The first component is leadership, where discipleship is in the hearts of leaders. You cannot really see disciples multiply properly, except in a local church. That is why the navigators have not won the world for Christ. Because it takes a shepherd to move the sheep and decide who should meet with whom.

You can't just send the sheep out into the field and say “get out there and multiply.” It will not happen, there has to be a shepherd to protect them and guide them. The local church is really meant to be a discipleship center, a place where the sheep multiply. I think when Jesus said to Peter “Do you love me?” he first said feed my lambs, and the second time he said feed my sheep, because lambs are to mature to become sheep. And the third time he said feed my sheep because sheep are to reproduce other sheep. 

If it is in the heart of the leader then that’s what they will focus on. If the Pastor cheerleads small groups, then small groups are going to have some success. But are they going to have disciplers out of the small groups? Well, pastors are saying “No, we don’t. 95% of the people we don’t trust to disciple a new Christian.” Whatever the pastor champions, or cheerleads is going to grow, the people will follow.  

The challenge is to focus on the most productive strategy and to do what we were commanded to do.