Search this site
IRONSTRIKES
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Beliefs
  • Formation
  • For Women
  • Meetings & Events

Using a discipleship checklist

11/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
In their book, Switch, Chip and Dan Heath share a fascinating story about Dr. Peter Pronovost, who developed the holy grail of “checklists” in the medical community. Patients in ICU units have intravenous lines put in to deliver medications. Pronovost observed that when lines are not properly established, nasty health complications resulted in infected lines. This was tragic because all of this is preventable. By introducing an easy five-step checklist before inserting the lines, Pronovost revolutionized ICU treatments. Over an 18-month period, Michigan ICU units nearly eliminated line infections, saving hospitals an estimated $175 million dollars, and in the long run saving about 1,500 lives. The Heath brothers’ assessment of this story is simple:  Checklists can be game changers that save lives.

Whatever your primary discipleship environment is (Sunday school, small group, huddle, etc.), you need to begin to ask: What is your checklist?  If you do not have one, how will you determine if your present environment is healthy and working to its God given capacity to further the kingdom of God? In my present ministry context, our checklist can be defined in what we call three core directions. We want our groups to be moving upward, inward, and outward. These directions have been greatly influenced by Mike Breen’s work found in Building A Discipleship Culture. So why these directions?  These directions guide us to the destination of what it means to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Upward - In our quest to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we must consistently direct our lives upward. Everything Jesus did in ministry flowed from His intimate connection with his Father. John’s Gospel tells us “the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Jesus’ upward rhythm with the Father should be our model. Therefore we must we ask ourselves: Is my group developing this same upward rhythm?  Do we allow spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study, worship, etc. to draw us to these two pivotal questions:  “What is Jesus calling me to do?  And what am I doing about it?” When we faithfully walk into those two questions and respond, the kingdom of God naturally advances, and disciple making occurs.

Inward - A small group is an ideal context for our emotional and spiritual health. The early church was a compelling example of this truth: Great investment in a few equals greater kingdom impact.  Jesus had twelve disciples, and these twelve not only impacted one another, but those around them and eventually, the world at large. In particular, the “inward” rhythm of small groups directs us to sincerely invest and care for each member of our group. The inward checklist challenges us all to care for two of the greatest words found in the New Testament over fifty times: “one another.” Do our groups consistently strive to love, accept, serve, encourage, forgive, etc. “one another,” just as Christ has cared for us? We must never forget that our love for one another will prove to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35).

Outward - A disciple not on mission is an oxymoron. Our identity is as ones who are sent (John 20:21-22). Most of us have heard this call, desire to fulfill it, but often question how to do so. Being in community is key.  As Alan Hirsch states, “the most vigorous forms of community are those that come together in the context of a shared ordeal or those that define themselves as a group with a mission that lies beyond themselves-thus initiating a risky journey.” Every small group has to determine how they are going to proactively and reactively serve those around them. Jordan Elder defines proactive mission “as mission by design,” whereas reactive mission can best be understood as “mission in the moment.” With whom are your groups proactively partnering? Are you partnering with a local missions partner, a school, or neighborhood? Likewise, each group must evaluate how they are reactively responding to the spontaneous needs that arise around them. When groups take seriously the call to proactively and reactively be on mission, the Gospel will fill our lives and be on display (Col 3:16-17).

Take The Time To Check The List!  From both experience and conversation with my small group leaders in the trenches, I often find that most groups are only able to live into 2 out of 3 of these directional rhythms.  When this happens, we are out of balance and will wobble though life according to Breen. So the question should be asked:  Which direction is your group not heading towards, and how can you start moving that way?  Checklists are beneficial because they challenge your group to move in new and unique ways–in ways that breathe new life thorough them! When groups choose to periodically grab the checklist, and intentionally walk in the rhythm of Christ (upward, inward, outward) they will observe life change naturally happening. In the end, they will begin to notice disciples being made. And when this happens, we can easily agree with Dan and Chip Heath’s assessment that checklists can be game changers that save lives!

This post was written by Rev Eric George.  For the original post, go to:  http://seedbed.com/feed/discipleship-checklists-way-need-head/


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Rules for commenting:

    1.  Be respectful  
    2.  Refer to rule #1

    All comments may not be approved.

    Note that many identifying details about individuals in these posts are not accurate.  Their identity is protected, except for those individuals who are being honored or are public figures.

    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Categories

    All
    Abortion
    Abraham
    Abstinence
    Abuse
    Accountability
    Adam
    Adam Yauch
    Addictions
    Admiration
    Adultery
    Affair
    Amos
    Angels
    Anger
    Anniversary
    Anoint
    Anonymous
    Anxiety
    Atheism
    Avoidant
    Bad Boy
    Battle
    Beastie Boys
    Beautiful
    Bestiality
    Betrayal
    Bird
    Blame
    Bobby Petrino
    Bondage
    Book Review
    Brian Head Welch
    Brothel
    B.T. Roberts
    Camping
    Cancer
    Challenge
    Change
    Chaotic
    Character
    Children
    Choice
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Camp
    Closed Door
    Compulsions
    Confession
    Confident
    Control
    Courage
    Covenant
    Creator
    Crown
    Crucifixion
    Darkness
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Demons
    Depression
    Detachment
    Devotions
    Dez Bryant
    Differences
    Dilemma
    Dirty
    Discipleship
    Disgusting
    Divorce
    Domestic Violence
    Domination
    Doubt
    Dreams
    Dr Hart8bb80a7b00
    Dwayne Allen
    Dysfunction
    Easter
    Eden
    Ego
    Eleazar
    Elitism
    Empty
    Envy
    Ephesians
    Equality
    Erectile Dysfunction
    Esau
    Eternity
    Euthanasia
    Evil
    Exhibitionism
    Eyes
    Facebook
    Faithfulness
    Fantasy
    Fasting
    Father
    Favorites
    Fear
    Fellatio
    Fighting
    Fishing
    Flashing
    Flattery
    Flesh
    Force
    Forgiveness
    Gentleman
    Girls Gone Wild
    G.K. Chesteron
    Goals
    God
    Good Friday
    Grace
    Gratitude
    Greek
    Guard
    Guilt
    Heart
    Heaven
    Hebrew
    Hell
    Henri Nouwen
    Histrionic
    Hogging
    Holiness
    Hollow
    Honesty
    Honor
    Hope
    Humility
    Humor
    Ichabod
    Idols
    Impurity
    Individuality
    Input
    Insane Clown Posse
    Integrity
    Intent
    Intimacy
    Isaac
    Islam
    Jack Schaap
    Jamaica
    Jealousy
    Jimmy Needham
    Job
    Joy
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    Judgmentalism
    Justice
    Kindness
    King David
    Kittens
    Komboloib7e292a311
    Korn
    Larry Norman
    Leave It To Beaver
    Lies
    Light
    Listening
    Loneliness
    Love
    Lust
    Lying
    Macho
    Manners
    Marriage
    Masculinity
    Masturbation
    Maturity
    Mca
    Meditation
    Messianic
    Meticulous
    Mighty
    Missions
    Money
    Monogamy
    Moses
    Motivations
    Movies
    Music
    Normal
    Obedience
    Obscenity
    Open Door
    Parenting
    Passiveaggressive2ed940c88b
    Pastor
    Path
    Perfection
    Personality Disorders
    P.O.D.
    Politics
    Pornography
    Pornograpy
    Power
    Practical
    Prayer
    Predator
    Prejudice
    Premature Ejaculaton
    Preparation
    Pride
    Problems
    Promises
    Protection
    Providence
    Purity
    Quechua
    Quiz
    Racism
    Regret
    Religious
    Repentance
    Reputation
    Research
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Revival
    Righteousness
    Robots
    Roughhousing
    Routine
    Rules
    Rut
    Sabbath
    Sacrifice
    Sadism
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Satisfaction
    Selfishness
    Self Love
    Self-love
    Service
    Sex
    Sexism
    Sexuality
    Sexual Response
    Sexual Response
    Shame
    Sin
    Singing
    Snobbery
    Soldier
    Sovereignty
    Stalking
    Stephen Hawking
    Step-parenting
    Strong
    Success
    Succubus
    Suicide
    Swearing
    Sword
    Teenagers
    Temper
    Temptation
    Tenth Ave North
    Testing
    Theology
    Thinking
    Thomas Cogswell Upham
    Tim Tebow
    Tournament Male
    Tradition
    Trafficking
    Trapped
    Trauma
    Triggers
    Trust
    Truth
    U2
    Uncle Buddy
    Unity
    Violence
    Virtue
    Vulnerability
    Warrior
    Watchman Nee
    Waywardness
    What Is A Man
    Women
    Worry
    Worship
    Wussification
    Year In Review
    Zombies

    Archives

    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

IRONSTRIKES

Men Forging Men