Delta GroupsDiscipling in Triplicate

An Experiment in Relational Discipleship

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” (Matthew 28:18–20, NIV)

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.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)

“Almost every church in our country has some type of discipleship program or set of activities, but stunningly few churches have a church of disciples.”

(George Barna, Growing True Disciples (Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2001), p.20)

Why we struggle…

1. What is a disciple?

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: (Luke 6:12–13, NIV)

2. Overemphasis on information and learning

Why we struggle…

“We don’t believe classes create mature believers. Classes create smart believers. That’s different…So we have never approached spiritual formation as a cognitive exercise.”

Andy Stanley (Deep and Wide, p.101)

The key to discipleship is relationship.

He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. (Mark 3:14–15, NIV)

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, NIV)

The goal of discipleship is love.

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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37–40, NIV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35, NIV)

“If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15, NIV)

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. (John 14:21, NIV)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. (John 14:23, NIV)

Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. (John 14:24, NIV)

You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:14, NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:12, NIV)

This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:17, NIV)

3. Lack of a workable, reproducible plan

Why we struggle…

John Wesley – 3 interlocking groups

• Society – large group – Cognitive mode

• Class – small group (10-12) – Behavioral mode– Mandatory

• Band – subgrouping of the Class – Affective mode– Segregated by sex, age and marital status

Greg Ogden – Triads

“Without question, the setting where I have experienced the most accelerated transformation in the lives of believers has been in triads, or small reproducible discipleship groups.”

Greg Ogden, Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time (Downers Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity Press, 2003), p.153)

In the model I will propose, three people journey together for a year to a year and a half while they grow toward maturity and being equipped to disciple others. As this relationship comes to a close, the challenge comes to each person to invite two others into the same walk of faith and then reproduce, and so on. Over the five- to seven- year period of multiplying discipleship triads, it is common to have eighty to a hundred or more people who have been carefully groomed in the context of an intimate relationship. (p.128)

In the model I will propose, three people journey together for a year to a year and a half while they grow toward maturity and being equipped to disciple others. As this relationship comes to a close, the challenge comes to each person to invite two others into the same walk of faith and then reproduce, and so on. Over the five- to seven- year period of multiplying discipleship triads, it is common to have eighty to a hundred or more people who have been carefully groomed in the context of an intimate relationship. (p.128)

Neil Cole - Life Transformation Groups (LTGs)

“The LTG consists of three essential disciplines for personal spiritual growth – confession of sin, a steady diet of Scripture, and prayer for others who need Christ.” (p.168)

Neil Cole - Life Transformation Groups (LTGs)

• LTGs meet once a week for approximately an hour.• LTGs are groups of two or three (a fourth person is

the beginning of the second group; multiplication is imminent).

• The groups are not coed.

Neil Cole - Life Transformation Groups (LTGs)

• There is no curriculum, workbook, or training involved.

• Only three tasks are to be accomplished:– Sin is confessed to one another in mutual accountability.– Scripture is read repetitively, in entire context and in

community.– Souls are prayed for strategically, specifically, and

continuously.

“I have found that teaching principles of hermeneutics to people who have already learned to read Scripture and to understand the Holy Spirit’s illumination in their personal lives becomes very easy. Most find they have already used the principles in their study because they reflect common sense, and the Holy Spirit has already helped them along in the process.”

Neil Cole, Search & Rescue (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008), 183.

Why they work

1. Cross interaction2. More peer mentoring than a teacher/pupil

relationship 3. Flexibility4. Easily reproducible5. Leveraged relationships 6. Significant community7. Accelerated growth

Group Conversation

• How would you begin this ministry in your church?

• How would you organize it to leverage the strengths and avoid the pitfalls?