Mission is a critical part of discipling as it provides the training ground for the people you are discipling. A group of disciples without a mission is a group of disciples who become inwardly focused and then, by definition, are actually not disciples. What you disciple them TOWARD is what they will disciple others toward.

The freedom in the mission is that you are now training your disciples to become ministers and you are fulfilling 1 Peter 2:9. While it may seem hard or out of your comfort zone, what you are doing could well have a lasting affect on generations of people.

Mission forces us to become evangelistic because the mission is always about people and inviting potential people of peace to tag along. If an entire group of people understands this, we will no longer just have "church" to invite people to, but can rather invite them to Jesus in us.

Throughout the New Testament, the Lord continues to press on us that he has ordained all things and ordered the steps of his people. If this is true, it means that the people you are walking with are in your life for a reason and that the Lord himself has put you together.

Since we hold this to be true, then logic follows that it must be for some good reason, so think about trying the following exercise:

Ask two questions to each member of the group.

1. What do you love?

2. What are you good at?

List every answer on a white board and watch for a general theme. For example, the last time I did this, the general theme was..."We love the ‘down and out’ and we love to teach". Based on that one statement, we believed we were together for a purpose from the Lord. We inserted ourselves in a local apartment complex where God had paved the way with key relationships. We ate meals together, helped kids with homework and made proclamations of the Gospel. The power was that we believed we were there for a purpose, and on a mission from the Lord Himself regardless of any fruit that we saw. The Lord was gracious and allowed us to see fruit but the cool thing was following the Spirit's lead, which grew all of us.

Your group can do the same. The mission does not need to be "super-spectacular." It simply needs to involve people. People who are close and people who are far off that they may see your good deeds and worship the Lord.

Remember, practicing out is simply teaching your disciples that they can be ministers of the Gospel. This is the massive jump that moves us from believers to disciples.

Practice with their POP

As you teach them the People of Peace concept, have them live it out. Instead of the usual group meeting, assign group members a time to meet with their people of peace and then process it with them afterward.

Tomato Stake ‘em

Have them follow you around as you minister the Gospel on any given Sunday. Have them follow your lead. Show them the beauty of ministry that overflows out of abiding with Christ.

Don’t let these examples quench the leading of the Holy Spirit for you and your group. These are just a few of missional incarnations we have seen over the past several years. Whether you view these as daunting or easy, Jesus always shines brightly no matter the environment.

• Insertion of a D-group into the homeless living under the bridges to listen and share Jesus
• Insertion of a D-group into the local mission to preach and minister the Good news
• Insertion of a D-group into a local apartment complex providing community, food and the Gospel
• Insertion of D-group into the local school system to provide support to the principal
• D-groups offering cozy environments in the form of parenting classes, bible studies, and “eat the word” courses to fish for the next round of disciples
• Insertion of D-groups into local businesses to throw parties and make friends
• Insertion of D-groups to walk out Luke 10 in their neighborhoods
• Insertion of D-groups into other churches to help them fulfill Matthew 28