The Trellis and the Vine

1. Shift from Trellis (Structures) to Vine (People-Growth)

Our goal is to grow the vine, not the trellis.

Ministry's core purpose. Many churches inadvertently prioritize maintaining their structures, programs, and activities—the 'trellis'—over the fundamental work of growing people in Christ, the 'vine'. This institutional view of ministry can lead to committees, events, and fundraising efforts consuming time and energy, while the actual work of seeing people converted, changed, and growing in the gospel falls to a select few, often leaving the vine looking tired.

Trellis work takes over. Trellis work, such as management, finances, and organization, is often easier, less personally threatening, and more visibly impressive than the personal, prayerful work of tending the vine. This focus on tangible achievements can obscure the true measure of ministry success: genuine growth in individuals' knowledge and godliness. The authors observe that this shift often happens as leaders age, moving from vine-growing to organizing, sometimes even because they were perceived as successful vine-growers.

Re-evaluating ministry. The parable of the trellis and the vine challenges churches to radically re-evaluate their aims and goals. It asks whether the focus is on making church members or genuine disciples of Jesus, emphasizing that true Christian ministry is about preaching the gospel, seeing people converted, and helping them mature in Christ. This requires a conscious shift away from merely erecting and maintaining structures towards intentionally growing people who are disciple-making disciples.

2. God's Work: Spirit-Backed Gospel Preaching for Salvation and Growth

This is what God is now doing in the world: Spirit-backed gospel preaching leading to the salvation of souls.

God's unfolding plan. The story of God's work on Earth, from creation to new heavens and new earth, centers on gathering people to himself through Jesus Christ. Psalm 80, depicting Israel as God's struggling vine, highlights a recurring theme: despite sin and judgment, God promises mercy and restoration. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' suffering, death, and glorious resurrection, which Peter describes as the "sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories."

Gospel's irresistible progress. The New Testament reveals that God is actively announcing this salvation to the world through his Holy Spirit working through human evangelists. The book of Acts repeatedly shows the "word of God" increasing and multiplying, not just through human effort, but by the Spirit filling preachers with boldness and granting faith to hearers. This divine-human partnership is evident in conversions like Cornelius's, where the Spirit falls on "all who heard the word."

Gospel growth, not church growth. Paul's letter to the Colossians illustrates this further: the gospel is "bearing fruit and growing" globally and in individual lives. This growth means people are transferred from darkness to light, their priorities change, and their lives are remade in Christ's image. The focus is on the progress of the Spirit-backed word, leading to individual believers being grafted into Christ and bearing the fruit of godliness, rather than merely the numerical or structural expansion of congregations.

3. Every Christian is a Disciple-Making Vine-Worker

To be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker.

Universal call to discipleship. Jesus' call to discipleship is for all believers, not just an inner core. It demands self-denial, cross-bearing, and open confession of allegiance to him in a hostile world. The Great Commission to "make disciples of all nations" is the basic agenda for every disciple, not just the original Eleven, implying a radical commitment that often contrasts with ordinary Christian habits.

Speaking the truth in love. The New Testament consistently portrays all Christians as involved in 'word ministry'. Ephesians 4:15-16 describes the body of Christ growing as "speaking the truth in love," with each part functioning properly. Colossians 3:16 similarly urges Christians to let the "word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another." This mutual encouragement, whether through singing, teaching children, or exhorting friends, is fundamental to body growth.

A missionary heart. While some are designated evangelists, the New Testament implies that all Christians should possess a missionary heart. The Thessalonians, new converts, naturally became missionaries, with the "word of the Lord" ringing out from them. Paul urges Corinthians to imitate him in seeking the salvation of others, not their own advantage. This means praying for the lost, living a distinctive life, and engaging in gracious conversations, making a Christian without a passion for the lost an anomaly.

4. Training is Relational: Cultivating Conviction, Character, and Competence

The heart of training is not to impart a skill, but to impart sound doctrine.

Beyond mere skills. In the biblical sense, 'training' (like gymnazõ or paideia) is less about acquiring specific skills and more about shaping Christian thinking, living, and character. Paul's instruction to Timothy to "train yourself for godliness" emphasizes a lifelong process of conforming one's heart and life to sound doctrine, leading to righteousness and equipping for every good work, rather than just technical proficiency.

Relationship and imitation. Paul's training of Timothy exemplifies this relational approach, built on a warm, father-son bond. Timothy learned not just Paul's teaching, but also his "conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness." This chain of imitation, flowing from Christ through Paul to Timothy and then to believers, means trainers model a gospel way of life, including suffering and self-sacrifice for others. Training is caught as much as it is taught, exposing the hearts of both trainer and trainee.

Three Cs of training. Effective ministry training can be summarized by three interconnected elements:

• Conviction: Deep knowledge of God and biblical understanding.
• Character: Godly life and conduct aligned with sound doctrine.
• Competence: Ability to prayerfully speak God's word to others in various ways.
  Formal training programs and resources are valuable frameworks, but they must complement, not replace, the personal, relational work of teaching, modeling, and mentoring that addresses spiritual issues at the heart of growth.

5. Sunday Sermons are Necessary but Not Sufficient for Disciple-Making

While individuals may be edified in so far as they are members of the congregation, there may well be other areas in which they need correction and training in righteousness which they will not obtain through the Sunday sermon, because by its very nature it is generalist in its application.

Preaching's vital role. The public preaching of powerful, faithful, and compelling biblical expositions is absolutely vital and necessary for the life and growth of congregations. Sermons serve as a rallying call, feeding the whole congregation on God's word, challenging, comforting, and edifying them, and setting the standard and agenda for all other word ministries. The authors emphasize a desire for more godly, gifted Bible teachers, not less.

Beyond the pulpit. However, the New Testament compels us to recognize that the 25-minute sermon, while necessary, is not sufficient on its own. God expects all Christians to be disciple-makers by prayerfully speaking His word to others in diverse ways and contexts. Limiting word ministry to the pastor alone, or to the Sunday gathering, silences the contribution of the entire congregation, hindering the full scope of God's plan for disciple-making.

Baxter's personal ministry. Richard Baxter, the 17th-century Reformed pastor, famously argued that "It is but the least part of the Minister’s work, which is done in the Pulpit." He championed extensive personal catechizing and instruction, going "from one house to another" to address individual needs. Baxter found that personal discourse often yielded more knowledge and conviction in half an hour than years of public preaching, demonstrating the irreplaceable value of individualized, house-to-house ministry alongside public proclamation.

6. Pastors as Trainers: Multiplying Gospel Growth Through Co-Workers

By far the best way to build a congregation full of disciple-making disciples is to assemble and train a band of co-workers to labour alongside you.

The overwhelmed pastor. A pastor, even with the best intentions, cannot personally evangelize, follow up, nurture, and train every individual in a congregation of 100+ people. The sheer volume of 'people work,' combined with administrative duties, makes it impossible. The solution lies not in working harder alone, but in strategically investing time in a few mature Christians who can then multiply ministry efforts.

Paul's collegial ministry. The Apostle Paul's ministry was inherently collegial, involving a large network of "fellow workers" (sunergoi) and "ministers" (diakonoi) like Prisca, Aquila, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. These co-workers labored alongside Paul, and with God, in spreading the word and building the church. This New Testament pattern of team ministry, whether itinerant or congregational, provides support, shares the burden, and multiplies effective gospel work, contrasting sharply with the modern norm of a single minister working alone.

Recruiting and training a team. Instead of pouring all time into those with the most problems, a pastor should prioritize training stable, mature Christians like Don and Sarah (from the book's example) to become co-workers. These co-workers, equipped in conviction, character, and competence, can then minister to others—evangelizing non-Christians, following up new believers, and encouraging struggling Christians. This initial investment in a small, close-knit team of gospel partners is the first step towards transforming a congregation into a growing fellowship of disciple-making disciples.

7. Identify and Nurture "People Worth Watching" for Future Ministry

...what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

God's means of raising leaders. While God calls and raises up pastors and evangelists, he typically does so through human agency. Existing pastors and leaders have a duty to actively recruit, challenge, and test suitable individuals within their churches for recognized gospel work. This 'call' is not merely an individual, mystical experience, but a process mediated through the discernment and commissioning of existing ministers, as seen in Paul entrusting the gospel to Timothy, who in turn was to entrust it to others.

Beyond the 'inner call'. The Bible's concept of 'calling' primarily refers to God's gracious summons to all people to follow Christ, with all its privileges and responsibilities. It doesn't speak of an inner call to specific professions like doctor or pastor. Therefore, ministers should not passively wait for individuals to 'feel called' but proactively seek out and challenge godly, gifted people to be set apart for gospel work, recognizing that this 'setting apart' is a solemn divine trust.

Qualities of "People Worth Watching" (PWWs). When identifying potential gospel workers, look for individuals who are:

• Faithful in understanding and commitment to God's word.
• Blameless in reputation and godly example.
• Gifted in teaching others.
• Proven in leading and managing a family.
• Communicators, entrepreneurs, natural leaders, academically gifted, or those with unique cultural reach.
  These PWWs, once identified, should be challenged to dedicate their lives to gospel work, understanding that this is not a demotion from secular work, but a unique and vital contribution to God's kingdom.

8. Ministry Apprenticeship: A Vital Step in Developing Gospel Workers

The basic idea is that ‘people worth watching’ are recruited into a two-year, full-immersion experience of working for a church or other Christian ministry.

Bridging the gap. Between showing potential for gospel work and entering formal theological education, a ministry traineeship or apprenticeship offers a crucial intermediate step. Organizations like the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) have demonstrated the effectiveness of this two-year, hands-on experience in churches, where convictions, character, and competencies are tested and developed under the supervision of experienced ministers.

Benefits of apprenticeship. This immersive approach provides several key advantages:

• Integration: Apprentices learn to integrate word, life, and ministry practice, applying biblical and theological thinking to real-world pastoral issues.
• Character Testing: The pressures of ministry expose true motivations and character, allowing wise trainers to build godliness through prayer, accountability, and modeling.
• People-Focused Ministry: Apprentices spend significant time in face-to-face ministry, learning firsthand that ministry is about transforming people, not just running programs.
• Preparation for Study: They become eager for rigorous theological study, with a clear motivation rooted in life and ministry preparation.
• Real-World Learning: It suits diverse personalities, including those who thrive in practical application rather than purely academic settings.
• Multiplication: Apprentices imbibe a 'training mindset,' instinctively equipping co-workers and building ministry teams in their future roles.
• Evangelism & Entrepreneurship: It fosters strategic, creative thinking for reaching people in post-Christian contexts, encouraging new initiatives.

Passing the baton. The MTS model embodies Paul's charge to Timothy to "entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." It's about passing the gospel baton to the next generation of runners, ensuring the continued faithful proclamation of the gospel. While some apprentices may not proceed to formal college, the process effectively identifies and develops those with genuine potential for recognized gospel work, multiplying ministers and ministry.

9. Prioritize Gospel Growth Over Local Church Growth

What are you more interested in: the growth of your particular congregation, or the growth of the kingdom of God?

The challenge of generosity. A commitment to training and developing "people worth watching" for gospel ministry inevitably leads to a steady departure of a church's best and most gifted members. These individuals, having been invested in, will often leave for mission fields, church-planting teams, or further theological training. This presents a profound challenge to a church's gospel heart, forcing a choice between retaining talent for local congregational growth and releasing it for the broader advancement of God's kingdom.

Strategic choice. While it is possible for churches to experience both local and global gospel growth, the authors argue that intentionally and generously sending out trained workers demonstrates true trust in the power of the gospel and the worldwide kingdom of Christ. Churches that prioritize exporting their best people into wider gospel work often find themselves blessed with more new people to train, creating a dynamic engine of growth and dynamism.

Beyond numerical metrics. The ultimate measure of gospel progress is not merely the size or reputation of a local church, but the multiplication of disciple-making disciples globally. This means valuing the strategic impact of sending out leaders who will serve as pastors, church-planters, missionaries, and theological educators in diverse contexts. The training mentality, by multiplying ministers, continually generates and develops disciple-making disciples both within congregations and abroad, to the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Last updated: February 11, 2026