The Red Letter Disciple 004: Dave Ferguson on Church Planting in America Today, How to Love Your Neighbor Well, and the Shocking Size of Francis Chan’s Hands
Church planting is the future of Christianity. This is why Dave Ferguson is so passionate about reaching his goal of seeing 16% of churches in America be either a reproducing or a multiplying a church. Dave also helps us see as individuals how we can love our neighbors well. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Season 1 of The Red Letter Disciple Podcast could not have been possible without our friends from The Giving Church. Did you know 45% of those that give to church give $200 or less in a year? The potential to increase giving is certainly in your church and The Giving Church can help you unleash greater generosity. Go on over to www.thegivingchurch.com/red and download a FREE PDF for how to grow your church’s giving!
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Key insights from the episode:
Exponential Conference’s mission is to get 16% of the churches in North America to be level 4 (a planted church) or level 5 (reproducing churches.
Current Landscape of American churches:
- 35% declining
- 35% plateau
- 30% growing
The five different levels of church growth: 1) a church in decline, 2) a plateau 3) growing 4) reproducing church planting 5) multiplying: church multiplying itself. Usually, people only think of the first three levels of growth, but the goal ought to be level 4 and level 5. - Dave Ferguson
In order to get to level 4 or 5, you have to reproduce micro before macro. Make disciples inside the church before you can recruit disciples outside of the church. - Dave Ferguson
Overseas churches are rapidly reproducing disciples. Part of the reason we don’t see that same growth in the United States is that we can’t figure out how to multiply disciples. - Dave Ferguson
India and Africa are growing the fastest because they are planting the gospel and making disciples, not worrying about the logistics of the church. There it is less about the production and more about the relationship. - Dave Ferguson
When Dave gets it right, the practice he does to stay focused is his RPMs through Journaling: Read, Prayer, and Meditation.
Prayer doesn’t always need to start with talking, but with silence and meditation. Create space for the Holy Spirit to move. - Dave Ferguson
The 5 steps on how to love your neighbor (BLESS)
- Begin with Prayer
- Listen
- Eat
- Serve
- Story
Dave’s Challenge of the Week: Have an “I See In You (ICNU)” conversation with someone. Encourage someone close to you and speak a blessing over them.
(Example: I see in you, Chris, a future on a video in Exponential Conference.)
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