DBJ Open Source Practices (IGWET Edition)

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Anyone is welcome to Host their own Session of Discipling By Jesus. You are free to adapt and reuse the Format and Playlists on this site under the Creative Commons Attribution license by, e.g., simply linking back to https://2transform.us/dbj/.

These materials were initially developed to serve Innovating Gospelized Western English-speaking Technophiles (IGWET). We would love to list alternate Editions from other languages and subcultures. Contact this Edition’s Steward Ernest Prabhakar for details.

Recommended Practices

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DBJ-2021A-1T Dog Park Church (Luke 5:1-11)

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Our very first official session starts with me explaining (and arguably demonstrating) the idea of “Dog Park Church.”


Most churches (implicitly) expect you to sin outside and be holy inside. DBJ is the opposite!

This is not a pristine house we aspire to keep clean. We are the place where people feel safe enough to “release the crap inside them,” because this is precisely where we are learning how to clean it up. We need to bring our worst selves to church, so we can bring our best selves to the world.

I also confess that I am doing this selfishly. I am the one who most needs to Grow Closer to Jesus (GCJ) — because I realize I am furthest from my high calling.

I need all of you to help me GCJ, because I can’t do this on my own. In exchange, though, I commit to helping all of you GCJ.

In fact, that is the only way this works: by Growing All of Us Closer to Jesus (GAUCJ, pronounced “gawkage”). It is only in trying to set others free from sin that we discover where we ourselves lack the grace to be Christ to them in their area of need. It is only as Christ frees us from our sins that we can truly free others.

We start with Christ saving us from our sins, then simply keep expanding the “us” until He saves the whole Body of Christ (target date: 13-APR-31) — and thence the whole world.

2/13 Show Notes for Inspired Stewardship

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It was immense privilege to be interviewed Scott Maderer for the February 13th episode of the Inspired Stewardship Podcast. We discussed my crazy career journey, helpful spiritual practices, and how I want to be remembered a century from now.

Episode 80: Follow your AORTA, not your Heart

Below are links to some of the resources and concepts I discussed.

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TGR-S6E7: Jubilee

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This Friday, 15 Jan 2021 (1PM Pacific) marks the Finale of The Great Reset, a quest for a more resilient Christianity that began six seasons (42 weeks) ago in the shadow of COVID-19. The Biastes and Biastas reflect on what God has done in, through, and among them, while Ernie holds out hope for Something Different in a potential Jubilee Season.

What if some of us aren’t ready to stop?

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit

John 12:24

Question: Why is it good that all earthly things die?

Perspective: Because every created thing is founded on a contradiction, which God must transcend in order for us to inherit the Kingdom of God

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TGR-S6E6: How to Cure Train Wrecks

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Join us on The Great Reset (via Zoom or YouTube Live at Tue Jan 5, 2020 at 1PM PST) as Ernie pitches a framework for tying together our recent themes of discipleship, reconciliation, and loving more like Jesus.

Question: Is there a single thing that both causes and sustains “train wrecks” (i.e., cascades of broken relationships)? If so, can it be inverted to provide a cure?

Perspective: Yes, abjection (i.e. dissociating self from what is toxic or outside our control). The tragedy is that abjection is essential for identity in both groups and individuals, yet ultimately destructive of the larger context. The cure is to follow Christ by incarnating into what was abjected, and overcome it by the power of the cross.

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Our Covenant with Cast Members

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Dear Participants:

Thank you for being part of The Great Reset [also applies to Discipling By Jesus]. We want to honor your vulnerability at participating in this live stream, so please let us know if you are ever not comfortable with:

  1. Publishing the video,
  2. Answering a question, or
  3. Deviating from the published agenda.

In particular, everyone always has the freedom to acknowledge a line of discussion as important, yet choose (for whatever reason) to discuss it later, or in a different forum (aka “The Pause Protocol“).

We are committed to helping you feel safe enough to fully engage in the work God is doing among us. Please let us know how we can do better.

Sincerely,
The Great Reset Crew

TGR-S6E2: Loving the World as Jesus Does

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This week on The Great Reset, our Producer Ted Hahs shares his passion for loving the world (and each other) the way Jesus does.

How will we fertilize the potatoes necessary to nourish the Body of Christ to do His work in the world?

Q. How can we better recognize the awesomeness of the many people attempting great things for God?

P: Providing a platform for them to share their story and vision in order to garner support.

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TGR-S6E2d1: Family Time

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Q. How should we react when other people hurt us, or they claim that we hurt them?

P. Seek to Ground our identity and security in Christ, so we can respond with curiosity and compassion rather than fear or anger


When I feel threatened, my natural instinct is either fear (giving in) or anger (taking over). I am learning that neither of these is very effective at spreading the Kingdom of God; though both may be expedient in terms of protecting the self, at least in the short term.

Conversely, when the challenge is not in an area that threatens my identity, I find myself relaxed and eager to engage with understanding all sides of the issue. I am able to focus on ensuring that others feel heard, and become confident enough to explore creative ways of solving the underlying problems.

How do we build a community and practices where all of us can feel safer confronting the emotional issues that define both our identities and our differences?

TGR-S5E7: Jobs to Be Done

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For this week’s episode, we wrap up Season 5 of The Great Reset by attempting to address questions from last week using an updated Challenge Question, plus a more explicit leadership structure.

Questions

What must we do better for the Body of Christ to more effectively make disciples of our cities, and all nations?

And, how can we know we are on the right track?

Perspectives: Google Doc of Core Concerns

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