MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MISSION

STRATEGY OF JESUS

​> God desires that our church would GROW – > The desire of God is that nobody should parish. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. His heart is in the great commission. (Luke 24:47) > The Strategy of Jesus is - THE HOMES. The N.T. church practiced it. Inspired by the discipleship of Christ. To accomplish this we have to understand…

1. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH 

The body of Christ, the Church, (1st Corinthians 12:27), has the inescapable task of going into all the world and making disciples. The church’s main business is to become a discipling body for the Kingdom of God.
Biblically, our mission is clear: > We must evangelize the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19–20). These two things should occupy most of our efforts and activity as a church.
If someone made a careful analysis of the calendar of your local church, what would it reveal? Would it show that the church is focused on evangelism and making disciples of the lost? History teaches us that growing churches are mission-focused. Their activities and calendars reflect their commitment to the mission. On the other hand, there are congregations that are very active, but focus on other things. These congregations, despite their business, do not see much fruit for their labors. We have to understand…

1. CLARIFYING THE VISION

Every successful organization has a clear vision for realizing its purposes and plans. However, all too often, churches do not have clarity regarding their mission. They have no clear process for making disciples. Consequently, their efforts often do not produce the expected results. Instead, some of those churches begin to decline. The key to progress is having a clear vision of how the mission is going to be fulfilled.

1. FOCUS THE PEOPLE

Focus enhances effectiveness because it refuses to do things that are not furthering the mission. Focus is very important. The traditional programs of local churches that were good in their time, at some point, may stop producing the desired results that is to make disciples.
Stagnant churches are only driven by their activities and not by God’s purpose. Instead of having activities-driven, traditional programs, by refocusing on the mission of the Christian Life Center, the SIMPLIFIED STRATEGY seeks to FOCUS the church to its main task and mission, which is to win the world for Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15).

1. A SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL MODEL

Mark 4:26–29 (NKJV): The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The four purposes we find in the seed analogy of Mark 4:26–29 are vital to a great harvest. These purposes (that represent four stages of development) lead new believers through the teachings of Jesus so that they may experience birth, growth, maturity, and multiplication.
> The intention of these four purposes is for our friends to experience the new birth, grow in their relationship with the body of Christ, mature in their service to the Lord, multiply by winning others for Christ, and to fully use their God-given gifts to serve Him.
Through the SIMPLIFIED STRATEGY, we propose a simple and practical program that we can use to transition to the cellular model with greater ease.
This model can be applied in a cell group where the leader is committed, and its members are supportive. It does not take masses to start winning souls. It only takes a small group of Christ’s disciples who are committed to the task He has entrusted to us: “Go and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.
 
1. The New Birth Cycle
How can we implement the New Birth Cycle? The New Birth Cycle is a 16-week cycle. This cycle may be repeated up to three times a year in a local church. The goal of the New Birth Cycle is to bring the largest number of people possible into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The New Birth Cycle has three stages. First, the cycle begins with each member of the congregation or New Work praying, fasting, and attempting to evangelize ten souls each. This part of the New Birth Cycle ends with Friends Day, either in a home or at the church. Second, the church members then works so that the souls who attended the Friends Day connect to a cell group. Third, after attending the cell group they will be encouraged to receive discipleship classes. This can happen in a classroom setting at the church property. If the new birth discipleship class takes place in a cell group, it should be on a different day from the day of the weekly cell group meeting. In that case, it will be person to person. The goal is that they surrender their lives to Christ and be baptized in water and in the Holy Ghost (John 3:5).
Subsequently, the newly baptized person will continue to be mentored until they become a soul winner themselves.
Below, are the three key processes of the New Birth Cycle in detail, which, if well executed, will eventually produce a harvest of souls:

• The Evangelistic Cycle
• Cell Group Meetings
• The School of Discipleship (Levels 1,2,3,4)

 
2. The Evangelistic Cycle
The Evangelistic Cycle consists of a 5-week synchronized effort, in which all the baptized members of the cell or church work to bring ten new souls to Christ. Each week, a specific task is performed:

• (week 1) Write down the names of ten friends,
• (week 2) Contact them by phone,
• (week 3) Visit them,
• (week 4) Invite them to Friends Day, and
• (week 5) Take them to Friends Day so that the Word of God can be sown in their hearts.

 
3. The Cell Group
Over the next three weeks, the church members who brought their friends to Friends Day will attempt to integrate them into the Cell Group. There they will develop new friendships and continue to hear God’s Word. The power of the Word and their new-found friends will lead them to an encounter with God. It is essential to continue praying for them. This will be helpful in permanently integrating them into a cell group.
 
4. The School of Discipleship
The visitor will then be discipled. For the next two months, the new visitor will attend a discipleship class. The weekly lesson will be given to the New Cell group member from the Discipleship Level One Manual. If the discipleship class is given in the cell group, it should be held on a different day from the cell meeting. The purpose of these studies is to lay a biblical foundation in the heart of the persons visiting so that they will make the decision to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). During this time, prayers should be made so that the visiting friend receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
The New Birth Cycle culminates with a baptismal celebration; an event that can be called “Harvest Festival”, “Festival of Baptisms”, or something similar.
Proverbs 11:30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
 
The SIMPLIFIED STRATEGY purposes much more than bringing people to the church, its purpose is to train Christians to become disciples that sow the Word of God in others. We are praying that through the Strategy of Jesus a great revival will come to Christian Life Center. Our willingness to sow the seed of God’s Word will determine the extent of our growth. The greater the sowing; the greater the harvest.