Cohorts

Curriculum Topics

Multiplying Multipliers

Turning Your Church or Ministry into a Disciplemaking Mission

Introductory Session

Focus: This is an opening opportunity to get acquainted with the cohort coach(es) and fellow cohort members, lay out expectations and agree to the covenant of commitment.

Session 1. The Goal of Disciplemaking: Transformation into Christlikeness/Process of Transformation: Vision, Intention, Means

Focus: We must first be a disciple before we can disciple others. In this session we examine the ongoing process of dying to self, conduct a self-assessment of where we are in the process, and personalize Dallas Willard’s Vision, Intention, and Means (VIM) Reliable Pattern of Transformation to our lives.

Session 2. Starting with the End in Mind

Focus: What does a disciplemaking church look like? In this lesson we take an in-depth look at a church that made the transition to become a disciplemaking mission.

Session 3. The Power of MicroGroups

Focus: The MicroGroup is environment in which disciples are being transformed and equipped to multiply disciples. In this Session we will clarify the core characteristics of a MicroGroup.

Session 4: Evaluating the Effectiveness of your Disciplemaking Mission

Focus: Assessing the effectiveness of your disciplemaking will internalize the need for specific changes and create motivation to improve. It will also provide the basis for developing a shared perspective among your leadership core.

Session 5: A Framework for Leading Change

Focus: The cohort process is about leading a church, ministry or movement to embrace a disciplemaking paradigm. This will require change. In this Session we will cover the components and steps in Navigator Bill Mowry’s change process and the application of John Kotter’s change concepts to the church transition journey.

Session 6: Relationship: Life Investment

Focus: Disciplemaking as modeled by Jesus is fundamentally an intimate, relational process. This differs from the usual programmatic approach that dominates church life. In this Session we explore how the MicroGroup maximizes this transformative relational setting.

Session 7: Multiplication: Through the Generations

Focus: The goal of disciplemaking is to see multi-generational reproduction of disciples by everyday followers of Jesus. While the one-on-one discipling dynamic does not create reproducing disciples, the MicroGroup does. In this Session you will determine where the MicroGroup fits into your church’s disciplemaking process?

Session 8: Transformation: The Four Necessary Ingredients

Focus: The “secret sauce” of a MicroGroup is that it creates an environment where four transformative elements can be maximized. When we…

(1) open our hearts in transparent trust to each other;

(2) around the truth of God’s word;

(3) in the spirit of life-change accountability;

(4) while engaged in our God-designed mission…we are in the Holy Spirit’s hothouse of transformation. Where is your MicroGroup with respect to these four elements?

Session 9: Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

Focus: In this Session you we will explore the major missing element of emotional health in the totality of what it means to be a Christlike follower of Jesus.

Session 10a: The Role of the MicroGroup Leader

Focus: The leader of a MicroGroup is equivalent to the driver. This person just might be the most important leader in the church because he/she is at the center of transformation and multiplication of disciples.

Session 10b: The Importance of Curriculum

Focus: The curriculum is at the center of the Reproducible Process because it is the map or the GPS that guides you to your destination. It contributes to the health of a church.

Session 11. Assessing the Challenges to Growing a Disciplemaking Movement in Your Church

Focus: In this Session we will examine dangers and barriers to effective disciplemaking within the church, otherwise known as “sinkholes” and “potholes.” Discussion will center on ways to address them.

Session 12: The Dependency vs Equipping Model of Disciplemaking

Focus: Why has the church been so slow in adopting the relational disciplemaking that is so evident in the model of our Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul? A part of the answer is that the church has been trapped in a dependency model that identifies ministry with “ordained or professional ministers.” For a disciplemaking model to flourish, an equipping model which sees ministry as the province of the laity must be reinstated.

Session 13: The Authority of Jesus

Focus: The Great Commission does not start with “go and make disciples…” but with the One who issues the command. Jesus establishes his authority before He lays out His directive.

Session 14: The Mission of the Church Part 1: Which is it: Make Christians or Disciples?

Focus: The fatal flaw in our gospel is that we

have told people that they can become Christians without being a disciple.

Session 15: The Mission of the Church

Part 2: What are the Characteristics of a Disciple?

Focus: Embedded within the Great Commission verses in Matthew 28:18-20 are three characteristics of a disciple. The main verb MAKE DISCIPLES is described by three participles (verbal adjective with an ing-ending) Disciples are marked by going, baptizing, and teaching obedience. This lesson goes into some depth about all three.

Session 16: Jesus’ Model of Making Disciples

Focus: Jesus made disciples through his relational, intimate, association with a select few. This should serve as a model for us as well.

Session 17: Paul’s Empowerment Model—Spiritual Parenting

Focus: We might conclude that the goal of disciplemaking is to bring people to maturity, in other words to become adults. That is true. But Paul’s goal was for people to become spiritual parents.

Session 18: Practical Steps to Forming a Disciplemaking Culture

Focus: A culture defines a way of life built upon values, customs, traditions and practices that shape the attitudes and behaviors­ of its participants. In this Session you will identify three key leverage points that could have the most impact in advancing a disciplemaking culture in your church or ministry.

Session 19: Becoming a Model Church: The 3-5 Year Plan of Transforming into a Disciplemaking Congregation/Ministry

Focus: The ultimate goal for each of our churches is that the Lord would allow to them to become a model church for others who would want to become a disciplemaking church. The first step toward this ultimate outcome is to become a disciplemaking church. In this last session you will create a three year strategy and plan that identifies the framework, processes, and phases that will move your church or ministry toward being one whose central purpose is to make disciples. The plan will build on the groundwork laid down during your two years within the cohort as we assume that the majority of churches require at least five years to implement and instill a disciplemaking culture.

Session 20: Taking the Further Step to Join GDI’s Mission

For those who are sensing a call to want to take up leadership roles with GDI in our world mission, we will be engaged in the implications of GDI’s DNA: our mission, vision and values. We will look at roles in our ministry that we are aspiring to fill and see if there is a fit.