Cole on Church

I want to lower the bar of how church is done so that anyone can do it, and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple so that they will do it.

Cole on Discipleship

If you can’t reproduce disciples, you’ll never reproduce leaders. If you can’t reproduce leaders, you’ll never reproduce churches. If you can’t reproduce churches, you’ll never see a movement.

Neil Cole on Discipleship

We should lower the bar of how church is done and raise the bar of what it means to be a disciple. That is, if we can conceive and structure a church that is simple enough that anyone can do it, and is made up of people who follow Jesus at any cost, the result will be a movement that empowers the common Christian to do the uncommon works of God. In contrast it seems that many of our current practices run contrary to this - we make church complex and discipleship too easy.

Cole on Leadership

I have come to believe that the real role of a leader who has died to self is to equip others so that he is no longer necessary... When you exist to help others do the job, you have finally matured to the level of an equipper. The more valuable you are, the less successful you are as an equipper of others. Ironically, the more dispensable you become, the more valuable you are, because there are not that many leaders today who are willing to be dispensable. We have entered the days of recyclable disciples - transformed from garbage to glory - and disposable pastors.

Cole on Safe Ministry

SAFE:
Self preservation = mission
Avoidance of the world and risk = wisdom
Financial security = responsible faith
Education = maturity

Cole on Movements

A multiplication movement must have four characteristics:
Incarnational - pattern must be internal and work out into behaviour.
Viral - simple idea that is contagious.
Transformational - the pattern is so life changing, people can't help but pass it on.
Universal - pattern must work across all racial, economic, political, social, language and cultural barriers.

Cole on Leadership Reproduction

Disciples - Leaders - Churches - Movements. If you can't produce one, you won't produce the next.

Cole on Training in Skills

The best way is the show-how method:
Model: I do, you watch.
Assist: We do.
Watch: You do, I watch.
Leave: You do, someone new watches.

Cole on Mentoring

Listen. Ask. First things first. One thing at a time. What next for this learner? Adult learning principles. Invest in what is proven. Set small challenges. Keep a record of assignments and the next appointment.

Cole on Leading Leaders

Listen. Ask.

Cole on Theological Education

We need theological training that is learning based, rather than knowledge based, curriculum driven or teacher centred. Our solution? Monthly gatherings for 8 hours of 5-8 over a year. Prior to meeting, each learner has studied four points of doctrine from two evangelical viewpoints, and be ready to teach their points with an example and an application. The facilitator just asks the questions; the learners teach.

Cole on Knowledge

Most Christians in the West are educated beyond their obedience.

Cole on Discipleship

There is a DNA to God's organic kingdom:

Divine Truth

Nurturing Relationships

Apostolic Mission