START UP is a multi session resource that covers the basic disciple making tools. Generally, each session is taught on a weekly basis. But adapt this to fit your schedule. Sessions 1-5 take place inside at the same time, sessions 6-7 take place outside and may be on a different day of the week.
Sessions 1-5 are set up in the same 90 minute pattern. Sessions 6-7 take place outside and may last longer.
Sessions 1-5 are set up in the same 90 minute pattern. Sessions 6-7 take place outside and may last longer.
- Ask: Check the homework assignment from the previous session. (5-10 minutes). Because DBS has Ask built into Question #4, it is not present in all Sessions.
- Explain: Read the directions and associated links. (10-15 minutes)
- Practice: Breakout into smaller groups (4-5) if your group is large. (30-40 minutes)
- Debrief: Leave room for this. It's an important time of sharing thoughts and learning about additional resources. (15-20 minutes)
- Homework: Be sure to cover this because the beginning of the next session may address this. (5 minutes)
SESSION 1: Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
Explain: Read Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Don't include Discovery Groups or Story Sets yet. You'll cover those during debrief.
Practice: Do a Discovery Bible Study. Do the time constrained version of a DBS. Ask for brief answers and combine questions 1&2, 5&6, 7&8. For instance, "Briefly share what you are thankful for and what you are stressed out about." And, "Briefly state what the passage says about God and people?" And, "Briefly state what are you going to do, and who are you going to tell this week?"
Debrief:
- Ask people to briefly share what they thought about DBS. Focus on the concept not the content.
- Read Discovery Group.
- Watch a video from the resource list below. If you can't watch it together, assign one as homework.
SESSION 2: Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
Explain: If necessary, review Discovery Bible Study (DBS).
Practice: Do a Discovery Bible Study. Do the time constrained version of a DBS. Ask for brief answers and combine questions 1&2, 5&6, 7&8. For instance, "Briefly share what you are thankful for and what you are stressed out about." "Briefly state what the passage says about God and people?" "Briefly state what are you going to do, and who are you going to tell this week?"
Debrief:
- Ask people to briefly share what they thought about DBS. Focus on the concept not the content.
- Read Discovery Group Tips, and do an overview of DBS Story Sets.
- Watch a video from the resource list below. If you can't watch it together, assign one as homework.
Homework. Do your "I will" statements from the DBS. Watch a video from the list below if you did not do so as a group.
SESSION 3: FARM Conversation
Ask. Have people share how their "I will" statements went from the last meeting.
Explain. Read FARM Conversation. Don't read either of the More Information boxes. You'll cover that during Debrief.
Practice. Do a FARM Conversation. One person asks another a Family question. For instance, "Tell me about your family." That person asks another an Academic (Or Occupation) question. "Do you work, and if so, what do you do?" That person asks another a Recreation question. "What do you like to do with your free time?" That person then asks one of the Message questions. For instance, "What is your spiritual background?" or "How does Jesus fit into your life journey?" Have fun. Ask follow up questions. Enjoy the process. Once everyone has gone, do another round. Time permitting, try to give everyone a chance to ask a Message question.
Debrief. Ask people what they thought of the FARM conversation. Read FARM Conversation: More Information 1.0 and consider a brief overview of 2.0. Don't overload people with too much information.
Homework. Have a FARM conversation with at least one person before the next meeting.
SESSION 4: One Thing Study
Ask. Have people share how their FARM conversations went from the previous meeting.
Explain. Read One Thing Study. Don't read More Information, you'll read it during Debrief.
Practice. Each breakout group picks the same passage of Scripture. Read it aloud. Then give the group a chance to read it for themselves. Then ask everyone to mark the one word or phrase that speaks to their heart the most. Ask people to share what they marked and why. After everyone has shared, ask people to pray silently about their one thing. Repeat the process time permitting. This session can move quickly.
Debrief. Ask people what they thought of the One Thing Study. Focus on the concept, not the content. Read One Thing Study: More Information. If you're able, watch the Bible Is Alive (2:09)
Homework. Do a One Thing Study each day until the next meeting.
SESSION: 5 PRAYER
Ask. Have people share how their One Thing Studies went from the previous meting.
Explain. Read the information under Pathway: Multiply Extraordinary Prayer, How to Spend an Hour in Prayer and Prayer Cycle.
Practice. Pray through the seven elements. Use the How To Spend an Hour in Prayer as a guide. For Focus On God's Word, pick a passage of Scripture and pray from it. When the group is done praying about an element, someone simply state the next element aloud.
Debrief. Discuss thoughts about this session. Watch the video on Prayer (9:55)
Homework. Start a DMM prayer group this week.
SESSIONS 6&7: Prayer Walk
Ask. Have people share how their DMM Prayer went from the previous meeting.
Explain. Read Prayer Walk as a group. This can be done as you gather. Prayer Walk is different from the other sessions because it takes place outside. People you visit may be followed up from previous interactions with an Access ministry (food distribution, etc.). Others you visit may be prayerfully targeted and engaged through door to door contact.
Practice. If necessary, practice immediately prior to Prayer Walking. Then pair up and go out. It's ok to go to a one location as a group, but approach people in teams of two.
Debrief. This should be done after each encounter in pairs, and as a group after the Prayer Walk event. It can be done at a local eatery, or other place to gather. Be sure to share God stories (experiences where God's presence was manifest).
Homework. Follow up within 24 hours, with potential persons of peace. Begin teaching them the tools and resources you just learned in Start Up.
ONGOING COACHING
Begin coaching those who just went through Start Up. Ongoing coaching is essential to multiplication. Some groups meet weekly, some twice a month. Some meet in person, some via Zoom. Set up group coaching so people can encourage and equip one another. Read the Ongoing Coaching sections at the end of Pathway and Multiply for more information.
Include the following three questions in each coaching session.
- How is your soul? How are you doing?
- What is going well? Which tools cause you to experience the presence of God? What are your God stories?
- Which tool needs your attention? What is your next step and how can we help you get there?
Observe those who apply what they learned in Start Up. Look for catalytic people who you might invite to the formal, in-depth 8 session DMM training. You can train them using your notes, or guide them to the free e-Life DMM training.
more information
Start and end each training session on time. It's okay to leave room before and after the event for mingling time and refreshments, but begin and end the formal meeting as posted.
Train the right people. Communicate that Start up is for those who have a holy, healthy discontent about the status of the Great Commission. People who are dissatisfied with their own disciple making. It's for people eager to make disciples who make disciples regardless of the cost. Explain that each meeting contains homework where people must obey newly learned principles, between meetings. Start Up is not for those who just want to gain knowledge about disciple making or those who have the proper organizational title, but are not willing to become doers of the word.
Start small and go slow to get big and go fast. Begin with a few highly motivated people. It can be 3-6 people. Large groups form breakouts of 4-5 people during the practice time.
Train the right people. Communicate that Start up is for those who have a holy, healthy discontent about the status of the Great Commission. People who are dissatisfied with their own disciple making. It's for people eager to make disciples who make disciples regardless of the cost. Explain that each meeting contains homework where people must obey newly learned principles, between meetings. Start Up is not for those who just want to gain knowledge about disciple making or those who have the proper organizational title, but are not willing to become doers of the word.
Start small and go slow to get big and go fast. Begin with a few highly motivated people. It can be 3-6 people. Large groups form breakouts of 4-5 people during the practice time.
Resources
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (3:00)
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (8:16)
- Watch Discovery Bible Study Overview (7:58)
- Watch Discovery Bible Study (4:42)
- Watch Discovery Groups (11:03)
- View Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
- View Discovery Group (DG)
- View DBS Story Sets
- Read DMM Sails
- View DMM Resources