Fostering a Multiplication Mindset in Churches: A Guide for Pastors

Pastors can be some of the most overworked and underappreciated individuals. They often juggle the roles of teacher, mentor, accountant, chaplain, fundraiser, and friend. But, what if all the amazing things that a pastor does every week was a burden shouldered by the entire congregation?

A key to getting every believer involved in the mission of the church is to foster a multiplication mindset.

This means the common believer should take responsibility for multiplying their own life in Jesus into others, who then go on to do the same. This mindset is crucial for the growth and sustainability of any Disciple Making Movement (DMM). Here’s how to inspire and equip your church for multiplication.

1. Vision Casting

Casting a compelling vision is the first step toward fostering a multiplication mindset. Your congregation needs to understand the importance and impact of making disciples who make disciples.

How to Cast a Compelling Vision:

• Share Biblical Foundations: Regularly preach on scriptures that emphasize disciple making, such as the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and Paul’s exhortation to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:2).
• Use Stories and Testimonies: Share stories and testimonies of disciple making within your church and from other contexts. Real-life examples can inspire and motivate your congregation. We use many inspiring stories of multiplication in the Waha Disciple Making Challenge and you are welcome to pass on any of those, or show the videos in your church, free of charge!
• Communicate Clearly and Frequently: Reiterate the vision in sermons, newsletters, and small group discussions. Consistent communication helps embed the vision in the church’s culture.

The most important thing to remember about vision casting is to do it often! As humans, we tend to forget quite often. Why else would God's people be encouraged to remember so often in the Old Testament?

2. Model Multiplication

Pastors need to lead by example. Demonstrating a commitment to disciple making in your own life sets a powerful precedent for your congregation. It shows them that these ideas are really possible, and if you are open about your own challenges, they will realize that you're not so different from them.

Ways to Model Multiplication:

• Personal Discipleship: Actively engage in discipling individuals within your church. Let your congregation see you investing time and effort in making disciples. More importantly, DON'T DISCIPLE EVERYONE! (You heard us!) Instead, make sure that the people you disciple are helping to disciple others in the church.
• Share Your Journey: Transparently share your disciple-making experiences, including successes and challenges. This transparency can encourage others to start their own disciple-making journeys. (Tip: Avoid sharing stories about how you were able to share Jesus with people by telling them that you are a pastor. Remember, people in your congregation can't start Gospel-sharing conversations by saying they are a pastor!)
• Equip and Empower Leaders: Train and empower church leaders to make disciples. When leaders model multiplication, it creates a ripple effect throughout the congregation.

By modeling multiplication, you set a standard and create a culture that encourages others to follow suit.

3. Encourage Immediate Obedience

Encouraging immediate obedience to the Great Commission helps embed a multiplication mindset from the start. When new believers understand that making disciples is an integral part of their faith, they are more likely to engage in it. Think of it less like an event and more like a lifestyle!

Strategies to Encourage Immediate Obedience:

• Teach Obedience-Based Discipleship: Emphasize the importance of obeying Jesus’ commands, including the command to make disciples. Use Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) to facilitate this approach.
• Create Opportunities: Provide immediate opportunities for new believers to share their faith and disciple others. This could be through church outreach programs or small group settings.
• Celebrate Obedience: Recognize and celebrate acts of obedience, no matter how small. Celebrating these acts reinforces their importance and encourages others to follow suit.

4. Create a Culture of Accountability

Accountability is essential for maintaining a multiplication mindset. But it doesn't have to be scary. We're not asking you to have confrontational conversations with everyone, all the time. For most people, simply being asked if they did what they said they were going to do is accountability enough. Regularly checking in on disciple-making efforts helps keep everyone focused and motivated.

How to Create a Culture of Accountability:

• Small Group Accountability: Integrate accountability into your small group structures. Have group members share their disciple making experiences and challenges regularly.
• One-on-One Check-Ins: Encourage one-on-one accountability relationships. These can provide personalized support and encouragement.
• Public Accountability: Occasionally, share encouraging testimonies during church services. Public accountability can inspire and motivate the entire congregation. But be careful to keep it positive. No one wants to feel shamed in front of a group.

By fostering a culture of accountability, you ensure that disciple making remains a priority and that progress is continually being made.

5. Provide Practical Training

In order to ride a bike, sometimes you need some training wheels. Equip your congregation with the practical tools and training they need to make disciples. Without proper training, many may feel ill-equipped and hesitant to engage in disciple making.

Practical Training Methods:

• Workshops and Seminars: Host regular workshops and seminars focused on disciple making skills. Topics could include how to share the gospel, lead a Discovery Bible Study, or mentor new believers.
• The Waha Disciple Making Course: We've worked really hard to create one of the easiest, most accessible training programs around. The Waha Disciple Making Course is free to use and we've already heard of incredible things happening when entire churches go through it together!
• Role-Playing and Simulations: Use role-playing and simulations during training sessions to help members practice and gain confidence in disciple making.

Conclusion

Fostering a multiplication mindset in a traditional church setting requires intentional effort and strategic planning. By casting a compelling vision, modeling multiplication, encouraging immediate obedience, creating a culture of accountability, and providing practical training, pastors can inspire and equip their congregations to make disciples who make disciples. This not only fulfills the Great Commission but also ensures the growth and sustainability of the church for generations to come.

If you haven't already, why not download our Discovery Bible Study app? It comes with curated lessons, and access to all the tools you need for making disciples that multiply.