Get Strong Discipleship is a group designed to deepen your walk with Jesus Christ and help you leverage your influence for God’s Kingdom. Even though we do both, it is not a Bible study or a fellowship group. It is not a collection of materials or information that makes this program successful. It is a process that will challenge and stretch each of you in the areas of prayer, spiritual discipline, leadership, communication, family, and intimacy with God.

Thank you for your willingness to lead.

Over the years, we have seen God make a spiritual impact in the lives of men and women through this process. The impact was not only in the individual but also influenced their family and friends over the generations that followed. I was one of those men. I was discipled in 1992 as a young married man, and it has made all the difference in my life, marriage, and walk with God. It has been amazing to watch God change lives through this process. I pray that God will do an amazing work in you and through you as you lead your group.

Get Strong Discipleship is a 10-month process that launches every year in January. Groups consist of 4-6 individuals (men with men & women with women) who meet weekly. The first three weeks of each month all follow the same pattern. There are 5 Bible readings, 2 Get Strong Journals (explained in the book), and one memory verse per week which will be discussed at each meeting. The fourth week of every month will have a unique assignment and book to read.

The Apostle Paul laid out a clear plan for us to disciple the next generation of believers.

2 Timothy 2:2

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

This verse implies that everyone should have someone that is investing in them and someone they are investing in. That is what we are doing in our discipleship groups. Every group leader intentionally mentors a group, expecting each person to pass it on to others. Discipleship like this cannot be done from a distance, from a pulpit, or from reading a book. It requires a relationship. That is why scripture says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

I know that discipleship comes in many forms, and one way is not better than the other, but the Get Strong process has had a profound impact on my life personally, and I have witnessed the same impact in hundreds of men and women over the last 20 years. Over a year, we will study God’s Word, read several books, memorize scripture, complete various homework assignments designed to stretch you, and meet weekly as a group. Still, the real value of this process is greater than the sum of its parts. It is different for each person because the mentor invests in each person individually and as a group. You will also be encouraged and challenged by your group members. Nothing I have done in ministry has pushed me into scripture and a more authentic walk with The Lord than this discipleship process.

Here is a list of items to think through before you lead a group. Leading a group is not time-consuming, but it does require you to be prepared and plan ahead. This guide will help you with every step.

It Starts with You - As you prepare to lead a group, I pray that you will not take it lightly. I pray that you would heed the words of Joshua when he told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." (Joshua 3:5). I believe that God is doing amazing things through this ministry and the men and women who are on their knees before The Lord Almighty. God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to follow Him and to surrender every area of our lives to Him. Be strong and courageous. Remember the words of Paul to Timothy "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Recruit Group: This is sometimes the most difficult part. There are some tips in a later section to help you recruit your group.

Logistics: Most materials have already been prepared, but your responsibility is to coordinate this for your group.

Think Through Topics: We will cover several different topics during the year. Depending on the group's makeup, you might want to make an adjustment to the book or assignments.

Meeting Times: It is important to pick a time that will have the least impact on your group and their families. Most importantly, the meeting must work for you, the leader. You don't have to meet at the same time every week, but it makes scheduling a lot easier.

Meeting Place: It is important to have a private place to meet where the group feels comfortable sharing.

Plan for Getting Together outside of Meetings: It is difficult to build an effective relationship with your group only during meeting times. Try to create opportunities to connect with your group as often as possible. Look for them on Sunday mornings or at the gym. Plan a night to do something fun or get the families together at your house. Meeting one-on-one for a meal or coffee is a great way to get to know each other. It will seem a little awkward at first, but it will reap significant benefits by the end of the year.

Kick-Off / Launch / Retreat - The launch of your group is critical to success. Before starting your regular meetings, you need to have a pre-meeting or event to cast vision and help the group get to know each other. This can be as simple as a meet and greet or more complex as renting a cabin for the weekend. Don't overlook this vital step. Even If your group already knows each other, do something to start with momentum. There is always more excitement at the beginning of the year. In the past, my groups have gathered with spouses and kids or did something fun like TopGolf, go-karts, or paintball.

Read Leader Guide in Advance: The leader guide is a list of things I have learned over the years. I always tell my group that my spiritual gift is to mess up, so they don't have to. Learn from my mistakes and use what works. Read through the entire guide before organizing your group, especially if you have never been through the process. Most of the material is easily scalable, and you can read it fairly quickly. Know where you are going before you start your journey.

Pray For Your Group: Last but not least, pray for your group. James 5:16 says, "…the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective". We desire to lead the men in our groups to become fully committed followers of Christ. That will not happen without prayer. (Read the section on How to Pray for Your Group).

Get Strong Discipleship gives you a plan to follow, but as a mentor, you need to look beyond executing the plan and look to guide the men and women in your group. As you get to know your group, you will notice that some need special attention in different areas of their lives. Everyone comes into the process at different stages and with varied backgrounds. They will never say, "I need help in this or that area." It is up to you to look into their lives and encourage them in the right direction.

Your group will automatically look up to you because of your position in the group, even more so if you already have a relationship with them. Leverage your influence to make an eternal impact in their lives and eventually into the lives of everyone they influence. Do not shy away from this responsibility. It may be the most significant thing you do in your life. Here are some areas that most need a little help.

Manhood and Womanhood - This is one of those areas that we learn from being around Godly men and women. Not everyone has a role model in their life. That responsibility may fall on you to be that positive influence in their life. I came from a broken home, and my dad was not around during my teens. A man discipled me when I was in my twenties. He taught me how to love God, how to love my wife, how to take responsibility, how to lead, and much more. He impacted not only me but my wife and kids and every area of my life.

Accountable Lifestyle - Everyone NEEDS accountability. Model this in your group throughout the year. Share about the benefits of accountability in your own life (by the way, are you in an accountable relationship?) Assist them in forming an accountability group within your group that will carry on after the year is over. We are not designed to live life alone and unchecked. It is a formula for disaster. We are in a spiritual battle, and no one goes into battle alone and survives.

Spiritually Disciplined - This is a broad topic, but be on the lookout for ways to stretch your group. If you have someone good at a specific discipline you are discussing, challenge them to go beyond the assignment. If you see a group member slacking in a particular area, encourage them to step up their game. This is another opportunity to share from your own life.

Find & Develop Their Personal Ministry - If you can help them find their calling, they will grow in confidence and do more than you or they could ever imagine. Throughout the years, I have seen many become leaders in the church, create and launch new ministries and go into full-time missions.

Navigate the issues/stages of life - Every year, I have someone who is blindsided by life—stuff like job loss, marriage issues, sickness in the family, preschool years, etc. Because you are older and have already been through these challenges, your experience becomes invaluable to a younger believer. This is when the mentor becomes most needed. These critical points in life can create powerful teaching opportunities. Lead them through life's challenges and teach them to see God amid the storm.

A fully devoted follower of Christ - This is our ultimate goal.

The way we achieve these objectives is through relationship. The most powerful tool a mentor has is the relationship, which is the special sauce of the discipleship process. We were created to be in relationships. We need key relationships to be successful in this life. One of those relationships is with a mentor. Think about all the most impactful people in our lives - a parent, a coach, a teacher, or a supervisor. They are all mentors because of their influence and or relationship.

Benefits of a Mentor with Relationship:

Teach AND Train. Ephesians 6:4 challenges fathers to bring their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The same is true with mentors. We not only teach but do hands-on training. If teaching is the game's rules, then training is actually playing the game and making adjustments. Training requires a relationship with the mentor.

I See You. Mentoring is up close and personal. You are both known and seen by the mentor. There is nowhere to hide or to escape accountability.

Power of a Rebuke. Proverbs 27:6 says, "wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." I would rather be rebuked by someone I trust who cares about me than by someone I barely know. We need people in our lives who will tell us the hard things.

Motivation. I am more willing to risk when I trust the one asking. The military is excellent at establishing the chain of command. But when asked, most soldiers say they are not fighting for their commander but for their brother who is beside them. You will do more out of a relationship than from a position of authority.

Encouragement - I am more encouraged when a friend compliments me than when a stranger says something nice.

Iron Sharpens Iron - Proverbs 27:17 is a popular verse within discipleship ministries. It says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." It is a picture of sharpening a steel blade. Rubbing iron along the blade knocks off the rough edges and makes the blade sharper. The same thing happens when we are together. We make each other better. That's why accountability and discipleship (mentoring) are essential in a believer's life.

The Get Strong Discipleship Curriculum is a 10-month process consisting of 4 meetings per month. All the meetings are the same, except for the fourth meeting of each month, which will be centered around discussing our book summary and monthly assignment. It is essential to think through a plan for your meeting while remaining flexible to allow God room to work. The following are group elements that will be present in most meetings.

Fellowship: I always begin with fellowship. It is a great way to transition from the issues and stresses of life into a focused time with God. In the first couple of months, getting the group to know each other better is a crucial tool. In month one, I usually have to work to keep the conversation going, but after a couple of months, I have to work to get them to stop talking so we can get started. I like to use a general conversation starter like how was your week or share a high and low from your week. Try to keep the opening conversations to around 10 minutes. If they want to talk more, they can do it at the end. Don't overlook the importance of fellowship.

Open in Prayer: This is the official beginning of our time. We always want to start and end with prayer. One of the benefits of prayer is how it changes us from the inside out. Beginning with prayer is how we put our focus on God, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. The open prayer is usually shorter than the closing prayer. I usually ask someone to open us in prayer to start each meeting.

Scripture Memory: Make this a priority from day one. Set the bar high and encourage your group to rise to the challenge. Over the year, they will memorize 30 verses. There is no magic formula, but I always start with having everyone quote a verse. Try to do it differently each time to keep it interesting. Here are some tips:

• Have everyone quote a verse – no one gets a pass.

• Scripture memory is all effort – anyone can do it.

• Draw verses out of a hat.

• They have been challenged to memorize each verse by topic, reference, and verse. Give them one of the three and have them say the other 2.

• Ask them questions about the verse, like what is the context? Or who is speaking in the verse? How can you apply that verse?

Bible Reading: There are five reading assignments per week. Encourage your group to read daily, not all at once. Daily Bible reading is a valuable discipline that will serve them well long after this group. Make sure everyone stays together in the reading plan. Remind them at the end of each meeting what passages you will discuss in the next meeting. Encourage them to read with a study bible with notes to help them understand what they are reading. I try to read with a new commentary every year to keep it fresh.

Get Strong Journal: The expectation is for each person to complete two journal entries per week. The discipleship book has space for two entries per week. I ask my group to have their books open to those pages so we can all hold each other accountable. The main goal is to create the habit of applying what we learn in God's Word. The discipleship book also has a summary page at the end of each month. Have your group transfer their 4 top entries to the summary page and add a topic or theme in the box provided. These trends and themes will help them see the bigger picture of where God is leading them. Here is the journal method we use:

Select a Verse

• Select a verse that speaks to you.

• Write out the verse, including the bible reference (book, chapter, and verse).

Explain / Observations

• • • This is a general summary of the context surrounding this verse.

    • Why was this written?

    • To whom was it originally written?

    • How does it fit with the verses before and after it?

    • Why did the Holy Spirit include this passage in the book?

    • What does He intend to communicate through this text?

Application / Personal Response

• • • What would the application of this verse look like in my life?

    • What is God saying to me?

    • You may write a call to action.

    • You may describe how you will be different because of what God has said to you through His Word.

    • You may indicate what you will do because of what you have learned.

    • You may respond by writing out a prayer to God.

    • For example, you may ask God to help you to be more loving or to give you a desire to be more generous in your giving.

    • Keep in mind that this is your response to what you have just read.

Book Discussion: Each person should have completed a book summary and listed some big takeaways. That means they have been processing the topic all month and have taken the time to apply it to their lives. Hold them accountable. Your conversation will start on the book but may end up going in any number of directions. Find the balance between staying on topic and going where the Lord leads. This is where you earn your money. This is where you build your influence and speak truth and wisdom into their lives.

There are two articles in the discipleship book that are very helpful.

(1) Why We Read Books in Get Strong

(2) How to Actively Read a Book

Discuss Assignments: Every homework assignment is different. Some will take more time than others to discuss. For example, the assignment to share their testimony will take almost the whole meeting time. Be aware of this when thinking through your meeting agenda.

Accountability: As the group gets to know each other better, start to model accountability. By the end of the year, one of my goals is for each person to be in an accountable relationship. Many people will continue to meet in some capacity after the group is over.

Group Prayer: Prayer needs to be a priority, but it may take all year to get them comfortable praying in a group. I usually start the year by personally leading prayer and slowly move toward group prayer.

Next Month's Assignment: Announce the monthly assignment with plenty of time for the group to complete it. Think through this before describing it to your group. It is much more impactful if you cast the vision and explain the value and importance than let them read it for themselves. There are book recommendations listed in the monthly leader guide section. Make sure everyone knows the assignment and when to complete it.

This is your group and God has given you the charge to mentor them. Don’t be a slave to this agenda. Use it as a guide, but do what you need to do. Stay on your knees and let The Lord lead in every aspect of this group.

Not every group is the same and one size doesn’t fit all. Above is the prescribed way to make disciples using this process. It is tried and tested. I would encourage you to use this process unless there is a real need to scale it back. A real reason is not because I want to do it the easy way. That is not how it is done in the Crossfit / workout world where we are encouraged to give our all. We want to give the same effort to our spiritual fitness.

Here are some options to scale this process:

Option A

• Meet weekly

• Daily Bible reading using the Get Strong Plan (or chose your own)

• Personal Application using Get Strong Journal

• Scripture Memory using Get Strong verses (or chose your own)

Option B

• Meet Monthly (these meetings will need to be 3 hours to cover material)

• Daily Bible reading using the Get Strong Plan (or chose your own)

• Personal Application using Get Strong Journal

• Scripture Memory using Get Strong verses (or chose your own)

• Read a book and prepare book summary

• Monthly assignment

Option C

• Use the Get Strong Material in your own plan

• Meet at your own pace (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)

• Daily Bible reading using the Get Strong Plan (or chose your own)

• Get Strong is a 10 month plan – meet shorter or longer

• Use your own books and assignments

Our team is here to support and encourage regardless of what method you use.

I prefer to mentor in a group of 4-6 people. Inside the group dynamic, the members encourage each other, challenge each other, and eventually become accountable to each other. A bond develops over the course of a year, and many groups develop lifelong friendships and continue meeting on their own.

Jesus discipled in a group. I love how Christ modeled this for us by selecting His group from the men within His circle of influence and poured His life into 12 men.

Models Accountability. We cannot be successful without authentic accountability in our life. Meeting in groups not only models this, but more often, these groups will continue holding each other accountable for many years. We all need people who love us enough to speak the truth in our lives. "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

Multiple Perspectives. The group allows you to see and discuss a topic from various viewpoints. Not everyone can be reached with the same story or example. A group helps us realize that we are not alone in our individual struggles.

Great way to make and deepen friendships. Most people have friends in their lives, but few have deep Christian relationships that we both desire and have been created for. Group discipleship will generate lifelong friends that you can count on.

Multiplies Effort. As a mentor, I can impact more people in a group than one-on-one (obviously). There is a point where the group can be too big and a point where you need to discuss something one on one. But most topics are enhanced by group input.

Comfort in numbers. I think most people feel more comfortable in a group. They feel like they can hide or share the load somehow. Once the group gets past the surface-level stuff, it creates an environment where everyone can flourish. I have seen more growth in groups than in one-on-one coaching. People feel more comfortable sharing when they realize they are not the only ones struggling.

Leads to one-on-one discipleship. When it comes to mentoring and discipling, I believe that the one being discipled needs to provide the energy to meet. I pursue the individual to be in a group and I lay out the plan but it is up to them to respond. I will not drag them or pull them along (I will push occasionally). Every year I have one or two who want more than the group meeting and pursue a one-on-one relationship. I walk with these individuals throughout life. They become like spiritual children to me.

In a group setting, you will have people with different comfort levels regarding public prayer. I usually open and close our time in prayer for the first couple of months unless I know if someone is okay with it. I slowly begin to involve everyone in the group. I start slow at first, but by the end, most everyone feels comfortable praying.

Teach / Model How to Pray

When you pray, be mindful that you have beginners in the room. Make your prayers simple and concise. Take opportunities when you can to discuss how to pray. Address the follow concerns:

• You don't have to have a special vocabulary. God wants us to use our everyday language. No one says "thee" and "thou" anymore.

• You don't have to pray for every topic discussed.

• A one-sentence prayer is okay.

• It is okay to jump back into prayer and pray again.

• It is okay not to pray – but leaders lead.

How to Pray as a Group

Here are some ideas to add some variety to the group prayer format. Remember, we are doing more than praying; we are teaching them to pray.

• Pick someone to start and finish – anyone who wants to can pray in the middle.

• Popcorn Prayer – limit everyone to one sentence on a topic. They can pray multiple times but keep it very short. This is a good entry-level prayer.

• Pray one at a time – go in a circle. It lets them know they are going to pray and when to pray.

• Assign a topic to each person to pray.

• Lead the group through multiple topics – announce the topic and then let the group pray. When it is time, announce the next topic and keep going. This method works well with the A.C.T.S. method.

• Break into groups of 2-3. Share prayer requests and pray.

• Have everyone get on their knees – this can be very powerful.

• Pray through a scripture passage together.

• Have everyone go off by themselves and write a letter from God.

• Have each person bring a scripture passage to read during prayer time.

Prayer Request

I usually limit prayer requests to personal and immediate family. There are exceptions, but my focus in this group is more narrow. I am trying to create a safe place where my group can be transparent in their prayer request. Most will not be transparent when the others ask for us to pray for the cat of a coworker's high school friend's parents. They are usually hiding behind a vague request instead of opening up to the group. Sometimes you will have to prompt them to share by asking how their marriage is or about some struggle they have. It is easier to teach people to pray when praying for a friend's needs.

The best thing you can do for your group is be on your knees, praying for them. Paul records a prayer in every one of his letters. Not only does he value prayer, but he is modeling for us how to pray for our group. He genuinely cares for his disciples. James 5:16 says, "…the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective". We desire to lead our group to become fully committed followers of Christ. That will not happen without prayer. You can't effectively talk to your group about God until you have talked to God about your group. Jesus prayed for the disciples, Paul prayed for his disciples, and we need to pray for our disciples.

Below is a prayer from Paul to the disciples in Colossae. If you want to learn how to pray for your disciples (or loved ones); follow Paul's example.

Colossians 1:9-12 (HCSB)

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped

praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father…..

(1) Ask God to help your men to know God's will for their lives. (1:9)

(2) Ask God to give your men wisdom and understanding. (1:9)

(3) Pray that their lives will honor and please the Lord. (1:10)

(4) Pray that their lives will produce every kind of good fruit. (1:10)

(5) Pray that your men will know God more and more. (1:10)

(6) Ask God to give them strength for endurance and patience. (1:11)

(7) Ask God to fill them with Joy. (1:11)

(8) Pray that they would be grateful for all God has done. (1:12)

Here are a couple more prayers from Paul

• Ephesians 1:17-19

• Ephesians 3:16-19

• Philippians 1:9-11

Pray First: After leading my first group, I promised God I would lead a group every year He gave me men. That was over 20 years ago. God has been faithful to send me the right guys every year. If you are unsure who to invest in – start praying. You will be amazed at the people God will send you. It will sharpen your focus when you are praying for participants. Everyone will start to look like a potential group member.

Circle of Influence: Start with people you know. The best groups start with established relationships. Look around, and you will be surprised at who is already in your circle of influence. Look in these areas:

• Small Group

• Church Relationship

• Work / Gym / Neighborhood

• Friends Acquaintances

Ask Church Staff or Ministry Leader to Recommend - Your church staff is an excellent resource for finding people. Our team is constantly gathering names and looking to help form potential groups.

Size of Group - The best size group is 4-6 individuals (gender-specific – guys with guys and girls with girls). I have had more and less and it worked fine. But the sweet spot seems to be 4-6. It is enough to create good discussion and not too many, so everyone gets a chance to be involved.

What Age Should My Group Be - I have seen success with every combination, but I think it works best when the leader is 1-2 stages of life ahead of their group. That means when I was a young dad; I led men who were newlyweds. I led guys with young families when I had teenagers in the house. Most people want a mentor who is where they want to be. It also works with being 1-2 stages ahead spiritually, regardless of age.

Think About Chemistry: Try to know a little about a person before you invite them to join a group. I usually like my group to be all married or all with or without kids. Diversity can be very good for a group, but some things can become a distraction and distract from what you are trying to accomplish. For example - Parents always talk about kids or the impact that kids have on their lives. Young parents without kids cannot identify with that or contribute much to the conversation. Keep chemistry in mind.

Start with Leaders: One option is to start your first group with a handful of leaders who would be willing to recruit and lead a group the following year. This is a great way to make a larger impact in a shorter time.

Start Early - Don't wait until the week before your launch event to recruit. I start having discussions months in advance and am on the lookout for potential group members all year long. It can take time to pull together a group.

Set the Bar High (don't make it easy) - When you approach someone to be in your group, don't sugarcoat the process. Please make sure you are straight with them upfront. They need to count the cost on the front end or you will lose them along the way. In one of my early groups, I had a guy who thought we were only reading one book for the whole year. He was surprised to discover that it was a new book every month. Oops. Most people like the challenge and are willing to work hard for something worthwhile.

Ask One on One: This is a big decision for most people. Don't ask them in front of others. They may be embarrassed and say yes on the front end but drop out because they weren't committed. It has to be their decision. Don't let this stress you out. I have only had one person turn me down in 20 years. God is always at work on both sides (the asking and the responding).

Give a Deadline - Make them commit by a specific date.

Don't Chase - I believe that when it comes to salvation, we do whatever it takes to reach them. But for discipleship, I think it is up to the believer to supply the energy. It is the mentor's responsibility to give them the opportunity, but they need to initiate beyond that.

A covenant is an essential part of the process. A group that measures the costs and is committed to each other will accomplish much more than a casual meeting.

At the beginning of the group, I ask each person to commit to the process and sometimes to sign a covenant. They agree (in writing) to attend all meetings, complete all assignments, and pray for the other group members.

This is why we have a covenant:

Take it serious. This is not a casual gathering. Discipleship needs to be in the same category as work. It requires focus, effort, intentionality, and a priority in their schedule. They are not just hanging out; they are trying to accomplish something significant in their life. This year has the potential to change their life and the life of their family forever. Those who take it seriously are impacted the most.

Count the costs. I make sure they know what to expect from the very beginning. I tell them that it will be a challenge. The purpose is to stretch them and grow them. I never say it will be easy. At the same time, I share with them the benefits and some previous testimonies. I want them to know that it will require an investment on their end but that the benefits out way the costs.

Expectations. These need to be clear.

Group Chemistry. The covenant is here to protect the group. If one person is not upholding their end of the commitment, the whole group suffers. If someone is not regularly attending, they will fall behind, but the bigger problem is the chemistry in the group. The group is closed once we start. We like to say, "no one gets in, and no one gets out." To protect the group chemistry, we will ask someone to leave if they are not honoring their commitment.

Group Accountability. Sometimes someone will struggle with the material or with a life issue and want to quit. The group will almost always rally around them and encourage them to stick it out. Referring back to their signed covenant will help to motivate them to press on. The covenant keeps a lot of people from giving up.

The bottom line is we want everyone to take the process seriously. This group will meet once a week to discuss the materials assigned. It is essential for the group's success and for the growth of all members that each member be completely committed to the group. This includes attendance, ho

mework, and prayer.

Course expectations

• Meet weekly with your group – when unable to meet, stay involved through sharing journals and prayer requests

• Read all assigned materials

• Complete weekly Get Strong Journals

• Complete monthly assignments

• Scripture Memory

• Contribute to a group atmosphere of confidentiality, honesty, and transparency.

• Pray weekly for the members of your group