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Discipleship Distinctives
What is Discipleship?
Life-on-life missional discipleship means laboring in the life of a few with the intention of impacting one’s life, God’s Word and the gospel 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.
Small groups and Bible studies are typically more focused on fellowship within the small group community, gaining spiritual knowledge, and nurturing the group members.
Before you take the next step to submit a discipleship interest form, consider the key distinctives of discipleship at Perimeter, then read about our group formation process.
Discipleship and Bible Study Differences
| Discipleship | Small Group / Bible Study | |
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Discipleship and Bible Study Differences
STRUCTURE:
Discipleship
- Christlikeness and spiritual maturity
- Transformation through time with the Lord and time with other believers
- Deep obedience and character
Small Group / Bible Study
- Community and shared faith journey
- Encouragement and truth-sharing
GOAL:
Discipleship
- Form gospel-rooted disciples of Christ who make and train disciples
- Growth, accountability, and equipping towards leadership (investing in others)
Small Group / Bible Study
- Build fellowship and support
- Learning and growing together without the expectation to lead others
EXPERIENCE:
Discipleship
- Mentorship and deep life application
- Vulnerable sharing, mentoring, vision-casting, growing, and learning from others
Small Group / Bible Study
- Shared experiences and prayer
- Study, discussion, meals, occasional service, and fellowship
KEY SCRIPTURE:
Discipleship
- Matthew 28:19-20: Make disciples, teaching them to obey Christ’s commands …
Small Group / Bible Study
- Hebrews 10:24-25: Encourage one another and stir up love and good works …
Our Group Formation Process
Adult Discipleship Groups
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.
Hear from a leader
We do not assign groups, instead, we will introduce you to a leader who is forming a new group or has space in their current group. We encourage you to talk with people you know at Perimeter to find out about potential openings in their discipleship groups.
Meet 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, please take a little time to think and pray about whether to commit to the group.
Complete registration
After you have committed to a group you will receive an email for registration and childcare information.
Take the next step toward discipleship
Fill out an Interest Form to get started.
Our Team
Staff
Questions? Our staff is here to help you!
How can we help?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we value discipleship?
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 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 mid-July and early September as that is when most leaders are ready to form their groups or add to current groups. We 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 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 time 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 (September – May), with a few months off each summer. Groups meet formally once a week at various times, either in the morning or in the evening, based on what works best for each group. They generally meet for 90 minutes to two hours. Groups either meet at Perimeter or in a group member’s home.
We have a few groups that meet every other week to allow for this commitment. These groups are for full-time working moms who are juggling a work schedule along with children, yet desire to have community, grow, and be equipped.
What is the time commitment?
Groups typically meet weekly 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 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, Healthy Marriage, God-Honoring Parenting, and Biblical Worldview. Each lesson includes these key elements: Truth, Equipping, Accountability, Mission, and Supplication (T.E.A.M.S.©).
Is childcare available?
Childcare is available from 9:20 – 11:45 am for a fee for women’s groups that meet at the church on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. You’ll receive a childcare registration link after you are confirmed in a group and registered for that group.
I'd like to begin discipleship at my church. How can I learn more?
If you are a pastor or leader in another church and are interested in learning more about beginning discipleship in your church, please visit lifeonlife.org.
Related Resources
View some additional resources to hear more about the heart of discipleship at Perimeter.
