Disciple. nurture. Act

One of the foundational environments in which we are making disciples at Sojourn is called a DNA group. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) serves as the building blocks of who we are as humans. Fittingly, our DNA groups give us a way to work with the Holy Spirit in forming the building blocks of our spiritual lives. DNA serves as an acronym for the meeting format as well. The D stands for Disciple (or a learner), so each meeting will spend time focusing on learning something about Jesus (often will be reading/studying the Bible or a book you all agree to read and discuss). The N is for Nurture, so there is a time checking in with each other (spiritual, family, work, marriage, etc) and caring for one another. The A represents Act, or what is God wanting you to do next in your relationship and mission.

When we decide to follow Jesus we are entering a life-long process of transforming who we are currently – our IDENTITY – to be more and more SHAPED like Jesus. Discipleship, then, is helping people discover who they are as disciples of Jesus (IDENTITY) and how to integrate His ways into our lives to become increasingly more like Jesus (SHAPES). We say “helping”, because like our vision statement reminds us, the Holy Spirit drives all revelation and change. Additionally, this process occurs only in the context of community. It is impossible to grow in the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc) when there is no one around to love, or be patient with, or work out differences with (making peace).

A DNA group therefore, is a group of 3-5 people (ideally of the same gender) who are committed to becoming like Jesus together through the power of the Holy Spirit. These are leader-led groups organized within our microchurches; that is, they are lead by someone who has been discipled and is further along in their spiritual journey than the rest of the group. Peer-to-peer friendships are great, but if we are to learn, we need someone further along than us from whom to learn.