Double Your Group in 2016

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2

I want to challenge you to double your group in 2016.
I want to challenge you to speak 2 Timothy 2.2 into someones life.

A group of 10 that doubles every 18 months will reach 1000 people for God in 10 years.

You can double your class in two years or less by inviting every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.

Have a party once a month. Get a team of people to help with this. Don’t do all the work. Delegate. Empower others to ministry.

Invite every member. Invite the top third that come all the time. Invite the middle third that come half the time. Invite the bottom third. Their name is on the class roll but they have not been there in a long, long, time. Invite them to a party. I have seen it happen more times than I can count, if you can get them to the party, you couldn’t keep them from class.

The reason this works is this: there is an epidemic of loneliness in our culture. If you love them they will come and they will come to love our Lord. If you love them—not just tell them about a God who loves them—you love them. Love them in common, ordinary, pedestrian ways like taking them to lunch and inviting them to join you for a movie.

The Navigators call this the “with them” principle. It is based on Mark 3:14a, “He appointed twelve that they might be with Him.” Jesus knew that discipleship was as much caught as taught. If He was going to make disciples of His men, He had to spend time with them.

If you would make disciples of your people, you must be with them.

Never try to teach people you do not love. Never try to teach people you don’t spend time with. Never try to teach people you don’t regularly pray for. This is man on man. Life on life. Here is another great verse for teachers. “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV2011)

Disciples are never made through the mere transference of information. You must be with them.

Invite every prospect. People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. When you love them, and they know that you love them, Bible study will become a whole lot more interesting for them. Love them in common, ordinary, pedestrian ways. Lunch. Football. Golf. Time. Community must proceed content. If you will be their friend, their heart will warm up to a message about what a friend we have in Jesus.

One more key to doubling. Find a man (or woman). Pour into their life. Disciple them. Go through Discipleship Essentials together. Encourage them to memorize Scripture. Assign them to teach part of the lesson. Let them teach the whole lesson. Let them teach for you half the time. Give them half your group. Say to them: the things you heard me teach to this group, teach to your group. In that group find a man. Do for him what I have done for you.

Perhaps a picture will help. Look closely at this picture. Imagine that 10 years from now it is you holding the sign that says, “Paul.”