Types of Small Groups
Open Groups – These groups usually include Sunday School classes, Bible studies, Christian book studies, Christian counseling, Addiction studies, etc.
Some characteristics of Open Groups are participants do not have to attend every meeting, there is not a high expectation for participants to prepare for their lessons before meetings, and discussion is optional. These groups are more information or fellowship oriented.
Mini Groups – These are made up of 2-5 participants and are ideal for smaller churches. The expectations are the same as Closed Groups. How does billing work?
Individual Mentoring – The expectations for this one-on-one approach are the same as Closed Groups.
Closed Groups – These groups have a more intentional purpose and commitment to explore true spiritual growth, thus they are true discipleship groups. They are spiritually relational, rather than just information or fellowship oriented.
Participants in closed groups are invited by the teacher/facilitator to be part of the group. Regular attendance is expected unless there are unusual circumstances. Lesson preparation before meetings is expected and group discussion is expected as well.
The number of participants usually range between 6-12 individuals although more may begin the group.
Tips for the Journey
Discipleship is not just learned; it is experienced. True discipleship groups are more than open groups where information is shared, or fellowship with others is a priority. True discipleship groups satisfy both informational and fellowship needs, along with, coming together to intentionallyexercise ways to grow spiritually as an individual and as a group.
Participants in true discipleship groups must be willing to exercise patience and mercy while they watch not only the leader/facilitator, but others in the group grow spiritually. The Holy Spirit will be stretching everyone, not only through the content of the book but through a new awareness of how it looks for individuals, and the group as a whole to grow spiritually.
Participants need to pray for a greater heightened sensitivity toward the Spirit’s movement in their own lives, as well as the overall spiritual growth of the group.
Since the primary place to spiritually nurture children is the home, it is critical that the parents of the home go through discipleship training.
Throughout the life of the group, the leader should provide life examples to the group as to how he/she is experiencing the Spirit’s leadership in being a disciple and discipling others. This is especially helpful concerning how the leader is witnessing to others on a day-by-day basis.
Remember, you are working out your salvation with a measure of fear and trembling, not so much in the sense of being afraid of God’s judgement (although that can be a reality) as you don’t want to miss out on even one new way the Spirit is leading you.
Participants will experience to a greater degree how their spiritual influence is powerful and has eternal consequences.
“Let this be recordedfor future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord” (Psalms 102:18, NLT).
The Importance and Description of Christian Discipleship Values
Nazarene Discipleship International’s (NDI) Five Discipleship Values are Fervent Prayer, Compassionate Outreach, Comprehensive Biblical Learning, Intentional Mentoring and Equipping, and Authentic Relationships. These values are supported by Scripture and truly Christian in nature.
The following is an attempt to give tone and description to what Christian discipleship values are and how they define our lives. Such thoughts naturally integrate into the importance of all of NDI’s five discipleship values.
Christian discipleship values are what we highly treasure, truly value, hold on to, and recognize as the foundation of our spiritual survival. Our discipleship values reveal who we are, the path on which we want to achieve, the joy we desire to experience, and the goal of our greatest dreams. Any Christian discipleship value is a guide that gives us security, a heart that seemingly beats on its own, an oughtness that propels us forward, and a relief that we are doing what is right.
Christian discipleship values never change. They encircle our every day, and they give us promise that our work is not in vain.
Christian discipleship values hold us back from harming ourselves, and they bridle us, so we do not take advantage of others. Furthermore, they provide check points for us to learn and observe what we have never seen in ourselves or others.
Christian discipleship values give us adventurous places to take others for their personal delight and introduce them to realizations that all things can become new.
Christian discipleship values free us from the anxiety of lostness and the fog of uncertainty. They are bigger than we are and originate from a source whose thoughts are beyond our grandest imaginations.
Christian discipleship values do not have a life of their own but are beams of light that began with an eternal Father and were delivered by a willing Son.
Humankind is not capable of creating their own Christian discipleship values; therefore, they must be received, learned, and explored. They are avenues to Christian love, spiritual longevity, and the creation of Godly relationships.
Christian discipleship values describe who we are, but more than that, they point us to what we are to become. The enjoyment of any one Christian discipleship value is not for us to hold on to, but to share and give to others as Jesus did from His innermost values.
Christian discipleship values are mysterious gifts that are accompanied by divine strength and unwrapped with hope realizing that all things can be better, and the author of all true discipleship values can be revealed.
Christian discipleship values are more than thoughts that describes a particular doctrine. They are the fingers of a hand that reaches from Heaven and beckons all to come to Him.
Finally, Christian discipleship values are invitations to be remade in the very likeness of our God.
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