As we journey with Jesus, the Spirit helps us embrace our Lord's ministry values (foundations) and participate in his ministry patterns (disciplemaking pathway). These patterns are examined below, with examples given at It Looks Like This and GCI Weekly Update.

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seek the lost

Jesus’ instruction to “go” (Mat 28:19) implies that the church is to participate actively in the Spirit's work to evangelize those Jesus refers to affectionately as the “lost” (Luke 19:10; 15:1-32). Believers share in this work of evangelism through the practice of "CPR":

Cultivating friendships with nonbelievers in ways that yield bridges of authentic, loving relationship without compromising obedience to Christ.
Planting into those friendships through actions and words that demonstrate the positive difference a relationship with Jesus makes in one's life.
Reaping a follower of Jesus by sharing with those friends a clear presentation of the gospel of God's grace in Christ.

For help in seeking the lost click here.

nurture believers

Expanding his command to “make disciples,” Jesus spoke of “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mat 28:19). A new believer is baptized as a sign of faith in Christ and entrance into a community of faith where they are nurtured through the practice of "ACTS":

Adoration. Sharing, through the Spirit in Jesus' lifestyle of worship, hope and expectancy, which flows from his prayerful dependence on the Father.
Community. Active participation in the Body of Christ, the church.
Truth. Devotion to Jesus, who is the Truth, revealed to us in Holy Scripture.
Serving. Joining with Jesus in serving others both inside and outside the church.

For help in nurturing believers click here.

equip workers

Jesus spoke of teaching disciples “to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mat 28:20). As believers grow to love Jesus and his church, they need to be equipped (Eph. 4:10-12) through training and coaching to be active and skillfull workers with Jesus as he ministers to believers and nonbelievers.

For help in equipping workers click here.

multiply leaders, ministries and churches

Jesus devoted much of his earthly ministry to choosing, training and commissioning leaders. Following Jesus’ resurrection, these leaders, led by the Holy Spirit, identified, mentored, appointed, sent and coached additional leaders. As a result, the church grew in unity, maturity and in numbers.

The Spirit continues to gift some within the church to be shepherd-leaders of God’s “flock.” Existing leaders have the responsibility to equip and support these emerging leaders by providing mentoring and coaching with an eye toward multiplying disciplemaking leaders, ministries and churches.

For help in multiplying leaders and ministries click here.

For help in multiplying churches click here.