Discipleship

A D-Group is gender-specific closed group of 3 to 5 believers (including the leader) who meet together weekly for the purpose of accelerated spiritual transformation. A person joins the D-Group by invitation only.

A Connect Group, known as a C-Group, exists to enable us to do life with one another. We can take off the mask and have fellowship within the body with a common purpose, which is to grow with one another but also to evangelize. Connect groups are designed to allow us to both grow in our walk while also inviting in those who are lost to join us. A D-Group, on the other hand, consists of believers who desire a deeper walk with Christ. It is not evangelistic in its form or function, but in its fruit: it makes disciples who will then go on to make more disciples.

The format of a D-Group is not teacher to student or mentor to mentee, it’s a roundtable discussion. A discipler is someone who is willing to share their life with those in the group and says, “Come follow me as I follow Christ.” This blueprint, given to us by Christ, is how discipleship is accomplished in the lives of believers, and, ultimately, within the local church. A D-Group allows for Community, Accountability, and Multiplication.

Joining a D-Group is really step 3 in the discipleship pathway because it comes out of the C-Group. C-Groups are formed out of the Sunday Worship Gathering, while D-Groups are formed within C-Groups. As people form friendships and trust within their C-Group, handfuls of them will decide to take the next step and begin a discipleship journey together in a D-Group. If you would like to be in a D-Group, your first step is to join a C-Group. If you’re currently in a Connect Group but desire to be in a D-Group, talk to your group leader.

The only absolute requirement for leading a D-Group is that you be intentionally pursuing Christ. You do not need to be a Bible scholar, a master teacher or have all of the answers. You don’t need to be able to say, “Listen to me”. All you need to say is, “Follow me; I’m pursuing Christ,” and you have the tools you need to lead a D-Group. As a D-Group leader, you set the tone for the group’s atmosphere. You are not lecturing students; you are cultivating an intimate, accountable relationship with a few close friends.

The first step in establishing a formal disciple-making relationship is choosing disciples. Jesus, our example in selecting disciples, spent time in prayer before selecting men (Luke 6:12-16). The word disciple means learner. Begin by asking God to send you a group of men or women who have a desire to learn and grow.

When people approached Jesus about becoming His disciples, our Lord held a high standard. One man said, “I’ll follow you, but let me go bury my father.” Now, the man’s father had not yet died–the man was reaching for an excuse to postpone the kind of commitment that Jesus expected of him. Jesus responded with something that the man would have understood to mean, “You can’t do that. The kingdom is too important.”

Your D-Group should consist of F.A.T. believers: Faithful, Available, and Teachable. A faithful person is dedicated, trustworthy, and committed. Consider a potential disciple’s faithfulness by observing other areas of his/her spiritual life, such as church attendance, Connect Group involvement, or service in the church. Faithfulness is determined by a commitment to spiritual things.

Discern an individual’s availability by his willingness to meet with and invest in others. Does this person carve out time to listen, study, and learn from others? Is he accessible when called upon? Does she have a regular quiet time with God of reading the Word and praying? Availability is measured by a willingness to serve God.

Not everybody who attends a Connect Group is teachable. A teachable person has a desire to learn and apply what is taught. One who is teachable is open to correction. Recognize teachability by observing one’s response to God’s Word. For example, after hearing a sermon on prayer, do they begin to pray more regularly? Or after a lesson about the dangers of the tongue, does the person implement changes in their speech? A teachable person not only listens to what is taught, but also applies it to his or her life.

After discerning that an individual is faithful, available, and teachable, prayerfully approach him or her and ask, “Would you be interested in studying the Bible, memorizing Scripture, and praying together?” Many people are open to that. All you have to do is ask. We don’t recommend that you say, “Would you like for me to disciple you?” as this question may come across in a derogatory manner. Keep in mind that men should disciple men, and women should disciple women.

Because accountability works well in a smaller setting, the ideal size of a disciple-making group is 3 to 5, you and 2 to 4 other people. We recommend that you do not have more than 5, and remember that a one-on-one relationship is not ideal.

Ideally, you should meet once a week for about an hour to an hour and a half. You can meet more frequently, but it is important that you meet at least once a week. This schedule does not prohibit those you are discipling from calling you throughout the week or coming by for advice when needed. It is important to remember that discipleship is about the relationship between you and your group members, not about checking a requirement box. Disciple-making is a way of life, not a program.

Yes because discipleship demands accountability. This is a non-negotiable. The very first time you meet with your group, you will go over the member covenant. This is a covenant that you are agreeing to in a discipleship relationship. To see an example of a member covenant, click here. Since you will be spending at least the next year together, people need to know how committed to this process you are. Sometimes after the first meeting, people realize they’re not ready for a discipleship relationship and that’s ok. Remember, you are looking for people who want to be discipled, people who have a desire to grow and learn. An unwillingness to commit reveals that they are not ready to be in a D-Group. It’s the example Jesus set for us.

Begin with prayer. Ask each participant to present one prayer request at the start of each meeting. Assign a person to pray over the requests, and ask the Lord to sharpen each of you through your relationship.

Here are some elements that your weekly meetings can include:

Open with prayer.

Have a time of intentional conversation by briefly sharing the highs and lows of the week. You can also share celebrations and praises.

Quote your Scripture memory verses for the week.

Study the Word of God together. A great way to do this is to share HEAR journals from the week. The goal of studying the Bible is to apply the Word of God. Remember, knowledge without application is useless information.

Here are some good application questions to utilize:

• What are you hearing from God, and what are you doing about it?

• What is God teaching you, and how is it affecting your life?

• Is there a promise to claim?

• Is there an action or attitude to avoid?

• Is there a principle to apply?

Spend a few moments asking questions and keeping each other accountable. All accountability should be saturated with grace, not legalism. You can’t expect what you don’t inspect.

Share prayer requests and close with prayer.

Group members will memorize Scripture if you hold them accountable through reciting verses to one another at every meeting. in John 14:26 scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit will help us by bringing to remembrance all that He has said which means, the verses you commit to memory will be brought to remembrance, at the right moment, but we have to learn them.

The preferred method is a gathering of born-again believers seeking to grow in their faith. How can you determine if someone is saved or not? We recommend beginning every group by asking each person to share their testimony with the others. Next, ask them to explain the gospel.

These are some reasons for asking someone to leave the group: they don’t possess a teachable spirit, they are not faithful in attending meetings, they are not completing assigned work and putting in the kind of effort you require, they are living a lifestyle of blatant and unrepentant sin, etc.

Teachability is an indispensable quality for growth. One situation where someone may be asked to leave is if he or she monopolizes the group discussion week after week. It will be obvious they want to demonstrate their superior knowledge of The Word rather than learn from interacting with others.

Additionally, laziness will breed complacency in the group. Missing meetings, refusing to memorize Scripture, failing to log HEAR journal entries, or sitting idly by during discussion times lowers the morale of the others in the group. This type of behavior must be addressed immediately. Meet with this individual privately to inquire about his or her attitude and actions. Remind him or her of the commitment made at the outset of the discipleship relationship.

Like Jesus’ relationship with His disciples, ours is a serious relationship, as well: a relationship built upon a mutual commitment to Christ and each other. Tragically, some will not follow through with that commitment, forcing you to confront them about their unfaithfulness.

Always begin with the end in mind. Your group should meet for 12 to 18 months, and they should expect that final date from the very beginning. Some groups develop a closer bond, which results in accelerated growth; others take longer. We do not recommend meeting for longer than 18 months. Some group members will desire to leave the group and begin their own groups. Others, however, will want to remain in the comfort zone of the existing group. Some will not want to start another D-Group because of the sweet fellowship and bonds formed within the current group. Remember, the goal is for the men and the women of the group to replicate their lives into someone else.