FAQs
Q – What is DiscipleWay?
A – DiscipleWay is an effort to produce discipleship tool that will provide a foundation for Christian living. It is based on seven disciplines that we feel are key. These include Prayer, Bible Study, Worship, Giving, Witnessing, Serving, and Leading. These seven disciplines are the result of a simple survey conducted among individuals who had experience in discipleship.
The mentality we want to foster is seen by comparing a microwave to a crock pot. A microwave, like some discipleship programs, is designed to get results quickly. This results in items often being “half-cooked”. Too often, students go through discipleship training and never change the way they live. Why? The program is mechanical. It is academic. It is a check-list mentality. We want to take a crock pot approach. This means we will go slow and seek quality. Once the trainee understand and is practicing one discipline, we move to the next—but not before.
The key to DiscipleWay is to not only to simplify the approach, it is to make it experiential. The curriculum is designed to engage the trainee in a hands-on format of learning.
The goal of DiscipleWay is not produce a disciple; it is to produce a disciple maker. This is why leadership is the final discipline. The process is designed for the disciplee to become a discipler.
Q – What is the typical size of the group that will use DiscipleWay’s curriculum?
A – We suggest a group of 3-4 people. This is not to be taught as a class. This is what Greg Ogden calls the “herd mentality.” Discipleship occurs through relationships. A trainer with more than 3-4 trainees will not be able to invest in his trainees individually, which is a key component of discipleship.
Q – Why does DiscipleWay use seven disciplines in its curriculum?
A - Simply put, learning seven disciplines over a year’s time is not so overwhelming that one becomes discouraged. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits, has sold more than 12 million copies. Why? Because he simplified a plan of success into seven habits that were easy to understand. Discipleship is infinitely more important than business success, and we can use the same approach.
Q – What makes DiscipleWay different from other discipleship programs?
A – First of all,DiscipleWay is not a program. It is a process. Rather than using the “herd mentality” and teaching discipleship in a classroom, DiscipleWay is designed to create a relationship between a discipler and two or three trainees. What makes DiscipleWay unique is that it focuses on helping the believer establish seven key spiritual disciplines in their Christian life. This is not accomplished merely through academic training. It is accomplished through experience. DiscipleWay’s curriculum is based on 60% application and 40% content. One learns by doing. DiscipleWay’s goal is to ensure that the believer has mastered a discipline and is practicing the discipline before moving forward in the training cycle. The seven disciplines are designed to be covered in one year—7 lessons for each discipline. However, the pace of learning is not pre-determined. One may have to spend more time on a discipline to ensure it is fully comprehended. Some discipleship programs are “microwaves”. DiscipleWay is a “crock pot.”
Q – When will DiscipleWay be made available?
A – DiscipleWay is scheduled to be available in the summer of 2011.
Q – Will there eventually be a children’s and youth version of DiscipleWay?
A – There has been discussion to develop a children’s and youth version of the curriculum. Once the initial phase of the project is completed, this idea will be revisited.
Q – Is DiscipleWay a registered trademark?
A – Application has been made and the DiscipleWay name is trademarked. Final registration of the name is in process.
Q – Will DiscipleWay develop additional curriculum to augment the foundational disciplines?
A – Once the foundational process is established, we will seek God’s direction as to the development of further materials.
Q – What will be the training process once DiscipleWay’s curriculum is completed? Where will training and certification for DiscipleWay be conducted?
A – Training will be a vital component of the overall and on-going success of the ministry. The project team is working on a training process that will provide first-class training to pastors and lay leaders. Details will be made available in the summer of 2011.
Q –What will DiscipleWay require of a local pastor?
A – DiscipleWay will encourage pastors to approach discipleship in a smaller, more focused way. A pastor would commit to training two of his laymen each year. These laymen, in turn, would also disciple two men per year on an on-going basis. The pastor’s focus remains small— he disciples two men each year. However, the multiplication factor of this process can result in an exponential number of disciples. Will all of those trained become disciple makers? No. But some will.
More importantly, DiscipleWay will help the local pastor fulfill the command in Ephesians 4:11-12 to make disciples without creating an overwhelming burden. An investment of 1.5 hours per week in discipling two men is doable. It is also being obedient, which God will bless.
Q – DiscipleWay is designed to be reviewed each year for continuous improvement. Who will be responsible for this?
A – Once the initial project is completed, a process will be established to ensure the long-term viability of the discipleship ministry.
