Growing Disciples

Essential Training For Leaders of Ministries, Classes, and Groups in the Local Church

Transform your ministry with Growing Disciples, a practical guide designed to equip church leaders to make disciples who, in turn, disciple others.

Many Christians desire to become devoted and mature followers of Jesus, yet many have never experienced intentional discipleship themselves—and feel unsure how to begin. With the support of their local church, believers can learn to experience true life transformation and multiply that transformation within their communities. This handbook prepares leaders with biblical insight, practical skills, and clear steps to disciple others effectively in ministries, classes, or small groups.

Divided into three sections, this training covers:

1. Understanding Discipleship – what disciple making is and how it leads to genuine life transformation and church growth
2. Leading in a Group Setting – how to disciple people in various ministry environments and stages of spiritual growth
3. Getting Started – a practical planning guide for meaningful and impactful group experiences

Through helpful teaching and discussion questions, readers will:

• Grasp the essence of disciple making, understanding its significance in Jesus’ time and its application today
• Learn the essential skills and knowledge needed to lead a discipleship-centered group with confidence
• Use the included planning guide to prepare and facilitate successful group sessions

Discover the true potential of disciple making with Growing Disciples—and start transforming lives today!

Part 1: Understanding Discipleship

• WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP? – What was Matthew 28:19-20 in the mind of the disciples?  Does it translate in our culture as local outreach, foreign missions, classes, or Sunday services?
• THE CHURCH THAT DISCIPLES, GROWS – The early church discipled.  After the church and state merged in Constantine, devoted believers retreated to the wilderness for discipleship.  Disciple-making was the focus of the Reformation.  Church growth is a result of disciple-making.
• MAKING DISCIPLES TODAY – How do we define disciple-making? What does it mean to make disciples today? How do we take the timeless truths of scripture and apply them to our context?
• SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH – There are clear Biblical levels of maturity.  How do you recognize which level you and those you disciple are at?   Knowing, Believing, Behaving, Reproducing.
• CONTENT TO TEACH – What do I teach someone who has first come to faith?  Over a few years of spiritual growth, what areas of growth do I focus on?  What do I teach, model, practice, and replicate? How do I know someone is growing?
• GROUP ENVIRONMENTS – People can grow spiritually in all types of environments.  As a leader making disciples, it’s essential to clearly understand where and how you disciple others, in what, and for how long.

Part 2: Leading in a Group Setting

• ARE YOU READY TO DISCIPLE OTHERS? – What stage of spiritual growth are you at?  Should you facilitate conversation as a peer, or are you ready to be a mentor to others?
• FINDING PEOPLE – How do you find people to be a part of your group?  How do you invite?  What is your responsibility and your church leader’s role in promoting your group?
• GROUP MEETUPS – How do you plan for when your group meets?  Where and when should you meet?  What should you have prepared and what should you just let happen?
• LEADING DISCUSSION – How do you facilitate the conversation with different personality types present?   What kinds of questions should you ask?  How do you get back on track?
• BUILDING RELATIONSHIP – How do you facilitate meaningful relationships between yourself and group members, group members and each other, and your group with outside groups?
• APPROPRIATE CARE – What is appropriate care for your group, and what are the boundaries you as a leader need to set?  What is helpful and what could be hurtful?
• PRACTICE TOGETHER – What are some ways you can take what you are learning and put it into practice?  How do take concepts and make them come alive?
• STOPS AND STARTS – Healthy groups take pauses during the year.  How do you recognize the natural rhythms of the year where you can launch, pause, or stop for a period of time?
• ENDING WELL – Every group comes to a place where it multiplies, evolves, or ends.  How do you recognize the season you are in as a group and transition to the next season?

Part 3: Getting Started

• INVEST TIME TO CLARIFY YOUR PLAN – Gather all you need in order to plan your group
• BRAINSTORMING – Put your thoughts on paper so you will be able to communicate your vision
• NEXT STEP – Meeting with your church leader