Keeping the Motivation Pure
I had a great time in San Juan Capistrano yesterday with the key leaders of Hope Christian Fellowship. Jeff Bassette, the senior pastor HCF, wanted 
me to talk to his key leaders about making disciples and raising up leaders. I’ve had the great privilege of coaching Jeff and his church for the past year.
I shared with the group my PowerPoints on disciple-making through cell ministry. I shared how that cells are leader breeders and that the main task of the cell leader is to find another disciple–not just to fill the cell with members.
During the discussion a couple of the leaders questioned me in the area of motivation. One said, “I find it difficult to talk about making disciples of people. People can often feel “used,” like they are my “agenda.” I find it much better just to become friends with people.” I wholeheartedly agreed with her that we have to watch the motivation. But I also challenged her with the fact that Jesus had a clear agenda of making disciples. He even said to his disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15: 14).
Pastor Jeff chimed in, “one of the most difficult aspects of ministry is finding the balance between taking people to the next step without making people feel they are being used.”
I told the group that I’ve seen this very clearly in the cell church world. Some cell churches are multiplication machines but many people feel used and spit out of the system. On the far left are those churches that have “love boat” groups. Everybody is a great friend but few disciples are made.
Cell groups are perfectly suited to make future disciples who lead cell groups. Yet, we have to skillfully, gracefully plant the vision, so that people truly understand the movitation behind what we’re doing.
What has you been your experience in this area? How do you keep moving people forward in discipleship without causing them to feel “used”?
Joel Comiskey
Dave McElhinney said,
April 21, 2008 @ 4:50 am
We try to keep the concept of servanthood in front of our leaders. Of course they are being “used.” But they are being used by God for the purposes He uniquely designed them for and they are stewarding His gifts in them. We also believe that and model that the life of service is the joyous life.
Michael Sove said,
April 21, 2008 @ 6:16 am
The picture we paint for our cell members is that this is not about them but it’s all about all of us being prepared to be harvest workers. We are currently taking all our cells through the equipping track so that we have many who will be able to help as people come into the cells. Our desire is to partner up any new person entering cell with someone who is one step ahead and who will coach them through the equipping track. Will all of them take on one-on-one discipleship? No, but many will and we’ll have a larger base of people to draw from.
Daniel West said,
April 21, 2008 @ 7:47 am
The move of the Holy Spirit in the celebration services and in cell life is also an essential element in maintaining a high level of motivation in the groups. We have been experiencing a constant flow of the miraculous in our meetings, many being filled with the Holy Spirit, healings, and a lot of folks giving their lives to Jesus in this last month. We have been focusing our efforts in the consolidation new christians and a leadership seminar that we start over every six weeks.
El mover del Espiritu Santo en las celebraciones y en la vida de la célula es un elemento esencial en mantener un nivel alto de motivación en los grupos. Hemos estado experimentando un fluir contínuo de lo milagroso en nuestras reuniones, muchos recibiendo la llenura del Espiritu Santo, sanidades y muchos entregandose a Cristo en este mes. Hemos hecho un esfuerzo mayor in la consolidación de los nuevos cristianos y un seminario de liderazgo que comienza de nuevo cada seis semanas.
Matt Cain said,
April 21, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
My wife and I are learning that many Christians are not ripe for making disciples, but all that means is that we keep looking people that want to obey Jesus all the way.
Jesus asked people to follow Him, and that’s what we have been asked to do; call others to obediently follow Jesus’ teachings becasue he first loved us. He died in our place, offers us salvation, and then commands us to make disciples. If someone is not motivated by that, then they are not ripe for becomming a disciple maker.
We have had to back off with a couple we are discipling becasue after following Jesus for a year, they decided they didn’t want to make disciples…yet. Instead of wait around for them, we have backed off, and continue to disciple those who are ready to move forward in obedience to Jesus. Perhaps one day they will be ready to take that step of faith.
We have seen God bless our other disciple (a freshman in HS) who is leading a cell on her school campus. She is walking in faith and God is blessing it!
The motivation is Jesus Christ.
Bishop Joseph Kimani said,
April 29, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
I feel move by the fact that you have been empowered to go out teaching more on discipleship,…..and the church cells. Brother go on and we pray that God will open for you more doors for this great missionwork entrusted to you.