Creating a
Culture of
Disciplesh
ip
Beyond Programs—nurturing followers of Jesus into an
organic community
• 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 . . . .
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.
5
Movement
s in the life
of culture
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."
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?
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?
How Cultures Are Created:
1Stories
• Share stories of discipleship in sermons,
small group talks, among those you are
mentoring—share success stories and
failure stories . . . .
• Consider all the stories (parables) Jesus
used as he created a culture of discipleship
How Cultures Are Created:
2celebrations
• Celebrations
– “the processes, events, accomplishments we
celebrate we will grow stronger in . . .
– “the misbehavior, failures, weaknesses, problempeople we focus on we will tend to gravitate more
and more toward and produce more and more of .
..
How Cultures Are Created:
2celebrations
• Celebrations
– Celebrate baptisms
– Celebrate stages of completions in the process.
– Celebrate with trips together, cards,
How Cultures Are Created:
2celebrations
• Celebrate The Three Marks of a
Johannine Disciple
– Believing: coming to faith
• Suggested Celebration—Baptism
– 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 . . .
How Cultures Are Created:
2celebrations
• Celebrate The Three Marks of a Johannine
Disciple
– Behaving: bearing fruit.
• Celebration through milestones passed—
certificates
• Celebration
How Cultures Are Created:
3Language
• Language
– Our community’s 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
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 . . .
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”
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.
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
How Cultures Are Created:
4Experiences
• Discipleship should permeate each aspect
of the worship, care, outreach, fellowship of
the church . . .
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–
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Small groups
Sermons
Monthly devotionals
Sermon Outlines and Study guides
Community service projects
Weekly prayer meeting
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 = ?
Culture Created
Language
Experiences
Stories
Values
Celebrations
Culture
Postmodernism is an EPIC culture
• According to Leonard Sweet:
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Experience
Participation
Image-driven
Connected