This is a community of believers that has been formed in Bangalore, India. They are friends, family, younger and older people of various backgrounds and cultures from all over India. They come from different faiths and have all found Jesus. They are all listening to His voice and following Him! God is so good!

How Do Churches Form in the Disciple Making Movement?
The early church met together in small groups in homes, and also in larger groups. (Acts 2:46) In the same way, as Discovery Groups multiply and grow and new followers of Jesus are baptized, they join together to form local churches. The formation of these groups is guided by studying Scripture rather than by church or denominational traditions.

Acts 2:37-47 NIV     37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved

Based on this passage, what would you say the characteristics and practices of a local church should be?

In Disciple Making Movements cross-cultural messengers don’t impose tradition or contextualize. Instead they point new followers of Jesus to God’s Word as their authority and encourage them to be guided by Scripture and the Spirit of God as they decide how to gather, pray, and worship in their own cultural settings.

A question often asked is whether people brought to Christ through Disciple Making Movements join traditional churches. Sometimes this question is asked by people who are wanting to start a Disciple Making Movement in order to grow an established church.
The Disciple Making Movement is not opposed to established churches or church buildings or worship services. Many churches formed in Disciple Making Movements have buildings and large worship services. But the goal of a Disciple Making Movement is not to grow an established church, the aim is make disciples that make disciples, penetrating the culture around us. The focus is outward rather than inward.

So, let’s do this thing! Start a discovery group among the lost among you and see what God can do!

Let us know what happens! God is doing a new thing!