From Hebrews 5:11-6:3 it is clear that as new Christians receive
instruction in the basic doctrines of Christianity and as they reach maturity,
they should become qualified to teach what they know and to practice it
regularly. Therefore a discipling program ought to incorporate instruction
equipping one to be a teacher of God's word. This material is designed
to enable a person to disciple, first themselves, then family, then others.
Why is a discipling program necessary?
The characteristics of this program are:
This program cannot correctly be called a course in the traditional
style where a teacher/lecturer delivers all the material to passive students
taking notes. Indeed such an adaptation would ruin most of the effectiveness
of this. The typical requirement of having students attend all the lessons
in a specific sequence or period of time is unnecessary.
To maximize effectiveness, the instruction style focuses on evangelism through role-playing. Other spiritual pursuits are best handled in a different environment To be practical there should be at least 8 active participants and everyone will have homework each week. Typically all registered ('active') students will participate in evangelistic role-play once a month. Attendance at every session is not mandatory as long as all students share equally in the role-play assignments. Each class session is independent of previous or following sessions. Over time, the intent would be to have this class delivered on a rotational basis, that is, once completed it would normally start over again. Once someone completes the class they will be able to evangelize and disciple others.
Being an evangelism class, time is spent studying and practicing effective speaking techniques. The class is also a class in Christian basics. Some attendees may be present only for personal growth rather than preparation for evangelizing (James 3:1). No one should feel pressured to join in a ministry upon completing the instructional part of the course. They may repeat the instructional course as many times as they like.
The materials are partly drawn from R.C. Sproul's "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" and "Across the Spectrum" compiled by Gregory Boyd and Paul Eddy.
The program has 2 parts:
One or two class-members (depending on the size of the class) present sermon-ettes in a role-play manner to another (same gender or family) volunteer. The sermon-ettes were assigned three weeks prior. Typically the material that forms the basis of the sermon-ette(s) is taken from the material presented in the same class when the assignment was made. This material combines the evangelistic content with the evangelistic technique (see sections 2 and 3 - below) and is to be delivered to one of several supposed audiences (see below).Some beginning students may not be ready for this so for a time they may be assigned a short role-play sermon-ette using one Bible verse from the evangelistic content (see below) and to be presented in a simple fashion like this:
Hello, my name is . . . . and you are? . . . . |
<second volunteer says their name> |
Have you wondered about the meaning of . . . . . . <name the verse> ? |
<answers: no/maybe> |
<Read the verse> |
|
Did you notice where it said . . . <read the key phrase> |
<answers: oh, I see> |
This verse tells me . . . |
|
Do you see why I believe the way I do? |
<answers: Yes> |
The second person role only requires someone to say their name and short things like "maybe . . . I see . . . yes".The sermon-ettes are to be tailored for these kinds of persons
During the three weeks prior to the scheduled presentation each student should prepare their material and rehearse it repeatedly endeavoring to form it into a polished discussion lasting 5-10 minutes. After each student presentation, the class teacher gives approximately 2 minutes of gracious advice on the student's presentation of the evangelistic content using the assigned evangelistic technique. At the end of the presentation, the class-member who had the role of 'audience' is now assigned the task of delivering this same material in 3 weeks, presenting the material to a third (same gender or family) student.atheist/doubter apathist agnostic w/ religious/spiritual inclinations hedonist once-a-year church attendee non-Christian non-evangelical 'Christian'
Each week a volunteer will deliver instruction to the class one "Effective Evangelism" technique. This lasts between 5-6 minutes. The possible subjects are:
What do you say to someone you will never see again?
Persuading through argumentation:
Persuading through body language:
Persuading through your voice
Persuading through your words
Persuading through appeal to human psychology
An experienced speaker delivers one of these evangelistic subjects listed below. This will last between 5-10 minutes.Optimally, the audience will focus on this material and how it is presented and personally rehearse it throughout the week, pretending to explain it to an imaginary audience. This will ensure that the material is remembered.
The evangelistic subjects include:
Who is Jesus and what do various groups believe?
Jesus as Savior Jesus, a Person in the Trinity Jesus, as only Master What constitutes 'sin' and what did Jesus do about it. What do humans need to do about it? (Repentance from dead works) The need for Faith.
What is faith? Is it a choice? Faith in God's existence, compassion, promises, justice, creation Faith in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, authoritative word of God The role of baptism The resurrection Everlasting judgment Who can be saved? Upon completing 75% of this class a person should set a personal goal to participate in a discipling ministry of at least 3 hours a month for the rest of his/her life. This ministry can be in any community: a cultural community, an economic community, a cyber-community, a geographic community, etc. They commit to eventually study any missed class sessions.
Disciplers go in pairs, usually two men or two women or married couples.
The congregation is encouraged to voluntarily team with mentors. For volunteers,
no commitment is involved, they go along to observe.