Disciple Making Movements (DMM) Defined
In Search of a Definition of Disciple-Making Movements
What Is a Movement?
“A movement is happening.” That’s a phrase we hear often, but what does it really mean in the context of disciple-making? The term "movement" has become widespread in the Christian world, often used liberally and without precision. This post explores a clear, biblically grounded definition of Disciple Making Movements (DMM).
From Church Planting Movements to DMM
Much of what we understand as DMM today is rooted in the Church Planting Movements (CPM) first popularized by David Garrison and others from the International Mission Board. These were not theoretical strategies, but real-time observations of God moving powerfully among unreached people groups.
David Watson and Cityteam International (now New Generations) evolved this thinking, focusing more deeply on the disciple-making process as the catalyst for church planting, rather than the outcome.
Church Planting vs Disciple Making
To quote a phrase often repeated in DMM circles:
“When you make disciples, you always get churches. But when you plant churches, you don’t always get disciples.”
This distinction helps define the difference between CPM (the result) and DMM (the process). The focus in DMM is not merely planting churches but nurturing obedient followers of Jesus who multiply themselves in others.
Core Components of DMM
DMM involves:
- Reading Scripture together (Discovery Bible Study)
- Practicing obedience-based discipleship
- Sharing lessons with one's network
- Reproducing disciples who also make disciples
How Do You Know You Have a Movement?
Harry Brown (New Generations) frames this using three essential questions:
- Is there abundant fruit? – Are new disciples being made among the lost?
- Does the fruit bear more fruit? – Are those disciples making disciples?
- Does the fruit last? – Is this happening over multiple generations without the original catalyst?
True movements are characterized by being:
- Wide – Rapid numerical growth
- Deep – Strong in obedience and biblical grounding
- Long – Sustainable beyond the original leaders
Definition of a Disciple Making Movement
A Disciple Making Movement is:
- Any gospel activity
- That results in abundant fruit among the lost
- That multiplies disciples (obedient followers of Jesus)
- Who in turn multiply themselves in others
- Producing at least four generations of disciples
- Regularly multiplying into churches (ecclesia)
- Reaching at least 100 churches across multiple streams
Disciple Making Movements aren't just about explosive growth. They're about spiritual reproduction that is simple, sustainable, and Spirit-led. If you want to catalyze lasting Kingdom transformation, start with making disciples the way Jesus did.
Adapted from New Generations' foundational teaching on DMM.
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