The past year, Thammie and I decided that we are going to build deeper with the people we are discipling. This is in light after reading the Multiplication Challenge book of Pastor Steve Murrell, (pls buy one!) where he challenged existing church leaders to develop leaders under their care so that when growth happens, not all things will fall under the leader’s shoulder.

We found out that as a leader, there are temptations to know everyone and carry all the burden of the people you are leading. The thinking is if I fill my calendar meeting people, it will produce maximum result. After years of doing ministry, as a campus missionary, church planter and now a senior pastor – I would beg to disagree.

It is when we are intentionally building on a few men and women (like Jesus who spent 80% of his time with the 12 disciples and 20% of his time with the crowd), do we see the gospel spread to the ends of the earth.

Why redo what Jesus did? Jesus showed us the pattern in the New Testament. When I build on a few, the impact would be more. LESS IS MORE.

LESS IS MORE.

While going through the book of Romans chapter 1, Paul wrote in verse 9-10;

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

In this verse, we see that Paul had a deep relationship with the people he was building. He knew them by name, mentioning them in their prayers. Why did Paul choose to build deeper and meet with his disciples? The next verses would show us why:

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[c] that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

Here we see Paul wanted to:

a. impart spiritual gifts to his disciples that they may be strengthened.(11)

b. that they may mutually encourage one another (12)

c. to instill the heart of evangelism to them and the Gentile world (13)

As you build deeper this year with the people you are discipling, make it a goal to impart spiritual gifts to strengthen their faith. I encourage you to move in the spiritual giftings you have. Encourage one another using the Scripture. Do a memory verse of the week and dig deeper in the Scripture. Lastly, always remind them of the Great Commission – to engage culture and community with the gospel so that we can disciple the nations. ( Matthew 28:18-20)

#builddeeper