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How do we apply the parables
of the
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Concerning how we apply the
parables of the
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1)
What acronyms
should we adopt to make description easier?
o
We are going to
adopt the following acronyms:
§
‘DGT‘
for ‘disciple generation tree‘.
§
‘CBSG of Mark on 222‘ for
‘catechized bible study group of the gospel of
Mark that operates on the principle of 2 Timothy 2:2‘.
§
‘POTS‘
for ‘parable of the sower‘.
§
‘DM0‘
for a disciple who has yet to
become a disciple maker.
§
‘DM1‘
for ‘disciple maker‘.
§
‘DM2‘
for ‘disciple maker of disciple
maker‘.
§
‘DM3‘
for ‘disciple maker of disciple maker
of disciple maker‘.
§
‘CDMCPM‘
for ‘catechized disciple-making
church-planting movement‘.
§
‘DMM‘
for ‘disciple-making movement‘.
§
‘CPM‘
for ‘church-planting movement‘.
2)
How can we apply
the POTS?
o
The principle of 2
Timothy 2:2 from the apostle Paul to Timothy can develop into an application of
the POTS.
o
We are going to
take a detailed look at that verse of the bible later.
3)
What is the
reason Paul provided an apt application of the POTS?
o
Paul
§
Is the greatest
missionary of all of Jesus’ disciples of all time.
§
Sowed the word
far and wide by the Holy Spirit.
§
Was instrumental
in the rapid growth of the early church multiplying
thirty, sixty, even a hundred times as described in the POTS.
4)
How can we learn
from 2 Timothy 2:2 to make an application of the POTS?
o
We are going to
do the following:
§
Introduce the
idea of a DGT.
§
Examine 2 Timothy
2:2 in the context of a DGT.
§
Show that a CBSG
of Mark on 222 has the potential of developing into a DGT multiplying thirty,
sixty, even a hundred times.
§
Draw the
conclusion that a CBSG of Mark on 222 has the potential of delivering the
outcome of an application of the POTS.
5)
What is a DGT?
o
A DGT documents
the discipleship relationship of all disciples that can trace their ancestry to
the same progenitor disciple.
o
It captures the numerical
growth of disciples in a generation-conscious relational fashion.
o
This web page
shows the diagram of an example of a tree: https://www.tutorialride.com/data-structures/trees-in-data-structure.htm
o
Each node on the
DGT represents a disciple.
o
The progenitor disciple
is positioned at the root of the DGT.
6)
What is the
parent-child relationship of a disciple on the DGT?
o
Each disciple
§
Has exactly one
parent except the progenitor disciple at the root that has none.
§
Can have zero,
one, or more children.
7)
What is the generation
height of a DGT?
o
The generation
height of a DGT is the number of offspring traversed in reaching the remotest
offspring from the progenitor disciple at the root, including the remotest
offspring.
8)
What is the generation
height of a disciple on a DGT?
o
The generation
height of a disciple on a DGT is the number of offspring traversed in reaching
the remotest offspring from the disciple, including the remotest offspring.
9)
What is the generation
marker of a disciple on a DGT?
o
The generation
marker of a disciple on a DGT is labeled
§
G0 for the progenitor
disciple at the root.
§
G1 for a disciple
whose parent is at the root.
§
G2 for a disciple
whose grandparent is at the root.
§
G3 for a disciple
whose great grandparent is at the root.
§
So on and so
forth.
2 Timothy 2:2
+++++++++++++++++++++
2And the things you have
heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who
will also be qualified to teach others.
+++++++++++++++++++++
10)
Are the
referenced parties in 2 Timothy 2:2 on the same DGT?
o
Yes.
11)
What are the
generation markers of the referenced parties in 2 Timothy 2:2?
o
Who is at G0?
§
The ‘me’ that refers
to the apostle Paul is at G0.
o
Who is at G1?
§
The ‘you’ that refers
to Timothy is at G1.
o
Who is at G2?
§
Reliable people are at G2.
o
Who is at G3?
§
Others
are at G3.
12)
How do we
interpret 2 Timothy 2:2 in the context of a DGT?
o
Paul as a G0 disciple
goes out to sow the word to make a G1 disciple Timothy (DM0).
o
Paul as a G0 disciple
mobilizes the G1 disciple Timothy (DM0) to go out to sow the word for:
§
The G1 disciple
Timothy (DM0) to become DM1.
o
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM0) goes out to sow the word and makes G2 disciples who are reliable people (DM0).
o
Paul as a G0 disciple
mobilizes the G1 disciple Timothy (DM1) to mobilize the G2 disciples who are reliable people (DM0) to go out to sow the word for:
§
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM0) to become DM1;
§
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM1) to become DM2.
o
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM1) mobilizes the G2 disciples who are reliable people
(DM0) to go out to sow the word.
o
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM0) go out to sow the word and
make G3 disciples who are others (DM0).
o
Paul as a G0 disciple
mobilizes the G1 disciple Timothy (DM2) to mobilize the G2 disciples who are reliable people (DM1) to mobilize the G3 disciples who are others (DM0) to go out to sow the word for:
§
The G3 disciples who
are others (DM0) to become DM1;
§
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM1) to become DM2;
§
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM2) to become DM3.
o
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM2) mobilizes the G2 disciples who are reliable people
(DM1) to mobilize the G3 disciples who are others
(DM0) to go out to sow the word.
o
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM1) mobilize the G3 disciples who
are others (DM0) to go out to sow the word.
13)
Does 2 Timothy
2:2 say anything about the G3 disciples who are others
(DM0) going out to sow the word?
o
No, the G3 disciples
who are others (DM0) have yet to go out to sow the word.
14)
What is the
consequence of the G3 disciples who are others (DM0)
going out and not going out to sow the word?
o
If the G3 disciples
who are others (DM0) choose to go out to sow the word and make G4 disciples,
the following status change in terms of disciple-making capability takes place:
§
The G3 disciples who
are others (DM0) become DM1;
§
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM1) become DM2;
§
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM2) becomes DM3.
o
If the G3 disciples
who are others (DM0) choose not to go out to sow the word, the
following status in terms of disciple-making capability remains:
§
The G3 disciples who
are others (DM0) have yet to become DM1;
§
The G2 disciples
who are reliable
people (DM1) remain DM1;
§
The G1 disciple Timothy
(DM2) remains DM2.
15)
What level of disciple-making
capability is reached if the G3 disciples who are others
(DM0) choose to go out to sow the word and make G4 disciples?
o
The disciple-making
capability level of DM3 is reached.
16)
What level of disciple-making
capability is maintained if the G3 disciples who are others
(DM0) choose not to go out to sow the word?
o
The disciple-making
capability level of DM2 is maintained.
17)
If the progenitor
disciple at the root of a DGT starts a CBSG of Mark on 222 and makes a disciple
in the group, what is the generation marker of the progenitor disciple and of
the disciple respectively?
o
The progenitor disciple
at the root is a G0 disciple.
o
The disciple is a
G1 disciple (DM0).
18)
Since the G0 disciple
started a CBSG of Mark on 222, what mobilization action would the G0 disciple take?
o
The G0 disciple would
mobilize the G1 disciple (DM0) to go out to start a CBSG of Mark on 222.
19)
What is the
generation marker of a disciple whom the G1 disciple (DM0) makes in a CBSG of
Mark on 222 that the G1 disciple (DM0) started?
o
The disciple is a
G2 disciple (DM0).
20)
What status
change in terms of disciple-making capability takes place when the G1 disciple
(DM0) makes a G2 disciple (DM0)?
o
The G1 disciple
(DM0) becomes DM1.
21)
Since the G0 disciple
and the G1 disciple (DM1) both started a CBSG of Mark on 222, what mobilization
action would the G0 disciple and the G1 disciple (DM1) take respectively?
o
The G0 disciple would
mobilize the G1 disciple (DM1) to mobilize the G2 disciple (DM0) to go out to
start a CBSG of Mark on 222.
o
The G1 disciple
(DM1) would mobilize the G2 disciple (DM0) to go out to start a CBSG of Mark on
222.
22)
What is the
generation marker of a disciple whom the G2 disciple (DM0) makes in a CBSG of
Mark on 222 and that the G2 disciple (DM0) started?
o
The disciple is a
G3 disciple (DM0).
23)
What status
change in terms of disciple-making capability takes place when the G2 disciple
(DM0) makes a G3 disciple (DM0)?
o
The G2 disciple
(DM0) becomes DM1.
o
The G1 disciple
(DM1) becomes DM2.
24)
Since the G0 disciple,
the G1 disciple (DM2) and the G2 disciple (DM1) each started a CBSG of Mark on
222, what mobilization action would the G0 disciple, the G1 disciple (DM2) and the
G2 disciple (DM1) take respectively?
o
The G0 disciple would
mobilize the G1 disciple (DM2) to mobilize the G2 disciple (DM1) to mobilize the
G3 disciple (DM0) to go out to start a CBSG of Mark on 222.
o
The G1 disciple
(DM2) would mobilize the G2 disciple (DM1) to mobilize the G3 disciple (DM0) to
go out to start a CBSG of Mark on 222.
o
The G2 disciple
(DM1) would mobilize the G3 disciple (DM0) to go out to start a CBSG of Mark on
222.
25)
What is the
generation marker of a disciple whom the G3 disciple (DM0) makes in a CBSG of
Mark on 222 and that the G3 disciple (DM0) started?
o
The disciple is a
G4 disciple (DM0).
26)
What status
change in terms of disciple-making capability takes place if the G3 disciple
(DM0) makes a G4 disciple (DM0)?
o
The G3 disciple
(DM0) becomes DM1 if the G3 disciple (DM0) makes a disciple.
o
The G2 disciple
(DM1) becomes DM2 if the G3 disciple (DM0) makes a disciple.
o
The G1 disciple
(DM2) becomes DM3 if the G3 disciple (DM0) makes a disciple.
27)
But would the G3 disciple
(DM0) choose to go out to start a CBSG of Mark on 222 and makes a G4 disciple
(DM0) in the group, and why?
o
2 Timothy 2:2 is
silent about the G3 disciple (DM0) gong out to sow the word.
o
So it is not
certain whether the G3 disciple (DM0) would choose to go out to start a CBSG of
Mark on 222 and makes a G4 disciple (DM0) in the group.
o
What happens on
the mission field informs us that sometimes the G3 disciple (DM0) chooses to go
out to sow the word and makes a G4 disciple (DM0) and sometimes the G3 disciple
(DM0) does not. If the G3 disciple (DM0) chooses
§
To go out to sow the
word and makes a G4 disciple (DM0),
Ø
The disciple-making
capability level of DM3 is reached.
Ø
Subsequent G5, G6,
G7 disciples, etc., will likely come into being spontaneously meaning that the
generation height of the DGT will grow spontaneously.
§
Not to go out to
sow the word,
Ø
The disciple-making
capability remains at the level of DM2.
Ø
The generation
height of the DGT stops growing.
28)
What level of disciple-making
capability must have been reached before the generation height of a DGT starts growing
spontaneously in accordance with observation on the mission field?
o
When the disciple-making
capability level of DM3 has been reached, the generation height of the DGT grows
spontaneously.
o
When the disciple-making
capability remains at the level of DM2, the generation height of the DGT stops
growing.
29)
What is added on
a DGT when it grows in generation height?
o
Growth of the
generation height of a DGT adds generations of disciples on the tree.
30)
What are the
characteristics of growth through spontaneous addition of generations of disciples
on a DGT?
o
Growth through
spontaneous addition of generations of disciples on a DGT is growth by multiplication,
multiplying thirty, sixty, even a hundred times.
31)
What potential
does a CBSG of Mark on 222 have?
o
When a progenitor
disciple starts a CBSG of Mark on 222, the group has the potential of
developing into a DGT that
§
Is capable of producing
DM3.
§
Consequently has
a spontaneously growing generation height.
§
Consequently
bears a crop multiplying thirty, sixty, even a hundred times.
32)
What conclusion
can we draw about the relationship between a CBSG of Mark on 222 and the POTS?
o
A CBSG of Mark on
222 has the potential of delivering the outcome of an application of the POTS.
33)
Why does a CBSG
of Mark on 222 started by a progenitor disciple only have the potential but not
the certainty of delivering the outcome of an application of the POTS?
o
It is because
§
God alone
controls whether or not the G3 disciple (DM0) would start a CBSG of Mark on 222and
make G4 disciples (DM0).
§
God willing, a CBSG
of Mark on 222 started by a progenitor disciple would develop into a DGT that bears
a crop multiplying thirty, sixty, even a hundred times.
34)
What should we do
if the G3 disciple (DM0) chooses not to start a CBSG of Mark on 222?
o
We need to
troubleshoot and remove artificial constraints that might have been imposed on
the DGT and that hinder the G3 disciple (DM0) from going out to sow the word
and making G4 disciples (DM0).
o
When we have done
all that we could to remove artificial constraints that might have been imposed
on the DGT unwittingly, we can leave the outcome to God.
35)
If God allows multiple
CBSG’s of Mark on 222 to develop into DGT’s that bear a crop multiplying thirty, sixty, even a
hundred times, what does the application of the POTS look like?
o
A CDMCPM that
comprises multiple such DGT’s is a large-scale
application of the POTS.
o
A multitude of
disciples in the CDMCPM are responding to Jesus’ call for them to go out to sow
the word.
36)
What happens when
uncommitted disciples on a DGT that is based on CBSG of Mark on 222 become
committed?
o
The newly
committed disciples are baptized.
o
They go through a
short-term discipleship series for church formation.
o
The group that
the newly committed disciples are in becomes a church.
o
The newly-formed
church will be monitored for its progress toward reaching the status of a
healthy church that among other things will reproduce churches.
37)
What is the
relationship between a CDMCPM and the parable of the growing seed?
o
Many churches in a
CDMCPM are reproducing churches the way the parable of the growing seed alludes
to.
o
A CDMCPM is a large-scale
application of the parable of the growing seed.
38)
What is the
emerging picture of the discipleship continuum as jointly demonstrated by the POTS
and the parable of the growing seed along with leadership development of
disciples as disciple makers in a CDMCPM?
o
Disciples go out
to sow the word by starting CBSG’s of Mark on 222 and
inviting uncommitted disciples to the groups.
o
Some uncommitted
disciples turn out to be unproductive recipients of the word sown and fall away.
o
Other uncommitted
disciples turn out to be good soil resulting in
§
Uncommitted
disciples becoming committed.
§
Newly committed
disciples in the same group being formed into a church.
§
Newly committed
disciples in the churches receiving ongoing
Ø
Discipleship
training.
Ø
Training for
becoming leaders as disciple makers.
39)
What sustains the
perpetual cycle of reproducing evangelism, reproducing churches, reproducing discipleship
and reproducing leaders in a CDMCPM?
o
The perpetual
cycle is sustained in a CDMCPM when
§
Disciples continue
to make an application of the POTS by starting CBSG’s
of Mark on 222.
§
Newly committed
disciples in the groups continue to be formed into churches in accordance with
the parable of the growing seed.
§
Newly committed
disciples in the churches continue to receive ongoing
Ø
Discipleship
training.
Ø
Training for
becoming leaders as disciple makers.
40)
Is the CDMCPM
viable?
o
From mid 1990’s
to late 2022, close to two thousand DMM’s and CPM’s have been implemented.
o
These
implementations enjoy various degrees of numerical success with a handful
reaching millions of disciples.
o
o
Two of the most
successful implementations are respectively hosted on
§
A mission field
that is called the missionary’s graveyard and that is marked by violence,
illiteracy and religious persecution.
§
And a mission
field that is known for its political oppression and religious persecution.
o
The good news of
Jesus Christ has triumphed against all odds in these implementations.
41)
What happens when
a committed disciple wants to join a DGT?
o
The committed disciple
is gently advised of the following:
§
The DGT does not
accommodate transfer growth from an existing church.
§
The committed disciple
is allowed to stay for training purposes and for as long as it takes to become
familiar with how to
Ø
Facilitate a
bible study.
Ø
Mobilize
disciples to become DM3.
§
After that the committed
disciple exits the DGT and starts a new DGT by starting the first group on the
tree.
42)
What can be done
when a committed disciple wants to receive training on how to sow the word?
o
Please refer to
the answer for the question about what happens when a committed disciple wants to
join a DGT.
43)
What happens when
an uncommitted disciple wants to bring another uncommitted disciple to a group?
o
The invited uncommitted
disciple is welcome.
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How do we apply the parables
of the
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