Disciple Bible Study
McDonough First United Methodist Church
BECOMING DISCIPLES THROUGH BIBLE STUDY
DISCIPLE began as a dream
amongst a group of United Methodist clergy, theologians, laypersons, a bishop,
Christian educators, Bible scholars, publishers, editors, and marketers.
Together they shaped the dream into a vision DISCIPLE: BECOMING DISCIPLES
THROUGH BIBLE STUDY.
DISCIPLE has also been successfully launched in Germany, Ireland, and England.
It enjoys continued growth in Singapore and Malaysia. It has been translated
into Korean, Spanish, Chinese, and German. MediaCom offers DISCIPLE to the
churches of Australia and New Zealand.
DISCIPLE offers individuals an exciting encounter with Scripture enabling them
to weave it into the very fabric of their lives.
The disciple is a learner, believer, follower, and a proclaimer. The purpose of
DISCIPLE Bible study is to develop strong Christian leaders through in-depth
study of Scripture, or in the words of Ephesians 4:12: "to equip the saints
for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
"If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples. "(John 8:3 1 The
New Jerusalem Bible)
What Is DISCIPLE?
The title DISCIPLE includes both identity and purpose. The disciple is a
learner, believer, follower, proclaimer. In the Bible the word disciple is
connected with instruction and training.
Underlying the development of DISCIPLE is the assumption that people are hungry
for the word of God, for fellowship in prayer and study, and for a sense of
appropriate ministry as baptised, believing, committed Christians. Therefore,
the purpose of DISCIPLE is to develop strong Christian leaders through regular
in-depth study of Scripture. Disciple making and Christian nurturing are its
goals. Participants will become better
Sunday school teachers, better parents, better youth and adult choir members,
better officers in the church, better youth fellowship members because their
ministry will be inspired as well as informed.
Persons invited to take part in this study should see themselves as being in
training for leadership understood as servanthood. Session 33 of the study
provides a time when members of the group will talk together about their various
roles as disciples. The group members will counsel one another and decide
together about the various abilities, gifts, and skills persons have and the
ways they might serve, lead, and minister.
The purpose of DISCIPLE may be summarized in the words of Ephesians 4: 12:
"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of
Christ."
McDonough First United Methodist Church offers studies in Disciple I, II, III, and IV.