Multiply Training Template
Before Week 1
- View the meeting area and work out the logistics (refreshments, breakouts, and video viewing, etc.). Kitchen exhaust fans and third part white noise apps can help isolate groups from one another.
Week 1
Welcome, introduction, begin with leader lead (directed) prayer.
Show the GreatCommission.com website.
Describe the format.
Welcome, introduction, begin with leader lead (directed) prayer.
Show the GreatCommission.com website.
- Encourage the group to store it as a bookmark or as an icon.
- Each week you will learn or review a tool designed for small group use. See Local Action Steps.
- Each week you will learn how to start and lead a small group. See Circles.
Describe the format.
- Learn the tool as a group.
- Discuss the tool in breakouts.
- Debrief about the tool as a group.
Learn.
Discuss.
- Read about the One Thing Study. Only read the section titled: "The One Thing Study has 3 parts." Don't read the rest at this time. It's too much information. You'll cover it in the debrief.
- Ask everyone put away their devices and notes and help them memorize the three parts with hand signals and reminders. Use two hands as if looking through binoculars for Observe and remind them to read a passage. Use one hand writing on the other hand for Note and remind them to mark the one thing that speaks to them the most. Use two hands together for Express and remind them to pray to God about what he just spoke to them about. In other words, "Observe a passage, Note the one thing that speaks to your heart the most, and Express it back to God in prayer." Ask a few people in the group to demonstrate what the group just learned.
Discuss.
- Move into breakout groups to practice doing One Thing Studies. Ask one person to serve as the leader of each group. The leader then guides the rest of the group through all three parts of a One Thing Study. As a group, pick and read a passage, each person shares the one thing that they noticed most, then each person in the group prays about their one thing. Then rotate leaders and repeat. If time permits, have everyone in the group serves as a leader.
- Gather together as a group and ask them to share what they just learned. Focus on the concept of the tool, not the content. In other words, what did they just learn about the One Thing Study tool.
- Read the rest of the One Thing Study on the website. Rotate readers.
- Read a section of Circles so the group begins to learn how to lead and start small groups. Much of the first part will already be addressed if the church is launching small groups. Each week you will return to this page and pick up where you left off. Pace it so that you read about a fifth each time.
- Watch The Bible Is Alive (2:09)
- Guide the group in focused prayer. Don't ask for prayer requests, rather guide them to pray about what they learned about the One Thing Study. If your group is large, pick a few people to pray aloud.
- Provide refreshments for those who can remain. This time is a valuable time for your group to become acquainted with one another.
Week 2
Learn.
- Explain the tree parts of a Discovery Bible Study (Read, Repeat, Review). Read about the Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Only read about the three steps. Don't read Helpful Information about DBS at this point. It's too much information. You'll cover it in debrief.
- Ask everyone to close their Bibles and turn over their devices.
- Instruct everyone to write out the four Review questions on a piece of paper (or on a device). That way they'll be ready when it's time to review the passage.
- Read: Choose a narrative. Consider a familiar story from the gospels. For instance, Matthew 14:22-33. Ask one person to read it slowly, a few times aloud to the group. Again, no one else should be looking at the story except the person reading it. Remind people to picture scenes, not to try and memorize every word. The best way to share the story is for one person to have memorized it beforehand. That way they can include hand motions and emphasize key points.
- Repeat: move into breakout groups and practice repeating the story from memory. Again, no one is to look at the passage. Ask one person to begin by repeating the story as best they can and then move around the circle repeating the story, while adding to it, until everyone has repeated the story and the group is satisfied.
- Review: instruct the group to answer the four questions. They may now look at the passage in their Bible or on their devices. Encourage everyone to answer all four questions. Help groups that are stuck.
- Gather together as a group and ask them to share what they just learned. Focus on the concept of the tool, not the content. In other words, what did they just learn about the Discovery Bible Study tool.
- Read Helpful Information about the Discovery Bible Study.
- Watch Discovery Study Overview (7:58) if time permits.
- Decide if your group will continue with DBS, move to DBS+ or explore Foundation Studies.
- Read another section of Circles so the group learns more about how to lead and start small groups.
- Guide the group in focused prayer. Don't ask for prayer requests, rather ask them to pray about what they learned. If the group is large, pick a few people to pray aloud.
- Provide refreshments for those who can remain. This time is a valuable time for your group to become acquainted with one another.
Week 3
Learn.
- Review by asking people to explain how to do a One Thing Study and Discovery Study.
- Explain the three parts of a DBS+ (Discovery, Develop, and Discuss). Only read about the three steps. Don't read the Helpful Information section at this point. It's too much information. You'll cover it in the debrief.
- Do a mini DBS+ together as a group. Pick and read a passage together. Ask people to share nuggets. Pick one that you know you can ask good questions about. Ask the group to create a sitting and standing question about the nugget. Take a few minutes and answer the questions.
Discuss.
- Move into breakout groups and practice what you just learned. Encourage the group to do all three steps of a single DBS+ together as a group. Rotate leaders. Someone start and move person to person while completing the study. Set a timer and give each person 3-5 minutes as the group leader.
- Gather together as a group and ask them to share what they just learned. Focus on the concept of the tool, not the content. In other words, what did they just learn about DBS+?
- Read Helpful Information about the DBS+.
- Decide if your group will continue with DBS+, or explore Foundation Studies.
- Read another section of Circles so the group learns more about how to lead and start small groups.
- Guide the group in focused prayer. Don't ask for prayer requests, rather ask them to pray about what they learned. If the group is large, pick a few people to pray aloud.
- Provide refreshments for those who can remain. This time is a valuable time for your group to become acquainted with one another.
Week 4
Learn.
- Review by asking the group to name the three parts of a DBS+ study. (Discovery, Develop, Discuss). Ask them to add information about Discover (a nugget: it's a truth), Develop (sitting and walking questions), and Discuss (in any order).
Discuss.
- Move into breakout groups and give one person the leader role. Don't rotate leaders. Let the group operate independent from the trainer. Have them move through all three parts of a DBS+ study (Discover 3 nuggets, Develop 2 questions per nugget, Discuss the questions). Remind them to get to Discuss, not get bogged down in Discover and Develop. Make sure the leader knows he/she will have to select and reject some offers. The leader may contribute.
- Gather together as a group and ask them to share what they just learned. Focus on the concept of the tool, not the content. In other words, what did they just learn about DBS+?
- Decide if your group will continue with DBS+,explore Foundation Studies or Spiritual Conversation.
- Read another section of Circles so the group learns more about how to lead and start small groups.
- Guide the group in focused prayer. Don't ask for prayer requests, rather ask them to pray about what they learned. If the group is large, pick a few people to pray aloud.
- Provide refreshments for those who can remain. This time is a valuable time for your group to become acquainted with one another.
Note; be sure to mention the "What's Next?" in Week 5 debrief.