By Bill Allison and Dave Garda
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 1, go here.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 2, go here.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 3, go here.
Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to your request for additional information in box number three on the accident reporting form. I had put "poor planning" in that box as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully so I hope the following details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade and on the day of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I had completed my work I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry them down by hand I decided to lower them down by using a pulley, which was fortunately attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went back to the roof and attached a barrel to hold the bricks. I swung the barrel out over the side of the building and loaded the bricks into it.
I went back down to ground level and untied the rope holding the barrel. I held the rope tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in box number two of the accident reporting form that I weigh 165 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked from the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers on my right hand were two knuckles-deep into the pulley. Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, despite my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of it. Deprived of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about 50 pounds. Once again I refer you to my weight in box number two. As you might well imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations on my legs and lower parts of my body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries, so that when I fell on the pile of bricks only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay on the ground, unable to stand, and seeing the barrel six stories above me, I once again lost my presence of mind... and I let go of the rope.
Sincerely,
Bobby Bricklayer
So what's the point?
Never do life or ministry alone. Don't even try it. Jesus didn't. Jesus put the C in DLC.
The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus
Eight Leading Indicators You're a Part of a Jesus-like DLC
Li #3 A DLC is a place of deep community and friendships.
"He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-they they might be with him...." --Mark 3:14
"A new command I give you to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." --Jesus in John 13:34-35
Jesus showed his disciples how to love God, love people, and make disciples by living in community with them.
While Jesus did have one-on-one encounters with people, Jesus clearly sought to make disciples in a small community of disciples who became disciplemakers. We call this community of disciplemakers a DLC. It's so important, we'll say it again: A Disciplemaking Learning Community is not simply an ingredient for making disciples like Jesus--it's how Jesus made disciples. In our Disciplemaking Is Relationships training, we refer to this deep community with each other and the Holy Spirit as mutual community. Jesus-like disciplemaking is first and foremost about relationships--being with God and each other--together. Therefore, a DLC must become a place of deep community and friendships.
This means that an authentic DLC is not a topic-driven gathering. For example, if someone doesn't come to your DLC gathering primarily because he/she isn't interested in the topic you're havering over that day, then you know that person doesn't understand what it means to be a part of a DLC. On the other hand, a person who understands the true communal nature of a DLC will come to a gathering primarily because of his/her commitment to Jesus and to the community of people in the DLC--regardless of the topic for that gathering.
Because of this strong sense of biblical community, the feel of a DLC is "withness." That is, a DLC is not something we do "to" people or "for" them, but rather we humbly experience it "with" God and them. Stop and think about this for a moment. Our normal mode of operation tends to be do something "for" or "to" people. True confession: For years when I taught Sunday school or tried to lead my family in a short Bible study, it felt like I was doing it "to" people or "for" them. Did I teach the Word? Yes. Did we all experience a deep place of community and friendships? No. Why? Withness--humbly trying to follow Jesus together--was missing. It's this sense of "withness" with God and each other that helps foster a biblical sense of community. A sense of "withness" helps us to connect to Jesus and each other at the heart-level. A sense of "withness" is required for a DLC. When was the last time you experienced this sense of "withness"?
Let me clarify: A biblical sense of community requires not just an abundant amount of encouragement but also loving accountability. Accountability to what? Loving God, loving people, and making disciplemakers like Jesus. It's precisely on these points that a real DLC will speak lovingly and truthfully into each other's lives. Everyone desires encouragement. Few are willing to risk speaking lovingly and truthfully into each other's lives. A DLC requires both--encouragement and speaking the truth in love because both are required for community and deep friendships. This is what puts the community into a Disciplemaking Learning Community.
Stop and consider the disciplemaking genius of Jesus. How many were in Jesus' DLC? Now ask yourself, "Why?" I believe that everyone in a DLC is more apt to experience community, learn, and multiply what they're learning if the DLC is smaller rather than larger. It's counterintuitive to our 21st century Western minds but it's true: a larger group is more likely to impede the potential for community, learning, and multiplication. Again, I ask you to consider the disciplemaking genius of Jesus.
No deep community and friendships = not a DLC.
Pause, Ponder, and Discuss
Pause:
A DLC is not something we do "to" people or "for" them, but rather we humbly experience it "with" God and them.
Ponder your DLC:
to for with
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Discuss your thoughts.
Real Life DLC Stories: A younger disciplemaker writes to an older disciplemaker in his DLC... I'm thankful for your input into my life. I'm thankful for your participation in our DLC. |
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This Cadre Connection is also available as a FREE PDF, get it here: Download the PDF |
Disciplemaking Resources and Training
Disciplemaking Is Relationships is training that helps you and those in your ministry explore the disciplemaking genius of Jesus together.
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 about bringing this training to your church or ministry, contact Cadre Ministries.
For more online information about the above training materials, go here.
Jesus-Like Disciplemaking Training...
For more information, call Rennie at 815.501.3132 or visit:
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