Group Or Individual Discipling? Yes!

December 9, 2007

“The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples.” John 4:1-2

Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the world. The Father sent Him to reveal the very nature of God in flesh and blood, and to give His followers a plan to evangelize the world for which He died. The Great Commission is the summation of this plan, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to obey all I have commanded you.” The Great Commission commands every newly baptized disciple to be taught to obey all of Jesus’ commands – the last being, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.” Therefore, Jesus’ plan is for every disciple to be taught to make and baptize disciples. In turn, they should teach every new generation of disciples to make and baptize disciples, thus exponentially expanding into every nation!

In the past few years, there has been much debate over whether Jesus and the early church discipled by groups or individually (one-on-one). Let us remember that evangelism is included in Jesus’ plan of discipling, and that discipling continues on after baptism until we are welcomed into glory! The gospels record at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry that He met, evangelized and thus began to disciple various individuals. Jesus spent the day with Andrew and John (John 1:39), and later that day met Simon and then “nicknamed” him “Rocky!” (Peter) He also individually called Phillip (John 1:43) as well as the skeptical Nathaniel. (John 1:47) The calling of Matthew the tax collector is also noted. (Luke 5:27-28) Quite obviously, Jesus began discipling each of these men one-on-one. Later in Luke 6:12, perhaps after six months of preaching and individually making disciples, Jesus went to the mountain to pray. In the morning He met with all His disciples, perhaps hundreds, and called from them the Twelve, “whom He designated apostles.” Thus Jesus formalized group discipling.

After discussing with Nicodemus the absolute command for a water and Spirit rebirth into the Kingdom, “Jesus and His disciples went out into the Judean countryside where He spent some time with them and baptized.” Relationships were built during the “mission of baptizing.” Jesus was building incredibly deep relationships individually as well as between disciples. These very different personalities became “forever, best friends.” He expected the disciples to possess such a radical love that they would be willing to die for Him and each other! (John 15:13) Interestingly, in John 4:1-2 we read, “The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples.” Here, early in Jesus’ ministry, even the Pharisees saw that Jesus was “gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,” because Jesus had twelve disciples baptizing! Multiplication! Clearly, His “group” was purposefully evangelistic. Interestingly, everyone in Jesus’ “group” was “individually” fruitful. Jesus’ answer to the question, “Group or individual discipling?” is a resounding, “Yes!”

In the early church, Paul’s ministry imitated Jesus’. He formed many “discipling groups” to help fulfill the great commission. For his second missionary journey, Paul chose individuals to form a “discipling group.” This group consisted of Silas (a prophet), Timothy (a young disciple willing to do anything – including circumcision at 18 years old) and Luke (the doctor and recorder). (Acts 15:32-16:10) After revisiting the earlier church plantings of Lystra, Derbe and Iconium, these men planted new congregations in such cities as Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus, the key city in the province of Asia. Later, during his third missionary journey, Paul gathered a few young, dynamic preachers from the churches he established on his first two missionary journeys. “[Paul] was accompanied by Sopater…from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.” (Acts 20:4) He formed them into a “discipling group” that would help unify the churches through their collective relationships and provide future leadership for the churches he had established. In Los Angeles, we have implemented this principle of group discipling among preachers by bonding together our house church leaders: the Hernandezs, Comisfords, Gonzalezs (both Vic Sr. and Jr.), Martinezs, Mejias, Hardings, Bartholomews, Zindlers and the Thompsons, as well as Rachel Bond and Mike Underhill.

Later, we witness both group and one-on-one discipling as Paul raised up elders for the Ephesian Church. He addressed them as a group (Acts 20:17), yet reminded them of how he discipled them, “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Notice, the individual discipling – “each of you.” Group discipling is necessary to reveal character weaknesses and sins that block us from being close relationally, especially among peers. This closeness, true friendship and a sense of “team” are especially necessary in church leaderships whether local, regional or worldwide to keep churches united. Yet individual discipling is imperative if we are to draw-out one another’s thoughts, and as best friends deal with each other’s trials and temptations at a heart level. Even at 53 years old and 35 years as a Christian, I need discipling. In Elena’s and my three years in Portland, we so much appreciated our Sunday night discipleship group composed of the Untalans and Bertalots, our Elders and their wives, as well as Steve and Lisa Johnson, our friends of over 30 years! Though we are now in a different city, as with the Ephesian Elders and Paul, we still remain best friends. This same dynamic is being built in Los Angeles. We appreciate so much our “partnership in the gospel” with our shepherding couples, the Bordieris and Underhills, as well as with couples such as Marty and Cathy Wooten.

In what we call “Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians,” a closer examination reveals that it was “Paul, Silas and Timothy’s” letter! (1 Thessalonians 1:1) The three of them would have been much more forceful and convincing as a group than just Paul alone. This perhaps also shows that Paul’s relationship with Silas and Timothy changed from a teacher/student (parent/child) discipling relationship to an adult/adult one! Later in chapter two, individual discipling is apparent inside the Thessalonian Church, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12) Notice again, “each of you” - individual discipling. A father-like relationship shows this to be “one-over-one” discipling, a teacher/student relationship. Paul and “his partners in the gospel” clearly discipled in groups and individually.

Sadly, many church leaders have totally abandoned God’s plan of discipling because “disciples were hurt.” For most, it would be unthinkable to abandon marriage just because people were hurt. Yet now without discipling even some Christian spouses out of reaction to hurting each other are divorced. All of us have hurt our husband or wife, yet with forgiveness God makes us closer than ever! Discipling is commanded by God. (Matthew 28:19-20) Hurt through sin will occur in all human relationships, especially marriage or discipling. It has been shared with me by grieving disciples that visit the City of Angels Church that the “reactionary churches” that have abandoned discipling have now drifted quite far from the truth, becoming worldly and inwardly focused. This is evident because they have few baptisms, uninspired fellowships, an increasing number of divorces and a waning commitment to Christ throughout their membership. One sister emailed me saying, “Now without discipling, I am lonely in my church.”

Many well-meaning congregations have heard the false teachings of “only group discipling,” “discipling is optional,” or “seek discipling if you want it.” This perhaps protects some disciples from hurt, but prevents disciples from really getting into people’s lives, “spurring one another on to love and good deeds,” confronting sin and maturing in Christ. (Colossians 1:28-29) In the City of Angels Church, the leadership is steadfast in our obedience to Scripture. We expect every member, for their spiritual well-being, to be at all the services. (Hebrews 10:23-25) We also have provided methodologies that parallel Jesus’ and the early churches’ use of small evangelistic groups and one-on-one discipling. We require every member to be in a Bible Talk (an evangelistic small group) and to have a discipleship partner. (Hebrews13:17) The biggest difference from “the past” is that we encourage every person to choose their Bible Talk and their discipleship partner. This makes it easier for discipleship partners to become “best friends.” Our members also define their discipling relationships as either teacher/student (parent/child) or adult/adult. Also, there is a strong call from the pulpit for mercy, tenderness and grace, balanced with directness in “speaking the truth in love” as we deal with each other’s weaknesses and sins. (Ephesians 4:15)

May 6, 2007 was the inaugural service for the City of Angels International Christian Church. Through disciples multiplying disciples, in seven months God has increased the disciples in our congregation from 42 to 167! The members of the City of Angels Church will testify that God, working though group and individual discipling, has changed their lives. Therefore, examine all the Scriptures of this article and if what was shared is not based on the Bible, throw this bulletin away! Yet, if this graying (and partly balding) evangelist has spoken the truth, then one must conclude these are not the “teachings of a man,” but the very words and commands of God. And to God be the glory!

Kip McKean