Have you ever read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and asked yourself this simple question: How did Jesus make disciples who made disciples?[1]
One of the most important free eBooks that Discipleship.org has published is Jason Dukes’ book, Inviting Along: 5 Shifts to Help You Move from Informational to Relational Disciple Making (Discipleship.org, 2018). Click here to download the free eBook.
Jason provides us with a good paradigm for understanding Jesus’ everyday relationships with the twelve men that he invited along, as his disciples. We would suggest that Jesus modeled seven recurring, relational rhythms in His disciple-making efforts with these men.
- FASTING and PRAYING to his Father in Heaven was foundational.
- Relationally INVITING ALONG those who WELCOMED Him into their lives to love others together.
- ENGAGING IN SERVING OTHERS with those He invited along.
- EATING and debriefing with those He invited along.
- RESTING/SABBATHING–retreating and resting with those He invited along.
- LEARNING and living the Gospel of His Kingdom with those He invited along.
- MATURING them WHILE MULTIPLYING with Him to one day send them off to make disciple makers, too.
A Discipling Group and The Seven Rhythms…
In my home church, we find these disciple making rhythms to be helpful as we emulate them in our discipling groups.
- Prayer and Fasting – We start our Group with prayer and fasting, and we seek to pray and fast together on a regular basis.
- Inviting Along – We invite our apprentice leaders (first) and then other people to join our group, including a few people who do not yet believe in Jesus.
- Learning – Three times a month we will study together.
- Sabbathing/Resting – Once a quarter we will just “chill together,” with a picnic or social gathering together, etc.
- Eating – Once a quarter we eat together and by sharing a meal, we share our lives.
- Serving – Once a quarter we will serve others in need as a group.
- Multiply while Maturing – After twelve to eighteen months we will multiply the group by separating into two groups.
The Seven Rhythms and a Group Covenant
When we establish groups, we have found group covenant or explicit agreements to be very important. We include the seven rhythms in our groups and we make our commitments clear with the following covenant.
Discipling Group Covenant (Agreement)
We want to base the group on our shared commitment. We will seek to agree on the following:
- It is my desire to engage in this group and grow in my understanding of Jesus and what it means to trust and follow him (even if I am not a Christian).
2. To help us enter fully into this group process, we will seek to follow set rhythms each month.
1.We will study together three-times a month
2.We will eat together one-time a quarter
3.We will serve those in need one-time a quarter
4. We will rest/sabbath one-time a quarter (hang out, watch a movie, go to a game, etc.)
3. I commit to attending every meeting/gathering, to be there on time, and where applicable, I will have my preparation work done. No exceptions, unless providentially hindered. I understand and agree that I will have to say “no” to important things in order to meet this commitment, and I am willing to do so.
We will meet every ____________ and we commit to start on time and end on time.
We will contact ____________@ _________ in advance, if something prohibits us from attending.
We will take care of childcare by ____________________________________________________.
4. I will ‘finish the course’ and stay with the group. I understand that my leader and the group will make an investment in me – I will communicate with the group and share my life.
5. I understand that this process is based upon scripture and Jesus Christ. I will seek to be open about myself and my relationship with God, for learning and growing in my understanding. We will also encourage each other in spiritual practices during the week–-like fasting with the church and for each other, solitude, scripture memory, etc.
6. I commit to total confidentiality. What is said in the group stays in the group. I will not share with others what is said confidentially in the group without permission (even with my spouse).
7. I further commit that after _________ months, I will support the multiplication of this group – and I will pray to see if God is leading me to start a group like this one, myself.
| Group Member’s Name | Signature |
| Leader’s Name | Signature |
[1] This material is drawn in large part from Jason Dukes, Inviting Along: 5 Shifts to Help You Move from Informational to Relational Disciple Making (Discipleship.org, 2018).