WHERE YOU DISCIPLE IMPACTS HOW YOU DISCIPLE
Everything that happens in a church happens in a group. It starts with the family—the smallest and most foundational group—and extends to various group sizes within the church community. While group sizes and structures may vary, understanding the different environments available—and how they function best in your particular church context—is crucial for effective discipleship. The way a group operates can vary depending on its purpose, but intentional, relationship-based, and reproducible discipleship is always possible.
Discipleship can take place within a variety of environments. In Scripture, Jesus and the early apostles modeled different environments for discipleship. No matter the setting, intentionality remains key.
Every church may focus on different group environments—in person, online, or a mixture of both. Levels of worship, learning, relationship, care, and practice/mission opportunities can differ in each setting. Generally, the frequency of meetings, content, availability of childcare, and location are decided by the leader in consultation with their discipleship leader or pastor.
Sometimes articulating the differences in the group you lead can help you communicate your purpose. For example:
- An interest group might focus on relationships but little on other areas.
- A support group might focus on care and learning but little on mission.
- An outreach group can focus on practice and relationships with minimal emphasis on learning content.
Here’s a simple example matrix:
| Environment | Worship / Learning | Relationship | Care | Prayer | Practice / Mission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 2/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | 7/10 | 1/10 |
| Group 2 | 8/10 | 1/10 | 8/10 | 1/10 | 9/10 |
Jesus spent considerable extra time with Peter, James, and John. These three were eyewitnesses to His transfiguration (Mark 9:2–3), His raising of Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Luke 8:49–56), and His time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–38). They later became prominent leaders of the church after Jesus ascended into heaven.
MINI GROUPS
Today’s mini groups typically consist of two to three people. Their purpose is to provide focused discipleship in a particular area—such as new believers, marriage, leadership, or another topic. In a church environment, these leaders should be mature, trusted, and trained. Setting clear start and end dates builds healthy boundaries and protects both the mentor and the mentee from developing co-dependency.
CLASSES
In Judaism, formal schools existed to learn the Old Testament. In Ephesus, Paul taught at the school of Tyrannus for over two years. Early Christianity also saw the rise of faith-focused schools.
Churches today set up classes in various formats. Ideally, classes should have a clear start and end date and be presented in a lecture format while allowing for questions and answers. Although some classes use video training, it is beneficial when teachers share content from their personal experience, fostering relationship development.
SMALL GROUPS
Jesus’s ministry to twelve disciples and Acts 2:42–43 form the foundation for small-group ministry. Small groups provide environments for:
- Spiritual formation
- Building relationships
- Practical application of faith
Group members care for one another, offering accountability, encouragement, and friendship. Small groups can be:
- Gender-specific
- Age-specific
- Community-specific
- Interest-specific
- A combination of these
Generally, small groups work through a curriculum together, and leaders facilitate growth and multiplication.
LARGE GROUPS
Jesus’s disciples expanded to over seventy people whom He sent on mission (Luke 10). Larger group settings offer opportunities for:
- Building broader relationships
- Easier training and leadership development
- Facilitating table discussions after teaching
Meetings typically include teaching (live or video) followed by small-group discussions and prayer. Creating a fun, welcoming environment and providing service opportunities are essential.
INTEREST GROUPS
Interest groups are designed to build relationships through shared activities before people step into more discipleship-intensive groups. Activities might include:
- Mountain biking
- Motorcycle rides
- Hiking
- Sewing
- Hockey
- Football watch parties
- Creative Bible journaling
- Serving at food banks
The number of participants and meeting frequency vary based on the activity.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Support groups focus on healing and transformation around specific struggles or concerns. Key characteristics:
- Full participation and consistent attendance are expected.
- Homework assignments encourage deeper personal growth.
- Leaders are either experts or individuals who have completed their own healing journey.
Support groups typically run for a set period to foster commitment and momentum.
SERVICES
Jesus spoke to large crowds, including over five hundred disciples (1 Corinthians 15:6). Large gatherings provide:
- A space for collective worship and momentum
- Teaching that complements weekly small group discussions
- An opportunity for vision-casting across the whole church
Pastors often plan out two to three years of teaching to cover a wide range of topics critical for disciple-making.
CHOOSING A MODEL
It’s crucial to align with the discipleship model your church leadership has selected. Working together fosters:
- Unity
- Healthy culture development
- Long-term group growth and replication
As a group leader, you also model for others how they can lead future groups.
Discussion Questions
- What kind of group do you see yourself being part of or leading?
- What might be the strengths and weaknesses of each group type?