Discipleship is the process by which every believer grows more deeply rooted in God’s Word. Community Groups provide for fellowship and Biblical teaching but D-Groups go a step further in cultivating intimate friendships, accountability and spiritual growth. Take the D-Group survey to sign up for D-groups, register your existing group, or ask for more information.
What is a D-Group?
A D-Group (Discipleship Group) is a gender-specific closed group of 3-5 believers who meet together weekly for the purpose of fellowship, prayer, Bible study, Spiritual growth and scripture memorization.
3-5 people including the facilitator is best.
D-Groups are CLOSED groups. This differs from a Community Group, Sunday School or Bible study where anyone might attend and there is a teacher-led format.
The CLOSED groups allow for more accountability, deeper and sincere prayer concerns and intimate conversation.
The groups are gender-specific so, although couples should pray together, this allows opportunity for men to share with men and women to women.
Where and when do we meet?
The Facilitator will help find a weekly time that will work for all schedules.
Anytime of the day and any day of the week will work.
Select a place that is convenient to all group members
Rooms at First Baptist Church are available by scheduling through the office.
Many groups meet in homes, restaurants and coffee shops.
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, meeting in outside locations is ideal.
How to start a D-Group?
Pray about whom God would have you ask to be in your D-Group.
Approach those individuals God has put on your heart and ask them to be part of the group. You might ask something like “Would you like to get together each week with other believers to study the Bible, memorize scripture and pray together?”
After the group is formed, covenant with each other to be committee and accountable to one another.
Who should be in your D-Group?
Mature Believers will help us multiple and develop new groups.
New Believers benefit greatly from connecting with other believers.
Though uncommon, unbelievers may join! This is an opportunity to learn more about becoming a Christian.
Multi-Generation believers can all share together to enrich the spiritual lives of all.
Struggling Believers (like most of us!) will benefit from the loving accountability of D-Groups.
How do I lead a D-Group?
Leading a D-Group does not require being a master teacher, a perfect Christian or spiritual guru. The only requirement is that you are intentionally pursuing Christ.
A facilitator helps to schedule meetings and help the group achieve weekly goals in prayer, Bible study and scripture memorization.
Never give the impression that you know all the answers! It’s more important to know where to find answers!
What happens in D-Group?
Conversation about the highs and lows of your week.
Scripture memory quotation
Study the Bible together. This might be through a book study, sharing personal HEAR journal entries and/or sharing what we are hearing and learning from God each week.
Share prayer requests and pray together.
What are the personal expectations to be in a D-Group?
Pledge yourself fully to the Lord with the anticipation that you are entering a time of accelerated spiritual transformation.
Commit to meeting with your group for about 1 ½ hours every week.
Pledge to complete assignments (scripture memory and/or bible readings) before meetings to contribute to discussions.
Uphold an atmosphere of confidentiality, honest and transparency within your group.
Pray for your group.