How to Start and Lead a Gathering

Introduction

Jesus calls ordinary believers to make disciples within the relationships, homes, and networks where he has already placed them. This Six-Step Path provides a simple, reproducible rhythm for starting and multiplying gatherings of new disciples. It integrates the center of our life with God—his Word, prayer, and fasting—with the five movements that drive disciple-making: serving, seeking, inviting, gathering, and coaching. Each step builds on the last, forming a Spirit-led cycle that moves from communion with God to mission among people. When practiced consistently, these steps help believers live out the Great Commission in natural, relational, and sustainable ways. More importantly, this path shows young church planters that Jesus can use them—right now, right where they are.

STEP 1 — Establish Rhythms of Word, Prayer, & Fasting

Goal: Build ongoing dependence on God as the center of the mission.

Deep communion with God anchors the entire disciple-making process. Before we serve, share, or gather with others, we return again and again to God through the Word, prayer, fasting, and ongoing repentance. These rhythms shape our hearts, expose sin, renew faith, strengthen boldness, and align us with God’s purposes.

Action Steps

1. Read Scripture daily using a Bible-in-a-year plan; new believers should read 1–2 chapters of the New Testament each day.

2. Use the Lord’s Prayer as your daily prayer structure.

3. Pray daily by name for 5–10 unbelievers in your network.

4. Practice ongoing repentance for neglect of mission, coldness of heart, or fear.

5. Fast at least one meal per week for boldness, repentance, open doors, and spiritual fruit.

6. Take one half-day prayer and fasting retreat every quarter.

7. Keep simple prayer lists rather than journals.

8. Set a consistent daily prayer time rather than a rotating schedule.

9. Hold a weekly personal or team reflection asking, “Where is God at work? Whom is he preparing?”

10. Begin regular Individual Coaching & Prayer (2–4 times per month) focusing on spiritual health, obedience steps, and barriers.

11. Keep a simple record of answered prayers, relational openings, and spiritual opposition.

STEP 2 — Serve to Meet Practical Needs

Goal: Create natural, relational entry points for the gospel.

Serving is one of the simplest and most Christlike ways to engage non-Christians. Jesus met practical and spiritual needs, revealing the Father’s compassion. We follow him by meeting ordinary needs in our neighborhoods and networks. Service opens doors, builds trust, and helps people experience God’s love personally.

Action Steps

1. List people in your FRAN network (friends, relatives, associates, neighbors) and pray for them weekly.

2. Use bridge-building questions: “How can I help you?” and “How can I pray for you?”

3. Choose 1–2 weekly acts of service: meals, errands, childcare, rides, simple help, or encouragement.

4. Ask weekly as a team: “Who did we serve? What needs surfaced? What follow-up is needed?”

5. Record connections and prayer points so you can notice patterns of openness over time.

6. Share key developments during Individual Coaching & Prayer.

7. Follow the Spirit’s promptings toward deeper connection with responsive individuals.

STEP 3 — Seek to Find Receptive People

Goal: Identify people open to the gospel and community.

In every network, God is already preparing certain individuals to hear the gospel. These “persons of peace” show warmth, openness, curiosity, or influence. Your clearest sign of receptivity is simple: if they are willing to study The Path to God, they are open. Your task is to pay attention to where God is already working and move at the Spirit’s pace, not through pressure.

Action Steps

1. Pray daily: “Lord, who are the receptive people you’re preparing?”

2. Notice who is relationally warm, spiritually curious, hospitable, or influential.

3. Engage relationally—listen well, serve, ask questions, pray appropriately.

4. Ask: “Would you read a short Bible passage with me sometime?”

5. Offer The Path to God to those who show openness.

6. Meet monthly with your coach to discern pacing, next steps, and wisdom.

7. Move without pressure—honoring both the Spirit’s leading and the person’s willingness.

STEP 4 — Invite to Discover the Christian Message

Goal: Create clear pathways for people to explore the gospel.

Receptive people often need guidance to understand the heart of the Christian faith. The Path to God offers a simple Scripture-based way to explain who God is, what sin is, what Christ has done, and how to respond in repentance and faith. You simply read Scripture together, ask simple questions, and trust the Spirit to work.

Action Steps

1. Learn to share The Path to God—simply to read it aloud with others.

2. Identify 1–3 receptive people each month to invite into exploration.

3. Use simple invitations: “Would you walk through this short guide with me?”

4. Set clear expectations: time, place, Scripture reading, discussion, and prayer.

5. Ask basic questions: “What stands out? What does this show about God? What is one step?”

6. When someone believes, help them take immediate next steps—baptism, testimony, and community.

7. Begin The Discipleship Series with them and update your pastor/coach.

STEP 5 — Gather to Grow in Biblical Community

Goal: Form simple, reproducible house gatherings marked by devotion, fellowship, and mission.

When people come to faith, they gather for teaching, prayer, worship, fellowship, and mission. A house church is not a performance but a spiritual family centered on Jesus. These gatherings remain simple and reproducible—shaped by Scripture, shared meals, the Bread and Cup, prayer, songs, testimonies, and spiritual gifts.

Action Steps

1. Lead a weekly home gathering: Meal → Bread → Word → Prayer → Cup.

2. Keep the atmosphere warm, relational, and clear—avoid complexity and performance.

3. Use The Discipleship Series for teaching and discussion.

4. Pray for one another’s ministries, needs, and families.

5. Welcome unbelievers; explain the Bread and Cup clearly.

6. Encourage spiritual gifts—encouragement, teaching, hospitality, prayer, helps, discernment.

7. Evaluate the gathering’s health monthly through Individual and Group Coaching.

STEP 6 — Coach to Develop New Leaders & Multiply

Goal: Raise up disciple-makers and prepare for multiplication.

Coaching sustains health, deepens character, and prepares emerging leaders for new gatherings. Multiplication happens when leaders invest consistently in faithful, teachable people. As we coach others, the Serve → Seek → Invite → Gather → Coach cycle repeats, forming new leaders and new communities.

Action Steps

1. Continue Individual Coaching & Prayer 2–4 times per month.

2. Participate in Group Coaching & Prayer three times per month (training, encouraging signs, challenges, prayer).

3. Use the Ministry Coaching Framework and Individual Coaching Framework.

4. Apply a simple leadership pathway: Member → Helper → Host → Co-Leader → Leader.

5. Identify emerging leaders using 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1—sound doctrine, consistency, faithfulness at home.

6. Give emerging leaders opportunities: hosting, reading Scripture, prayer, facilitation.

7. Discern multiplication at 20–30 people or when a leader is ready—pastor and planter co-discern together.

8. Stay connected through quarterly network gatherings for training, worship, and stories.

Conclusion

This Six-Step Path provides a simple, reproducible rhythm for making disciples who make disciples. It begins with communion with God and moves outward into the lives and networks of the people he has placed around us. When we repent of neglect, return to the Word and prayer, and walk in dependence on the Spirit, God uses our ordinary acts of service, conversations, hospitality, and coaching to form new disciples and plant new gatherings. As each step is practiced faithfully, disciples multiply, leaders emerge, gatherings form, and the gospel spreads naturally through relational networks—to the glory of Christ.