Category Archives: DBJ

Me Encountering Jesus 2023-03-18

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I had two contradictory encounters at yesterday’s PAWS for Men Encountering Jesus.

Painfully Happy

During Immanuel Encounter,
I saw Jesus on a cliff overlooking the sea.

His arms were outstretched.
He had a huge grin.
He said, “Come fly with me!”

He had a huge grin on His face.
I heard the words “So Happy” over and over.

And I started sobbing great gut-wrenching sobs.

[on reflection: perhaps “un-wrenching”, like resetting a dislocated shoulder]

Joyfully Broken

The second was when Paul M. prayed for me.

I was describing unforgiveness as a barrier.
When you sin against me, you reveal that you and the world are broken.

Unforgiveness is my refusal to internalize that brokenness.

I saw Jesus sucking out my brokenness.
Leaving wholeness in its place.
Except where my brokenness was holding to that barrier.

Forgiveness is realizing I need to release that barrier.
So Jesus can suck out all my brokenness.
And yours through me.

#EmbraceTheSuck

I saw Him absorbing all that sin and shame on the cross.
And I just started laughing and laughing…

DRAFT: Fruit Of the Cross

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Practicing to Become More Like Jesus

[A 12-week class I might build. Feedback welcome!]

As Christians, we all want to live and love more like Jesus. But books, sermons, Bible study, quiet times, and even counseling only get us so far.

To fully address our strongholds, woundedness and blind spots requires encountering Jesus in a supportive community that models how to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. In practice, not just in theory.

Fruit of the Cross (FOTC) is a 12-week online course, built around the Fruit of the Spirit, where we learn how to help each other identify and surrender those parts of our “flesh” that hinder us from growing closer to Jesus. By the end, you will be equipped and certified to host your own online or offline FOTC courses, using or adapting our free materials. You also gain membership in our missional social network, where you can continue to grow and plan with like-minded believers.

The course is built around active learning, inspired by Discovery Bible Study and the Minerva Project. Each week focuses on practicing a different Fruit-related learning objective, via:

  • a brief recording, which you listen to on your own time
  • a 2-hour live session where we encounter Jesus through His Word, Spirit, Body & Blood
  • an online chat community where we share questions, testimonies, and encouragement

The course is being developed via the Maven Accelerator Program in January 2022, and we hope to host our first cohort by Lent. Cost will be $14 per student, but scholarships and group discounts are available. For more information, please contact ernest.prabhakar@gmail.com.

Communion of the Betrayed

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1 Corinthians 11:23 — For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread..,

Similar to HeartSync or Sozo, Communion of the Betrayed (COTB) — also known as Soul Shift — is for inner healing of emotional woundings; but as a public co-devotional practice, inspired by DBJ.

COTB is designed specifically for people who feel they have been betrayed by someone close to them (as Jesus was). This is a very deep wound that requires extraordinary grace.

Special thanks to Jamie Winship of Identity Exchange for his input and encouragement.

Google Slides

TGR Podcast

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DBJ Season 2: Call for Hosts

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This week is the “Jubilee” recap, ending Season 1 (2021A) of Discipling by Jesus.
Season 2 (2021B) starts the week of April 11th and runs through Pentecost.
Registration will be available soon.

Robby and I are inclined to NOT host any sessions for Season 2, in order to create space for new people to Host. Instead, we are inclined to act as Sponsors to walk alongside new Hosts, who have full autonomy to manage their Sessions as they see fit.

Please let us know ASAP if you are interested!

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