by C.D. Davis,

News of CPMs happening around the world has challenged many American church leaders to reexamine, reframe and retool. The speed of movements, the depth of discipleship and commitments of the emerging leaders, frequently cause pastors in the West to take notice. This is because CPMs are different than our usual models, experience and traditions about what it means to be “church.” For many churches in America, this has brought an explosion of HOPE for a different future. Five lessons have most often been mentioned as important shifts taking place for them.

1. COME & GO: The shift from inviting unbelievers to come to our programs and building to sending believers into their world.

Jesus said that the fields are ready for harvest. To live in this reality, our way of thinking has to intentionally change from “Come” to “Go.” God always asks Christians to go to those without him; never the lost to come to church or into Christian space. When this shift in thinking happens, church members start to identify and pray specifically for those in their world who don’t yet know Him. This is because the idea of “going” becomes embedded in church life. Similarly, church leaders are much more intentional about training believers to tell their own story and God’s story in simple, short and compelling ways. They will often use the Creation to Christ story, a 10-15 minute overview of the Bible starting in creation and culminating in Christ. In many cases program schedules have been radically changed to release church members to “go” more often, and with greater intentionality.

2. GROUP CONVERSIONS: The shift to multiplying groups of disciples, not just individual disciples.

In CPMs around the world, the Kingdom is established in a relationally-connected group and then spreads group to group. The Scripture refers to each of these groups as a household. The Greek word for household is oikos, and includes a circle of influence, not just family. In many CPMs these groups are relationships that fit the conbody—workmates, classmates, or groups who share the same hobby.

Acts 11:14 and 16_:_31 promise that networked groups will come to faith. The key is to not extract an individual from his or her oikos when they show spiritual hunger, but to disciple their group together into faith. This contrasts with the commonly used Western pattern.

3. COUNTING GENERATIONS: The shift to do whatever it takes to regularly and quickly get to the 4th generation and beyond – of disciples, groups and churches (2 Tim. 2.2).

In CPMs, the process of getting quickly to the next generation of disciples, leaders and groups is well established. A key focus for the group is to win and train the next generation of disciples who will repeat the process.

This process is not just fruitful overseas. Where the principles and process of generational growth are applied in small group meetings and leadership development in the U.S, we see similar outcomes. Rather than take a new believer to a “come” meeting where they sit and listen, their new life in Christ must start in a very different way. Each person is encouraged to start a group in his/her oikos. This is where they learn to study and obey God’s Word. And they are equipped to immediately pray for and witness to those they know. In this way, group members get the vision, tools and the time to practice, along with loving encouragement, to win the next generation.

This leads to a second critical factor: continual vision for reproducing the next generation. Each member and each group strives to be a parent, grandparent and great grandparent. One CPM catalyst in the U.S. describes it this way: “I evaluate my disciple-making not by my disciples, but by my disciples’ disciples.” And groups celebrate each new generation.

4. REPRODUCIBILITY: The shift from lengthy training and academic materials to simplicity and reproducible means, methods, tools and structures.

Training is best accomplished by modeling with simple tools. Easy-to-learn and obey lessons allow new believers to do what they have just seen done by a mentor. When they are equipped simply, they disciple those they lead to faith in the same manner, often with minimal encouragement and clarification.

Simple means expressing truths and applications in a way that an average new believer can obey and pass them on to others. Every CPM in the world uses a simple method for evangelism, discipleship and church planting. Using just one appropriate and reproducible method enables an explosion of growth as new believers, led by the Spirit, are able to minister to others. Some U.S. churches are now applying this lesson in their conbody.

5. OBEDIENCE-BASED LEARNING: The shift from teaching for knowledge of what the Word says to accountability for obeying what the Word says.

The Great Commission does not say: “teaching them everything I have commanded,” but “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded” (Matt. 28:20, NIV). It’s only in putting off the old and putting on Christ, as believers apply His Word, that we find quickly transformed and strengthened lives.

If we keep teaching after believers quit obeying, we are actually teaching them that it’s okay to “study and not obey” or “pick and choose what you want to obey.” By distorting discipleship in this way, we heap judgment on those we teach. They will have to give an account one day for what they know and have not obeyed.

Transformed lives are the fuel to ignite movements. Transformed lives prove that Jesus can change things, and everyone needs a God who can act in power on their behalf. Transformed lives become change agents themselves. CPMs teach us that believers must be expected to obey, encouraged to obey and held accountable to obey in the spirit of Hebrews 10:24-25.

As these shifts in understanding take place, changes have begun. Christians are getting out of the building and out of their comfort zones. We are seeing more and speedier conversions, new groups, and intentional church planting.

The lessons from CPMs for the U.S. church are huge. They inspire re-examination, taking us back to the Scripture for both principles and practice. Let us persist until this way of life becomes the new normal.

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