Creating a Culture of Discipleship

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Creating a Culture of Discipleship

• Beyond Programsnurturing followers of Jesus into
  an organic community

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• The human though resilient, flexible and
  adaptable to its environment adapts to the level
  of survivability as it adopts its current
  culture. In order for specific behaviors to be
  maintained and nurtured there must be a culture
  present that does not threaten but assists the
  cognitive, affective, and behavioral
  expectations.
• If we want to grow a community of disciples we
  must create a culture where discipleship is
  fostered, nurtured, encouraged, celebrated . . .
  .

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• Barna, Churches have done a good job of
  promoting the importance of spiritual maturity,
  but they have mostly failed to provide an
  environment in which spiritual growth is a
  lifestyle. (italics mine)
• Successful Pastors Advice to others Recognize
  that discipleship is a process not a program . .
  . More important than anything else is to develop
  a church wide culture that esteems becoming a
  disciple.

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5 Movements in the life of culture
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How Cultures Are Created 1Stories

• Ivan Illich was once asked what is the most
  revolutionary way to change society. Violent
  revolution? Or gradual reform?
• He gave a careful answer. Neither. If you
  want to change society, then you must tell an
  alternative story."

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How Cultures Are Created 1Stories

• The skill to shape values (which in turn forms
  culture) belongs to the storytelling artists.
• E.g. What stories have shaped American culture?
• What stories have shaped Christian culture?

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How Cultures Are Created 1Stories

• Do the stories you tell in sermons and in
  everyday conversation encourage and keep at the
  forefront the joys, rewards, and path of
  discipleship?
• Do the stories of the people in your congregation
  and discipleship group show growth as disciples?

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How Cultures Are Created 1Stories

• Share stories of discipleship in sermons, small
  group talks, among those you are mentoringshare
  success stories and failure stories . . . .
• Consider all the stories (parables) Jesus used as
  he created a culture of discipleship

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How Cultures Are Created 2celebrations

• Celebrations
• the processes, events, accomplishments we
  celebrate we will grow stronger in . . .
• the misbehavior, failures, weaknesses,
  problem-people we focus on we will tend to
  gravitate more and more toward and produce more
  and more of . . .

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How Cultures Are Created 2celebrations

• Celebrations
• Celebrate baptisms
• Celebrate stages of completions in the process.
• Celebrate with trips together, cards,

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How Cultures Are Created 2celebrations

• Celebrate The Three Marks of a Johannine Disciple
• Believing coming to faith
• Suggested CelebrationBaptism
• Belonging Loving on another.
• When disciples care for each other
  leaders/pastors/disciplers should recognize this
  behavior and celebrate both on a community level
  and individual level
• Continued Celebration through hand-written cards,
  using worship service time to celebrate various
  outreaches . . .

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How Cultures Are Created 2celebrations

• Celebrate The Three Marks of a Johannine Disciple
• Behaving bearing fruit.
• Celebration through milestones passedcertificates
  
• Celebration

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How Cultures Are Created 3Language

• Language
• Our communitys jargon reflects and projects our
  culture
• The kind of language we use opens possibilities
  and potential for growth OR hinders
  possibilities/potential for growth
• The words we use and the way we use them will
  invite or resist discipleship

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How Cultures Are Created 3Language

• CONSIDER the language the surrounds these two
  words
• CANCER
• RELATIONSHIPS
• What language do we use to describe who we are?
• What language to we use to describe what we do?
• What language and words flow from the pulpit,
  through the leadership, and other influencers in
  the culture?
• INSIDER language.
• Redefined words Beloved
• Spiritual/Christian nicknames . . .

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How Cultures Are Created 3Language

• Are we using words that reflect the various
  metaphors of discipleship?
• Journey
• Pilgrimage
• Learners
• Apprentices in Faith
• Followers
• Community
• fraternal belonging tribe beloved

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How Cultures Are Created 4Experiences

• The shared experiences happens in the context of
  spending time together
• The shared experiences happen in the context of
  difficulty, trials, etc that are shared by the
  community.

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How Cultures Are Created 4Experiences

• Disciples must have common experiences that they
  all identify with.
• The discipler needs to be sensitive to creating
  opportunity for those experiences to take place.
• Discipleship Retreats . . .
• Fun, Adventure, Trips, Missions Trips Together
  with the purpose of fulfilling a disciplers

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How Cultures Are Created 4Experiences

• Discipleship should permeate each aspect of the
  worship, care, outreach, fellowship of the church
  . . .
• Small groups
• Sermons
• Monthly devotionals
• Sermon Outlines and Study guides
• Community service projects
• Weekly prayer meeting

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How Cultures Are Created 5Values

• This is where we make plain our intentions, and
  in abstract terms declare who we are and what we
  value.
• America Freedom
• Evangelicalism ?
• Christian ?
• Disciples ?

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Culture Created
Language
Experiences
Stories
Celebrations
Values
Culture
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Postmodernism is an EPIC culture

• According to Leonard Sweet
• Experience
• Participation
• Image-driven
• Connected