Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download: A Guide for United Methodists
    A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download: A Guide for United Methodists
    A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download: A Guide for United Methodists
    Ebook196 pages1 hour

    A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download: A Guide for United Methodists

    By Justin LaRosa and Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    A Disciple's Path is an engaging approach to discipleship from a distinctly Wesleyan perspective that is perfect for a new member class or other small group. The six-week program guides individuals to take the next step in discipleship and become dynamic followers of Jesus Christ and engaged, vital members of the local church.


    The study combines a Wesleyan understanding of our growth in God's love and grace with the time-tested practices of spiritual discipline expressed in the membership vows to uphold the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Participants will develop spiritual practices, discover their unique gifts, and become engaged in ministry that brings transformation in their own lives, the lives of others, and the world.


    This Leader Guide provides group facilitators with helpful tips for leading a group, material for leading an introductory session or pastor’s coffee, and six ready-to-use session guides. Also included is a link to downloadable resources, along with previews of these online tools, including sample e-mails handouts, including customizable templates that can be modified for any congregation,and PowerPoint presentations.
    “A Disciple’s Path has transformed countless new members into deeply committed disciples – people who are using their gifts, praying in new ways, worshipping regularly and not only when it’s convenient, giving sacrificially of their financial resources, and seeking to be a witness to Christ’s love and light in the world. I am deeply grateful for this resource and recommend it wholeheartedly." Donna Claycomb Sokol, Pastor of Mount Veron Place United Methodist Church and author of A New Day in the City



    Endorsements


    “A Disciple’s Path has the potential to revolutionize the way we view our participation in the church. Following this ‘path’ can transform us from wanderers into pilgrims.” —Dr. Steve Harper, Retired Professor of Spiritual Formation; author of Five Marks of a Methodist and Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition

    “For churches transforming their invitation to membership into an opportunity for a discipleship journey.” — Lovett H. Weems, Jr., author and Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership and Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Wesley Theological Seminary


    “A very useful explanation of the traditional Wesleyan view of Christian discipleship, strengthened in particular by its stress on the balanced approach of the Methodist way.” —Dr. Richard P. Heitzenrater, Duke University Divinity School

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbingdon Press
    Release dateJun 5, 2018
    ISBN9781501858048
    A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download: A Guide for United Methodists
    Author

    Justin LaRosa

    Justin LaRosa is a United Methodist Deacon and a licensed clinical social worker. He has served Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa since 2005, first as the Minister of Discipleship and now as the Director/Minister of The Portico, a community gathering space where people come together for conversation, connection, and community change. Justin has co-authored three studies for Abingdon Press: A Disciple’s Path: A Guide for United Methodists; A Disciple’s Heart: Growing in Love and Grace; and Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas. He and his wife Caroline have a daughter, Isabella, and a son, Russell.

    Read more from Justin La Rosa

    Related to A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Caregivers For The Spirit

      Jul 21, 2020

      Caregivers For The Spirit
      6 min read

    • Article

      From the EDITOR

      Dec 29, 2023

      JOY! Magazine seeks to glorify God by educating and informing Christians of a biblical worldview and applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life. Strive for excellence and integrity in all things• Provide interesting, accurate, and ho

      1 min read

    • Article

      Don’t Lose Your First Love

      Jun 15, 2020

      Lockdown has forced us all to become accepting of change. During lockdown, most Christians have been logging onto online church services on Sundays, and possibly also their home groups during the week. ‘Doing church’ remotely has become the new norm.

      2 min read

    • Article

      From The EDITOR Let God’s Word Sustain And Direct You!

      Jul 21, 2023

      JOY! Magazine seeks to glorify God by educating and informing Christians of a biblical worldview and applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life. Strive for excellence and integrity in all things • Provide interesting, accurate, and

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Bible Is Not Open To Personal Interpretation

      Sep 23, 2022

      What a beautiful scripture above – this is a solid motivation to meditate on God’s Word. Yet, believe it or not, there are some Christians who deem this Scripture to be an ‘arrogant’ or ‘self-righteous’ declaration. I am so grateful that I’ve had str

      1 min read

    • Article

      Your Magnificent Menopause

      Mar 24, 2020

      Your Magnificent Menopause
      2 min read

    • Article

      Editor’s Note

      Dec 30, 2019

      Editor’s Note
      1 min read

    • Article

      The Importance Of Finishing What You Start

      Feb 10, 2023

      “It is better to finish something than to start it.It is better to be patient than to be proud.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8, NCV Have you noticed others not finishing what they start, or not honouring what they say? Sadly, it seems to be so prevalent in

      1 min read

    • Article

      Theo & Bev Wolmarans CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN MINISTRY CELEBRATION 2019

      Aug 19, 2019

      This year is a very momentous celebration for Pastor Theo and Bev Wolmarans, who have been faithfully guiding Christians for 40 years to faith in Jesus, both locally and abroad. When we look at the history of spirit-filled churches in this nation, Pa

      5 min read

    • Article

      Are Family Devotions Important?

      Mar 16, 2020

      Family devotions are a set time when husband and wife, or parents and kids, sit down, read the Bible, and pray together. It is a time designed to build up each individual and establish a sense of unity and direction within families. Being intentional

      2 min read

    • Article

      Love Thy Neighbors

      Apr 13, 2019

      Love Thy Neighbors
      1 min read

    • Article

      Koinonia Discipleship Training Academy

      Jun 24, 2022

      With this year of service to Jesus, the Koinonia Discipleship Training Academy in Mossel Bay offers an exciting opportunity for young people to grow in their faith and build practical skills and self-knowledge to deal with life’s challenges. They wil

      4 min read

    • Article

      Daily Guidance From The Word Of God

      Apr 5, 2024

      I get so encouraged and excited by the Word of God. Every day, as I read my Bible, I am reminded of His care and love towards us. His Word strengthens my faith and helps me get through any negative situations that may arise. I feel empowered to overc

      1 min read

    • Article

      From the EDITOR

      Dec 1, 2023

      “The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. TO OTHERS THE SAME SPIRIT GIVES FAITH. To others that

      2 min read

    • Article

      United Methodists Will Again Debate LGBTQ Clergy And Same-sex Weddings

      Apr 23, 2024

      The United Methodist Church is holding its first General Conference since the pandemic and will consider whether to change policies on several LGBTQ issues.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Monday, September 16

      Aug 14, 2019

      HOPING TO DELAY SPINAL SURGERY, my doctor connected me with a physical therapist who recommended modified exercises to strengthen my core muscles. Since I had planned to leave town for two weeks, I put off starting the program. Then I needed a week t

      1 min read

    • Article

      At Fellowship Church, Faith Knows No Creed Or Color

      Jul 19, 2021

      The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, founded in 1944, transcends barriers of race, color, and creed, uniting instead in a shared humanity.

      4 min read

    • Article

      RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS: African Methodist Episcopal

      Jan 1, 2021

      The God and Me emblem is for Cub Scouts. This program helps African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Cub Scouts become best friends with Jesus and tell their story of “God and Me” together. The God and Family emblem is for Webelos Scouts. This program helps

      1 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Disciple's Path Leader Guide with Download - Justin LaRosa

      JAMES A. HARNISH WITH JUSTIN LAROSA AND BARBARA DICK

      A

      DISCIPLE’S

      PATH

      Leader Guide

      A DISCIPLE’S PATH

      Deepening Your Relationship with Christ and the Church

      Leader Guide

      Copyright © 2018 by Abingdon Press

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37228-1306 or e-mailed to permissions@umpublishing.org.

      978-1-5018-5803-1

      Scripture quotations marked CEB are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com.

      Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

      Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

      Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 Biblica, Inc.TM All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.

      18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 --- 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

      CONTENTS

      How to Use This Leader Guide

      Introductory Session or Pastor’s Coffee: What Does It Mean to Be a United Methodist?

      Session 1: A Disciple’s Path Defined

      Session 2: Prayers: Prayer and Scripture Meditation

      Session 3: Presence: Corporate Worship and Small-group Community

      Session 4: Gifts: Financial Generosity

      Session 5: Service: Spiritual Gifts and Gifts-based Service

      Session 6: Witness: Invitational Evangelism

      Using A Disciple’s Path in a Churchwide Discipleship Initiative

      Download Library Contents

      Download Library Handout Samples

      Notes

      Please note: the Download Library is available at

      abingdonpress.com/disciplespath

      HOW TO USE THIS LEADER GUIDE

      A Disciple’s Path combines a uniquely Wesleyan understanding of growth in God’s love and grace (Week 1) with the time-tested practices of spiritual discipline expressed in the vows of membership when we promise to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness (Weeks 2-6). The program enables participants to practice those disciplines in Christian community with other disciples who are walking the same path through a six-week group experience.

      A Disciple’s Path provides the following components for your journey together:

      •Daily Workbook: Five daily readings with reflection questions for each week of study; this material is to be completed by participants prior to each weekly group session.

      •Companion Reader: Biblical and theological insights on each week’s theme from a distinctively Wesleyan perspective.

      •DVD: Containing one video for each session, the DVD features individuals who have grown in faith through A Disciple’s Path as well as the authors summarizing the key ideas for each session.

      •Download Library: Handouts, including customizable templates that may be adapted to fit the unique mission, vision, ministry, and organization of any congregation; two PowerPoint presentations; sample e-mails; sessions at a glance, and promotional materials. Available at abingdonpress.com/disciplespath.

      •Leader Guide: Leader helps and session plans for each week of study.

      Using these components, you will lead your participants over the course of six sessions—with the option of an introductory session or pastor’s coffee on what it means to be a United Methodist. The introductory session is optional but recommended, particularly for new member classes and groups wanting a refresher course in basic United Methodist beliefs and practices. The Daily Workbook engages participants in five days of reflection on Scripture and teaching material while guiding them in practicing the discipline(s) for that week. These daily reflections become the basis of discussion, sharing, and accountability in the weekly small-group experience. Participants are encouraged to read the corresponding chapter in the Companion Reader before the group session to enrich and deepen their understanding of each week’s topic.

      The first session begins with an overview of A Disciple’s Path and provides a framework for spiritual growth in the Wesleyan tradition. Group members will be at different places on the spiritual journey, and all of them will have the opportunity to respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow him on the road of discipleship and to engage in the spiritual practices embedded in the membership vows of The United Methodist Church. The remaining sessions outline practices related to the membership vows:

      •Prayers: Prayer and Scripture Reflection—Spending time each day in prayer and in studying and reflecting on the Bible to experience the living word of hope in the written Word.

      •Presence: Corporate Worship and Small-group Community—Celebrating God’s presence in worship with a faith community; experiencing Christian community in a small group to pray, learn, and grow together.

      •Gifts: Financial Generosity—Practicing Christian stewardship through the biblical discipline of tithing.

      •Service: Gifts-based Service—Discovering our spiritual gifts and participating in God’s work through the ministry of the church and in our daily lives.

      •Witness: Invitational Evangelism—Sharing the joy of our journey and inviting others to experience God’s love and become disciples of Jesus Christ.

      A Disciple’s Path can be used for new member orientation classes, in ongoing classes and small groups, or as a congregation-wide emphasis. However you use the study, be sure to have copies of the Daily Workbook and the Companion Reader available for participants prior to Session 1. If you are having an introductory session or pastor’s coffee, distribute the books at that time or make them available for participants to pick up at a designated place and time prior to Session 1.

      AN OVERVIEW

      As group leader, your role will be to facilitate the group sessions. All groups are different in composition. Some group members have followed Christ since they were children, while others may be brand-new followers who have had very little experience with Christ or the church. Most of the group members will have made a profession of faith, but be aware that some may be exploring and may not have made this commitment. No matter where your group members begin, we believe that every follower of Jesus is involved in an ongoing process of transformation. Note: Ideal group size is 8-15 participants.

      Below is an outline of two format options for structuring your group time. You may wish to follow one of the proposed formats, or you may choose to adapt them to meet your unique needs. The times listed are estimates and can be altered according to the flow and pace of your group.

      60-MINUTE OPTION

      90-MINUTE OPTION

      The more prepared you are as the leader, the better the experience will be for the group. Familiarizing yourself with the various elements of the session format or plan will help you design the flow for your group sessions.

      AT A GLANCE

      The At a Glance section’s purpose is to give a condensed overview of the entire session for facilitators. Every session is available in the Download Library (available at abingdonpress.com/disciplespath).

      WELCOME/SIGN IN

      Each week have group members sign in and pick up a name tag. The first time you have folks sign in, ask for their names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers so that you can create a group roster (sign-in forms for the pastor’s coffee and group sessions are provided on the Download Library). The following weeks participants may simply check their names on the roster to sign in. Even if you have participants sign up online or preregister for the group in some other way, signing in each week will help you to keep track of attendance so that you may follow up with those who have missed.

      CLASS OBJECTIVES

      Each week begin the session by reviewing the objectives of the class. This sets the tone and outline for the group session.

      SESSION OBJECTIVES

      Provide a verbal outline of the objectives for the weekly session (you also might choose to write these on a board or chart). These are included in your leader guide materials each week.

      OPENING PRAYER

      The opening prayer can be done in a variety of different ways. You can read the prayer provided in the session outline, choose a prayer from the week’s readings in the Daily Workbook, bring a printed prayer for the group to read in unison, offer a spontaneous prayer, or have a participant offer

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1