This document discusses effective discipleship through small group models. It begins by examining Jesus' model of having a small group of disciples and focusing on intentional, relational, and strategic discipleship. It then explores how small groups can cultivate a culture of discipleship by intentionally following Christ and entering into a transformational relationship, becoming like him in mission. Small groups are said to provide safe spaces for growth through honest relationships and challenging each other to become more Christ-like. The document advocates staying intentional, being relational, and thinking strategically in small group discipleship.

1. Real Life Discipleship
Growing through Effective Discipleship

2. • Using Jesus’ model and
principles as foundation
• Building the church
through small-group
discipleship
• Learning stages of growth
in our discipleship

3. Jesus’s Model
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit; and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always to the very end of the age.
-Matthew 28:19-20

4. When Jesus started his ministry,
what did he NOT have?
1) Staff of evangelists, elders, deacons
2) Sunday morning worship service
3) Regular midweek meeting
4) Children’s ministry, campus ministry, worship ministry, ushering ministry,
addiction recovery ministry…
5) Cool website
6) A church building

5. What did Jesus do/have?
•Focused on a small-group of individuals and
created a reproducible culture of
“discipleship”
•Big-picture vision; small-group focus

6. Culture of discipleship?
Matthew 4:18-20 - Come follow me, and I
will make you fishers of men.
•Intentional, Relational, Strategic

7. “Come follow me”
•Discipleship is intentional
•Discipleship means obedience to Christ,
not just agreement/belief (John 8:30-32)

8. “And I will make you”
• Discipleship is relational
• The disciples were transformed by their relationship with
Christ (John 15:12-17)
• The person you are at the beginning of discipleship is left
behind and the creation of a new person for Christ
begins (Mark 8:34-35)

9. “Fishers of men”
• Discipleship is strategic
• Jesus had a mission (Luke 19:10) that was reproduced by
the disciples in the Great Commission
• Transformation/change happened by participating in the
purpose of Christ – to save souls. (Luke 6:40)

10. Culture of Discipleship
By intentionally following Christ, the disciples entered a
transformational relationship with him. They became like
him in his mission, strategically reproducing discipleship
throughout the generations to follow.
Small-groups that are unified around these ideas become
incubators for growth through discipleship!

11. The Practical Power of Small-Groups
• Relationships reinforce what we are learning and provide models for us to learn
from and emulate
• Relationships that are honest, vulnerable and loving give us safe-space to deal with
weaknesses and sins.
• Relationships inherently challenge us to grow by learning Christ-like love
• Small-groups are easily and naturally reproduced
• Small-groups meet more needs while engaging broader involvement and collective
responsibility

12. Strengthening Small-Groups
• Stay intentional in our Christianity.
• Be relational in our approach to discipleship.
• Think and act strategically for the Great
Commission and personal growth.

13. “And I am with you
always, to the very
end of the age…”