personally touched so little of the world when He was in it. He trusted that task to a few often confused men – and yet within a few years the world was “turned upside down”. We know it was because he powerfully mentored/ discipled these few, and empowered them by the Holy Spirit, that they touched thousands and taught many to obey all the things that Jesus had commanded. But even they did not touch the world. They made disciples – and these people made disciples who made disciples – and the nations were transformed in Jesus’ Name.
That movement of transformation has continued at times and in some places since the 1st Century, and powerfully in some places today. But in Melbourne and the West, that dynamic growth and influence has shrivelled. Research shows maybe 3 million outside “the Church” in Melbourne, and probably outside God’s Kingdom, and attendance declining compared to the population growth.
A major factor is the failure to make disciples. Strategies aimed at “getting people to church” can never reach or impact the city. Calling people to “become a Christian” will not do it either. Church growth methods have not worked. Building more church buildings is not a key to changing lives. It is not more Christians that will see our city impacted for the Kingdom. It is disciples: people who are mature in their relationship with Jesus and committed to obey His call to live for Him – expecting Him to give them divine appointments with the lost, the least and the lonely, or anyone else, so through them God will change lives. Effective discipleship not only impacts more people and communities. It leads to a dynamic experience of the love and power of God at work, and the reality of the glory of God leads to inspiring worship and praise. Faith, worship and prayer and the Bible come alive. It becomes contagious. Our transformed lives touch more and more people and sothe City.
Powerful teaching on this core element of ministry and mission was given at the recent conference of the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion national conference at Ridley College (see http://home.vicnet.net.au/~efac/ )