February 2012 Issue 

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.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 4, go here.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 5, go here.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 6, go here.
For The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus-Part 7, go here.

The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus

Eight Leading Indicators You're a Part of a Disciplemaking Learning Community (DLC)....

Introduction to Leading Indicator #7.

Which one below is discipleship and which one is disciplemaking? Why?

 

What's the difference between discipleship and disciplemaking?

Why does it matter?

Li7    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 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.)

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.

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.

No multiplication of Jesus-like disciplemakers and more DLCs = no DLC

 

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.

 

Real Life DLC Stories: Multiplying Jesus-like disciplemakers and DLCs... 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.

This Cadre Connection is also available as a FREE PDF, get it here: Download the PDF

Disciplemaking is Relationships 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.

 

Downloadable Lesson for Youth Leaders 50% Off for a Limited Time

Ten Episodes for Students and Youth Leaders Are the winter blahs setting in for your students? Yes, this is the time of year when middle school and high school students get a little tired of school. But you can help the students in your youth ministry see that school is way more than... school. It's a place to live out their love for God and people. That's exactly what this downloadable lesson teaches. In the spirit of The Screwtape Letters, students will begin to see how the enemy wants them to waste school. In this digital download, you get a dramatic audio reading mp3 so students can listen to the lesson together AND a printable PDF so they can read along. The PDF also comes with a Bible study and discussion questions for group study and application. Here's the best part: Right now you can get over 50% off this digital audio/PDF download. To get over 50% off, you must use this coupon code, funaudiopdf before February 20, 2012. For more information about this downloadable less or to order, go here.

 

Is Cadre Training Coming Your Way?

To find out, go here.

Just for Fun

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For Cadre training resources visit www.cadreministries.com/store. Cadre's fun-loving staff serve as support-based, God-dependent missionaries who can only do this ministry with Cadre because of generous friends like you. To make an online, tax-deductible donation to Cadre Ministries:

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Sycamore, IL 60178

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