MakeDisciples: D-Groups: DiscipleshipGroups

These are gender-exclusive groups of 3-5 people who meet for 12 months. Maturity is measured by the M.A.R.C.S. of a healthy D-Group.

D-GROUPS Explained

A D-Group (Discipleship Group) is 3 to 5 men or women committed to growing together for a set period of time (12 months). For each D-Group, the goal is to replicate after the set time. This takes place when each member sets out to lead a new D-Group. By inviting others to take the same discipleship journey with them, the Discipleship Group is replicated and the Great Commission fulfilled.

BIG PROBLEMS, ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION

Two of the biggest barriers to growth in the church are a lack of Biblical engagement and a lack of authentic accountability. Without these two things – personal Bible reading and accountable relationships – most of us will eventually stall in our spiritual growth. D-Groups provide a solution to this problem! The great benefit of a D-Group is the plan and accountability it provides to help get people into the Word and keep them in the Word, until the Word gets into them.

D-Groups also give us a replicable plan for making disciples. When people don’t know what to do, they often don’t do anything at all. Though we know our mission is to make disciples who make disciples, we just haven’t been shown how to do it, and that lack of a plan keeps us inactive and ineffective. In D-Groups, we have a simple plan and repeatable process that anyone can follow to facilitate a group that leads to personal growth and multiplication!

The “MARCS” of a Healthy D-Group

The principles of a healthy D-Group are summed up in the acronym “MARCS”: Missional, Accountable, Reproducible, Communal, and Scriptural.

MISSIONAL – D-Group participants should be living out the Gospel.

Healthy D-Groups find ways to meet weekly in places where they can form meaningful Gospel relationships that spur each other on toward sharing the Gospel and making disciples. (Acts 1:8)

ACCOUNTABLE – You can’t expect what you don’t inspect.

Healthy D-Groups foster authentic and honest relationships that hold members accountable to

both their personal growth and to apply what they’re learning. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

REPRODUCIBLE – The discipleship process is not complete until the disciple becomes a disciple maker.

Healthy D-Groups begin with the end in mind. From the beginning, their goal is to replicate the process at the end of the twelve months by sending out each group member to start new D- Groups. This is possible because of the easy-to-replicate components of D-Groups. (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

COMMUNICABLE – Intentionally sharing your life is essential.

Healthy D-Groups are a community that practices the “one-anothers” of scripture. They text or call throughout the week, meet weekly and build Christ-centered friendships. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

SCRIPTURAL – The Bible is the text book.

There is an epidemic of studies in the church that teach us a lot about the Word but don’t teach us how to engage the Word and hear from God on our own. Healthy D-Groups have the Bible as their text book. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

What Does a D-Group Do?

D-Groups will walk through the F-260 Bible reading plan over the course of one year (52 weeks). Each week there will be 5 days of Bible reading that normally covers 1-2 chapters from Genesis to Revelation.

Each day that the disciple engages with God’s Word, they will journal on what God’s Spirit has shown them using the H.E.A.R. journal method: (H) Highlight – (E) Explain – (A) Application – (R) Respond

The D-Group will focus on memorizing two passages of Scripture each week to hide in their heart and recite at the weekly meeting. (Psalm 119:18-19)

During this weekly meeting there will be prayer along with honest and trusted accountability conversation time to discuss highs and lows of their week.

Throughout the year, the D-Group members will be praying for the 3-5 people that God will bring for them to walk through the next year with.