Conversations as you Go

Dave Lawton
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Hearing from people who are obeying Jesus’ great commission to Go

  1. 1 day ago

    217. Going Fast Alone or Going Far Together

    In this episode, Aila Tasse explores why movements need a tribe—a community united around Jesus, his mission and a shared vision for the unreached. Drawing on the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” Aila reminds us that we were never meant to pursue movements alone. Sharing both our breakthroughs and failures helps us recognise that we belong to a global movement—from everywhere to everywhere. Aila also challenges us to distinguish following Jesus from simply defending Christianity as a religion. Jesus did not come to establish a religious institution, but a movement of people whose lives reflect his way. What might need to change if we saw ourselves first as people of “the Way”?

  2. 11 Sept

    216. Aila Tasse – Movement Leaders are ‘Learnable’

    In this episode, Aila Tasse explores how Jesus modelled leadership and developed ordinary disciples into movement leaders. Developing Leaders Jesus invested in different levels of leadership—from his inner three, to the twelve, the seventy-two, the 120 and the multitudes. Likewise, DMM leadership grows from people of peace and DBS facilitators through to movement leaders and catalysts who can be sent cross-culturally to catalyse new movements. Aila refers to these levels (0-5) of DMM leadership in this episode Jesus’ Process of Developing Leaders Discovery scriptures to look at on how Jesus developed leaders Drawing on Matthew 4:19, Aila explains how Jesus developed leaders through life-on-life relationships. He modelled leadership, trained and equipped his disciples, empowered them, mentored them and eventually released them to lead. Aila shares how releasing leaders especially involves risk. Yet disciples are learners, so leaders must be free to attempt new things, make mistakes and “fail forward.” From Jerusalem to the Nations Acts shows the danger of growing internally (adding) while losing sight of the Great Commission (multiplying). God’s intention was always for the gospel to move from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. With people from many nations now living in our cities, Aila challenges us to recognise the opportunity before us: find people of peace, develop them as leaders and release them to reach their own communities—and potentially back into their nations! Characteristics of Movement Leaders Movement leaders are marked by passion for God and the lost, vision for the Great Commission, commitment to DMM and their team, and a willingness to remain “learnable.” Takeaway question: How are you keeping your eyes on the multipliers God has already placed around you?

  3. 3 Sept

    215. Aila Tasse – Finding Multipliers and Oral Learners

    In this episode Aila Tasse explores how to find and develop the multipliers who will guard the DNA and multiply a movement. Finding Multipliers Aila explains that movement leaders catalyse, multiply and sustain movements. Although only a few people may become multipliers, everyone is still encouraged to become a disciple who makes disciples. These leaders also guard the movement’s DNA, ensuring that simple and reproducible practices—such as the Discovery Bible Study questions—remain unchanged as they are passed on. Two hands: ‘Becoming’ and ‘Making’ Disciples Drawing on Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 4:19, Aila describes becoming a disciple and making disciples through two hands: “Follow me” is becoming, while “I will make you fishers of people” is making disciples. The five fingers of one hand represent becoming a disciple: Prayer Personal discovery of Scripture Fellowship with believers Serving the community Sharing your faith The other hand represents making disciples: Pray Engage Find a person of peace Begin a Discovery Bible Study Develop churches and leaders Aila shares how Margaret, an oral learner, taught him to train others through stories, hand signs like these and simple ideas they could easily remember and pass on. What we are becoming, we are making. We can’t make unless we are becoming. And we also can’t become unless we are making.  Takeaway question: How could these two hands help you guard and multiply the DNA of disciple-making movements?

  4. 28 Aug

    214. Aila Tasse – Defining Movement Leaders

    In this episode, Aila Tasse explores what defines a leader in a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). While leadership is often understood through titles and positions, movement leaders are recognised by action, fruit and multiplication. This can be challenging when multiplication is not yet happening, but Dave encourages listeners not to disqualify themselves. Leadership begins with obeying God and helping others do the same—whether leading one person or many. Looking for Multipliers Movement leaders have learned and practised the principles of DMMs and are helping others multiply. Like Jesus, we need to intentionally identify, equip and mentor people who desire to multiply. Aila challenges us not to focus on those who talk much but do little. The task is urgent, and movement leaders are always doers. Movement leaders focus on three dimensions: Length: Is the movement multiplying through successive generations? Depth: Is the DNA of obedience and multiplication being passed on? Width: Is the movement expanding into new communities, people groups and/or regions? Grassroots and regional equipping hubs allow leaders to learn, share and network together. They also help movement leaders identify gaps—including unreached people groups, diaspora communities in our cities and increasingly unreached Western populations. Shepherding Movements Through Critical Stages Rather than merely collecting “data,” Aila describes measuring movement health as ‘shepherding’. Like a shepherd caring for sheep, leaders need to know whether a movement is healthy, struggling or declining—and understand why. Movements can grow rapidly through their early generations but often plateau between the fifth and seventh generations. Without new leaders and intentional action, momentum may decline and movements can eventually die. Movement leaders are therefore needed at every generational level to guard the movement’s DNA and help it continue multiplying. One leader cannot do everything. Movements are sustained when many leaders are developed, equipped and released. As the African saying reminds us: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with someone.” Takeaway question: How can you intentionally identify, equip and release movement leaders who will multiply in your context?

  5. 21 Aug

    Aila Tasse – Finding, Developing and Catalysing Leaders

    In this episode, Aila Tasse explores why finding, developing and releasing leaders is essential for seeing movements multiply. Drawing on his experience of establishing a training institute on the border of Ethiopia and Kenya in the early 1990s, Aila shares how some of the first leaders developed there were sent to engage 14 unreached tribes across the region. Faced with a harvest far beyond the capacity of any one person, Aila began praying not only for the harvest, but also for the workers needed to reach it. Multiplying Workers for the Harvest Jesus instructed his disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field (Luke 10:2). But while prayer is foundational, developing leaders also involves intentionally finding, raising, coaching, equipping and releasing people into the harvest. Matthew 4:18–22: What Jesus, the Lord of the harvest, teaches us about finding and developing leaders. Jesus began his kingdom ministry with multiplication—calling ordinary people to become leaders who would fish for people. Acts 13:1–3: How a diverse church in Antioch developed and released movement leaders under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Cultural diversity are essential in teams seeking to reach diverse peoples. Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission): Jesus establishes, aligns and motivates leaders through the Great Commission. Disciples and leaders must remain aligned with the call to make disciples, while Jesus’ promise to remain with them provides the motivation and resources they need to obey—even when he leads them beyond their comfort zones. Discovery Bible Study Passages and Questions Matthew 4:18–22: What can we learn from Jesus, the Lord of the harvest, and his process of developing leaders? Acts 13:1–3: How did the church in Antioch develop and empower movement leaders? 2 Timothy 2:1–3: What can we learn from Paul’s instructions to Timothy about developing leaders?

  6. 13 Aug

    212. Aila Tasse – The Challenge of the 21st Century

    In this episode, Dave and Aila Tasse explore one of the great missional challenges of the 21st century: how followers of Jesus engage with the growth of Islam. Drawing on his own journey from Islam to Christ and his experience across Africa, Aila shares remarkable stories of how God is drawing Muslims to Jesus through dreams, visions and ordinary disciple-makers. Responding to the Growth of Islam As Islam (as well as Hinduism and Buddhism) continue to grow and spread across national boundaries, what will it take for the good news of Jesus to reach people on a global scale? Dave and Aila discuss: The growth and global influence of Islam through population, migration, politics, business, education and community life. Why multiplication and disciple-making movements are needed to make a significant global impact. How some younger Muslims continue to identify culturally with Islam while privately questioning or disengaging from the religion. The important difference between Islam as a religious system and Muslims as people created and loved by God. Why we should respond with prayer, love and engagement rather than fear. Aila reminds us that behind the clothing, beliefs and religious identity are people—souls who need Jesus. He encourages focused prayer for Muslim communities, asking God to reveal people of peace, including those who may remain within their existing culture. The Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission Report highlights how church-planting movements are contributing to the growth of the global body of Christ. This offers hope that God is using movements to bring change where traditional churches are declining. Read more: Are we still fulfilling the Great Commission? Six key findings by the Lausanne Movement Stories of God at Work Aila also shares remarkable stories of God at work: A committed Muslim dreamed that Jesus told him to believe. Aila shares this personal story of how this man was later sent away for Islamic training and became a respected Sharia scholar and leader of imams—but he has never forgotten the dream. After years of resisting Aila’s witness, his mother encountered Jesus in hospital. She was given a candle and told never to walk in darkness again, but to walk in the light. Her testimony later helped lead Aila’s father and other family members to Jesus. A woman suffering from severe mental illness was healed after encountering “a man in white.” She later recognised Jesus through the message of local disciple-makers, received a song through her encounter and became a church planter. These stories remind us that God cannot be confined to our expectations. He is using dreams, visions and overlooked, ordinary people to reach families and communities and begin movements. As you listen, ask God: “What are you doing, and how do you want me to engage with Islam?”

  7. 7 Aug

    211. Aila Tasse – Casting Vision

    211. Aila Tasse – Casting Vision In this episode, Aila shares practical insights on how to cast vision for Disciple Making Movements (DMM). You’ll also hear from practitioners in the room who share different ways they inspire others to join God’s mission of making disciples. Takeaway: As you listen, ask yourself: What is one simple next step I could use, even this week, to help others catch God’s vision for making disciples? Several people mention the book ’21 Days to Become a Disciple Maker’ by Jim Britts and others. You can find the book here. You can also access Jim Britts’ short training videos he shared with us at one of our recent Praxeis launch gatherings here.

  8. 27 Jul

    210. Aila Tasse – Building Teams Like Jesus and Paul

    In this episode, Aila Tasse draws from Scripture and his own leadership experience to explore how we can build disciple-making teams following the examples of Jesus and Paul. Jesus prayed his team into existence, invited people into relationship, trained them through modelling and apprenticeship, sent them out together, and coached them as they learned through experience. His example reminds us that the workers, leaders and resources needed for the harvest are often already within the communities we are seeking to reach. Aila also explores the multicultural, multi-gifted team in Acts 13. As they prayed, fasted and listened, the Holy Spirit set apart and sent Paul and Barnabas. Throughout Acts, teams were formed and redirected through dependence on the Spirit—not simply through human plans or strategies. Building multiplying teams means inviting people into relationship, modelling disciple-making, releasing responsibility early and coaching people as they learn by doing. It also requires leaders to get out of the way and create a culture in which everybody counts, contributes and thrives. Shared vision leads to shared ownership, shared effort and shared celebration. Finally, Aila reflects on the humility of Jesus in Philippians 2 and the importance of honouring people across cultures. God’s Kingdom celebrates diversity, bringing together people from every nation, language and background into one body. As you listen, be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit: What will you take away from this episode and apply immediately as you build disciple-making teams in your context?

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Hearing from people who are obeying Jesus’ great commission to Go

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Lawton
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    215
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2021 by Praxeis
  • Show Website
    Conversations as you Go

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