INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIPA SET OF FUN CONVERSATIONAL CARDS
These cards are designed as an additional tool to be used by church leaders, educators, clergy, and laity to enhance the development of intentional discipleship.
The cards can be used as part of a year-long educational exploration in small groups, or in a congregational setting to deepen the spiritual evaluation and growth of the people in the pews.
We encourage the use of the cards alongside the book, “Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations” to inspire further conversation. There are no wrong or right answers to these questions. The goal is to open up a dialogue to stimulate change in our relationships, our communities, our churches, and in the hearts of all God’s people. The cards can also be used in a new-member class setting to help develop strong individual disciples and foster their accountability to other disciples.
Feel free to discover your own, uniquely personal ways to use these intentional questions and continue the conversation as we strive to #SEEALLTHEPEOPLE that God calls us to reach!
SeeAllThePeople.org
Who is not being seen in our
communities? In what ways can we see all the people?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some of the basic
characteristics of a disciple in your ministry setting?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What tasks in your church have become chores, things you feel
you should do, or have to do?
How might they be re-imagined?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Why do you think it’s important to
continually grow as a disciple?
SeeAllThePeople.org
How can your church think
about moving from making members to making disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What does being a church member mean for you? In
what ways is being a disciple similar
to or different than being a member?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is a role or task that you have in your church? How is this role connected to
making disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is the difference
between personal discipleship
and corporate discipleship? Why do we need both?
(pages #8-9)
SeeAllThePeople.org
What does it mean for you to grow in your personal
discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Wesley understood discipleship as a
“journey of grace.” What are some ways we can
inspire people at different stages of
that journey?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are the reasons we invite people to follow Jesus? What is
the ‘why’ behind making disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Share why you originally came to your church.
Why did you stay? What does this
community mean to you?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What keeps you from inviting others
to church?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What would help you personally to be more inviting? How can this community
be more inviting?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What role does the church play in your discipleship
journey?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Share about a time when you felt distant from Jesus
or the Church. How did you remain
faithful and work through that time?
SeeAllThePeople.org
How can your congregation better support those who are struggling with
their faith?
SeeAllThePeople.org
“When we know our ‘why,’ our ‘what’
has more meaning.” (comedian, Michael Jr.) What are some
of your personal reasons for disciple
making?
SeeAllThePeople.org
How does serving in the nursery, leading
a small group, being a part of the SPRC, Trustees,
Finance, Council, etc. connect with making disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
How can your church encourage
each person to own their growth as a
disciple?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Whether intentional or not, your
church already has a discipleship system. What kind of disciples is your church currently
producing?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Name one or two means of grace
(page #31) and how they help us grow
as disciples.
SeeAllThePeople.org
Name one or two works of piety
(page #31) and reflect on how
these help us as disciples.
SeeAllThePeople.org
What does it mean to be intentional about disciple
making? Whose role is it to make
disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
If disciple-making and growing as disciples is our
focus, how does this affect how
leaders lead? How leaders mentor other leaders?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are the three characteristics of engagement
necessary to create space essential for
people to share their faith?
(pages #35-37)
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some ways you might
leverage technology in your ministry setting that lead
to increased connections and foster possible
future relationships?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Discipleship begins with relationships. What relationships
have most influenced your faith journey?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is the mission of The United
Methodist Church? What would it look like for this mission to be the focus of everything we do?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is the difference between “ought to” preaching
and “how to” preaching; and how
does that relate to our mission to
equip and empower disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are one or two things that you can do to improve intentional disciple
making in your congregation?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are one or two strategies you can
implement to foster growth among your existing disciples?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is one thing you really love about your church? How
does it cultivate discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What should our immediate answer be to the question “What does your
church do?”
SeeAllThePeople.org
Describe how a person who is
new to the faith is introduced, grows,
and matures as a disciple in your ministry setting.
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are John Wesley’s three “general rules” (page #31) and
how do they help disciples grow in
discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some of the characteristics
of a maturing disciple in your ministry setting?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some ways your church leaders can model what it means to
be a growing, maturing disciple?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is the meaning of intentional
discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are the stages of growth for a disciple? What stage are
you in?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Name a disciple in your church who you would like to
emulate. What can you learn from
him/her?
SeeAllThePeople.org
If intentional discipleship
becomes our main focus, how will it change how our
leaders must lead?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some of the things that can distract from our
focus on intentional discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Explain in your own words the
concept of “The Big Front Porch.” (pages #34-35)
SeeAllThePeople.org
How can your church create spaces and
opportunities for people who are exploring Christianity?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some of the differences
between our traditional
understanding of “outreach” and the concept of “engagement”?
(page #35)
SeeAllThePeople.org
What is the first step in making
disciples? Where does discipleship
begin?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some steps your church
can take to move away from “membership” and closer to “discipleship?
SeeAllThePeople.org
What are some of the ways intentional
discipleship can help our churches
go and grow?
SeeAllThePeople.org
How can you help new members
understand their call to be a disciple, grow as disciples,
understand the why of making disciples, and invite others into a life following Jesus?
SeeAllThePeople.org
Name ways your church currently
helps disciples grow in faith.
SeeAllThePeople.org
How will you help your congregation own its call to be disciples and to make disciples?