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01

Discipleship

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02

Discipleship

TIP: Facilitate Don’t DominateThe goal is to hear from everyone and build community. If community is not your thing and you would rather be on an island by yourself, we fully recommend dominating all of the conversations in your group. If you like having friends, we highly recommend the facilitate approach.

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Discipleship

contents00

01 10discipleship LIFE Groups01 our philosophy02 role of relationships03 what is a disciple?04 keys to disciple making05 discipleship process

11 what is a LIFE Group?12 LIFE Group leader tasks13 qualifications of a leader14 ground rules15 LIFE Group model

contents blackhawkministries.org

18leadershipcovenant

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04

Discipleship

discipleship

our approach to ministrythis is where we introduce the fundamentals of the why behind the how in our approach to LIFE Groups

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01

Discipleship

OUR PHILOSOPHYApproach to Ministry

We are a team and everyone plays: •Christianity is not a spectator sport. •Pastors are not the paid players. Members are not the fans. •Everyone plays a part on the team. •Everyone has been gifted by God to play a unique position.Scripture References: 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 4:11-13; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:7, 13-20

To win, we must play together: •Unity is critical to accomplishing what God has for us •We must have the same goals, the same definitions •Teamwork is more than talent alone •We must extend grace, looking past each other’s faults to winScripture References: Philippians 1:27, 2:3-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Luke 11:17; Col. 3:12-14; Ephesians 4:1-4

The Church Body as a Team:Church is not a spectator sport. Church is a team sport. Everyone has their part and their own unique responsibilities.

Some of those biblical responsibilities of a congregation include: •Living in relationship with one another •Praying for leaders •Gathering together in a corporate worship celebration •Playing on the team through serving and ministering •Submitting and responding to leadership •Resolving conflict biblicallyScripture References: Romans 12; 1 Peter 4:10; Hebrews 13:17, 10:24-25; Matthew 18:15-17

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02

Discipleship

The Role of Relationships:Relationships play a vital role in the ministry of the church and a relationship with God impacts our relationships with people in every way. Jesus came so that we could have a relationship with His Father and so that through that relationship, we could participate in His mission for His Church.

Our Relationship with God: •We believe that our first responsibility, before we do anything else, is to be connected to God in relationship through Christ.Scripture References: Luke 10:25-28; John 14:1-6; Colossians 3:1-4

John 15:4 (NIV) - “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

Our Relationships with Others: •Our relationship with God impacts our relationships with those around us. It is in the midst of relationships that the fruit of the Spirit is demonstrated. •We mature together in relationships. •Without relationships with others, we do not have a testimony the world will listen to. It is the relationships with one another that Jesus prayed for.Scripture References: John 17:20-23; Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 4:11-16; John 13:34-35

Mark 12:29-31 (NLT) - Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

The Role ofRelationships

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03

Discipleship

Our Mission Statement:Reach and equip people for Jesus, one relationship at a time.

Our Vision Statement:At Blackhawk Ministries, we long to see God establish a diverse community of disciples - Jesus imitators whose ethnic, financial, and personal differences disappear in our genuine love for God, each other, and our neighbor.Scripture References: Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8, 2:41-42, Col 1:28

Our Discipleship Definition:Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

A disciple is one who is… 1. Committed to following Jesus (Luke 9:23) •Head Level •A disciple is one who follows Jesus as their Lord. Disciples replace the world’s perspective of Him with what God says in His Word.

2. Committed to being changed by Jesus (Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:22) •Heart Level •A disciple is one who decides to follow Jesus as He takes us as we are. Jesus changes our character and reason for living as the Holy Spirit does His work in our hearts and lives.

3. Committed to the mission of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 19:10) •Hands Level •A disciple is one who serves Christ with their lives, impacting the world by using our time in history as a means of achieving the mission of Christ given to His Church.

What is a Disciple?

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04

Discipleship

Keys to Effective Disciple-Making

Keys to Effective Disciple-Making:

1. A Biblical Foundation •Our lifestyle, approach to ministry, and desire to impact the world is rooted in what Jesus did and how God has revealed Himself through His Word, the Bible. •It is on this foundation that we want to base our actions. It is through this filter that we want to evaluate ourselves as a part of God’s Church.Scripture References: Matthew 7:24-27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. An Intentional Leader Qualities of an Intentional Leader: •Understands the game – Committed to following Christ, actively growing, intentionally investing in others, and sharing their life and faith with those who don’t yet know Jesus. •Can evaluate or recognize where a person is in the process of growth. •Can create an environment that produces growth.

3. A Relational Environment Components of a Relational Environment: •Shepherding (Ezekiel 34) •Love (John 13:34-35) •Real teaching with discussion, modeling, and stories (Matthew 13:6, 16:13) •Authenticity (James 5:16) •Accountability (Hebrews 3:12) •Guided practice (Luke 9:1-12; Acts 6)

4. A Reproducible ProcessThe process of spiritual growth is impossible without God being involved. As we recognize the essential part He has, we also realize that we have a part in growing and helping others grow. That is why relationships are so important within this process.

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05

Discipleship

Parts of the Discipleship Process: •God’s Part – The work of God, through the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God combine to set the course for His plan and supply the power to accomplish that plan. •Our Part – A disciple-maker looks to see where God is working and joins Him. Remember a disciple-maker cannot do God’s part and cannot do the disciple’s part. •Their Part – Those being discipled must do their part in the process. They must respond to the Word, the Holy Spirit, and God’s working through the disciple-maker.

Stages of Spiritual Growth: •Dead – This phase of the process is the front door to discipleship. People who are in this phase do not know Christ or have not accepted Him. They are characterized by unbelief or rebellion towards God. (Ephesians 2:1-2) •Infant – This phase involves those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, are born again, but are not connected in a relational environment for the purpose of biblical discipleship. They are characterized by their ignorance of God’s Word or what it means to be a Christian. (John 3:3-5) •Child – As believers, those in this phase have recognized their need for relationships with other Christians. They are connected to a relational environment for the purpose of discipleship, but it is all about them. They are characterized by self-centeredness. (Hebrews 3:12) •Young Adult – Spiritually young adults have moved from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. They recognize their part in the body of Christ (the Church) and that they have a role to play for the health of the whole body. They are characterized by service. (Galatians 5:13-14)

•Parent – Those in this stage have been serving and ministering but now are thinking in terms of reproducing. They recruit people not only to be a part of completing a task but are interested in intentionally helping people grow spiritually. Spiritual parents are characterized by intentionality. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Discipleship Process

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06

Discipleship

Phases of the Discipleship process: •Share – Sharing the Gospel, your life, new truth, and new habits. •Connect – Connecting to God, to small group and the body, and to purpose. •Minister – Training people to minister by equipping for ministry, providing ministry opportunities, and releasing them to do ministry. •Disciple – Releasing others to be disciple-makers by helping them to recognize the discipleship process, encouraging them to disciple someone with help, and releasing them to disciple someone on their own.

Discipleship Process

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08

Discipleship

5 Stages of Spiritual Growth

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09

Discipleship

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LIFEGroups

roles and responsibilitiesthis is where we talk all about LIFE Groups and LIFE Group leaders

TIP: Stay ConnectedDon’t limit the connection to your group to only when you are meeting together. Send a text, Facebook message or meet one of the group members for lunch. We aren’t asking you to let them live at your house, just make sure you stay connected.

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11

LIFE Groups

What is a LIFE Group?

Scope of the Job:The Group Leader position objective is to serve, lead, and facilitate the LIFE Group. The leader will identify and train a co-leader in the group on an on-going basis.

Philosophy of LIFE Groups:Blackhawk Ministries puts the utmost value on discipling people through relational environments. The biblical mandate that each Christian has to make disciples is played out through the structure and venue of LIFE Groups. Group Leaders play a vital role in accomplishing the mission of Blackhawk Ministries through helping grow healthy relational environments for the purpose of discipleship.

An effective LIFE Group consists of…A small group of 3 to 12 people who experience...

Biblical TruthThe content of the Bible and how you apply it every day.

Relational AuthenticityA safe environment where you can be yourself.

Missional LivingEngaging my circle of relationships with God’s Grace.

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LIFE Groups

LIFE Group Leader Tasks

Key Tasks of a Group Leader: • Discipleship: o Value the discipleship relationship with your shepherd. o Intentionally disciple your co-leader using our discipleship process. (Pages 5-9) o While working with your shepherd, disciple and discover the call and gifting of the people in your group. o Constantly look for and invest in those with the potential of being a co-leader.Scripture References: Luke 14:27; Titus 2:1-8; Proverbs 27:17; Acts 14:20-22; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Luke 6:40 • Vision Casting: o Cast the vision of Blackhawk Ministries in every meeting and share our value of community. o Affirm the value of our LIFE Groups within the Blackhawk vision.Scripture References: Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:31-32; Matthew 28:18-20

• Connection: o Intentionally connect people in your circle of relationships to LIFE Groups. o Call your group members on a regular basis – be a part of their life. o Constantly reach out to neighbors and people that don’t know Jesus to get them connected.Scripture References: John 13:34-35; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 2:9-10

• Service: o Proactively serve families in crisis (meals, hospital visits, prayer, phone calls, etc.). o Serve people outside of your group in your surrounding community.Scripture References: Philippians 2:1-11; Mark 10:45

LIFE GROUP SPOTLIGHT:Friends become family.

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LIFE Groups

Qualifications of a LIFE Group Leader: • Servant Heart: o Lead with a heart modeled after Jesus o Teachable and humble mindset o To serve and not be servedScripture References: Philippians 2:11-11; Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28

• Maturing Spiritually: o Consistently yielding to Jesus and His Lordship o Continually learning and applying the Word o Daily growing, obedient relationship with GodScripture References: 1 Corinthians 13:11, 14:20; Ephesians 4:14-15; Matthew 5:6; John 4:14; 2 Peter 3:18; Titus 2:11-14; Colossians 4:12

• Protect Your Testimony: o Represent God and Blackhawk Ministries as an ambassador of Christ o Consider your social liberties and how they reflect your testimony as a leader o Realize that leaders are held to a higher standardScripture References: James 3:1; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 26:41; Hebrews 2:18; Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 3:7

• Commitment: o Consistent Giving o Consistent Attendance o Faithfully be there to facilitate your group EVERY week o Faithfully attend all team meetings and training eventsScripture References: Numbers 30:2; 1 Kings 8:61; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 37:5

Qualifications of a leader

LIFE GROUP SPOTLIGHT:If you want to feel more a part of the church, you need to find a Life Group!

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LIFE Groups

SAFE ENVIRONMENT: This needs to be a place where people feel comfortable opening up and sharing with one another. Below are some small group guidelines that will help create a safe environment:

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.

LISTEN: Let’s value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.

PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing the chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.

SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered.

NO “CROSS TALK”: Be considerate of others as they are sharing – no side conversations.

NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Give encouragement, speak truth, point to Jesus. Don’t try to solve or fix each other.

NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.

SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.

BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.

“I” STATEMENTS: It’s easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use “I” statements rather than “them:, “the church”, “us”, “we”, etc.

CONFLICT: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues between group members arise, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. The following are a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others).

• If someone sins against you: Matt 18:15-20• Restoring someone in sin: Gal 6:1-5• Forgive a sinner: Col 3:12-13• Reconciling differences: Matt 5:23-24, Matt 7:1-5

Guidelines

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LIFE Groups

LIFE Group Model

Modeling a LIFE Group…In this section we will explore how a typical 75 minute group might flow. The times listed are estimates only. Your group may look a little different. This particular example models a LIFE Group storying through Luke 15:11-32.

WELCOME: 2 MINUTES • Make new believers, visitors, and members feel valued and welcomed • Starts the moment someone arrives and ends when everyone is gone • Establish a foundation for relationships • Make them aware of what’s going on and bring focus

PURPOSE/VISION CASTING: 3 MINUTES • Express purpose of meeting as a group (Make disciples, reach lost, etc.) • Help prepare our hearts and minds for the group

Example: “Every week, you know I always remind you why we are here, to be a safe environment [remember the ground rules and cover them every week at some point] where we can grow together, reaching the lost and making disciples. This means we will one day BRANCH our group as God grows it so we can be both relational and missional. You may be one of the leaders that God will raise up to be a part of branching….”

ICEBREAKER (Optional): 5 MINUTES

OPENING PRAYER: 1 MINUTE • Invite God’s Holy Spirit to take the lead • Prepare our hearts for what God has for us • Shifts our attention from individual fellowship to the group as a whole • Great opportunity to get others involved but always make sure to ask them ahead of time to make sure they feel comfortable

SET UP THE STORY: 4 MINUTES • Give any background information about the story that may be important to know

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LIFE Groups

LIFE Group ModelExample: Today’s Story – We are going to be telling the parable of the Lost Son from Luke 15:11-32. If you have your Bibles open, please close them during the story so you can focus on listening to the story. You will have an opportunity to open your Bibles to make sure the story was told accurately. Luke 15:1-2 describes the scene. “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” In response, Jesus told three stories: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. That is the story that we are going to share today. As you listen, be thinking on the question we are going to ask you after the story:

Who do you relate to most in the story, and why?

TELL THE STORY: 4 MINUTES(Slow pace, voice inflections, don’t add to or take away)

REBUILD THE STORY: 3 MINUTES• Ask: “Was there anything that was added to or omitted from the story?”• Have participants rebuild the story chronologically with everyone

involved• No adding commentaries or teaching during the rebuild

READ THE STORY: 6 MINUTES• Read the story straight from God’s Word

DEBRIEF THE STORY: 45 MINUTES• Ask open ended questions. Example: “Who do you relate to most in the

story and why?”• Encourage every participant to share and to do so when comfortable• As a facilitator, you may want to share first to set the bar of transparency• Stick to the ground rules, reminding people as necessary• Use silence – Don’t prompt people to share next – Just sit quietly and wait

for the next person to share.

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LIFE Groups

LIFE Group Model

CLOSE IN PRAYER: 2 MINUTES

Other Typical Home Group Questions:• What did we learn about God from this story?• What did we learn about Man from this story?• How could you use this story to disciple someone?• How do you apply this story in your own life?• What is God asking you to do as a result of this story?

Three Blackhawk Curriculum Tracks: 1. Bible Storying 2. Sermon-Based 3. Topical (Must be approved by leadership)

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Beliefs

blackhawkministries.org

LEADERSHIP COVENANT

As a leader at Blackhawk Ministries, I understand that dedication to God and the unity of the church are essential to fulfilling our mission to reach the lost and equip the saved across the street and around the world for God’s glory.

Therefore I will:

1. Actively pursue spiritual growth in my personal relationship with God according to Psalm 18:1-3 and Matthew 22:37-38 which includes: •Faithfully participating in a small group •Maintaining a disciplined devotional life

2. Grow in generosity through cheerfully giving of my resources according to Malachi 3:6-10 and 2 Corin-thians 9:6-15. This includes tithing and the giving of my time and talents to Blackhawk Ministries.

3. Be a “team player” according to Philippians 2:3-4 which includes: •Being committed to the Blackhawk team and God’s vision for Blackhawk •Working together with other leaders and followers in the spirit of biblical harmony to make disciples.

4. Maintain an attitude of humility as a leader; not as one who lords over people according to 1 Peter 5:1-3 and Mark 10:37.

5. According to 1 Corinthians 1:10 and Hebrews 10:24-25, faithfully attend a weekend worship service that does not involve me serving in a ministry.

6. Be faithfully present to lead and facilitate my group, as well as attend team meetings and training events.

7. Protect the unity and community of Blackhawk Ministries at all times according to John 17:20-23, Gala-tians 5:19-6:10, and Ephesians 4:25-5:7.

8. Follow the biblical command when I have a problem with another person according to Matthew 18, Romans 12:12, Matthew 7:5.

9. Maintain a God-honoring lifestyle according to 1 Timothy 3:7, Romans 14:13, 2 Corinthians 12:20 1 Peter 2:1 & 9-10, Ephesians 5:1-3, Colossians 3:12-17.

By my lifestyle, I will faithfully demonstrate my agreement to and support of these godly standards of leadership at Blackhawk Ministries. I will gladly allow myself to be held accountable by the Leadership at Blackhawk Ministries.

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Discipleship

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so what else is there?

TIP: Serve FoodSometimes it is a good idea to have food. An appetizer could be just what the group needs to get it going. We would recommend avoiding snails, octopus, or �sh eggs as not everyone will �nd these appealing. And a four course meal really just isn’t necessary.

What have we left out? EXPERIENCE!Until you have experienced a relational dicipleship environment, you don’t know what you are missing. This doesn’t always happen over night, but it is totally worth the effort. It is incredibly exciting to see your group bond together and multiply into something only God can do. Know this, we are on your side. The staff and leadership of Blackhawk Minis-tries is here to help you in any way possible. Together we can see God do great things.