Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus – Part 8
By Bill Allison and Dave Garda- Cadre International Ministries (Posted with permission.)
See also: Part 1, Part 2,Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
Which one below is discipleship and which one is disciplemaking? Why?
What’s the difference between discipleship and disciplemaking?
Why does it matter?
Disciplemaking Learning Community Leading Indicator #7:
A DLC multiplies Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs.
“…go and make disciples of all nations….” -Jesus in Matthew 28:19
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” -Jesus in John 20:21
How do you know if you’re really making disciples like Jesus?
Now this is a great question. Think about it for a moment. Stop reading and try to answer that question right now.
Now consider the disciplemaking genius of Jesus.
“…Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him….” -Luke 8:1
“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God….” -Luke 9:1-2
“After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two…” -Luke 10:1
While we don’t know that the Twelve had any part in this multiplication of disciplemakers, we clearly see Jesus multiplying disciplemakers. He took the Twelve along with him (Luke 8:1). Sometime later, he sent out the Twelve as disciplemakers (Luke 9:1-2). A little later, he sent out seventy-two disciplemakers (Luke 10:1). This is multiplication.
Jesus’ Method of Multiplication
Jesus started multiplying disciplemakers by first pulling a handful of ordinary disciples into a DLC-to be with him… and to be sent out by him (Mark 3:14-15). The DLC is the disciplemaking genius of Jesus. What happened in Jesus’ DLC? Jesus’ cadre of ordinary disciples became disciplemakers who reproduced more Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs (see the book of Acts). And here we are today.
Here’s a disciplemaking thought: Perhaps the mark of a growing church or ministry isn’t how many people are coming into it, but rather how many disciplemakers are being sent out from it. Like I said, it’s just a thought. (Be warned: You start thinking differently when you study the disciplemaking genius of Jesus.)
Multiplication: The Tell Tale Sign of a Jesus-like DLC
You know you’re a part of an authentic Jesus-like DLC when those in your DLC multiply Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs. If those we disciple don’t multiply Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs, then we are not making disciples like Jesus. And that must get our attention.
We call this multiplication of Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs “D3 Disciplemaking.” D1 inflow happens when we intentionally set about living a life of loving God and loving people. D2 is the overflow from a D1 lifestyle that enables us to help others begin or deepen their adventures of loving God and loving people. With the consistent inflow of D1 and overflow of D2, we enjoy D3-where it’s our privilege to help others help others to love God and love people. D3 = three generations of disciplemaking. If you can’t count at least three generations, you’re probably doing discipleship, not Jesus-like disciplemaking. There is a world of difference between discipleship and disciplemaking. Think about it.
Intentionality Required
The multiplication of Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs requires intentionality. Like going on a vacation, if you don’t plan for it to happen, it probably will get squeezed out by lesser things. When I invite people to be a part of a DLC, we agree together before God that whatever they learn in our DLC, they will pass on to others in their DLCs (2 Timothy 2:2)-starting with their marriage and family and extending into every nook and cranny of their lives. I’m so serious about seeing the multiplication of Jesus-like disciplemaking and DLCs that I ask each person in a DLC to sign a covenant that, in part, makes them promise to do their best to multiply Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs.
It’s easier to be more intentional about multiplication when you live in community with other aspiring Jesus-like disciplemakers. At every DLC gathering, we look each other in the eyes and say something like:
“Tell me a story or two about how you learned something in our DLC and passed it on to someone in your DLC.”
Sound a little extreme? Stop and think about it for a moment. If we are doing a form of disciplemaking that doesn’t multiply Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs, then we must dare to ask ourselves if we are really making disciples like Jesus. Disciplemaking like Jesus requires multiplication of Jesus-like disciples and DLCs-because that’s clearly what we see flowing out of Jesus’ life.
Bottom line: No multiplication of Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs = no DLC
Real Life DLC Stories: Multiplying Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLC
What a privilege to participate in a DLC. I always grow best and am challenged most in the midst of community and our DLC experience has proven that again. I have loved the opportunity to build lasting relationships with like-minded disciplemakers. The best part of that is that we all live close by and will no doubt remain a part of each other’s lives in some fashion. I have enjoyed the model of vulnerability each person has been and I have learned a great deal from all of you.
The biggest take-away for me is multiplying DLCs-gathering a small group of like minded folks together and reproducing Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs. The study of Jesus’ life is fantastic, the ideas for processing the disciplemaking genius of Jesus are enlightening, and the coffee and sweets are amazing. But what I will take and apply immediately in my life and is the disciplemaking power of gathering a “cadre” of people into a DLC, slowing down, listening to what God is doing among us, and taking time to follow Jesus together.
Pause, Ponder, and Discuss
Pause:
You know you’re a part of a DLC when those in your DLC multiply Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs.
Ponder your DLC:
not multiplying multiplying discipleship multiplying disciplemakers & DLCs
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Discuss your thoughts.
If you’re interested in pursuing a Jesus-like disciplemaking way of life, this training is for you-whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, volunteer, or a paid church leader.
In the Disciplemaking Is Relationships training experience you’ll explore D3 disciplemaking, mutual community, kavanah, haver learning, Disciplemaking Learning Communities, and much more. The manual includes Learning Labs for Disciplemaking Learning Communities. The Disciplemakers Journal is 25 biblical studies to help you wrestle the disciplemaking genius of Jesus together with your Disciplemaking Learning Community. And here’s a cool fact: The Disciplemaking Is Relationships training was originally developed in Disciplemaking Learning Communities.
For more information contact student@efca.org
TIU Student Leadership Conference
This last week I was at the Trinity International University for EFCA week. I had the chance to meet with Katherine Goehrke who is the Director of Leadership Development at TIU. Katherine and her team are doing a great job of developing Emerging Student Leaders who as part of their development get to dream up and develop a Student Leadership Conference for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade high schoolers.
If you are close to the Chicago land area consider brining students to this conference. At $50/student it is one of the most affordable conference I’ve seen (price includes meals, housing, t-shirt, and a pair of TOMS shoes.) You can’t beat that!
Being Supportive in a Denominational Setting
As I denominational leader I found myself interested in a recent post on Slant33 hosted by Barefoot Ministries entitled “In a Strong Denominational Setting How do you Support Your Denomination.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts and any ideas you have for the EFCA.
Lost in Translation: Why Students Need an Alongsider
Students’ struggle is not lack of information it is lack of translation.
When we don’t see change in a student’s life, we often think the problem is that they must need more information. Even if we don’t believe this is the problem, it is often how we seek to solve it. We give them another message.
The truth is what most students need is not more information. What they need is to see how that information has been translated into someone else’s life. The problem is they don’t know how to implement the truth they’ve heard into their lives. They need a model. They need an “Alongsider” who will draw them close so that they can experience how this truth (information) has been integrated into the life of someone they trust and respect. A person who knows them well enough to help them in the early stages of implementing and applying the truth into their own way of life. Read the rest of this entry
Equip Students to Reach Out with Life Book
Back in June 2011 we posted about a fresh ministry called Life Book that provides a tool for students to use as they engage in spiritual conversations with friends. Our friends at Life Book are gearing up to distribute 630,000 free copies of the Life Book.
Here is what Scott Tinman, youth pastor in Moline, IL had to say about how they used Life Book:
“This past fall we had the opportunity to partner with The Life Book and our local Youthworker Network as a follow-up to SYATP. We used The Life Book as a tool to give students something that they can get into spiritual conversations with their friends that they prayed for at the Pole. Some of our students who took the challenge were at school reading The Life Book for themselves and found their friends asking what they were reading. Their friends then asked for their own copy. This led into further conversations. It gave students a great way to talk with their friends about their faith. The Life Book was a great tool for students to bring the gospel to their school campus!”
Jeremy Deck, Student Ministry Pastor in New Hope, MN is planning to use Life Book this spring:
“The goal of our student ministries is not to constantly pull students into different programs at church. Rather, our desire is to equip them to be the church wherever God has placed them and to live out the gospel on mission in their recurring, everyday activities. As we train our students in the gospel and its transforming power, Life Book creates intentional pathways to gospel shaped conversations with friends. As our students believe, understand, and apply the gospel, I’m excited to see how our Life Book outreach will provide longterm, intentional application of everything that our students are learning. We don’t just want our students to understand the gospel. We want them to apply it. Life Book will give us another opportunity for gospel application in the lives of students at NHC.”
Check out this video that shares the vision of Life Book.
A Disciplemaking Dream for 2012
Two questions I think are critical for every ministry leader to ask at the beginning of a new year are:
1.) Is my disciplemaking vision clear?
2.) Is my disciplemaking passion hot?
I think both of these ultimately come from God, but I think part of the way that God keeps our vision clear and our passion for that vision white hot is through burdening our heart with a dream.
As I look back on 2011, I am grateful for all that God has done, but as I begin 2012 I can tell you I am not satisfied. I believe God has far more He wants to do. His dream is burning in my heart.
This is my dream… Read the rest of this entry
Is there a “better way”?
QUESTION
What would it look like for disciplemaking to be something that everyone of your students had the joy of delivering rather than just merely something they attended?
This is a question that here in ReachStudents we’ve been wrestling with for some time. Recently, a pastor friend of mine who sits on the board for Cross World shared with me a little brochure called “A Betther Way” that their current president, Dale Losch, has written. It’ powerful. The implications are great and far reaching.
I dare you to read it.
A Better Way
Then I come back here and comment on these questions.
Where are you already experiencing this and/or what are the obstacles that get in the way? What are the implications for how you approach ministry and/or perceive your role? What would this mean for youth ministry?
I’ve love to hear your thougths!!
Challenge 2012: Why we invited Eric Mason
It’s exciting to have Eric Mason joining us for Challenge 2012 this summer in New Orleans. Registration for Challenge opens January 2. It’s going to be an incredible week as we challenge students to live on mission with God everyday, everywhere, with everyone. Check out more information at Challengeconference.com!
In Youth Ministry What’s of First Importance?
I grew up as the middle child of three boys. Both my brothers are incredibly intelligent and since they have always been natural born thinkers, I have looked to find my identity in other areas (that don’t include Star Wars and speaking Klingon). Consequently, I have grown up as a Christian who needs theology to be simple and straightforward. This might be one of the reasons I love working with teenagers.
Most of the students I have worked with can answer most of the cliché Christian answers with ease. These “Golden Children” have a clear understanding of the rules that good kids should follow, but I wonder if they actually know the main message of the Bible. Think for a moment about the brightest teenagers you’re working with. They probably come to your events, encourage you when you preach a crummy message, and even laugh at your corny jokes. But, do they know—and I mean really understand in both mind and heart—what the Scripture says is most important? Read the rest of this entry
Merry Christmas: Thanks for Bearing the Son
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. Luke 1:30-31
As we come into this Christmas season, God’s message to Mary causes me sit and ponder the what we’ve been invited into as youth workers. God has chosen you and me to be ones who bear the Son of God among this emerging generation of young people and their families.
Years ago, in reading the God Bearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry, by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster, I came to a fresh appreciation of what it means to be a “God-bearer.” Kenda Dean says that God’s message to Mary found in Luke 1:26-38 has two parts—affirmation and expectation. Because Mary is beloved by God, because she has found favor in God’s eyes, God has a an astonishing plan for her. His plan is to have this teenager bring salvation into the world! Let that sink in for a minute. Read the rest of this entry
