Day 4: Now for the Numbers

Kentwood has a population of approximately 50,000 people, and Grand Rapids has a population of roughly 190,000 people. The greater Grand Rapids area has a population of just over 1,000,000 people.

Our church has roughly 200 members. If everyone was a gifted soul winner and won one person a day for an entire year, we would win around 73,000 people in one year. In three years we would have won 219,000 people. But would we have made them into disciples?

Our church roughly breaks out to 75 family units. If every family unit discipled just one family unit over the course of one year, the first year we would have 150 total family units. Because we made disciples out of our disciples, the second year we would have 300 family units, and the third year 600 family units. In three years we would have made disciples out of 1,600 people.  

Reaching Kentwood

If every last person in the church were gifted soul winners, and we won one person a day, we would win the city of Kentwood in merely 9 months. But who would we have discipled?

If every family unit in the church had sincere fellowship and made a disciple out of another family unit once per year, we would have made disciples out of the entire city of Kentwood in 8 years.

Reaching Greater Grand Rapids

If every last person in the church were gifted soul winners, and we won one person a day, we would win the greater Grand Rapids area in just under 12 years and 2 months. But who would we have any discipled?

If every family unit in the church had sincere fellowship and made a disciple out of another family unit once per year, we would have made disciples out of everyone in the greater Grand Rapids area in just less than 13 years.

Final Thoughts

Jesus preached to thousands on the hill multiple times and had miracles to show for it. If we simply reached everyone in the greater Grand Rapids area in the next 15 years we would likely see many miracles, probably be the gold standard for Church programs, have book deals, podcasts and all of the things that we think successful churches do, but how many disciples did we make preaching to the hill?

How many disciples did Jesus call from the hill? None.

But if we make disciples out of those that are nearby, and we focus on that one person or family unit that God has laid on our heart and turn them into a disciple, we could see a revival in the greater Grand Rapids area like that in the books of Acts.

Today let this begin your prayer:

Lord lead me to that one person or family that is hungry for you. Lead me to the person and family that you see will become a great disciple for you. Open up a door for us to fellowship, and I can share my testimony as an encouraging letter to them. Allow them to come to my home and dinner table to break bread and share your Word. Make a way for us to discuss you over cups of coffee. Provide an open door so we can invite them to our growth group. Let us have a mutual exchange of the heart. Let me lead them to your Word so they will draw near to you.

Biblical Devotion

Psalms 73:23-28  Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  (24)  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.  (25)  Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  (26)  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  (27)  For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.  (28)  But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Psalms 42:1-11  To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  (2)  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?  (3)  My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”  (4)  These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  (5)  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation  (6)  and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.  (7)  Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.  (8)  By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.  (9)  I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”  (10)  As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”  (11)  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalms 63:1-11  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  (2)  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  (3)  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  (4)  So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  (5)  My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,  (6)  when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;  (7)  for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.  (8)  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  (9)  But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;  (10)  they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.  (11)  But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.