What is Life-On-Life Missional Discipleship?
Laboring in the lives of a few with the intention of imparting one's life, the gospel, and God's Word in such a way as to see them become mature and equipped followers of Christ, committed to doing the same in the lives of others.
The Process
- Fill out an interest form. The form lets us know a little about you, which helps us connect you to a leader whose group is meeting at a time and location that works for you.
- Wait to hear from a leader. We do not assign groups. We will introduce you to a leader who is forming a new group or has space in a current group. We encourage you to talk with people you know at RiverLakes to find out about potential openings in their discipleship groups.
- Meet with a leader face-to-face. This gives you both an opportunity to get to know one another. You can find out more about the leader's group and he or she can learn what you are looking for in a group as well.
- Pray and decide. After meeting with a leader, allow some time for you and the leader to pray about whether discipleship in that group is a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is life-on-life missional discipleship?
Laboring in the lives of a few with the intention of imparting one's life, the gospel, and God's Word in such a way as to see them become mature and equipped followers of Christ, committed to doing the same in the lives of others.
Why do we value discipleship?
Because Jesus calls us to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). During His ministry on earth, Jesus invested deeply in a few men—loving, teaching, and equipping them. We desire to follow His example.
What does discipleship look like at RiverLakes?
Life-on-Life Missional Discipleship at RiverLakes happens in small groups of four to six people who commit to meet together for one year at a time. Each group has a leader who has a heart to develop a safe community where members can be known, loved, and care for one another. This community helps one another know God through His Word, grow in Christ-likeness, and become equipped to invest in others.
When is the best time to fill out an interest form?
Since joining a discipleship group is a relational process and most groups start in September, it is ideal for us to receive interest forms as early as possible - ideally between May and July.
What if it doesn't work out with the leader who initially contacts me?
This happens sometimes for a variety of reasons. It could be that your schedules didn't coordinate or that the group wasn't a fit for your stage of life. We will do our best to connect you to another leader. You can always get in touch with us if you have questions during the process.
When can I expect to hear from a leader?
It is most likely you will hear from a leader between May and August as that is when most leaders are ready to form their groups or add to current groups. We still encourage you to fill out your interest form as early as possible because we will start connecting people as soon as leaders are ready to reach out. Please contact us anytime if you would like to know where we are in the process. We are happy to talk with you.
What is the time commitment?
Groups typically meet for about 90 minutes to two hours, and it takes about one to two hours to go through the curriculum on your own each week. Because discipleship is "life on life," leaders will also meet with group members one-on-one on occasion, and groups may decide to get together informally for fellowship or to serve together.
What does a typical group time look like?
While the Journey curriculum provides structure, the group time is very relational and interactive. The majority of the group is spent going over the lesson, sharing personal application, and prayer.
When and where do groups meet?
The discipleship year typically follows the school year calendar, with a few months off each summer. A suggested weekly schedule will be posted at the beginning of each discipleship year.
Groups meet formally once a week at various times, Sunday through Friday, either in the morning or in the evening. It is based on what works best for each group. They generally meet 90 minutes to two hours.
Groups either meet at RiverLakes or in a group member's home.
Groups meet formally once a week at various times, Sunday through Friday, either in the morning or in the evening. It is based on what works best for each group. They generally meet 90 minutes to two hours.
Groups either meet at RiverLakes or in a group member's home.
What curriculum will we use?
Most groups use The Journey curriculum, which covers a wide range of topics, such as Gospel Living, Grace Commitments, Knowing God, Marriage, Parenting, and Christian Worldview. Each lesson includes these key elements: Truth, Equipping, Accountability, Mission, and Supplication (T.E.A.M.S. ©).
Is childcare available?
Childcare is available for groups that meet at the church on Monday evening, Tuesday evening, Thursday morning, and Thursday evening. After you have committed to a group you will receive information about how to sign up for childcare.