Making disciples shifts your focus of ministry to the Jesus method of building people. It is important to remember, based on the Scriptures presented in Understanding the Process, that sermons alone will not produce mature
disciples. According to the Jesus Mandate,

• Making disciples takes place in the context of close and loving personal relationships.
• Making disciples is a group process in which each participant contributes to the growth in commitment of the others.

Making disciples begins with the credentialed ministers of the IPHC. We must intentionally determine to become more intimate with Jesus Christ and model that priority to others.

Prayerfully select a minimum of three individuals or couples (maximum of 9 people) with whom you will commit to a twelve-week discipling process. These individuals should be among the more mature, experienced believers in your congregation. The goal is to lead the individuals you select into a clear understanding of the biblical foundations of making disciples, as discussed in the Mapping the Journey section of this guide. After the twelve weekly sessions, each of these individuals/couples should be ready to multiply the process by forming a discipleship group of their own. The end result will be spiritual growth for everyone involved.

After deciding which people to involve in your foundational Disciple 3 group, invite them to meet with you to discuss the idea, including when and where to meet each week. Give them time to pray and discuss the idea before giving you a final response.

Once you get a commitment from the individuals you selected, use the Study Guides included in the Resource Kit to lead the study. Make a copy of the study guide for each person in the group. When you meet for Lesson One, be sure to have copies of Lesson Two ready to give to each person at the close of the session.

Have them use the guide for Lesson Two as a devotional guide during the week between sessions. They should bring the guide with them to the next session, with any notes they may have written on the guide. Using this process, most of the time in each session can be given to discussion instead of personal study.

Do not distribute all of the study guides at the same time. At the close of session two, hand out the guides for session three. Repeat this process for each weekly session.

For basic guidelines on small groups, see Keys to Successful Small Groups, on page 28.

Overview of Disciple 3 Study Guide

This study will move the pastor's group into a deeper understanding of the relevant Scriptures on discipleship. It will serve as the motivational foundation for all future groups. It likely will be the first study of all discipleship groups formed as a result of this guide. The lessons will get the group deeply involved with the Scriptures and making application of the Scriptures to their own lives together.

Each lesson will include the following component parts and can be used for a 60- or 90-minute meeting time. See the Study Guides included in the Resource Kit.

The first lesson – “Welcome to the Discipleship Process!” – will include a basic commitment exercise. It is important to establish a few basic “ground rules” as your group begins this study together. In his book, Nine Keys to Effective Small Group Leadership (Kingdom Productions, 2001), Carl George suggests three simple, trust-affirming covenants for your group to consider.

• I will not violate the Golden Rule in how I use information shared in this group. Matthew 7.12 states, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (NIV).
• I will restrict my confessions to my own sins and my own areas of needed improvement. Bringing up the faults of others (pastor, deacon, spouse, etc.) tears down relationships. Our goal is to edify (build up) each other.
• I will ask, “If Jesus were here, what would He do or think about this issue?” This affirms that our group will work together to discover the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ on all issues.

Usually, these three covenants will cover the needs of most small groups. If there are other ground rules that need to be discussed, present them before the first meeting ends. Write those items down and give a copy to all group members at the second meeting.

The Small Group Do's & Don'ts, later in this section, will help all members of the group understand what to expect from each other during the study.

Lessons 2-3 focus the group on the scriptural basis for discipleship as presented in Step One above.

• How did Jesus make disciples?
• What is important to Jesus?

Lessons 4-10 deal with the scriptural basis for covenant relationships within the Christian community, the body of Christ. There are more than 90 Scripture references that contain the phrase “one another.” These studies have grouped the most significant references into seven studies, called the “The Seven One Anothers.” These studies set the foundational principles of our Christian covenant community:

• Forgive one another
• Confess to one another
• Bear one another's burdens
• Honor one another
• Teach one another
• Comfort one another
• Love one another

Lessons 11-12 help members of the group begin thinking about how and whom to select for their own discipleship groups.

• How did Jesus select disciples?
• Who can you disciple for Jesus?

Not everyone in a group will want to lead a discipleship group of their own. No problem. For those who do feel the burden to disciple others, they should be encouraged to begin the process of mulitplying the group. They can use the same Disciple 3 Study Guides as the foundational study for their new groups. After they complete this twelve-week study, they can select another study from the supplemental courses listed below or from the Core Components in Step Six.

The others in the group who do not wish to lead their own groups are still in need of instruction and accountability. Select another study from the supplemental courses listed below or from the Core Components in Step Six.

As this process continues, the number of those being discipled multiplies. Discipleship groups become a regular, ongoing part of your church life.

Use one of these studies following your initial study:

• The book and video series, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard. The video series has been attractively produced by Dr. Gary Moon and LifeSprings Resources. Each session will stimulate further discussion and prayer as you commit to help one another grow in Christ ($114.95).
• The book and video series, God Views. The video series has been attractively produced by Dr. Gary Moon and LifeSprings Resources ($49.95).
• Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation, by Bruce Wilkerson (Harvest House - $18.99).
• Men of Change (eight lessons to help men learn together about God's standards for life) (Top Gun Ministries - $5). Includes study questions.
• Experiencing God - (12 units on knowing and doing the will of God) by Henry Blackaby and Claude King (LifeWay - $15). Includes study questions.
• The Man in the Mirror (24 lessons on having victory over daily struggles) by Patrick Morley (Zondervan - $13). Includes study questions.
• Too Busy Not to Pray (15 lessons on how to ensure prayer has priority in your life) by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg (Zondervan - $11). Includes questions.
• Disciplines of a Godly Man (18 lessons for victorious manhood) by R. Kent Hughes (Crossway Books - $15). Includes study questions.
• Attitudes of a Transformed Heart by Martha Peace (Focus Publishers, Inc. - $13).
• Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor - Sharing Our Lives as Women of God by Donna Otto (Harvest House Publishers - $10).
• At the Feet of Ordinary Women - Finding yourself in Titus 2:4-5 by Angie Conrad, Janet Cox, Tammy Eagan, Sandy Kershaw and Pam Miller (NavPress - $14).

Keys to Successful Small Groups

As you review the ideas presented in the resources below, we hope you will be encouraged in two fundamental areas:

• First, understand that small groups are not hard to start! Most people enjoy being part of a small group, if it's led properly.
• Second, realize that small groups make it possible to fulfill the goals of discipleship - to build up one another, to “grow in the grace and
  knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and to equip the body of Christ to be able to make a difference in our world for Jesus.

In short, the purpose of this section is to equip you and your leadership team to form small groups for your church, and to encourage you in believing that a small group is the optimal place for your people to grow as Christians.

Three Levels of Small Groups

Depending on your objectives, you can provide varying levels of study and commitment in a small group. Basically, there are three kinds of groups:

1. Introductory Groups. Introductory groups are primarily for those who are seekers of God or have never been in a small group before. These groups normally cover the basics of Christianity such as:
   • What is God's plan for man?
   • How does sin separate us from Him and His plan?
   • Who is Jesus, and how should I respond to Him?
   These investigative groups generally meet weekly for an hour to an hour and a half. They might agree to meet for three to six weeks to start and include five to eight people. Introductory groups usually assign little or no homework. Their primary goal is to introduce the members to Jesus Christ as well as to the benefits of small group fellowship. At the end of the designated time, the group typically might agree to continue on for another eight to twelve weeks.
2. Developmental Groups. Developmental groups are for your people who have committed their lives to following Jesus Christ and understand the basics of the Christian life. They have been walking with Jesus and living in the fellowship of the body of Christ for a while. These groups are designed to encourage people to go deeper in their discipleship, with special emphasis being placed on the spiritual disciplines (verse memorization, prayer, Bible study, and accountability, to name a few). Developmental groups place more emphasis on study and personal involvement between the members. From the standpoint of the leadership, less “spotlight” is placed on the group's facilitator, with the emphasis being on community development. Groups consisting of five to eight people generally meet weekly for an hour and a half or two hours and stay together for at least twelve weeks. Developmental groups typically will grow into equipping groups.
3. Equipping Groups. Equipping groups are geared toward the “core leadership” or mature believers in your church. The focus of these groups is to challenge your people to love and good works and to equip them to use their spiritual gifts. The leadership of the church is developed from these groups. Evangelism and discipleship are at the heart of equipping groups. These groups usually meet weekly for an hour and a half to two hours for twelve or more weeks and have five to eight members.

As you are deciding which level of group you want to form, you may want to conduct a churchwide survey to determine the members’ maturity and interest levels. You would want to know how many have ever studied the Bible in small groups, and what kind of time and work commitment they would want to make.

Small Group Do's and Don'ts

• Set the purpose and type of group up front (i.e., this is a discipleship group that meets to encourage one another to grow in the faith).
• Set the time, place, and duration of the meetings (i.e., we will meet on Monday nights from 8:00 - 9:15 p.m. for 12 weeks).
• Make sure the room is properly equipped (i.e., chairs facing each other, proper temperature, minimum distractions).
• Introduce everyone.
• Involve everyone in the discussion.
• Allow individuals to share personal matters as they are comfortable.
• Direct Scripture to daily life. For example, ask questions such as:
• What does the passage say?
• What does it mean?
• What does it mean to me?
• What should I do about it?
• Pray for Scripture to be applied to one's life.
• Close on time; be available for personal questions or ministry.

Resources on Small Groups

Donahue, Bill, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2002.

Donahue, Bill and Russ Robinson, The Seven Deadly Sins of Small Group Ministry, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2002.

Galloway, Dale, The Small Group Book, Grand Rapids, Fleming H. Revell, 1995.

George, Carl F., Nine Keys to Effective Small Groups, Mansfield, PA, Kingdom Publishing, 1997.

McBride, Neal F., How to Lead Small Groups, Colorado Springs, NavPress, 1990.

Top Gun Ministries, How to Start Small Groups for Men, Brookfield, WI, 2002.

Last update on 10/15/08
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