Why the Members of a Vital Group Must Be Disciples of Christ?

 

Why the Members of a Vital Group Must Be Disciples of Christ?

Preface

According to the Lord's commission in Matthew 28:19, making disciples is not merely bringing people to salvation but constituting them with Christ. Based on the revelation of the Scriptures and the ministry of Witness Lee, the members of a vital group are not merely zealous believers; they are those who have been constituted through Christ's God-man living, His all-inclusive death, and His life-imparting resurrection. Therefore, the foundation of a vital group is not activity but discipleship; not organization but constitution; not work but the reproduction of Christ.

Item	Why the Members of a Vital Group Must Be Disciples of Christ?
Meaning	The constituents of a vital group are those who have been constituted with Christ and transformed into His disciples.
Reason	God's economy is not merely to gain believers but to gain disciples who reproduce and express Christ.
The Lord's Pattern	The Lord spent three and a half years constituting His disciples by living with them.
Process of Constitution	Seeing Christ's human living → Experiencing His death → Receiving His resurrection life → Living a God-man life.
Central Revelation	A disciple is one who lives the divine life within a human life.
Spiritual Principle	Not merely imitating Christ but allowing Christ to live through us.
Illustration 1	An apprentice learning from a master by daily living together.
Illustration 2	Branches abiding in the vine and bearing fruit naturally.
Illustration 3	A mold shaping vessels; Christ's living shapes His disciples.
Christ's First Stage	Constituting disciples through His God-man living.
Christ's Second Stage	Constituting disciples through His all-inclusive death.
Christ's Third Stage	Constituting disciples through His life-imparting resurrection.
Result	Believers become living disciples who express Christ.
Source of Vitality	The operation of the indwelling Spirit.
Nature of a Vital Group	A gathering of constituted disciples.
Purpose	The building up of the Body of Christ and the fulfillment of God's economy.
Relationship	Christ's living → Christ's death → Christ's resurrection → Disciples → Vital persons → Vital groups → The church → The Body of Christ.
Key Scriptures	Matthew 5:1              The disciples gathered to the Lord Matthew 28:19         Make disciples of all the nations John 20:22     The Lord breathed Himself into the disciples Galatians 2:20           Christ lives in me Romans 1:4   Declared the Son of God in resurrection Romans 8:29              The Firstborn among many brothers Acts 13:33      Resurrection producing God's many sons 1 Corinthians 15:45              The last Adam became the life-giving Spirit John 12:24     One grain producing many grains Hebrews 2:10            Bringing many sons into glory

 

Biblical Examples

Example	Constitution Process	Result
Peter	Followed the Lord for 3½ years and experienced the cross and resurrection	Became a bold witness at Pentecost
John	Observed the Lord's God-man living	Became the apostle of life
James	Was transformed through the Lord's training	Became a pillar in the church
Andrew	Followed and learned from the Lord	Became one who brought people to Christ
Paul	Saw the heavenly vision and experienced Christ's death and resurrection	Lived "Christ lives in me"

 

Practical Application Today

Area	Practice
Contacting the Lord	Have a daily morning revival and fellowship with the Lord
Observing Christ	Read the Gospels to behold His God-man living
Experiencing the Cross	Deny the self and reject the natural life
Living in the Spirit	Follow the inner anointing and the indwelling Spirit
Receiving Constitution	Allow the Word to operate within
Vital Group Living	Practice mutual shepherding and mutual perfecting
Bearing Fruit	Produce disciples rather than merely converts

 

The Ministry Burden

Burden	Explanation
Not workers but constituted persons	The focus is on being constituted with Christ
Not organizing groups	But producing vital persons
Not teaching doctrines merely	But ministering life
Not cultivating natural ability	But reproducing the God-man living
Not merely increasing numbers	But increasing disciples

 

Prophesying Meeting Guidelines

Item	Content
Revelation	A vital group begins with discipleship, not organization
Experience	Daily experience Christ's living, death, and resurrection
Application	Live the God-man life in family, work, and church life
Burden	Minister Christ so others may become disciples
Building Up	Vital groups are units for Christ's multiplication and increase

 

One-Sentence Prophecy

A vital group is not composed of naturally zealous believers but of disciples constituted through Christ's God-man living, His all-inclusive death, and His life-imparting resurrection, living the divine life in humanity for His multiplication and expression.

Conclusion

The key to a vital group is not methods, programs, or organization but the constitution of disciples. The Lord constituted Peter, John, James, and Andrew through His living, death, and resurrection. Today He continues this work through the indwelling Spirit. As we deny our natural life and live by the divine life, we become vital persons; when many such persons come together, a genuine vital group is produced for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Ultimate Conclusion

Item	Revelation
Disciple	A reproduction of Christ produced through His living, death, and resurrection
Vital Person	The practical expression of a constituted disciple
Vital Group	A corporate expression of vital persons
Church	The enlargement of the vital groups
Body of Christ	The reality produced through the church life
New Jerusalem	The ultimate consummation of Christ's reproduction and God's economy

God's goal is not merely to gain believers but to gain disciples; not merely disciples but vital persons; not merely vital persons but vital groups; not merely vital groups but the Body of Christ; and ultimately the New Jerusalem as the corporate expression of the processed and consummated Triune God mingled with His redeemed people.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Memorial Day Special Conference theme: The Urgent Need for a New Revival, Part One: Cooperating with the Lord to Bring a New Revival to End This Generation.

Christ’s God-man Living on Earth vs. Christ’s Heavenly Ministry

 

Christ’s God-man Living on Earth vs. Christ’s Heavenly Ministry

According to the revelation of the Scriptures and the ministry's teachings, Christ's work has two aspects: 

1. The God-man Living on Earth (The God-man Living on Earth)

Christ's living on earth served as a model (Pattern), producing and constituting disciples.

2. The Heavenly Ministry of Christ (The Heavenly Ministry of Christ)

Christ's ministry in heaven serves as a supply (Ministry), building up the Body of Christ. 

The former is the reproduction of life, whereas the latter is the continuation of ministry. The former emphasizes living God out, while the latter emphasizes ministering God into others. The former produces God-men, while the latter builds up the Body of Christ. 

Item	Christ’s God-man Living on Earth	Christ’s Heavenly Ministry
Meaning	Christ lived a human life expressing God and manifesting God in humanity.	Christ, after ascension, continues His ministry of shepherding, interceding, supplying, and building the church.
Reason	To bring God into man.	To bring man into God.
Identity	The First God-man.	The High Priest, Chief Shepherd, and Head of the Body.
Focus	Living God.	Ministering God.
Nature	A life pattern and model.	A heavenly ministry and service.
Characteristic	Denying the self and living by the Father.	Interceding, shepherding, nourishing, and building.
Purpose	To produce many God-men.	To build up the Body of Christ.
Result	Disciples are constituted.	The Body is built up.
Ultimate Goal	Corporate new man.	Prepared Bride.
Key Scriptures	God-man Living        John 5:19, 30  Living by the Father       John 6:57 Following Christ       Matthew 11:28–29  Pattern       1 Peter 2:21 Living Christ  Philippians 1:21  Conformed to His Death     Philippians 3:10 Good Shepherd        John 10:11  Feed My Lambs       John 21:15–17 Shepherd the Flock 1 Peter 5:1–4  Great Shepherd Hebrews 13:20–21 Walking Among Lampstands Revelation 1:12–13  Building the Body     Ephesians 4:11–16  Cherishing People  Matthew 9:10; Luke 7:34  Nourishing People           Matthew 24:45–47

 

Spiritual Illustrations

Illustration	God-man Living	Heavenly Ministry
Master Copy	Original pattern	Mass reproduction
Seed	Falls into the ground and dies	Bears many grains
Vine	Source of life	Produces fruit through the branches
Shepherd	Seeks the sheep	Feeds and perfects the sheep
Human Body	Formation of life	Circulation supplying the whole body
Building	Blueprint	Construction work

 

Relationship Between the Two

Aspect	Explanation
Foundation	The earthly living provides the pattern.
Continuation	The heavenly ministry carries out what the earthly living initiated.
Reproduction	The earthly life produces disciples.
Building	The heavenly ministry builds disciples into the Body.
Goal	Both accomplish God's eternal economy.
Present Experience	We imitate His God-man living and participate in His heavenly ministry.

 

Spiritual Sequence

Step	Spiritual Process
1	Christ lived the God-man life on earth.
2	The disciples observed and followed Him.
3	They were constituted with His life.
4	Christ passed through death and resurrection.
5	He ascended to the heavens.
6	He became the heavenly Minister and Shepherd.
7	The apostles participated in His ministry.
8	The believers shepherd and nourish others.
9	The Body of Christ is built up.
10	The Bride is prepared.
11	A new revival is brought in.
12	God's eternal economy is fulfilled.

 

Biblical Examples

Person	God-man Living	Heavenly Ministry
Jesus Christ	Lived the Father	Shepherds and intercedes in heaven
Peter	Followed the Lord	Shepherded the flock
Paul	Lived Christ	Perfected the saints
John	Experienced Christ intimately	Saw the heavenly Christ among the lampstands
Timothy	Learned Christ's living	Cared for the churches

 

Practical Application Today

Area	Practice
Personal Life	Deny the self and live Christ.
Family Life	Express Christ's humanity at home.
Church Life	Live a God-man life among the saints.
Service	Minister Christ rather than mere teachings.
Gospel Work	Shepherd people after saving them.
Small Groups	Cherish and nourish believers.
Prophesying Meetings	Supply Christ as life.
Leadership	Coordinate with Christ's heavenly ministry.

 

Burden of the Ministry

Burden	Explanation
First	Live the God-man life before doing any work.
Second	Shepherd rather than merely organize.
Third	Minister Christ rather than doctrines.
Fourth	Build up the Body rather than individual spirituality.
Fifth	Cooperate with the heavenly Christ today.
Sixth	Merge the apostolic ministry with Christ's heavenly ministry.

 

Guidelines for Prophesying Meetings

Point	Content
1	Christ's God-man living is the pattern that produces disciples.
2	Christ's heavenly ministry is the supply that builds the Body.
3	Genuine revival comes through both living Christ and shepherding people.
4	We cherish people in humanity and nourish them in divinity.
5	The church advances when the saints participate in Christ's heavenly ministry.

 

One-Sentence Prophesying Summary

Christ’s God-man living is the pattern for the reproduction of God-men, and Christ’s heavenly ministry is the supply for the building up of His Body; by living Him and participating in His ministry, we fulfill God’s eternal economy.

Conclusion

Aspect	Summary
Earthly Living	Christ manifested God through a perfect God-man life.
Heavenly Ministry	Christ now supplies, shepherds, intercedes, and builds the church.
Our Responsibility	Reproduce His living and participate in His heavenly ministry.
Ultimate Result	The building up of the Body of Christ, the preparation of the Bride, and the fulfillment of God's eternal economy.

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Memorial Day Special Conference theme: The Urgent Need for a New Revival, Part One: Cooperating with the Lord to Bring a New Revival to End This Generation.