About OPCC Discipleship Groups
Voice of God - There is nothing more important for a follower of Jesus than listening to and discerning the voice of God. Anything we do in our own strength, no matter how “good” or well intentioned is just human work. But, hearing and obeying Jesus’ voice is life. We must train everyone, not to read commentaries, nor devotionals, but to recognize, meditate on, and respond to God’s voice. He is always speaking to us, if we but stop and listen. We can all hear Him. This discipleship model is centers on hearing and obeying Jesus’ voice, so making space for and reflecting on the Holy Spirit speaking to us is paramount.
Awareness - There is awareness that only God can start spiritual movements, but disciples can follow biblical principles.
That is, to pray, plant, and water the seeds that can lead to multiplying movements. Just like the one in the book of Acts.
Focus - The focus is to make every follower of Christ a reproducing disciple rather than merely a convert.
Patterns - Rhythms create frequent and regular accountability for both obeying what God says to each person and for them to pass it on to others in a loving environment. This requires a participative disciple-group approach.
Equipment - Discipleship groups equip each disciple in comprehensive ways.
Interpreting and applying Scripture
Spurring on a good prayer life
Functioning as a part of the larger Body of Christ
Recognizing those far from Christ in their own lives
To not be merely consumers, but as active agents that advance the Kingdom of God
Vision - This model provides every discipleship group a vision for reaching their friends and family. They also give a vision for extending the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Disciples prioritize the darkest places with a “no place left” mentality.
Multiplication - Disciples intentionally reproduce as a part of the multiplying disciples process.The power of the Holy Spirit is the only one that can make this happen.
Spiritual DNA - This discipleship model will result in disciples having very similar spiritual values. These are some of the traits that we hope to equip in all of our disciples.
Prayer
Scripture
Obedience
Indigenous Church
Holistic Churches
Churches that Multiply
Prayer - Prayer movements always precede a Disciple Making Movements. Once a DMM starts, extraordinary prayer becomes an important factor. Those coming to Christ are highly aware that only God can birth new disciples and churches. They’re also highly motivated to see God break through the darkness in the lives of their family, friends and neighbors.
Scripture - Our model takes the Bible very seriously. As a result, everyone has to be a disciple of Jesus and sharer of the Word.
Obedience - Every discipleship group is devoted to listening to God’s Word. They obey it individually and corporately. Obedience is expected and everyone is held accountable for it. This is from a position of love and grace, not condemnation.
Lost Focused - Disciples look for those that God has prepared within their relational sphere to receive His Good News. When these people and groups come to faith, they are immediately equipped to reach others through the same discipleship model.
Healthy Churches - Believers focus on obedience to Scripture. This is why they’re compelled and eager to show God’s love to people. The disciples in these movements love those around them, take care of widows and orphans, stand for the Truth, seek to be a blessing to their neighborhood, a light in the darkness, etc.
Churches that Multiply - Just like the early church in Acts, these modern day movements multiply rapidly. Every disciple and church is equipped to reproduce. They’re also taught to rely on the Holy Spirit to empower them. The average church in a movement takes less than a year to reproduce another church. This leads to more than doubling the number of disciples and churches every year.