Lyndon Frost is 5-months into a new role at Te Awamutu Bible Chapel—there’s a huge amount he could be doing, and likely is, but I'm delighted he’s chosen to meet weekly with two blokes in their early 20s, each are FAT…
Faithful, Available, Teachable.
With one young guy he’s reading 1 Samuel—exploring what type of literature the book is, how the book points to Christ, and what heart issues the Holy Spirit is revealing. With the other young guy he's been reading through 1 Thessalonians.
Both blokes have now started meeting up with others one-to-one to read the word together; multiplying the work of friendship and personal discipleship.
This is a profoundly simple, but significant example of pointing people to Jesus, through the gospel from the Scriptures.
At CCCNZ we’ve been seeking to grow a mustard seed culture amongst the staff team, we hope this culture influences who we are as people, how we serve, and what we do. It’s our heartfelt hope that this culture is rooted in the person and work of our precious Master, Jesus, and animated by his Spirit.
As part of this culture we have a number of 'plumblines'—brief sayings which capture the essence or heart of what we’re trying to embody:
We’ll be taught by Scripture and led by the Spirit
We love it when God's Spirit works through his Word, through the gospel, to lead us into Jesus and what he has for us.
We’ll invest in a few for the multiplication of many
Jesus spent time investing in his disciples, a core group of 12. Paul intentionally trained up Timothy and Titus for ministry. Priscilla and Aquila nurtured the faith of Apollos.
We’ll invest into a few with a long view
Relationships with discipleship at the core are costly! They take time and energy. Taking the long view is a choice to be encouraged by small steps and steady growth, rather than quick fixes.
We’ll grow people who grow people
Structures, programs and paradigms are helpful, but they live in the background, we must not forget that Christ's work in and through people is at the heart of what we do.
The gospel often grows one by one
God is growing his gospel most often, in the West at least, through one invitation being accepted, one young person being brought by friends, one family invited into a home for a meal...
We’ll focus on the simple and significant
I’m often reminded that size and significance are not always related in time and space in the economy of God. The history of our movement is filled with stories of ordinary people investing what they have where they are simply and significantly into the lives of others. Bearing much fruit across the country and around the world over decades.
Our 'plumblines' are just one way we, as a team, are seeking to live out our reliance on the Lord Jesus and prioritising his gospel and relationships over models or quick-fix solutions.
In what ways are you or your leadership team investing in a mustard seed culture in your church, ministry or small group?
Our prayer is that the small seeds planted for the gospel with grace, kindness and justice would grow and flourish, under God, to see every woman, man, child, family, community, town, marae and city recognise that Jesus Christ is Lord.
