The time has come to continue our look at mDNA - the model proposed by Alan Hirsch in his forthcoming book. The mDNA component we will explore is disciple-making or discipleship and how it applies to Northern Community. The other posts in the mDNA series are here

Introduction

In a series of three essays I have been exploring the mDNA model proposed by Alan Hirsch in his soon to be published book – Primal Dreams. Hirsch argues that five elements of mDNA are required for the church to recapture its missional focus, purpose and energy. In my first essay I examined the first two elements of missional incarnational impulse and apostolic environment and in my second essay the elements of organic systems and communitas not community. This essay will explore the final mDNA element; that of disciple-making. As with the first two essays, my primary intention is not to critique the mDNA model per se but to see how the model informs the experience and journey of Northern Community Church of Christ (‘Northern’).

Hirsch argues that the five elements of mDNA are present in all effective missionary movements. In particular, he sees them demonstrated in the early church and the experience of the Church under persecution in China. Hirsch argues that this is the most critical of the five components in the mDNA model. In order for the church to survive, people must be recruited to the cause of Jesus and be infused with the essence of what it means to be followers of Jesus. This is what discipleship is about. Hirsch defines the essential role of disciple making as embodying the message of Jesus , a definition that I will adopt for the purposes of this essay.

Of the five mDNA components I believe that disciple-making is an area in which Northern needs further work. This task is crucial to the health of the missional church. Hirsch believes that “… perhaps this element, namely that of discipleship and disciple-making, is perhaps the most crucial element in the mDNA mix” . Given the importance of discipleship, it is vital that we examine the role and development of disciple making at Northern.

Over the past five years at Northern, we have attempted to help people become better followers of Jesus in a number of ways. Some of these attempts have incorporated traditional church approaches such as small groups, discipleship classes and teaching seminars. One of our newer approaches has been the encouragement of seven spiritual disciplines and the cultivation of smaller congregations. I will explore each of these methods later in the essay and attempt to assess the effectiveness of each in making better followers of Jesus. In addition I will explore the challenges for Northern in improving our approach to making better followers of Jesus.

For the purposes of developing a new model of discipleship for Northern, I will explore the importance of disciple-making for movements, particularly in the context of a modern consumer culture. In addition, I will consider some of the methods of disciple-making implemented and developed by the church in the past including early church catechisms and more recent models such as Alpha. Finally, I will develop a model to expand and improve our disciple-making at Northern in the future.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm by phil and is filed under mDNA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.