Advance October 7th Raleigh, NC

Making Disciples in L.A.

I had the privilege of hanging with my Acts 29 brothers from the greater L.A. region on Tuesday night at Gordon Biersch then training over 100 pastors and church planters from L.A. and southern California in our Missional Ecclesiology. The next day I hung out with the leaders, pastors and elders from Cornerstone in Simi Valley discuss the implementation of this Ecclesiological understanding in their context.

I was and am humbled that God calls me to do this kind of work and each time I come away learning more and becoming more convicted of his call on my life and the church.

This time I found myself more convinced and committed to several things:

1. The Church exists to BRING GLORY TO GOD in all things and in all ways (see Ephesians)
   
2. God is glorified when the Church is MAKING DISCIPLES who Love and Worship God in all of life (Consider Jesus' commands and Paul's instructions to equip the Church to grow up into maturity)
   
3. This does not nor will not happen if the Church isn't sending her people to make disciples of All Nations All the Time - in order to fill the whole earth with God's glory through His people in all places.
   
4. In order for this to happen the Church needs to see all that she does as disciple-making - Not just the gatherings but the everyday life of her people all week long - people are being formed and informed in all of life and showing others what it means to follow Jesus in everything.
   
5. Discipleship happens largely through informal means: you don't make disciples in a class room but in ministry and on mission. Formal training is more supplemental: filling in the gaps; processing through experiences; preparing for real ministry; etc.

I am regularly amazed at how many churches believe that one of the key activities they are to give themselves to is Making Disciples...AND YET, this continues to be identified as the number one struggle in the church in North America.

I am devoting myself not only to give myself over to lead Soma more effectively in this, but also to equip and call the church to Make Disciples in the everyday life.

What do you think this looks like?