2014 GCM Collective One Day Training Part 2 OF 2 – Missional DNA Reboot + Discipleship Culture
This is the 2nd post in a 2-part series reflecting on sessions taught at the GCM Collective One Day Training in Haverhill, Massachusetts on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Here is the link to the 1st post:
If you want to hear more details about what I thought, feel free to drop me a line.
Session 3: Missional DNA
With families, are you asking the question, "How can we use time with our family to spend time with other families?" The best way to disciple your kids is to not make it all about them, but to show them that following Jesus is looking out for the interests of others.
We can ask each other and our kids:
- How has God made you?
- How does God allow you to rest in what He's doing?
- How does God want you to become more like Jesus?
In establishing a missional community (i.e. a family of servants on mission of 6-8 people to 25-30 people), we ask the question of the sojourner and the believer, "Who wants to walk in the ways of Jesus?"
"Jesus said the best representative of Him on this earth is not an individual following Him, but a collection of people (i.e His disciples, His church) following Him together."
A discipling culture where people come together to be a family of servants on mission for Jesus will need to be a high invitation + high challenge environment. Recently, most American churches exist to be a cozy culture where there a few leaders who do most of the work. There tends to be a lot of invitation, but not a lot of challenge to become more like Jesus.
Don't lower the challenge for those who don't get it. Increase the challenge like Jesus did so that people will learn to rely on Him instead of their own strength and follow the Spirit.
As a church together, we ask "How would a healthy family answer this need? Would everyone want to be involved? Would everyone contribute? How do we invite and challenge each other to walk with Jesus by the power of His Spirit?"
"We can't be incarnational without living life among those we want to disciple. We need to ask, "If Jesus lived His life in my neighborhood, what would He be like to His neighbors and what would He do for them? And when people continue to say 'No' to you in relation to following Jesus, your biggest witness will be your perseverance in love to continue to live life among them."
Also, as you learn how to be a missional community (MC) together, don't expect growth into a discipling culture to be a straight line. It never is. There will be tension and discomfort and failures and disappointments. The key is to live in repentance and faith with one another, returning to the mission to make disciples of Jesus even as He is making disciples of you.
Session 4: Missional Reboot
1. Matthew 28:18-20: Who are you making disciples of?
Are people your checklist? Do you feel better only based on their good responses? Or do love them through their rejection?
We need to ask, "Am I attempting to make a disciple of myself or of Jesus?" And can we call ourselves disciples of Jesus if we are not making disciples of Jesus? It's not about the many. This year, ask Him for one or two people to disciple. If every disciple of Jesus is making one disciple each year, we will be fruitful and multiply.
2. Matthew 11:29-30: Do you find rest in following Jesus?
When Jesus says His yoke is easy, do you believe Him? Has following Him ever been a light exercise for you? If not, are you willing to call Him a liar so that you can learn the truth about how you have been following Him?
The key is living by the power of the One He has given us. Ask the Spirit what's next, listen, then do it. The Spirit will give you exactly what you need when you need it. He starts small. And then He'll grow you by asking bigger and bigger things.
First question: "Spirit, who do I need to invite into my life to walk in the ways of Jesus?"
3. Luke 16:16: Do we declare and display the good news of Jesus in such a way that people want to force their way into the Kingdom?
Why do we share about the good news of Jesus' Kingdom? Are we doing it to gain something for ourselves from others? Are we expecting something in return from the people we love? Or are we doing it because of how much the Father loves us?
We are called to be deep friends with sinners. Why? Because that was what Jesus did. That was His reputation. He was regularly criticized by the religious because of who He was with. Are we?
Four questions to ask:
– Spirit, what's next?
– What is good news to those I have been called to?
– How have I responded to those who have rejected Jesus?
– What are my expectations of those I am currently discipling?
Session 5: Discipleship Culture
A discipleship environment led by Jesus is very holistic – mental, emotional, physical – Jesus addresses every area of life. So a discipleship environment with Jesus must be frequent and long-term. And then people become more like Jesus. For example, in the book of Acts, if you take out the names of who did what, you would think it was Jesus doing everything that happens.
"Discipleship is moving from unbelief to belief in Jesus in every area of life."
If discipleship with Jesus is holistic, then we can treat every circumstance and interaction as an opportunity to teach more about Jesus. And as we serve others, we will discover just how much our own gospel needs emerge.
The elders of a church should be modeling a holistic discipleship lifestyle in how they are making disciples of Jesus in such a servant-like way that others will not only want to join the family, but learn how to be servant leaders as well.
Do we believe that Jesus' life – the way He lived – is the best way to live? Then how do we make decisions to follow Him in the way He walked?
– Sully
Leadership development track:
– Model
– Assist
– Watch
– Leave
The elders of a church should be modeling a holistic discipleship lifestyle in how they are making disciples of Jesus in such a servant-like way that others will not only want to join the family, but learn how to be servant leaders as well.
Do we believe that Jesus' life – the way He lived – is the best way to live? Then how do we make decisions to follow Him in the way He walked?
1. We listen backward by committing to being saturated in His Word in the Scriptures.
2. We listen forward by committing to asking the Spirit what's next throughout life, waiting for Him to speak, and then doing what He says.
– Sully
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