Moving from “Crowds” to “Kingdom”
A Collaborative Coaching Guide
I recently finished 7 Practices of Disciple Making Churches, and it shifted my perspective. While the headlines usually go to the fastest-growing mega-churches, there’s a quiet, powerful movement of North American churches learning from global disciple-making movements. They aren’t worried about the spotlight; they’re concerned with the mission.
Ready to see where your church stands? Grab your team, some coffee, and let’s walk through these seven shifts together.
The 7 Practices: A Deep Dive
Use these summaries and questions to spark honest conversation. Don’t rush—the goal isn’t to finish the list, but to find the “North Star” for your ministry.
| Practice | The Heart of the Matter | Reflection Question |
| 1. Convictional Leadership | Making disciples isn’t a thing we do; it’s the main thing. | Honestly, what is our church’s current “main thing”? |
| 2. Obedience-Based Models | We don’t just want smarter disciples; we want more obedient ones. Simplicity scales. | How do we actually measure if our disciples are multiplying? |
| 3. Foundation of Prayer & Word | We can’t give what we don’t have. Growth is fueled by the Spirit and the Scripture. | How are prayer and Scripture woven into our daily process? |
| 4. Relational Community | Growth happens in circles, not just rows. Relationships are the “greenhouse” for disciples. | What percentage of our people are in actual disciple-making relationships? |
| 5. Clear Pathways | “If it’s foggy in your head, it’s confusing on a napkin.” | Can our leaders draw our disciple-making pathway on a napkin in 5 mins? |
| 6. Mission Beyond the Walls | We don’t make disciples for the sake of the church; we do it for the sake of the world. | How are we equipping people to make disciples in the “Harvest”? |
| 7. Leadership Alignment | We need everyone building from the same blueprint. | What is our long-term plan to keep leaders focused on this mission? |
The Pulse Check: Team Self-Assessment
Gather your team and color-code your current reality. Be brave—honesty here is the first step toward health.
- Green: On Mission (Keep doing what you’re doing!)
- Yellow: Needs Work (Deep dive: What can we realistically change?)
- Red: Off Mission (Stop and engage your best leaders in a “hard reset” conversation.)
Coach-Tip: If you’re stuck on where to start, look at Practice #1. If the leadership isn’t convicted, the rest of the engine won’t turn over.
Action Planning: Taking the First Step
Don’t try to fix all seven at once. Pick one “Red” or “Yellow” area this week.
Example: Practice #1 (Convictional Leadership)
- The Goal: Refocus disciple-making as the “Main Thing.”
- The Action: Audit your church calendar. For every activity, ask: “Is this directly helping us make a disciple who makes disciples?” * The Rating: Assign a Green, Yellow, or Red to every program on the books.
What is the Holy Spirit prompting you to look at first? Let’s get to work!
Since we’re always looking for ways to see the Kingdom expand, I wanted to share something that really caught my eye.
Do you ever find yourself wondering what it actually takes to move beyond just growing a crowd and start truly multiplying? I’m talking about the kind of movement where disciples are flourishing, leaders are rising up naturally, and healthy new churches are taking root.
I’ve been diving into the “Becoming a Level 5IVE Multiplying Church Field Guide” by Todd Wilson, Dave Ferguson, and Alan Hirsch. With their blessing, I’ve synthesized some of their best insights into a practical tool for you.
Curious about how this looks in your specific neck of the woods?
I’d love to send you a simple evaluation to help you get a clear pulse on multiplication in your own context. It’s a great way to spark some fresh vision with your team!
[CLICK HERE to request your Multiplication Evaluation.]
