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Summary:
Why does it sometimes feel like pursuing God’s call to multiply disciples comes at the expense of our intimacy and abiding with Jesus? In this interview, David Cervanka, a movement practitioner and former team leader in Japan and strategy coordinator for Greater Austin Mission Society, shares the lessons he has learned from God through a season of burnout and restoration in the Lord. What does it look like to pursue movement in the timing of the Holy Spirit? How do we make God’s love for us our primary joy over visible fruit in ministry? How does loving our families and our children flow into multiplication work? How do we pursue great works for God without losing our souls?
Key Points From This Episode:
- Attack the lie of “hard soil” with the promises of God and by following the principles of multiplication laid out in scripture.
- It was possible to see more fruit in urban contexts by focusing on oikos to address the felt needs of isolation and loneliness. Find ways to create oikos and share the gospel in natural ways.
- Learn to notice when you are potentially burning out or compromising on abiding with Jesus. Signs to look for are a fixation on fruitfulness and results that leads to emotional peaks and valleys, a loyalty to a “formula” for multiplication instead of hearing from God, comparison with other practitioners, a lack of love for others who feel like a “hindrance” to the work, or an absence of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
- In Luke 10 after the 72 return and report to Jesus, Jesus reminds them to rejoice first that their names are written in the book of heaven. Our joy is that Jesus knows our name and cares for us. When this is our joy, we are not as impacted by the highs and lows of ministry.
- Pursue movement at the pace of the Spirit. Wait on the timing and prompting of the Holy Spirit instead of constantly pushing past your capacity.
- When struggling with comparison, be reminded of who God is and of his affection for you.
- If you are feeling burnt out, start by checking your heart and returning to the basics of meditating on the word and listening to God. Consider how you best connect to the Lord and return to those practices.
- Caring for your family and pursuing movement does not have to be at tension. The most important disciples are the ones in our own homes and we have more capacity to influence them in a deeper way. When we love people, God’s love lives in us and shows the world the love of God (1 John 4). When we love our families, that love spills out into our ministry.
- Create intentional times to be with family first and consider where and how kids can be involved based on their current relationship with God.
- SWAP (Surrender your life, Waiting in prayer, Avoiding any hint of sin, and listen to the Prompting of the Spirit) is an abiding tool that can be used as a retreat to involve your family, team, and national partners.
- Practical application – meditate on the question, “When have I felt closest to the Lord and what was I doing?” Begin to do those things again.
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Links Mentioned in This Episode
Getting Started in Disciple Making Movements Course
