Relational Theories and Practices for Teaching and Learning

This blog is for helping group members grow in their knowledge of one another and ability to function as an effective group. Included are two theories and a variety of representative discussion activities.

The theories are the Johri Window and the Tuckman Model. The discussion activities follow the general progression of the above theories, beginning with questions and activities for group members who are new to one another and moving the group toward mature relationships and performance.

The “Window” is an approach used to help group members better understand themselves and each other. This theory suggests that there are four areas of our lives that influence our relationships with others.

1. The Arena/Open Area: attitudes and behaviors of which we are aware that are also known to others.
2. The Blind Spot Area: things about us that are known to others but not seen in us by ourselves.
3. The Façade/Hidden Area: characteristics of ourselves that are known to us but not to other group members.
4. The Unknown Area: aspects of who we are that are not known (or understood) by ourselves or others.
Application: group trust and performance improve as group members learn about themselves and others.

Tuckman’s Theory
Tuckman’s model describes the process of group relational and functional development. The theory states that it is normal for healthy groups to go through five stages. These are:

1. Forming – getting acquainted, identifying group purpose and norms
2. Storming – recognizing and adjusting to conflicting perspectives
3. Norming – working together cohesively
4. Performing – high level of functioning
5. Adjourning – closure and celebration of success

Application: Being aware of the five stages can help group leaders and participants function with improved interaction, satisfaction, and productivity.

Discussion Activities for Group Development
The discussion activities that follow are based on the stages of development in the Johari Window and Tuckman’s Theory. They begin with questions and activities for group members who are new to one another, progress toward mature relationships and performance, and end with processes for group closure.

Forming and Open Area – Sentence Completions
Ask group members to compete a few of these during your first meetings.
1. I am from...
2. I work at...
3. My family is made up of...
4. I spend weekends...
5. In my free time, I like to…
6. I feel most cared for when...
7. The important people in my life are...

Forming Activity – Sharing Names and Interests
Arrange participants in small groups (3-5 persons) and have each person say their name and write it on a piece of paper (or newsprint, poster board, or whiteboard) and tell something about themselves (e.g., family, hobbies, special interests, etc.). After each has shared name and interests, go around the circle and have each person say the name and interests of the other persons. This may be followed by a few minutes of open discussion.

Storming, Norming, and Hidden Activity
1. List some of things that you hope this group might do or try to do. Be as specific as possible.
2. Name three things that you hope to gain as a result of being involved in this group.
3. Say what you think the group should have a right to expect from its members.
4. Tell what (skills, abilities, leadership, jobs) you are willing to contribute to the group.

Storming, Norming, and Hidden Activity
Discuss and give an example of which of the following word-sets (or combination of word-sets) best describes you at school or when you last were a student:
• closed/open,
• listener/talker,
• hearer/doer,
• creative/traditional,
• activities/knowledge,
• giver/taker.

Performing and Hidden Area Activities
1. Share a high point and/or a low point in your life during this past week and tell why.
2. If you were to die tonight: What would people remember about you? What would you want people to forget about you?
3. Who made the biggest positive difference in your life?
4. What event, activity, or idea made the greatest impact on your development?

Adjourning, Blind, or Hidden Area Questions
1. Is there anything that needs to be resolved, discussed, dealt with, or expressed before our time together is over?
2. What feelings do you want to express about the group winding up its activities or about the ending of this group?
3. How have you grown as a person while in this group?

Adjourning, Blind, and Hidden Activity
Allow time for individuals to talk one on one (groups of 2s or 3s) about their shared relationship. Suggest that they respond to phrases like:
1. It was nice when you said...
2. I was surprised to hear you talk about...
3. Something I really like about you is...
4. One time I noticed you...
5. I would enjoy talking with you more about...

Summary
We have explored the dynamics involved in group growth and development. The Johri Window and the Tuckman Model were used to illustrate the importance of self-disclosure and group relational maturity. Questions and activities were provided as vehicles for prompting healthy understanding, acceptance, adjustment, and performance.

The challenge that remains is for you to use these questions and activities with a group.

This information is also available as a YouTube video.

Following are recommended resources for building on the information in this presentation as well as references to sources that were used.

Resources

-- Blanchard. The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams.

- - Coleman. Serendipity Bible: for Personal and Group Study.

- - Rydberg. Building Communit inYouth Groups.

References

- -Johari Window: Developed by psychologists Joseph Luft (1916–2014) and Harrington Ingham (1916–1995) in 1955, the term “Johari” is a combination of their first names. Material in this presentation is taken from the web site communicationtheory.org: https://www.communicationtheory.org/the-johari-window-model/

- -Tuckman’s Theory: Created by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. Material in this presentation is based on the following online article. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/hrstrategicprojectmanagementtheory/chapter/4-6-in-depth-look-tuckmans-model-five-stages-of-team-development/

Biblical Principles for Small Groups

Christians need each other. We were created for community and fellowship with God and one another through Jesus Christ.

This blog shares selected quotes from the classic book, Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). I think of these quotes as operating principles for small groups.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote the book, Life Together (1938), to encourage biblical community living among theological students. He was a German Lutheran pastor, who was executed in 1945 because of his anti-Nazi resistance.

Here are some of the quotes that have been helpful to me in thinking about doing life together in small group settings.

Christians Need Each Other: The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer (p.19).

Christ is Central: Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ… We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ… a Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ… a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ… in Jesus Christ we have been chosen from eternity, accepted in time, and united for eternity (p. 21).

Mutual Respect: God does not will that I should fashion the other person according to the image that seems good to me, that is, in my own image; rather in his very freedom from me, God made this person in His image… Strong and weak, wise and foolish, gifted or ungifted… The diverse individuals in the community, are no longer incentives for talking and judging and condemning… They are, rather, cause for rejoicing in one another and serving one another (p. 93).

Listening: The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for one another is learning to listen to them… listening can be a greater service than speaking… We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God (pp. 97, 99).

Helpfulness: This means, initially, simple assistance in trifling, external matters. There is a multitude of these things wherever people live together. Nobody is too good for the meanest (most menial) service… (p. 99).

Bearing Each Other’s Burdens: “Believers bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2)… The Christian… must bear the burden of a brother or sister. They must suffer and endure each other. It is only when he or she is a burden that another person is really a brother or sister and not merely an object to be manipulated (p. 100).

Speaking the Word of God: What we are concerned with here is the free communication of the Word from person to person, not by the ordained ministry which is bound to a particular office, time, and place. We are thinking of that unique situation in which one person bears witness in human words to another (p. 101).

Spiritual Authority: Jesus made authority in the fellowship dependent upon service to one another. Genuine spiritual authority is to be found only where the ministry of hearing, helping, bearing, and proclaiming is carried out (p. 108).

This has been an overview of principles for Christian small groups. These selected concepts include: Christians needing each other; Christ being central; mutual respect; listening; helpfulness; bearing each other's burdens; speaking God’s word; and spiritual authority.

This blog has provided some of the quotes that have been helpful to me in thinking about doing life together in small group settings. The book, Life Together, may be purchased by clicking here or from the Virtual Resource Center. It may also be viewed as a YouTube video.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Starting a Small Group

This blog is about starting a small group. The topics include defining what is meant by a “small group,” identifying characteristics of effective groups, describing the steps for starting a small group, providing an agenda for group meetings, and giving an example of a group agreement.

A small group is an intentional gathering of three to twelve people who come together on a regular basis for the common purpose of biblical community.

Effective groups meet on a regular basis, for a common purpose, facilitated by a committed leader who provides an environment for community and fellowship, spiritual formation, outreach and service. (Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups)

To begin the process: invite 2 or 3 others to help start the group. Ask one of these to be your support person or co-leader. Together, think of an affinity that would bring the group together, a thread that the individuals would have in common: e.g., age, needs, marital status, location, ministry, spiritual journey.

The next step is agree on meeting agenda topics. These could include a one-sentence description of the kind of group that you are forming, an agenda for most meetings, an approach to Bible discussion, and a group agreement for the first meeting. Now you are ready to set a date for the first meeting and personally invite possible participants.

When planning your first meeting, realize that there are three phases to most small group meetings, especially those that focus on Bible study. These are gathering, Bible Study, and caring and prayer.

(1) Gathering occurs during the first 10-15 minutes. It is a time of fellowship and welcome. This helps participants begin to reconnect.

(2) Bible study takes place in the next 20-30 minutes. Discussion questions are used for exploring content, meaning, and application.

(3) And, caring and prayer are emphasized in the last 15-20 minutes for sharing needs, celebrations, prayer requests, and actually praying.

Different kinds of questions are asked during each phase of the meeting. Following are examples of each kind.

• Gathering Questions: What topic(s) in our lives can help us connect with the Bible passage?
• Bible Study Observation Questions: What does the passage say? What are the facts?
• Bible Study Interpretation Questions: What did this passage mean to those who first received it? How are we to understand it today?
• Bible Study Application Questions: How should we (I) respond?

At the first small group meeting, it is good to develop as group agreement. Here items that are usually discussed. It is good to summarize these in writing and distribute them to group members after the meeting. Guide the group in reaching consensus on each of the following statements.

• The purpose (or purposes) of this group is (or are) ________________ (Purposes could include a combination of things such as Bible study, prayer, fellowship, spiritual conversations, service projects, accountability.)
• We will meet ____ times monthly, on ______ (day) from ____ to ____ (time) and start and close on time.
• We will meet at _____ (place) or rotate locations.
• We will agree to one or more of the following: participation: to share responsibility for the group, confidentiality: to keep personal confidences,
• accessibility: to give one another the right to contact each other in time of need,
• other areas.

This has been an overview of the process of starting a small group. We have defined small groups, described characteristics of effective groups, and given suggestions for getting started. Two resources that I especially appreciate on this topic are the following. These may be purchased by clicking on the related links or from Virtual Resource Center.

Donahue, Leading Life-Changing Small Groups.
Osborne, Sticky Church.

To view this blog as a YouTube video, click here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Spiritual Disciplines

What are your spiritual practices? How are you growing in faith? Spiritual disciplines are those practices that help nurture spiritual growth. This blog defines the spiritual disciplines, provides a foundational Scripture passage, describes twelve representative disciplines along with a selected Bible passage for each, and lists recommended resources for those who may want to pursue the topic further.

The Spiritual Disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times (Whitney, p. 46, Kindle edition).

The disciplines are spiritual activities that are practiced, not as prescribed procedures, but that emerge from a voluntary, internal desire to grow in Christ. They are expressions of loving and personal discipleship, not to be thought of as legalistic or as required practices. They come from a joyful heart that has a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

One key Scripture passage for thinking about spiritual disciplines is 1 Timothy 4:7-8. Paul writes to Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The challenge here is for Timothy (and for us) to be training himself in godliness. This training is contrasted with physical training. We do well to ask, “How are we training ourselves in godliness?” “What are the practices that we currently follow, how can we do them better, and what new practices might we consider?”

Unlike Spiritual Gifts or the Ten Commandments, there are a seemingly unlimited number of spiritual practices in the Bible. This blog describes the twelve disciplines identified in the classic work by Richard J. Foster, The Celebration of Discipline. Other resources that were used include Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (Calhoun), Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Whitney), and The Spirit of the Disciplines (Willard). These include additional disciplines.

There are three avenues (or movements or categories) of spiritual discipline. They are “Inward Disciplines” that promote self-reflection, quiet contemplation, growth, and renewal; “Outward Disciplines” which are for making a positive impact on others and the world; and “Corporate Disciplines” for strengthening our relationships with others and God. Let us now identify each discipline in greater detail along with a representative Bible passage for each.

Meditation is a long, ardent gaze at God, his work and his Word. It involves slowing down and giving one’s undivided attention to God (Calhoun, p. 10).
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 98).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

Fasting is the self-denial of normal necessities in order to intentionally attend to God in prayer. Bringing attachments and cravings to the surface, opens a place for prayer and is a reminder to turn to Jesus who alone can satisfy (Calhoun, p. 245).
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… put oil on your head and wash your face… your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).

Study gives priority to in-depth study of Scripture for purposes of observation, analysis, evaluation, and application. Study should also include other resources that help us understand life and God’s world.
Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Simplicity is living according to the knowledge that all that we have is a gift from God, that we are cared for by God, and that what we have can be made available to others when it is right and good.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33).

Solitude involves scheduling enough uninterrupted time in a distraction-free environment to experience isolation and being alone with God. Solitude is a “container discipline” for the practice of other disciplines. - Calhoun, p. 128
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35).

Submission is freely yielding to God’s word and will and to one another out of love and reverence for Christ (Calhoun, p. 134).
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority (Hebrews 13:17).

Service is a way of offering resources, time, treasure and expertise for the care, protection, justice, and nurture of others. Acts of service give hands to the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Calhoun, p. 167).
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Confession embraces Christ’s gift of forgiveness and restoration while setting us on the path to renewal and change (Calhoun, p. 101).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Worship happens whenever we intentionally cherish God and value him above all else in life. Worship reveals what is important to us (Calhoun, p. 49).
God is Spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Guidance. God guides groups as they seek to understand and act on God’s will and way for their life together. This guidance is informed by the written Word, the Holy Spirit’s presence, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the dignity of each participant.
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and elders met to consider this question (Act 15:5, 6).

Celebration is the engaging in actions that orient the spirit toward worship, praise, and thanksgiving. It is delighting in the reality of a Trinity-fueled life (Calhoun, p. 28).
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy (Psalm 47:1).

This has been a brief overview of twelve spiritual disciplines: meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. The books used for this post provide greater clarity, depth, and tools for practicing the disciplines. These may be purchased by clicking on the related links or from Virtual Resource Center.

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.
Foster, Richard J. The Celebration of Discipline.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines.

To view this blog as a YouTube video, click here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Older and Bolder: Reflections on Ageing Outrageously

The book, The Gift of Years, by Joan Chittister offers a perspective on ageing that invites the elderly to live outrageously. While ageing is often viewed negatively and is associated with limitations, withdrawal, uselessness, loneliness, purposelessness, and illness; author, Joan Chittister, provides a life-transforming perspective that shows how being an older person can be one of the most meaningful and exciting stages in life. This blog provides one paragraph summaries of 10 of the 40 chapters in her book.

Newness
Life is full of changes and transitions. It is a personal choice to have an attitude that looks at life as “accepting the old” or “discovering the new.” We can find fresh and glorious experiences at any stage of life, and especially as older persons, if we seek to make new discoveries.

Meaning
In the past we have ascribed meaning and even our self-worth through accomplishments, jobs, income, and titles. Living meaningfully more rightly springs from cultivating life-qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Joy
We can allow ourselves to be mired in the muck of anxiety, bitterness, and doubt of our past. Or we can, rather, look for reasons to be grateful for each day, being intoxicated by the beauty of life and celebrating its serendipitous moments, however large or small they may be.

Possibility
Getting older and being retired opens opportunities for new adventures. Instead of withdrawing from social experiences, there is a freedom to launch into new encounters. Tiredness breeds more tiredness. Activity, even when forced and done reluctantly, awakens the spirit, provides fresh insights, gives birth to new ideas, and stimulates creative thoughts.

Forgiveness
Only forgiveness can free us to rise above many of the pains in our past, even if this forgiveness is not acknowledged, requested, or accepted by others. Forgiveness is more important to the wellbeing of the one who forgives than the one being forgiven. Because it is not possible to make amends for all of our past failings, we do well to claim the forgiveness offered by Jesus, reflect it in our relationships with others and self, and start each day afresh.

Dreams
Essential to vibrant living, dreaming (daydreaming, aspirations, hopes) helps us move beyond resignation and into anticipation. Dreaming about what could be is the first step in achieving it. Our dreams can help us achieve what must yet be finished in our lives, and even in the world. The older we get, the stronger is the foundation for imagining and acting on possibilities for a better future.

Relationships
Some stay locked into and limited by relationships in their past. Others, as they get older, withdraw and disengage from social involvement. However, it is never too late to begin new relationships and cultivate new friendships. Older adults are rich in experiences and can be happily enriched by sharing these with one another. The efforts of caring for others as we do for ourselves provides mutual blessings.

Wisdom
Wisdom comes from time and experience. It is a development of life-understanding that is earned by the old who, with it in their possession, have responsibility for sharing it with those who are younger. It is the privilege of those no longer in the “normal” workforce to be thinkers, insight-givers, and encouragers of others in what they have found to be good, and true, and right.

Outreach
Many of the elderly live in isolation from society. They stay in their homes or are in retirement communities or in assisted living facilities. The choice of the elderly is that of staying in (their homes or rooms) or stepping out. Will we withdraw, or will we reach outside of ourselves to manage the life that we have in ways that benefit and bless others? And, wonder of wonders, those who give to others find themselves being blessed!

Future
Older people generally have a state of mind that fits into one of two categories. One is, “I’m getting older. I just can’t do that anymore.” The other says, “I am free from many of the responsibilities and obligations of the past. This my big chance to live outrageously free, outrageously involved, outrageously fun-loving, outrageously adventurous, and outrageously alive!” Treasuring the time that remains, now is the time to, in faith, imagine the impossible, attempt the unthinkable, and plan the incredible.

Conclusion
This has been an overview of selected topics from the book, The Gift of Years. It has summarized the areas of Newness, Meaning, Joy, Possibilities, Forgiveness, Dreams, Relationships, Wisdom, Outreach, and the Future from a positive, life-transforming perspective. Following is additional information and a link for those who would like to purchase the book.

The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister
“Joan Chittister, one of our most celebrated spiritual writers, invites us to embrace older life age as a natural part of life that is both active and contemplative, productive and reflected, and deeply rewarding… and shows us that this is a special period of life – maybe the most special of them all.” Quoted from the book jacket.

This book may be purchased by clicking here. This blog is also available as a narrated YouTube video by clicking here.

Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Discipleship: Foundations, Definitions, and Selected Resources

Dan and Debbie have recently become followers of Jesus. Almost everything about church is new to them. They say, “We have so much to learn. There are so many ways that we want to be involved in the life of this place. We love it here.”

Let us think together about Scripture and other resources that we should consider as a foundation for discipling them and assisting with their spiritual formation? What will be the next steps for them?

This blog includes the discipling-related topics of Scripture, definitions, and foundational resources with special attention to the book The Master Plan of Evangelism.

There are many Scripture passages that speak specifically to discipleship. Several of these follow.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”… Matthew 28:19-20).

”Follow me and I will send you out to fish for people” (Mathew 7:19).

“Whoever serves me must follow me” (John 12:26)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Two descriptions or definitions of discipleship are helpful to me. The first describes disciples as

a. beginning with a profession of faith in Jesus Christ,
b. developing by involvement in a process of spiritual formation and
c. finding expression in acts of Christian service ( www.maninthemirror.org. Morley).

The second defines discipleship as the nurturing of Christ-followers who are growing as learners; practice biblical behaviors or habits that enable them to live the Christian life effectively; display behaviors or habits such as prayer, sharing faith, Bible study, and serving; and multiply Christ-likeness in the lives of others (Stetzer, Planting Missional Churches. p. 281).

Following are some of the foundational resources in discipleship literature and a brief quote from each book. I will give extra attention to the last featured book, The Master Plan for Evangelism.

Bruce, A.B. Training of the Twelve (1871).
“Jesus gave His disciples lessons on the nature of the divine kingdom, on prayer, on religious liberty, on the nature of true holiness, on humility… on self-sacrifice… on the mission of the comforter, to convince the world and to enlighten themselves.”

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship (1949).
A contrast is made between cheap grace and costly grace. "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves...grace without discipleship....Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again....It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."

Ogden, Greg. Discipleship Essentials. (1998).
The book is divided into four parts: Growing Up in Christ, Understanding the Message of Christ, Becoming Like Christ, Serving Christ. Each chapter contains a core truth, memory verse, inductive Bible study, and additional readings. An appendix describes how to build a discipleship ministry.

Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism (1963).
“…a study in principles underlying His ministry-principles which determined His (Jesus) methods.” Chapter headings: Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, and Reproduction.

Selection: Jesus chose a few faithful, available, teachable disciples. (Luke 6:13-17, Mk 3:13-19). They weren't scholars, or individuals with special talents, just ordinary people whom he could shape and mold into leaders.

Association: He devoted his time to them, even in the midst of ministry to the masses. They were with him in all sorts of situations -called to simply "be with him" and "follow him."

Consecration: Jesus called these disciples to obedience- to turn away from sin and sacrifice their own personal interests- to turn to him and his teaching. He called them to commit themselves not to a doctrine or program, but to his person.

Impartation: He gave himself to them and for them. The foundation of their relationship to him was his love and self-denial. His commitment to them and giving of himself for them was the motivation of their giving themselves totally for him.

Demonstration: Jesus taught them by showing them. All the disciples had to teach them was a teacher who practiced in front of them what he expected them to learn. So they learned to pray by hearing him pray, learned how to use the Word by observing his handling of it, learned how to minister by watching him ministering.

Delegation: He put them to work (Mk 6:7, Mt 10:5, Luke 9:1,2). They assisted Him as He ministered, gradually he sent them out two by two. The instructions he gave them are most interesting, revealing how even this was a part of their preparation as his disciples.

Supervision: Jesus kept check on them and used their experiences to instruct them further (Mk 6:30). This was “on-the-job training” at its best. They were given adequate room to work and learn, yet never without his concern and guidance as it was needed.

Reproduction: It is clear that he intended them to become disciplers. The church is like the mustard seed; it starts out small- yet we expect it to grow bigger than the crops around it (Jn 15:1-17), for the branch abiding in the vine must bear fruit.

In summary, this has been an overview of Biblical foundations, definitions, and selected resources for discipleship. It has focused on the command of Jesus to make disciples and has provided a few classic resources. For those interested in further readings on discipleship, consider the following resources.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship (1949).
Bruce, A.B. Training of the Twelve (1871).
Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism (1963).
Ogden, Greg. Discipleship Essentials. (1998).
Stetzer, Ed. Planting Missional Churches. (2006).

The books listed here are personal favorites of this writer. Placing them here is like providing the names of good friends, individuals who have influenced my life and ministry. A small commission may be provided to me for books purchased. Church and School Education (CASE) Resources is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Line drawings are from the following web site https://www.rotation.org/topic/public-archive-of-annie-vallotton-bible-images-400px-wide-archive and appear in the Good News Bible.
  

This blog is also available as a YouTube video by clicking here.