Led by the Holy Spirit, your DNA will repent and believe in the Gospel. The goal is to shepherd the heart so that each person is brought to repentance and renewed faith every time the DNA group meets.
Nurture primarily involves discipling the heart. The word heart is used over 850 times in the Bible, and is used to describe the very centre of our being. It includes our mind, our emotions, and our will. And in Romans 10: 10, Paul says it’s the part of us that exercises faith, or belief. “For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God...”
In Luke 6, Jesus says the fruit of a person’s life - their words and their actions - are an indicator of what is present in their heart. “A tree is identified by its fruit...What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:44 - 45) So regardless of what we know in our heads, the fruit of our lives is determined by what we believe in our hearts. We may know God is great and in control, we may affirm his sovereignty and power, and yet, we worry. What we know does not align with what we believe in that moment.
When we worry, we’re placing our hope in something other than God. We’re believing that something other than Him is in control and can give us security. Paul’s assessment of this misplaced belief is that we’ve “...traded the truth about God for a lie. So [we] worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 1: 25). By placing our faith in something other than God to give us what only He can give, we are actually engaging in false worship, in idolatry.
DNA groups are designed to help identify these areas of sin and idolatry in our lives. Nurture is about ensuring what we know aligns with what we believe.
It is possible to be over zealous in our desire to root sin out of one another’s lives. Nurture is not a witch-hunt or a game of “whack-a-mole”, where we wait anxiously with a big mallet, smacking down every little indicator of sin and unbelief as it pops up in people’s lives. In reality, we should be even more quick to point out evidences of grace than we are to call out sin or to start poking around, looking for evidence of unbelief.
However, the fundamental assumption is that within a week’s time every believer is going to sin, and therefore need to...
NURTURE AND GOSPEL SHEPHERDING
Even in our most broken circumstances, the gospel addresses every challenge we are facing. Jesus has designed His church in such a way that we can offer comfort and help to one another in the midst of our pain and struggle. While Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit has appointed elders to shepherd the flock, every believer can be equipped to shepherd and care for others.
Ephesians 4: 11 - 12 says, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
Gifted shepherds have not been given to the church primarily to shepherd people, but to equip the saints for shepherding work! The Holy Spirit lives in each disciple of Jesus, empowering them to love one another, pray for one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens, and speak the truth in love to one another. And 2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 4 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” We shepherd because He first shepherded us.
Disciples Church has implemented a shepherding structure that helps provide care at multiple levels, depending on the need. Nearly every shepherding need is addressed in the context of a Missional Community Group and DNA mini-groups. Outside of this we have Biblical Counselling that is provided by our Pastors. We call this approach Gospel Shepherding. Shepherds at every level (DNA/MCG leaders, Pastors) are trained to:
LISTEN FOR THE HEART
The fruit of our lives is evident, and reveals a great deal about our hearts.
At each DNA meeting, as a part of the Discover step in the process, group members will share some of what’s going on in their lives. They may have experienced victory over temptation, the Spirit may have convicted them and led them to repentance and faith, they may have struggled with sin/ unbelief in the past week.
As the members of the group are talking, everyone should listen for the heart. This begins with praying and asking the Spirit to give the group ears to hear what is really happening under the surface. More importantly, ask Him to help the group show empathy and compassion by simply paying close attention. Nothing effects nurturing more than showing genuine care and concern for others, especially when they are hurting. Trust is built when DNA members demonstrate mutual love for one another. Without love, compassion, empathy, and care, groups cannot nurture.
Listening for the heart also means focusing on the person and not the problem. Regarding the importance of listening as an act of love, Paul Tripp says, “We can focus on the problem and miss the person in the middle of it. Biblical personal ministry (i.e., shepherding) certainly includes problem solving, but it must be person-focused. God’s work of change certainly involves changes in situation and relationship, but it has radical personal transformation as its core goal.” (Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, p. 126). He goes on to say that rather than listening for the facts about a person’s circumstances or situation, we should listen for how they are responding to their circumstances.
ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
How did God respond to Adam and Eve immediately after they sinned and hid? How did He respond to Cain after He was angry at Able because his sacrifice had been rejected? How does Jesus often engage both the Pharisees and his disciples?
With questions!
When people share their struggles with us, the temptation is to offer simplistic advice or quote scripture in a moralistic manner. We want to help fix people’s problems! Responding with questions is another way to reinforce the value of the person over the problem: “I care about you, not just about fixing your problem.”
We’ve all experienced well-intentioned advice givers offering simplistic answers and quick fixes. Usually, these words bounce right off our hearts! Questions are so valuable because they lead to self-discovery and implication. In order for real change to occur, the Holy Spirit must bring conviction of sin (John 16: 8). Responding to a person’s story with immediate and direct proclamations often fails to produce the fruit of repentance. Depend on the Holy Spirit, and listen as He provides good questions that can help nurture the heart of another person.
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
As we shepherd and nurture each other, we will need to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4: 15 & 25). The truth Paul speaks of here is the Gospel. So this means we are speaking the Gospel in love, and so it should be centered on our identity much more than on our actions. Avoid simple advice or quoting scripture in a way that is unhelpful. If a DNA partner confesses worry, it probably won’t help to remind them that Jesus said, “Do not worry” three times in Matthew 6. Rather, focus on their identity as a beloved child of the Father (who Jesus mentions 10 times in Matthew 6) who can rest because of his perfect love, care, and provision for them.
Again, the leadership of the Holy Spirit is essential. Pray and ask the Spirit to speak through the group. Ask Him to produce the fruit of love in each person so that truthful words are presented with care and grace.
1 Corinthians 4: 5 warns, “So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives.” If we have preconceived judgments about a person’s heart (“I know for sure why they did that!”), they will come through in our communication, and our speech will not be filled with grace. We need the Holy Spirit to purify our motives before we speak.
It’s important to ask a lot of good questions before speaking the truth in love. A rule of thumb we often employ is to ask 10 questions for every pronouncement. And often it’s helpful to ask permission before making a pronouncement: “Can I tell you what I’m seeing?” This ensures that the person is open and ready to receive a direct word.
However, the Spirit will sometimes prompt very direct communication even in the context of shepherding. As long as the Spirit is prompting it, and it is spoken in love, we need to be obedient to say what the Spirit is leading us to say.
Finally, one way we often speak the truth in love as shepherds is by calling people to repentance. Often, we have to ask, “Is there anything that would prevent you from repenting right now?” or “Would you like to talk to the Father about this right now?” This simple but direct question can help people cross the threshold of repentance and renewed faith in the gospel.
In Luke 6, Jesus says the fruit of a person’s life - their words and their actions - are an indicator of what is present in their heart. “A tree is identified by its fruit...What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:44 - 45) So regardless of what we know in our heads, the fruit of our lives is determined by what we believe in our hearts. We may know God is great and in control, we may affirm his sovereignty and power, and yet, we worry. What we know does not align with what we believe in that moment.
When we worry, we’re placing our hope in something other than God. We’re believing that something other than Him is in control and can give us security. Paul’s assessment of this misplaced belief is that we’ve “...traded the truth about God for a lie. So [we] worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 1: 25). By placing our faith in something other than God to give us what only He can give, we are actually engaging in false worship, in idolatry.
DNA groups are designed to help identify these areas of sin and idolatry in our lives. Nurture is about ensuring what we know aligns with what we believe.
It is possible to be over zealous in our desire to root sin out of one another’s lives. Nurture is not a witch-hunt or a game of “whack-a-mole”, where we wait anxiously with a big mallet, smacking down every little indicator of sin and unbelief as it pops up in people’s lives. In reality, we should be even more quick to point out evidences of grace than we are to call out sin or to start poking around, looking for evidence of unbelief.
However, the fundamental assumption is that within a week’s time every believer is going to sin, and therefore need to...
- Confess our sins to one another (James 5: 16)
- Repent before God (Revelation 3: 19)
- Turn back towards Jesus in faith (Hebrews 12: 1 - 2)
- Experience the ongoing forgiveness and cleansing of Jesus (1 John 1: 9)
- Observe the fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives as a result (Galatians 5: 16 - 25)
NURTURE AND GOSPEL SHEPHERDING
Even in our most broken circumstances, the gospel addresses every challenge we are facing. Jesus has designed His church in such a way that we can offer comfort and help to one another in the midst of our pain and struggle. While Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit has appointed elders to shepherd the flock, every believer can be equipped to shepherd and care for others.
Ephesians 4: 11 - 12 says, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
Gifted shepherds have not been given to the church primarily to shepherd people, but to equip the saints for shepherding work! The Holy Spirit lives in each disciple of Jesus, empowering them to love one another, pray for one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens, and speak the truth in love to one another. And 2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 4 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” We shepherd because He first shepherded us.
Disciples Church has implemented a shepherding structure that helps provide care at multiple levels, depending on the need. Nearly every shepherding need is addressed in the context of a Missional Community Group and DNA mini-groups. Outside of this we have Biblical Counselling that is provided by our Pastors. We call this approach Gospel Shepherding. Shepherds at every level (DNA/MCG leaders, Pastors) are trained to:
- Listen for the Heart
- Ask Good Questions, and
- Speak the Truth in Love.
LISTEN FOR THE HEART
The fruit of our lives is evident, and reveals a great deal about our hearts.
At each DNA meeting, as a part of the Discover step in the process, group members will share some of what’s going on in their lives. They may have experienced victory over temptation, the Spirit may have convicted them and led them to repentance and faith, they may have struggled with sin/ unbelief in the past week.
As the members of the group are talking, everyone should listen for the heart. This begins with praying and asking the Spirit to give the group ears to hear what is really happening under the surface. More importantly, ask Him to help the group show empathy and compassion by simply paying close attention. Nothing effects nurturing more than showing genuine care and concern for others, especially when they are hurting. Trust is built when DNA members demonstrate mutual love for one another. Without love, compassion, empathy, and care, groups cannot nurture.
Listening for the heart also means focusing on the person and not the problem. Regarding the importance of listening as an act of love, Paul Tripp says, “We can focus on the problem and miss the person in the middle of it. Biblical personal ministry (i.e., shepherding) certainly includes problem solving, but it must be person-focused. God’s work of change certainly involves changes in situation and relationship, but it has radical personal transformation as its core goal.” (Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, p. 126). He goes on to say that rather than listening for the facts about a person’s circumstances or situation, we should listen for how they are responding to their circumstances.
ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
How did God respond to Adam and Eve immediately after they sinned and hid? How did He respond to Cain after He was angry at Able because his sacrifice had been rejected? How does Jesus often engage both the Pharisees and his disciples?
With questions!
When people share their struggles with us, the temptation is to offer simplistic advice or quote scripture in a moralistic manner. We want to help fix people’s problems! Responding with questions is another way to reinforce the value of the person over the problem: “I care about you, not just about fixing your problem.”
We’ve all experienced well-intentioned advice givers offering simplistic answers and quick fixes. Usually, these words bounce right off our hearts! Questions are so valuable because they lead to self-discovery and implication. In order for real change to occur, the Holy Spirit must bring conviction of sin (John 16: 8). Responding to a person’s story with immediate and direct proclamations often fails to produce the fruit of repentance. Depend on the Holy Spirit, and listen as He provides good questions that can help nurture the heart of another person.
SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
As we shepherd and nurture each other, we will need to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4: 15 & 25). The truth Paul speaks of here is the Gospel. So this means we are speaking the Gospel in love, and so it should be centered on our identity much more than on our actions. Avoid simple advice or quoting scripture in a way that is unhelpful. If a DNA partner confesses worry, it probably won’t help to remind them that Jesus said, “Do not worry” three times in Matthew 6. Rather, focus on their identity as a beloved child of the Father (who Jesus mentions 10 times in Matthew 6) who can rest because of his perfect love, care, and provision for them.
Again, the leadership of the Holy Spirit is essential. Pray and ask the Spirit to speak through the group. Ask Him to produce the fruit of love in each person so that truthful words are presented with care and grace.
1 Corinthians 4: 5 warns, “So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time - before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives.” If we have preconceived judgments about a person’s heart (“I know for sure why they did that!”), they will come through in our communication, and our speech will not be filled with grace. We need the Holy Spirit to purify our motives before we speak.
It’s important to ask a lot of good questions before speaking the truth in love. A rule of thumb we often employ is to ask 10 questions for every pronouncement. And often it’s helpful to ask permission before making a pronouncement: “Can I tell you what I’m seeing?” This ensures that the person is open and ready to receive a direct word.
However, the Spirit will sometimes prompt very direct communication even in the context of shepherding. As long as the Spirit is prompting it, and it is spoken in love, we need to be obedient to say what the Spirit is leading us to say.
Finally, one way we often speak the truth in love as shepherds is by calling people to repentance. Often, we have to ask, “Is there anything that would prevent you from repenting right now?” or “Would you like to talk to the Father about this right now?” This simple but direct question can help people cross the threshold of repentance and renewed faith in the gospel.