If I Were Starting From Scratch: How Jesus Builds Multiplying Movements

Key takeaways

Start with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Scripture as foundational elements in building a movement.
Deep, desperate prayer and dependence are essential to birthing movements.
Focus on finding and nurturing 'people of peace' rather than seeking crowds.
Emphasize quality relationships in discipleship over simply building larger groups.
Encourage simplicity in church practices to facilitate reproducible growth.
Adopt a mindset of immediate obedience to God's calling.

Summary

Starting from Scratch: A Radical Approach

In this episode, host Josh Shower addresses the essential mindset needed to build a multiplying church from scratch by 2026. He emphasizes the importance of refocusing on foundational elements like Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures, and challenges listeners to think about what it would look like if they lost everything except their faith. This radical approach requires moving beyond metrics of success based on size or popularity to genuine disciple-making.

The Power of Prayer and Dependence

Shower asserts that prayer must be at the core of any disciple-making movement. Drawing from scripture, he highlights the practices of the early church and the Apostle Paul, emphasizing that prayer precedes power. By fostering a culture of deep, desperate prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit, he believes movements can be birthed. He suggests extended prayer sessions, fasting, and teaching followers to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Finding People of Peace

Focusing on the model Jesus provided, Shower discusses the importance of identifying 'people of peace' rather than chasing crowds. He instructs listeners to look for those who are open and welcoming to the message, mirroring Jesus' approach in Luke 10. The episode suggests that movements can thrive when leaders focus on those already prepared by God, highlighting the principle that God is at work even when challenges arise.

Discipling a Few: Quality Over Quantity

Shower emphasizes that disciple-making should prioritize depth and quality over sheer numbers. By nurturing a few individuals who are eager to grow, churches can cultivate meaningful relationships that yield significant growth. He reflects on his experiences in different global contexts where the focus on intimate discipleship has led to positive outcomes.

Building Simple, Reproducible Gatherings

In this section, the host argues for simplicity in church gatherings, contrasting the prevalent complexity in many modern church systems. He advocates for reproducible practices that encourage members to share faith and disciple others effectively, aligning with Jesus' method of gathering.

Normalizing Immediate Obedience

Shower calls for an attitude of immediate obedience to God's call, disrupting the norm of inaction or procrastination in spiritual matters. Emphasizing that prompt responses to God can lead to transformative experiences and growth, he motivates listeners to act on their faith actively.

Show notes

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/

Join us at the 2026 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/2026-national-disciple-making-forum/

Building a Multiplying Church from Scratch - Disciple Makers Podcast

Join host Josh Shower in this insightful episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast as he explores the concept of starting from scratch to build a multiplying church by 2026. Dive deep into practical strategies rooted in prayer, fasting, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, and learn how to identify 'people of peace'. Discover how simplified gatherings and obedience-based discipleship can lead to exponential growth and a powerful movement. Perfect for church leaders and believers who are passionate about making disciples who make disciples. Tune in and be inspired to take bold steps in your faith journey!

00:00 Welcome and Introduction 01:05 Starting from Scratch: A Radical Approach 03:43 The Power of Prayer and Dependence 07:56 Finding People of Peace 12:27 Discipling a Few: Quality Over Quantity 15:16 Building Simple, Reproducible Gatherings 19:28 Refusing Complexity and Embracing Simplicity 21:01 Normalizing Immediate Obedience 22:36 Conclusion and Call to Action