One of the most important current grouplife trends is a more intentional discipleship effort.  LifePoint Church is a good example of this trend.  A dynamic, growing multi-site church that has a heart for its community, its region of Middle Tennessee, and the world through global initiatives, LifePoint has been very intentional about the development of its discipleship strategy.

Eddie Mosley is the Executive Pastor of GroupLife at LifePoint Church.  I recently had the opportunity to ask him to give some insights into their dicipleship direction.

Mark: I know that LifePoint is launching a new discipleship pathway called The Christ Centered Journey.  What’s motivating your new emphasis?

Eddie: LifePoint’s purpose statement is “Leading people to a Christ centered life.”  We continually evaluate the progress of our discipleship and evangelism efforts so that we can help people become Christ centered.  Following the release of the REVEAL study from Willow Creek Association we developed our own Journey Map.  The Journey Map helped us think about classes, groups and resources we were offering for various stages of spiritual maturity.

What we have now not only helps individuals identify where they are on the journey, but enables them to help others in their group by identifying where a person is on the journey, the needs that stage has and next steps (whether that be a class, a resource, a conversation, etc) that will help them move toward the next stage.  The Christ Centered Journey helps someone move along the Journey Map to be Christ-Centered.  Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putman was a big influence in developing our Discipleship Pathway.

Mark: Is this an all church emphasis?  Is it broader than just small groups?

Eddie: LifePoint is a church of Small Groups, therefore this is a church-wide strategy.  It is more than an emphasis as it is being used to determine classes, curriculum and events to facilitate movement on the Christ Centered Journey.  This Christ Centered Journey (for discipleship) is also being mirrored by a Leadership Pathway that our Executive Pastor of Worship Programming, Jason Stewart, is designing (@stewonline).

Mark: What are you anticipating the Pathway will do for your members?

Eddie: The conversations that have resulted from the four-week roll out of the Journey have been encouraging.  People are sharing that they have a new understanding of their life in Christ.  No longer is it to just get “baptized and attend church.”  The Journey shows the needs of each stage and offers a next step for them in order to move on the journey to become more Christ centered.  We are anticipating this will become known as a clear plan for individuals and leaders that will help them shepherd and apprentice those around them to become Christ centered.

Mark: Have you already defined some measurements you’ll take to determine if the new direction is working?

Eddie: We are currently designing Christ Centered metrics that measure how well we are moving people along the Journey.  At LifePoint, we’ve identified five characteristics of a disciple and want to partner with every member for personal development of these.  These characteristics are introduced in  Discover LifePoint, a one time class offered every month at our campuses.  As we point toward the characteristics of Worship, Biblical Community, Service, Influence and Generosity, we want to be able to evaluate how well we are doing in helping people live out these characteristics.  There will be weekly, monthly and even quarterly reporting that will guide us in planning for the next season.

Mark: Is it something you’ll be growing into over time?  Or will you be at full speed right away?  How will you roll it out?

Eddie: The Christ Centered Journey was initially rolled out via a Wednesday night series. We will continue to use it as we train Small Group leaders with the continued initial introduction to everyone through Discover LifePoint. Although we have already begun to implement this Journey, we realize there are going to be adjustments as we communicate it more and continually evaluate via our metrics.

Mark: Really appreciate your insight and input!  Thanks for taking the time to explain the process that you’re introducing at LifePoint!

If you missed my article on current grouplife trends, you can read it right here.

Looking for a way to equip disciples who make disciples?  You may want to take a look at the real life discipleship training manual, written by Jim Putman, Avery Willis, Brandon Guindon, and Bill Krause.  New from NavPress, the manual is designed to provide the content for a 12 week experience.  Each week in the manual contains 5 daily assignments (each assignment can be completed in 20 to 30 minutes).

The real life discipleship training manual was developed as a companion to Real Life Discipleship (reviewed here last week).  As I mentioned in my review of Real Life Discipleship, making disciples is serious business at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho.  One of the fastest growing churches in America, they’ve seen more than 4,000 conversions as they’ve grown to 8,500 in 9 years.

Describing the training manual, founding pastor Jim Putman notes that “there isn’t much theory here.  Instead, it is the day to day, boots-on-the-ground game plan that we use every day at our church.”  In the introduction of Real Life Discipleship he wrote that “the overriding goal is to train disciples who know how to disciple others.”

The 12 week journey takes you through the same process described in Real Life Discipleship (share, connect, minister and disciple) and works through the issues of how to disciple a person through the stages of spiritual maturity (spiritual infant, spiritual child, spiritual young adult and spiritual parents).  The individual sessions help develop the ability to put these principles into practice.

The final week provides a detailed examination of the storying methodology developed by Avery Willis (known as orality).  This concept is very transferable and is a way to fully engage the members of every group.

The training manual features a Leader’s Guide section in the appendix.  Because the manual is intended to be a group experience, the Leader’s Guide includes instructions on how to begin and commitments to be made.  The weekly meeting of the group will center around a guided discussion of the daily experiences (completed in preparation).

You can clearly see the influence of Avery Willis in the workbook pages.  Willis, the author of MasterLife, passed away earlier this year but not before he had a chance to play a part in the discipleship process at Real Life Ministries and the development of the real life discipleship training manual.

Many churches without the time to develop their own process will find this off-the-shelf resource to be exactly what they’ve been looking for.  If you’re looking for ways to raise the discipleship bar in your church, this is a training manual you’ll want to see.

One of the first books I read about small group ministry was Successful Home Cell Groups by Dr. David Yonggi Cho, the fantastic story of the “smallest and largest” church in the world, the Full Gospel Central Church in Seoul, Korea.  This served as my introduction to the Cell Church model in 1988.  In the years since then Ralph Neighbour and now Joel Comiskey have provided a steady stream of resources for cell group ministry.

According to Comiskey, a cell is a “group of three to fifteen people who meet weekly outside the church building for the purpose of evangelism, community, and spiritual growth with the goal of multiplication.”  Each of the components are important and must be present in an authentic cell group ministry.

• Cell groups meet regularly.
• Spiritual growth is a fundamental purpose.
• Community, a genuine sense of connection formed through the intimacy of a smaller group (3 to 15) is essential.
• Penetration evangelism is an intentional aspect of the cell group ministry.  The group exists for the purpose of spiritual growth and reaching out.
• Multiplication is expected.  When a group grows (through evangelism) it is anticipated that like every healthy cell it will multiply.

In addition to Comiskey’s very extensive collection of books you’ll also find a comprehensive set of helpful articles on his website.  If you want to learn how to implement the cell group model you’ll find everything you need.

As I caution on every review of a model or strategy, there are no problem-free solutions.  Clearly the cell group strategy is a slow and steady growth model.  There’s nothing quick about it.  And I’d also say that proponents of the model are often extremely passionate in their commitment to it and sometimes quick to point out the inadequacies of strategies that are more willing to choose speed of connection or lowering the bar in terms of who can lead a group.

I’m often asked whether groups should be open or closed?  It’s one of those questions that kind of defines you as a grouplifer.  Open or closed?  It’s kind of like Coke or Pepsi…but not very much.

There are those that are a little wild-eyed about one perspective or the other.   And then there are those that don’t really care.  I’m not in either one of those camps.  To me, it’s all about the purpose of the individual group you’re talking about.  And that begs a prior question.  Before you can determine if your group should be open or closed you’ve got to answer at least one preliminary question.  Here it is:

“What are you trying to do in your group?”

There are other ways to ask this question.  Two great alternatives are: “What will you call success?” and, “What will you call a win?”  Any way you slice it though, what you’re really asking is, “What is the purpose of this group?”

Why is this important?  Why does it come first?  It comes first because the values and norms of the group must be aligned with the purpose or you end up with a mess.  What are some possible purposes?

• We exist to provide a safe environment to share our lives.
• We want to help each other grow spiritually.
• We want to be an easy first step for our non-Christian neighbors and friends.
• We like to eat pie.

I can’t tell you what your group’s purpose needs to be, but I can tell you that without clearly defined purpose–a win–you can’t answer the open or closed question very well.

Here’s how I personally answer the open or closed question.

1. The main purpose of our group system is to make followers of Jesus.
2. A secondary purpose is to connect people relationally.
3. Part of becoming a follower of Jesus is learning to set aside my interests for the sake of others (Phil. 2:4; Luke 14).
4. Therefore, the group shouldn’t be just about me and my needs.
5. “Come over to my house” is almost always easier than “come with me to church.”
6. Therefore, setting my own interests aside might include inviting my friends and neighbors to my group.
7. It is never easier to connect the friends and neighbors of the newest members of the congregation than in the first 3 to 6 months.
8. Therefore, setting my own interests aside might include encouraging the newest members of the group to invite their friends and neighbors.

Those are my reasons for preferring open groups to closed groups.  Doesn’t mean all groups all the time.  Just means as a general philosophy of group life…that’s how I roll.  Need more?  Don’t miss my Top 10 Reasons I’m a Fan of Open Groups.

My review copy of Formation: Building a Reliable Foundation arrived a couple days ago.  New from LifeWay, the Small Group Life series was launched recently.  Formation is the first release of a four study series (the others to follow over the next few months).

Thumbing through the pages, reading the introduction, even diving into the format and questions of the first session, I noticed a few things that you’ll want to know.  Before I get into a list of observations though, let me just say I think you’re going to like the Small Group Life series.  This is good stuff!

A Few Distinctives:

• The concept is presented in episodes, scenes, and takes.  Kind of like the production of a film or a play.  The book is an episode.  Sessions within each book are scenes.  And within each scene are a couple different takes.
• Small Group Life launches with three core values: flexibility, affordability, and continuity.
• Flexibility: Every episode (book) in the series is designed to be a 12 week experience that can be completed two ways.  Each scene (session) can really be separated into two “takes” on the same subject.  Kind of a second run at working through the same concept with another scripture passage.  Groups that meet twice a month may want to do both takes in the same meeting.  Groups that meet weekly can easily use the second ‘take’ as followup the next week.
• Affordability: The pricing of the material is very affordable.  In fact, it’s even available on a subscription basis at $16.95 a member for a full year of group material.  That’s a great price!  If you want to check it out first, you can order Formation right here for just $3.50 and shipping.  12 sessions!  That’s very good.
• Continuity: Designed as a three-year journey, Small Group Life will expose your groups to “basic doctrines of the Christian faith, foundational events recorded in Scripture, and traits of Christ.”  If you’re looking for a series that can take your members somewhere…this leads to a very good destination.
• A distinctive that I really like (and I bet you will too) is the Serve/Go section near the end of each scene.  Connected thematically with the concepts of the scene are ways the group can put into practice the principles and ideas they’ve just learned.  Very nice!
• Small(er) Group Life: Each scene has a companion children’s resource that is available as a free downloadable pdf.  You can check one out right here.  In addition, each scene in the adult study refers to what the kids experienced, includes two family devotional ideas and a possible family activity.  That’s huge!
• Leader Notes: The Leader’s Guide is included in each book.  The notes are not extensive, but this is a study that is very simply designed, has built-in scripture notes, and takes very little preparation for a leader to pull off.  That said, including the Leader’s Guide in the book itself makes it easier to build in the value of rotating facilitation among group members.
• Each session has a video that is referred to in the second take.  It can be downloaded or viewed online.  They’re short, to the point and intended to help fully expose group members to the concept being studied.  You can see a sample at the end of my review.

All in all, this is a great new series!  If you’re looking for a curriculum idea for your small group system, this is a very good one and I highly recommend it.  Good job LifeWay!

Episode 1 – Atonement from LifeWay on Vimeo.

In terms of small groups philosophy of ministry, the open or closed group question is very big.  Both sides have some good arguments.  Like every other argument there is no problem-free solution.  Although I believe there are times when it is both appropriate and beneficial to “close” a group, for the most part I am solidly in the open group camp.  Here are my top 10 reasons:

10.  Eliminates the need to “card people at the door!”

9.  One less idiosyncrasy to explain to interested newbies.

8.  Adding a new person to a group often causes new details to be added to old stories.

7.  Gives an opportunity for includers to include, reach out, and help new members to feel part of the group.

6.  Creates opportunities for new friendships.

5.  It counters the “me-first” attitude of the culture when I’m willing to share what I have.

4.  A growing group opens new doors for putting the needs of others above your own.

3.  Without new blood, relationships can become stagnant.

2.  If grouplife really is essential to me, I will be most persuasive when I invite you to my group.

1.  The closest friends of the newest people in your congregation will never be easier to invite than in the first 3 to 6 months.

Admittedly, if you’re any kind of debater you can come up with counter arguments for many of my top 1o.  Let me be clear though.  I believe that reason number one trumps any potential good that can come from a closed group system.  Relationships that members of closed groups had with outsiders will almost certainly have faded once they’ve completed 12 to 18 months.  In the sense that there’s an upside and a downside to everything…that is a huge downside and solidly puts me in the open group camp.

Looking for what’s next for your small group ministry?  I like what I’m beginning to hear about Lifeway’s new line, Small Group Life.  Great topics, streamlined sessions, and the pricing looks great.  What’s not to like?  I think you’ll get the flavor from this video:

Small Group Life from Lifeway.SmallGroups on Vimeo.

What in your life is unexplainable apart from God?   Is there anything?  Or is there a perfect explanation for everything do?  For your decisions about jobs, your finances, and your relationships?

If this is a question that intrigues you at all, you might want to take a look at a new 8 week DVD-driven study from David C. Cook publishing.  Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible, by Don Cousins, will not be for every group.  But if your group is looking for a challenge, almost a dare to move towards the life described so vividly in the New Testament, this is a study you need to take a look at.

Unlike most of the DVD-driven group curriculum you’ll find, this DVD features a series of interviews with real people who have begun a new kind of adventure and are living lives and making decisions that are unexplainable…apart from God.  Watching session one and the story of Lee Eilers I couldn’t help but be pulled in to a great story; one man’s story of a decision he made to follow a course that could only be explained by God.

Each of the sessions is designed to be watched after reading the assigned section of the book.  Each section is about 25 pages.  After viewing the DVD segment the group will tackle a discussion of the ideas presented and be encouraged to apply what they’re learning.  I found the questions for session one well written and could imagine a lively discussion as a group wrestled with the question, “What would you like to see God do in your personally that would qualify as “unexplainable apart from God?”

This is probably not a study for a brand new group or a group of brand new Christians.  But if you’ve got groups in your small group ministry, or unconnected adults in your congregation, who are ready for a challenge, Unexplainable may be just the ticket.  I can say that session one and the first chapter already has me mulling over the decisions I’m making and the life I’ve found myself living.  Is it unexplainable apart from God?  Maybe I’ll let you know after I’ve finished the study!  In the meantime, if you want to learn more or pick it up for your group you can do that right here.

Looking for a challenging journey?  Sacred Roads: Exploring the Historic Paths of Faith may be just the ticket.  New from Threads, Lifeway’s young adult and college line, this one takes you on a pilgrimage in a “search for discipleship discoveries” designed to help you re-imagine and re-invent the way it happens in the 21st century.

An important note is that although the Threads brand targets young adults, this particular study has something to offer any group that is willing to work at becoming more like Christ.  If the intent is beyond fellowship and hanging out, this is a good study to include in the list of next steps.

Similar to Red Revolution and other studies in the series, Sacred Roads is a challenging experience.  Participants will work their way through six different pathways of discipleship.  Each session is designed to be studied in advance and then discussed in a group meeting.  A feature I love is that each session ends with a verse to be memorized that will help cement the concept and make application much more tangible.

In the introduction, Zempel points out that “discipleship with Jesus was never reduced to a workbook of questions with obvious and simplistic answers.”  You won’t find that in Sacred Roads either.  What you will find is a thought-provoking and provocative experience that for most will venture into aspects of authentic discipleship that have been all but lost.

If you’re looking for a way to help groups take a next step into discipleship, this is a study that should be on your radar.  It’s not plug and play.  It will require a leader and participants committed to a journey.  But it will be a trip worth taking.  This is a good one!

What produces a genuinely deep connection?  Is it just time spent with someone?  Or are there other essential  ingredients?

When I listed what I called the top 10 axiomatic beliefs of group life, I included the belief that “the longer a group is together the more deeply connected the members become.”  I’ve heard this argued hundreds of times, mostly in response to the idea that good groups grow and birth.  “But we’ve just started to really connect!  How can you ask us to send out Bob and Carol now!”  You’ve probably had the discussion too.  You may have been on either side of the argument…

But the question is, what really produces a deep connection?  And if you’ve been observant in group ministry you’ll know right away that there are plenty of groups that have been together for a long time and still really don’t know each other all that well; certainly wouldn’t consider themselves “knit together in love.”  So what causes that?

I believe there are at least two other ingredients that play a bigger part than time when it comes to deep connection.  First, a common understanding of the purpose of the group is essential.  If half the group’s members long to “do life together” and the other half is really only in it to meet some kind of obligation to the church or pastor…it’s unlikely to get very far.  Does it need a common purpose from the beginning?  No, but you’ve got to help them get there pretty quickly, probably within the first 3 to 4 months.  This is where the idea of a group agreement or covenant is beneficial.  Clearly stating the purpose of the group can start the group on a course for a deeper connection.

The second essential ingredient is intentionality.  Groups don’t drift into a deeper connection.  Group members choose to go deeper.  Sometimes life chooses for us.  We’ve all seen groups that responded to a crisis in the life of a member and found that they had somehow grown closer.  Short of life crowding in, an intentional approach to how group life happens produces a deeper connection.  Developing a spiritual health plan that incorporates  accountability can be an expression of intentionality.  Can you introduce this in the first week?  Probably not.  But you’d best not wait too long.  Group norms harden pretty quickly and it becomes much more difficult to introduce new ideas after about 6 to 9 months.

You may have identified other essential ingredients.  The key is to recognize that more than time is required.  Without a purpose and intentionality, groups are unlikely to develop a deep connection.  And without a deep connection, life-change, the kind of life-change we hope will happen…will be much less likely.