What is a discipleship group? What, why, & how

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One of the greatest temptations for Christians today is to live life simply going through the motions of following Jesus in a way that feels comfortable and aligns with our plans and dreams of the lives we want. 

It is tempting to forget or even intentionally neglect the more difficult callings on the life of the Christian, like the call to be living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2), to love our enemies (Matt 5:43), and to take up our crosses and follow Jesus (Matt 16:24). 

A great way for Christians to get serious about following Jesus—even when it's uncomfortable—is to be a part of a discipleship group. What is a discipleship group? How might a discipleship group actually help Christians follow Jesus? How do you start a discipleship group? Let’s explore some of these key questions and other considerations around this form of ministry. 

What is a discipleship group?

So what even is a discipleship group? How is it different than a small group, community group, or Bible study group? Likewise, does the Bible give us any sort of model or paradigm for a “discipleship group” within the ministry of the Church? 

Without getting too deep into the weeds, it is fair to say that different Christian groups and traditions use different terms when it comes to their “group” ministry. Some churches call their groups “small groups.” Other churches may call their groups “community groups,” and some may use names beyond those. A discipleship group is, generally, different from this kind of group. 

In many church settings, a small or community group is likely to be full of a dozen or more people, while a discipleship group is more likely to be five people or less. Sometimes discipleship groups are subsets within community groups, and others are distinct from community groups.

Within discipleship groups there is often a greater sense of accountability, discipleship, and “spurring one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24) than you can sometimes get in a community or small group setting. There’s a similar model in Christ’s ministry. Within the larger group that followed Jesus there were the 12 disciples, and within that were the disciples closest to Jesus. That smallest subset of disciples is most analogous to a discipleship group. 

A discipleship group is often where the most intense discipleship and “iron sharpening iron” -type of work happens in a local church.

Why are discipleship groups important?

At this point, you may be wondering, “Why are discipleship groups important?” This is a good question, especially considering that church life can sometimes feel too busy and over-programmed. Also, why would someone participate in a discipleship group amidst all the other church activities available? This is another good question, but one with a relatively straightforward answer. 

It is easy to get lost in the local church—flying under the radar, slipping into service on Sunday morning, slipping out, and never developing deep relationships with others. Some Christians prefer this, either because they are hesitant to make new friends or they are afraid of what people will think of them when they let people into their lives. 

The fact is Christians need one another. Discipleship groups prevent Christians from trying to live life on their own and provide a safe atmosphere for relational intimacy, mutual encouragement, and transformational discipleship. 

How to start a discipleship group

Okay, so you’re interested in this discipleship group idea. Now what? Well, if your church doesn’t currently have discipleship groups you can join, you could work with the leaders of your church to start your own! (Or just do it on your own with fellow Christians from different churches.) 

How might you start a discipleship group? To be clear, there is no “right” way to do this, but here are some ideas to consider as you start a discipleship group:

• Pray & plan: Seek God’s guidance, set clear goals, and identify group focus (e.g., new believers, seasoned Christians, or specific topics like parenting or evangelism).
• Choose members wisely: Select a small, manageable group of people who are open to growth and accountability. Don’t let your group get much bigger than 3-5 people, as that will inhibit vulnerability and make planning more difficult!
• Set a structure: Find a regular time to meet that works for everyone, consistently. Likewise, make some decisions about how you will spend your time. Here are some examples of items to consider: Weekly meetings, scripture studies, or practical ministry activities.
• Equip yourself: Don’t feel like you need to prepare a sermon or lesson on your own for this group! This is meant to be time for dialogue among the group members, not a monologue from you, the leader. Use tools like the Bible, discipleship-focused books, or digital tools such as the Subsplash Platform to share resources and stay connected.

The good news is that starting a discipleship group doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as you plan and know what steps to take.

How to lead a discipleship group

It’s one thing to start a discipleship group, but now you need to actually lead it week-in and week-out. What do you do? There are many effective ways to go about this. Here are some basic principles to consider as you lead your discipleship group: 

• Follow Jesus’ model: Lead with humility, authenticity, and a servant’s heart. Recognize that you are the leader and facilitator, but not the main character.
• Cultivate relationships: Prioritize relational growth alongside spiritual growth. People are more likely to open up the more that they feel comfortable with one another. Get to know each other personally and in more lighthearted ways even as you talk about the deepest parts of life.
• Encourage accountability: Create an environment where members feel safe to share and challenge each other lovingly. This will likely take time, and that’s okay. A foundation of trust needs to be built before this can happen.
• Focus on multiplication: Teach members to eventually lead their own groups. This can look different for different groups, but if you’re creating these groups within the setting of a local church, multiplication is a vital part of growth!

You can lead a discipleship group! It isn’t as hard as it may seem on the surface.

Tools for your discipleship group

Discipleship groups are a tremendous way for Christians to encourage one another and spur one another on toward Christlikeness. The path of following Jesus is not meant to be walked alone, and far too many Christians try to do just that. Discipleship groups take effort, and the deep conversations can surely be uncomfortable sometimes, but this kind of relational intimacy and discipleship is what it takes for Christians to become more like Jesus.If you’re interested in participating in a discipleship group or otherwise want to help others be more like Jesus, check out some of Subsplash’s discipleship tools to help simplify group communication, resource-sharing, and other parts of these ministry opportunities.

Related articles you may find helpful

• 36 Bible verses about discipleship every pastor needs to know
• What is discipleship & why does it matter?
• Who is discipling your church?
• From differences to strengths: Leveraging generational diversity in discipleship
• The 12 best books on discipleship & where to find them