Key Points in The Trellis and the Vine

Thanks to Tim Chester for reproducing some summary statements from The Trellis and the Vine:

Ministry Mind-shifts

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1. From running programs to building people
2. From running events to training people
3. From using people to growing people
4. From filling gaps to training new workers
5. From solving problems to helping people make progress
6. From clinging to ordained ministry to developing team leadership
7. From focusing on church polity to forging ministry partnerships
8. From relying on training institutions to establishing local training
9. From focusing on immediate pressures to aiming for long-term expansion
10. From engaging in management to engaging in ministry
11. From seeking church growth to desiring gospel growth

Summary Propositions

1. Our goal is to make disciples
2. Churches tend towards institutionalism as sparks fly upwards
3. The heart of disciple-making is prayerful teaching
4. The goal of all ministry—not just one-to-one work—is to nurture disciples
5. To be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker
6. Disciple-makers need to be trained and equipped in conviction, character, and competence
7. There is only one class of disciples, regardless of different roles or responsibilities
8. The Great Commission, and its disciple-making imperative, needs to drive fresh thinking about our Sunday meetings and the place of training in congregational life
9. Training almost always starts small and grows by multiplying workers
10. We need to challenge and recruit the next generation of pastors, teachers, and evangelists

Steps to Making a Start

1. Set the agenda on Sundays
2. Work closely with your elders or parish council
3. Start building a new team of co-workers
4. Work out with you co-workers how disciple-making is going to grow in your context
5. Run some training programs
6. Keep an eye out for “people worth watching”