Discipleship Material

At Radiance...

Our mission is "To make Spirit-filled disciples who passionately desire to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known." Discipleship isn't just a program; it's woven into the fabric of everything we do.

We believe spiritual growth is a journey with many paths. We encounter the presence of God through prayer and worship, deepen our understanding through classes and Bible studies, and live out our faith by serving others. Within this rich tapestry of spiritual formation, intentional 1:1 or 1-to-few discipleship relationships play a vital role. These personalized connections offer deeper accountability and a unique space to flourish within our larger community. At its heart, discipleship is about walking closely with Jesus and helping others do the same. It's a journey of transformation, becoming more like Christ in every area of life. Scripture highlights the power of these relationships, like Jesus and His disciples or Paul and Timothy—marked by deep connection, mutual encouragement, and shared faith. We all have a God-given desire for connection,for someone to walk alongside us, offering support and guidance. Discipleship provides this space—a place to explore our faith, wrestle with questions, and grow in our understanding of God's love as we were never meant to walk this path alone.

To equip and encourage you to start your own discipleship groups, we've created this guide with example content to use. Our hope is to make discipleship accessible to everyone, regardless of where you are in life, and to empower you to create meaningful and impactful relationships.

Check out our guide below:

Scriptural Foundation: Begin with Scripture. Let the Word of God be the primary guide for your time together. Explore passages that speak to discipleship, spiritual growth, and the character of Christ. Allow the Bible to shape your conversations and actions. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Heart Connection: Discipleship is rooted in genuine love and care. Approach the relationship with a heart of service, seeking to understand and encourage the other person. Create a safe space for vulnerability and authentic sharing.(Galatians 6:2)

Intentional Invitation:
Clearly and prayerfully invite someone to journey with you with a clearly defined timeline (e.g.,: 3 month, 6 month of 1 year). "I've been reflecting on the importance of discipleship, and I feel led to invite you to walk alongside me as we grow in our faith. Would you be open to being in a discipleship relationship with me?" (Matthew 4:19)

Consistent Connection: Establish a regular rhythm of connection, whether through weekly meetings, phone calls, or texts. This consistency fosters trust and allows for ongoing support and accountability. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Growth and Multiplication:
As your formal commitment time comes to an end, pray for opportunities to equip and empower the other person to start their own disciple group. The goal is to continuously make disciples, who make other disciples the Great Commission. (Matthew28:19-20)

Scripture

Book of John, 21 chapters, read a chapter a day
Select Psalms: devotional, meditate on a chapter for a month (good to focus on hearing from God and need to slow down)

Psalms 1
Psalms 37
Psalms 51
Psalms 86
Psalms 139

Book of Proverbs: there’s 31 chapters, read through one a day, for the year
Book of 1 & 2 Samuel: Good for focus on leadership, 3 months journey
Book of Genesis: Good for beginning of the year
Book of Ephiesians: 12 weeks (6 chapters, meditate on it 2 weeks a chapter) Book of 1 Peter

Books

Multiply by Francis Chan (Comprehensive)

Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (40 days), good for beginning of the year, good for new believers

Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Pete Scazzero (good for people who have been church for a while, burned out in the past, struggling with emotional health)

Celebration of Discipline by RIchard Foster (focus on basics, foundations)

The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhuffer (classic)

The Master Plan of Discipleship by Robert E. Coleman (practical)

Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden

Other Ideas

Pick a plan from YouVersion bible app

Previous 21 days of prayer devotionals from Radiance

AMI daily devotionals (https://amiquiettimes.com/)

Topical

Marriage

Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
Scared Marriage by Gary Thomas

Missions

Let the Nations be Glad by John Piper
Insanity of God By Nik Ripken
Mission of God Christopher Wright
Across the Street and Around the World By Jeanie Marie

Family

Singleton-on-Family-Discipleship_V2.pdf
Follow-Up Qs / Discussions from Radiance CM newsletter by Pastor Marie (example here)
Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler

Work/Calling


Every Good Endeavour by Tim Keller 
Call by Oz Guinness
Undistracted by Bob Goff
Path by Laurie Beth Jones
Made for This by Jeane Allen


Prayer

Prayer by EM Bound
Prayer by Tim Keller
Moving Mountains by John Eldridge
I Give You Authority by Charles Kraft


Men

Wild at Heart by John Eldridge
Intentional Father by Jon Tyson
Fighting Shadows by Jon Tyson
Stepping Up by Dennis Rainey
Hero / Strong Father, Strong Daughter by Meg Meeker


Women

Names of God by Kay Arther
Gideon by Priscilla Shirer
Book of Esther
Disciple Her by Kandi Gallaty, how to disciple women intentionally and practically. It's more geared towards leaders/those who will be doing the work of discipleship.
Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton, practical weekly guide for practicing solitude + group discussion.
Brave Love Women podcasts, a Christian women's movement started by YWAMers aiming to activate and empower women into their callings through discipleship, evangelism, and training. This is a collection of podcasts by women leaders, but they also have a manual that can be purchased.