Discipleship Encounters
Discipleship Encounters
Discipleship Encounters
DISCIPLESHIP
ENCOUNTERS
WITH
by
Introduction i
Preface iv
Encounter Outlines
Appendix
Practical Helps 19
Optional starting points
The Bible, God, & People 21
The Bridge Illustration 23
Progress Sheets for keeping track of each encounter (copy ready) 24
Prayer list (copy ready) 26
Stewardship in the Christian life 27
Summary of memory verses 28
Topical Memory System (material from The Navigators) 29
Study the Scriptures (STS) outline plan 30
The STS form (copy ready) 31
INTRODUCTION TO THE
DISCIPLESHIP ENCOUNTERS
Stop! Don't read any further until you have read the Preface to these
Discipleship Encounters. The warning in the Preface against the "information
trap" is important background for effective discipleship.
Please check this box when you have read the Preface.
Great! Thank you for reading the Preface. Here are some considerations to help
you as you proceed in the discipling process:
Please check this box when you have read the Practical Helps.
2) Turn now to pages 21 and 22. These are entitled The Bible, God, and People
and represent optional starting points in the discipling process. You can see
from the content that this step opens up conversation about who God is, what the
Bible is, and what God has done in Christ so that people can know Him. Turn to
page 23. This is an explanation of the Bridge Illustration which many have
found useful for leading someone to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Please check this box when you have read pages 21, 22, and 23.
3) Now look at the Progress Sheets on pp. 24 and 25. Make copies of these two
pages for each encounter group that you have. Then write the name(s) of your
disciple(s) in the spaces provided at the top of the page. At the close of every
discipleship encounter check off the points and subpoints covered. (Some days
you may not cover the points in the outline because you are dealing with other
important items). Write in the date of your next encounter beside the point
where you plan to begin.
Please check this box when you have made copies of the Progress Sheets.
Now, turn toThe Discipler's Guide on page 1a to find the"Prompts and Notes
for STEP ONE. (This page is opposite page no. 1 (STEP ONE)) and observe
the following:
a) Page 1a is the guide for page 1 of the Encounter outlines and page
2a is the guide for page 2, etc.
b) Notice that at the top of the page the Purpose of Step One is stated.
The purpose for each Step is important to keep in mind as you proceed
through the Encounters with your disciple(s).
d) The numbers down the left side of the page refer to the line numbers
in the Encounter outlines. An arrow () before a number means that
there is a question written in italics that you may want to use to start a
conversation about that point. A number without an arrow (for example
2.3 on page 1a) is information just to tell you what we had in mind
when we put the outline together.
e) Finally, the footnote at the bottom of the page is the first reminder of
what has already been stated, namely that the questions provided in the
Discipler's Guide are only suggestions. Be relaxed and confident in the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, -- free to create your own questions or
pattern for working through the outlines as you spend time growing
with your disciple(s).
Please check this box when you have carefully studied page 1a.
5) As you start, agree together on the length of time you will meet together. You
might suggest just two or three weeks and then re negotiate for a longer time
period if you and your disciple(s) are agreeable. An option for the first round
with someone is to make a copy of Step One without the top line that says
"STEP ONE and page -1-". In this way Step One stands alone and does not
suggest that there is more to follow. Thus it becomes easier to have early closure
if you discover that the group is not working out. Be careful of "sag" in your
relationship halfway through. Help those being discipled to have a sense of
progress, bit by bit, as you grow together. When you end make sure you have
strong closure. Do not just fade away.
6) The last consideration before you begin discipling someone is basic and
easily overlooked. What are your objectives or expectations for discipling the
person(s) you have in mind just now? There are different ways to answer this
question.
Possible answers could include such things as having a basic understanding of
what the Christian life is all about, the ability to train new Christians, raise up
leaders among youth, leadership training for small groups, preparation for
planting a new church, training people who can share pastoral responsibilities,
preparing those who can teach Sunday School, and/or equipping those who
might share in leading worship . One major objective in all of the above is to
raise up another generation of disciples. Use your imagination to think of many
more possibilities for giving sharp focus to the discipling process. Again, what is
your purpose for discipling someone at this time?
My purpose at this time for getting together with [fill in the name(s) 1, 2, or 3
people here]
______________________, ______________________
______________________
is to: ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Check this box when you have written down your purpose(s).
Remember that the nervousness you will experience as you approach those with
whom you want to get together and grow comes from our spiritual enemy. He
does not want this powerful and effective process to begin. But we have victory
in Jesus. Therefore pray and go, asking the Holy Spirit to fill you and use you.
PREFACE
Multiplication of Leaders
This form of discipleship works well in any area of church life and
ministry. Lucy Baig, in using her spiritual gift of mercy, used the Encounter
outlines to train other women to minister to elderly women in Mexico City. In
the same way, the outlines that make up the Encounters may be used by
Sunday school teachers, worship leaders, church planters or anyone who has a
vision for multiplying their kind.
A special note to those who might use this material -- before you
start "discipling" people you need to make a decision. The decision is one of
focus. Do you plan to teach the content of these Discipleship Encounters or
are you going to disciple a few people using these outlines to help you in the
discipling process? If your focus is on teaching the content of this material I
would strongly urge you to do so without calling the process discipleship.
Discipleship is much more than just teaching content. If you are looking for a
title to use in the case of teaching this material you could call it Training in
the Christian Basics. In this case you will have "classes" and not "encounters"
when you meet. An "encounter" is the meeting together of you, and your
disciple(s) with the Lord for growth through prayer, fellowship that
encourages, and the study of the Bible in the context of daily living.
Formation or Information?
Suzy had gone through the motions of mixing and painting but there
was no change in the final product. She lacked just one thing -- the pigment,
the color. And so it is with discipleship. Simply using the outlines as material
for teaching is the same as painting with water. For true discipleship to take
place we need to share the pigment of our lives. Pigment represents such
things as our passion, our vision, our hunger for more of God, our feeling
weak and casting ourselves in dependence upon the Lord, our seeking the
fullness of the Holy Spirit, our honesty, our search for purity -- all of this and
more. These things are more easily caught than taught. That is why we say
that the Encounter outlines are a pretext for meeting together.
This Preface should serve as a guideline and not a hard and fast rule.
But there is one rule of thumb that should continually be applied in the
discipling process: Is what I am teaching, showing, and demonstrating easily
transferable and "pass-on-able?" We hear many good sermons, and there are
many good seminars and classes available which help build up our
knowledge, but most are not designed to be easily transmitted to others. Keep
it simple.
The question always comes up, "Whom shall I disciple?" There are
five options that I shall mention:
Acknowledgments
The discipler will readily discern that these outlines contain little that
is original. My wife, Nancy, and I compiled the initial outlines in Ecuador,
South America. We used the Navigator's Wheel Illustration to determine the
major themes of the material. Later, following Dale Bishop's and Keith
Tungseth's adaptation of the Wheel we added the hub to represent the Holy
Spirit. Many disciples, disciplers and colleagues in ministry have helped in the
development of this tool. We want to thank to Tim Ek for help with the
stewardship outline (See page 27). Special thanks go to Jerry and Vicky Love,
our missionary colleagues in Mexico, for helping to field test and make
improvements in the outlines and for developing the supplementary material
found in the Appendix on pages 21-23. We are indebted to Carl Racine, short-
term missionary to Ecuador and Mexico, for his keen insights and
suggestions. Our appreciation for continual fresh insights and ideas for
improvements goes to former short-term missionary to Mexico and President
of Alaska Christian College, Keith Hamilton.
1. If someone were to ask you what a Christian is, how would you respond?
HOMEWORK: Memorize Rev 3:20 and John 1:12. In the following weeks
you will be memorizing other verses.
Romans 10:9 I John 1:9
I John 5:11,12 John 16:24
I Cor 10:13
Romans 1:11,12 "For I want very much to see you, in order to share a spiritual
blessing with you to make you strong. What I mean is that both you and I will
be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours." Good News Bible
1. Discipling--
1.3 Examples:
A. Andrew calls Simon Peter--John 1:40-42
B. Philip and Nathanael--John 1:43-45
C. Jesus and His disciples--Mark 3:14 He chose them to be with
him first and then to send them out
information 10% of the discipling effort
formation 90% of the discipling effort
2.3 The VERTICAL SPOKES (God speaks to us through his Word and
we speak with God through prayer).
THE WORD--Psalm 119:9,11; Matt 4:4
PRAYER--Phil 4:6,7; John 15:7
HOMEWORK: Begin
or continue a personal
devotional time.
1. The Bible speaks of Jesus as Lord*. He wants to be Lord of the life of each
believer. The definition of the word Lord is: owner, chief, governor,
slave owner, highest authority, king. This word indicates: position,
complete control, greatest authority, master. Therefore, we need to
respond to the question posed in Luke 6:46.
2. We have to decide to serve one lord or another--Luke 16:13.
3. Choose 2 or 3 areas which make it especially difficult for you to live under
the new management of Jesus or to let Him be Lord of your life.
3.1
Priorities--Matt 6:33
3.2
Things--clothing, cars, etc. Luke 12:15
3.3
Social standing--Matt 20:26-28
3.4
Power--1 Peter 5:5,6
3.5
Pride--Rom 12:3
3.6
Family--Luke 14:26; Matt 10:37
3.7
Escapism--drugs, alcohol, Eph 5:18
3.8
Pleasure--Mark 4:19
3.9
Egoism--Phil 2:3,4
3.10
Money--Eccl 5:10,11; Psalm 62:10
3.11
Sex--1 Cor 6:18-20; Matt 5:27-28
3.12
Anxiety--Rom 8:28; Phil 4:6
3.13
Good deeds--Rom 4:4,5; Eph 2:8-10
3.14
Tithe--robbing God--Mal 3:8-10; 2 Cor 8:1-8, 9:6-8
3.15
Fear--2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:4,18
3.16
Thought life--Phil 4:8; Col 3:2
3.17
Critical spirit--Matt 7:1-3
3.18
Bitterness--Heb 12:14,15
3.19
The tongue--James 3:2; Prov 26:20-22
3.20
Envy--Prov 14:30; 1 Pet 2:1
3.21
Bad temper--Prov 16:32; 2 Tim 1:7
3.22
Irresponsibility--1 Cor 4:2; Matt 25:14-30
3.23
Care of the body--1 Cor 6:19,20
3.24
Lying--Lev 19:11; Eph 4:25
3.25
Resentment--Prov 10:12; 1 Peter 3:9
3.26
Forgiveness--Mark 11:25
3.27
Other..(for example: racism, denying Christ, not accepting
others, deceitfulness, cheating, exploitation of others, guilt, etc.)
*In the New Testament the word Savior occurs only 24 times and the word
Lord occurs over 600 times thus showing the importance of Jesus' lordship.
-6-
4. Choose with your mind and with your will to offer your whole life as a
living sacrifice--Rom 12:1,2.
E=ego
4.1 Consider the idea of giving over all your rights to God. He always
protects and takes care of what is His. Now there is no reason for
arguments or bad attitudes towards others, because now you are no
longer the owner of anything that they can harm.
4.2 Consider the idea of giving all your belongings over to God--
Genesis 22:1-18
-What did Abraham offer to God?
-What did God do with this sacrifice?
-Can you trust God to do what is best with your life and possessions
if you give them to Him?
4.4 Continue seeking instructions from Christ each day. The action is
continual--Luke 9:23.
A. Deny yourself
B. Take up your cross each day
C. Follow Christ
*This illustration of Christ or Self being on the Throne of your life is adapted
from the above booklet. by Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc. 1966.
STEP FIVE -7-
2.1 "He will baptize you with the Holy spirit and with fire."--Mt 3:11;
Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16
2.2 The fulfillment of the promise--Acts 1:5; 2:4
3.1 The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask --Luke 11:9-13
3.2 Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Streams of living water - John 7:37-
39; "like" a dove - Mt 3:13-17; Wind - Acts 2:2; Fire - Acts 2:3.
3.3 The role of the Holy Spirit
A. John 14:26
1. Counselor or helper--sent by the Father in the name of Jesus Christ
2. Teaches all things
3. Helps us remember what Jesus said
B. John 15:26-16:15
1. Counselor or helper--John 15:26
2. Spirit of truth
3. Bears witness to Christ
4. Convinces the world of:--John 16:8
-Sin
-Righteousness
-Judgment
5. Guides into all truth--John 16:13
-Speaks what he hears
6. Declares things to come
7. Glorifies Christ--John 16:14
C. Acts 1:1-9-Gives power to witness--Acts 1:8
D. Gives witness as we speak of Jesus--Rom 15:18,19; Heb 2:4
4. The disciples had the Holy Spirit before Pentecost--John 20:22 -- but were
filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see the next point).
5. The Bible speaks of being filled with the Spirit-
-Acts 1:8; Eph 5:18 There is a variety of
experiences. (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 9:17-18;
10:44-48; 19:1-6) Compare Acts 2:1-4 with
Acts 4:31-a continuous experience.
-8-
6. We are told to "Be filled with the Holy Spirit." Eph 5:18
7. A complete circle back to where we began (line 3.1) -- Lk 11:13
The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. So we must ask and
receive by faith. Gal 3:2-5
8.1 The Holy Spirit must overflow and control our lives-- Eph 5:18
This control includes body, soul, and spirit 1 Thes 5:23:
A. Our spirit - revived by the Holy Spirit -- Rom 8:16
B. Our body - physical part Rom 12:1, 1 Cor 9:27
C. Our soul - psychological and mental part Rom 12:2
8.2 The Holy Spirit gives gifts to us depending on his purposes and
designs for each of us. They are usually given for us to bless others.
Rom 12:4-8, 1 Cor 12:1-11 & 27-31, Eph 4:11, and 1 Pet 4:10,11
8.4 The Spirit must control us. We must walk in the Spirit--Gal
5:16,18,25. We begin this walk by faith and by:
A. Receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith ( 7 above)
B. Submitting to God -- Heb 12:9; Jas 4:7 Gal 2:20; Zec 1:3
C. Giving our worries and concerns to Him - 1 Pet. 5:7
D. Resisting the devil making him run from us Jas 4:7,8; Mt
16:23; Eph 4:27, 6:11 & 16; 1 Pet 5:8,9 and Rev 12:11
E. Bearing the fruit that comes from the Spirit - Gal 5:22,23
F. Crucifying the sinful nature's passions and desires - Gal 5:24
G. Fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit can be continual - 2 Cor
13:14
1. Why do we use the Bible as our basis for the Christian life? -- 2 Timothy
3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21
A. Our physical being needs food, our souls are nourished with
studies, and our spirits require the nourishment provided by
the word of God -- Heb 5:12-14.
3.1 Discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart -- Heb 4:12
3.2 Protects from sin -- Psalm 119:11 (It is necessary to memorize the
Scripture -- Deut 6:6; Prov 7:1-3)
3.3 Gives wisdom -- Psalm 19:7; II Tim 3:15
3.4 Gladdens the heart -- Psalm 19:8; Jer 15:16
(Continued on next page)
3. What the Bible does for the Christian (continued from last page):
3.5 Serves "...for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults,
and giving instruction for right living...." -- 2 Tim 3:16,17
(Good News Bible)
4. Five ways of growing in our knowledge of the Word of God so that we can
apply it to daily living:*
Prayer is talking with God, a two way conversation opening up to Him, and
listening to Him. You can pray anywhere at any time.
2. Why pray?
4.1 Obey His commands and do what pleases to Him--1 John 3:22
4.2 Ask according to the will of God--1 John 5:14
4.3 Ask believing--Matt 21:22
4.4 Keeping Jesus' words in our hearts--John 15:7
4.5 Forgive--Mark 11:25
4.6 Be humble--1 Peter 5:5
4.7 Get priorities right--Matt 6:33
4.8 Ask specifically--Mark 10:51
1. Ways of witnessing
1.1 Your life--James 1:22; Col 4:5,6; 1 Peter 3:16 "What you are
speaks so loudly I can't hear what you say." Emerson
2. Who is responsible for saving people? (Also see appendix pages 21,22)
2.3 The Gospel--the power of God for salvation Rom 1:16; Define
gospel in your own words--1 Cor 15: 3,4
3.2 In the process he used the Scriptures - also Acts 8:35 The Plan of
Salvation from the Bible will help us do the same. (this is a
variation of the Roman Road that we have seen in Step One):
(Responses to exercise on bottom of page 12: A-3, B-5, C-1, D-2, E-4)
-14-
4. Personal testimony
6. The scope of our witness is seen in Jesus' last words known as the Great
Commission--Mt 28:19,20. The importance of these can be seen when we
compare them to the first words he spoke to his disciples--Mt 4:19.
Remember his command to pray--Mt 9:37,38. This witness starts at home
and extends outward in ever larger circles to include the whole world--Acts
1:8
FELLOWSHIP
3.2 "Of the same mind...in full accord" Phil 2:1,2. In your own words,
explain what this means to you.
3.3 The Christians loved one another--1 Thes 4:9,10; 2 Thes 1:3
4.5 God helps the believer to be obedient. Phil 1:6; 2:13-the will and
the power to obey; Matt 11:28-30.
5.1 He that thinks he is safe; watch out that he doesn't fall--I Cor
10:12.
5.3 Small things are very important--Matt 25:21; James 3:3-5; Song
of Songs 2:15 (Note: It was the little foxes that could sneak in
undetected and chew the bark off the grape vines and thus kill the
plants. And so it is with us, little sins can sneak up and destroy us.)
18. Share openly with them your own spiritual needs and personal problems (we
all have them).
19. Review the materials once in awhile. Have the disciple present or review the
material with you or better yet, with someone else.
20. Remember that "information" is necessary, but the goal is "formation" of
disciples for the Lord.
21. Time with the disciples may include:
21.1 Personal application from the Word (you share.)
21.2 Check-up (homework, memorization, etc.)
21.3 Handle problems as they arise.
21.4 Prayer.
21.5 Continue with the outline.
22. Have the disciples in the group write the memory verse on their cards as you
dictate them.
23. Before leaving the Encounter, plan for the next one by making notes on the
Progress Sheet or on your own "lesson plan".
24. Remember, being involved in ministry gives a sense of direction to everyone
involved in discipleship
25. Never allow your discipling relationships to fizzle out. Always have closure.
Celebrate what has been accomplished.
QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP:
Q.- Am I doing it right? After four months I'm only on Step #4. It seems
like we spend so much time talking about "other things."
A.- You are right on target. There is no given time frame. Many people will
take a year. Some more time and others less. You would not touch on
the "other things" if you did not have the outlines in front of you as
your "pretext" for getting together. You are all growing!
Q.- Now that we are discipling people in the church, should we organize a
committee to keep it going?
A.- Discipleship depends on vision and relationships. Selecting a promoter
to encourage people and to organize an annual banquet or semi-annual
half-day retreat and to lift up the discipleship vision is a good idea.
Periodic words of encouragement in the weekly bulletin are always
appropriate and help create an ongoing interest in discipleship for the
whole church. This requires little organization.
-21-
THE BIBLE, GOD, and PEOPLE
Figure # 1
______________________________________________________
5 How God brings hope to people - His plan still intact. (Figure #2)
5.1 If God has not changed His plan for people, even after the fall, what
change needs to take place so that humankind can participate in that
plan (John 1:12,13; Col. 2:13; Col. 3:9,10)? There has to be a
change within people themselves. [This is a change from being lost
to becoming a follower of Christ.]
5.2 How people may become alive in Christ: Rev. 3:20; Jn. 1:12; &
Rom. 10:9
-22-
______________________________________________________
God created people so he could have a personal and direct relationship with
them. This relationship was broken because of sin. Now there is a separation
between people and God.
3. People are trying to reach for God through religion, philosophy, good deeds,
pleasures, etc. These are represented by the partial bridges below. Eph
2:8,9; Prov. 14:12
4. God has provided us with the only way to Himself -- through Jesus Christ
who died on the cross for our sins--John 14:6; 1 Pet. 3:18
5. We must received Christ as our Lord & Savior--Rev. 3:20; John 1:12;
Rom 10:9
Ask if there is something that would keep the person from receiving Christ and
wait for an answer. If he/she says "no," then invite the person to pray to receive
Christ. The person may pray on his/her own or repeat a prayer after you.
Sometimes you may give the person the "homework assignment" of considering
what you have shown him/her. Assure them you would be interested in knowing
where they come out in their thinking. After they invite Jesus Christ into their
life you will want to use Step One to help them start growing
Without writing in the numbers, you draw this Bridge Illustration as you talk.
(The numbers refer to the points listed above. Practice this presentation).
{Make copies of these Progress Sheets for each Discipleship Encounter}-24-
PROGRESS SHEET
(For the discipler)
List the names of those your disciple(s) want to disciple: ________________,
_________________, ________________, __________________
________________________________________________________________
Step Six - The Word of God (Are your disciples discipling yet?
Encourage them.)
page 9 1._____ 2.3____page 10 3.5____ Bks of Bib.
2.1____ 2.4____ 3.6____ Ps 119:9,11
2.2____ 3._____ 4._____ Hand Illus.
________________________________________________________________
Step Seven - Prayer (Be sure to talk about your disciples' disciples. Suggest
all getting together for prayer & Bible study sometime.)
page 11 1._____ page 12 4._____ Phil 4:6-7
2._____ 5._____ Prayer list
3._____ 6._____ Praise list
Exercise
________________________________________________________________
Step Eight - Witness (Encourage your disciples' discipling activities).
OTHER THEMES
WITH MEMORY VERSES:
The STS Bible study is a suggested outline to follow for individual preparation
of a Bible study--chapter by chapter and week by week. Start these after the
completion of the Encounter Outlines.
We suggest doing these studies in small groups with several of your disciples if
possible. Meeting time should be about an hour to an hour and half. Give the
leadership of the study to a different person each time you meet. Many have
found that beginning this type of study in a the short pastoral epistle such as
Second Timothy is good because a short book with short chapters provides
comfortable "bite size" portions for getting started. With concentration the
preparation can be done in about one hour. The instructions are simple.
1. OUTLINE or SUMMARY (of the assigned chapter for the week). Some prefer
to outline the chapter and others are more at home writing a summary. The
summary should be limited to an average of 5 words per verse. In both
cases write the verse numbers in the left-hand margin for easy
referencing later in the group study. The back page provides extra space.
2. TITLE.By the time you have finished outlining or summarizing the chapter
you will be able to write your own original title for it.
5. PERSONAL APPLICATION. This is the single most important part of the STS
study and should reflect how the Lord speaks to you personally as you
search His Word. It reflects you, your life, your needs, your context and
God's encouragement, direction, comfort, and call to follow Him.
-31-
STUDY THE SCRIPTURES
Your Name: Date:
Book and Chapter:_____________________________________________
1. OUTLINE or SUMMARY
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2. TITLE:
3. PARALLEL or CONTRASTING PASSAGES:
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4. PROBLEMS OF THE PASSAGE: (Both real and potential problems)
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5. PERSONAL APPLICATION:
Questions to help your focus: Which verse(s) have spoken to you during your study and
meditation? How do they speak to you? Do they encourage? bring hope? correct?
challenge? instruct? guide? comfort? Be specific. This is for you, not for others, even
though you may want to share this with others and help them learn how the Lord
speaks and guides us through His word.
This form is designed for user copying.