179. The Power of the Ordinary
In this episode, Dave shares a recent message he gave to the Crossway Online Church community, reflecting on Luke 10 and the surprising power of ordinary people in God’s mission.
In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 72 others — because 12 were not enough. When the 72 return, full of joyful testimonies of God at work, Jesus Himself is described as “full of joy through the Holy Spirit.”
“I praise you, Father… because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children… Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”
— Luke 10:21, 23–24
Dave reminds us that Jesus transferred the kingdom of God into the hands of ordinary disciples — people who pray, listen, obey, and go.
Story 1 — Aisha in South East Asia
Among a large unreached people groups, Aisha was a simple housewife trained in disciple-making. As she prayed, God gave her a heart to reach her community around her. With no previous experience, she simply started where she was — in the marketplace.
Partnering with a street trader named Fani, they began selling a local delicacy — fried chicken heads — and the business grew rapidly. Immersed in the community, Misha began offering:
• Micro-loans to struggling traders
• Literacy classes for teenagers
• Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) with new friends
What began as prayerful availability has now become multiplying disciple-making groups.
Jesus leaped for joy because God reveals His kingdom through the unexpected and overlooked — the “little children.”
Story 2 — The Chicken Shop Disciple Maker
In a region of South Asia experiencing high persecution, Dave describes how one of the teams has seen over 40,000 new disciples and 2,200+ churches planted.
In the midst of this movement was a man who simply ran a local chicken shop. He learned to start Discovery Bible Studies with his neighbours.
Disciple-making is simple and reproducible. Ordinary people. Everyday places.
Story 3 — James in Africa
James is seeing a movement among Muslim university lecturers, Muslim students, their families and the wider community. In the last 12 months alone:
• 161 new Discovery Groups have been birthed
• 99 new churches have been planted
• 11 unreached people groups have been engaged
• Groups are multiplying to the 4th generation and beyond
There is real joy and freedom from darkness, with many baptisms among those previously far from Jesus.
Photo: James' first house church
Photo: Discovery Bible Group on an Islamic University campus
Recent baptisms through James' ministry in Africa
Response
Key Characteristics of Ordinary Disciple Makers
• The Power of the Ordinary — Don’t compare yourself.
• The Power of Availability — Simply be available to God.
• The Power of Obedience — Listen and follow what God says.
• Birth Everything in Prayer — Movements start on our knees.
Dave ends with a call to:
• Pray
• Give to missions
• Go and participate in the Great Commission
Because the Gospel spreads not through the extraordinary, but through ordinary people who say ‘yes’ to Jesus.
You can watch Dave sharing at Crossway here
New Zealand