The beginning of the new year is a great time to think through your life. It is a good time to take stock of where you’ve been and where you want to go. It gives you a built-in starting point. It provides you with a clean slate and a defining moment for your life.
As you begin 2023, I want to give you a simple and yet powerful challenge. I want to challenge you to set a goal to make and multiply disciples this year. In the next twelve months you could have a significant impact on a handful of people that could ripple on for generations to come. Now, that is a wise investment for the next year.
Investing in a handful of disciples may be easier than you think. Here’s a few suggestions for how to start a discipleship group and equip them to multiply more disciples. This could very easily be the most important thing you do for Christ in the coming year.
Select the right people! Starting a discipleship group begins with selecting. Just like Jesus, spend some time in prayer and ask God to show you the right people in whom you should invest. Look for people who are hungry for more and are willing to make the sacrifices necessary for discipleship. I recommend inviting three to four other people of the same gender as you to form the group.
Communicate the expectations! Once you select your group, let the group members know when you will meet, what you will do, and that the goal is for them to at least consider starting a new group at the beginning of the next year. Clear expectations always increases the chances of having a successful group experience.
Pick a curriculum! The ultimate curriculum is the Word of God, but you might want to choose a discipleship course that facilitates personal study the group discussion. Impact Discipleship Ministries has developed a curriculum that teaches the character and conduct of Christ along with discipleship essentials and leadership development. This curriculum could be accomplished in a year long time frame.
Begin meeting! Set the meeting time and stick with it. Even when a person cannot make it, keep the meeting commitment. Occasionally you may need to change or cancel if a majority of people can’t make it. Remember that consistency is the key.
In the course of the year be sure to sprinkle in some fellowship times and some ministry times. Do things with group members outside of the group time and pick some activities to do together. The free Impact e-book, “Doing Ministry Together”, will help you with planning ministry activities.
Challenge reproduction! As you get closer to the end of the year, start talking to your group about the importance of multiplying new groups. You will want to help them determine if they are ready to lead and who they might invite to join their new group. Do your best to help set them up for success in launching a new group. You might even want to spend the next year working with them to see that their new groups succeed before staring a new group.
If Impact Discipleship Ministries can help you make more disciples in the coming year, please let us know. We exist to inspire people and churches be and build disciples of Jesus Christ. Contact us at impactdisciples.com.
This post originally appeared at: A New Year’s Goal – Impact Discipleship Ministries