Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

own resources and income for operations, ministry and mission, and faithfully stewards its resources and facilities with kingdom priorities in mind. Finally, an empowered church is focused on reproducing itself, in service to the Lord and advance of the Kingdom in mission. Focusing on reproduction demands a plan to pour into the leaders who share the vision, a commitment to sacrifice on behalf of the vision God gave, and an investment to do your part in fulfilling the Great Commission, starting where we live and from there, to the ends of the earth. Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about the importance of Empowerment in transitioning a church plant to its own independent fellowship. This notion of empowerment resonates with what the Scriptures teach about maturity, which, while not being in total independence, highlights the issue of being able to teach others and cause them to grow. Look at two examples of this idea of growing to the point of no longer being a child, but being a teacher as well: Heb. 5.11-14 - About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. [12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, [13] for everyone who lives onmilk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Eph. 4.11-16 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Student Application and Implications

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