Discipleship Group

What Goals Should I Have for Being an Effective Group Leader?

MODEL a life of humble devotion to Christ and His Church
MINISTER to others what God is teaching YOU in His Word
MEET needs with gracious love and committed prayer
MOTIVATE others to follow Christ and be involved in serving others
MENTOR other leaders by providing guidance and opportunities

Ideas for Discipleship Group

Personal Preparation/General Discipleship Suggestions

Preparation: a productive time does not happen on accident or on the spur of the moment.

Have personal quiet time to prepare your heart before DG time.
Personally pray for the time together with your DG.
Plan DG fellowship time outside of DG time.
Clean up your meeting place if necessary.
Meet weekly with your AGL to discuss issues, evaluate and for prayer time, and pray through your DG.
Make a weekly plan (or every 2-3 week rotation) of topics and methods of prayer (see below for ideas).

NOTE: Do not let the awkwardness some might have in prayer deter you from having a focused prayer time. Nothing can be more evangelistic or persuasive of your faith than talking directly to God. There is nothing more genuine as a Christian than talking with God. If some struggle praying, open your prayer times with verses that teach about prayer (e.g. basis for prayer, reasons for prayer, etc.) to prepare them to pray confidently.
Atmosphere and setting: several practical steps will produce a more productive atmosphere.

Eliminate distractions as much as possible (e.g. no phone use unless for a Bible, no working on homework, etc.).
Encourage DG members to posture themselves physically to be engaged (not to sit as far away as possible, etc.).

Create a texting group (through Messenger, GroupMe, etc.).

Consider sending them a reminder to show up on time.
Encourage DG members to send prayer requests and updates in the chat.

Do activities outside of DG with everyone, smaller groups, or individuals (there are more activities available around campus than ever, so take advantage of this to build rapport).
Follow up with DG members during the week about particular things going on in their life to see how they are doing (e.g. tests, prayer requests, etc.). Consider taking 1 night a week where you and your GL/AGL pop in each room of your DG for a personal touchpoint.

Ice Breaker Ideas

Games should not be the center of DG time. However, you may find it helpful—especially at the beginning of the school year—to take 3-4 minutes at the beginning of DG to do an ice breaker. These are designed to get everyone talking and provide an opportunity to get to know each other.
Would you rather?

Use “would you rather” questions to ask DG members questions (lots of question suggestions online!)
Or use “would you rather” to highlight a DG member and have your DG vote on what they think he/she would answer.

Map Activity

Print out a US a world map and have each DG member mark where they are from and share fun facts about their hometown or country.

Shared Characteristics

Get into groups of 3 with DG members that you don’t know well. See which group can be the first to find 10 unique things in common.

Candy ice breaker—starbursts, lollipops, etc. Assign a different question to each color. Pass out candy and have DG share according to the corresponding color/question. For instance:

Describe your day in one word
Favorite verse
Interesting fact
Current personal goal
Favorite DC food

Quaker Questions

How was your house heated when you were between the ages of 7 and 12?
In that same time period, what room or place in your house was the center of warmth?
When you were between ages 7 and 18, who was the center of warmth?
When did God become more than just a word to you?

Name activity

This works better later in the school year when your group knows each other a little bit. Give each person a 3x5 card and have them write their full name on the card. Redistribute the cards randomly. Have each DG member take 1 minute to write out a description of the person on their card using their initials and then have everyone share their answers. The first 2 initials should be adjectives and the last 1 should be a noun. For instance: Aaron Alan Burk à Animated, All-in, Booster.

Bible Study Activities

General Bible study

Print out a passage or even a short epistle. Read a section together each week and have your group bring highlighters or pens to mark up the passages. There are many ways to study a book together! See some examples below.
Bible study questions:

§ What does this passage teach me about God?
§ What does this passage teach me about Jesus?
§ What does this passage teach about the Holy Spirit?
§ What does this passage teach me about man?
§ Are there any promises to claim?
§ Are there any commands to obey?
§ Are there any examples to follow?
§ Are there any sins to avoid?

Colossians Bible study ideas:

§ Use colored pencils for repeated phrases/key ideas:

References to Christ
References to “all,” “fullness,” etc.
Descriptions of life before Christ
Descriptions of life in Christ
Commands

§ What do we learn about Christ in Colossians?

What’s His relationship to God?
What’s His relationship to creation?
What’s His relationship to the church?
What’s His relationship to you personally?

§ Which specific believers does Paul mention and what do we learn about them?
§ What do we learn about love in Colossians? (mentioned 5 times)
§ What do we learn about faith in Colossians? (mentioned 5 times)
§ What do we learn about wisdom and knowledge in Colossians?
(mentioned 10 times)
§ Colossians 2:6-7 seem to be the theme verses of Colossians. How do these verses sum up the whole book?

Philippians Bible study guide:

§ Note the key words: joy/rejoice, mind, fellowship/share, in Christ/in the Lord, gospel
§ Note any commands
§ What do you learn about Christ?
§ What do you learn about Paul?
§ What does Paul say about unity?
§ How is Jesus the perfect servant? How do we follow that example?

Resources to guide a Bible study:

§ https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/six-questions-to-ask-when-studying-the-bible-in-a-group
§ https://www.reviveourhearts.com/articles/inductive-bible-study-101/

Free online resources for specific studies:

§ James Bible study: https://www.jenwilkin.net/downloads
§ https://bibleproject.com/downloads/
Use open-ended questions (not yes/no questions) when studying the Word. Examples:

What makes you say that?
How do you feel about that?
How do you think that would have affected you if you had been living in the time of Jesus?
How would you explain this truth to a non-Christian friend?
In your own words, what is the overall message of this passage?
What stands out to you as we read those scripture verses?
What was the context of that verse?
What are some obstacles to applying this verse to our life?
What is a good illustration of this verse in our day-to-day life?
In view of what we have discussed, what changes do you think God would want you to make in your attitude, words, or actions?

Sum it up in 7 (sum up the chapel sermon in 7 words)
Attributes of God study:

Identify:

Your favorite attribute about God
The attribute you most struggle to believe

Find 3 Bible verses dealing with each of these and write them out
Talk/pray with one other person about the attributes and that God will help you to believe

Do a study on the names of God.

Get a list of names and references. Suggested resources:

§ https://blog.rose-publishing.com/free-names-of-god-echart-from-rose-publishing/
§ https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm
§ https://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/firstchapters/978-1-59636-203-1.pdf

Divide your DG into small groups and give a name to each group.
Write out a description of the name of God and in what context the name was revealed.
Discuss personal application for the name:

§ Because I know God is_____, I can/should ______
Memorize a Psalm together

From an experienced GL: We spent usually a whole d group after sharing prayer request and praying for each other using all sorts of memory techniques. We’d break off and work individually and then get back together and quote as a group. Sometimes I’d bring paper and we’d write it down. Usually it would be about 2-4 verses each week, but we would stop and have review weeks occasionally to make sure everything was flowing smoothly. I began the year sharing how important scripture memory is, but they all seemed pretty excited about it just as a result of God working in their lives. Every once in a while I would just remind them about how far we had come and how exciting it was! They were such a big blessing!

Read a book together

From an experienced GL: We got a book that we thought would work well with our group. I would first read a chapter by myself first. Then at DG, I would read a few chapter highlights, and I would have the DG bring a notebook and pen to write down anything that stuck out to them. I would have a few discussion questions prepared and then they could share other things they learned.

At a DG meeting, tell the DG members to bring a testimony the next time to share from their personal time with the Lord or from something else the Lord has been teaching them.
Ask a DG member in advance to share his testimony of salvation.
Ask a F/S member to come give a testimony or devotional.

Integrating Scripture into your Prayers

12 Reasons You Should Pray Scripture - The Gospel Coalition
This takes practice! Have your DG members look up verses and write out prayers in DG and then pray them back to God. Here’s some examples of Scripture to go with different categories of prayer:
Praying for unbelievers:

Acts 26:18
2 Peter 3:9
1 Timothy 2:4
2 Tim 2:26
Ezekiel 36:26
Colossians 1:13-14
Isaiah 61:1
Hebrews 4:12
Example prayer using 2 Peter 3:9 and Acts 26:18: “Lord we know that you are not slow to fulfill Your promises but are patient towards all people. We know that you desire that all should not perish but come to repentance. So we pray for ____________ that You would open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You.”

Praying for each other/brothers and sisters in Christ:

Spiritual growth (2 Peter 1:5-7, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 119:9-12)
Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 4:30)
Financial needs (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:25-33)
Distinction from the world (Romans 12:1-2)
Strength (Philippians 4:13, Psalm 73:26)
Wisdom (James 1:5-6)
Endurance (James 1:2-3, Hebrews 12:1-2)
Unity (Psalm 133:1, Romans 15:5, Philippians 2:2)
Encouragement (John 16:33, Psalm 46:1, Deuteronomy 31:6)

Praying for our nation and its leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-4
Romans 13:1
Psalm 2:10-12, 22:28
Proverbs 21:1
Daniel 2:21

Praying for persecuted Christians:

www.persecution.com (sign up for newsletter)
Matthew 5:11-12, Hebrews 13:3, Romans 12:14, Psalm 142:6-7, 143:3-12

Paul’s prayers—each person prays for the members in your DG using phrases from these prayers

Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Example using Philippians 1:9-11: God, please grow our love that it will abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment. We want to approve what is excellent so that we can be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Help us to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ. May we do all of this to Your praise and glory.

Praying for pastors/missionaries:

https://gfamissions.org/pray/
Opportunity: open doors for witnessing (Colossians 4:3)
Boldness: the courage to take advantage of open doors (Colossians 4:4; Ephesians 6:19-20)
Clarity: skill in making the message clear in the people's language (Colossians 4:4; Ephesians 6:19a)
Effectiveness: real change in the lives of the listeners (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Protection: physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual protection (2 Thessalonians 3:2; Romans15:31a)
Acceptance: receptivity in potentially resistant listeners (Romans 15:31b)
Travel: God's direction, timing, mutual blessing, and safety (Romans 1:9-15; Romans 15:32)
Refreshment: seasons of spiritual and physical renewal (Romans 15:32)

Fruits of the Spirit

Using Galatians 5:22-23, have each DG member pray for a specific fruit to be manifested in the other DG members’ lives.

Praising God--praising God means giving Him glory for who He is and what He has done for us. So often we ask for so much in prayer that we neglect to thank God for who He is and to give Him glory for the blessings He has given us.

Focus on one characteristic of God. For example, search for “love” or “faithfulness” in an online concordance (www.biblegateway.com).
Put references on sticky notes and give to DG members to read. Pray around the room using those verses. Examples:

§ God’s love: Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Hosea 11:4, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Proverbs 3:12, Revelation 3:19, Psalm 86:15, 36:11, 103:8, 11, 136:26, 2 Peter 3:9, Ephesians 2:4
§ God’s sovereignty: Ephesians 3:20, Jeremiah 32:17, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Psalm 18:30-32, 34:22, 115:3, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:33-34, 2 Samuel 22:29-34, Psalm 5:11-12
§ God’s forgiveness of sin: Psalm 51:7, 103:12, Micah 7:19, Ephesians 2:4-7, 13, 17-19, Colossians 2:10, 14, 1 Peter 2:9, 24
Praying through a Psalm (each person reads a verse or two and prays that verse back to God)

Suggested Psalms: 8, 23, 33, 34, 37, 40, 46, 93, 95, 96, 98, 100, 103, 111, 121, 138, 145, 146, 147

Ideas using Colossians:

Prayers of thankfulness for salvation (1:12, 13-14, 20, 2:13-14)
Praying for unbelievers (same as above)
Prayers for each other (1:9-12, 3:1-3, 3:5-9, 3:12-17)
Prayers for our family (3:18-21)

Ideas using Ephesians:

Thanksgiving for blessings from God the Father (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Thanksgiving for blessings from God the Son (Ephesians 1:7-10)
Growth in knowledge of 3 things (Ephesians 1:17-20)
Praise for our salvation—especially in light of what we once were! (Ephesians 2:1-7)
Doxology (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Love and unity amongst each other (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Put off/renew/put on (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Other model prayers in Scripture for consideration:

Matthew 6:5-15—The Lord’s Prayer
Psalm 51—David’s prayer for pardon
Exodus 32:9-14—Moses’ prayer for Israel in wilderness
Luke 22:39-46—Christ’s prayer at Gethsemane
Psalm 139—David’s prayer of surrender
Habakkuk 3—Habakkuk’s prayer of rejoicing

Various Prayer Activities

Creative ways of dividing up for prayer:

Divide up by bunks (bottom of double, middle of triple, etc.)
Divide up by room job
Distribute pairs of colored/numbered paper

Set a timer and do popcorn prayers (short 2-3 line prayers in random order)

Popcorn praises—praising God for one of His attributes or an answer to prayer
Popcorn prayers—prayer for a specific topic (i.e. revival on campus, Bible conference, unsaved family members, etc.)

Lights out: Turn out the lights and allow DG members to pray voluntarily popcorn style
Prayer partners: Draw names and anonymously pray for and secretly encourage your partner with notes or small gifts etc. over the semester. (You will want to remind your DG throughout the semester about being faithful to pray for their partner.)
Letters to God: spend 10-15 minutes have each DG member write out their prayers to God. Then close in corporate prayer at the end.
“Neighbor” prayer

Go around the room having one person give a request or praise.
Have the next person immediately pray for that one request or praise.
Move on to the next person in the circle and repeat the process.

Major night

What does your major teach you about God? What attribute of God do you most often think of when studying your major? What do you want to do in the future with your major? Praise God for His marvelous attributes and pray about your long-term goals.

A-Z characteristics of God—Praise God for His characteristics that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
ACTS

Adoration (Psalm 8, 33, 103, 145, 1 Chron. 29:11-13)
Confession (Psalm 51, 139:23-24, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 32:1-5)
Thanksgiving

§ Characteristics of God: Psalm 86:15, Romans 11:33-34
§ Salvation: Ephesians 2:4-7

Supplication (Matthew 7:7, 1 John 5:14, Philippians 4:6)

Praying about personal burdens: Have your DG members write down 3 burdens that are on their heart this week and 3 characteristics of God that they need to be reminded of. Then use these verses to write out a prayer of trust to the Lord: Philippians 4:6-7, Matthews 6:25-33, Psalm 28:6-7, 34:8, 55:22, Isaiah 26:3-4
Jar of requests: place several slips of papers in a jar with various categories. Each DG member pulls out a paper and prays for someone they know in that category. Categories could include: pastor, military personnel, teacher, family member, politician, unsaved person, someone in financial need, missionary, etc.
Hymns of prayer: find a hymn that is written as a prayer, find Scripture that relates to it and pray/sing the words back to God. Examples:

Jesus, Lover of my Soul
More Love to Thee
My Jesus I Love to Thee
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Be Thou My Vision
Oh to Be Like Thee

Emphasis on thankfulness nights:

List of 10 things you are thankful for that week. Share and praise God for them.
Make a praise chain
Write answered prayers on cards and put in thankfulness jar throughout semester
Personal thankfulness journals
Faculty night—share how God has used specific BJU faculty in your life, thank God for them, and pray for their ministry.
Paul thanked God for specific people that encouraged him (2 Timothy 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Philippians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 8:16). Scripture talks about characteristics of godly friends (1 Samuel 23:16; Proverbs 17:17, 19:22, 27:6, 9, 17, Hebrews 3:13). Write a thank you note to a godly friend or someone that has spiritually encouraged you. Take time in DG to thank the Lord for those people and their ministry in your life.