A discipleship group is not new. John Wesley and the early Methodist movement had a tight-knit system of societies (large group gatherings), classes (small group gatherings of 8–15) and bands (intimate groups of 3–5). What Jon Wiest is inviting people into through his Banding Together resources is a proven strategy of high accountability with a focus on obedience to the voice of God.
Banding Together was birthed out of a local church experience and has seen excellent results. Starting with just 20 leaders at Trinity Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, this program now has nearly 300 adults taking part in discipleship groups.
These gender-specific groups consist of three to five people who meet weekly for interactive Bible reading, accountability and prayer for the lost. Most churches have a worship gathering and some version of small groups, seminars or Sunday school, but may be lacking discipleship groups of three to five people. All churches need a space for people to experience genuine accountability, confession of sin, deeper study of Scripture and deeper spiritual growth.
That’s exactly what these resources do. Banding Together: A Practical Guide for Disciple Makers Journal and Leader’s Guide is for anyone who desires to live out the Great Commission. It is designed as a blueprint for those who want to implement a church wide disciple-making movement and will help individuals and churches get started in the adventure of making disciples.
“I long to see the church mobilized to do what God has called them to do. Disciple-making is for every follower of Christ who wants to be obedient to the Great Commission. Our churches and communities are full of Spirit-filled believers who need to be activated and mobilized for ministry,” says Wiest, now leading his church’s multiplication ministry and organizing disciple-making conferences.
No matter the size of your church, it is time to discover your disciple makers so that The Wesleyan Church has a transforming presence in every ZIP code. Disciple makers are in your church and it’s time to activate them. Train them by modeling this simple disciple-making process and then release them to do what God has called them to do.
Discipleship groups have been around since the time of Christ when he modeled for us the first “band meeting” with Peter, James and John. This practice of banding together was a key component in the ministry of John and Charles Wesley and the early Methodist movement and has continued to today. This leader’s guide and journal is simply a fresh expression of the ancient practice of banding together.
Learn more about Banding Together at bandingtogether.net.
Order your copies at wphstore.com.
