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Making Disciples in Every Vocation | Dave Buehring

Transforming Society Through Vocational Disciple Making

In this episode, Dave Buehring of LionShare discusses the concept of vocational disciple-making, emphasizing its relevance in impacting various spheres of society. Drawing from his personal experiences with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and stories of individuals like John, a cardiologist, and Mandisa, a former American Idol contestant, Dave illustrates how integrating discipleship into vocations can transform lives and communities. He challenges pastors and church leaders to support their congregants in their professional fields, fostering spiritual growth and societal impact. Practical steps and considerations for fostering a disciple-making culture within churches are also explored.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 

Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/ 

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:50 Illustrating Discipleship in Various Fields

04:31 Challenges and Opportunities in Discipleship

06:20 Encouraging Servanthood and Transformation

08:18 Equipping Leaders for Kingdom Impact

09:55 Balancing Church and Marketplace Leadership

13:51 Vocational Disciple Making in Practice

15:05 Creating a Disciple Making Culture

29:38 Commissioning Vocational Leaders

33:28 Mandisa's Story

43:59 Assessing Church Impact

46:56 Healthy and Fruitful Church Characteristics

50:07 Practical Applications for Vocational Discipleship

55:10 Encouraging and Supporting Vocational Leaders

Resources on Discipleship

Becoming a Disciple Maker

Disciple Making Culture: 10 Minute eBook

National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches

DiscipleShift: 5 Minute eBook

In this episode, Dave Buehring discusses the mission and approach of LionShare—an organization focused on vocational disciple making and the importance of applying discipleship in various spheres of society. Buehring starts by introducing himself and thanking the participants, mentioning his background with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and being discipled by its founder, Lauren Cunningham. He emphasizes the connection between disciple making and societal impact, outlining his early realization that discipleship extends beyond personal spiritual growth to influencing different vocations such as media, government, and business.

Buehring presents his belief that a significant part of the United States' current issues stems from ignoring Jesus’s commission to make disciples, particularly in key sectors like media and government. He suggests that society's transformation occurs not through yelling or solely praying but through influencing these sectors with godly principles.

He shares several stories of individuals he's discipled, highlighting the changes in their personal and professional lives. For instance, he talks about John, a cardiologist who learned to balance his immense professional skill with relational sensitivity. Another story involves Darren, who worked in the White House and learned to integrate the fear of the Lord into his operations, avoiding manipulation. Similarly, Sarah, an emerging artist, learned the value of servanthood in her music career.

Buehring contrasts two mentalities within churches: convening (building-centric, program-oriented) versus mobilizing (impacting the community, relationship-oriented). He urges churches to adopt a culture of equipping and releasing members to serve in their vocations. Additionally, he provides a model for understanding discipleship stages, ranging from foundational discipling for new believers to vocational and leadership discipling for those influencing their respective fields.

A significant part of his message is about integrating vocational disciple-making into church culture. This includes practical steps such as initiating conversations with vocational leaders in the church, creating vocational teams, and using Sunday sermons to discuss vocational applications of discipleship.

Buehring also addresses the importance of redefining the metrics of church health beyond 'nickels and noses' (attendance and giving). Instead, he suggests evaluating the presence of God, community, disciple-making, and outreach within the church.

He concludes by emphasizing the necessity of recognizing and supporting the unique callings of individuals within the church. This includes commissioning them into their vocational roles and ensuring the church is making a tangible impact on its community.

Through various anecdotes and practical advice, Buehring underscores the pivotal role of discipleship in transforming both individual lives and broader societal structures. He encourages church leaders to view their congregants’ vocational callings as integral to their ministry, thus fostering a more holistic approach to disciple-making.

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