Mar 18, 20193 min read

The Gospel Process

Updated: Mar 23, 2019

by Dave Miller

We could just as easily call the Three-thirds process (3/3rds) the Gospel process.

Imbedded in the rhythm of a regular gathering using the 3/3rds is the rhythm of gospel transformation. We are becoming who Christ has declared us to be. Notice how our Look Back, Look Up, and Look forward all grow out of the simple message of the gospel illustrated by the #3Circles.

We are trying to intentionally saturate our DNA with the gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation. J.D. Greear wrote in his book Gospel: “The gospel isn’t the diving board into Christianity; it is the pool we swim in.”

Kairos Moments

The gospel is power of God unto salvation and we can live daily in the power of the gospel. Everyday moments in the lives of everyday people provide the Holy Spirit abundant opportunities to call for repentance and faith. We will call these opportunities kairos moments. Recognizing and responding to the Spirit in this way requires practice.

Kairos moments are indispensible to disciple making. We partner with the Spirit to make disciples on His schedule. Kairos is a Greek word used to describe time in the Bible. There is another Greek word used for time, chronos. Chronos refers to chronological or sequential events. Kairos moments are different. They are not so much about 1 then 2 then 3 then 4. Kairos moments are more like an opportune moment. They are an everyday moment in the life of everyday people when the Spirit wants to use us and teach us.

Mike Breen illustrated this idea with what he calls the Learning Circle.[1] The straight line with arrow represents chronos time, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The X represents a kairos moment, that Holy Spirit engineered teachable moment that can be positive or negative but never neutral. [2] I am thankful to Breen and Kallestad for helping me see and understand the value of the kairos moments connected with Christ’s command to repent and believe in Mark 1:15. Our response to these moments determines whether we become who Christ declared us to be or choose our own path.

The glory of God hangs in the balance everyday in the middle of kairos moments.

Let me explain such a bold statement.

God’s glory is seen most clearly in Jesus.
Jesus lives the perfect life as the God-Man, died as a sinner in our place, and was raised to life on the third day.
God is working everything together to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus.
We live our purpose as image-bearing ambassadors when we become like Jesus.
The Gospel is the power of God in our lives when we start repenting and believing.
You choose whether or not to repent and believe in every kairos moment.
These moments, engineered by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, are predestined to conform you to the image of Jesus who has already accomplished your righteousness.
What you do with this moment, every time it occurs, echoes for eternity either for the glory of God or against.

If this is true, and I unashamedly believe it is, then training for and recognizing these moments is the most fundamental pursuit of God’s Design.

Jesus explained this in the simplest way possible when he said:

Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.

Disciple making is a fundamental necessity of the Kingdom. Going to those far from God, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all Jesus has commanded so they will go to those far from God, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey all that Jesus commanded pushes the Kingdom forward. The gates of hell will not prevail against us!

Disciple making is how we train our disciples to recognize and respond in repentance and faith in these kairos moments through the power of the Holy Spirit. Followers, who habitually choose repentance and faith, obey Jesus and sustain gospel movements until there is #NoPlaceLeft.

The 3/3rds process is a biblical engine allowing us to simply train for such a gospel movement.

Up Next: Start Your Disciple Making Engines!

Until there's #NoPlaceLeft...

[1]Mike Breen and Walter Kallestad, The Passionate Life, (NextGen: Colorado Springs), 2005.

[2]Mike Breen and Walter Kallestad, The Passionate Life, (NextGen: Colorado Springs), 2005, 47.

Sentergy: When Jesus, People, Practice and Theology Collide

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Glory of God

Chapter 2: The Glory of God in Jesus

Chapter 3: The Glory of God in the Gospel

Chapter 4: The Glory of God in Disciple Making