Gary DeLashmutt brought Xenos Christian Fellowship to a place where they now actively disciple 3,000+ at a one-on-one level. Everyone in their church is being disciple, even the lead pastors. Everyone in their church is discipling 1-3 others. Allocation is simple: whoever invites the friend to church is in charge of discipling them. Because each person is being discipled, each knows how to disciple the next.
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Counseling |
Coaching
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Study
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Prayer
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DeLashmutt lays out a flexible frame work for discipleship in four square format: Counseling, Study, Prayer, Coaching. Counseling will probably be dominant in a new relationship. Ministry Coaching will probably dominant in a mature relationship. Prayer is maintained throughout. The Scripture study is there to fall back on when there is nothing else to talk about. The discipler simply chooses which of the four is needed most that day.
In the Xenos model, discipleship relationships happen one-on-one in same sex relationships, gathering 2-4x per month. There are seasons, breaks, and transitions to the discipleship along the way – you establish a goal for the discipleship relationship and then either terminate or renew the relationship upon completion of that goal.
Praises: The Xenos four square model is flexible, goal oriented, and incorporates a logical exit stage. Their greatest strength is that they have married the idea of outreach and discipleship as inseparable responsibilities for all.
Critique: Asking people to do Sunday mornings, small groups, and discipleship relationships seems like a lot. Can’t we reach are ends more efficiently? I am also hesitant about the hierarchy they have incorporated – in their discipleship relationships there is a clear cut distinction between the giver and the receiver. I’d like to see a model where leaders and followers disciple each other.
5 responses so far ↓
mwolf34 // May 1, 2008 at 8:43 pm |
This model has many attractive features. I am interested in what type of goals people set. Do you know of any general examples?
I think that we could modify it so that it is more reciprical than hierarchical. So that concern appears like it can be easily addressed to me.
I am torn on the amount of time involved. On one hand I recognize that my own life is pretty full as it is now so adding another “meeting” 2-4x a month seems daunting and it would be tough to make that commitment. On the other hand, Jesus discipled the 12 by spending all their time together. So I need to be wary of the McDiscipleship (McD :-) mindset. I don’t have any answers to this one, but I lean toward the side of let’s not worry so much about the time. If God is working in lives we might even see an increase in the time people spend together, especially working together.
brian hofmeister // May 2, 2008 at 11:03 am |
Some general examples people would set for goals in this model:
1) Read the Old Testament
2) Get to know my neighbors with a monthly dinner
3) Know and use my spiritual gifts
John // June 1, 2008 at 8:11 am |
While this approach seems straightforward and easy to apply, it poses a unique challenge for some of us who don’t have traditional discipleship skills. I am not an influencer of men; I have invited several friends and acquaintances to attend service with me, but to date there have been no takers. So where does that leave someone like me in this process? I would have no one to disciple. Conversely, the person who is very good at shepherding would be overwhelmed with a large flock of disciples to which s/he would be expected to minister.
Robyn // June 6, 2008 at 1:56 am |
I actually am involved in Xenos and I can say from personal experience that the amount of meetings and commitments can be pretty daunting at times. The meetings are not really required, but I will say that the different meetings offer different advantages.
Central Teaching(similar to sunday services) offers quality teaching!
Home Group offers quality, short, to the point teachings with room for everyone to discuss if so be. Plus regular home group interaction builds a community.
Cell Group is male or female only and is a more intimate meeting.
I think that all of our meetings bring something wonderful. I currently am not able to attend any meetings due to work scheduling and I must say it has made me realize how much I need those quality teaching and how important the body of christ is in my life.
“While this approach seems straightforward and easy to apply, it poses a unique challenge for some of us who don’t have traditional discipleship skills. I am not an influencer of men; I have invited several friends and acquaintances to attend service with me, but to date there have been no takers. So where does that leave someone like me in this process? I would have no one to disciple. Conversely, the person who is very good at shepherding would be overwhelmed with a large flock of disciples to which s/he would be expected to minister.”
To reply to John:
I understand where you are coming from. I have been a believer for just over 3 years now and I couldn’t tell you how many times I have invited people to services or even to just hang out with some of my friends from church. Only one of my friends have come out to a teaching and she consequently ridiculed every word. About a year and a half ago I developed the desire to disciple someone. Normally it seems that people tend to disciple the people that they lead to Christ. I was really discouraged because I wanted to pour myself into a girl that way I had been poured into. There was no one in sight and I prayed many many times for someone to disciple. I currently am discipling a girl who came up to my group out of high school. Boy is it hard! But COMPLETELY worth it to see this girl growing.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I don’t think things really work out the way we expect them to, but God has his ways.
Glenn Livingston // June 10, 2008 at 3:37 pm |
Brian,
I am mystified by approaching discipleship thru focusing on some kind of program. Seems to me if there was a program Jesus wanted us to use to evangelize or disciple someone, that He would have given it to us. we wouldn’t even have to depend on the Holy Spirit, just plug them into the program.
My sense is the Gospel is the call to a relationship with God & discipleship is merely helping someone learn how to walk in that relatinship.
In its essence it is helping them learn to hear the music of the Gospel which is the power of God in our lives, causing their hearts to respond in approprite ways.
i.e it is the love of Christ for us that compells us to no longer live for self but for Him. II Cor 5:14-15