1. INTRODUCTION
All movements advance in four stages:
- The vision
- Proclamation
- Making disciples
- Multiplication
Jesus’ entire ministry across all of Galilee advanced in these four distinct stages.
The local church he planted among the Samaritans in John 4 also advanced rapidly in these four stages.
The concept of the four fields (actually four stages of a single field but we call it the Four Fields) helps us understand what Jesus these four stages of growth and how he wanted us to interpret the story of the sower in Mark 4:26-29:
This is what the kingdom of God is like: A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain; first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.
There are four parts to this illustration:
- There is the empty ploughed field that the farmer decided to sow into.
- That field is then sown with seed.
- Then there is the growth phase.
- Finally there is a harvest and multiplication.
2. INTRODUCING THE FOUR FIELDS
A large and detailed Four Fields online manual can be found here.
Here is a youtube video of the Four Fields concept The Four Fields
Unpacking the Four Fields
| 1. Ploughed field: God’s vision for souls
Vision and faith Prayer Dying to self Finding God’s heart A belief in our future victory Strategy: Who do I reach? Listening to the Holy Spirit |
2. Seeded Field: Spreading the Gospel
Intentionally sowing Gospel seeds Acts of kindness, praying for needs Loving the lost with a servant heart Being bold Be led by the Holy Spirit like Jesus was Where to go, what to say Looking for a person of peace |
| 4. Harvest Field: Becoming Church
Gathering together in community Obeying the 9 commands of Christ Multiplying the faith in others Raising up leaders Sending out more sowers Starting new churches |
3. Growing Field: Discipling Believers
Salvation and discipling begins Obedience based, not head knowledge Immediate reproduction if possible Growth into Jesus Renewal of the mind Understanding scripture Being led by the Holy Spirit |
3. THE FOUR FIELDS ARE ALL THROUGH SCRIPTURE
| 1. The Ploughed field: God’s vision for souls
Genesis 1: Gods vision is relationship Genesis 12:1-3: Abraham’s blessing Psalm 22:27: Universal worship Isaiah 9:7: Universal government Isaiah 11:9: Universal glory Daniel 2:44-45: Universal victory Daniel 7:13-14: Universal sovereignty Malachi 1:11: Universal honour Matthew 6:10: Your kingdom come Matthew 13:32: The mustard seed Matthew 28:18-20: Great commission John 4:35: The harvest is ready! Acts 1:8: To the ends of the earth 1 Corinthians 15:24: Victorious ending Ephesians 1:18-21: Jesus has all authority Revelation 7:9-10: Every nation Revelation 14:6: Gospel to every nation Revelation 21:24-26: Every nation |
2. The Seeded Field: Spreading the Gospel
Ephesians 1:3-2:22: Defining the Gospel Matthew 28:18-20: Great commission Luke 9:1-3: Sending the 12 Luke 10:1-5: Sending 70, person of peace John 4:4-42: Samaritan church plant John 5:19, 30, 37: Hearing God’s voice John 13:34: Loving people Mark 16:17-18: A Gospel of power John 14:12: “You will do greater works” 2 Cor 5:16-21: Ministry of reconciliation Colossians 1:6: Bear everywhere 1 Timothy 2:4: Everyone saved! 1 Cor 9:19-23: All things to all men 1 Thess 4:11-12: Witness by example Ephesians 2:4-10: Definition of salvation John 14:15: to Love Jesus is to obey Jesus
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| 4. The Gathering Field: Becoming Church
Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three” Hebrews 10:25: Regular assembly 1 Corinthians 16:19: Can meet anywhere Ephesians 4:11-16: Leadership gifts. Luke 22:7-20: Communion 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Mark 12:41-44: Giving Matthew 28:19, Acts 8:26-39: Baptism Matthew 28:18-19, John 4:4-42: Evangelism John 15:18-19, Acts 5:27-42: Persevere 1 Timothy 3:1-13: Qualities of leaders 1 Corinthians 12:1-11: Spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12:12-31: Church as a body I Corinthians 13: Live by love 1 Corinthians 4:15: Need fathers not teachers Galatians 6:1-2: Carrying others burdens
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3. The Growing Field: Discipling Believers
1 Thessalonians 2:7-9: Disciples need mums 2 Timothy 3:16: Importance of scripture 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6: Model and copy Colossians 1:10-12: Fruit and knowledge Colossians 3:17: Living for Jesus, not self Philippians 3:12-15: Defining maturity Galatians 5:16-26: Fruits of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:1-11: Spiritual gifts 2 Corinthians 3:17-18: Transformed to glory 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: Renewing the mind Ephesians 6:12: Defeating Satan Matthew 6:5-15: Patterns of prayer Matthew 22:37-39: Love God, love others Ephesians 3, 4, 5, 6: From old life to new life John 14:15: to Love Jesus is to obey Jesus
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4. THE FOUR FIELDS AND LEADERSHIP GIFTS
The church leadership gifts are Apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher, pastor (Ephesians 4:11)
1. Western traditional approach to growth
Western churches mostly use Teaching and Pastoral leaders.
This creates lots of depth and good care but little growth.
The emphasis is on doctrinal teaching, lifestyle and Bible school.
Pastoral care is strong because church members are often weak through lack of obedience.
Church planting often creates transfer growth from within the existing Christian community.
2. The Discipleship Model and the Four Fields
The DMM model creates much more space for the apostolic ministry.
Much more scope for the prophetic and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Much more scope for the evangelist.
Depth and width are combined because of obedience.
Converts immediately become doers not just hearers.
Scripture is the only textbook: “What does the Bible say about that?”
Church plants can be immediate and local.
There is no transfer growth. Growth is always from starting new groups with new believers.
Teaching and pastoral care take place in deep relationship, it’s not shallow.
Multiplication happens before the pastoral and the teaching phase. This is the opposite of the traditional model.
3. Another way of thinking about the Four Fields
| Field One: Pregnancy
Apostle, prophet (pioneers)
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Field Two: Birthing
Apostle, Evangelist (midwives)
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| Field Four: Maturity and Children
Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher (Multiplication) |
Field Three: Growing
Teacher and Pastor (parents)
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5. ACTION
- Teach the Four Fields to at least 4 people so it sinks in.
- Start ploughing and sowing. Dig the weeds out of your own heart.
- Pray for a vision to reach out to your local area.
- Ask God to show you his heart for the lost around you.
- Begin to walk around your area asking for souls.
- Start dying to yourself and live for the Kingdom.