Why Teach the 7 Basic Commands of Christ?

 

Welcome to Multiply, a Podcast to encourage church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden. Matthew 28:18-20 says: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

The overall theme today is teaching obedience to Christ’s commands. God’s Word defines obedience as actively hearing, trusting, and surrendering to God's will. By obeying the commands of Jesus, it reflects a believer’s trust and commitment to Him. In that, let us never forget the obedient life example that Jesus gave as we read in Philippians 2:8, “And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." 

It is the objective of a church planter, pastor, and Christian leader to teach obedience. In that, keeping the thought process that as we obey Christ’s commands, we are also witnessing how it transforms lives and generations! This is making disciples! When Jesus came to each disciple, He said to them, “Follow Me…” As we follow Him, then we intuitively desire to please and obey Him.

Let us do a quick recap of the 7 Basic Commands of Christ:

1. Repent & Believe (Mark 1:15) 

2. Baptize New Believers (Matthew 28:19)

3. Love Your Neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39) 

4. Partake in the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-22)

5. Pray & Meditate on God’s Word (Matthew 6:9-13)

6. To Give (Luke 6:38)

7. Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)

When I was training as a student at my Bible University, and the basic commands of Christ were taught, my heart was flooded with passion to simply ‘go’ and live out this for the rest of my life! As a young woman then and now a seasoned older lady today, the 7 Basic Commands of Christ are still pertinent for lives to be transformed for His Gory! As we teach this, we are delivering HOPE for all the World as we obey!

This has been Multiply. Please share this podcast with others today. Find us on vcpencouragement.org, Facebook, and on YouTube. Thank you and God Bless!

Obedience-based Discipleship

  

        Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.  

Once a person receives Christ as Lord and Savior, when a person has been born again and, by God’s grace, becomes a child of God, he or she has some questions: “What is next?  What is coming?  What is this new life in Christ going to be like? Sometimes new believers find very good answers to these questions.  Sometimes they do not.  

Do you remember asking questions like these? Many new Christians don’t ask God to answer their questions. They don’t even ask their Christian friends, “What is next for me now that I have met Christ?” They ask themselves these questions, and often the best answer they come up with is “I don’t know.”  The sad thing is that if new believers don’t find out what God wants their new life to be like, they will often go back to their old way of living. 

But the word of God has answers for the new believer’s questions. The next step for a new believer is to learn to obey Jesus’ commandments. 

Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Our Lord emphasizes this teaching a few verses later, saying, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” As a disciple maker, teach new believers to obey Jesus and experience the love of the Father. 

The new believer shows his love for Jesus by obeying his commandments. The act of obeying Jesus’ commands solidifies the love that new believers have for God.  When we intentionally obey Jesus, we experience the love, joy, and warmth of God’s presence. This is powerful and liberating. Experiencing the presence of God by obeying his commandments brings joy and peace. Obeying Jesus brings blessing to the obedient one and to his or her family and friends. 

But new believes do not know this. They need to be taught to obey all that Jesus commanded.  This was our Lord’s final instruction to his disciples. He told us to go to all nations and make disciples “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We are to make disciples by teaching people to obey Jesus. This way of making disciples is called “obedience-based discipleship.”  Discipleship is not primarily about knowing new ideas or even about having spiritual experiences. Being a disciple of Jesus is first and foremost about obeying him. It is through that obedience that we honor God with our love, and we experience his presence in new and meaningful ways as he makes his home with us. 

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Obedience-basedDiscipleship

Leadership Development - Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave

  

     This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

Our topic for 2026 is Leadership Development. In my two previous podcasts, I spoke with VCP Assistant Director Peter Baraka and his wife Fidélité Ramla, the Dynamic Women Supervisor for Africa. During the course of our conversation, Fidélité mentioned a leadership development methodology frequently spoken of in VCP.  

Model, Assist, Watch and Leave. This is not unique to VCP. It is not a new approach; rather, we see this method used by Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. I would suggest that the MAWL model is necessary for generational church planting. Apostolic leaders do not settle down in comfort. They empower and equip others to extend the work, and they trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the next generation of leaders.

Model – We show how things are done. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) We demonstrate the skill, process, or behavior in a real-world context. Leaders lead by example, explaining their thought process as they go. Let me repeat this; as we develop leaders, we not only show them how things are done; we also explain our thought processes. Paul had a long list of mentees that he was preparing for leadership, including Silas, Timothy, Titus, Luke, and others.

VCP leader, what emerging leaders are you mentoring?

Assist – The next step is to do things together. We work alongside the learner. We offer real-time feedback, answer questions, and provide the support they need to build both confidence and competence. Barnabas mentored Paul in their early days working together. We read in Acts 11:25-26 that “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.”

Watch – At this point, we take a step back and observe. We allow the learner to take the lead while we monitor their performance. We also offer constructive feedback afterward, focusing on refining their skills and reinforcing their strengths.

The Assist and Watch steps are an iterative process as multiple opportunities to work together and to observe the mentee are often required in their leadership growth process.

Leave – Finally, when the emerging leader is ready, it is time to step away and to empower their independence. We must be willing to transition full responsibility to the learner, ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed without our direct involvement. However, we must remain available for occasional consultation, and our ongoing encouragement is vital to their continued growth and success.

Stepping away, or leaving, is often difficult yet it is necessary for their full growth.

I very much appreciate Peter’s and Fidélité’s leadership and their willingness to share these thoughts with us.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders

Spiritual Warfare and Church Planting

       Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the greatest privileges of being a church planter is to be an ambassador of Christ. As the Lord’s ambassadors, we go to places where he is not known and proclaim the Good News. It is a beautiful thing to share the Good News. God saw us struggling in a broken world trying to save ourselves. He sent his Son Jesus to set up a new kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Jesus defeated Satan by the power of his sinless life and his bodily resurrection.  This is the Good News we proclaim as ambassadors of Christ.

Even so, Satan, the defeated adversary of God, works to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10). He wants to prevent us from being reconciled with God. Each of us, when we began living in this world, was dead in our transgressions and sins. We followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among the disobedient at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:1-8).

So, as church planters, saved by the grace of God through the work of Christ, we go to places where Christ is not known. We invite those who are dead in their trespasses and sins to be born again as children of God.

This, of course, is an act of spiritual warfare. Every time you proclaim Christ, every time you announce his love, every time you lift up the name of Jesus, you are resisting the Adversary. Every time you clearly and truthfully proclaim the word of God, you are advancing the Kingdom of God. Every time a lost person repents of their sin and puts their trust in Christ, the Kingdom of Christ advances against the Kingdom of our enemy.

And Satan is not happy when the Kingdom of God advances against him. He fights back like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. But we are not of those who fear and shrink back. As wise church planters, we put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10 – 18). To protect ourselves, we take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We mobilize God’s people to pray for us and for the people who will find abundant life in Christ through our message. And we go forward. The battle is not easy. Our foe fights us at every turn. But greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

So, dear church planter, put on the whole armor of God. Pray without ceasing. Mobilize intercessors. Love your neighbor as yourself. Share the Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit. Trust God to deliver whole families from the power of the enemy so that they too might have abundant life in Christ.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #SpiritualWarfare

Why Make Disciples

 

         This is Multiply, a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden, and today I want to look at the question: Why make disciples?

Jesus commands us to make disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

This is important for followers of Jesus Christ to do what He asks of us. We have work to do in helping people to grow in knowledge of Him. Go and make disciples of all nations. In the Greek, nations are defined as tribes, nations, or people. This covers everyone. We disciple them to grow in understanding, and one of the first steps, according to Scripture, is to testify of what Christ has done in our lives, and that public testimony comes in the form of baptism. Baptism is such a powerful tool God can use in our lives to teach what it is to serve Christ and follow Him. This step also sets up the opportunity to encourage others to step out, and this is a simple first step of discipleship; baptism is one of the ordinances of the church. The other ordinance of the church is Holy Communion. This is again a great moment of teaching and growth within each of our lives.

The celebration of each step is so important, and that is why Jesus gave us a simple plan in helping lives to grow in understanding of who He is and what we all can do to follow Him more closely. Discipleship is teaching God’s word and how to apply it to everyday life. We have a great responsibility to teach every follower to observe, and again, in the Greek, one definition is to keep, to hold fast. We must hold tight to God’s word when challenges come, and this can be taught to new believers. There have been many challenges in my life, and if I were not discipled to hold tightly to God’s promises, I would not have grown through the storms. This time of growing in God’s word equips believers to be mobilized to make disciples. We are preparing others to go and continue the work God has. Discipling disciple makers is how we continue the cycle of God’s plan for every village and for every household and every family.  

We have a wonderful opportunity to mobilize many followers of Jesus to go and complete God’s plan for every heart, every household, and every village. This is why we need to disciple so that there is a gathering of disciples to grow together in Christ to change households and villages. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Who will you share this with today?

Work in the Present Pray into the Future

 

     Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.  

Farmers and church planters have a lot in common. Both farmers and church planters work by faith. Neither one knows for sure that the work they are doing today will result in a harvest in the coming months. But both work hard today so that there might be a great harvest in the near future. Farmers till the ground day after day getting ready to plant the seed. They carefully plant the seed so that it has the best opportunity to grow and produce a crop. They cultivate the growing field to control weeds and when harvest comes they work diligently to gather all of the grain. 

In the same way, church planters work hard today in hopes of a great harvest in the coming months. Church planters prepare the ground by praying for persons of peace. Church planters carefully and wisely sow the good seed of the Gospel in such a way that it will bear fruit. When the Gospel seed is received, they cultivate the hearts of new believers, teaching them to obey Christ. They help their people kill the weeds of doubt and disobedience that try to choke the faith of the church members before it can bear fruit. 

Farmers dream of having great crops that produce plenty of food. They hope that everything will go well. They want the rains to come at the right time and in the right amounts. They want a big crop; they want to rejoice with their family when the crop comes in. 

Likewise, church planters dream of having healthy growing churches in which more and more people come to know Jesus and learn to live as his faithful followers. As we dream, we pray. We pray for the future harvest, humbly asking God to bless, provide, and protect the work. 

But some church planters spend so much time dreaming about the future and planning and praying for future blessing that they neglect the work that needs to be done today. And there are some church planters who are so busy with today’s work they forget to plan and pray for the work that needs to be done in a few weeks or a few months. We must balance these two tendencies, but how? 

How can new church planters find the right balance between working hard on what needs to be done today and planning and praying for the future? The Four Fields Model can help. Church planters who follow the Four Fields Model know exactly what needs to be done today. They can identify the field they are working in and do the work that field requires. Today. But at the same time, they can see the tasks that will need to be done for the next field. So, they can pray for God to work and move and bless them so that as effective church planters, they will be ready to do those tasks when the time comes. 

The Four Fields Model is our guide. It helps us focus our work today and plan and pray for the future. So, follow the Four Fields Model as you work and pray. It will lead you to a more fruitful church planting future.  

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #FourFields Model

Leadership Development - A Promotion Story

 

   This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. 

Our topic for 2026 is Leadership Development. In my previous podcast, I spoke with VCP Assistant Director Peter Baraka and his wife Fidélité Ramla, Dynamic Women Supervisor for Africa, to obtain their perspective on Leadership Development.  During the course of our conversation, they shared with me a very inspiring story that demonstrates the principles of Matthew 25:14-30. We read in verses 21 and 23, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

I first met Robert about 7 years ago when I was on a CMF trip with Peter and Fidélité. At the time, he was a volunteer (or unpaid) trainer. Over time, he proved himself to be faithful and competent. Over a period of several years, our VCP Supervisor and Coordinator (Peter and Fidélité) told me that they watched him carefully. 

Fidélité mentioned that at times he even used his own funds for VCP ministry which demonstrated his commitment and passion for the work. She commented, “even if the grant isn’t there, do they still work?” During these years, Robert was trustworthy in assignments, including managing well some chickens that were given to him. Peter and Fidélité told me that he often asked for guidance; he desired to become more effective in his role as a trainer. (To reference earlier podcasts this year, he was manifesting a “strong desire to learn and grow” and also a “teachable spirit.”)  

Peter and Fidélité also shared with me that their relationship with this man – and others whom they lead – is not “all about work.”  They also take time to talk about life, developing friendships while also serving in a pastoral role with them.  

As I close, I return to Robert’s story. When Fidélité recently accepted the role as Dynamic Women Supervisor for Africa, the need arose for a new VCP coordinator in Uganda.  Trainer Robert was the obvious choice for promotion because he had been faithful in his previous roles.  When they offered the new role to him, they did so in a meeting with Robert and his wife. They asked if she agreed as the additional responsibilities will impact her as well. Fortunately, both of them agreed to the promotion.  

May each of us be faithful in the responsibilities entrusted to us. As we do so, we qualify ourselves for promotion and greater responsibility. 

I very much appreciate Peter’s and Fidélité’s leadership and their willingness to share these thoughts with us. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.