Week 1:

Gospel/Who’s Your One

For the first 30 minutes, please enjoy a meal together as a group. This is an intentional time set aside for fellowship. Eating together is a family activity, and helps us become like a spiritual family. This is one simple way we practice doing what Jesus did.

LEADER READS THE DISCIPLESHIP GROUP EXPECTATIONS OUTLOUD

  • Expectations for Individuals

    1. Commit to show up every week (unless sick/hazardous conditions).

    2. Participate in group discussion and tools, but don't dominate the conversation.

    3. Be real and authentic.

    4. Participate in bringing food to the group.

    5. Remember, you are not here to fix yourself or the group.

    6. Remember, you will be lovingly held accountable to what Jesus is speaking to you.

    7. You will pray out loud.

    8. We will follow Matthew 18’s protocol for any conflicts we have with someone in the group.

    Expectations for the Group

    1. The group is not a social group, but we expect to have fun together.

    2. The group is not an optional night that we can skip if something better comes up.

    3. The group will have people get sick or go thru difficulties, this is a chance to love them.

    4. The group may or may not do things together outside of our weekly commitment.

    5. The group is meant for individuals who truly want to be with Jesus more, become like Jesus more, and do what Jesus did more.

    6. The group will take off for major holiday weeks.

    7. The group lasts from the beginning of September to mid May. 

    Expectations for Discipleship Group Leaders

    1. I am here to facilitate the group and point us all to Jesus.

    2. We will depend on the Holy Spirit as the teacher for the group.

    3. I will strive to protect our group as well as warmly welcome new members.

    4. I may be the leader of our group, but I am always an apprentice of Jesus.

    5. I will offer grace to everyone AND hold us all accountable to what Jesus speaks to us.

    6. I will not add curriculum to this material. Extra things can be done outside our group time. Discipleship is meant to be reproducible. If we add more to it, we may not be able to remember or have access to the added material.

    Expectations for the Lord

    1. He will show up every time we meet, as we invite Him in and surrender to Him.

    2. Jesus loves you and wants you to follow His footsteps as His apprentice.

    3. Jesus is the Way, His life is our model and we will put His teaching into practice 

    4. Jesus is the Truth, He knows best and His Word & Spirit will guide us to Him.

    5. Jesus is the Life, He is our treasure, identity, hope, and best thing to happen to us.

    6. He is our Lord and will speak to us. We can hear Him as His “sheep” and we will obey.

    7. He is our Savior and will call us to repent, renounce sin, and receive & give forgiveness.

Discuss:

  • At the first pause, take time to have everyone ask the Lord which kingdom are they apart of and which one they would like to be in. Then, share with the group.

    • If anyone makes a decision to trust in Jesus and follow Him, please celebrate right then! Anyone who has already made that commitment, should reaffirm that decision to trust and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This should be celebrated too!

  • At the second pause, take time to ask the Holy Spirit if there is anything sin you need to bring into the light, any part of your identity in Christ you need His help to embrace, or any false belief you need to repent of.

    • Split into men and women’s groups if applicable, and share what the Holy Spirit revealed to you. Take time and pray for each other.

Discuss:

  • Take time to pray about who you should invite into a discipleship relationship.

    • It’s okay if it’s your “one” from last year, but the Lord may have someone new for your to invite.

  • Share with the group who you feel like the Lord is putting on your heart.

  • Make a plan to invite that person this week.

To close, have the leader pray for your group to be built upon the Gospel of Jesus and for the rest of this discipleship journey to be a response to what He has done for all of you!

*BRING YOUR ABIDE JOURNAL AND USE IT FOR YOUR DISCIPLESHIP GROUP.