Accountable Discipleship

Accountable Discipleship: Living in God's Household is a book about pastoral leadership in the Wesleyan tradition. Pastoral leadership is the ministry of caring for the household of God. Both laity and clergy are called to this ministry. Those who read and study this book will be invited to discover their own ministry as pastoral leaders. All who follow Jesus Christ and seek to obey his teachings to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind," and "love your neighbor as yourself"* have the potential to be pastoral leaders for their congregation. They are pastoral leaders because others see and experience the grace of Jesus Christ through their lives. They are spiritual, servant leaders who follow the example of Jesus. These are ordinary people. They are laity and clergy. They are people like you. A foundational piece for anyone involved in Accountable Discipleship ministries, this resource explores a systematic approach for undertaking and accepting the challenge of personal discipleship for life. It is designed for leaders of Accountable Discipleship ministries, members of Covenant Discipleship groups, class leaders, and clergy. *Matthew 22:37, 39 (NLT) Click here for the Leader's Guide.

Available only as a PDF Rituals help us identify with a group of people and pledge what we share. Such communal events help us express the often inexpressible. "United Methodists strongly affirm that the Lord's Table is the Lord's," the writers of this timely resource say. "We also affirm with the whole church that in the Great Thanksgiving 'we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us.'" The sacrament of the Eucharist is perhaps one of the most treasured liturgies of the Christian church. Much has been written about the theology behind the United Methodist interpretation of Communion, but little is written about the practicalities of presiding. Living into the Mystery fills that void by detailing practices (and the principles behind them) that can help worshipers and worship leaders live a richer experience. The authors dissect the ritual and analyze the ancient worship structure: Gathering, Word and Response, Thanksgiving and Communion, and Sending Forth. A group study guide is also included. Learn to preside and participate in this ritual with authenticity, vitality, and grace through Living into the Mystery. PDF size: 999.12 KB 83 pages Sorry, this item is ineligible for special promotional and bulk discounts. This is a nonreturnable, nonrefundable product.

David Lowes Watson advances the practice of mutual accountability in Christian discipleship by expanding and updating the original handbook for covenant discipleship groups. Accountable Discipleship was the manual for covenant discipleship groups for more than six years, with over 20,000 copies printed in three editions. This new version should prove valuable in leading existing groups to a deeper level of discipleship, and newcomers to a fresh discovery of the best of the Methodist tradition. Of special interest is Watson's recovery - from John Wesley's General Rules for the early Methodist societies - of a fourfold ÒGeneral RuleÓ of discipleship: ÒTo witness to Jesus Christ in the world, and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.Ó

Covenant Discipleship Groups have a long history of helping Christians grow as disciples. Based on the early Methodist class meetings, Covenant Discipleship Groups provide a way for Christians today to be accountable disciples of Jesus Christ. Q&A's Q: WHAT IS A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups consists of up to seven persons who meet together for one hour each week to hold themselves mutually accountable for their discipleship. They do this by means of a covenant that they have written. Q: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups are intended solely for mutual accountability and prayerful support for living as disciples in the world. They are not where our discipleship happens but where we make sure that it happens. Q: WHY DOES THE GROUP NEED A COVENANT? A: The covenants we make with one another help us keep our covenant with God. We make covenants with one another because we live in a world that has yet to accept God's salvation. We constantly face temptations to turn away from God, and we need some means of mutual support. John Wesley and the early Methodists understood this need and saw that nothing short of binding themselves to mutual accountability would suffice. By the grace of God, they agreed to watch over each other in love. Q: WHY JOIN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: By joining with other Christians in a weekly meeting, members of Covenant Discipleship Groups learn to center their lives on Jesus Christ by following his teachings and supporting one another in living out the basics of Christian discipleship. Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: You will become more aware of God's grace in your life. You will find new ways of serving God and your neighbor. You will find your understanding of God's will greatly enhanced. Q: How WILL THIS BOOK HELP ME? A: This handbook is primarily a practical reference manual for starting, developing, sustaining, and incorporating Covenant Discipleship Groups into the mission and ministry of the church.

Disciples Making Disciples: Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups and Class Leaders by Steven W. Manskar is for pastors, Covenant Discipleship group members, and class leaders. It provides information needed to organize the ministry, form groups, write a covenant, lead a meeting, support groups so they help the congregation live out its mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world. The book also describes the office of class leaders and how to introduce this powerful disciple-making office to the congregation.

"We understand what Jesus is calling us to. We understand the value of starting in our own backyard as we answer that call. We understand the destination. What we don't understand is how to get there."Well, here's your toolkit.

We grow in Christ as we seek him together. Jesus' own pattern of disciple-making was to be intimately involved with others. This expanded 25-session workbook by Greg Ogden, perfect for small groups or individuals, helps us influence others as Jesus did—by investing in a few. Working through it will deepen your knowledge of essential Christian teaching and strengthen your faith.

In this volume, David Lowes Watson provides a basic resource for the formation of faithful Christian disciples and the revitalizing of congregations. Beginning with a Christ-centered model for the church, Watson shows how leaders in discipleship are the key to vital congregations. He then offers procedures for introducing and sustaining covenant discipleship groups as a means of developing these leaders, and concludes with guidelines for the office of class leader as a means of implementing their leadership. How does a congregation decide on covenant discipleship? How are the groups formed? What is the role of a class leader? How do class leaders connect with other leaders in the congregation? These questions, and much more, are the subject of a resource that is foundational for any congregation wishing to revitalize its life and work through the forming of faithful Christian disciples. This volume is the third in a trilogy: Covenant Discipleship, Class Leaders, and Forming Christian Disciples.

If you are serious about being a disciple of Jesus Christ—really, truly serious—a discipleship group can help you achieve that goal. Jesus established this model for us by forming and leading the first discipleship group—and it worked. The men who emerged from that group took the gospel to the world and ultimately laid down their lives for Christ. Discipleship groups can create an atmosphere for fellowship, encouragement, and accountability—building an environment where God can work. In Growing Up: How to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples, Robby Gallaty presents a practical, easy-to-implement system for growing in one's faith. This guide offers a manual for making disciples, addressing the what, why, where, and how of discipleship. D-Groups, as Gallaty calls them, can teach you and others how to grow your relationship with God, how to defend your faith, and how to guide others in their relationships with God. Growing Up provides you with an interactive manual and resource for creating and working with discipleship groups, allowing you to gain positive information both for yourself and for others as you learn how to help others become better disciples for Christ.