Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups
by Gayle Turner Watson
Category: Religion

Covenant Discipleship Groups have a long history of helping Christians grow as disciples. Based on the early Methodist class meetings, Covenant Discipleship Groups provide a way for Christians today to be accountable disciples of Jesus Christ. Q&A's Q: WHAT IS A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups consists of up to seven persons who meet together for one hour each week to hold themselves mutually accountable for their discipleship. They do this by means of a covenant that they have written. Q: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: Covenant Discipleship Groups are intended solely for mutual accountability and prayerful support for living as disciples in the world. They are not where our discipleship happens but where we make sure that it happens. Q: WHY DOES THE GROUP NEED A COVENANT? A: The covenants we make with one another help us keep our covenant with God. We make covenants with one another because we live in a world that has yet to accept God's salvation. We constantly face temptations to turn away from God, and we need some means of mutual support. John Wesley and the early Methodists understood this need and saw that nothing short of binding themselves to mutual accountability would suffice. By the grace of God, they agreed to watch over each other in love. Q: WHY JOIN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: By joining with other Christians in a weekly meeting, members of Covenant Discipleship Groups learn to center their lives on Jesus Christ by following his teachings and supporting one another in living out the basics of Christian discipleship. Q: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IN A COVENANT DISCIPLESHIP GROUP? A: You will become more aware of God's grace in your life. You will find new ways of serving God and your neighbor. You will find your understanding of God's will greatly enhanced. Q: How WILL THIS BOOK HELP ME? A: This handbook is primarily a practical reference manual for starting, developing, sustaining, and incorporating Covenant Discipleship Groups into the mission and ministry of the church.