What are disciple groups?
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” - Matthew 28:18-20 NLT.
This Great Commission is Jesus’ mandate for all Christians to multiply themselves into the lives of others. A Disciple Group is a group of 2-4 people who intentionally influence each other to follow, imitate, and become like Jesus. Each group is made up of a Mentor and Disciple(s) who grow together in Christ and multiply beyond themselves so others can be discipled. Disciple Groups are intentionally small and gender-specific to maximize transparency and transformation. Through a Disciple Group, you will continually take next steps in Life Journey training courses, experience life in community, and clarify your calling to influence others.
FAQS
Why should I commit to a Disciple Group?
- Be a part of something bigger than yourself
- Experience spiritual growth and maturity
- Discover your calling and live into your potential
- Multiply yourself into someone else
- Jesus told you to ;)
What's the difference between a Life Group and a Disciple Group?
LIFE GROUP: A Life Group is made up of 5 or more people who gather for the purpose of relational connection and growth in community. Transparency is limited by size and the possibility of the group being mixed-gender. Life Groups may or may not multiply.
DISCIPLE GROUP: A Disciple Group is made up of 2-4 people who gather for the purpose of transformation, maturity in Christ, and multiplication. Transparency is limitless due to the intentionally small size of the group and same-gender. Disciple Groups must multiply.
What if I don't have time to commit to discipleship?
- This is the most important thing you can do and it is worth reshaping your schedule around.
- Discipleship is a non-negotiable responsibility as a Christian as outlined by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
When and where will we meet?
- At a specific day and time either weekly or bi-weekly. Meeting time will be set up once you are paired with your group.
- You will either meet in person at a place your group determines or online
How long does this commitment last?
- Disciple Groups typically meet for 12-24 months at which time they intentionally multiply into more groups so others can be discipled.
- Through the duration of the Disciple Group experience, the goal is for a Disciple to be trained into becoming a Mentor to a new Disciple.
What is expected of me?
- If you are applying to be discipled by a mentor, it is essential for you to be faithful in meeting consistently with your group, make time for this important commitment in your schedule, be teachable so you can learn as much as possible from them, and communicate openly and often with them. We anticipate you will have lots of questions and a hunger to grow and deepen your understanding of God, His Church, and your place in His Story.
- If you are applying to be a mentor, it is esential for you to be a mature believer who has attended all Life Journey training courses through Transform. These courses are intentionally designed to train you to become a mentor to a disciple. You will help influence, guide, develop, answer questions, teach, correct, and train your disciple(s) to follow, imitate, and become like Jesus.
- BE DISCIPLED -
become a disciple of jesus
- MENTOR OTHERS -
help OTHERs BECOME LIKE JESUS
getting started
The process of joining a Disciple Group starts by filling out an Application above. This gets the pairing process started. After you fill out your application, we will pair you with a Mentor (and other Disciples if that applies to your group). We will do our best to pair you as soon as we can but sometimes a pairing is not available immediately. We appreciate your patience through this process! Next, someone from our Life Journey Leadership Team will contact you to set up an initial meeting with your Disciple Group. During this meeting, you will unpack your story and set up ongoing meeting times with your group. To help you get started, your group will build trust and connection together, create goals, and decide next steps through three phases. See a snapshot of your first three Disciple Group phases below.
*Mentors: Click any of the numbers below to access a First 3 Phases Guide to help you launch your group!
STORY PHASE
In your first phase, you will meet your mentor and discuss the elements of your story that have shaped you into who you are today. You will share with your mentor how you came to Christ, significant relationships that have shaped your life, and how you want to grow in your relationship with God.
GOALS phase
In your second phase, you will explore with your mentor where your life feels out of balance as well as identify and refine goals for this discipleship process to help you grow and serve others. Lastly, you will create concrete action steps and a timeline to complete them together with your group.
NEXT STEPS PHASE
In your third phase, you will create a plan of action for your Disciple Group so you can take steps of growth together. Your group will decide a Discipleship Study you will engage in together (see ideas below) as well as plan when, where, & how often you will meet.
DISCIPLESHIP STUDIES
RightNow Media is the Netflix of Bible Study. With thousands of discipleship videos to choose from, it's the perfect fit for your Disciple Group. Be challenged and inspired by some of the most influential teachers today such as Francis Chan, Priscilla Shirer, Mark Batterson, Matt Chandler, Jennie Allen, Tim Tebow, and Phil Vischer (Creator of Veggie Tales). Click the button below to sign up for FREE and be sure to check out our hand-picked studies under the "Life Church" Library heading. You can also form a digital watch party with your group to watch these videos online together.
A daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives. YouVersion creates Biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that will encourage and challenge your Disciple Group to seek God throughout each day. These Bible plans are created to fit anyone’s daily routine, helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God and growing as disciples. One of the best features of the Bible App is shared plans that allow your Disciple Group to track through a plan together and even comment on the reading in the “Talk It Over” section of the plan so your group can read and discuss Scripture together digitally.
WordGo was created to simplify the process of starting and leading a group Bible study. WordGo empowers followers of Christ to personally encounter God’s Word, grow in love of the Lord, and deepen care for one another. Through Bible study and conversation, Disciple Groups can share God's truth with one another, with our churches, and out into the world. Intuitively constructed, Wordgo allows you to read Scripture, answer questions, take notes, read and listen to trusted commentary, and even schedule your meetings right from the App. WordGo is a great tool to empower your group to encounter Jesus through Scripture.
From page one to the final word, we believe the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus. This diverse collection of ancient books overflows with wisdom for our modern world. As we let the biblical story speak for itself, we believe the message of Jesus will transform individuals, entire communities, and your Disciple Group. The Bible Project has scores of videos that summarize books of the Bible, highlight crucial biblical themes, and explore key biblical figures. It could be the perfect companion to your group’s deep dive into Scripture, the unified story that leads to Jesus.
