Jesus grew up in a "religious culture" dominated by the temple and the synagogue. This reality, in my view, makes it all the more significant that he initiated house-to-house strategies as he trained his followers for the future. His strategy still works!

This "blog" explores his strategy for multiplying the church in the world today. What does it take to be a "church" Jesus envisions where we live and work? How can we support one another in hearing and imitating his house-to-house strategy in our lives today?

Life produces ... and reproduces! From your conception, you began to multiply and divide. You grew in the first week of your life in a wonder-fully designed way. In fact, during your first seven days - from conception to implantation - you went through some remarkable transformations and made some deliberate preparations. How did the song (psalm) writer know about our being "knit together in my mother's womb"?

When you read the current "basics" section, three prime directives are mentioned: faith, fellowship and service. Faith relates to making disciples; service relates to engaging culture; which means fellowship relates to multiplying churches. All three are important!

Taking Jesus at his word anticipates transformation. I know that's what happens to me! I know the sense of the confession "Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life." I'm living it. Take, for instance, his teaching "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." I believe this is true!

Jesus had a clear strategy! He knew what he was doing; he knew where he was going. He had a plan to enter "every city and place where he himself was going to come." In support of the plan, he appointed 36 teams of two disciples each to journey ahead of him. So, when Jesus arrived in a designated place, it was not by accident, and should not have been a surprise!