There’s a story in the “The Multiplying Community” chapter* about a small group of Sudanese church leaders. They had come to be taught the Word of God. These amazing leaders came to receive, yes. But…to receive in order to be reproducers of God’s Word. While they are being taught the Scriptures, they were frantically writing…not to keep it to themselves but…for the purpose of being able to translate it into their language and then to teach it to their tribes.

“They were not listening to receive, but to reproduce.” (p.102) (This story is from the book: *Radical. Taking Back Our Faith From the American Dream by David Platt.)

Does that describe what is happening in the church that you attend?
These third-world country leaders are different than what we normally experience here in the USA, where many sit passively in the audience, disengaged. Yes…some are engaged, learning, but seldom with the goal of listening to reproduce. We are receivers by nature. We mostly listen for what we can get out of it for ourselves. To FEEL God’s love. To FEEL connected to God. David Platt says this is “unbiblical Christianity”. Do you agree?

I’m realistic by nature.
I know that our country doesn’t think or act like a 3rd world country, because that is not what we are. But we can learn from them.

So, how can we embrace the concept of becoming reproducers in a “multiplying community” in a way that actually reproduces disciples…that will in turn reproduce disciples?

In my experience as a Christian Mentor/Life Coach
I have just kinda stumbled onto reproduction mentorship. I am learning how much our perspective matters. YES!!! The way we perceive events and results matters. God says that we are what we think. So what we think is important. It determines our actions and reactions.

So what about your thinking? Is it stinkin’ thinkin’? Or is it the Mind of Christ? What do you WANT it to be? It is a choice. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, but a choice, nonetheless.

There are two little but very powerful formulas
I learned these from Verna Birkey in her book “Women Connecting With Women.”

Here is the “short summary” for you:
1. The original formula is A + B = C
(The Activating Event (A) + The Interpretation of the Activating Event (B) = The Reaction (C)). The is how we “naturally” interpret events.

Through Mentor Coaching and Scripture memory…and even when the Activating Event does not change, we can change the Interpretation of the Event (by CHOOSING to see things the way God sees them/through meditating and memorizing the Scriptures), which in turn changes the Reaction. So, by changing the formula, we change the reaction.

2. The new formula then is: A + D = E 
(The Activating Event (A) + The NEW Bibilical Interpretation of the Activating Event (D) = The NEW Biblical Reaction (E)).
This NEW interpretation it is the result of seeing things God’s way…through mediation and memorization of the Word of God. And that in turn, produces the NEW reaction.

We ARE what we think.

I am learning that when I choose to see things from the perspective of Almighty God, immediately things are better…mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Sometimes the actual circumstance (the activating event) changes, but many times it does not. Yet, we can choose to “see” it differently. We can choose to see it through the filter of Scripture. It is like CHOOSING to see the event through God’s eyes.

It is sooooo simple and yet so hard
It’s hard because it takes a conscious effort to change, along with hard work, concentration, memorization, and discipline. It takes the attitude of trust in God and His Word. An “Acting As If” until it is experientially true in your life! I am delighted to tell you that for those that are willing to be “Radical” and work hard, the peace of God is within your grasp!

Like Paul, God is teaching me the “secret” to contentment
The “secret” to being strong when I am weak. The “secret” to joy. I don’t always get it right, but I am understanding on a whole new level.

And when I walk with my clients through this process…
and when my clients decide to take the higher ground to change their “interpretation of the events” through God’s plan of “renewing their minds” through Scripture memory, and Scripture meditation, then they too are learning the “secret” to joy and contentment, no matter what the circumstances.

Contact me and we can set up an inquiry call to talk about it.
You can ask me anything you like. I hope to hear from you very soon.
What are you waiting for? Victory can be around the corner for you! 🙂