Topic 4. Discipleship in the 21 st Century Characteristics and Dynamics of Discipleship for all Ages & Generations in a 21 st Century World.

Topic 4. Discipleship in the 21st Century

Characteristics and Dynamics of Discipleship for all Ages & Generations in a 21st Century World

Scripture for Day:Romans 12:1-2, 9-18, 20-21

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.


Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.


Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.


…if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Faith as a Way of Life

Working Understanding of Discipleship

Think of your congregation’s faith formation (programs, activities). What is the understanding and practice of discipleship that is communicated through faith formation?

Summarize the actual understanding and practice.

Discipleship for 21st Century

What do you think are the characteristics or themes of 21st century discipleship and Christian faith?


Acceptance of all

Relationships with God, others + I need you so that I can be me

Everyone is a disciple – we’re all ministers

Faith in daily life; learn to be real with each other – admit struggle/failure, don’t have all answers, live a community where I can be real and experience reconciliation


Practices: internalized – who we are and what we do

Not just for us – for others

Service (Micah)

Being the hands and feet of Christ

Faith being given to all; discipleship intentional response to faith


“Doubting Thomas” – not about certainty, about being open to each other

Each person personalizes their faith

Foundational, relational, incarnational

Blessing and burden

Being with…

Horizontal web of connection


Community: authentic, organic, engaging, relevant (different kinds of communities)

Spreading the awareness of the need for God’s work in our lives

What God’s up to and how we can be a part of that

Reclaim the word disciple / discipleship

More freedom in what discipleship looks like; we don’t all learn and experience God in the same way; multiple senses to experience God (“Soul Types”)

Discipleship as Way of Life - Practice

What does it mean to love God? We all know that both the Hebrew Bible and Jesus commend and command us “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your life force, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Indeed, it is the “greatest commandment.” But what does it mean to do this? In a word, it means “practice.” Loving God means paying attention to God and to what God loves. The way we do this is through “practice.

(Marcus Borg, Heart of Christianity)


Christianity is a “way,” a path, a way of life. Practice is about the living of the Christian way. And “practice” really should be thought of as plural: practice is about practices, the means by which we live the Christian life.


By practice I mean all the things that Christians do together and individually as a way of paying attention to God. being part of a Christian community & taking

part in its life together as community worship Christian formation collective deeds of hospitality & compassion devotional disciplines (prayer, Bible reading) loving what God loves through the practice

of compassion and justice in the world


Practice is paying attention to (our relationship with) God.

Practice is about the formation of Christian identity – the transformation from an identity given by the “world” to an identity in God, in Christ. Christian identity formation’s purpose is not only to confer an identity shaped by God’s acceptance of us, but to internalize an identity increasingly shaped by the Christian tradition.


Practice is about the formation of Christian character. The internalization of a deeper Christian identity shapes character. Christian formation involves transformation of character.

Practice is about nourishment – worship, devotion, prayer, Bible reading. Practice is a sacrament of the sacred.

Practice is about compassion and justice.


Practice is about living “the way.” The aim and purpose of practice is the two-fold transformation at the center of the Christian life: 1) being born again, opening the heart, dying to an old identity and being born into a new identity; and 2) becoming passionate about God’s passion, the life of compassion and justice in the world.

Practice is about paying attention to God and living the Christian path.

“The central challenge for pastoral ministry today concerns the most important mark of good ministry: the ability effectively to mediate faith as an integral way of life to

persons, communities, and cultures.”

(Miroslav Volf)


“…the faith that people embrace is, arguably, shaping their lives less and less. For the most part, the faith seems not so much an

integral way of life as an energizing and consoling aura added to the business of a life shaped by factors other than

faith.”

(Miroslav Volf)


“The smorgasbord culture is a challenge for communities of

faith. But the main problem may be that communities of faith have not found effective ways to offer a

compelling vision of an integral way of life that is worth living.

Many people are seeking precisely that.”

(Miroslav Volf)


Handing on the Faith

Contemporary people do not derive their identity from one community or tradition.

We are formed by and participate in a diversity of communities.

We are inundated by information, images, and messages.

We are compelled to negotiate our identities.

(Terrence Tilley)

(“Communication in Handing on the Faith”)


What this means is that the Christian narrative that carries and is carried by the Christian community is not merely in external competition with other narratives, but also within the hearts of those who practice Christianity.

We live in multiple traditions and live out multiple stories. The conflicts between them may not become evident until triggered by circumstances.


When this happens, the authority of multiple stories for us is at stake.

We cannot simply appeal to one of them as authoritative.

No story has automatic authority. We are forced to decide which story is our primary story, that is, in and by which story we shall live.

“To communicate a tradition is more to “train” someone “how” to believe than to

“indoctrinate” someone in “what” to believe. Communicating doctrinal propositions is not communicating a faith tradition. One needs

to communicate how to engage in the practices that give sense to those doctrines. To communicate a faith is to teach someone how to live in and live out a tradition. The

doctrines can make sense only in the context of practicing the faith.”


“Faith can be understood as a set of practices, even a complex virtue,

Faith is not something we first believe, then practice. Rather, we practice the faith and in so doing

come to understand it. God’s gracious initiative makes this

possible.”


“Communicating the faith is the complex practice of empowering people, disciples, to engage in the practices that constitute the faith tradition, including practices of

participating in the sacraments and worship life of the church, and in

distinctively Christian social and moral practices that fit the local community in

which we live, and of believing.”


“One has to learn how to be a Christian…

If we are to pass on the faith as a practice, then, we need to have people who are

interested in pursuing the practice of living in and living out the tradition, and we need

to coach, not teach, the faith.

If faith is a set of practices, then portraying and communicating the faith is shown in performance more than said in dogma,

doctrine, or rules.


“We communicate the faith by who we are and in what we do. Whatever our faith, whatever story or stories

structure our lives we show what it is by our being and doing. Our

practices give sense to our claims. You will see what we mean by God

when you see how we deal with God.”



“If we want to attract people to become interested in learning how to live as a Christian, we must practice the faith together well.” Our liturgies must be joyous. Our moral lives visibly satisfying. Our communities must be places of love, justice,

and service. Our gathering must be the gathering of a

community whose discipleship is radiant. Our constant work must be that of reconciliation. Our tradition can then be a school for recovering

sinners

“What we need to do, then, is to be a community that attracts people who then want to reach the goals we strive for. That is the only way that “coaching in the faith”

becomes possible. The members of a community coach each other in how to live out the faith. Faith is communicated in this

(dialectical, not sequential) two step process of desire (to live out the faith) and

training (in living out the faith).“


Christian Practices

”Christian practices are not activities we do to make something spiritual happen in our lives.

Nor are they duties we undertake to be obedient to God. Rather, they are patterns of communal action that create openings in our lives where the grace, mercy, and presence of

God may be made known to us. They are places where the power of God is experienced.

In the end, these are not ultimately our practices but forms of participation in the

practice of God.” Craig Dykstra

Christian Practices

“In my view, an essential task of education in faith is to teach all the basic practices of the Christian faith. The fundamental aim of Christian education in all its forms, varieties, and settings should be

that individuals—and indeed whole communities—learn these practices, be drawn into participation

in them, learn to do them with increasingly deepened understanding and skill, learn to extend them more broadly and fully in their own lives and

into their world, and learn to correct them, strengthen them, and improve them.”

(Craig Dykstra)

Christian Practices

The Christian community gathers around Jesus, whose way of life embodies the loving, challenging life of God. Through his presence and example, a way to live comes into focus.

The community, with Jesus at its heart, experiences this model of living whenever we celebrate the blessings of life, serve the poor and vulnerable, offer our lives in prayer, forgive others, keep the Sabbath holy, discern God’s will for us, or make an effort to transform the world.

Christian Practices

Taken together Christian practices, are part of a way of life that participates in the active Life of God for creation, for our neighbors, and for ourselves

To Have an Abundant Way of Life Jesus tells us that he has come in

order that we “might have life—life in all its fullness”

(John 10:10)

Christian Practices

1. Honoring the Body2. Hospitality 3. Household

Economics4. Saying Yes and

Saying No5. Keeping Sabbath6. Testimony

7. Discernment8. Shaping

Communities9. Forgiveness10. Healing11. Dying Well12. Singing Our

Lives

Christian Practices

Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life

1) Caring for the Body

2) Celebrating Life3) Discernment4) Dying Well5) Eating Well6) Forgiving 7) Keeping Sabbath

8) Managing Household Life

9) Participating in Community

10)Praying11)Reading the Bible 12)Transforming the

World

Are Christian practices being intentionally taught in your faith formation curriculum and programming?

How well does your church prepare children, youth, adults, and families to live Christian practices at home, in the world, and within the church community?

Are children, youth, adults, and families engaged in the church’s practices as an integral element of your faith formation curriculum and programs?

Faith Formation in Christian Practices

STRATEGY: Make a Christian practice the focus for a season of the year through all education programs, worship, preaching, service/action, etc.

Lenten Season: Forgiving Discernment Praying Transforming the World


STRATEGY: Make a Christian practice a focus for the whole year through all education programs, worship, preaching, service/action, etc.

Example: Reading the Bible through the Year

Example: Praying Example: Hospitality Example Transforming the World


STRATEGY: Focus on a Christian practice each month for a whole year or more in family-intergenerational programming, aligned with Sunday worship and preaching, action projects, etc.

Focus: Ritual-Celebration-Worship1. Celebrating Life2. Eating Well3. Keeping Sabbath4. Praying 5. Reading the Bible


How Shall We Live? – A Year of Living Well

How to Care for Your Body How to Celebrate Life How to Make Tough Choices (Discernment) How to Eat Well How to Forgive Yourself and Others How to Keep a Sabbath Day of Rest How to Manage Household Life How to Pray Well How to Read the Bible and Enjoy It! How to Serve Others


STRATEGY: Re-structure the existing curriculum learning to incorporate a session on Christian practices (family or intergenerational) and a direct experience of that practice in the life of the church community, followed by reflection. Curriculum Theme: Sacraments

1. Christian practices session: Eating Well, Keeping Sabbath, Forgiving, Dying Well

2. Experience in the church community 3. Reflection


Curriculum Theme: Justice & Service 1. Christian practices session:

Transforming the World2. Action Project: with the church, in

the community, or in the world3. Reflection


1) Caring for the Body

2) Celebrating Life3) Discernment4) Dying Well5) Eating Well6) Forgiving 7) Keeping Sabbath

8) Managing Household Life

9) Participating in Community

10)Praying11)Reading the Bible 12)Transforming the

World

STRATEGY: Incorporate Christian Practices in the RCIA as part of catechumenal formation or mystagogy with sessions on:


STRATEGY: Incorporate education for Christian practices in sacramental preparation, connecting a practice with the “content” of the sacrament. For example: Marriage: Managing Household Life Baptism: Caring for the Body, Celebrating

Life Eucharist: Keeping Sabbath, Eating Well Reconciliation: Forgiving Confirmation: Transforming the World,

Discernment


STRATEGY: Connect the Sunday lectionary readings (and preaching) to Christian practices and offer educational programs on Christian practices to prepare for or follow-upon the particular Sunday. (Fall 2009) 23rd (B): Mark 7:31-37 Healing, Caring for

Body 24th (B): Mark 8:27-35 Testimony 28th (B): Mark 10:17-30 Discernment 29th (B): Mark 10:35-45 Transforming the World 30th (B): Mark 8:27-35 Healing, Caring for Body


STRATEGY: Create specific programs, projects, activities, field trips, etc. that teach the practice. Transforming the World: Action Projects

Service to the poor and vulnerable Action for justice to ensure the rights of all Working for peace Caring for creation

Prayer: retreats, field trip to a monastery Hospitality: Sunday worship, immigrants Reading the Bible: lectionary faith sharing

groups, Bible study


Small group study on the Christian practices

Vacation Bible School on Christian practices

Christian practices film festival

Round table discussions on the Sunday readings and Christian practices (after Mass)


STRATEGY: Christian practice apprenticeships. Identify “Practice Teachers” in the

congregation and structure learning programs around these teachers in individualized and small group settings.

Utilize “Practice Teachers” in learning programs.

Apprentice people with “practice” mentors in the church community and develop apprenticeships around Christian practices in the church.


Teaching Christian Practices:4 MAT Learning Cycle

1.ConnectWith theLearner

3. Skill & Fluency

Development

4. Creative &Authentic

Performance

2.Information

Delivery

Teaching Christian Practices

The Living Well Process: 5 Movements

1. YEARNING taps into our hunger for living well by addressing a basic area of human need through the real-life stories of people who seek meaning and purpose for their lives through a particular practice.

2. REFLECTING gives people an opportunity to become aware of how they experience the basic human need and hunger for the Christian practice in their own lives, and how they may already be living this practice.

3. EXPLORING presents the biblical teaching on the practice, how the practice address our basic need and hungers, and why the practice is important for living a Christian life.

4. LIVING provides people of all ages with a variety activities, ideas, and strategies they can use to integrate Christian practices into daily life.

5. PRAYING offers God thanks and praise, and asking for God’s help to faithfully live Christian practices in everyday life.

The Living Well Process: 5 Movements

1. Yearning &

Reflecting

3. Practicing: Ways to Live

4. Performing: Living the Practice

2. Exploring the Christian

Practice


Q1. Connect with the Learner Part 1. Yearning for the Practice Part 2. Reflecting on the Hunger

Q 2. Information Delivery Part 3. Exploring the Christian Practice: Bible,

People, Communities

Q 3. Skill & Fluency Development Part 4. Ways to Live the Christian Practice in Daily

Life; Demonstrating How to Live the Practice

Q 4. Creative & Authentic Performance Part 4. Living the Christian Practice in Daily Life


Eating Well Session

Q1. Yearning for the Practice Experiencing a Meal Together

(Demonstrate faith practices at the meal)

During the Meal… Yearning: Stories of the Challenge of

Eating Well Today Yearning: Family Meal Yesterday Reflecting: Eating Well Today + The

Power of Family Meals

Eating Well Session

Q 2. Exploring the Christian Practice Introduction to the Christian Practice of Eating

Well Biblical Teaching: Eating Well Involves…

Giving Thanks for God for the Gift of Food Storytelling Sharing Food and Serving Others Celebrating Listening to God’s Word

Method: Read and Report / Rewrite / Dramatize a Bible Story Create Application Ideas for Living Well Table Discussion and/or Creating an Ad for Eating Well

Eating Well Session

Q 3. Practicing: Ways to Live the Christian Practice in Daily Life Witness: “Practice Stories” of Eating Well

(from people in the parish) Demonstration: Ways to Enrich the

Family Meal Developing the Practice: Strategies &

Ideas Getting Ready Strategies Enriching the Meal Strategies

Eating Well Session

Q 4. Performing: Living the Christian Practice in Daily Life Practice Plan for Living the Practice of

Eating Well Closing Prayer Experience

Alternative SettingStage this session as if it were a “live

cooking show” similar to the Food Network shows.

Forgiving Session

Q1. Yearning for the Practice Yearning: Stories of the Challenge of Forgiving Yearning: Telling a Story of Forgiveness Reflecting: “Forgiveness Quiz”—8 Reasons to

Forgive + Continuum Activity

Q 2. Exploring the Christian Practice Video Presentation: Challenge of Forgiving

Nooma Video (Rob Bell): Luggage or Lump Discussion Biblical Teaching: Forgiving Involves…

Forgiving Session

Q 2. Exploring the Christian Practice Biblical Teaching: Forgiving Involves…

Courage (Story of Joseph) Mercy (Unforgiving Servant) Faith and Love (Pardon of the Sinful Woman) Restoring Relationships (Prodigal Son) Way of Forgiveness (Matthew 5)

Methods: Read and Report Rewrite a Bible Story Dramatize the Story Create a Forgiveness Advertisement

Forgiving Session

Q 3. Practicing: Ways to Live the Christian Practice in Daily Life Film: Power of Forgiveness (Segments: “The

Amish” and “Paths to Forgiveness) Developing the Practice: Strategies & Ideas

“Ten Ways to Forgive” Role Plays Demonstration of Forgiveness Costs and Benefits of Forgiving

Forgiving Session

Q 4. Performing: Living the Christian Practice in Daily Life Practice Plan for Living the Practice of Forgive

Daily Writing a Letter to Someone You Are Struggling

to Forgive Closing Prayer Experience

Topic 4. Discipleship in the 21 st Century Characteristics and Dynamics of Discipleship for all Ages & Generations in a 21 st Century World.

Documents

century discipleship

faith slide

century world slide

practice of discipleship

dynamics of discipleship

word disciple discipleship

century community

century characteristics