10:2b Story (Part Three)

*Note: we will discontinue this blog soon. To continue to receive exactly the same posts, go to "StoriesfromtheRevolution" and subscribe to the that blog (scroll down the right column and type your address in the subscription box).http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2010/08/102b-story-part-one.html

Great comment from Carolyn Spence (Clovis, NM) in response to Mike Deaton's interview in yesterday's post:

OK, agreed! We need the opportunity to see it practised. My mother (89 years young) cried to experience the very tiny taste of our gathering in Clovis with MRT members from Albuquerque and Colorado saying, "now I see what you mean"... If you are going to spread a virus, personal physical contact works best... Carolyn

Today, we have an interview with JoEtta Deaton. She tells a similar story. To paraphrase: "By visiting some of the house churches in Brighton (CO), I experienced a whole different paradigm of church. What I saw was church that flowed out of listening to Jesus. This was transformational and I want to begin to try this out when we go back to Virginia".

(JW: This is the third of seven LK10 Practices. Church = a spiritual family focused on listening to Jesus.)

Now, listen to JoEtta tell the story in her own words below. Share with us your response to what she has to say.

John

CO2s and discipleship (4)

As I mentioned yesterday, the value of a "church of two" is that it makes listening to God our "prime directive". And, that listening is both the source and goal of disciplemaking. Here are a few implications...

1. CO2s major in modeling. This is always the starting point in making disciples. In this case, my disciple gets to hear on a daily basis what I'm hearing from the Lord. Chadd calls this: "Trying to live a centered life in the sight/presence of others over a long stretch of time." Paul says: "Those things you have seen in me..." (Phil. 4:9)

2. CO2s adapt to the person and the season. This simple tool is equally powerful with brand new disciples or seasoned believers. God speaks to each person according to their God-given design and according to the season of growth they are in. He (not I) knows exactly what they need at this point in their lives.

3. CO2s turn concerns into conversation. "I'm concerned that we are not spending enough time in the Bible" "Well, let's ask the Lord what He wants us to do about that." "I'm concerned that we are not being very missional." "Well, let's ask the Lord what He wants us to do about that." "I'm concerned about this ongoing problem/sin in my life." "Well, let's ask the Lord what He wants us to do about that." You get the picture. CO2s continually direct us back to the Source. Everything flows from there - spiritual disciplines, missional living, community, etc.

4. CO2s create dependency - on Jesus. My daily question to my CO2 partners is: "So, what are you hearing from the Lord?" As Chadd said: Knowing and living as if I know that I am not their answer--that Jesus is their answer.

5. CO2s are transformational. Transformation is never guaranteed. But, by keeping our focus on the heart - my heart, your heart and God's heart - the opportunity for deep and significant change is maximized.

6. CO2s are viral. They are both simple and sticky. Sneeze-able. We've already seen multiplication to four generations in several cases. (See the "Four Generation" posts.) I expect we will see many more stories like this over the next year.

Back to Noah's original questions: "My question is - how is CO2 similar to and different from what we would call "Discipleship"? My growing conviction is that the two rhythms of a CO2 are both the source and goal of discipleship.

Is there a "step 2" for CO2 that leads to discipleship of some kind?" When we start with the CO2 rhythms, the Lord then leads us to a multitude of exquisitely designed "step 2s" (and 3s and 4s and 5s and...). What is fun is to be part of a community that is telling stories about the stunning beauty of His hand-crafted and unique discipleship "program" for each one of us!

Your comments?

John

In the right hands

My sense is that we need to camp on the topic of CO2s for a bit at this point.

Noah Cremisino (now in New Zealand) commented on the "Four Generations" post that he had shared CO2 with his simple church in Denver (before he left) but that he didn't think anyone had continued with it. Then, Noah wrote, "This is obviously not the end, but I think in "the right hands" it's a powerful tool."

I believe Noah is exactly right. A CO2 isn't for everyone. Because, you see, this isn't Christianity as most Americans have experienced it.

But, when you find the right people. God prepared people. People hungry for heart-level intimacy with God and others. When you find those people, some amazing things are about to happen!

Kent Smith responses to Noah along these same lines...

I'd like to reflect on Noah's good observation, "in the right hands, it's a powerful tool."

CO2 is a simple--and powerful--way to pay attention to 3 realities most people know little about and rarely notice, namely:

1) Our own hearts (what—sure enough—we really want)
2) God’s heart (what God really wants)
3) The hearts of others (what others really want)

A major reason these realities are little known or pursued is because we have been systematically taught that, a) what we really want is dangerous or just doesn’t matter, and that, b) what God really wants beyond generic truth is—practically speaking—just guesswork on our part.

Under those convictions it’s no wonder that a set of disciplines focused on listening deeply to God and people seems a royal waste of time or worse.

True knowledge, that is to say, intimacy, comes only to those who believe in it, want it, and doggedly pursue it. For such people, the rhythms of attention in CO2 can be transformational, and for that reason, highly transferable.

From my perspective, those would be “the right hands.”

Your thoughts?

John