Dear First Pres, 

   This Sunday we're launching a new Education Hour class: Discipleship Group Primer. It's a bit different than our traditional Education Hour offerings, but I hope this letter will give you the information you need.

   At the heart of our Purpose Statement is a phrase that I think is daunting to many of us: "making disciples." We chose these words because they reflect the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the disciples (and to all disciples of Jesus) at the end of Matthew's Gospel. Still, some of us might actually tremble a bit when we think about what it means to live into that call.

   Part of that trembling might be because of the many ways that we recognize our own shortcomings as a disciple of Jesus. As retired pastor Alan Reutter likes to say, "We have to be a disciple-in-the-making in order to become a disciple-maker."

   Here's the bottom line: every disciple of Christ is called to be a disciple-in-the-making. In other words, we're called by God to be growing in our faith, to be aligning our hearts with the work of the Spirit, and to be surrendering more and more our whole lives to Jesus. And every disciple of Christ is called to be a disciple-maker. Yes, that will look different for different kinds of folks; and, every Christian is called into Kingdom ministry. Kingdom ministry is all about engaging together in Christ's work of making disciples for the redeeming transformation of our city and world.

   The Discipleship Group Primer works to bring both of those calls together. The goal of the class is to connect people together in small groups called Discipleship Groups (or D-Groups for short) for the purpose of helping each other grow as disciples-in-the-making and disciple-makers. The first few weeks will lay the groundwork for how D-Groups can work best. Then, the remaining weeks will simply be set aside for new D-Groups to do their thing. For that to work, once the groups start, it obviously means committing to this particular class through December 16.

   A normal D-Group would likely meet for a few years and then multiply into two new D-Groups. That's why we're calling this class the D-Group Primer - we hope it primes the pump for people to be ready to launch D-Groups of their own.

   Maybe you've wanted to be in some kind of small group, but you've struggled to find the time. Maybe you're ready to take another intentional step forward in your discipleship. Maybe you want to learn what it means to help other people grow as disciples of Jesus. Maybe you feel like you need to get more connected with other FPCers. All of these are wonderful reasons to join Pastor Chris, Diane Vaccaro (yes, my Bride), and me this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall to learn more about the D-Group Primer.  

Blessings,

      Jeremy

P.S. Meanwhile, our other great classes continue. The Gospel of John class in the Corner. The 5 Questions the World is Asking class in The Commons. The Partner Spotlight starts in The Hub. And, all the great classes for our kids ... plus, the Choir rehearsing in the Music Room. See ya there.