This past week I spent the day with leaders from over three hundred cities across North American and eight countries learning about movements in cities and what sparks and ignite such movements. Those movements could be movements of prayer, church planting or rapid discipleship reproduction. Movements seem to be one of the areas of interest among church and denominational leaders and I think that is because  we are coming to grips with the fact that if we are going to make an impact with the gospel, it will have to be through movements. This is not about one church or one denomination, but about the kingdom. With statistics telling us the estimated number of non-believers in North America is 265 million and that there are over 3,500 different people groups around the world with no access to the gospel - we have to think and act kingdom, not church or denomination.

What are the markers of a movement?

Listening to Tm Keller and others this week this week, here are bullet points to consider. These are points and I am not going to expound on them, but let them sink in as you read them.

1. There Must Be A Compelling Vision - Not Rules

2. Spontaneous Grass Roots Participation

3. Innovation That Leads To Sacrifice

4. Someone Has To Own The Lostness Of Your City

5.Focus on Gospel Saturation (the measuring stick)
Every man woman and child have repeated opportunities to hear, experience and respond to the gospel

6. Acts of Service – something the church can do that solves a systemic problem in a way that the city feels it’s impact

7. Church Planting

8. Simple Reproducible Methods
Simplicity is fundamental to world-changing revival movements. Each new church is structured for the express purpose of spreading the gospel. Everything is done using methods that are reproducible even by new believers. Core beliefs remain unchanged but methods must be adaptable and flexible.

9. Belief That The Gospel Changes Everything

10. Understand that the city is the most strategic place for Gospel ministry

What would it be like if every church operated under the assumption that every disciple was expected to begin making disciples shortly after his conversion? What would happen if at the core of every church was a passion to reproduce disciples, leaders, small groups and churches? What if these activities occurred in the harvest, in the midst of living life, naturally? Even greater – what would happen if all of these scenarios became one? Would we see a movement of God? We would and we have.

Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry called a small group of disciples to become fishers of men. He invested his life in them and entrusted His movement to them. Their assignment? Make disciples who make disciples. He equipped these ordinary folks and then expected them to teach what they had learned to others. Multiplication. Their assignment is our assignment. When you make disciples who make disciples you have the potential for a movement. A disciple making movement that will result in the multiplication of leaders, small groups and churches!