This is a simple guide to help deepen discipleship type conversations within a church or small group. These guided conversations are broken down into 5 key areas of discipleship: finances, spiritual disciplines, confession and repentance, relationships, and mission.

We wouldn’t use the term “leader” or “leadership” to describe a position, but rather to capture the reality of someone’s influence on people, culture, or an organization. So, our desire is to develop a culture in which every person takes appropriate levels of responsibility for others and faithfully exercises their gifts for the cause of the gospel. This is basic to God’s calling for every person. Beyond that, however, our vision for church will require people to lead in specific roles of kingdom work, church office, and church planting. God has called us to a mission, and a primary means that He has ordained for the task is men and women who lead.

Our grid for assessing and training leaders consists of three parts: character, competency, and compatibility. The following assessments are designed to give someone a starting point for thinking about their strengths and weaknesses in these areas.

At the beginning of each year, the men and women of our church gather to study a particular section (or book) of the Bible together. And every year, we use this simple, but effective method to guide our time together.

Studying the Bible is a process. And our tendency is to jump to the end of the process: How do I respond to this? But in order to properly apply Scripture, we first have to see what it is saying and what it means. Using this three step approach (observation, interpretation, and application), anyone can deepen their study of and love for God’s Word.