Network
Discipleship
Bands
A discipleship band is a group of 3-5 people who read together, pray together and meet together to become the love of God for one another and the world.
The Five Questions
Some Bands are ready for all five questions. Others may want to start with #1 and #5 or perhaps #1, #2, and #5. Let members go at their own pace.
1. How is it with your soul?
This is the locater question. Where are you? How are you doing on the inside? Downcast? Joy-filled? Weary? Well?
2. What are your struggles and successes?
Peel back a layer of life and talk about circumstances, difficulties, challenges, successes, satisfying growth and such.
3. Any sin to confess?
This takes courage. Just put it out there. No questions asked. And allow someone from the band to say to you: "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven." And receive it.
Risk sharing a possibility of what God might be doing. Invite the band to share their discernment from what they are hearing too.
4. Anything you want to keep secret?
The answer can be no, yes or yes and . . . Again, no condemnation. This question will take the band to the next level.
5. How might the Holy Spirit be speaking and moving in your life?
Risk sharing a possibility of what God might be doing. Invite the band to share their discernment from what they are hearing too.
After each person shares, someone else in the band offers prayer for them. When all have shared and been prayed for the meeting is ready to close.
Time + Trust = Transformation.
The Discipleship
Band Meeting
I. THE OPENING
(after some banter and small talk)
ONE VOICE: "Awake O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead."
ALL OTHERS: "And Christ Will Shine on You."
(Adapted from Ephesians 4:14)
PRAYER (Read in unison or by one member of the band):
"Heavenly Father, we pray that out of your glorious riches you would strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And we pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen."
(Adapted from Ephesians 3:16-19)
II. THE QUESTIONS
(see above)
III. THE CLOSING
PRAYER (Read in unison or by one member of the band):
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
(Adapted from Ephesians 3:20-21)
Discipleship Bands is a Seedbed initiative
