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Shaped by the Spirit
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Covenant Discipleship Group |
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Small Groups in the Church
Throughout Christian history, people have joined in communities and small groups to help one another grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Small groups provide spiritual friendship, support, and opportunities for study and shared ministry. There are many types of small group ministries in the life of the church. Examples include cell groups and house churches, prayer and support groups, scripture study groups, and mission and witness support groups.
Covenant Groups
Small groups sometimes formalize their reasons for meeting by creating a covenant statement. In the biblical tradition, covenant is a sacred and binding agreement with God and one another.
A covenant group agrees to meet together to focus on a particular dimension of Christian life. The covenant states meeting dates/times, and commitments to the purposes, relationships, and activities chosen by the group members.
Covenant Discipleship Groups
In a Covenant Discipleship Group, the covenant focuses on discipleship. Discipleship is deepened in a holistic way through spiritual formation. In the Christian tradition, spiritual formation is all that forms us into the likeness of Christ.
Spiritual formation includes being shaped by God through inner practices of prayer, solitude, meditation, scripture reflection, journaling, and spiritual friendship; and outer practices of community, simplicity, generosity, healing, witnessing, and peacemaking. Jesus yielded himself to the rhythms of spiritual formation. Spirit flowed through him in compassionate acts of healing and justice because of his intimate, prayerful oneness with God. Members of a Covenant Discipleship Group support one another in learning and living this "life of the Beloved" shown by Jesus.
Congregations and the Path of Discipleship
A Covenant Discipleship Group provides a way to form faithful disciples in congregations. The path of the disciple invites people to follow Jesus Christ through the disciplines of community, learning, sharing (of witness and resources), justice reconciliation, and spirituality. The Covenant Discipleship Group model assists congregations in forming support communities focused on discipleship development through the disciplines of the path.
The road to transformation travels both inward and outward." —Doctrine and Covenants 161:3d
Steps in Starting Covenant Discipleship Groups
- Discern the call—pray and listen about your congregation’s need and readiness.
- Consult the congregational leadership team—coordinate with congregational program.
- Find a facilitator—discern a person with effective group process and pastoral skills.
- Facilitator training—see "Training and Resources."
- Advertise and invite—congregational members and friends.
- Form the group—create a covenant.
Required Training and Resources for a Covenant Discipleship Group
To lead a covenant discipleship group using the path-related model described above, a ten-hour training course in group process and spiritual formation practice is required. Facilitators who complete the training will receive a Shaped by the Spirit resource manual. The resource manual will not be available without training.
Training events will be provided on an as-needed basis. To schedule a covenant discipleship group facilitator training in your congregation or mission center contact:
Community of Christ International Headquarters
Carolyn Brock, Spiritual Formation and Wholeness Ministries
cbrock@CofChrist.org
1-800-825-2806, ext. 2365, or
(816) 833-1000, ext. 2365