Hero Maker "Think It"

Life Group Discussion Study by Amanda Saenz
Speakers:
Knox – Daljit Gill 13th & 14th November
Casey – Amanda Saenz 21st November
Manningham – Steve Chao 14th November
Whittlesea – Ben Warwick 28th November

Leaders Note
As City Life continues to make strategic plans to move from being a church of addition, into a church of multiplication, we want to consider how we can be a church that multiplies at every level: 
discipleship | leadership | churches | network | movement.

This Hero Maker series will help us learn and implement the multiplication principles in easy to understand language using easy to apply tools. This series will also specifically help us see greater levels of multiplication at both the discipleship and leadership levels to see us continue to multiply at the churches, network and movement levels.

Through this series, we will unpack the very practices and tools (as modelled by Jesus) that we can each apply to shift from being the heroes to being Hero Makers. Each tool and practice will assist us in drawing out the gifts within each other and as we champion each other to be all God has created us to be, we will see His Kingdom come and His will done.

Optional Pre-work: If you have a copy of the ‘Hero Maker’ book by Dave Ferguson, you could read the ‘Multiplication Thinking’ chapter.

Introduction
Phillippians 2:5-11 says “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privilege; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This scripture articulates the very essence of what it means to be a ‘Hero Maker’. You see, everyone wants to be a hero (to be known, seen, heard). Yet only a few understand the power of being a Hero Maker (give others the opportunity to be known, to be seen and to be heard).

We want to: Maximise ministry, not through our efforts, but through developing others

We see the ‘Think It’ (Multiplication Thinking) in the life of Jesus in Acts 1:8. When Jesus casts a vision for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, he tells his followers “You will be my witnesses” to explain that he is going to do it through them. Jesus didn’t think the mission was going to happen just through him during his time on this earth; he thought it would happen through others who would equip others who would still equip others. Jesus practiced ‘Think It’ and through the ‘Dream Napkin’ exercise (which we will later go through) we are inspired to think God sized dreams, which will force us to think multiplication and making Hero’s of others in order for those God-given dreams become reality.

Read
• Acts 1:8 - Jesus challenges his disciples to think beyond Jerusalem.
• Mark 4:26-29 (the parable of the growing seed) – illustrates that multiplication is part of kingdom growth
• Matthew 13:31-33 (the parable of the mustard seed and yeast) – illustrates that multiplication is part of kingdom growth

Notice that multiplication starts small (a seed, yeast, our thoughts) and will take time to develop and grow but has the potential to see exponential growth and impact. It’s a matter of looking at the seed and seeing the apple tree, not looking at the apple and seeing the seeds.

Discussion Questions
1. What was your big dream as a kid? (Astronaut? Ballerina? Pro athlete?) 
2. Who do you know who dreams big? Would you say they also practice multiplication thinking?
3. Describe a time when you realized that there was way more God wanted you to do than you could do yourself, stretching you into multiplication thinking. What happened as a result?

By dreaming God-sized dreams and shifting our focus towards multiplication thinking we will see our God-given dreams become reality. There is an emphasis on ‘team’ and ‘the body of Christ’ as we think multiplication. As we look at Jesus’ example, we see the pattern of how he always looked to elevate and champion others wherever he went. Not only that but Jesus stretched out his arms and gave his life for us, entrusting we continue the work with the help of the Holy Spirit – he is the ultimate example of a hero maker.

As we read through the scriptures, we see that there was significant emphasis on multiplication through training the disciples. Jesus’ ministry emphasis, in terms of where he put the biggest amount of time, was with his disciples. He was discipling them so that they would do greater things. In the years that followed, we see the amazing works of the Holy Spirt through these men and women in and after the book of Acts, by making other disciples all around the world. Through having multiplication thinking we shift our focus from ourselves to multiplying and developing others – by being a Hero Maker.

Read
• Acts 4:1–22, note the various responses to the church’s growth to five thousand people.

Discussion Questions
1. To what extent is multiplication thinking implied in how the apostles responded?
2. As you go through the Dream Napkin activity, reflect on what biblical parallels come to mind for the dream napkin tool?

Activity – Dream Napkin
Note: you could also use post-it notes or use 'serviettes' if that's the preferred language. This could be done during the life group time, or individually and come back and share with the group next time.
1. Get a napkin
It can be any napkin. There isn’t anything special about the napkin, what’s special is what is about to happen between you and God. If you lose the napkin, you can simply write out your dream again on a different napkin.
2. Pray and Write down (or draw) your God-given dream
Your dream should be one that is measurable and requires dependence on Him. If you don’t have a clear dream, take time to reflect on what God is asking you to do in the places and people’s lives you already part of.

Now, honestly ask ‘can I accomplish this dream on my own?’. If your answer is yes, you need to get a bigger dream because you need a dream that makes you dependant of God.
 
3. Expand by 100 x again!
Next, multiply your dream by one hundred – or more. You may need to get a second napkin and start all over. What makes this a dream napkin is that this is not what you, your life group, your ministry, or your church can do on your own. This 100 x vision is again the kingdom sized dream only God can do through you empowering others as a Hero Maker.
4. Pray and believe.
Using all the faith you have to visualize the dream on that napkin to become reality, ask God “How can you use me to do this?” Share your desire with God in prayer.

Share
Share your Dream Napkin with the group. In addition to this, reflect with someone who you are discipling or mentoring through this dream napkin exercise. Share with the group who you are going to take through this exercise and once you have done this with another person, share how you saw their thinking multiply.

Pray
Lord, we thank you for what you are about to do in and through us as a church and as individuals. We pray that you give us the creative ideas and opportunities to see the dreams you have given us become a reality. Continue to stretch our imagination of what you can do in and through us and help us to see things with your eyes. Help us where we lack faith or lack trust in you and show us the ways in which you want us to be Hero Makers in our everyday lives as we join you at work. Amen.