DLC = Disciplemaking Learning Community. DLC‘s are Cadre's way of implementing the training of disciples in a way that reflects Jesus lifestyle as he incarnated and invested in disciplemaking friendships over three years. Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-13.
What does a Jesus-like Disciplemaking Learning Community look like in our twenty-first century Western culture?
This is the second indicator in a series about Disciplemaking Learning Communities, which we believe are crucial to becoming a disciple who makes disciples who makes disciples. These are not meant to be definitive or exhaustive, but simply indicators—to help you begin to wrestle what a Jesus-like Disciplemaking Learning Community looks like for you.
Keep in mind that it takes a minimum of two people to wrestle. And a real wrestling fan knows the best wrestling matches have more than just two people in the ring at the same time. So put a few people into the ring with you and dig into this...together...with Jesus.
Leading indicator #2 of a Disciplemaking Learning Community: A DLC requires haver learning.
A DLC gathers together to learn to love God, love people, and make disciplemakers. When we speak of learning, we are talking about growing and being transformed by God, together--not just taking in information for the sake of having head knowledge. A DLC is way more than that. A DLC embodies the Hebrew concept of friendship, known as haver, that finds its fulfillment in the practice of grappling in twos or threes over the application of Scripture and doing life together. A DLC (a haveruta) supports these Jesus-like disciplemaking friendships.
While someone will necessarily be the initiator or facilitator of a DLC gathering, Jesus said that when we are about his business of making disciples that he would "be with us" (Matthew 28:20). The presence of Jesus is the disciplemaker's reality... not simply a theory. Therefore, a DLC is not a gathering where one studied leader gathers disciples to teach them while they sit passively. Nor is it primarily a network meeting or an organizational meeting. Nor is it a group that pontificates on the finer points of theology/Christology as a mere intellectual exercise. Rather, a DLC is a gathering where we seek to follow Jesus, together, learning from Jesus and each other.
A CENTRAL LEARNING QUESTION A DLC SEEKS TO WRESTLE IS: WHAT DOES FIRST CENTURY JESUS-LIKE DISCIPLEMAKING LOOK LIKE IN A 21ST CENTURY WESTERN WORLD?
That's the question that has been keeping me up at night for years. I love this question because it puts me into the mode of learner. In order to begin to answer this question, I must first become a student of the disciplemaking genius of Jesus and then exercise wisdom and discernment as to what Jesus-like disciplemaking looks like today. (Two very helpful resources that have helped me and those in the DLCs I'm a part of wrestle this question are The Merged Gospels and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.) While I have a few ideas about what first century Jesus-like disciplemaking looks like in 21st century Western world, I openly confess I'm still short on answers and long on questions. I've got a lot to learn. I invite you and those in your DLC to wrestle that question with me--and to share with me what you're learning.
AT THE END OF A DLC GATHERING, I LIKE TO ASK THESE TYPES OF REFLECTION QUESTIONS THAT KEEP THE FOCUS ON LEARNING TOGETHER:
What did you learn/relearn from Jesus today?
What is your next step in becoming a Jesus-like disciplemaker?
With whom will you share this when you leave here--and when?
Once everyone has had an opportunity to reflect and write some brief bullet thoughts in response to each question, I ask them to gather in twos and threes and have them share with each other. Then I have them pray for each other.
Note well: No haver learning = not a DLC.
Pause, Ponder and Discuss
Pause: A DLC embodies the Hebrew concept of friendship, known as haver, that finds its fulfillment in the practice of grappling in twos or threes over the application of Scripture and doing life together.
Ponder your DLC: gathering teaching havering 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Discuss your thoughts.
Learning and havering...
"Our DLC has been nothing short of life-changing for me. I have a vision for making any equipping I do be more Jesus-like. I have personally seen some GREAT fruit from equipping by havering and am very grateful to have seen havering modeled. Thus, I have a new heart for making disciples like Jesus. The equipping resources, tools, and training we get are a ridiculously good. I am not exaggerating at all when I say I use what I learn in our DLC 10x more than I ever use what I received in college."