The document provides an overview of Core Discipleship, a faith-based Christian organization that uses a discipleship process based on Jesus' inner circle of Peter, James, and John. The process involves three strands: large group gatherings, small groups, and core groups of 3-4 people. The core group workbook provides a 1-year curriculum to help believers mature through close, confidential relationships and multiplication of spiritual generations. The purpose of core groups is to fulfill the Great Commandment and Commission by teaching disciples to obey all that Jesus commanded and make more disciples.
This document provides information about growing disciples through relationships and spiritual formation. It discusses that growing disciples should have the end in mind of developing a commitment to God, community, and mission. Disciples are grown through life-on-life mentoring using processes like triads and small groups, with a focus on a few people. The document emphasizes that growing disciples is primarily a relational experience rather than instructional, and involves knowing and experiencing God's love together through both spontaneous and intentional interactions.
This document provides an introductory guide for parents and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on strengthening children and youth. It outlines a vision of increasing faith in Jesus Christ and progressing along the covenant path through gospel learning, service, activities, and personal development at home and church. Parents have the primary responsibility to teach children, while church leaders offer valuable support. The document provides principles and examples for parents and leaders to help children and youth fulfill their divine potential.
The document summarizes key points about leadership, organization, doctrine, discipline, and mission in the church. It discusses that Christ is the head of the church and leaders should serve as Christ did through humility. It emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine based on the Bible to maintain unity. Discipline should be done redemptively with love. The overall mission that unites the church is making disciples for Christ by preaching the gospel. Working together as an organized body is important to advance the work of the Lord.
This document discusses strategies for growing disciples through intentional relationships. It emphasizes that discipleship requires relationship, content sharing over time rather than just instruction. Growing disciples happens as life influences life through facing difficulties together. Effective disciple making involves committing to God, community and mission. Small groups, classes and programs can support this but are not the primary goal. The document provides examples of developing a discipleship culture through layers of engagement from individual spiritual growth to multiplying small groups.
The document provides guidance on how to build connections within a Bible study group at different levels - as members, as ministers, and as missionaries. It suggests focusing on engaging with God's word, fellowship, prayer, care for one another, and living out the great commandment to love God and others. It also discusses indicators of connectedness like participation, preparation, sharing needs, and finding and following Christ. The overall message is that groups can become communities and be commissioned for mission by ministering to members, caring for one another, and helping members engage in ministry outreach.
This letter is a response by Richard Joseph Krejcir to a pastoral search. Krejcir has over 25 years of experience in pastoral roles including teaching pastor, small group pastor, counseling, and other ministries. He has a passion for teaching God's word and connecting people to Christ. Krejcir has attained several relevant degrees including a Master of Divinity and Doctorate in Practical Theology. He has extensive training and experience founding ministries and engaging in social media to serve the Lord. Krejcir is looking for a long-term pastoral commitment and believes he would be a good fit for this church.
This document provides information about growing disciples through relationships and spiritual formation. It discusses that growing disciples should have the end in mind of developing a commitment to God, community, and mission. Disciples are grown through life-on-life mentoring using processes like triads and small groups, with a focus on a few people. The document emphasizes that growing disciples is primarily a relational experience rather than instructional, and involves knowing and experiencing God's love together through both spontaneous and intentional interactions.
This document provides an introductory guide for parents and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on strengthening children and youth. It outlines a vision of increasing faith in Jesus Christ and progressing along the covenant path through gospel learning, service, activities, and personal development at home and church. Parents have the primary responsibility to teach children, while church leaders offer valuable support. The document provides principles and examples for parents and leaders to help children and youth fulfill their divine potential.
The document summarizes key points about leadership, organization, doctrine, discipline, and mission in the church. It discusses that Christ is the head of the church and leaders should serve as Christ did through humility. It emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine based on the Bible to maintain unity. Discipline should be done redemptively with love. The overall mission that unites the church is making disciples for Christ by preaching the gospel. Working together as an organized body is important to advance the work of the Lord.
This document discusses strategies for growing disciples through intentional relationships. It emphasizes that discipleship requires relationship, content sharing over time rather than just instruction. Growing disciples happens as life influences life through facing difficulties together. Effective disciple making involves committing to God, community and mission. Small groups, classes and programs can support this but are not the primary goal. The document provides examples of developing a discipleship culture through layers of engagement from individual spiritual growth to multiplying small groups.
The document provides guidance on how to build connections within a Bible study group at different levels - as members, as ministers, and as missionaries. It suggests focusing on engaging with God's word, fellowship, prayer, care for one another, and living out the great commandment to love God and others. It also discusses indicators of connectedness like participation, preparation, sharing needs, and finding and following Christ. The overall message is that groups can become communities and be commissioned for mission by ministering to members, caring for one another, and helping members engage in ministry outreach.
This letter is a response by Richard Joseph Krejcir to a pastoral search. Krejcir has over 25 years of experience in pastoral roles including teaching pastor, small group pastor, counseling, and other ministries. He has a passion for teaching God's word and connecting people to Christ. Krejcir has attained several relevant degrees including a Master of Divinity and Doctorate in Practical Theology. He has extensive training and experience founding ministries and engaging in social media to serve the Lord. Krejcir is looking for a long-term pastoral commitment and believes he would be a good fit for this church.
The document discusses the importance of care groups, or small groups, in the church based on the New Testament model. It states that care groups are essential for a strong, healthy church as they allow believers to build each other up in a small, intimate setting. Care groups function as the basic unit of the church, similar to how cells are the basic unit of living organisms. They allow for relationships to form, spiritual growth to occur, and multiplication as new care groups are started. The document outlines the stages of growth for a care group from an initial forming stage to a reproducing stage where new care groups are birthed.
The document outlines the purposes of groups at a church called FBC. It states that the purposes are to foster belonging and acceptance, facilitate spiritual growth through Bible study, and focus on living missionally by engaging the community. It provides examples from the book of Acts to support these purposes. It also notes that groups should flourish through flexible structures and reproduce by releasing members to start new groups. Finally, it distinguishes between two types of groups - Bible fellowship groups and community groups.
Small groups are essential for spiritual growth and community within the church. They allow Christians to study scripture together, support one another, and apply their faith to daily life. When balanced around the five elements of fellowship, discipleship, worship, ministry, and evangelism, small groups help fulfill Jesus' commandments to love God, love others, and make disciples. Healthy small groups transform lives through relationship-building and serving one another and the community.
Adventist concepts of discipleship and nonconformitySamuel Curazzi
This document discusses Adventist concepts of discipleship and nonconformity to the world. It describes how Adventists believe discipleship involves spiritual, mental, physical, and relational growth into the likeness of Christ. It outlines ministries like Sabbath School and education that facilitate discipleship. It also explains that Adventists seek to be in the world but not of it, based on beliefs about the Sabbath, eschatology, and their mission to share God's end-time message with the world. However, their relationship with the world has become more ambiguous over time as cultural views have changed.
The document discusses creating community through spiritual formation. It defines spiritual formation as being formed into the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Discipleship communities are described as Calvary's key vehicle for spiritual formation, and are meant to be formative in developing Christ-like character, caring in meeting each other's needs, and missional in engaging in witness. The roles of the Trinity in spiritual formation are examined, as well as Jesus' teachings about the Holy Spirit. Growing communities that cultivate connection, plant purposes, and provide minimal structure for maximum growth is emphasized.
The document discusses relational disciple-making and how it reflects the method of Jesus. It emphasizes that disciple-making is about processes, relationships, transformation and reproduction rather than just programs or information. While programs have their place, relational models focusing on building relationships based on love and truth are preferred. Jesus made disciples relationally in small groups, being most intimate with Peter, James and John. The document suggests churches can reflect Jesus' method through large group ministry, small groups, but are often missing the most intimate discipleship of triads. Disciple-making triads of 3-4 people are proposed to provide a relational environment like Jesus had with some of his closest followers.
Comparison chart of Presbyterian DenominationsJeff Gissing
This document provides a comparison of the Presbyterian Church (USA) [PCUSA], the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians [ECO], and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church [EPC] across various theological and organizational issues. Some key differences include:
- The PCUSA allows for more flexibility in beliefs around issues like salvation, the authority of Scripture, and homosexuality. The ECO and EPC take more traditionally conservative stances.
- The ECO and EPC affirm theological essentials/creeds and consider them authoritative, while the PCUSA does not have consensus on essential beliefs.
- The ECO and EPC require ordination vows affirming core doctrines like the authority
1. The document discusses how churches should actively involve trained members in evangelism and witnessing work instead of just having them attend seminars.
2. It emphasizes the importance of sharing ministry responsibilities and finding roles for all willing members, using Moses as an example of recognizing the need for delegation.
3. Matching members' talents, experiences, and backgrounds to the people they will minister to is recommended for effective outreach.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
This document discusses developing a defining vision for a church and implementing principles of missional ministry. It emphasizes becoming a "3-D Church" that is doxological, koinonial, and missional. The ministry cycle of reach, grow, send is presented as a way to align ministries and develop disciples. Action learning is introduced as a process for addressing adaptive challenges through team questioning and reflection. The overall message is developing a visionary, missional church focused on spiritual transformation and meeting human needs in the community.
Membership Growth and Retention by Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo 10 February 2018TAURAI EMMANUEL MAFORO
This document discusses membership growth and retention in the United Methodist Church. It begins by establishing membership growth and retention as important topics that circuits must focus on. It then provides definitions and quotes related to growth. The document discusses assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to membership in circuits. It also rates the effectiveness of different ministry areas. Finally, it offers strategies for nurturing members, including discovery, development and deployment, and emphasizes that membership retention is key to continued growth.
The author is working on a new book that will consist of 52 short chapters that can each be read aloud in 8-10 minutes. The book will cover the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and follow the traditional church calendar. It will present a coherent reading of the biblical narratives with a focus on creation and new creation. Each chapter will include discussion questions. The author hopes churches, families, and other groups will use the book for a season or whole year as part of their spiritual formation. The author is also working on projects called MESA and CANA that aim to build new kinds of faith communities and approaches to Christian life and mission.
The document outlines the four emphases of Sabbath School: faith emphasis, fellowship emphasis, community emphasis, and world emphasis. It aims to win, hold, and train people for Jesus Christ through Bible study, fellowship, outreach, and supporting missions. The superintendent oversees the Sabbath School by developing leadership, holding council meetings, promoting evangelism, and ensuring the four objectives are carried out. Bible study focuses on learning and transformation, not just information. The community and world emphases involve relieving the poor, caring for the sick, and teaching others about Jesus locally and globally.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
A Case Study In Adult Discipleship Implications For Pastoral Leadership And ...Joe Andelija
This document provides a summary of a case study on adult discipleship at an Anglican church in Toronto. The study found that discipleship was understood as a process of following Jesus in community, guided by the church's Discipleship Covenant. Discipleship was seen as something that takes time and occurs over a lifetime, rather than a destination that is reached. The church emphasized becoming disciples through involvement in worship, prayer, study, and sharing one's faith, both individually and together as a community.
genesis to revelation overview in making disciples Mark Pomeroy
This document outlines an 8-step process for systematically studying the Bible and making disciples:
1) Test and develop disciples' foundations by studying Genesis to Judges.
2) Engage the whole city by gathering believers and studying 1 Samuel to Malachi.
3) Gather kingdom-focused leaders and study Psalms to Ecclesiastes.
4) Begin discipleship training and study Lamentations to 2 Chronicles.
5) Begin additional training centers and study Matthew to Romans.
6) Transform cities by launching teams and studying 1 Corinthians to Colossians.
7) Release disciples to other churches and study 1 Thessalonians to Philemon.
8) Encourage elders and study Hebrews
THE RELEVANCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUP DYNAMICS IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF GR...Celia Munson, BCCC
Small groups are diverse in the way they are done. Spiritual growth group dynamics is well matched with developing and challenging growing believers for genuine spiritual formation and transformation, leading to Christ- likeness. Effective use of spiritual growth group dynamics is a useful aid in developing mature believers who can effectively interact within the larger Christian community. Considering the problem that the church has had with spiritual formation of adults, groups utilizing the structure of growth groups and focus on spirituality should be a key part of the answer.
These are notes from a simple introductory course on Church Planting. The majority of the course notes presented here are based upon J. D. Payne’s Planting Apostolic Churches.
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
The document discusses the importance of care groups, or small groups, in the church based on the New Testament model. It states that care groups are essential for a strong, healthy church as they allow believers to build each other up in a small, intimate setting. Care groups function as the basic unit of the church, similar to how cells are the basic unit of living organisms. They allow for relationships to form, spiritual growth to occur, and multiplication as new care groups are started. The document outlines the stages of growth for a care group from an initial forming stage to a reproducing stage where new care groups are birthed.
The document outlines the purposes of groups at a church called FBC. It states that the purposes are to foster belonging and acceptance, facilitate spiritual growth through Bible study, and focus on living missionally by engaging the community. It provides examples from the book of Acts to support these purposes. It also notes that groups should flourish through flexible structures and reproduce by releasing members to start new groups. Finally, it distinguishes between two types of groups - Bible fellowship groups and community groups.
Small groups are essential for spiritual growth and community within the church. They allow Christians to study scripture together, support one another, and apply their faith to daily life. When balanced around the five elements of fellowship, discipleship, worship, ministry, and evangelism, small groups help fulfill Jesus' commandments to love God, love others, and make disciples. Healthy small groups transform lives through relationship-building and serving one another and the community.
Adventist concepts of discipleship and nonconformitySamuel Curazzi
This document discusses Adventist concepts of discipleship and nonconformity to the world. It describes how Adventists believe discipleship involves spiritual, mental, physical, and relational growth into the likeness of Christ. It outlines ministries like Sabbath School and education that facilitate discipleship. It also explains that Adventists seek to be in the world but not of it, based on beliefs about the Sabbath, eschatology, and their mission to share God's end-time message with the world. However, their relationship with the world has become more ambiguous over time as cultural views have changed.
The document discusses creating community through spiritual formation. It defines spiritual formation as being formed into the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Discipleship communities are described as Calvary's key vehicle for spiritual formation, and are meant to be formative in developing Christ-like character, caring in meeting each other's needs, and missional in engaging in witness. The roles of the Trinity in spiritual formation are examined, as well as Jesus' teachings about the Holy Spirit. Growing communities that cultivate connection, plant purposes, and provide minimal structure for maximum growth is emphasized.
The document discusses relational disciple-making and how it reflects the method of Jesus. It emphasizes that disciple-making is about processes, relationships, transformation and reproduction rather than just programs or information. While programs have their place, relational models focusing on building relationships based on love and truth are preferred. Jesus made disciples relationally in small groups, being most intimate with Peter, James and John. The document suggests churches can reflect Jesus' method through large group ministry, small groups, but are often missing the most intimate discipleship of triads. Disciple-making triads of 3-4 people are proposed to provide a relational environment like Jesus had with some of his closest followers.
Comparison chart of Presbyterian DenominationsJeff Gissing
This document provides a comparison of the Presbyterian Church (USA) [PCUSA], the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians [ECO], and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church [EPC] across various theological and organizational issues. Some key differences include:
- The PCUSA allows for more flexibility in beliefs around issues like salvation, the authority of Scripture, and homosexuality. The ECO and EPC take more traditionally conservative stances.
- The ECO and EPC affirm theological essentials/creeds and consider them authoritative, while the PCUSA does not have consensus on essential beliefs.
- The ECO and EPC require ordination vows affirming core doctrines like the authority
1. The document discusses how churches should actively involve trained members in evangelism and witnessing work instead of just having them attend seminars.
2. It emphasizes the importance of sharing ministry responsibilities and finding roles for all willing members, using Moses as an example of recognizing the need for delegation.
3. Matching members' talents, experiences, and backgrounds to the people they will minister to is recommended for effective outreach.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
This document discusses developing a defining vision for a church and implementing principles of missional ministry. It emphasizes becoming a "3-D Church" that is doxological, koinonial, and missional. The ministry cycle of reach, grow, send is presented as a way to align ministries and develop disciples. Action learning is introduced as a process for addressing adaptive challenges through team questioning and reflection. The overall message is developing a visionary, missional church focused on spiritual transformation and meeting human needs in the community.
Membership Growth and Retention by Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo 10 February 2018TAURAI EMMANUEL MAFORO
This document discusses membership growth and retention in the United Methodist Church. It begins by establishing membership growth and retention as important topics that circuits must focus on. It then provides definitions and quotes related to growth. The document discusses assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to membership in circuits. It also rates the effectiveness of different ministry areas. Finally, it offers strategies for nurturing members, including discovery, development and deployment, and emphasizes that membership retention is key to continued growth.
The author is working on a new book that will consist of 52 short chapters that can each be read aloud in 8-10 minutes. The book will cover the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and follow the traditional church calendar. It will present a coherent reading of the biblical narratives with a focus on creation and new creation. Each chapter will include discussion questions. The author hopes churches, families, and other groups will use the book for a season or whole year as part of their spiritual formation. The author is also working on projects called MESA and CANA that aim to build new kinds of faith communities and approaches to Christian life and mission.
The document outlines the four emphases of Sabbath School: faith emphasis, fellowship emphasis, community emphasis, and world emphasis. It aims to win, hold, and train people for Jesus Christ through Bible study, fellowship, outreach, and supporting missions. The superintendent oversees the Sabbath School by developing leadership, holding council meetings, promoting evangelism, and ensuring the four objectives are carried out. Bible study focuses on learning and transformation, not just information. The community and world emphases involve relieving the poor, caring for the sick, and teaching others about Jesus locally and globally.
Making disciples who make disciples is at the heart of the call to follow Christ. Here are some notes on the gap between our intentions and practice (adapted from Greg Ogden's book, Transforming Discipleship).
A Case Study In Adult Discipleship Implications For Pastoral Leadership And ...Joe Andelija
This document provides a summary of a case study on adult discipleship at an Anglican church in Toronto. The study found that discipleship was understood as a process of following Jesus in community, guided by the church's Discipleship Covenant. Discipleship was seen as something that takes time and occurs over a lifetime, rather than a destination that is reached. The church emphasized becoming disciples through involvement in worship, prayer, study, and sharing one's faith, both individually and together as a community.
genesis to revelation overview in making disciples Mark Pomeroy
This document outlines an 8-step process for systematically studying the Bible and making disciples:
1) Test and develop disciples' foundations by studying Genesis to Judges.
2) Engage the whole city by gathering believers and studying 1 Samuel to Malachi.
3) Gather kingdom-focused leaders and study Psalms to Ecclesiastes.
4) Begin discipleship training and study Lamentations to 2 Chronicles.
5) Begin additional training centers and study Matthew to Romans.
6) Transform cities by launching teams and studying 1 Corinthians to Colossians.
7) Release disciples to other churches and study 1 Thessalonians to Philemon.
8) Encourage elders and study Hebrews
THE RELEVANCE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH GROUP DYNAMICS IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF GR...Celia Munson, BCCC
Small groups are diverse in the way they are done. Spiritual growth group dynamics is well matched with developing and challenging growing believers for genuine spiritual formation and transformation, leading to Christ- likeness. Effective use of spiritual growth group dynamics is a useful aid in developing mature believers who can effectively interact within the larger Christian community. Considering the problem that the church has had with spiritual formation of adults, groups utilizing the structure of growth groups and focus on spirituality should be a key part of the answer.
These are notes from a simple introductory course on Church Planting. The majority of the course notes presented here are based upon J. D. Payne’s Planting Apostolic Churches.
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
The Enchantment and Shadows_ Unveiling the Mysteries of Magic and Black Magic...Phoenix O
This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
The forces involved in this witchcraft spell will re-establish the loving bond between you and help to build a strong, loving relationship from which to start anew. Despite any previous hardships or problems, the spell work will re-establish the strong bonds of friendship and love upon which the marriage and relationship originated. Have faith, these stop divorce and stop separation spells are extremely powerful and will reconnect you and your partner in a strong and harmonious relationship.
My ritual will not only stop separation and divorce, but rebuild a strong bond between you and your partner that is based on truth, honesty, and unconditional love. For an even stronger effect, you may want to consider using the Eternal Love Bond spell to ensure your relationship and love will last through all tests of time. If you have not yet determined if your partner is considering separation or divorce, but are aware of rifts in the relationship, try the Love Spells to remove problems in a relationship or marriage. Keep in mind that all my love spells are 100% customized and that you'll only need 1 spell to address all problems/wishes.
Save your marriage from divorce & make your relationship stronger using anti divorce spells to make him or her fall back in love with you. End your marriage if you are no longer in love with your husband or wife. Permanently end your marriage using divorce spells that work fast. Protect your marriage from divorce using love spells to boost commitment, love & bind your hearts together for a stronger marriage that will last. Get your ex lover who has remarried using divorce spells to break up a couple & make your ex lost lover come back to you permanently.
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2. CORE Discipleship is a faith-based, Christian organization. Our mission is to help
you make disciples of Jesus. We provide a simple and reproducible discipleship
process based on Jesus’ “inner circle” or “core” comprised of Peter, James, and
John.
Introduction
This Guide presents the 3-Strand Core Discipleship process in general and more specifically, the
third strand in this process we call Core discipleship.
This guide may help you see discipleship in a whole new light. Relax and enter God’s Kingdom
rest as you prepare to not only begin the process of intentional, relational, horizontal and verti
cal discipleship, but as you become part of something exciting, fresh and wonderfully bold.
3. Testimonials
“The “three-strand” church is a world-changing church. While there has been volumes of books
written on corporate worship and small group ministry, comparatively very little has been put
in print regarding Core Groups. Doug Morrell fills in the gap with the Core Group Workbook. It
is a “hands on” book that will allow the third missing strand of the church to gain much needed
momentum. Use this book as a field guide, not a theology textbook. Commit yourself to be a doer
of the word and never look back. Make way for the “three-strand” church!”
Dr. Phillip Hearn
Founder & Former Senior Pastor, New River
4. Purpose
This guide provides a broad overview of the Core Discipleship process and the Core
Discipleship workbook. The workbook is a very practical and useful resource that
serves as a 1-year curriculum containing the basic essential elements needed to help
mature believers into obedient, loving and fruitful disciples. The Core training workbook
is based upon a 3-Strand Church Discipleship Process (Ecc. 4:12). The first strand of a
healthy church is a dynamic corporate worship gathering based on fellowship, worship,
discipleship, ministry and evangelism. The second strand is made up of various small
groups flowing out of the church. The third strand is made up of Core discipleship
groups where the discipleship process is accelerated through close, safe, confidential
relationships and is able to multiply itself through many spiritual generations. Core
Groups go beyond small groups and accountability groups in that they are morethan a
social gathering or a cursory overview of a devotional book or reading. Core Groups
are designed with growth, mutual accountability, outreach, and spiritual maturity as
each member’s goals.
5. We believe that we are seeing these results because we are not following Jesus' process
for making disciples.
• Jesus modeled His discipleship process
• Jesus spent time with His disciples (based on just an 8-hour day over 3 years would equal
8,760 hours of discipleship training invested in His disciples)
• Jesus used a show, tell, release and supervise discipleship model where Scripture was not just
academic (hearing), but vocational (doing)
• Jesus sent them out in groups and within those groups there were more mature believers with
younger believers
The cost of discipleship is great; the cost of not discipling is greater.
6. The Benefits of Making Disciples As Jesus Did
• Obedience to His Great Commission -- you will be able to honestly say, "Yes, I am being dis
cipled and I am making disciples as Jesus both commanded and demonstrated."
• Will make you and those you disciple more like Jesus.
• Will grow you in the faith more than anything you have ever done.
• Will develop something in the lives of those you disciple that otherwise would never take place.
• Will create deep, lifelong relationships with those you disciple.
• Will bring God's Word to the forefront of your life and ministry.
• Will equip you and those you disciple to live for Christ.
• Will produce godly fruit.
• Will produce an eternal impact for God's Kingdom
7. Relational Evidence for 3-Strand Discipleship
There is relational evidence that God created you to crave relationships and community:
• God wants you to seek a relationship with Him (Acts 17:24-27)
• God wants you to have relationships with others (Genesis 2:18)
• God reveals His emotions to you (Ephesians 4:30; Zephaniah 3:17)
• God intervenes when you can’t communicate (Romans 8:26-27)
There is also blessing that comes from community:
• Strength for storms of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
• Wisdom for making good decisions (Proverbs 15:22)
• Confidentiality and accountability for spiritual health (Proverbs 27:17)
• There is strength, reliability and assurance in community (Proverbs 18:24)
8. 3-Strand Core Discipleship Overview
Jesus' 3-strand discipleship: Crowd, Cell, and Core
The most effective manner to train and equip people for any skill is by providing
effective models and opportunities to practice the skill itself. Jesus used a show, tell,
release, and supervise discipleship training process. Jesus ministered to the
multitudes (crowd), the 12 (cell), and the inner circle of 3 (Core). After calling the
disciples, He took them along with Him, teaching and healing the sick as He went.
Then, after He thought they had seen and learned enough to try for themselves, He
commissioned, empowered, instructed, and sent them out to do the same things in
small groups. This discipleship process should be no different for those desiring to
bring others into a complete understanding and walk in Christ-likeness.
9.
10. Strand 1: Crowd
Size: 50+people; typically Sunday or weekend service(s); large gathering of people for
corporate worship
Purpose: To bring about a change in knowledge
Focus: Celebration - worship
Wesley's society or crowd group included those in a geographical area, much like a
typical, congregational meeting in today’s church. These large groups of people met
once a week to pray, sing, study scripture, and to watch over one another in love.
However, as is true of today's corporate church gathering, there was little or no
provision made at this level for personal response or feedback.
11. Strand 2: Cell
Size: 5-16 people
Purpose: To bring about behavioral change; conduct
Focus: Community - fellowship
Wesley's class or cell group was the most basic group structure of the society. The class was composed of 12-20 members,
both sexes, mixed by age, social standing and spiritual readiness, under the direction of a trained leader. It was not a gathering
for academic learning. They met weekly in the evening for mutual confession of sin and accountability for growing in holiness.
This group provided the structure to more closely inspect the condition of the flock, to help them through trials and temptations,
and to bring further understanding in practical terms to the messages they had heard preached in the public society meeting.
12. Strand 3: Core
Size: 3 or 4 people
Purpose: To bring about a change of direction, heart and
position; knowledge, character and conduct
Focus: Commitment - discipleship
Wesley's band or "Core" was made up of 4 members, all the same sex, age, and
marital status. This was a voluntary group of people who professed a clear Christian
commitment, who desired to grow in love, holiness, and purity of motive. The
environment was one of ruthless honesty and frank openness.
13. Three Strands Within the Great Commission
From Matthew 28:19-20 we learn:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age."
The Great Commission has three participles: “go”, “baptizing” and “teaching” and
one impera tive verb, a command: “make disciples.” The main idea is to make
disciples. The participles tell us how to do that: we make disciples by going,
baptizing, and teaching. So the goal of a Core Discipleship Group is to make
disciples, teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded.
14. What is a disciple?
A disciple is a born-again believer who has decided that following Christ takes priority over
everything else in life. Jesus didn’t say being a disciple would be easy. He told His followers
that they would have to deny them selves and take up their own crosses to follow Him. He
empha sized the fact that He would have to be first in their lives when He said, “If anyone
comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and
brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).
Jesus is speaking to you and to me. Being a disciple and making disciples is a direct command
from our Lord Jesus and the responsibility of every born-again believer.
We are to commit our lives to Jesus Christ and be willing to do whatever
Jesus tells us so that His kingdom will be built according to His plan. That’s
discipleship.
15. Core Discipleship Groups
Core purposes to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission by
focusing on the third-strand of the Great Commission: “Teach them to observe all that
I commanded you” (Mth.28:20). We accomplish this purpose as we build lifelong
relationships in the context of safe and confidential Core Groups - groups of no more
than four disciples, men with men and women with women. Core Groups are not
accountability groups or smaller, small groups. Under the supervision of a local
church, Core Groups develop students and adults who commit their lives to Jesus
Christ and are willing to follow Him as presented in the pages of God’s Word. From
the very beginning, Core members are held accountable to begin praying for two to
come to Christ and for someone they are called to disciple. The “handshake” of Core
is fivefold:
16. 1. Love
The first foundational value of a Core Group is the pursuit of the Great
Commandment - vertical relationship with God and our horizontal
relationship with others (Mth. 22:37-40).
2. Christ-likeness
The second foundational value is the pursuit of Christ-likeness as we
observe the Great Commission (Mth. 28:19,20). It is our desire to be
genuinely conformed to the character of Jesus. We believe God’s vision for
man is to make us in the image of Christ (Gen. 1:26; Rom. 8:29). We believe
that all spiritual progress is the result of God’s grace. We believe that
humility is the pathway to Christ-likeness. In seeking to truly become like
Christ, we remember His command to, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart” (Mth. 11:29).
17. 3. Devoted
The third foundational value of Core is a commitment to the four
fundamental devotions of the church as recorded in Acts 2:42: devoted to
God’s Word, fellowship, communion, and prayer. It is learning to be a doer
of the Word.
4. Equipped
A Core Group outfits the saints for the work of ministry - the privilege and
enterprise of each member of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16).
5. Faithful
A Core Group follows Jesus’ pattern for discipleship and which Paul
presented in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that you have heard from me
among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able
to teach others also.
18. The Purpose of a Core Group
1. To provide for close interpersonal fellowship and interaction between disciples so that committed relationships can be developed - to
know Him and make Him known!
2. To promote unity and bonding as a family, providing a place where disciples can feel that hey are a part of the body of Christ.
3. To help meet the needs of believers on every level, i.e. spiritual, social, intellectual, and physical. This involves praying and caring
for each other, sharing with each other and ministering to one another.
4. To provide pastoral care so that they can receive special personal attention, encouragement, instruction, edification, exhortation,
admonishing, etc.
5. To disciple disciples to a point where they will in turn be able to disciple others. This involves teaching the basic truths and principles
of the Word of God and maintaining accountability.
6. To create a safe, relaxed, spiritual environment for disciples to grow in God and His Word without fear of rejection or condemnation.
7. To encourage disciples to become doers of the Word and be used of the Lord so that they may be a blessing and testimony to the
local church.
8. To provide an opportunity for individual expression in worship and ministry.
9. To be a tool of evangelism in your local neighborhood; reaching out to people on a con
tinual basis in order to lead them to Jesus.
10. To provide a line of communication - networking all levels of leadership together.
19. Core Discipleship Groups follow the Master’s plan for
discipleship by imparting life, not just teaching about life
- it is spiritual parenting. It is showing, telling, supervising
and releasing disciples to make disciples who can then
repeat the process once more. It is both an adventure of
a lifetime and a lifetime of adventure.