Resources to help you on the
THE DESCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
BECOME
(Equip Workers | Multiply Leaders, Ministries & Churches)
As believers journey with Jesus, the Spirit transforms them into who they are (and are becoming) in Christ. Growing into that reality includes engaging as workers in ministry with Jesus, with some workers becoming disciple-making leaders. The Spirit leads churches to equip workers and multiply leaders who then multiply ministries and churches.
(Equip Workers | Multiply Leaders, Ministries & Churches)
As believers journey with Jesus, the Spirit transforms them into who they are (and are becoming) in Christ. Growing into that reality includes engaging as workers in ministry with Jesus, with some workers becoming disciple-making leaders. The Spirit leads churches to equip workers and multiply leaders who then multiply ministries and churches.
Here are some recommended advanced teaching resources that churches can use in equipping ministers (both workers and leaders):
Grounded in the foundational teachings addressed by the resources above, workers and leaders need help to develop competency in the following key aspects of disciple-making ministry (click on the bar to expand that topic):
Developing others
Jesus' disciple-making ministry is all about relating to and developing people. Competent ministry workers and leaders are able to replicate themselves by developing other workers and leaders. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Ministry Grid- a website with multiple ministry training resources.
- Building Leaders - a book by Aubrey Malphurs.
- The Leadership Baton- a book on multiplying leaders.
MOTIVATING FOR MISSION
Disciple-making workers and leaders are highly motivated and able to motivate others to participate with Jesus in his Great Commission ministry, motivated by his Great Commandment heart. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Six Functions of the Church.
- Upward, Inward and Outward in Words and Deeds.
- Ministry Nuts and Bolts- a book by Aubrey Malphurs.
building teams
Disciple-making leaders build relationally-based, vision- focused, self-replicating teams. They turn mere task-oriented groups into cohesive teams that are galvanized around shared values, mission, vision and strategies. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Doing Church as a Team - a book by Wayne Cordeiro.
- Leading the Team-Based Church - a book by George Cladis on the Trinitarian theology of ministry teams.
- REAL Teams - PDF version, PowerPoint version
managing time & projects
Competent ministry workers and leaders maximize their effectiveness by managing their time and projects. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent - a book on time management by Charles Hummel.
- Help for the Small Church Pastor - a book by Steve R. Bierly.
- Schedule Interrupted, discovering God’s time-management.
- Overcoming E-mail Overload.
- 10 Steps to Conquering Information Overload.
- How to Control Your Calendar.
conducting meetings
Ministry workers and leaders need to be able to conduct effective ministry meetings. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Pursuing God’s Will Together - a book by Ruth Haley Barton about a group discernment process.
- How to Make Meetings Work - a book on the nuts-and-bolts of conducting meetings.
resolving conflicts & dealing with crises
Active participation in Jesus' disciple-making ministry inevitably brings workers and leaders into the realm of conflict and crisis. Effective ministers deal with these situations with grace and skill. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Crisis Counseling - a book by counselor-teacher Norman Wright.
- Resolving Disputes in Christian Groups - a book by church consultant Marlin Thomas.
engendering accountability
Disciple-making workers and leaders understand the importance of accountability to Jesus, to the church’s disciple-making mission, to their supervisors and co-workers. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- GCI-USA Church Administration Manual - policies and procedures for administering churches.
- Pastors of Promise - a book on ministry integrity and accountability by Pastor Jack Hayford.
vision-casting
Disciple-making leaders provide ministry environments characterized by Jesus' own hope and expectancy. They do so by communicating a vivid verbal picture of an expected-preferred future for the ministry---a vision that is faithful to and expressive of the church’s overall disciple-making mission. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Transformational Church - a book about church renewal by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer.
- Transitioning - a book about leading change in churches by Dan Southerland.
- Here is a 20-minute video from GCI addressing the paradigm shifts necessary for church leaders to become competent in disciple-making ministry:
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mentoring & coaching
Disciple-making leaders mentor and coach emerging leaders, helping them develop Jesus' character and ministry ability (competency). Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- Mentoring Presentation (PowerPoint).
- GCI Intern Program - includes scripts for discussions between mentors and mentees.
- GCI Ministry Coaching - includes various resources related to coaching.
- Mentoring that Makes a Difference.
multiplying ministries and churches
Disciple-making leaders facilitate the multiplication of ministries and churches. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- GCI Church Multiplication Ministries - resources and training programs.
- Planting Missional Churches - a book by Ed Stetzer.
- Mission-Shaped Church - a book on missional churches.
- Here is 25-minute video from GCI on the competencies of church planters:
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superintending-supporting
Disciple-making leaders are appropriately involved in the lives and ministries of those they are appointed to superintend---providing for growth and accountability in accordance with relevant GCI governance and administrative policies. Here are resources that address this topic:
fundraising
Disciple-making leaders participate in fundraising and lead others to join in. Here are recommended resources that address this topic:
- A Spirituality of Fundraising - a book by Henri Nouwen.
- A Christian View of Money: Celebrating God's Generosity - a book by Mark Vincent.
- Biblical Principles for Stewardship and Fundraising.
- Here are two GCI videos on fundraising (12 and 9 minutes long):
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Free Comprehensive Discipleship Course:
- 40 Days of Discipleship – a self-paced, advanced curriculum in GCI doctrine and Trinitarian theology.
- Education – free and low-cost online courses provided by GCI in theology and ministry practice.
- Ministry growth – tools to help ministers grow spiritually and in disciple-making competency.
