One-one-One Discipleship FAQs
HOW IS SMALL CIRCLE UNIQUE FROM OTHER APPROACHES TO DISCIPLESHIP?
- Small Circle is specifically designed to be a laser-focused, one-to-one experience, not a group study. The life-transforming power of Small Circle comes through the relational depth achieved through a one-to-one dynamic.
- Xchange, is a 24-session course that cultivates relational depth and life-change by learning new principles and using real life labs that brings the content to life through a felt experience. It begins by addressing broad, foundational spiritual concepts and then moves into the practical ways we live out our faith.
- The Xchange tools place a strong emphasis on reaching a depth in relationships beyond what is typical in church culture. The X represents two lives intersecting for the purpose of change. That is, change in the form of growth toward spiritual and relational maturity.
- Xchange not only focuses on making disciples, but producing disciplemakers. The entire last Module prepares the disciple to become a disciplemaker.
WHY NOT JUST “ORGANICALLY” DISCIPLE WITHOUT MATERIALS?
While there is nothing inherently wrong with discipling someone without using materials, our experience has been that tools are invaluable. Here are the 4 primary reasons we use the tool of Xchange to make disciplemakers.
Comprehensiveness - It is our observation that when people are discipled organically, significant areas are never addressed. Without a strategic plan, the topics covered tend to be random and incomplete.
Remaining On Track - A strategic plan supported by specific tools keeps the disciple and disciplemaker consistent in their meetings and moving forward toward the goal.
Measuring Progress - Without a plan and specific objectives you can’t determine progress or know when you’ve reached the goal. In the Xchange tools, chapter includes a guide to help the disciplemaker determine if the disciple is ready to move to the next lesson.
Relational Depth - Many people are simply not as comfortable at relational depth as they would like to be. Since authentic relationships are central to New Testament Christ-followers, this area deeply affects a believer’s effectiveness to accomplish the real work of God. This is a dimension that typically needs to be learned since it doesn’t naturally come easy to most. The Small Circle tools repeatedly serves up opportunities that give permission for authentic, relational depth to occur, much like a passport allowing entrance into foreign place.
FOR HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN DO THE DISCIPLEMAKERS AND DISCIPLES MEET?
The Small Circle tools are designed for the participants to meet every other week. This is to allow time for both the disciplemaker and the disciple to work through the materials. We also design this pace to encourage balance between God, family, ministry, work, play, etc. Also, relationships take time to grow to the depth that God desires for us to experience.
The Xchange materials are 24 sessions (4 Modules with 6 chapters in each) and the entire track typically takes 12-15 months. The length of each meeting depends on the pair but typically takes between 1-2 hours.
HOW DO YOU PAIR DISCIPLEMAKERS AND DISCIPLES?
The optimum approach is to pair two people of the same gender who already have a relationship. We have a list of disciple makers we look through first. If there is no one available right away the potential disciple or disciplemaker is put on a wait list. Our team monitors the list, seeking to connect pairs. When there are two people on the list that appear to make a good pair, we ask them to meet with one another to see if they sense a chemistry.
- Small Circle is specifically designed to be a laser-focused, one-to-one experience, not a group study. The life-transforming power of Small Circle comes through the relational depth achieved through a one-to-one dynamic.
- Xchange, is a 24-session course that cultivates relational depth and life-change by learning new principles and using real life labs that brings the content to life through a felt experience. It begins by addressing broad, foundational spiritual concepts and then moves into the practical ways we live out our faith.
- The Xchange tools place a strong emphasis on reaching a depth in relationships beyond what is typical in church culture. The X represents two lives intersecting for the purpose of change. That is, change in the form of growth toward spiritual and relational maturity.
- Xchange not only focuses on making disciples, but producing disciplemakers. The entire last Module prepares the disciple to become a disciplemaker.
WHY NOT JUST “ORGANICALLY” DISCIPLE WITHOUT MATERIALS?
While there is nothing inherently wrong with discipling someone without using materials, our experience has been that tools are invaluable. Here are the 4 primary reasons we use the tool of Xchange to make disciplemakers.
Comprehensiveness - It is our observation that when people are discipled organically, significant areas are never addressed. Without a strategic plan, the topics covered tend to be random and incomplete.
Remaining On Track - A strategic plan supported by specific tools keeps the disciple and disciplemaker consistent in their meetings and moving forward toward the goal.
Measuring Progress - Without a plan and specific objectives you can’t determine progress or know when you’ve reached the goal. In the Xchange tools, chapter includes a guide to help the disciplemaker determine if the disciple is ready to move to the next lesson.
Relational Depth - Many people are simply not as comfortable at relational depth as they would like to be. Since authentic relationships are central to New Testament Christ-followers, this area deeply affects a believer’s effectiveness to accomplish the real work of God. This is a dimension that typically needs to be learned since it doesn’t naturally come easy to most. The Small Circle tools repeatedly serves up opportunities that give permission for authentic, relational depth to occur, much like a passport allowing entrance into foreign place.
FOR HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN DO THE DISCIPLEMAKERS AND DISCIPLES MEET?
The Small Circle tools are designed for the participants to meet every other week. This is to allow time for both the disciplemaker and the disciple to work through the materials. We also design this pace to encourage balance between God, family, ministry, work, play, etc. Also, relationships take time to grow to the depth that God desires for us to experience.
The Xchange materials are 24 sessions (4 Modules with 6 chapters in each) and the entire track typically takes 12-15 months. The length of each meeting depends on the pair but typically takes between 1-2 hours.
HOW DO YOU PAIR DISCIPLEMAKERS AND DISCIPLES?
The optimum approach is to pair two people of the same gender who already have a relationship. We have a list of disciple makers we look through first. If there is no one available right away the potential disciple or disciplemaker is put on a wait list. Our team monitors the list, seeking to connect pairs. When there are two people on the list that appear to make a good pair, we ask them to meet with one another to see if they sense a chemistry.