This post's title is taken from the idiom 'not see the wood (forest) for the trees' - which means; to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details' (or don't understand them). Of course, this has a myriad of applications in all of our lives, but I'd like to zoom in on one in particular - that of discipleship. However, just before we dive in, you should know something about me. I like numbers, not because I'm particularly good with them, but because they can help explain a great deal about life.
For example, consider money and time, 2 of the most important aspects of our lives. Both have different numeric values / metrics, but both are founded in numbers. In fact, without the ability to understand numbers, it remains very difficult to appreciate the value of time or money. In truth, few things actually define a person more than their relationship with time and money, or said another way, what they do with it. Jesus himself said that where your treasure is, there your heart is too (Matt. 6:21). One might then add that where your heart is, there your time is too, hence the saying; Time equals money!
So let's get personal... How much of your time and money does God have?
This of course, is where the numbers can help us see the spiritual wood from the trees. In this regard, there are a couple of equations that can be very useful. For example, "Kingdom allocated % of total time or money', or 'top 5 time or money allocation rankings' tell us very quickly where our hearts actually are (rather than where we intend them to be). Another insightful calculation is 'the impact of money or time invested in the Kingdom', as taught by Jesus in his parable of the talents.
Anyway, you get the picture, but just before you write me off as an overzealous religious statistician, let me add... many of Jesus parables and teachings were jammed packed with numbers. And do you know why? Because numbers don't lie, and numbers don't have feelings. Ask any auditor, and they'll tell you the same thing. Truth (or the absence of it) is so often caught up in, or derived from, the numbers! Accordingly, how a man spends his time and money, will likely tell you more about that man, than he can!
The bottom line?
It's time to sober up gents! Because when you and I stand before the judgement seat of Christ, we can be assured of 2 things...
We'll meet truth (as often found in the numbers) like we've never known it before, and
We'll meet grace face to face
And this God of truth and grace (Jesus) (John 1:14), has clearly taught and warned us in his word, that we need to get our numbers right while we still can. But enough about time and money for the moment, because this post is actually about a different set of numbers... a set that no disciple can afford to ignore, and one that probably provides us with the best indication this side of eternity, of how our date with truth and grace will go...
As we know, the end point or purpose of being a disciple, is to make disciples. In the end, it matters precious little how 'faithful' or 'wise' we have been with our time or money, if these talents (among others) don't ultimately translate into being stronger, and making better, disciples. Like shifting deckchairs on the Titanic, time and money without this purpose in mind, is useless. If this sounds a little daunting, there is good news, except it's got nothing to do with how we can get off the disciple-making hook. Rather, it has to do with understanding and adopting Jesus disciple-making strategy. Because of one thing we can be sure, nobody made disciples better than Jesus did!
And to help us see 'the wood for the trees' in Jesus discipleship model, I have included 3 graphs (and their associated numbers) below, to help illustrate my point, and the fruit associated with it. To begin with, let's examine the discipleship variables and assumptions that underpin the practice and process of disciple-making - in Jesus footsteps;
Discipleship conversion (to disciple-maker) rate = 25% (1 in 4 will conquer based on Jesus parable of the 4 soils) (Matt 13:1-23)
Number of disciples per disciple-maker = 4 (5 in the group) (best practice)
Number of years required to produce a disciple-maker = 2.5 years (Jesus took 3 years with 12)
Build the model from a single disciple-maker (like you or me)
As you can see in the graphic above, disciple-making is a slow process, at least initially. After 10 years of faithful discipleship-making, there are only 64 disciples to show for. After 20 years that number has increased in size to that of a large church gathering (1000 people). Importantly, this number has been achieved by the 1st disciple-maker (starting in year 0), producing 1 more disciple-maker every 2.5 years, and those disciple-makers doing the same. By year 20, he has produced 8 other disciple-makers (Only 8 I hear you say?!). By year 30 he's added another 4 (to make it 12) (what takes us 30 years took Jesus 3!), however with all the other disciple-makers doing the same (every 2.5 years), the total number of disciples has now compounded to 16,000. This is after 30 long years of faithful and persevering discipleship. But just wait, because God's discipleship model is only in 1st gear...
From years 30 to 50, the total number of disciples grows in size to that of a medium size city - 4 million. By this stage, our 1st disciple-maker is individually responsible for making 20 other disciple-makers. That's a 50 year investment in Kingdom advancement, for only 20 disciple-makers... Not exactly headline grabbing stuff right?
Wrong...
Because from years 50 to 60 (10 years), another 63 million disciples are added! That's the power of compound discipleship! It's hard, unglamorous, and far out of the church lime-light / headlines... But it's more effective, more fruitful, and more glorious, than any other church planting / disciple-making model known to man! Critically too, it's a team sport to the very core... Not built on personality, gifting, talent, or money... But by simple and faithful obedience and perseverance (a lot of perseverance!), one disciple-maker at a time.
Perhaps now you have eyes to see, and ears to understand, why Jesus dedicated himself to only 12 men, for his short and intense 3 years of ministry? As well as why truly advancing God's Kingdom, is hardly as difficult or complicated or lucrative as the devil would have us all believe!
And so here's the obvious question...
Isn't it about time for us to follow in Jesus disciple-making footsteps, and do the same? The numbers don't lie, and help us to see the wood nice and clearly from the trees, wouldn't you agree?
Starting with you and I, and…
A discipleship conversion (to disciple-maker) rate of 25%
4 disciples per disciple-maker = 4 (5 in the group)
2.5 years (per group)
For 60 years
Equals 24 disciple-makers (made by disciple-maker no.1)
But totals...
*67 million disciples!
(made by 16 million other disciple-makers)
To help equip you to be a part of God's disciple-making team, Called 2 Conquer has recently rebooted its website with new and updated resources, that assist you (and your fellow disciples) to start building and advancing the Kingdom of God just like Jesus did... Full of truth, full of grace, and full of confidence in the discipleship model His Father gave him, and he gave us...
What are you waiting for, mighty man?
It's time...
(click on the banner to go to the C2C website)
