Discipleship & Discovery

The Great Commission finds its ultimate fulfillment in context of Love for God and love for people, in the Spirit of Truth. While various methods and programs can be useful tools, discipleship flows from the wellspring of relationship and community. Relationship with the person initiating that discipleship, and, more so, the discovery of the God of that person -- whether discipling "into the faith" or "discipling in the faith." Discipleship can be broadly defined as anytime a student is learning from a teacher or preacher... narrowly defined as one who gives one-one or small group facilitating of the discipleship process... and at the deepest level, a spiritual father or mother.

Teachers & Preachers, Fathers & Mothers

The role of teachers and preachers is vast. They set the culture of the Church=at-large, especially with the increase in social media. Many of us appreciate balanced and seasoned teaching in our day from the likes of Michael Brown, John Piper, Mike Winger, Tim Keller, and Mike Bickle; or powerful preaching we've seen from those like Reinhard Bonke or the late Billy Graham. But as important as teachers and preachers are, both on a broad scale and locally, nothing compares to the role of a spiritual parent. Paul said, "Though you have many teachers in Christ, you do not have many fathers, and yet I became your father in Christ." 1 Cor 4:15

The relationship P aul had with Timothy, for instance, is perhaps the fullest example we have in the Scriptures for discipleship as spiritual fathering.

Discovery Bible Studies

The underground church in persecuted countries thrives and multiplies in the midst of great suffering. They don't have platform ministries like we do, but disciples multiply and grow through one on one and small group relationships by the power of the Spirit. One of the simplest and most effective tools we've seen in the Middle East, India, and throughout the world in recent years, is the "DBS" or Discovery Bible Study. We would do well to learn from them. The facilitator/ disciple maker pursues 1-3 unbelievers who are hungry for God, opens the Scriptures with them, and asks questions to help them discover for themselves who God is and how to follow Jesus. The DBS disciple maker is not a teacher, but a host for the Holy Spirit as he/she allows the Word to do its work in the readers heart. Through the DBS, a relationship can grow with a disciple maker quickly to where the new disciple starts discipling others in his sphere, and the original disciple maker becomes a coach or mentor. As the disciples multiply, Christ communities form and proliferate, and shepherds are raised up to care for, feed, support, and direct the flock.

5 questions we use in our DBS small groups in the book of John

(1) What was meaningful to you from the passage?

(2) What can we learn about who God is?

(3) What can we learn about people and ourselves?

(4) How can we respond to this passage with a practical step of obedience to follow Christ this week?

(5) Who can we pray for in your life?