DGROUPS

WHERE DISCIPLES ARE MADE

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WHY DISCIPLESHIP?MAKING DISCIPLES: A COMMAND TO OBEY As believers in Christ, we have been commanded to “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20)

M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S : A WO R K TO D O God didn’t just save us from something; He saved us for something. Paul wrote that we are His “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Eph 2:10). When we make disciples, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created and accomplish the good work God has planned for us to do.

M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S : A WO R L D TO R E AC H Malachi 1:11a says, “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting.” A prerequisite to Jesus’ return is that His disciples will share the Gospel with all the peoples of the world (Mark 13:10). We are to make Him known to all nations and this is best accomplished by making disciples who will make disciples (2 Tim. 2:2).

M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S : A L I F E ST Y L E TO M O D E L Jesus prayed for those who would be “with Him” and spent more time developing the twelve than He spent with the crowds (Mark 3:14). Jesus didn’t just tell His followers to make disciples; He modeled discipleship.

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WHY DISCIPLESHIP?DEFINITIONS

D G R O U P A gender specific group of 3-5 idividuals committed to a year of intense Spiritual formation for the purpose of replicating their expereince with others.

R E A D I N G P L A N An agreed upon plan for weekly scripture reading. The F-260 is encouraged and can be followed using the Bible App, a printed PDF, or the F-260 book

H E A R J O U R N A L Journal entries from personal time studying the Bible. See page 9.

AC C O U N TA B I L I T Y Questions driving one another to living life in Christ

M Y O N E A person believed to not know Jesus whom you are investing in and sharing the gospel with

R E P L I C AT E The goal of every group: reproduce in others what this group has produced in you

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND A DGROUP

SUNDAY SCHOOL DGROUPMODEL Open group Closed group

MAKE-UP Composed of believers and non-believers Composed of believers

SIZE Size varies but usually 12-20 people 3-5 people maximum

DYNAMIC Co-ed or gender-specific Gender-specific

PURPOSECONNECTION: Connecting people to the church and the Gospel to people’s lives.

DISCIPLESHIP: Equipping believers with the tools to be and build lifelong followers of Jesus through intentional scripture engagement, acountability, prayer, and fellowship.

TIME FRAMEContinuous, as it launches new leaders out to form new groups.

Typically 12 months, then the whole group scatters to start new groups.

EXPECTATION OF MEMBERS

Flexible expectations as people move in to the group, grow in the group, and move on to serve or help others grow.

High expectation of D-Group participants, upheld by covenant commitments and consistent accountability

LEADERSHIP

One or two leaders nurture spiritual growth within the group and develop future leaders through teaching and modeling the Christian life.

One leader who helps D-Group participants grow in spiritual maturity and prepares them to lead future groups

OUTCOME Designed to grow and multiply biblical community

Designed to replicate disciple-makers

HOW TO START A DGROUP

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HOW TO START A DGROUP

• PRAY about whom God would have you ask to be in your Dgroup.

• APPROACH those individuals and invite them into your Dgroup

• COVENANT with them to be committed and accountable to each other

• INVEST your life into your Dgroup participants for the next 12-18 months

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HOW DO I CHOOSE DISCIPLES?

So as you are praying about people to invite into your Dgroup, look for the people whom Jesus pursued. We call these people of F.A.I.T.H. They should be Faithful, Available, Intentional, Teachable, and Hungry.

FAITHFUL people persever and endure will persevere and endure through hardship. They are steadfast in their commitments and hold true in spite of circumstances. Those men and women have proven themselves trustworthy.

AVAILABLE people are always ready, willing, and able to do the work of God or to serve and minister to others.

INTENTIONAL people are not only ready, willing and able to do God’s work, but they are actively searching out things to do. These are people who see opportunities for ministry and seize them for the glory of God.

TEACHABLE people receive instruction with a glad heart because they do not believe they’ve already arrived and know it all. Teachability may be the most important character quality of someone you will invest in.

Finally, your potential disciple should be HUNGRY and thirsty for God. They pant for Him and will not be satisfied until they come to know Him in a deeper way.

Keep these qualities in mind as you pray for God to bring these people into your life.

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HOW DO I CHOOSE DISCIPLES?

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SAMPLE HEAR JOURNAL

Read: Philippians 4:10-13

Date: January 10

H (Highlight)“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

E (Explain)Paul was telling the church at Philippi that he has discovered the secret of contentment. No matter the situation in Paul’s life, he realized that Christ was all he needed, and Christ was the one who strengthened him to persevere through difficult times.

A (Apply)In my life, I will experience many ups and downs. My contentment is not found in circumstances. Rather, it is based on my relationship with Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives me the strength I need to be content in every circumstance of life.

R (Respond)Lord Jesus, please help me as I strive to be content in You. Through Your strength, I can make it through any situation I must face.

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SAMPLE HEAR JOURNAL

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GE T TOGE THERWHAT TO DO EACH WEEK WITH YOUR DISCIPLE GROUP

Start with prayer

Discuss highs and lows of your week10 minutes

Quote the memory verse of the week5 minutes

Share your H.E.A.R Journal entries. Focus on what you learned and applied

30 minutes

Ask accountability questions consider asking some of the ones found below.

10 minutes

Share prayer requests and pray for one another

Leave the group with clear action steps

2 minutes

SAMPLE ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS:

Have you prayed for and invested in your ONE this week?

How is your fight for holiness? In what areas are you struggling?

Are you loving others well? (i.e. family, friends, co-workers, etc.)

Are there any lies you have believed or struggled against last week?

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DISCIPLE-MAKING COVENANT

I WILL COMMIT TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. I pledge myself fully to the Lord with the anticipation that I am entering a time of accelerated spiritual transformation.

2. I will meet with my Dgroup for approximately one and one-half hours every week, unless providentially hindered.

3. I will complete all assignments on a weekly basis before my Dgroup meeting, in order to contribute to the discussion.

4. I will contribute to an atmosphere of confidentiality, honest, and transparency for the edification of others in the group as well as my own spiritual growth.

5. I will pray every week for the other men/ women who are on the discipleship journey with me.

6. I will begin praying about replication the discipleship process upon completion of this group.

Signed Mentee: _____________________________________________________________

Signed Mentor: ______________________________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________________________________________

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DISCIPLE-MAKING COVENANT

L E A D E R S , R E G I S T E R Y O U R G R O U P, V I E W FA Q S , F I N D R E S O U R C E S , A N D G E T M O R E T R A I N I N G AT

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DGROUPS