 Tools & Trainings E-Newsletter Issue 45 October 4, 2010
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A Refresher Course in Basic Math
Paul wrote Second Timothy at the end of his life. His primary concern was that the special power and transformation of the Good News be passed on through the generations and not end with his death.
He wrote: "You therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:1-2). How many generations are in this verse? Paul...Timothy...faithful men...others also-there are four generations in this verse.
Multiplication is a popular topic in missions and church today. Unfortunately, much of what people call multiplying is really just addition. When a small group is added, it is often called multiplying. When another worship service is added on Sunday morning, it is often called church multiplication but it is merely addition. Adding a venue for worship in your church is not multiplying a church, it is merely adding. I am not against addition, but let's not call addition multiplication.
Even if you add an additional church to your denomination, you are still not multiplying, at least not yet. 2+2=4 and 2X2=4 as well. In the early stage of multiplication, addition plays a part. The difference is found in the sum of succeeding generations. If you merely add another 2 the sum is 6, and you are adding by twos. But if you multiply you get to eight, then sixteen, and now you know you are multiplying.
It is true that addition has a role to play in multiplication. In fact, multiplication is when every part adds an equal part to the whole. I guess, in theory, you cannot have multiplication without addition. Addition is not a bad thing; in fact it is far better than subtraction or division (which many of our churches in the West are experiencing).
Addition is good, multiplication is better, way better. Addition produces incremental growth, but multiplication produces exponential growth. The difference is seen in the results of multiple generations. I have counseled people, "Let's not call it multiplication until we get to the forth generation." Until we get to "others also" we have not succeeded in multiplication. It is possible for a strong leader to attract other leaders who, because they are leaders, will have followers. You can have three "generations" of influence without really multiplying. But in order to get to the fourth generation everyone must be giving it all away, and that is when you have multiplication. When we have great grand-daughter disciples, leaders, or churches, then we are multiplying.
The thing about math is it is a world of absolutes; there is one right answer and many wrong answers to every equation. But if processes are mixed up, the solutions are screwed up. In Christendom today we have poor math skills, and our bottom line is wrong in the end because of it.
by Neil Cole (Excerpt from Chapter 5 of Search & Rescue)
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Upcoming Trainings- Organic Greenhouse
 Prescott, AZ // Story 1
October 8-10
with Ed Waken
Details and Registration: Here
Los Angeles, CA // Story 1
November 12-14
with Neil Cole
Early Bird Registration open nowEdinburgh, Scotland // Story 1
November 19-21
with Neil Cole
Details and Registration: Here
 Facebook page
Philadephia, PA // Story 1
December 3-5
with Neil Cole & Jared Looney
Early Bird Registration open now
Click HERE for more Details and to Register
Partners in Innovation Conference
October 4, 2010
Columbus, OH
Learn with Alan Hirsch & Neil Cole
www.sdapartnersininnovation.org
Nottingham, UK: Organic Leadership & NetworksTuesday 23rd November 2010 (from 10:00-17:45) Trainer: Neil ColeThis day is really for people who are involved in planting simple/organic churches here in the UK and are looking to raise up leaders out of the harvest, multiply churches and form networks. The day is not simply to gain more info or head knowledge but to equip us for the work in our own contexts! For more Details and to Register click HERE
Beginning the summer of 2010, Shapevine will be launching one of the most unique training opportunities yet. The Missional Quest series is a cohort based learning journey that will give you the opportunity to join in a small group of like-minded sojourners with Deb Hirsch, Alan Hirsch, Dan Kimball, Neil Cole, and others. More...
YouTube Video Intro
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Featured Resources
 The Starfish & The Spider: The unstoppable power of leaderless organizations - Paperback
by Rod Beckstrom & Ori Brafman
This is a rare book that will challenge and change how you understand the world around you. It has some keen isnights for the church espanding organically in a decentralzed fashion. The paperback version is just over $10
 TruthQuest: The Facilitator's Guide | Updated Version
By Neil Cole
Fresh off the presses, this updated resource contains all you need to facilitate a TruthQuest learning community. TruthQuest is a system for training emerging leaders in systematic theology and to reproduce that learning amongst their disciples!
Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church
By Neil Cole
"Church 3.0 is an all-in-one compass, survival manual, tool kit, leadership agenda and imagineering workshop. It is a treasure trove that distributes the wealth of Neil Cole's rich experience and insight. I cannot imagine trying to navigate... without it."
─Reggie McNeal
For the whole list of resources on Sale >> click HERE
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Featured Article
The Gifted Teacher
by Neil Cole
Communicating the message so that others understand the content only brings the teacher to half of his or her role. Seeing the content applied well in the listener's context is another 25% of the task of the teacher. Yet this only brings the teacher to 75% fulfillment of the task. 75% on an exam is barely passing, and certainly not a success. How can a teacher get to 100%? The only way a teacher can fulfill one hundred percent of the call of the teacher is by releasing the learners to fulfill the task of the teacher themselves with other people! When you are starting to pass the content on to others is when you have learned the content on its fullest level. To teach others best you must see the process through until the learners become the teachers. I used to think that a great teaching gift was actually a bottleneck to multiplication.... |
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