Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

Discipleship Ministries Project

Submitted to Dr. Michael Mitchell

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

DSMN 500-B01 201330

By

James Bert Testerman

Lynchburg, Virginia

June 25, 2013

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Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………..…...……………………………………………4

Scriptural Foundations………………………..……………….……………...…..……………….5

Core Ministry Values…...…………...…….………….………….………………………..………6

Behavioral Goals………………..…………………………………………………………………7

Statement ……………………..………………………………..………………………………...8

Measurable Objectives……..………………………………………………...………………...…8

Steps of Development………………………………………………………………...…………..9

Vision Statement…………………………………………………………………………………11

Identification and Description of Target Group…………………………………………………12

Action Plan: “A to B”………………………………...………………………………………….12

Life Development Classes …………............…………………………………...…………….....12

CLASS 101 …………….............……………………………………………………………......13

CLASS 201……………………………………….........…………………………………...……14

CLASS 301 …………………………………….........…………………………………...……...15

CLASS 401 ………………………………………….........…………………………...………...15

Celebrate ………………………………………………………………………………...16

Connect ………………………………………………………………………………….17

Commit ………………………………………………………………………………….18

Scope and Sequence…………...……………………………………………………...…………19

Calendar …………………………………………………………………………………………20

Personnel ……………………………………………………………………...………………...20

Budgetary Considerations…..……………………………………………………………………21

Communication Tools and Techniques………………...………….…………….………………21

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Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………22

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………..23

Discipleship Bibliography……………………………….……...……………………….………24

Self-Assessment of 5 Essential Activities………………………………………………………..26

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Introduction

Oak Grove Baptist Church, located at 2106 E. Churchville Road in Bel Air, Maryland

was founded in 1932, and is one of the largest Southern Baptist Convention churches in the state.

Oak Grove has a wonderful history of creating disciples for Jesus Christ, missionaries, servant-

leaders and ordained ministers. With an average congregational population of over 700

worshippers on any given Sunday morning, Oak Grove has been a cornerstone in Harford

County, Maryland. The front page of the Oak Grove Baptist website bears one of the slogans of

the church, “The Community of Hope,”1 and that has been a great legacy of Oak Grove; serving

the community and being a beacon of hope in leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus

Christ.

As a typical Southern Baptist Convention church, Oak Grove operates like many other

SBC churches and participates in many of the traditional discipleship, which include; Sunday

and Wednesday worship services, Sunday School for all ages, Brotherhood, Women’s

Missionary Union (WMU), Royal Ambassadors, Girls in Action, as well as Vacation Bible

School. Our VBS is the largest in the county and there is an overflow of children each year;

ranging in numbers from 400-500 annually.

Considering the demographic of Harford County, Maryland, one must take into

consideration the military installations of Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Edgewood Arsenal;

both of which are within 12 miles of the church. This close proximity to military families keeps

Oak Grove flush with new, albeit transient members. Considering the average stay of a military

family is two years, Oak Grove finds itself in the position of quickly identifying dedicated

servants and plugging them into a ministry as soon as possible. While many seasoned Southern

1

Oak Grove Baptist Church. 2013. Available from: www.oakgrovebaptist.com. Accessed June 25, 2013.

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Baptists join Oak Grove, their inability to remain in the area for more than a few years has lead

to a great turn-over of leaders within the church.

With this factor in mind, Oak Grove set out to develop a quick, concise and

comprehensive membership class that engages the doctrinal truths and theological underpinnings

of the church, moves new members into a small group, and then equips, engages and releases

them into ministry and service. In late 2007, the ministerial staff of Oak Grove corporately read

and studied Thom Rainer’s “Simple Church” strategy and determined the need to “streamline”

the discipleship process into a more concise and easily measurable paradigm.

The desired outcome of the new strategy was to expose potential and current members

into a deeper understanding of the mission of the church and to facilitate their move into three

essential paradigms for disciples of Jesus Christ; to celebrate the goodness of God, connect to

one another and commit to ministry.

Scriptural Foundations

The primary foundation that any Christian or church should operate under is the Great

Commission of Jesus Christ given in Matthew 28:18-20, and Oak Grove is no exception. The

three-fold command of Jesus encapsulates the mission of making disciples by going, baptizing

and teaching the gospel. According to Dodson, “Therefore, when we go, baptize, and teach

others, we express all three aspects of discipleship—rational, relational, and missional.”2

The mandate of Christ given in Matthew 22: 34-40, a total love of God and a self-like

love for others encompasses the foundation of disciple-making. By loving God with all of one’s

heart, soul, mind and strength, the basic tenets of a “Disciple who worships Jesus”3 is fulfilled.

2

Jonathan K. Dodson, Gospel-Centered Discipleship. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 37.

3 Michael R. Mitchell, Leading, Teaching and Making Disciples. (Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010),

261.

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Disciple-making and mentoring are intertwined throughout Scripture, and the Apostle

Paul gives us a wonderful example of this scriptural need in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “ So, being

affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but

also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” This reveals the heart of the

Apostle, loving God and loving others enough to share the Gospel with them to make disciples.

This underscores the heart of disciple-making; a labor of love.

Spiritual growth or “fruit” is described in Galatians 5 as well as Colossians 3; defining

the hallmarks of a disciple’s character and exemplifying a submission to the Lord and the Spirit.

1Peter 4:10 serves as the foundation for the Oak Grove’s ministry goal to serve through

evangelism and outreach, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good

stewards of God’s varied grace.”

Core Ministry Values

Oak Grove Baptist Church desires to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ through the fulfilling of

the Great Commission, Great Commandment, and the New Commandment; to equip the saint

with the training and tools needed to learn, grow, multiply relationally and intentionally, and

evangelize the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, the following encapsulate

the core ministry values of Oak Grove Baptist church:

The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:37-40—“And he said to him, ‘You shall love

the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This

is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor

as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20—“And Jesus came and said to them, “All

authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples

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of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with

you always, to the end of the age.”

The New Commandment: John 13:34-35—“A new commandment I give to you, that

you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this

all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Equipping Oriented: Ephesians 4:11-13—“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the

evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for

building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the

knowledge of the Son of God”

Individual Centered: 2 Timothy 4:5—“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure

suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Multiplication Focused: Acts 1:8—“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and

Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’

Behavioral Goals

Barna reveals one of the largest barriers in effectively developing disciples lies within the

disciple themselves. He believes that while individuals have the ability to grow spiritually, they

“lack the passion, perspective, priorities, and perseverance to develop their spiritual lives.”4 To

facilitate spiritual growth in disciples, it is imperative that one integrates worship, small group

and service into the plan; a plan that involves accountability with others. Barna continues, “Few

believers have relationships that hold them accountable for spiritual development.”5

4 George Barna. Growing True Disciples. (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press, 2001), 54.

5 Ibid.

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The goal of the Oak Grove discipleship strategy is to move people from outside the

church, into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, to fellowship with other believers and

ultimately into the ministry that allows them to utilize the spiritual gifts that God has bestowed to

them. This is a highly measurable objective, and much time is invested to discern the spiritual

barometer of the church. Such areas as teaching, small group attendance, involvement in

evangelistic/outreach projects, Vacation Bible School, and/or other servant positions offer a way

of feedback to spiritual growth of the members.

Statement: The Three C’s

For many years, the vision statement of Oak Grove was to “Exalt the Savior, Equip the

Saints and Evangelize the Sinner.” In 2008, the vision statement of Oak Grove Baptist Church

was changed to what is now known as the “Three C’s:”

1) Celebrate the Goodness of God (Worship)

2) Connect to One Another (Small Group)

3) Commit to Ministry (Service)

It is under this matrix of “Celebrate, Connect and Commit” that Oak Grove operates, and

it is through these paradigms that spiritual growth is measurable.

Measurable Objectives

By the time an average adult has been in the Oak Grove Adult ministry for two years, he

or she should be regular and active in weekly worship, integrated into a small group (either

Sunday morning or weekday; preferably both) and should be involved in some form of servant

ministry. For the new member that arrives at a more advanced stage in their discipleship walk, a

minimum of six months must pass before they can be allowed to lead a class or teach a lesson.

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During this “probationary” period, the ministerial or support staff (Sunday School Directors) will

mentor the potential leader in their respective ministries.

The disciple should feel confident of their relationship to Christ, His Word and His

Church. As well, the disciple should feel comfortable in their small group to exhibit transparency

during discussions and discernment in sharing personal issues. Following the two year process,

the disciple should also have gone through all four of the Membership classes and should be able

to identify their personal Spiritual gifts; and be actively engaging in ministry. Sharing one’s faith

in Jesus Christ is another hallmark of a successful disciple-making process; this is definitely a

goal of Oak Grove’s disciple process.

Within the span of two years, the disciple should have an active daily prayer life and

should spend time each day in the Word; either through personal or familial Bible study and/or

daily devotions. Their personal lives should reflect their submission, devotion and love for Jesus

Christ and other people; basically being salt and light to a dying and dark world.

The immediate measurable objectives of the “Three C’s” discipleship model are to

immediately see individuals in a worship service, engage in small group and graduate to service.

The move from worship to small group is easily measurable; simply by dividing the amount of

people in small group by the amount in worship gives an honest numerical indictor to the health

of the discipleship program. Currently, Oak Grove is ranging above the seventy-five percent

ratio of worship attendees in small group; often times eclipsing eighty percent or higher. Given

the number of attendees in worship ranges from 550-700 on a weekly basis, Oak Grove averages

approximately 450-550 in small group or Sunday School.

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Steps of Development

The practice at Oak Grove is to provide a weekly bulletin with a tear-off sheet that

members or guests can record their attendance through name, address, phone and email address;

as well as any decisions that they may have made. The options include:

First time guest.

Returning guest.

Received Christ as Savior.

Desires to rededicate themselves to Jesus.

Would like more information about Oak Grove.

Would like to speak to a minister.

On the backside of the form, there is an area for prayer requests that are frequently used

by church members to report any upcoming surgeries, procedures or prayer needs. Attendance in

worship is taken by our ushers, who physically count individuals during a service, usually from

the balcony. This process is a bit archaic, but it is the only way to accomplish this task as of this

time.

Every Sunday School or small group class has a dedicated folders for attendance

purposes. These folders contain attendance rolls, with areas for existing members, new members,

first time guests and returning guests. Each guest is asked to fill out a 2-part carbonless form that

includes basic information; name, address, phone, email, and any church affiliation or church

membership (if applicable).

The Adult Sunday School Director records all of the attendance for any given Sunday and

collects all of the guest slips. This information is recorded on the forms, and turned in to the

Church Office. From that point, the Church Office generates what is known as a “Sunday

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Report.” This report is made available to church leaders and teachers, and contains basic

information about any and all Worship and/or Sunday School guests.

This first contact with a visitor is invaluable in creating a one-on-one dynamic through

follow-up. This information is given to the members of the ministerial staff, who then makes

personal contact with the guest preferably through a home visit, but phone calls are acceptable

(email contacts to first time guests are taboo!). Once the contact has been established by the staff

member, he contacts an age-appropriate or life situation specific small group leader and transfers

the information to them; with the expectation that the teacher will contact the individual or

family and invite them to Sunday School the following week. This personal touch is warmly

received by a majority of our guests, and our Sunday School population has grown over the past

several years.

All of the Oak Grove Sunday School and small group leaders are required to attend

evangelistic training; either through a F.A.I.T. H., G.R.O.W., C. W. T., “Evangelism Explosion,”

“The Net” or another medium, such as “Way of the Master.” Most of the evangelism programs

are designed to be conducted through the means of Sunday School visitation. Teachers, along

with a representative from each class are trained to be involved with evangelistic home visits and

other ministerial functions, such as hospital and homebound visits. This is a wonderful way to

get new members involved in ministry; as they are allowed to “witness a witnessing” with

someone they are comfortable with; their teacher. This is a pure form of discipleship.

Vision Statement

Oak Grove’s comprehensive vision statement encompasses a multitude of spiritual

disciplines and is described as “…a community of people committed to following Jesus. Like

Jesus, we want to offer hope to our world. Therefore, we are committed to serving our

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community, reaching out to the world with the love of Jesus, offering a place for people to

connect with others, and helping people live life as God intended.”6

Identification and Description of Target Group

The strategy for the discipleship plan at Oak Grove works comprehensively for

individuals ranging from 14 years of age and up. This dynamic was determined as one must be

14 years old to be considered for church membership. This does not mean that those under the

age of eligibility are not considered with regard to the Celebrate, Connect and Commit paradigm.

The children and early-youth ministries of Oak Grove integrate the “Three C’s” extensively in

their individual curriculum plans and strategies; integrating children and youth in worship

through age-appropriate choirs, drama teams, youth praise teams, Royal Ambassadors and Girls

in Action (Christian versions of Boy and Girl Scouts).

However, for this particular project, the focus will be on new and current members; co-ed

adults, aged 18-55.

Action Plan: From A to B

Oak Grove’s action plan is to take individuals from the community to the core. Several

steps are to be included within this framework; which span pre-conversion to becoming a mature

and complete disciple of Jesus Christ. The following areas are integral in this process;

evangelism, worship, biblical discernment, community, accountability and service. These goals

are facilitated through the membership classes, active worship, small group involvement and

engaging in ministry.

6

Oak Grove Baptist Church. 2013. Available from: http://www.oakgrovebaptist.com/church/ Accessed

June 19, 2013.

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Life Development Classes

The Oak Grove action plan to reach and disciple adults is multi-faceted. The first strategy

consists of four “Life Classes” that have been borrowed from Rick Warren’s Saddleback model.7

The goal of Oak Grove is to move individuals through a five step program that propels them

from those outside of the church to those involved in ministry. The stages of this metamorphosis

are known as the “Circles of Commitment” and include the following steps: community, crowd,

congregation, committed and finally, the core.8 The corresponding strategies used to accomplish

these processes revolve around outreach, evangelism, fellowship, worship and service. The Life

Classes that Oak Grove offers its membership allows the leadership as well as the learner to get a

grasp of how God has shaped the individual for service and ministry.

Four “Life Development Classes” take the disciple on a journey through various stages of

discipleship that include Membership (101), Maturity (201), Ministry (301) and finally Missions

(401)9. At a business meeting in 2008, Oak Grove voted this process into its bylaws, thereby

making CLASS 101 a mandatory requirement for all new members of the church. Existing

members were encouraged to attend the class, but were “grandfathered,” rendering them exempt

from the requirement. The four classes are identified through the illustration of a baseball

diamond; an illustration of the four “bases” or steps involved in the Oak Grove discipleship

program.

Membership (101)

CLASS 101 is known as “Discovering Church Membership” and addresses five of Oak

Grove’s foundational tenets. These five are a common salvation, a common statement, a

7

Oak Grove Baptist Church.2013 Available from: http://www.oakgrovebaptist.com/church/?page_id=71

Accessed June 19, 2013.

8 Rick Warren. The Purpose-Driven Church. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 130.

9 Ibid.

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common strategy, a common structure and a common standard.10

Learners are exposed first and

foremost to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; His pre-existent divinity, Virgin Birth, sinless life,

vicarious death, glorious Resurrection, ascension to the Father and His imminent return.

Following exposure to the Gospel, the learner is then directed to the mission statement of

Oak Grove (Celebrate, Connect and Commit), and given a thorough explanation of the

ordinances of baptism and Lord’s Supper. The latter is expounded upon in detail, as we find that

many of the individuals who express interest in Oak Grove Baptist come from either no Christian

affiliation or from other denominations. The class allows for serious interaction along with a

question and answer time for the learners to seriously delve into issues that they may have as a

member of a Southern Baptist Church.

Along with these issues, other areas are introduced to the learners; including the absolute

authority of Scriptures, the standard operating procedure of a Southern Baptist Convention

church, and exposure to the SBC co-operative program; the latter is to give them a breakdown of

how their tithe is utilized. The teaching concludes by giving the learner an opportunity to sign a

“Membership Covenant,” this is a requirement for Church Membership for new members, and is

also a necessity for anyone wishing to serve as the Chairperson of an active committee.

Maturity (201)

CLASS 201 delves into the Maturity aspect of discipleship, exploring the need for

Spiritual disciplines. Among the topics covered in this two-hour class are Bible Reading,

memorization, fasting, prayer, slowing and solitude, tithing and confession. Although there is a

shortage of time to cover all of these topics comprehensively, there is a significant amount of

time placed upon the reading and interpretation of Scripture. Utilized in this teaching are Duvall

and Hayes’ “Interpretive Journey” for biblical interpretation; which encourages the learner to

10 Oak Grove Baptist Church, “C.L.A.S.S. 101 Teaching Transcript” (Bel Air, MD: Oak Grove, 2008), 2.

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look at the historical and cultural context of the biblical text, discover the timeless theological

principle, transport the text into a contemporary context, and apply the theological principle to a

modern setting.11

This class ends with the learner having an opportunity to sign a “Growth

Covenant.”

Ministry (301)

CLASS 301 is perhaps the most anticipated of all of the seminars; with many people

coming to the class to uncover their personal spiritual gifts. This class exposes the learners to a

five-part assessment strategy that investigates their spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personalities

and life experiences. By combining these elements and synthesizing the information, a spiritual

“profile” of the individual will emerge; giving the learner a look into themselves at the gifts,

talents and abilities that can be utilized for ministry. This class is concluded with a “summing it

all up” sheet that is turned into the Church Office with the synthesized information. Ministerial

staff prayerfully scours over these individuals who have just identified their shape for ministry,

and looks for ministries that fit their spiritual skill set. Again, a “Ministry Covenant” is offered

for the learner to sign as a reminder of their commitment to ministry.

Mission (401)

CLASS 401 focuses primarily on the status of World Missions and personal evangelism.

Learners are exposed to the reality of missions around the globe, with particular attention being

given to the 10/40 window, as well as statistical, cultural and religious data from these specific

countries. The second part of the class is geared towards personally sharing one’s faith with

others, working off of the mandate found in 1 Peter 3:15. Relevant scriptures are utilized for the

learner to memorize; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10; John 1:1; 3:16; 14:6; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9; and

Rev. 3:20 to name but a few. Several illustrations are made available for the learner to feel more

11

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hayes. Grasping God’s Word. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), 22-25.

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comfortable sharing their faith with others. As always, a “Missions Covenant” is made available

for the learner.

These “Life Development” classes are designed to equip the disciple with both a

direction and the tools that will be needed to fully grow in Christ. These classes are essential for

giving learners the introductory training that will facilitate personal and communal growth within

the Body of Christ. They act as a “spiritual Boot Camp;” preparing the disciple for the spiritual

battle that lies ahead. They are not, however, meant to be an “end-all” to discipleship, but rather

an introduction. So, while these four classes deal with the broad spectrum of discipleship, Oak

Grove would be guilty of discipleship abandonment if these four classes were the only avenues

available for individuals. For the rest of the structure, we must turn to the corporate aspects of

discipleship; worship, small group and ministry.

Celebrate

Stetzer and Rainer believe that “Worship is perhaps the most important action of the

human experience.”12

For an individual to become a full disciple of Jesus Christ, one must find

themselves esteeming God above all else in their hearts. Jesus described the kind of worship that

God desires and demands in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.

Jesus taught her that the heart of worship that is of primary importance, “But the hour is coming,

and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the

Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must

worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24)

Each week, Oak Grove holds two worship services; one contemporary and one

traditional. Typically, a worship service will last sixty minutes; one half filled with an opening

prayer, welcome and worship music. The final thirty minutes are reserved for the message.

12

Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer, Transformational Church. (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2010), 149.

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Stetzer and Rainer report a startling statistic; that only 2/3 of individuals polled believed that “the

majority of the people in our worship services actively participate.”13

Dr. David Hall is the Senior Minister and primary preacher of Oak Grove for the past

twenty-three years. Dr. Hall’s messages are Gospel-centered, theologically and doctrinally

correct and always biblically based. He includes a fill-in-the-blank sheet that is contained within

our worship bulletin, and corresponds to his weekly PowerPoint presentation. David frequently

utilizes videos and other media throughout his messages, and his personal zeal for the Lord is a

wonderful example for the congregation. All of these tools, along with David’s prayerful

preparation helps to lead the congregation into the presence of the Lord on a weekly basis.

Connect

During these two worship hours, corresponding Bible study classes meet in another

portion of the building. With the capacity for twelve adult and eight youth classes meeting during

two separate hours, there are adequate facilities for forty Bible study classes to take place on any

given Sunday morning. Along with the multitude of classes comes a nearly overwhelming

amount of curriculum. Small group and Sunday School classes are challenged to be involved in

ministry on a continual basis; either by developing a new ministry or maintaining and growing

an existing ministry.

According to the Great Commission, Christians are called to “go…make

disciples…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded” (Matt. 28:19-20). Geiger

reveals the truth behind this mandate, “Jesus did not merely ask us to teach everything He

commanded. He asked us to teach people to obey everything He commanded, the difference is

mammoth. The end result of discipleship not merely the knowledge of all Jesus commanded, but

13

Ibid., 163.

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the obedience to all He commanded.”14

With this in mind, the object of Oak Grove’s Connect

ministry is not simply an experience of the transfer of information, but the experience of a full

spiritual transformation. Individuals are encouraged through their small group and Sunday

School to constantly be looking for ways for the class to get involved in ministries; the concept

of James 1:22 (“doers of the Word”).

Fellowship and accountability are other hallmarks of the Connect ministry. Along with

the comprehensive weekly attendance, leaders and their classroom assistants keep what we call

“God’s attendance.” This includes “those who are not present,” particularly if there is a string of

unexcused or unexpected absences. Following the second straight absence, a phone call by the

class assistant (teacher-in-training) is made to the missing disciple as a healthy class concern.

This call is not meant to be judgmental or challenging, but quite the contrary. It is meant to be a

sign of love, concern and accountability.

The Oak Grove Sunday Schools are set up as “care groups” to form within the class; and

when a student or family member is sick or incapacitated, the group coordinates meals, grocery

shopping or even housekeeping services. The phone calls, visits and ministering to one another

has built a strong sense of fellowship within the Oak Grove family.

Commit

Throughout the week, Oak Grove has many outreach ministries to our community. One

in particular is called A.D.A.M. (Alcohol & Drug Addiction Ministry) that ministers to those

enslaved by chemical dependency. Every Tuesday night, nearly 100 people from the community

arrive for a meal and a meeting. For some, this may be the only meal they will eat for days, as

many are homeless. Classes enroll in a rotating schedule to set-up, cook, serve and clean up for

14

Eric Geiger, et al. Transformational Discipleship. (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012), 18.

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the A.D.A.M. ministry. This has proven to be one of the most highly desired service projects at

our church.

Currently, I am facilitating an evangelism course entitled “Way of the Master” which is a

great tool for quickly sharing Jesus with an unsaved individual. It operates under the premise of

utilizing the Ten Commandments as Jesus and the Apostles did (Gal. 3:24). This trains and

empowers members with the tools they need to actively multiply themselves through

evangelism.

Scope and Sequence

Until Oak Grove began a Contemporary Worship service in 2003, the traditional

curriculum for the Sunday School groups was the quarterly offerings from Lifeway. It was

extremely rare to have a class engage in a “book study” from prolific Christian writers like Max

Lucado, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley or Chuck Swindoll; however, this

was occasionally an exception. When the 2003 Contemporary service began, it necessitated

another hour of Sunday School; one that catered more to the contemporary crowd. It wasn’t long

until the “traditional” Lifeway material was being discarded as an antiquated relic from

yesteryear. This departure from the traditional curriculum has, at times, stimulated and hindered

growth.

With regard to the scope of the curriculum, there is a plethora of small groups, and nearly

every demographic is represented within the Adult ministry. This range of classes spans Young

Adults (18-29), Blended Families, Singles, Married, Retirees, Empty-Nesters, Men’s, Women’s

(including a class for Mothers of young children), and a “Jump Start” training class for potential

teachers.

20

To develop the sequence of the curriculum is not quite as “cut and dried” as the scope has

proven to be. With an increasing dynamic of groups; age, gender, life stage, and even activity

based (Karate), Mitchell’s model begs to be followed, “Every activity is educational and integral

to the curriculum…every experience of a student should be perceived as part of the course raced

toward the goal of a disciple who worships Jesus.”15

As a rule, all teachers are required to be active church members, attend CLASS 101,

agree with the Baptist Faith and Message, attend several “teacher’s training” classes, actively

share their faith and live lives that glorify Jesus Christ. The sequence of “tradition, observation,

participation and inspiration” is necessary steps in properly discipling learners.

Calendar

Events are planned at Oak Grove according to a well maintained calendar. Leadership

meetings and specific training is scheduled for the second Saturday of every other month; six

times per year. This affords leaders, teachers and church officers (deacons, pastors and church

council) the opportunity to share in the offered training, a chance for fellowship and

accountability, and an opportunity to share victories that they have experienced in their classes.

This time also allows for leaders to pray for other leaders and their families. This constant

contact with church leadership has led to a warm, personal and family atmosphere among the

mentors of the church. This kind of organic love flows into every aspect of our church.

Outreach events are also planned and scheduled to allow Sunday School classes and

small groups to participate; either on campus or in the community. Such events as a Fall Festival

or “Trunk or Treat” (alternative to Halloween) or what we call a “Cruise-In” (classic car show)

allows “on-the-spot-discipleship” among classes and groups.

15

Mitchell, 273.

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Personnel

Prior to the new church year, which begins September 1, there is a cook-out planned for

the leadership of the church. This is a highlight of the year for many of our leaders; as they are

recognized for their tireless efforts and shown appreciation for their hard work and dedication to

the Lord Jesus Christ, the teaching of His Word and their obedience to Him as disciple-makers.

A time is set aside for testimonials and celebrations that the Lord has allowed Oak Grove to

experience in the past year. This is a highly anticipated event and provides the leaders with some

well-deserved appreciation.

Budgetary Considerations

Oak Grove’s annual budgetary considerations for the Bible Study ministry (children

through Senior Adults) are approximately $20,000 per year; covering all classes that meet on the

campus throughout the week. This budget covers all DVDs, leader guides, learner study guides,

commentaries, Bible dictionaries and any other expenses that may accompany our small group

Bible studies. A considerable amount of this budget is earmarked for Lifeway curriculum, which

arrives on an automatic quarterly basis.

The annual budgetary considerations for the four Membership Classes are minimal.

When a new member arrives at CLASS 101, they receive a 1inch binder with fill-in-the-blank

notes for CLASS 101 and four dividers; each marked with a tab for 201-401. The learners are

then instructed to bring their binder to each class, where they will be given the appropriate notes.

Considering that we may have 100 attendees to our new members class annually, our financial

obligation is only about $300 per year.

22

Communication Tools and Techniques

In 2012, Oak Grove Baptist subscribed to a video-driven teaching tool known as

“RightNow Training,” which has been one of the most economically viable and user-friendly

implement that Oak Grove has utilized. While RightNow Training costs the church 69.99 per

month, or approximately $840 per year, all of our leaders are given free, unlimited access to over

2,000 DVD-driven Bible studies and training videos. Considering that many of the studies can

cost $300 for the DVDs alone, a subscription to RightNow has been a great value to our church.

An additional feature of this median revolves around the use of the tool; after a leader/teacher

has been ascribed a username and password, they have remote access to the entire curriculum

anytime and anywhere they have a computer or a smart device (phone, tablet, etc…) and an

internet connection. This has been very warmly received by the Oak Grove small group leaders

as well as the learners.

Conclusion

The implementation of the “Three C’s” has been a success thus far; as our worship

services are well attended, small groups are growing and our ministries are being served by

trained and cheerful servants. The Membership classes, albeit compulsory for new members, was

met with some resistance from existing member initially. However, that has changed. In a recent

survey, it was determined that more than eighty-five percent of the membership of Oak Grove

had attended at least one of the classes. This is a major victory for the discipleship program, and

is a great barometer for the future of Oak Grove Baptist Church.

23

Bibliography

Barna, George. Growing True Disciples. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2001.

Dodson, Jonathan K. Gospel-Centered Discipleship. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.

Duvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Geiger, Eric, et al. Transformational Discipleship. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012.

Mitchell, Michael R. Leading, Teaching and Making Disciples. Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks,

2010.

Oak Grove Baptist Church. C.L.A.S.S. 101 Teaching Transcript. Bel Air, MD: Oak Grove

Baptist Church, 2008.

Oak Grove Baptist Church Website. 2013. Available from:

http://www.oakgrovebaptist.com/church/. Accessed June 19, 2013.

Stetzer, Ed and Thom Rainer. Transformational Church. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2010.

Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.

24

Discipleship Bibliography

Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Barna, George. Growing True Disciples. Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2001.

Briscoe, Stuart. Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1988.

Carlson, Gregory C. Rock Solid Teacher: Discover the Joy of Teaching Like Jesus. Ventura, CA:

Gospel Light, 2006.

Cloud, Henry and John Townsend. Making Small Groups Work: What Every Small Group

Leader Needs to Know. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.

Dodson, Jonathan K. Gospel-Centered Discipleship. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.

Donahue, Bill and Russ Robinson. Building a Church of Small Groups. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 2001.

Earley, Dave. Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders. Chattanooga, TN: Living

Ink Books, 2008.

Eldridge, Daryl. The Teaching Ministry of the Church. Nashville: Broadman and Holman

Publishers, 1995.

Gangel, Kenneth O. and Warren S. Benson. Christian Education: Its History and Philosophy.

Chicago: Moody Press, 1983.

Geiger, Eric, et al. Transformational Discipleship. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2012.

Habermas, Ronald T. Introduction to Christian Education and Formation. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 2008.

Hendricks, Howard. Teaching to Change Lives. Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 1987.

Koessler, John. True Discipleship: The Art of Following Jesus. Chicago: Moody Press, 2003.

McDonald, Glenn. The Disciple Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality. Grand

Haven, MI: FaithWalk Publishing, 2004.

Millwood, Randy. To Love and to Cherish From This Day Forward: A Portrait of a Healthy

Church. Smyrna, DE: Missional Press, 2010.

Petersen, Jim. Lifestyle Discipleship. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1993.

25

Piper, John. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2002.

Platt, David. Follow Me. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013.

Powers, John S. The Body Life Journey: Guiding Believers into Ministry. Nashville: Lifeway,

2001.

Rainer, Thom S. and Eric Geiger. Simple Church. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2006.

Stanley, Andy and Bill Willits. Creating Community: 5 Keys to Building a Small Group Culture.

Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2004.

Stetzer, Ed and Thom S. Rainer. Transformational Church. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing,

2010.

Thomas, Scott and Tom Wood. Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God. Grand

Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.

Tidwell, Charles A. Church Administration: Effective Leadership for Ministry. Nashville:

Broadman and Holman Publishing, 1985.

Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1995.

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO:

NavPress, 1991.

Wilkes, C. Gene. Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the Secrets of Servant Leadership from the

Life of Christ. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998

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Self Assessment of 5 Essential Activities

Mitchell lists five “Essential Activities of Education” which are behaviors that form the

skill set required of a teacher,16

and the following is an assessment of how the Oak Grove

discipleship plan fulfilled these requirements.

1. Make a Disciple who Worships Jesus (answering the What question).

CLASS 101 immediately exposes the learner to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

and is given an opportunity to receive Christ as Savior.

Engaging the learner in worship services.

Involvement in a small group for deeper study of the Scriptures.

Express their devotion by serving and sharing Jesus.

2. Construct a Curricular Plan (answering the Content question).

All non-Lifeway material must be approved by Minister of Adults.

All curriculums must be biblically based and age-appropriate.

All theological underpinnings of any book study must align with the

Baptist Faith and Message.

RightNow Training (online resource) is made available for all

teachers/leaders.

3. Prepare a Plan for Teaching and Learning (answering the Process question).

Class environments will be Christ-like and inviting.

All teaching will make every effort to attend the weekly “Jump Start”

class to review weekly lessons.

16

Michael R. Mitchell. Leading, Teaching and Making Disciples. (Bloomington, IN: CrossBooks, 2010),

xiii-xiv.

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All teachers and leaders are to attend all trainings, complete CLASS 101

(and agree to the covenant), support the Baptist Faith and Message, and be

regular attendees in worship.

Leaders will recruit assistants to mentor.

Leaders will lead by example.

4. Establish and Environment for Education (answering the Context question).

All Sunday morning classes will operate as “open classes,” allowing

newcomers to join in at any time.

Attendance will be taken, and guest/visitor slips are to be filled out and

returned to the church office for processing and follow-up.

Wednesday night groups can operate as “closed groups,” once a certain

number of individuals enlist.

All classes will be encouraged to engage in some form of mission project;

either within the church or as an outreach.

5. Have a Heart for and Serve People (answering the People question).

Each class will be encouraged to engage in fellowship.

Incorporate prayer and assist one another with needs.

Celebrate the joy and hope of the Gospel.