In Matthew 4:19 Jesus says to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” With just ten simple words Jesus has summarized a model of disciple-making that would come to turn the world upside down. The way Jesus made disciples was a perfect pairing of invitation ("follow me") and challenge ("I will make you fishers of men"). When Jesus asks them to follow, He is not just asking them to attend a class or a bible study. He is asking them to partake in his life. To walk, break bread, laugh, and cry with him. This is the first dimension of a d-group, an invitation to intimately do life with a mature believer for a season. Then, Jesus introduces the challenge of learning how to fish for men. He is promising to equip them, and, eventually, send them out to make other disciples. He is laying the second dimension of a d-group at our feet, a challenge to leave behind your old life and give everything to learning how to make disciples. 

When a d-group leader invites other people to walk with them they are agreeing to give their d-group greater access to their life than most other people have. They are agreeing to set aside time at least once a week to intentionally build deep relationship with them and equip them with the tools to make disciples. Furthermore, the d-group leader is agreeing to walking with their d-group through the highs and the lows of life.  It is a commitment they take seriously because Jesus took it seriously when he spent all night praying to the Father before inviting in his 12 disciples in Luke 6. As such, both the d-group leader and those they invite in should pray before beginning a disciple-making relationship. There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus both must count (Luke 14:25-33).

Get out there and build relationship with people in the Body of Christ who are endeavoring to make disciples. Disciple groups are by invitation only so someone will invite you into a d-group as the Lord leads them. D-group leaders are always on the look out for "reliable men and women" to invest in (2 Timothy 2:2). The best way to join a d-group is to meet as many people as possible. Stay after the Sunday worship gathering to talk or go grab a coffee with someone. The more people you get to know the greater chance that Holy Spirit connection will be made! A great way to make that first connection with a disciple-maker is by filling out a Virtual Connect Card so one of our staff members can reach out to you and take you to lunch.

Simply put, because Jesus did it! Luke 6:12-15 shows us that after praying all night Jesus called 12 disciples to himself from the ones who had been following him. These were men who would share in His journey in a deeper way than others would. They would come to walk with him in a fashion we call life-on-life. When a d-group leader invites people into their d-group they are not just committing to a class, they are committing to laying their lives down for them for a season. This is a commitment that neither the d-group leader nor the disciple should take lightly. Both must count the cost, pray, and commit to walking together through the mountains, valleys, and deserts of life. 

No, we do not believe the way we make disciples at Del View is the only way. However, we do believe that a critical piece of any Jesus-style disciple-making model is replicability. This means that if we are genuinely making disciples, then the disciples we make must be able to make disciples as well (2 Timothy 2:2). We have seen disciple-making radically change lives, and we want to share what we have learned with anyone who will listen! 

Absolutely! We understand there is a time and season for everything. Some people may be waiting to be invited into a d-group. For others, it might not be the season, or God may be leading them in a different direction. No matter what the reason, we would still love for you to join us on Sunday mornings and for you to be a part of our OIKOS (family). Even if you are not in a d-group, we encourage EVERYONE to plug in through events such as Eat the Word, UP Worship Nights, All-IN Sundays and more! These are all great opportunities to find community and build relationship with fellow believers!