KINGDOM ENCOUNTER: DISCIPLESHIP

KINGDOM ENCOUNTER DISCIPLESHIP is 12 Life-Changing Sessions, in a manual/workbook format, designed to assist believers to grow in their faith, maturing in their identity as a son or daughter of LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, and learning how to live a KINGDOM LIFESTYLE in this present age. Individuals become aware that God has a specific destiny and purpose for their life, which includes becoming a disciple and making disciples of others, in addition to their calling as a King and Priest in the marketplace, their family, and ministry.

We believe that we are individual members of the Body of Christ with a unique assignment on our life: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV). His Holy Spirit empowers believers to fulfill their individual calling and the greater commandment to Disciple Nations.

This discipleship manual/workbook has been prepared for the benefit of the individual together within a small group of 2-3 fellow disciples. The value of the KINGDOM ENCOUNTER DISCIPLESHIP is found in completing the sessions one at a time, then discussing each one before moving on to the next. The small group together gains clarity, wisdom, knowledge, and practical application as they learn from the session material and their fellow disciples.

THE WHY AND HOW OF SMALL GROUP DISCIPLESHIP:

Over 30 years of teaching small-group discipleship, working with home groups, and developing leaders have taught us valuable lessons about effective discipleship. As Jesus chose twelve men, then 3 (James, Peter, and John) for special teaching, we have found that a small group of three, all men or all women, works as the best model to effectively learn and grow as a disciple. Although four people are workable, beyond that someone is always left out of the discussion. While we encourage couples to do the workbooks together, for the discussion we highly recommend homogeneous groups. Due to the differences in the way men and women like to discuss or share points, keeping the small groups homogenous encourages everyone to participate, fewer ego issues, and more transparency.

The KINGDOM ENCOUNTER DISCIPLESHIP was first given to two groups, approximately fifteen men and 15 women from January – July 2023, at Awaken Church, San Diego, where we are all members. We met to discuss each individual session every other Saturday from 7 – 9 am. Each group was divided into small groups of 3-4 each while meeting in a large room with clusters of tables and chairs. The sessions were given in order and disciples were given 2 weeks to complete the material. Between the groups, were several couples who said they worked together to complete the lessons; and some groups checked with each other as they completed the lessons or had questions.

The small groups were instructed to appoint a different person for each session to facilitate the group, meaning to keep it moving along so that the whole session could be discussed within two hours. The purpose is to train confident disciples to know how to disciple others. The small groups stayed connected during the week, prayed for each other, and kept each other accountable to finish their session. The value of this form of discipleship is in the discussion, so each one learns from the others. Disciples learned that there may not be any one correct answer but how the Holy Spirit speaks and reveals his Rhema Word individually to them throughout the sessions.

Due to the success of this first KINGDOM ENCOUNTER DISCIPLESHIP 12-Session program, we decided to publish this manual/workbook so it would be available to the many followers of Jesus Christ who want to grow in their faith and disciple others.

God Bless You!
Michael & Michele Kole