The KC Underground Podcast

In this episode, Brian interviews Michelle Wegner on the topic of Soul Care in response to the idea that Disciple-making is messy. In the previous episode we highlighted four areas where disciple-making gets tough and four areas where we have made significant mistakes. We were in part saying, "What do we do when it gets hard, or when we make a mistake?" The answer is simple, but not easy. The answer is Soul Care. Michelle unpacks some of her journey and passion around helping others care for their own soul. 

In this episode, Cory and Brian walk through the next disciple-making nugget: Disciple-making is messy. We highlight four points about the “harder” parts and four “mistakes” we’ve made as we have attempted to follow Jesus’s commission to “go make disciples.” We usually talk about effective strategies and tools that help us as we make disciples in the everyday stuff of life. The truth is, it’s never easy, and we’re not Jesus, so we’re going to make mistakes along the way. We’ll dive deeper in future episodes, but for now, we want to begin to address the more sobering realities of giving our lives away to others.

Cory and Brian offer a new nugget in disciple-making: To be effective, we must discern our context. The question here is, "To whom have you been sent." In this episode we'll talk about a few different ways that you can begin thinking about your missional context.

Throughout 2023, the first prayer guide of each month is being written by Michael "Sully" Sullivan. Periodically, we'll pull Sully in for a podcast to set up that prayer guide. This week, Brian and Sully will talk through Psalm 71 and the importance of Holy Week in the rhythm of the church, how the Psalms can frame up Holy Week, and then how we can enter into the prayer guide together this week. In the West, we've often been so wrapped up in Palm Sunday, maybe Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, that we miss the beauty of Jesus's actions through the other days. Further, we rarely if ever explore how the Old Testament prepares us for the story. We hope this episode will send you on a journey of exploration in the Pslams and the surrounding narrative of Jesus's suffering, death, burial, and Resurrection.  Below, the titles for each day of the week are links to posts about that day, and I have included lines from each Psalm that complement the events of the day:Holy Week: The Final Days of Jesus   Palm Sunday (April 2): Jesus Rides into Jerusalem Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (20: This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.) Monday (April 3): Jesus Cleanses the TemplePsalm 36:5-11 (8: They feast on the abundance of Your house)   *Tuesday (April 4): Jesus Teaches in the TemplePsalm 71:1-14 (4: Deliver me, my God, from hand of wicked)  Wednesday (April 5): The Sanhedrin Plot to Kill Jesus Psalm 70 (1: Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, LORD, to help me.)  Maundy Thursday (April 6): Jesus Participates in Passover w/ DisciplesPsalm 116:1-2, 12-19 (13-15: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful servants.) Good Friday (April 7): Jesus Dies on the Cross for the Life of the WorldPsalm 22 (1, 16-19, 24: My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? ... They pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. But You, LORD, do not be far from me ... For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from Him but has listened to His cry for help.)  *Holy Saturday (April 8): Jesus Confront Hades & Harrows Hell As We WaitPsalm 31:1-4, 15-16 (1: In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness.

Cory and Brian discuss how we need to form teams to be more effective in disciple-making. We see "going in teams" in Scripture and we see "going in teams" in global disciple-making movements. We need to embrace this paradigm here and now as well. "Don't go alone. Always go in teams." Next steps with the Underground: Subscribe to our newsletter Connect with us for Coaching Support the Underground

Cory and Brian talk about engaging in prayer early and often in our disciple-making. The idea that we really want to get around is that this is also engaging the supernatural. In some ways, this is a shortcut to spiritual conversations. We talk about the why, what, and how to make prayer a natural part of our conversation with people in our missional contexts. Next steps with the Underground: Subscribe to our newsletter Connect with us for Coaching Support the Underground

Cory and Brian interview Alex and Hannah Absalom. Alex and Hannah have been involved in church planting and microchurch leadership for nearly three decades. They have served the broader church for over 20 years, speaking and ministering in person in over 15 countries and almost 25 US states (and many more virtually!). For the past four years, they have been full-time with Dandelion Resourcing, working with a vast range of leaders, churches, and denominations. At a local level, they have personally crafted effective disciple-making and leadership pipelines, overseen the starting of over 130 mid-sized missional communities and empowered numerous individuals with Biblical teaching and practices that enable them to operate in the power of the Spirit wherever they live, work, learn and play. "We need to put ourselves in situations where unless Jesus shows up, we're gonna look like muppets."

Cory and Brian interview Jill and Bill Randall. Jill and Bill have been church planters and now lead the Gospel Movements Team for Novo, which is a band of creative missionaries sent to multiply movements of the gospel and mobilize the church for mission around the world. In 30-plus years of ministry, Jill and Bill have trained countless teams and leaders in normalizing the supernatural within disciple-making. Most important of those teams is their own family. We get to hear their stories of how joining Jesus through prayer and healings has shaped their kids and grandkids. "Miracles serve as signs that make people wonder."

Cory and Brian interview Sarah Hunter and Doug Balzer who work for the Western District of the Canadian Christian and Missionary Alliance. Both Sarah and Doug naturally incorporate the supernatural into their everyday disciple-making. We want to hear how and why this has been an important part of their work. You can learn more by reading Doug's works found at dougbalzer.com

Cory and Brian interview Chris Caputo and discuss Doug Balzer's article, "Myth-Busting Divine Healing - 10 Shifts." We work through the ten myths with a bit of commentary and our thoughts. Next week we will interview Doug Balzer and Sarah Hunter of the Western District of the Canadian C&MA about their lean toward the supernatural in disciple-making. Subscribe to our newsletter Connect with us for Coaching Support the Underground