08. Commit Together to Multiply Churches
Extraordinary DNA That Multiplies · Part 08
Imagine your spiritual family gathered around a table.
Someone brings food. Someone tells a story that makes everyone laugh. Then one person says:
“I think my neighbor is ready to hear about Jesus.”
Another responds, “Let’s pray for them.”
Someone else says, “I’ll go with you.”
Now imagine that conversation becoming the beginning of another church.
And that church helping another household discover Jesus.
This is the future we are learning to work toward together.
Your table can become a sending place.
So far, we have explored gathering a few adults, discovering Jesus through Bible stories, putting His teachings into practice, functioning as an Acts 2 church, and living as a spiritual family.
In the last lesson, we saw that every member has a part in the mission.
Now we give that mission a shared goal:
Each adult family unit commits to helping establish at least one new church every year thereafter, a church that learns to do the same.
A married couple pursues this together. A single adult participates too. The whole church surrounds each family unit with prayer, encouragement, practical help, and coaching.
Picture the conversation:
“Whom are you praying for?”
“What happened when you visited?”
“What could we practice together?”
“How can we help you take the next step?”
That is a goal a spiritual family can pursue together, with expectation and joy.
Jesus gave ordinary disciples an extraordinary assignment.
He said:
“Go and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19, WEB
And He promised:
“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20, WEB
We go with His presence.
We can pray, listen, serve, share what Jesus has done, and help people discover Him through Scripture. We can help them practice what they learn and teach others to do the same.
The annual multiplication goal gives us something concrete to pursue as we obey Jesus’ command.
Begin with names, and expect God to work.
At your next gathering, put a sheet of paper on the table.
Have each family unit write the names of people they know: neighbors, relatives, coworkers, friends, and people they regularly meet.
Share why those people matter to you.
Then pray.
Who welcomes a conversation?
Who has asked for help?
Who might welcome prayer?
Who might invite family and friends to discover Jesus?
You are looking for a person of peace, someone who welcomes you and the message and opens their relationships to it.
We will explore that in the next lesson. For now, begin praying and taking steps toward people.
Help another household experience what you are learning.
Imagine a couple in your church visiting a neighbor who has welcomed prayer.
The neighbor invites a few relatives to hear a story about Jesus.
Over time, they discover who Jesus is, respond to Him, and begin obeying His teachings. They learn to pray, share their faith, care for one another, and take turns facilitating.
Eventually, they discover Acts 2 together and commit to function as a church.
The couple keeps participating in the original church while helping and coaching this new spiritual family.
And from the beginning, the new household hears:
“What Jesus is giving us, we can share with others.”
The same DNA is taking root.
Make room for stories worth celebrating.
At each gathering, ask:
“What happened as you obeyed Jesus this week?”
Celebrate the first prayer offered to a neighbor.
Celebrate someone sharing their testimony.
Celebrate an invitation accepted, a Bible story discussed, or a new believer taking a step of obedience.
When a conversation is difficult, listen and pray. When someone feels unsure, practice together. When a door opens, help them walk through it.
There will be setbacks. Keep caring for people and helping one another move forward.
Every member should know: “My spiritual family is with me in this.”
This week’s assignment
Discuss this commitment together:
“With God’s help, each adult family unit in our church will work toward establishing at least one new church every year thereafter. We will support one another and help each new church carry the same DNA of obedience, spiritual family life, and multiplication.”
Then each family unit:
Writes down names of people to pray for.
Chooses one person to visit, serve, or begin a conversation with.
Asks another member for the help they need.
Returns ready to share what happened.
You do not have to see every future generation to take the first step.
You can begin with one name.
One prayer.
One visit.
One household discovering Jesus together.
Who might one day thank God that your spiritual family decided to reach theirs?
Want to go further? All ten Zúme discipleship lessons are on my site, free, with the video and the same teaching notes I use when I train leaders in person. Take them on your own, take them with a few friends, or join me live on Zoom and I will teach them to you face to face. When you finish, tell me and I will coach you personally.
Start the ten lessons: https://internationalafricanmobilization.com/training/terrys-zume-teaching-series/
Want to go deeper in disciple-making? Join Terry’s Zúme training class at zume.training/join-a-training.