If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples.
--John 8:31, The New Jerusalem Bible
View an online video about the DISCIPLE program.
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To enroll in a Disciple Class
Complete the Registration Form Here
Disciple 1: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study
BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY is the foundation of the DISCIPLE Bible Study program.
DISCIPLE
assumes that the bible is the key to renewal in the church. It
recognizes the human-divine nature of the Bible: The actual texts of
Scripture were written by human beings like ourselves in their cultural
settings, under the divine inspiration of God.
DISCIPLE
affirms that the canon was formed as it is in order for God to speak to
us. BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY gives equal time to both the
Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the wholeness of the Bible as the
revelation of God. DISCIPLE aims at transformation, not just
information and calls on persons to submit themselves to examination by
Scripture, to put themselves under the power of God's Word, and to be
changed by God's Word. DISCIPLE invites persons to bring their
experiences and struggles to the Scripture. All persons know something
is amiss with their existence and yearn for the Word from God.
BECOMING
DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY uses biblical language and images and
draws upon the work of scholars to aid understanding of the Bible.
This
study requires reading large portions of Scripture each week and is
based on careful study and preparation. During the course of
thirty-four weeks, groups will move through the biblical story from
Creation to the New Jerusalem. The titles of the sessions along with
theme words; theme verses; and major persons, events, and topics will
set the sequence of the biblical story in the minds of the
participants. The principal Scripture for each session follows the
chronological movement of the biblical story.
Disciple 2: Into the Word Into the World
INTO THE WORD INTO THE WORLD encourages persons to open themselves to
hearing what God has to say to them through the Bible and to be guided
into service in the world by Scripture and their
study of it.
This
thirty-two week study selects specific portions of Scripture and delves
deeper into them. Depth study of Scripture will be the work both of
individual members and of the group in its weekly meeting. Equal
attention is given to Old and New Testaments with concentration on four
books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts (8 lessons on each book).
Appropriate connections are made to other parts of Scripture both
through reading and study assignments and through commentary in the
study manual. Participants will read familiar passages, see them in
fresh ways, and anticipate that God will speak through them.
INTO
THE WORD INTO THE WORLD is prepared for those who have completed
DISCIPLE: BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY. This study proclaims
the transforming power of Scripture while teaching Bible study skills
that take participants deeper into the Scripture. The importance of
keeping Bible study related to witness is reinforced while participants
are encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines arising out of
Scripture. The purpose is to change habits and transform lives. The
study also emphasizes the rhythm of coming to God and going for God, of
being in the Word and in the world individually and corporately. This
study understands the growing Christian as under discipline in
community and in ministry to the world. INTO THE WORD INTO THE WORLD
approaches all experiences of life as opportunities for faithful
witness and service.
The Basic Resource Library
DISCIPLE: INTO THE WORD INTO THE WORLD has a component unique to the
study -- the Basic Resource Library. This library consists of a set of
books that will be used weekly by group members for reading, study, and
research. Some of the books will provide historical, cultural, and
geographical information; some will enhance Bible study skills; some
will explore topics related to the Scripture being studied; and some
will aid personal spiritual growth. Each week the books in the library
will be circulated among group members, and specific assignments will
be made. Not every person in the group will have a special assignment
every week, but those who do will report on the assignment in the next
weekly group meeting. Instructions and assignments related to the Basic
Resource Library will appear in the teacher helps and the study manual.
The
Basic Resource Library is a basic component for INTO THE WORD INTO THE
WORLD; it is not optional. Each group will need its own Basic Resource
Library for use throughout the thirty-two weeks.
Disciple 3: Remember Who You Are
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE is prepared for those who have completed BECOMING
DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY. Resident in the title is the driving
idea in this study -- the connection between memory and identity as the
people of God. The word You in the title is meant to be heard both in
its singular form (the individual) and its plural form (the community).
We are a community of memory. Participants in this thirty-two week
study will read the major and minor Old Testament prophets, with the
exception of Daniel, and will read the thirteen letters traditionally
attributed to Paul. To establish the historical context in which the
prophets spoke for God, daily reading assignments also draw on the
books of Deuteronomy through Chronicles. Study of the prophets will
follow their historical sequence rather than their biblical sequence.
The dating of Paul's letters influences the sequence of their study.
Several
themes weave their way through the study -- the call to remember; the
call to repentance; the need for renewed vision (eyes to see, ears to
hear); and the place of community. REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE concentrates on
the Old Testament prophets and the letters of Paul. The prophets and
Paul are continually calling hearers and readers back to their God and
to a sense of who they are as a people "set apart". The prophets and
the community cannot be separated. The prophets spoke for God, out of
the community, and to the community. Paul's experience of the risen
Lord, his relationship to the community he addressed, his Jewish
traditions, and the Greco-Roman culture of his day merged in his
writing of the letters. Paul used the language of his culture to carry
the message that arose out of his roots in the Hebrew Scriptures and
Judaism.
The Context Portfolio
DISCIPLE:
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE has a component unique to this study -- The
Context Portfolio. The Context Portfolio is a set of maps and charts
prepared especially for this study of the prophets and Paul's letters.
It provides the setting or surrounding circumstances in which an event
occurs. Items in the portfolio situate the prophets and Paul's writings
historically and geographically. Suggestions in the Teacher Helps and
study manual will guide its use and stimulate individual interest.
Items in the portfolio are designed for easy display and handling in
and by the group.
The
Context Portfolio is not an optional component and is intended for use
in the group meetings. Each study group needs weekly access to The
Context Portfolio.
Disciple 4: Under the Tree of Life
UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE is a 32-week study prepared for graduates of
BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY. The word under in the title is
meant to convey invitation, welcome, sheltering, security, and rest --
home at last.
The
Hebrew version of what Christians call the Old Testament has three
divisions: Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the Prophets, and
the Writings. The Writings include all the books that are not part of
the Torah or the Prophets.
UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE
concentrates on the Writings in the Old Testament -- Ruth, 1 and 2
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and Daniel. New Testament
Scriptures include the Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; James; Jude;
and Revelation.
Emphasis on the Psalms as Israel's hymnbook
and prayer book leads naturally to an emphasis on worship in the study.
Present though the entire study is the sense of living toward
completion -- toward the climax of the message and the promise,
extravagantly pictured in the Revelation.
The Revelation Worship Video
The Revelation Worship Video is a component unique to DISCIPLE: UNDER
THE TREE OF LIFE. Worship plays a central role in the book of
Revelation. Through video, UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE participants will
experience the book of Revelation as worship. The video provides an
interactive, sensory experience. Viewers will participate by reading,
singing, listening, praying, lamenting -- and will be immersed in the
words, images, colors, and music that declare triumphantly that the God
who is at the beginning is the God who is at the end.
This
video worship experience proclaims that the book of Revelation is a
message to embrace and a hope to anticipate. It climaxes the journey
DISCIPLE participants made from Creation to the New Jerusalem. The
Revelation Worship Video, more than an hour in length, will be used in
Session 31. The video is not optional. It is intended for the group
meeting, and each study group needs access to it.
What to Expect
What
you can expect from the DISCIPLE Bible Study program is biblically
nourished persons committed to live as disciples. Persons taking part
in this study will learn the meaning of servant leadership.
DISCIPLE aims at transformation, not just information.
Why Study DISCIPLE
DISCIPLE
is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing strong
Christian leaders. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer,
follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a
small group for study, prayer, preparation, support, and servanthood.
DISCIPLE
assumes that the Bible is key to renewal in the church and affirms that
the canon was formed as it is in order for God to speak to us. The
study gives the Old and New Testaments equal time, emphasizing the
wholeness of the Bible as a revelation of God and draws upon the work
of scholars to aid understanding of the Bible.
The DISCIPLE Group
DISCIPLE is based on the model of Jesus and the twelve disciples. This
small group study works best with 8-14 members including the leader.
Having fewer members can limit the discussion and if a member or two
leave the group it becomes much harder to continue. Having more than 14
members can also limit discussion with too many people involved and
make it easier for persons to be less prepared and committed to the
study. Group members may come from all walks of life, may or may not be
members of the church, or may be first time or experienced students of
the Bible. Regardless of their background, groups covenant together in
terms of commitment of time, daily and weekly preparation, and
attendance at all weekly sessions.
Groups
may be led by anyone, but it should be the same one or two people for
the entire study. Training seminars are held nationwide and are highly
recommended for those planning to lead a DISCIPLE group. Even those who
have completed an entire DISCIPLE study may want to consider training
for additional ideas and support. People generally lead as they were
led. DISCIPLE graduates who lead other studies of DISCIPLE but have
never been to training usually approach the DISCIPLE materials and
group process in the same way they first experienced it. Training
offers hands-on experience with the resources and the additional
components used with each study and provides understanding and practice
of small group leadership skills, the philosophy, the format of the
material, and the weekly group schedule.
The greater the commitment of the group, the more fulfilling the experience.
Commitment and Time Involved
DISCIPLE can reach its fullest potential when group members prepare, attend weekly sessions, and participate fully.
The group members’ commitment will include:
* Studying about thirty minutes daily in preparation for the weekly study session.
* Participating in an orientation session and all of the weekly study sessions.
The
successful, productive group will covenant together for full commitment
to study and prepare and to attend and participate. We recommend
following the biblical pattern of Sabbath rest after six days of study.
Text and images used on this page from the Cokesbury Disciple page.
