Central Presbyterian Church seeks to glorify the Triune God by embracing the gospel, building our community, making disciples, and transforming societies.

Discipleship By Design (DbD) grew out of Central Presbyterian Church’s desire to fulfill the Great Commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

While many churches seek to obey this same mandate, few have an intentional plan to accomplish it.  “By Design” indicates that we believe that discipleship does not just happen by chance.  It requires a systematic, well thought out plan that allows each student of Christ to explore, consider, handle and firmly establish the issues leading to a solid foundation for their faith.

The keystone for this experience is Jesus Christ and His teaching as given to us in Holy Scripture.  The method involves small groups of men and women studying, discussing and learning together.  While sermons, Bible studies and Sunday School classes all add to the disciples’ understanding of God’s will, only the interaction and accountability of a small group produces the accelerated growth needed.  This process leads the student to firmly establish their own beliefs and core values.

One of the goals of DbD is reproduction.  In order for the Christian Church to reach the world for Christ, a vast army of passionate believers armed with God’s love, gentleness and a heart for the lost must be equipped and released.  As we become “livers” of the Bible and not just students of its content, a skeptical and increasingly antagonistic culture will see the works of our Father in Heaven and testify “Oh, how they love one another.”  In a culture starved for meaningful relationship and unconditional love, we can offer them something they can find nowhere else.

While the culture shouts its bankrupt message of individualism, personal rights and privacy, we have an opportunity to model the strength and confidence that comes in community.  We begin to see that others can only truly love us if they know our dreams, our fears, our struggles and our victories.  We were never meant to live life as “lone rangers.”  In the Garden of Eden, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”  Ever since, He has worked to strengthen our relationship with Himself as well as others.

In the book of Romans (12:1-2), Paul urges us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  To break out of this world’s “mold” requires that we spend time with those on the same pathway to God.  As we encourage one another, challenge one another, build up one another, pray for one another and comfort one another, we experience life as God intended it.   Deep, intimate, trust relationships develop.  We give and receive accountability because we know that others love us in spite of our self-centered and sinful nature.  As Greg Ogden observes, “Transformation occurs when we grapple with the truth of God’s Word in the context of transparent relationships.”

While the culture shouts its bankrupt message of individualism, personal rights and privacy, we have an opportunity to model the strength and confidence that comes in community.  We begin to see that others can only truly love us if they know our dreams, our fears, our struggles and our victories.  We were never meant to live life as “lone rangers.”  In the Garden of Eden, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”  Ever since, He has worked to strengthen our relationship with Himself as well as others.

In the book of Romans (12:1-2), Paul urges us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  To break out of this world’s “mold” requires that we spend time with those on the same pathway to God.  As we encourage one another, challenge one another, build up one another, pray for one another and comfort one another, we experience life as God intended it.   Deep, intimate, trust relationships develop.  We give and receive accountability because we know that others love us in spite of our self-centered and sinful nature.  As Greg Ogden observes, “Transformation occurs when we grapple with the truth of God’s Word in the context of transparent relationships.”

The discipleship student is a work in process.  They have given their life to Jesus Christ and received God’s gift of His Holy Spirit.  They know that they are a “new creation” yet with many of the flaws and tendencies of their pre-rebirth condition.  The student commits to conscientiously doing their weekly lessons including reading, Scripture study and personal discussion questions.   They also commit to pray for their fellow group members and wherever possible be God’s hands and feet in providing encouragement.

The discipleship leaders are trained to facilitate the group as it works through the lessons and their discussion.  Like the student, they are critically aware of their own weakness and failures.  They are not teachers.  They do not have all the answers but are committed to finding those answers in the group setting.  They are not always right when it comes to understanding and applying God’s Word.  They are fellow travelers desiring to “grow into the likeness of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the group’s teacher.  He will lead us into an understanding of God’s will as we submit to Him.

The discipleship leaders will be available to meet you to discuss particular issues or to make up a missed lesson.  Make-up is not optional. The essence of the DbD process is the personal completion of all of the lessons and the discussion of those lessons with at least one other brother or sister in the faith. If your schedule suggests that you will miss four or more group sessions, it might be better to delay taking DbD when your schedule eases up.

[i] Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden (InterVarsity Press) 1998 p. 10.