Discipleship Ministries Project
Beverly Manning
Discipleship Ministries – DSMN 500
Dr. Homer Massey
March 10, 2014
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….3
Target Group & Problem…………..…………………………………………………………..…3
Introduction
Deliverance Prayer Tower New Beginnings, Inc. is a Non-Denominational Church
located in Savannah, Georgia. The church’s motto states, “Delivering Deliverance unto the
People to Embark on a New Beginning.”1 The ministry of Deliverance Prayer Tower consists of:
1) Sunday service – Morning Only, 2) Sunday school, 3) Adult Bible Study 4) Women’s
Fellowship, 5) Brother’s Fellowship, 6) Youth Ministry (Lil’ Friends of Jesus – 11 years old and
younger & Teen Summit 12 years old and over) and 7) Vacation Bible School.
Target Group & Problem
The original setup gives some basic support in the church, but the church is not growing.
When I talked to the Apostle, her main concern was the fact that they were once again having to
uproot the ministry and move to another location. She recalled that when they were in transition
1 Bishop Willie Smalls, “Deliverance Prayer Tower Church New Beginnings Constitution,” Revised
February 13, 2012.
2
before they lost a lot of members who did not want to transition with the church. Although they
did gain some new members, they did not stay long. When asked why she thought they left, she
responded that they really didn’t give a reason, but she feels that they felt the church was not
organized because we were not in a permanent location. The church will be moving into a new
building at the end of the month, and she wants to implement some new programs in the church
to increase membership and to retain the new members in the church. She wanted to get the new
members involved in the church, so they would feel a since of responsibility. She felt that if they
had a job to do that they would feel like they are a part of the church not just “lay members.”
She wanted to start some new member’s classes to explain the vision of the church. She
asked me to work on a curriculum, and our Associate Pastor would be the one teaching the class.
Her preliminary idea was to hold the new member’s class before Sunday school.
However, she didn’t want to cut into our regular Sunday school class. After deliberating about
possibilities of when a new member’s class could be done, the most appropriate time seem to be
on Sunday afternoon. This class would be categorized in the budget as Sunday school but would
basically be a momentary small group. Initially, the group would be thirteen weeks, and it will
open to different ages (age 16 and up) joining the church. The new member’s class would be
given twice a year.
The church has 50 members enrolled in Sunday school; however, the usual attendance for
the last six months has only been 20.2 This comprises our classes that meet through the week.
Low attendance in Sunday school and other classes is problematic because new members are the
ones that are not attending regularly. They are not getting rooted in the Word, and they do not
2 Information taken from Deliverance Prayer Tower Sunday school reports.
3
have a clear understanding of the mission of the church. Rick Warren stated, “If you want to
build a healthy, strong, and growing church you must spend time laying a solid foundation.”3
Hence, this is the reason that a class or small group needs to be started to help new members
grow in the Word and learn about the mission of Deliverance Prayer Tower. The anticipated
outcome is to prepare the new members with a firm foundation of Christian doctrine. The end
result is to teach new members to spend time in worship both personally and corporately, to
provide support to the ministries of the church and to be willing to become active disciple
makers.
Church Vision Statement
Deliverance Prayer Tower New Beginnings, Inc. aspires to be:
1) A fellowship of believers who acknowledges Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord and
Savior;
2) Who are dedicated to growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ through discipleship
by training our members for the work of ministry;
3) By declaring the Gospel in not just locally or nationally, but world-wide and by being
obedient performing the work mapped out in the Great Commission;
4) Hence, testify of God's love to all people in word and deed;
5) And give honor and glory to the Lord in our personal and group worship.4
Core Ministry Values and Related Scriptures
3 Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message &
Mission (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1995), 86.
4 Apostle Glenda Smalls, interviewed by Beverly Manning, Savannah, GA, February 18, 2014.
4
Included in the vision statement are the core ministry values of Deliverance Prayer
Tower. They are the following: 1) believers fellowship, 2) discipleship, 3) declaration, 4) living
testament, and 5) worship.
1) Believers Fellowship - Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.”5
2) Discipleship – 2 Timothy 4:5: “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,
do the work of an evangelist, and discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
3) Declaration (the Great Commission) – Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
4) Living Testament – Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.”
5) Worship – John 4:24: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in
truth.”
Behavioral Goal
Sunday school and small groups at Deliverance Prayer Tower New Beginnings, Inc. are
structured groups of loving and caring believers subjected to transformational Bible study,
5 Unless stated, all scripture will come from the New International Version.
5
fellowship, and spiritual growth through a life of evangelizing, connecting, worshipping, and
serving others for Jesus Christ.
The projected behavioral goals for Deliverance Prayer Tower are to make disciples who
love God and man. This goal is to be proficient by training and equipping members through
Sunday school, small groups, mission programs, church fellowship, and lively worship. To
ensure that these goals are finished Deliverance Prayer Tower has a dynamic discipleship process
that starts with the infants and transcends throughout the life of the believer. It is the leader’s
desire that every member of the church becomes a disciple who is firmly rooted in the Word of
God.
Base Path of Development
In history, people have looked for a person or cause to guide them in their lives. In the
New Testament, this is made evident with the followers of John the Baptist. Throngs trailed John
thirsty to be taught something that could believe and to hear of hope for the future. John’s
ministry that resulted in his death brought in Jesus. A perfect picture of what Jesus say is found
in Mark 6: 32-34:
So they (Jesus and the apostles) went away by themselves in a boat
to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them
and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When
Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching
them many things.6
In looking or guidance, people sometimes grab the latest movement. While a movement
may give joy for a time, the end results are often damaging. When a non-believer becomes a
follower of Christ, he should be taught the basics of Christian doctrine. New believers come to
6 Mark 6:23-24, NIV.
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Christ often having delusions about Christianity. Some look at Christ as Santa Claus and believe
that he will give them with all of their carnal desires. These new believers have totally missed the
idea of what Christ is. He is not there to provide them with all their material needs. New
believers have to be taught of spirituality and the essence of faith in Christ.
Sometimes, Christians from other faiths will join the church. They come with the
principles of their former denomination. Some of their former principles will not line-up with our
principles. Different controversies that might arise could include: 1) salvation, 2) baptism in
Jesus Name Only, or 3) Communion. It is possible to avoid confusion and hurt by clearly
teaching them the principles of our church thoroughly covered by scriptural support.
An important part for new members is to understand the need to get involved into Sunday
school or other ministries where they can grow and where they can minister. Barna stated, “Few
believers have relationships that hold them accountable for spiritual development.”7 Assisting
new members to form relationships by finding small groups, such as, Bible study or Sunday
school, where they go on to learn and fellowship is another place that this class’s teachers will
progress to.
Measureable Objectives
Mitchell stated, “Discipline is the process of preparing and equipping a disciple-follower
for the learning to come through the acquisition of the necessary perquisite competencies
(“powers”) facilitated by obedience, order, and organization and control.”8 Discipline is a
7 George Barna, Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of
Christ (Colorado Springs, Colo.: WaterBrook Press, 2001), 54.
8 Michael R. Mitchell, Leading, Teaching, and Making Disciples: World-Class Education in the Church,
School, and Home (Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010), 137.
7
process by which the disciple is provided with the chance to become everything for which he
was created.9 Without a concise understanding of the principles of the faith this technique is at a
standstill, leaders do not want to provide a false idea of faith and calling in the believers, but they
want to help shape them into the image of God by educating them in the basic beliefs of
Christian doctrine.
The second concept that will be made is how to use worship to be in relationship with
God and to use fellowship to be in relationship with believers. This is concept is fortified in
Matthew 22:37-39 which states, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”10 As the believers learn the activities of
the first century church, the envisioned goal is that each of them will begin to make a change that
shows growth from Bible study, prayer, praise of God, and responsibility with others in the faith.
The third concept is for believers to aggressively show their faith in their families,
communities and in the church. The expected result in the lives of the believers is for them to
apply their new information and become disciple makers which will help them fulfill the Great
Commission. New Christian cannot be expected to turn into a follower of Christ without
assistance. “Discipleship is not a solo adventure it is interpersonal by its very nature…People are
more likely to grow spiritually when their church is intensely and unswervingly focused on
9 Ibid.
10 Matthew 22:37-39, NIV.
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bringing people to maturity in Christ.”11 Behaviors must be demonstrated and proficient. This
class does not determine that total maturity in Christ will happen, but the anticipated outcome for
each believer is that a base of healthy growth will begin to be form. It is the leader’s expectation
that each believed will begin to become disciple makers by sharing their faith by utilizing words
and actions.
Scope and Sequence Plan
Because the church is moving, financing for class materials and promotional efforts for
this new small group is limited. The entire yearly budget for Sunday school, which includes
small groups and all related activities, is $7,000. A good bit of money is already assigned for the
calendar year. Thus, a resourceful plan had to be put in order to start this new group. It was
determined that the curriculum would come from several sources. It will include the following
content: 1) the Bible, 2) the Apostles’ Creed, and 3) the Church’s Faith and Messages. The
curriculum will be written by myself utilizing materials and other resources at my disposal, such
as educational materials and study materials. The church will provide paper and copies of the
lessons. Advertising for the class will be done via the church’s newsletter and announcements.
The range content falls within the four categories that Mitchell underlined: 1) tradition, 2)
observation, 3) participation, and 4) inspiration.12 Both the Apostles’ Creed and the Church Faith
and Message come under the category of tradition. These documents are the “historical ‘stuff’
that societies codify in their texts and contain in their treasures to describe and perpetuate their
11 Barna, 48.
12 Mitchell, 302.
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culture.”13 The teacher will study the learning activities of the students, included in their lessons
and including their faith. Students will be able to study the teacher demonstrating the message
evangelism. The teacher will be upfront in sharing his faith. In other words, the teacher’s
message should coincide with his actions. As a final point, through prayer and Bible study the
Holy Spirit will guide, direct and anoint the teaching. This is an important aspect of teaching
especially in circumstances where the teacher is not familiar with the students.14
Curriculum Content
Once the content has been decided, it is necessary to develop the curriculum’s structure.
Because the adult new member’s class will consist of new Christians and Christians that have
joined from other denominations, it was obvious that the class had start at the beginning. The
agenda will be as follows: 1) basic Biblical principle, 2) the organization of the Bible, 3) the
Christian faith, 4) the guidance of the Holy Ghost, 5) effective disciple making, and 6) placing
students into classes and small groups.
The class material will be taught as follows: 1) two weeks on the Apostles’ Creed, 2) two
weeks on the Church Faith and Message, 3) two weeks on the structure and order of the Bible, 4)
two weeks on the gifting of the Holy Spirit, 5) two weeks of church placement and 6) three
weeks on learning how to make disciples. This class will be held for about three months.
Moving from A to B
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
10
HBLT approach will serve as a model for majority of the lessons. According to Richards
and Bredfeldt, the approach was modeled after the apostle Paul.15 The H section (the Hook) gets
attention, surfaces a need, sets a goal, and leads naturally into Bible study. The B section (the
Book) is where the teacher explains the meaning of the doctrine being taught through the
scripture. Some of the materials that may be utilized during the B section are: Lectures, notes,
and PowerPoint presentations. The L section (the Look) is used to help lead the students to learn
and grip the truth that has just been taught. Finally, the T section (the Took) is when the teacher
will help students respond by leading them to do God’s will.16
2 Timothy 2: 2 stated, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”17 This type of
lesson setup will help guarantee that the plan taught is successful because it needs to include the
message into student’s life and activities. During the whole course of the class, the students will
be given chance to discuss their salvation experience and will be asked to tell their story to
people that they meet or deal with daily.
The class’ action plan is to introduce new members, some being new Christians, and
inspire and guide them into becoming disciple makers who worship God in their lives. The
15 Lawrence O. Richards and Gary J. Bredfeldt, Creative Bible Teaching (Chicago: Moody Publishers,
1998), 154.
16 Ibid., 158.
17 2 Timothy 2:2, NIV.
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following categories will be applied in the action plan in order to enable the start of A to the
ending point of B:
1. Evangelism –The main purpose of this class is to teach the gospel to new adult church
members to equip them with the Word of God to go out into the world and compel
men to come unto Jesus Christ. Basically, the main thrust is to put them into a spirit
of evangelism.
2. Accountability – Students will be accountable to fellow students and the teacher for
their activities. Each student will be in the knowledge that they are expected to be
disciples. They will be told to retain a journal of their activities in regard to disciple
making, time praying, and time in worship. Each student will be ask to share before
the start of each class.
3. Mentoring – This will be completed in two ways: 1) the teacher mentors the students,
and 2) experienced church members will be paired with students who want to be
mentored.
4. Training in the Word – Every lesson will be supported by scripture, and the Bible is
the main source.
5. Vision Leadership – The teacher will be main example. The church vision will be
presented and explained. Although God’s vision for the church has not changed, it is
the modern day church responsibility to find how it can fulfill believer’s today.
6. Coaching – Students will have an opportunity to practice witnessing. The teacher
will critique their performance and give them feedback.
7. Encouragement – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 stated, “Therefore encourage one another and
build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Encouragement is important in a
discipleship model. Encouragement will be done by talking and through
communication, such as, letters, emails, text messages, and phone calls. Teachers will
also inspire mentors to replicate the same type of behavior.
Budget
Because the church is on a limited budget, they will try to keep costs as low as possible.
The Apostles’ Creed and the Church Faith, and Message will be offered free, and it is understood
that most of the students will have their own Bible. If students don’t have a Bible, the church
will provide the students with one. The Pastor consented to teach the class, and the researcher
agreed to write the lesson plan at no charge to the church. The church will only have to pay for
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printing the class materials, notebooks, spiritual gift inventories and small journal books. Of
course, the inventories, printing and supplies will depend on how many students are in the class.
The church doesn’t have a printer, but they have an account at a local printer that will produce
the material for them.
The breakdown of cost is as follows:
$2 for printing of each course book
$1.80 for each notebook
$1.00 for each journal book
$2.50 Spiritual Gift Inventory
The church approximates that there will be about 15 students in the class, and the cost for
materials and supplies will be $94.50. Any other materials will be the responsibility of the
student.
Communication Tools and Techniques
The communication plan has to include informative and excitement filled lessons. It is
important that the material used is biblical, precise, convenient, and assessable. It is essential that
the teacher demonstrate a love for God, the Holy Scriptures and presents a clear understanding of
the material being presented. The students have to see the teacher’s dedication to presenting the
material and ensuring that they learn. The teacher will use an array of techniques, such as,
lectures that will acquaint the students with the material. The teacher can use personal stories, or
they can ask other Christians to come in to give illustrations of the ideas that are being taught.
Also, the students will have a chance to talk about their life and experiences in the class. This is
a way for the teacher to come familiar with the students. The purpose of the teacher getting
acquainted with the students is to be a more sufficient mentor. The teacher will let the students
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explain what they have learned in the lesson. The students should be able to effectively apply
what they have been taught to their lives, and they should be clear that they have a duty to
perform. The student’s duty should be considered a privilege and joy.
The teacher will use a variety of ways to communicate with the class, such as text, letters,
email, and phone calls. The students will also be given some websites that they can use to do
classwork and homework assignments, such as:
1) Blue Letter Bible - This site is very resourceful because
it includes Bible study lessons with Greek and Hebrew
dictionary. This site is free and has lots of articles full of
Biblical insights.
2) Discipleship Library - This site will be useful
when the class discusses discipleship. It includes all kinds
of helpful resources, such as, articles and live presentations
on discipleship.
3) The Multiply Movement - This site is really beneficial
because it teaches how to make Disciples of Christ.
4) Navpress Online Bookstore – The site is an online
bookstore where you can order discipleship materials. The
site also has books on how to study the bible, prayers,
ministry and a slew of other vital resources.
5) Church Growth/Analysis – This site has spiritual gift
inventories that will be used to help students analyze what
their spiritual gifts are, so they can discover where they can be
more effectively used in the church.
This is just a small amount of online websites that the students can use to assist in their
classwork. The sites can be used even when they complete the class. Although the internet can
be a vital resource to help in the discipleship course, the students have to be careful because
sometimes the information on some of the sites do not line up with the Bible. It is very
important that believers review the information of different websites and compare it to the
scriptures.
14
The teacher will use lectures, PowerPoint presentations and discussions to present the
class material. Church members will be asked to come in to speak to the class. This will allow
them to get familiar with their church family, and the church members can make the students
aware of church programs and groups that they may want to join. Class participation will be
included into the class. The teacher will use such activities as, role playing and group discussion.
5 Essential Activities
In the book by Mitchell, he discussed a core set of five “Essentials Activities of
Education.”18 An evaluation of how activities were reviewed in this discipleship design is listed.
1. Make a Disciple who Worships Jesus (answering the What question)
a. The students will be taught the message of the gospel.
b. The teacher will discuss it during prayer and praise.
c. It will inspire disciples in their alone time to show their love for God in an
outward expression of praise.
2. Construct a Curricular Plan (answering the Content question)
a. Curriculum will be scripturally based.
b. Basic principles will be taught by utilizing The Apostles’ Creed.
c. Church’s principles will be taught by utilizing The Church’s Faith and
Message.
d. Students will utilize various biblical websites to help students with their
development to be a disciple maker.
18 Mitchell, xiii-xiv.
15
e. Students will be given a journal that will be used to record their personal
time and chances for discipleship.
3. Prepare a Plan for Teaching and Learning (answering the process question)
a. A schedule was made to integrate the materials to be taught.
b. Students have to record their individual disciple making activities in their
journals.
c. Students who would like to be mentored one on one will be assigned
mentors,
4. Establish an environment for education (answering the Context question)
a. The class will be accessible for all the students and include modeling,
cooperative learning, and direct teaching.
b. The class will prepare and present projects to demonstrate what they have
learned.
5. Have a heart for and serve people (answering the People question)
a. Fellowship will be included in the class.
b. Service and prayer for each other will be included in the class.
c. Each student in the class will be trained to be disciple makers.
d. The class will do a spiritual gift inventory to determine where students
would be best suited to serve in the ministry.
Conclusion
The aspiration for the new member’s class is to train new church members to become
disciples of Christ who have adapted the message of the Great Commission. The thrust of the
class would be to impart in the students an enthusiastic attitude toward worship and ministry. Of
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course, the students must have a love for God and man and be filled with the Holy Spirit or these
opportunities want be possible. It is the instructor’s goal to evangelize, fellowship, train, mentor,
and give them a vision for ministry.
Deliverance Prayer Tower is blessed to have three devoted and loving leaders. The
problem seems to be increasing membership and increasing participation in Sunday school and
other small groups, which is important to the growth of the church because they will be the ones
who internalize the vision of the church and become disciples. The new member’s class will help
the students find out who they are in Christ and empower them to find their place in the ministry.
The main purpose of this class is to produce disciples who will go forward into their homes,
community and world and be representatives for Christ.
17
Bibliography
Barna, George. Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of
Christ. Colorado Springs, Colo.: WaterBrook Press, 2001.
Smalls, Willie Bishop. “Deliverance Prayer Tower Church New Beginnings Constitution,”
Revised February 13, 2012.
Mitchell, Michael R. Leading, Teaching, and Making Disciples: World-Class Education in the
Church, School, and Home. Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010.
Richards, Lawrence O., and Gary J. Bredfeldt. Creative Bible Teaching. Chicago: Moody
Publishers, 1998.
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message &
Mission. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1995.
18
Discipleship Bibliography
Armstrong, John. “Introduction.” In Reformation and Revival Journal, ed. Stephen Board,
8-9. Carol Stream, IL:Reformation and Revival Ministries, 2004.
Barna, George. Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of
Christ. Colorado Springs, Colo.: WaterBrook Press, 2001.
Breshears, Gerry and Driscoll, Mark. Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe. Wheaton,
IL: Crossway, 2010.
Cullinan, Alice R. “The Role of Schooling in Christian Education as Spiritual Formation,” In
Review and Expositor, ed. Mark E. Biddle, 396. Louisville, KY: Review and Expositor,
2001.
Eims, LeRoy. The Lost Art of Disciple Making. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
Foss, Nicolai J., Dana B. Minbaeva, Torben Pedersen, and Mia Reinholt. “Encouraging
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Management 48 (Nov/Dec2009): 24.
Gnanakan, Ken R.. “Accreditation and Renewal. In World Evangelical Fellowship.
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2004.
Fahlbusch, Erwin, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. The Encyclopedia of Christianity.
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Kittel, G., Friedrich. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B.
Eerdmans, 1985.
Piper, John. The Power of Words and the Wonder of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2009.
Mitchell, Michael R. Leading, Teaching, and Making Disciples: World-Class Education in
the Church, School, and Home. Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010.
19
Vine, W. E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.
Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996.
Wanak, Lee. “Learning as the Experience of God”. In. Evangelical Review of Theology:
Volume 19. Electronic ed. , Logos Library System; Evangelical Review of Theology.
Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Paternoster Periodicals, 2000.
Weder, Hans. “Disciple, Discipleship.” In The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David N.
Freedman , 205-210. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Yount, William R. The Teaching Ministry of the Church. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2008.
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