Discipling By Jesus

After a successful first pilot of "Discipling by Jesus", Ernie and Robby touch base to see if they are on the same page about what should happen next, and how best to position it.  Robby suggests a focus on 'hearing and following Jesus", but Ernie propose "experience and respond to Jesus" as broader and more relational.

Robby shares his passion for ensuring movements are reaching people where they are -- especially their families -- rather than pulling them into an entirely new context.  Ernie also agrees with the need for  "redemptive incarnation," but prefers to make a family focus "exemplary" rather than "normative." He also talks about the initial DBJ workshop as onboarding onto a "missional social network," a platform where we build trust by seeing how people let Jesus deal with their weaknesses (not just their strengths).

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• IGWET.com: a fully open platform for empowering Transformational Communities that seek to create positive change in the world
• The Great Reset

Does Grace exist so we can fulfill the Law? Or does the Law exist to show us our need for Grace? 

Is our greatest work to love the poor? Or simply to love Jesus? Are they ultimately the same? If so, does it matter which order?

As leaders, is our primary job to enroll followers in our vision? Expand our vision to incorporate theirs? Point them to Jesus? Help them find their own vision? 

Ernie and Ted continue their quest to find common ground in loving more like Jesus, as they look towards a possible Jubilee Season of The Great Reset.

References

• Automated Transcript
• The Croods: A New Age
• Matthew 25
• Beyond Spiritual Fathering
• The Send (The Call)
• Discipling by Jesus
• First Love Design Summit

In this phone call recorded shortly before last Friday's "Finale" of The Great Reset, Eric questions Ernie about why he's ending The Great Reset, and what comes next.

Ernie argues that his "original sin" while co-founding The Great Reset was focusing on Ambition and Technique. While not bad in themselves, this led incurably to Arrogance and Law, rather than Humility and Grace. He believes the only solution is to start over (after a 3 week hiatus) with Something Different centered on the cross of Christ.

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• Bounded Sets versus Centered Sets (Western Seminary)

To start with, David and Ernie both agree that The Great Reset is:

• Too dominated by Ernie
• Lacks a clear sense of purpose
• Lacks consistency of format
• Lacks continuity of topics

The disagreement started when Ernie explained that this Friday (15 Jan 2021) is THE Finale of The Great Reset, and what came after would be Something Different.  While Ernie saw this as an opportunity to re-found The Great Reset in a more inclusive and coherent fashion, David saw it as Ernie simply doing more of the same.

Perhaps surprisingly, David felt that this wasn't due to any sin on Ernie's part, but a simple matter of technique that should be easy for Ernie to fix.  Ernie suggested two alternative interpretations, neither of which David liked very much:

• Ernie is simply incapable of making the changes required
• David is the one whose perspective is distorted by sin

After much wrangling about the history of their (and Bill's) relationships, Ernie latched on David's comment about wanting Ernie to share (not just acknowledge) David's perspective.  Ernie claimed this made him feel David was trying to 'fix' him, not merely share constructive feedback and criticism.   David apologized, and Ernie forgave him.

While they may not have resolved much of anything, they at least ended by praying for and affirming each other.  Maybe next time, they should start there...

References

• Automated Transcript (UberConference)
• TGR-S6E7: Jubilee (The Great Reset)
• Christ-like Love (Twitter)

Ted and Ernie record what may be their last episode of The Great Reset podcast, as they plan for the finale on January 15th.  

When Ted asks Ernie about working together afterwards on Something Different, Ernie expresses concern over what he perceived as Ted's dismissiveness of his feelings.  This was aggravated (if not caused) by Ted not responding to a heartfelt email Ernie has shared over Christmas; which they just discovered Ted had not even seen!

In the end, Ernie shared his perspective on what he felt it would look like for Ted to love him more like Jesus:

• See him as he is, including his pain and sin
• Identity with him, especially his sin
• Invite him to come the cross to overcome that sin

Ernie acknowledged that this was a lot to ask, but Ted agreed that this was what he had sign-up for with Jesus.

Will this be enough to carry them beyond the end of The Great Reset? Watch this podcast feed for updates!

References

• Automated Transcript

David and Ernie appear to agree with the statement that "the problem is sin, and the cure is Jesus" -- but seem unable to agree about what those words mean, or even whether or not they agree.

David affirms how Ernie is fantastic at handling negative feedback, but confused why he appears incapable of incorporating constructive suggestions.

Ernie admires David's commitment and forthrightness, but wonders why he is focused on pointing out wrongs rather than providing grace.

Ernie pitches David on the idea of coming together around communion for the Season Finale.  David likes the idea in theory, especially about getting right with one another before partaking of the Body of Christ, but is skeptical in practice because it is often used to merely paper over differences. 

Robby and Ernie discuss:

• Possible limits to simply hearing and obeying Jesus
• Whether DBS emphasizes Law (obedience) at the expense of Grace (relationship)
• Whether there is a "performative" act that constitutes being a Christian (e.g., repentance, communion)
• The difference between "joining with Jesus in his work" (as servants, focused on productivity) versus "joining with Jesus through His work" (as friends or family, focused on intimacy)
• How "to seek and save that which is lost" might apply both internally and externally
• The end of The Great Reset

References

• Automated Transcript