For some, the first meeting of a D-Group can feel pretty awkward. You’ve all met (probably), some may have known each other casually for a little bit, but sometimes that’s the extent of your connection. Today I am going to give you a game plan for those who feel as if they need one.
- The first thing that I do is lay out an outline for the year. Three areas of growth are developed around the Bible:
- We will read through the F-260 Bible reading plan and log H.E.A.R. entries each day.
- Second, we will memorize the Scriptures associated with each week. They coincide with the daily reading.
- Finally, we will read books throughout the year to spark conversation and shape our spiritual development: Growing Up, Firmly Planted (March 2015), and Bearing Fruit (Winter 2015).
During the year, I may interject 2 other books if we have time. Normally we read a biography—this past year I read Spurgeon’s biography— and an applicable book about their current situation.
- Since disciples are learners, group members are expected to take notes. You are not learning for yourself, but for the person you will invest in. Participants should never attend a D-Group gathering, or a listen to a sermon for that matter, without a notebook and pen in hand. How will you pass on to Others what you have learned if you don’t take notes?
Did you know that you forget 40 percent of what you hear within twenty minutes, and you retain only about 20 percent within one week? If you don’t write something down, you will forget it. How else will you pass on what you have learned, unless you record it? Where would we be if the apostles hadn’t written down the Word of God for us to read today?
- Expect unwavering attendance, except in emergency cases. Expect assignments from the previous week to be completed each week. Remind your participants that they are enrolling in a spiritual boot camp unlike any other time of their life and that they will only get out of the group what they put into it.
“The year goes by really fast. Before you know it, you will be mobilized to lead your own groups. Don’t waste this opportunity!”
- After the groundwork is laid, I share my own testimony in 5 to 10 minutes, focusing on the impact that discipleship had on my life after coming to Christ.
Next, we spend time hearing from one another (it sometimes takes 2 weeks to hear from everyone in the group). This sharing time is invaluable for the group participants (this is one element you miss with a 1 on 1 group). Here are the 5 areas I want to hear the participants share about:
- Tell us about your Family
- Tell us your Testimony (Your life before Christ, What events led to surrendering your life to Christ, and what has happened since—most people leave this part out.
- Tell us about your current job and what God’s doing in your workplace.
- Have you ever been discipled? If yes, explain. If not, why not?
- What do you expect to get out of the group this year?
- Finally, I hand out the disciple-making covenant for the participants to sign.