The Mission of God in the Hands of Ordinary People
Dale Stephenson emphasizes that the mission of God is entrusted to ordinary people, not just professional ministers. Drawing from Acts 4:13, where Peter and John were described as unschooled yet bold, Stephenson highlights that disciple-making is for every believer. He calls on Christians to identify ‘people of peace’ in their lives—those who are receptive to the gospel—and to disciple them through simple, obedience-based actions. Stephenson encourages believers to be prayerful and attentive to opportunities to share the gospel, stressing that the process is about faithfulness rather than complexity. The session calls for rapid mobilization, where every believer plays a role in multiplying disciples who can, in turn, disciple others.
Talk Outline
00:00 Introduction to Reverend Doctor Dale Stevenson
00:44 The Courage of Ordinary People
01:43 Jesus’ Approach to Disciple Making
04:04 Living with Eyes Open to God’s Work
06:36 Identifying and Engaging People of Peace
08:43 The Discovery Bible Method
10:40 Real-Life Examples of Discipleship
13:23 Empowering Ordinary People for God’s Mission
This recording is from the Fourth Lausanne Congress, held in Incheon, South Korea in September 2024. This gathering brought together global church leaders to collaborate on mission strategies for advancing the gospel. Through plenary sessions, table group discussions, and collaborative workshops, the Congress focused on addressing critical gaps in global mission today.
Stephenson argues that disciple-making is simple, achievable by anyone, anywhere, at any time. By living prayerfully and being attentive to opportunities, ordinary believers can disciple others through small, obedience-based steps such as reading scripture together and letting people discover the truth of God for themselves. The process is not about complexity but about faithfulness, rapid mobilization, and co-working with God to multiply disciples who can then disciple others.
