1. Small Group Discipleship
International pastors and lEADERS conference of the western west Africa Episcopal district Class Leaders Training
Small Group Discipleship
Presented by
Rev. Dr. Richard M.Gadzekpo
Pastor:
Mt. Pleasant A.M.E. Zion Church 3664 Grade Road, Rockford, Tennessee 37853

2. Introduction: the last commandment
Matthew 28:19 & 20 19Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

3. Introduction: small groups
One of the most effective ways of making disciples is through holistic small groups; Providing personal support and reassurance to individuals — especially in settings where people can speak openly and honestly without fear of rejection.

4. Biblical Example
Jesus started his ministry of making disciples of all nations through small group (Mark 3:13-14)
The Disciples of Jesus also fulfilled the mandate of making disciples of all nations through small group (Acts 2:46, Acts 8:3,Romans 16:3-5)

5. Historical Example
In 1742, John Wesley started the Class Leaders System, where every member of the church is placed into a class over which is appointed a class leader whose responsibility is to provide sub pastoral oversight. It became part of the constitution of the church in 1744 when the rules for the United Societies were drawn up.

6. Historical Example
The A.M.E. Zion Church since its inception in 1796 has preserved the Class Leaders System. The Book of Discipline of the A.M.E. Zion Church stipulates that the design of organizing members into classes and holding of class meeting is … to establish and keep up meetings for …instruction…encouragement…admonition…that shall be a profitable means of grace.

7. Two models of small group Discipleship
Cognitive Model – Evangelist Small Group Fellowship
Behavioral Model – Class Meeting

8. The evangelistic small group fellowship
A cognitive model of ministry that places emphasis upon helping the non-churched to become Christians and members of the Church

9. how is small group FELLOWSHIP evangelistic?
Three Necessary Components - AID:
Attraction: Straightforward invitation
Inclusion: Helping them to belong
Discipleship: Helping individuals grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ

10. Two parts of small group fellowship
Time for Sharing Evangelistic Concerns
List of the un-churched
Forming group’s evangelistic concerns
Pray for names listed
Look for ways and invite prospects
Discuss ways and means with group
Time for Witnessing

11. What is witnessing?
Witnessing is telling people in your own words, your own way what you know about Jesus Christ from your own life!

12. How to begin small group fellowship
Recruit a leader
Leader gathers a core of two or three who are definitely interested
Core group and leader invites another eight to ten people
Decide time, frequency and meeting place
Have first meeting
Divide after eight or ten sessions and start another group

13. Developing a bible study for your small group fellowship
Gathering and Call to Worship
Prayer and Singing
Introduction of Guest
Study Time
Singing/Soloist/Silence
Witness Time
Sharing of needs and concerns
Praying Time

14. Developing a bible study for your small group fellowship
Evangelistic Concerns
Closing Selection
Closing Prayer and Benediction
Fellowship

15. Issues to consider How often to meet Where to meet Refreshments
Child care
What to study

16. The Class Meeting
A behavioral mode of ministry that places emphasis upon practicing the truths that we learn from sermons, bible studies, etc.

17. DISCIPLESHIP CAN BE EVERYTHING WE DO AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
Discipleship is about:
Growing in our relationship with Christ
Sharing our lives and concerns with others in the group
Caring for each other in the group
DISCIPLESHIP CAN BE EVERYTHING WE DO AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE

18. The Class Meeting Three important features of class meeting include:
Getting Acquainted – Connecting as a group
Reviewing the nature of the group – if nature of meeting is not made clear it creates difficulty in keeping the meeting on task
Securing the members commitment to the ground rules of the group.

19. Ground Rules
These commitments should be secured at the first meeting and be reviewed from time to time:
Priority – members to make every effort to attend
Prayer – members to pray regularly for the group
Confidentiality – Not divulge personal concerns to those outside the group even after the group ends.

20. Ground Rules
Punctuality – members begins and ends on time Personal devotion time – members to engage in bible study and prayer between group meetings No advice giving unless counsel is requested – pray for and encourage those who share needs but refrain from giving advice unless requested

21. Ground Rules
No argument – members agree to disagree agreeably Personal needs – Confess personal needs and not those of others in the group Affirmation and vulnerability – members seek to provide an atmosphere of affirmation understanding that those who are ridiculed may never share again

22. Components of A Class Meeting
Gathering – Brief period of fellowship
Sharing – Sharing life with each other
Praying – Praying for one another
Sending – Sent by the Holy Spirit and by group to work and witness.

23. Sharing
To give structure and help in meaningful sharing, the following is recommended:
How am I coming along in my prayer life?
How am I progressing in my personal study of God’s word?
Are there areas of struggle or specific needs which I desire the prayers of the class?

24. Sharing
To give structure and help in meaningful sharing, the following is recommended:
Are there areas of victory or blessings through which I see God at work?
What progress am I making in learning to share my faith with others?
In what ways have I been able to meet a need in the lives of others.

25. How to Begin Small Group Fellowship
Leader invites members to first meeting
Decide with members about time and meeting place
Have first meeting

26. Guidelines for Holding Meetings
Trust God
Pray
Remind the group regularly of its ministry vision
Facilitate and guide discussion
Watch the time
Keep conversation on the subject
Be personally vulnerable
Encourage listening
Guide the long-winded speaker

27. Guidelines for Holding Meetings
Encourage the quite, shy person
Be sensitive to the emotional hurt
Involve everyone in the group
Help members learn to pray aloud
Follow up on an absent or distressed members
Establish and maintain the group commitments
Develop new leadership
Practice the “double focus” of ministry, focus on both individual and group as a whole.

28. Behavioral Model - For the Perfecting of the Saints
Reference
Behavioral Model -
For the Perfecting of the Saints
A Handbook on Holistic Small Group Discipleship
Copyright ©2013
By Dr. Darryl Brewster Starnes, Sr.
(96th Bishop in Succession of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church)