Replicate Ministries: Recent Episodes
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SUMMARY: In this episode of Disciple Her, Julie Woodruff and Kandi Gallaty discuss what discipleship is and what discipleship is not. TIME STAMPS: 0:25- Welcome 0:43 – What is a Disciple? 1:55- What Discipleship is 11:14 – What Discipleship is not 14:13 – Mentorship versus Discipleship LINKS: If you are a church leader, join our […]
The post S01E02: What is Discipleship? appeared first on Replicate.
SUMMARY: On this episode of Disciple Her, Julie Woodruff and Kandi Gallaty talk about caring for your relationship with your husband and children. TIME STAMPS: 1:44 – Praying for your husband 4:05 – Communicating with your husband 10:47 – Communicating with your husband part 2 13:55 – Boundaries with the opposite sex 15:16 – Intimacy […]
The post S04E05: Caring for your family as a Minister’s Wife appeared first on Replicate.
SUMMARY: On this episode of Disciple Her, Julie Woodruff and Kandi Gallaty discuss the difference between identity and calling with Jen Landrith Oliver. TIME STAMPS: 2:00 – Kandi and Robby’s calling to Long Hollow 4:50 – Jen and David’s calling to Long Hollow 14:07 – Knowing the difference between calling and identity. LINKS: If you are a […]
The post S04E09: Knowing the difference: Identity and Calling appeared first on Replicate.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff kickoff their new season about celebrating Advent. TIME STAMPS: 1:12 – Why an advent reading plan? 3:55 – Christmas Trivia 6:20 – Christmas Traditions 14:00 – What is advent? 19:45 – How do we plan to celebrate Advent? LINKS: Text ADVENT to 98173 to […]
The post S05E01: Celebrating Advent Introduction appeared first on Replicate.
“How am I supposed to help my kids follow Jesus when I am struggling in my own relationship with him?” It’s a valid question, and one you’re not alone in asking. Or maybe you’re not struggling in your relationship with Christ, but you’re just having a hard time with life in general. Maybe it’s your […]
The post For the Struggling Parent Who Wants to Disciple Their Kids appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
If your schedule looks anything like mine, it can make a person uninitiated in the realm of color-coded calendars dizzy. There’s a color dedicated to this kid, a color dedicated to that kid. One for work stuff, one for family stuff, and even the dogs have their own special color on the calendar. Ok, so […]
The post To The Busy Parent Who Wants to Disciple Their Kids appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Parenting is a wild ride, isn’t it? Nothing can adequately prepare you. Parenting books, blogs, and podcasts are all great. But they only scratch the surface of what it’s like to have your own kid. There are so many paths to parenthood, no one gets there quite the same. But when that precious life is […]
The post To the Parent Who Wants to Disciple Their Kids But Doesn’t Know Where to Start appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths Week 2: The Engagement Myth Week 3: The Expertise Myth Week 4 : The Equipping Myth Week 5: The Empowerment Myth Execution Myth: CHURCH IMPACT = MINISTRY OWNERSHIP If you look at your primary disciple-making ministries, who […]
The post This Ministry Myth Is the Number One Myth That Kills Discipleship Group Ministries appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths Week 2: The Engagement Myth Week 3: The Expertise Myth Week 4 : The Equipping Myth EMPOWERMENT MYTH: Filling Spots = Empowering People “I want to make a difference. What should I do?” If a faithful church […]
The post Do Your People Seem Disinterested in Volunteering? This May Be Why. appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths Week 2: The Engagement Myth Week 3: The Expertise Myth The EQUIPPING MYTH: Teaching = Training What is a skill that you have become proficient in? Golf? Guitar? Cooking? How did you learn that skill? Who helped […]
The post Are You Underwhelmed by How Equipped Your People Are to Make Disciples? appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
We have been introducing the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. Week 1: The 5 Ministry Myths Week 2: The Engagement Myth The EXPERTISE MYTH: Ministry Excellence = Excellent Ministry Are your staff and key leaders exhausted? Does it feel like they are the only ones executing ministry while the congregation seems to be […]
The post Is Your Staff Exhausted From Doing All the Work While Your People Sit Comfortably? This May Be Why. appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Last week we introduced the five myths that are stalling disciple-making movements. This week we look at the first myth. The Engagement Myth: ACTIVITY = TRANSFORMATION How does your church measure success? Every church measures some form of activity. How many people attended worship, how many people are serving, how many are attending a group […]
The post How Are You Measuring Church Success? Why Measuring Engagement Isn’t Enough. appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Did you know? That the color red does NOT make bulls angry. Bats aren’t blind. If you shave your hair, it doesn’t come back thicker. Dogs can see more than black and white. If you touch a baby bird with your bare hands, its mother won’t reject it. And cracking your knuckles won’t give you […]
The post How Did We Get Here? The 5 Ministry Myths That Are Stalling Your Disciple-Making Movement appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Last time we talked about the Replicate collective and the gathering of guys we had here; pastors and leaders from all over the country We teased last time that we were going to share the talk that Robby shared with The Collective, and a story from someone that was impacted at the event. Robby shared a talk […]
The post S05E28: Keeping The Fire Burning appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Today on the podcast, we’re coming out of a great week where we gathered with around 60 pastors from around the country for our Replicate collective live gathering. It was such a great time to be together with these guys who we’ve been with virtually to now be gathered together face to face was just […]
The post S05E27: Why You Need The Collective appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Today, on the podcast, Pastor Robby and Collin had the privilege to go to Liberty University last week. They had such a great time, and wanted to share some of the insights they learned and experienced on the trip. Time Stamps 01:05: Why do pastors need continuous training? 05:25: The Men of Revival 09:20: Getting a […]
The post S05E26: Field Trip appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
You ask your group, “Who wants to share from their H.E.A.R. journal?” and the next thing you know one of your members is talking about their nightmare experience at the DMV…I probably don’t even have to describe the rest of this situation to you. This is what we call “The Wanderer,” and that is just […]
The post Three Types of Struggling Journalers & How To Hold Them Accountable appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Today on the podcast we’re continuing the conversation we started on grief, that success and suffering often run on parallel tracks and sometimes arrive at the same time TIME STAMPS: 1:57 – Grief is like finding yourself in exile 6:40 – To feel is to heal 7:30 – The example of Job 10:46 – The […]
The post S05E25: Success and Suffering, Part 2 appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
If you’re leading a Discipleship Group with members who never demonstrate commitment issues, consider yourself an anomaly. In all likelihood, at some point you will face one of the following scenarios, or at least a pretty similar one: A member who consistently has trouble preparing their memory verses A member who frequently makes excuses for […]
The post How to Handle Commitment Issues within your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: Today on the podcast we’re talking about Success & Suffering, of grief and how we process that along with successes in our life. TIME STAMPS: 2:50 – Don’t Share. 6:30 – Am I in a fog? 9:34 – The parallel tracks of success and LINKS: Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E24: Success and Suffering appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
By this point in your journey to make disciples, you’ve encountered the verse that drives us: the Great Commission. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18). You’ve taken the first step–you’re in a Discipleship Group right now. But what happens when this group comes to an […]
The post How to End Your Discipleship Group: Who’s Your One? appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast we’re concluding our series on what we do at the beginning of the year. As we’re recording this on Jan 31st, we’ve just concluded a 21 day prayer and fasting initiative at Long Hollow. TIME STAMPS: 4:00 – What does fasting and prayer look like? 9:16 – The “ah-ha” […]
The post S05E23: What Do I Do As A Pastor To Prepare For The New Year: Prayer, Fasting, Self-Reflection appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
It doesn’t matter what stage you are in with your discipleship group, there’s going to be a moment when you start wondering whether the people in your group are connecting with one another. Even if they’re starting to open up to each other with a little more ease, there are steps we can take as […]
The post How to Foster Connection in Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: In this episode, we will continue talking about preparing for the new year. Last week we talked about picking a word for the year. For 2022, the word Pastor Robby has for Long Hollow is “clarity.” TIME STAMPS: 1:30 – What is clarity? 5:10 – The example of Moses and Joshua 10:40 – How […]
The post S05E22: What Do I Do as a Pastor to Prepare for the New Year: Clarity for the Year appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Your discipleship group, at one point or another, is going to struggle with Scripture memorization – we all do. Your members will probably start out strong. They have a blank slate, a fresh start, and a new beginning to something they are excited about. They’ll come in the first couple of weeks with a rock-solid […]
The post How To Improve Scripture Memorization: Tips for Group Leaders appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
We’ve all been there: you show up to a class, meeting, or presentation and feel totally unprepared. It’s weighing down your mind, dampening your spirit. It’s all you can think about. Then you get to the place you’re dreading knowing full well how unprepared you are, and the worst happens: you get called out on […]
The post Call Up, Don’t Call Out: How to Call on People in Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: Thank you for joining us on the podcast, we’re looking at how we start off a new year. Last week we started off by looking at how to reflect and thank God for the year that was. Now we look forward and look at some things we do to prepare for the year to […]
The post S05E21: What Do I Do as a Pastor to Prepare for the New Year: Discerning a Theme appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: At the start of this new year, we are talking about what we as pastors can do to prepare for a new year. TIME STAMPS: 1:00 – Preparing for a new year 3:30 – Spiritual warfare in ministry 9:35 – God is limitless 12:29 – Faith and belief LINKS: Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E20: What Do I Do as a Pastor to Prepare for the New Year: Reflection for Direction appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
So, you’re ten weeks into your discipleship group and you realize something strange: You’re getting close to these people you’ve been meeting with. Really close. You’re starting to be able to tell them things you didn’t think you’d be able to talk about with anyone else. You’re starting to get in the rhythm of practicing […]
The post How To Create a Schedule for Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: We’ve identified the three schemes the devil uses to tempt Jesus and attack believers today. So, today, we’re going to look at a gameplan, so that we won’t believe the lies of Satan and fall into temptation. TIME STAMPS: 1:00 – Why do we need a plan? 3:10 – Temptations in the ministry of […]
The post S05E19: Temptation Gameplan appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: Today on the podcast we’re looking at the temptation of Jesus, and how the enemy uses these categories to attack and tempt us today. TIME STAMPS: 1:45 – Patterns of temptation in the Bible 9:40 – Core issue of ambition LINKS: Replicate Collective: www.replicatecollective.com Download the Temptation Triangle graphic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a3ecyaw6lfk0q9p/Replicate%20Podcast%20Shownotes%20-%20Te mptation%20Triangle.pdf?dl=0
The post S05E18: Temptation Pattern 3: Ambition appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
As the new year begins, now is the time to choose a bible reading plan that you can stick with! Whether you’d like to read through the Old Testament, New Testament, or a mixture of both, we have FREE reading plans to guide you through 2022. Our Foundations reading plans are designed for you to […]
The post The Reading Plan and Resources You Need to Read the Bible More in 2022 appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff discuss the love of God in celebration of Advent. TIME STAMPS: 1:00 – Christmas Trivia 3:10 – Christmas Traditions 8:03 – Reflecting on scripture 9:20 – Abiding in Love LINKS: Text ADVENT to 98173 to opt-in to our text reading plan. Find out more […]
The post S05E05: Love and Adoration appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Let’s face it: it’s tough to open up to someone else, even if you trust them completely. It takes some fortitude to dive into some of the parts of yourself that are a little less than polished, and a good amount of humility to surface them into your life. Even though it’s tough, accountability is […]
The post How to Improve Accountability in Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff talk about joy in the Christmas season. TIME STAMPS: 1:13 – Christmas Trivia 5:08 – Christmas Traditions 7:42 – What is the difference between joy and happiness? 15:20 – Joy and Giving 16:59 – Celebrating with your community LINKS: Text ADVENT to 98173 to […]
The post S05E04: Finding Joy in the Holiday Season appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: We are continuing in our series on the temptation of Jesus. This week, we take a look at the temptation pattern of approval. TIME STAMPS: 2:00 – Matthew 4:5-7 5:20 – The two sides of Approval 15:00 – Shame LINKS: Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com Download the Temptation Triangle graphic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a3ecyaw6lfk0q9p/Replicate%20Podcast%20Shownotes%20-%20Te mptation%20Triangle.pdf?dl=0
The post S05E17: Temptation Pattern 2: Approval appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff discuss how Advent is a time of preparation. TIME STAMPS: 1:00 – Christmas Trivia 5:35 – Christmas Traditions 8:11 – Reflecting on Seasons of Waiting 10:29 – Seasons of Waiting in Scripture 11:23 – Reflecting on Isaiah 40:3-5 LINKS: Text ADVENT to 98173 to […]
The post S05E03: Advent: A Time of Preparation appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
As the holiday season arrives and you get ready to kick off the new year, it’s a great time to give your D-Groups gifts. Below is a list of a few of our favorite gifts that we give our D-Groups. These gifts show both your appreciation and will equip them to make disciples that make […]
The post Great Gifts to Give Your D-Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, we’re picking up where we left off last episode where we are looking at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness TIME STAMPS: 1:00 – The schemes of Satan 6:20 – The first temptation: appetite 13:00 – The two sides of appetite LINKS: Replicate Collective: www.replicatecollective.com Download the Temptation Triangle […]
The post S05E16: Temptation Pattern 1: Appetite appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Your discipleship group has a couple of meetings under its belt at this point, which means that you’re well on your way to building the kind of rapport with one another that will accelerate your spiritual development. This leads us to one of the most important parts of your discipleship journey: accountability. We’re going to […]
The post How to Stay Accountable with Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff reflect on the hope of Christ as we prepare for Christmas. TIME STAMPS: 2:19 – Holiday Trivia 7:10 – Holiday Traditions with Kandi and Julie 11:37 – Reflecting on Isaiah 9:6-7 from this week’s reading 12:55 – Jesus as Wonderful Counselor 15:37 – Jesus […]
The post S05E02: Reflecting on the Hope of Jesus appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY: This week on the podcast, we’re picking up where we left off last episode where we discovered a six element pattern that occurs throughout scripture. If you’re not familiar with this pattern, be sure to go back to the last episode for more information. TIME STAMPS: 2:00 – Was it possible for Jesus to […]
The post S05E15: Could Jesus Have Sinned? appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
With introductions out of the way, you are now a full week into your discipleship journey with your group. But even now, in the second week, you’re already getting to the meat. You have already learned how to start your group, but now let’s figure out how to lead your discipleship group and make it […]
The post How to Lead Your Discipleship Group: Week Two appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY:This week on the podcast, Kandi Gallaty and Julie Woodruff kickoff their new season about celebrating Advent.
TIME STAMPS: * 1:12 – Why an advent reading plan? * 3:55 – Christmas Trivia * 6:20 – Christmas Traditions * 14:00 – What is advent? * 19:45 – How do we plan to celebrate Advent?
LINKS: * Text ADVENT to 98173 to opt in to our text reading * Find out more about our Bible reading plans here: https://replicate.org/foundations/
The post S05E01: Celebrating Advent Introduction appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY:
This week on the podcast, we’re continuing our discussion on the six element pattern that we see throughout Scripture.
TIME STAMPS: * 0:34 – Review of the six elements * 5:15 – Matthew 3 – The baptism of Jesus * 18:15 – What is the point of all this
LINKS: * Download The Six Elements PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w7uipjcjiipde3c/Six%20Elements.pdf?dl=0 * For the introduction to the conversation on the six elements, listen to last week’s podcast episode here: https://bit.ly/3bq1aQp * Replicate Collective: www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E14: The Six Element Pattern appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
How to Begin Your Discipleship Group
You’ve found three or four other people who have agreed to go on a discipleship journey with you. You’ve set up your first meeting together, perhaps in a coffee shop or a cafe, and you’re fired up to begin.
But you might have a question looming in the back of your head: “Okay, what do I do now?”
Today, let’s look at exactly what you should expect from this very first meeting with your new Discipleship Group so that you can set it up for success and point it in the right direction.
Step 1: Set Expectations From the first moments of this first meeting, you are setting the tone for how the group will operate. It is important that the members of your group know what they should expect on a weekly basis going forward.
When you gather for your first meeting together, one of the first expectations you, as the leader, can set is that of vulnerability and authenticity. One practical way to do this is by sharing testimonies.
Even if the members of your group are hesitant to share theirs, you can lead by showing them how to share what Jesus has done in your life.
A good testimony contains three pieces of information:
- Who you were before knowing Jesus
- How you met Jesus and decided to follow Him
- What that has meant for you since
Vulnerability and authenticity underscore every aspect of the Discipleship Group, because accountability cannot happen without honesty, confidentiality, and transparency.
As you grow together over time, these things will be easier to cultivate. But right away you can set the bar by example.
Step 2: Establish Disciplines In addition to modeling authenticity for your members, you can take time in this meeting to explain what is going to be expected of each member going forward.
The bar for a Discipleship Group member is low: any believer of Jesus meets the qualification. But while the bar may be low, the expectation for each member is high.
Explain to your group that, together, you will be focusing on scripture memory and reading, journaling, accountability, and prayer. We will be breaking down each of these in the coming weeks.
You might be like me and love physical handouts. If so, you can print or send digital copies of the Discipleship Group Overview to help your members visualize what being in the group entails.
After you have explained what your weekly meetings will consist of (each of the disciplines mentioned in bold above), we encourage everyone in your group – yourself included – to sign a Discipleship Group Covenant, like the one here.
By signing the covenant, you have a tangible way to hold each of your members accountable, and they can do the same for you.
Step 3: Begin With the End in Mind After you have met with your group for a year, you will have developed a close bond. It will be a place of comfort and confidence, and the relationships you have with each other may be some of the deepest relationships you have had in your life. You may even want to keep meeting forever.
While that is a nice thought, it isn’t what a Discipleship Group is for. Prepare your group from the beginning that you will not be together forever, that after a year or a year and a half, you will send them off to replicate this group with other believers.
Discipleship never ends. It starts again.
At Replicate, we pray that you will be excited but also equipped to make Jesus’ final command your first priority. Feel free to check out any of the resources we have available at replicate.org/dgroup to help you along the way.
The post How to Begin Your Discipleship Group appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY:Today on the podcast, we continue talking about the baptism of Jesus and the significance of water in Jesus’ life.
TIME STAMPS: * 1:50 – The Six Elements * 4:03 – Genesis 1-3 * 7:25 – Genesis 6-9 * 10:16 – Exodus
LINKS: * Download The Six Elements PDF – https://www.dropbox.com/s/w7uipjcjiipde3c/Six%20Elements.pdf?dl=0 * Genesis 1 – https://read.csbible.com/?book=genesis&chapter=1 * Genesis 6 – https://read.csbible.com/?book=genesis&chapter=6 * Exodus 2 – https://read.csbible.com/?book=exodus&chapter=2 * Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E13: Testing the Waters appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Why Your Discipleship Group Needs a Starter Guide
When one of my friends was born, his grandparents drove from Tennessee to Indiana to be there for his birth. At least that was the plan.
It wasn’t long before they realized they’d made a mistake: they were supposed to be in Munster, right outside of Chicago. But they were seeing signs for Iowa. They had gone West on I-80 instead of East.
Their error in those days before GPS was not having a full plan when they left. Since their roadmap was incomplete, they ended up somewhere they never intended to be.
If we’re not careful when starting our Discipleship Groups, we might find ourselves in the same situation. You may take a turn somewhere you’re not supposed to and end up at the entirely wrong destination.
Over the coming weeks, we are going to break down a resource called the D-Group Starter Guide that will help you have a full road map before you even start. When you begin with the end in mind, you’re going to have a much better chance of arriving at the destination you’re aiming for: producing fully formed, replicating disciples of Jesus.
Why the D-Group (Discipleship Group) Starter Guide? There is no shortage of resources or methods that you can find for making disciples, many of which are excellent. Disciple-making is hardly a new concept, and volumes have been devoted to it over the years.
But as you set out to create a culture of discipleship among the people in your church, sometimes it helps to have everything available in the same place, with the same framework and with consistent language.
At Replicate, we believe that language creates culture. So if we want to create a culture of discipleship, it helps to get everybody on the same page.
This Starter Guide will provide you with every tool you need to set an effective road map in your discipleship journey.
It is worth noting that the practices you’ll find in these coming posts are not a magic formula that we’ve dreamed up on our own. Every step of this process is informed not only by Scripture, but by the very practices that Jesus used when leading His disciples two thousand years ago.
Although we might have given these practices names and acronyms and environments, the fundamental elements of discipleship haven’t changed. At the core of this entire process is being saturated with the Word of God, held accountable by like-minded believers, and transformed into the image of Jesus.
I pray that you are as excited as I am for you to start. Our team is here to help you in any way you need, especially by equipping you with resources that will make the process easier.
As we begin, take a few minutes to check out the starter guide at replicate.org/dgroup. Then, next week, we will jump right into what you should expect on your first week with your Discipleship Group.
To bulk order the starter guides, go to https://replicate.org/shop/.
The post Why Your Discipleship Group Needs a Starter Guide appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY:Today on the podcast, we take a closer look at the baptism of Jesus.
TIME STAMPS: * 0:40 – Why does Jesus get baptized? * 4:04 – Matthew 3:16 * 9:40 – What is modalism?
LINKS: * Matthew 3: https://read.csbible.com/?book=matthew&chapter=3 * Ezekiel 1: https://read.csbible.com/?book=ezekiel&chapter=1# * Luke 3: https://read.csbible.com/?book=luke&chapter=3 * Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E12: Why Was Jesus Baptized? appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
Life changes happen best while in a relationship. It is how we were built – we were made to be in community with one another.
For those of us looking to implement discipleship in our contexts, there are two types of groups we can use in order to make the broader goal of “discipleship” possible.
If you want to have a thriving culture where believers become fully-formed followers of Christ, consider implementing both small groups and discipleship groups. Here’s why you need both of them.
Small Groups vs Discipleship Groups For our purposes, let’s give small groups the following definition: a mixed-gender group of 12-20 individuals who meet regularly in order to foster community between one another.
This is the primary goal of a small group. In it, all are welcome: nonbelievers, new believers, seasoned believers, young and old people, men and women. You share a meal together and create an atmosphere where everyone, no matter who they are, feels welcomed and accepted.
You can also think of small groups like the evangelistic arm of your church’s discipleship process. How much more likely do you think an unbeliever is to come to your house for dinner than he or she might be to walk with you into a church service?
A discipleship group, on the other hand, is a closed group of three to five men or women whose purpose is to grow each other spiritually and then replicate into more discipleship groups.
Since discipleship groups can only work with believers who are actively pursuing Christlikeness, its audience is different from the small group’s. But this is by design, because the small group and the discipleship group work best when they work together.
How Small Groups and Discipleship Groups Work Together Since a small group is a place where invitations are extended and where friendship is grown, it becomes the perfect “fishing pond” for discipleship groups.
If you are a member of a small group, you’ll undoubtedly grow closer to a couple of people as you continually meet together. Eventually, you may even feel the Spirit calling you to invite a couple of these people into a deeper relationship.
The two groups complement each other in a few profound ways. As you are involved in small groups, you are steadily growing a biblical community. You can do it with your family and model what Christians meeting together looks like for your kids.
In a discipleship group, you are developing deeper accountability and growth. The two environments help you grow together with people, each in different ways.
Additionally, a small group, which is evangelistic in nature, gives you a place to invite and invest in non-believers. A discipleship group gives you a place to invite and invest in those who already believe.
The most important way these two groups work together, though, is in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. If we want to make disciples of every nation, we will need both group environments: the invitational, open, and inviting small group and the intentional, in-depth discipleship group.
If you’d like to know more about how to start a Discipleship Group, download out our free D-Group Starter Guide, and if you’re a pastor wanting to start D-Groups in your church, we recommend you check out our Discipleship Blueprint training.
The post Small Group vs. Discipleship Group: Why You Need Both appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
SUMMARY:Today on the podcast, we continue with our character study of John the Baptist. We will take a deeper look into John’s baptism.
TIME STAMPS: * 1:25 – John’s baptism * 10:56 – How baptism is different today
LINKS: * Matthew 3: https://read.csbible.com/?book=matthew&chapter=3 * Replicate Collective : www.replicatecollective.com
The post S05E11: John the Dunker appeared first on Replicate Ministries.
How to Lead a Healthy Discipleship Group, Part 2
One of our favorite ways to relax and refresh is to load up our bird dog, Roux, and go hunting.
As anybody who spends any time outdoors will tell you, it’s important to be able to identify the foliage around you. All it takes is a brush with a patch of poison ivy to ruin your entire week.
Fortunately, plants all have identifying features that let you know what they are so that you can know which of them is safe.
Healthy discipleship groups will have identifying marks as well. If you want to lead a thriving discipleship group, you have to be able to look for the MARCS that tell you whether or not it is healthy.
M: Missional As you begin spending time in the Word, memorizing it, and discussing it with people who are helping you grow, you’ll find that it starts to change your attitudes toward everyone around you.
One of the things you’ll notice is that you develop a hunger to share what you’ve found with people who don’t have it.
For years, evangelism and discipleship have seemed like things that are at odds with each other: The former is about calling the unbelievers and the latter is about growing believers.
The truth is that these two things are two separate oars in the same boat.
As you grow in your discipleship journey, you’ll have an increasing desire to introduce the lost to Jesus.
A: Accountable Accountability does not come naturally.
It can be intimidating to be vulnerable in front of others, and it can be equally intimidating to hold someone to a standard that they aren’t reaching. But accountability is absolutely crucial to the health of your discipleship group.
During your time together, you will encounter every kind of up and down that life can throw at you. Fortunately, by fostering an atmosphere of accountability, you can support each other no matter what comes your way.
Accountability also plays a key role in how those in your groups respond to temptation. If your discipleship group is a place where your members can be open with each other without judgment, temptation can be headed off before it snowballs into something more serious.
R: Reproducible A discipleship group is not like a classroom lecture. If it were, we’d never expect the people “in the seats” to become the person behind the podium. Not everyone is called to be a teacher.
But discipleship groups are structured differently. They are a small group of like-minded believers meeting together to grow spiritually together. Once you’ve seen it in action, anybody can reproduce it.
If you find your group becoming something that looks more like rows instead of a circle, take some time to re-evaluate the way your group interacts. Pass off responsibilities to other members so that they can see they can do it after your group ends.
C: Communal A natural byproduct of a discipleship group is true, genuine, honest friendship. You will become very close with the people you’re walking alongside, and that is incredible.
Foster this communal mentality in your group. Have each other’s backs. Socialize with them outside of your regular group meetings. Keep up with each other and each other’s families during the week.
S: Scriptural A discipleship group has only one textbook: God’s Word.
It is the center of your meetings and at the forefront of your minds. While it is perfectly fine to read outside books together, it should never take precedent over the Bible.
As you settle into a rhythm of reading, discussing, and memorizing Scripture, you will find that your hunger for it will only grow.
Take a step back from time to time to evaluate what takes center stage in your group. If it is Scripture, you can be relatively assured that the rest of the MARCS will follow.
If you’d like to know more about how to start a Discipleship Group, download out our free D-Group Starter Guide, and if you’re a pastor wanting to start D-Groups in your church, we recommend you check out our Discipleship Blueprint training.
The post How to Lead a Healthy Discipleship Group, Part 2 appeared first on Replicate Ministries.