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Can
DisCo Save The World?
by
Major Stephen Court
“There's a party goin' on right here
A
celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you.”
Kool and the Gang, 1980
The 70s were a
little ahead of my time.
The earliest Disco hit I remember was 1980 song
CELEBRATION.
Disco had a massive impact on western culture.
With the monotony of routine church life, many Christians
could use a splash of the party atmosphere Kool and the Gang
celebrates.
When western Christianity escapes the temptations of spiritual
consumerism and church buffet a different kind of DISCO can
save the world.
Our DISCO stands for discipleship covenant.
These DISCO
groups are sprouting in different spots in many cities around
the salvosphere as soldiers and recruits join together to
support each other in the salvation war.
‘So bring your good times, and your laughter here.’
Covenant is a
serious thing.
And we don’t want to tie people up unnecessarily.
So DISCO participants commit for a short period of time
– normally one to three months – to hold each other
accountable for certain things.
The novel wrinkle in this discipleship exercise is that
each member of the groups determines the things for which s/he
wants to be held accountable.
That is, there
isn’t some uniform standard imposed on everyone.
So a group can contain a brand new convert and a
long-time follower of Jesus, as each person is vulnerable and
accountable for certain activities and practices for the
committed time.
Everyone advances at your own pace, from your own status quo.
So, one person might
want to be held accountable to fast two days/week and do a
silent retreat once a month while another member might need
help to do rations every day, exercise a few times/week, and
read a good book during the DISCO.
And everyone
benefits. Members
pray for each other, support each other, and help each other.
‘We’re gonna celebrate your party with you.’
DISCO works best
face-to-face. But
it is also proven to work online.
And it normally happens with the same gender.
The thing is, a
good DISCO, though it may last only 90 days, will change the
lives of its participants.
It’s ‘a celebration to last throughout the years.’
And as those
participants spin off DISCO after DISCO in corps after corps
and city after city and territory after territory, we can
legitimately ask, Can DISCO save the world?
And I think you know our answer.
Here’s a generic example:
DISCIPLESHIP COVENANT
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To align ourselves with the heart and purposes of the Lord
Jesus Christ, to prepare for the plans He has, and to
optimize the opportunities He is presenting us, we are
committing to the following disciplines over the next
month:
On a daily basis to:
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Seek His will in our decision-making and then be
accountable to each other for the action based on that
will;
-
Make myself available to help the other fulfill God's will
in his life;
On a weekly basis:
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To witness/evangelise in a continuing manner as best as I
can;
-
To intentionally seek evangelistic opportunities;
-
To intentionally encourage others at our Corps;
-
To pray for the burdens and trials each of us is
experiencing in an extraordinary manner;
-
To participate in worship and discipleship;
-
To be able to encourage each other in a firm and loving
manner, to grow in grace, and to extend our Kingdom
impact;
-
To encourage and keep each other accountable in living
holy lives;
Bobby's specifics:
To disciple ______ (including rations; memory work;
evangelism; sometimes worship).
To do ____ of rations daily.
To memorise _____ of Scripture each week.
To evangelise each week.
To exercise XX/week.
To go avoid porn sites / magazines.
To treat women like my kid sister.
To avoid being alone with a female.
To avoid being alone with someone who is still using.
To volunteer at the corps XX/week.
Signed: ___________ date: _____
Bart's specifics:
To do daily family devotions.
To read XX chapters of the Bible daily.
To do daily chores.
To tithe my pay cheque to God on Sundays.
To read one Christian book this month (one we agree on).
To attend my brigade each week (and call the other members in
between)
To prayerfully consider soldiership.
Signed: ___________ date: ______
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