The Infinite Game of Disciple-Making
The Infinite Game of Disciple Making
In 2018 Simon Sinek released a brilliant book titled The Infinite Game. Finite games, like basketball, have a beginning and an end as well as clear winners and losers. In contrast, infinite games have no clear end point and nobody “wins.”
Sinek challenges business leaders to understand the game they are playing in. In the infinite game of business finite cut-throat tactics often feed the bottom line while sadly creating toxic business cultures. Mistaking business for a finite game, business leaders often harm long term cultural success for short term capital gains.
Like Sinek, I want to challenge you to consider the type of game you are in. Disciple making, unlike growing mere church attendance, is an infinite game. Jesus told His apostles, “As you go, make disciples” because He knew that for the Kingdom of God to advance for at least 2 millennia, He needed more than “converts.” There had to be people who embody His words and learn to follow His voice. There had to be disciples who make disciples.
Sinek challenges business leaders with 5 metrics for discerning whether they are leading with an infinite mindset. Similarly I want you to consider your ministry through the same metrics:
Further a Just Cause – Making money is not a just cause for businesses and “butts in the seats” is not a just cause for churches. Discipling people to embody the teachings of King Jesus, however, is the highest cause. So consider, “Am I actively helping others learn how to follow Jesus?” “Am I personally embodying the just cause? If so, praise God. If not, why not?
Building Trusting Teams – Anyone who has invested significant energy in disciple making knows that it takes a community. Although a solo spiritual director is often helpful, he or she cannot meet all the communal needs of others over time.
So how does your small group function? Does it function like a lot of people centered around one leader? Or does the group embrace the call to be a team in the mutual work of disciple making? If not, how could your group grow in taking mutual responsibility for spiritual growth?
Find a Worthy Rival – Sinek uses Apple vs. Microsoft as a high profile example of worthy rivalry. For Sinek, it is not about “beating the competition,” but rather about allowing your rival to compel you to become the best you can be.
In the infinite game of disciple-making, consider letting other era’s of church history be your worthy rival. While it can be helpful to learn from other churches, one can be powerfully inspired by other centuries. When we read the practices of saints who have gone before us our own norms and complacencies can be challenged.
Existential Flexibility – For Sinek, existential flexibility is the willingness of business leaders to reshape even what is currently successful for the long term viability of the just cause. So it is crucial to see the just cause as more important than the current business model.
2020 taught us that you must have a vision for disciple-making that is more resilient than simply counting heads in a sanctuary. It also taught us if people don’t internalize that vision, they may leave at the drop of a hat…or at the request of a mask. So the call, rather than the model, must be what compels us forward.
Courage to Lead – Courageous leadership is one of the purest ways we love people well. In the work of disciple-making it comes through a million ways. Its calling a group of people to pray and then actually listening for the voice of God.
Its being willing to have a hard conversation when someone is consistently blowing off their small group or personal time with God. Its being willing to live with integrity when only God sees and calling others to do the same.
Being disciples who make disciples is an infinite game. We are disciples, in part because throughout the ages godly people have courageously given themselves to the work of disciple-making. So take authority, believe that God is at work around you and be a part of this infinite game until our Lord returns.