Make disciples! It is the foundational call of the church to make disciples... who then make more disciples. Wilmont uses GO Disciple curriculum to help small D-Groups find accountability, prayer, and richness in the Scriptures. The GO Disciple resource series is designed to help the church with its ongoing mission to make disciples; disciples who look more and more like Jesus with every passing day, each and every week. Also, our church's investment in D-Groups is designed to support and strengthen the church as a whole.
GO Disciple is a disciple-making process that is designed to start small and grow. It follows the biblical model found in 2 Timothy 2:2 -- Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and then others. As a church process, GO Disciple looks like this:
GO Disciple is a disciple-making process that is designed to start small and grow. It follows the biblical model found in 2 Timothy 2:2 -- Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and then others. As a church process, GO Disciple looks like this:
But for an individual church member, the process looks more like the following:
GO Disciple resources are designed with three specific things in mind.
- Develop church members (disciples) who become self-feeders of God’s Word;
- Replicate themselves in other people by sharing with others how they are growing;
- Help the church develop a leadership pipeline of people who are growing in Christ-likeness and have a passion to share their experience.
What Is a D-Group?
INTRODUCTION
D-Groups are smaller groups of about four people who meet together regularly for the purpose of growing closer to Christ and supporting one another in biblical community. A D-Group is an excellent way for people to follow the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20:
D-Groups are smaller groups of about four people who meet together regularly for the purpose of growing closer to Christ and supporting one another in biblical community. A D-Group is an excellent way for people to follow the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20:
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“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (CSB)
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DEFINITIONS
Below is how we define some of the terms we use in a D-Group. These definitions not only bring clarity, but more precisely define a disciple-making group.
D-GROUP
A D-Group is smaller than a Sunday School class or small group. A D-Group generally has about four to five people who meet together to share the Word of God with each other; learn Scripture together; support and encourage each other through prayer, relationships, and accountability; and replicate the Gospel in other people and more groups. Because they are small, D-Groups can meet anywhere at any time.
DISCIPLE
For our purposes, we want to keep the definition of a disciple simple and biblical. So, we define a disciple as a follower (or learner) of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 9:23, John 1:43, John 12:26)
DISCIPLE-MAKING
Disciple-making is the process of being a disciple and making more disciples. Using the Great Commission, a disciple is a follower of Christ who:
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION
A spiritual conversation is a dialogue where God is discussed.
GOSPEL CONVERSATION
A Gospel conversation is a dialogue that shares the Gospel and invites a response.
DAILY DEVOTION
A daily devotion is a time set apart each day just for you and God. During a daily devotion, you will seek to hear God and draw near to Him as He speaks to you through His Word; make changes in your life so that you will look more like Jesus; and pray for opportunities to share Christ by having spiritual or Gospel conversations with other people.
SERVICE
Jesus teaches us to serve others (Mark 10:45; Matthew 5:16). True service to others is an act of love meant to shine the Gospel into another person’s life that will lead to spiritual and Gospel conversations and bring glory to God.
Below is how we define some of the terms we use in a D-Group. These definitions not only bring clarity, but more precisely define a disciple-making group.
D-GROUP
A D-Group is smaller than a Sunday School class or small group. A D-Group generally has about four to five people who meet together to share the Word of God with each other; learn Scripture together; support and encourage each other through prayer, relationships, and accountability; and replicate the Gospel in other people and more groups. Because they are small, D-Groups can meet anywhere at any time.
DISCIPLE
For our purposes, we want to keep the definition of a disciple simple and biblical. So, we define a disciple as a follower (or learner) of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 9:23, John 1:43, John 12:26)
DISCIPLE-MAKING
Disciple-making is the process of being a disciple and making more disciples. Using the Great Commission, a disciple is a follower of Christ who:
- Invites (As you are going...)
- Establishes (Baptize into Christ and Community)
- Equips (Teach to obey)
- Sends (To make more disciples)
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION
A spiritual conversation is a dialogue where God is discussed.
GOSPEL CONVERSATION
A Gospel conversation is a dialogue that shares the Gospel and invites a response.
DAILY DEVOTION
A daily devotion is a time set apart each day just for you and God. During a daily devotion, you will seek to hear God and draw near to Him as He speaks to you through His Word; make changes in your life so that you will look more like Jesus; and pray for opportunities to share Christ by having spiritual or Gospel conversations with other people.
SERVICE
Jesus teaches us to serve others (Mark 10:45; Matthew 5:16). True service to others is an act of love meant to shine the Gospel into another person’s life that will lead to spiritual and Gospel conversations and bring glory to God.
How Do D-Groups Work?
WHY D-GROUPS?
Disciples are best made in a community of close relationships. Jesus had Peter, James, and John. The apostle Paul had Timothy, Silas, and Luke. David had his inner circle of three mighty men. A D-Group is not just any group, it is a biblical group. That is... a D-Group is a smaller group of about four people who meet together to share the Word of God with each other; learn Scripture together, and support and encourage each other through prayer and relationships; and ultimately start more D-Groups and make more disciples.
STARTING A D-GROUP
D-Groups are easy to start. Simply invite three other people to join you, plan your first get-together, decide what Bible passage the group wants to immerse themselves in, and then follow through with! Consider inviting three people from your Small Group or Sunday School class. A class that has several people involved in D-Groups is going to be a great class. A D-Group will not only help the participants grow spiritually, it can also help the whole class! Or, you might invite three friends, neighbors, or acquaintances who are unchurched and use the D-Group to lead them to Christ.
WHAT IS EXPECTED IN A D-GROUP?
You need a Bible. At your first D-Group meeting, see what translation everyone else is using. It is helpful (though not necessary) for everyone to have the same translation. You may also need a journal to record your thoughts and what you hear God speaking to you every day and during your group. Develop an agreement with other group members (a group covenant) that includes expectations about attendance, preparation, accountability, and also an agreement that what is said in the group, stays in the group.
Disciples are best made in a community of close relationships. Jesus had Peter, James, and John. The apostle Paul had Timothy, Silas, and Luke. David had his inner circle of three mighty men. A D-Group is not just any group, it is a biblical group. That is... a D-Group is a smaller group of about four people who meet together to share the Word of God with each other; learn Scripture together, and support and encourage each other through prayer and relationships; and ultimately start more D-Groups and make more disciples.
STARTING A D-GROUP
D-Groups are easy to start. Simply invite three other people to join you, plan your first get-together, decide what Bible passage the group wants to immerse themselves in, and then follow through with! Consider inviting three people from your Small Group or Sunday School class. A class that has several people involved in D-Groups is going to be a great class. A D-Group will not only help the participants grow spiritually, it can also help the whole class! Or, you might invite three friends, neighbors, or acquaintances who are unchurched and use the D-Group to lead them to Christ.
WHAT IS EXPECTED IN A D-GROUP?
You need a Bible. At your first D-Group meeting, see what translation everyone else is using. It is helpful (though not necessary) for everyone to have the same translation. You may also need a journal to record your thoughts and what you hear God speaking to you every day and during your group. Develop an agreement with other group members (a group covenant) that includes expectations about attendance, preparation, accountability, and also an agreement that what is said in the group, stays in the group.
Prepare for D-Group Participation
DAILY PREPARATION
Devotion. Have a daily devotional time with God. Be sure that you read your Bible during this time. The Bible is God’s written word to you and there is no other substitute. During our study, there are brief Bible readings from the Bible that will usually take only 5-7 minutes to read. After reading, use the following process to apply what you have read to your daily life.
Devotion. Have a daily devotional time with God. Be sure that you read your Bible during this time. The Bible is God’s written word to you and there is no other substitute. During our study, there are brief Bible readings from the Bible that will usually take only 5-7 minutes to read. After reading, use the following process to apply what you have read to your daily life.
Pray. Pray daily. Because your study of the Scripture requires insight given by God, asking for help is a common practice of disciples. There are blank pages in the back of each GO Disciple book for you to write out personal prayers to God, as well as prayer requests from your D-Group meetings.
Memorize. Your group will memorize Scripture together. Don’t freak out about this. You have already memorized many things, and hardly give them a second thought. Memorizing Scripture with your group will help you. Simply practice memorizing each week’s verse during your daily devotional time and you will be surprised at how easily it comes to you. If you need help, review the section below on how to memorize.
WEEKLY PREPARATION
Sometime during the week, find a time where you can be alone for 30-60 minutes. During this time, dig a little deeper into your group’s Scripture. Use the same process you have used daily to guide you through this study.
Memorize. Your group will memorize Scripture together. Don’t freak out about this. You have already memorized many things, and hardly give them a second thought. Memorizing Scripture with your group will help you. Simply practice memorizing each week’s verse during your daily devotional time and you will be surprised at how easily it comes to you. If you need help, review the section below on how to memorize.
WEEKLY PREPARATION
Sometime during the week, find a time where you can be alone for 30-60 minutes. During this time, dig a little deeper into your group’s Scripture. Use the same process you have used daily to guide you through this study.
- How has God spoken to you this week through His Word?
- Meditate on the readings for this week. What needs to change in your life for you to look more like Jesus? What have you changed to look more like Jesus?
- Who has the Holy Spirit put in your life this week for you to invest in? Write down who you have shared your spiritual growth with, what you have actually done to serve others, and any spiritual or Gospel conversations you have had with other people.
Attend Your D-Group Meeting
THE D-GROUP MEETING
Below is an overview of a weekly D-Group meeting. An important thing to remember is to balance the time in D-Group and keep it focused on its purpose. Light-hearted discussions of a ball game or recent experiences are okay for a short period of time, but these conversations can easily spiral out of control and limit the time the group should be spending on its real purpose – making disciples.
GROUP SCRIPTURE MEMORY (15 MINUTES)
At each D-Group meeting, each person is expected to say the assigned Scripture memory verse for the week. In addition, each person is accountable to say all of the previous verses as well. Always do this step at the beginning of the group meeting.
Accountability is a vital part of memorizing Scripture. We are more likely to do something if we know that we will be asked to produce it later. Here are some tips for the group’s Scripture memorization time.
D-GROUP DISCUSSION (35 MINUTES)
During the D-Group discussion, each person in the group will share with the group what they heard from God through His Word and how they responded by using the three questions from the daily devotions. (35 minutes)
PRAYER (10 MINUTES)
Pray together. Each member will share prayer concerns. Ask, “What could we pray about for you that will help during the coming week?” (10 minutes)
Below is an overview of a weekly D-Group meeting. An important thing to remember is to balance the time in D-Group and keep it focused on its purpose. Light-hearted discussions of a ball game or recent experiences are okay for a short period of time, but these conversations can easily spiral out of control and limit the time the group should be spending on its real purpose – making disciples.
GROUP SCRIPTURE MEMORY (15 MINUTES)
At each D-Group meeting, each person is expected to say the assigned Scripture memory verse for the week. In addition, each person is accountable to say all of the previous verses as well. Always do this step at the beginning of the group meeting.
Accountability is a vital part of memorizing Scripture. We are more likely to do something if we know that we will be asked to produce it later. Here are some tips for the group’s Scripture memorization time.
- Always start with Scripture memory. If memorizing Scripture is done last, the group will often run short on time and skip the memorization time.
- The group leader should always share first. Leaders lead!
- Call on someone to share next. You can ask for volunteers, too. The phrase “Make a
friend” is a friendly way to encourage group members to call on each other during
the group share time. - Be gracious. Sometimes people have a busy week and are unable to memorize the verse. Help them through it. Avoid being legalistic toward each other. It might be you next time.
D-GROUP DISCUSSION (35 MINUTES)
During the D-Group discussion, each person in the group will share with the group what they heard from God through His Word and how they responded by using the three questions from the daily devotions. (35 minutes)
PRAYER (10 MINUTES)
Pray together. Each member will share prayer concerns. Ask, “What could we pray about for you that will help during the coming week?” (10 minutes)
Replicate Your D-Group Experience
Replication simply means to duplicate or reproduce. For a disciple of Jesus Christ, replicate means to reproduce the image of Christ. Replication occurs individually, but it also occurs person-to-person, and it also occurs with the group. A D-Group should replicate in three ways:
- Replicate your spiritual experience. Share with others what God is showing you through your D-Group or personal devotions. Simply share what you have learned about God each week with someone else like a family member, neighbor, co-worker, or teammate.
- Replicate your group. D-Groups are easy to start and lead. After your D-Group has met for a while (no longer than six months), the group should start the process of forming new D-Groups. Perhaps the group of four could form two groups with two members in each group. Each group of two invites two new people, forming two D-Groups.
- Replicate your faith. Jesus’ commission to His disciples was to make more disciples. More disciples occurs when believers share their faith with lost people. A new D-Group is a great opportunity to invite a lost friend to join the group. Also, the D-Group experience prepares each group member to share their faith personally with other people.
One Way to Memorize Scripture
People often claim that they cannot memorize. Yet, most people share information all the time that they do not have to look up. How are they able to do this? Because it is information that they frequently use (which says a lot about why people do not memorize Scripture).
The fact is, we use Scripture more often when we spend time memorizing it. You probably memorized your Social Security number because you did not want to pull your card out of your wallet every time you were asked for it. Using the "B Attitudes" in Matthew 5:1-12 as an example, here is a model for memorizing Scripture.
The fact is, we use Scripture more often when we spend time memorizing it. You probably memorized your Social Security number because you did not want to pull your card out of your wallet every time you were asked for it. Using the "B Attitudes" in Matthew 5:1-12 as an example, here is a model for memorizing Scripture.
- Read the chapter through two or three times at one sitting to get familiar with the context and with the overall theme of the chapter.
- Memorize the first verse. Write the verse on an index card and include the reference (book, chapter, verse – EX: Matthew 5:1).
- When memorizing a chapter or a long passage, focus on the words and not necessarily the verse numbers.
- Say the verse out loud several times. Verbalizing the verse helps you remember it. Perhaps set aside several times throughout the day, such as meal times, to repeat the verse.
- Consider recording yourself saying the verses into your smart phone. Replay it and try to say the verse with the recording.
- Repeat the process above with the next verse.
- Now practice saying verses 1 and 2 together without pausing between verses.
- Each week, add the next verse or two to memorize. At the end of your devotion time, practice saying the passage or verses from memory, starting from the first verse through to the most recent memorized verse.