Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Help For Small Group Minsitry
Review: Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups by Gayle Turner Watson is the latest of the new generation of Accountable Discipleship books to be published by Discipleship Resources. This book is the new basic resource that every pastor and all members of covenant discipleship groups needs to read. It is well written, clearly organized, concise, and user-friendly. Gayle Watson has given a valuable gift to the church in this book.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is organized in four parts. Part One answers the question: "Why Covenant Discipleship Groups?" Here Watson provides an excellent account of the Wesleyan heritage that is the foundation of Covenant Discipleship groups. She helps the reader understand that discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition is a "matter of heart and life." What we believe guides the way we live our life in the world. Watson also provides a very good and concise interpretation of the General Rule of Discipleship as a guide for living a balanced and varied discipleship. Part One provides an excellent foundation for understanding the "why" of covenant discipleship groups.

Part Two answers the question, "What are Covenant Discipleship Groups?" Watson clearly explains the nature, purpose, and goal of the groups. She also is very clear about what Covenant Discipleship groups are not. This helps to allay any confusion the reader may have about the character of the groups. Watson does not stop with answering the question posed in the section title. She goes on to answer several commonly asked questions: "Why am I joining a Covenant Discipleship group?" "Does this mean that my discipleship has been inadequate?" "Why do I need to join a Covenant Discipleship group?" "How will joining a Covenant Discipleship group affect my Christian friends and family who do not wish to join?" "What will happen to me in a Covenant Discipleship group?" These are important questions that Watson addresses in an honest and winsome fashion.

Part Three provides the "nuts and bolts" or the "how to do it" section of the book. Watson gives step-by-step processes for writing a covenant, leading the weekly meeting, and how to introduce and sustain Covenant Discipleship groups in your congregation. She asks and answers some of the common questions around the need for a written covenant and the covenant's role in the life of the group. As in Part Two, Watson's way of dealing with these questions is reason alone for reading the book. She has a way of clearing up common confusions and misconceptions that will bring down barriers and resistance to participation in and support for Covenant Discipleship groups.

In Part 4 Watson provides many useful helps for covenant writing and interpreting the groups for the congregation. There are sample covenant preambles, clauses, and conclusions. There is a sample covenant and a covenant worksheet. All of which are on reproducible pages. She also provides an excellent bibliography of other resources that will support group members in their journey of discipleship.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is the new, essential resource for pastors, lay leaders, and covenant discipleship group members who need to learn about and interpret covenant discipleship for the local church. Gayle Watson has given the church a valuable tool that will help the local church form faithful and dependable disciples who will witness to Jesus Christ in the world and follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Help For Small Group Minsitry
Review: Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups by Gayle Turner Watson is the latest of the new generation of Accountable Discipleship books to be published by Discipleship Resources. This book is the new basic resource that every pastor and all members of covenant discipleship groups needs to read. It is well written, clearly organized, concise, and user-friendly. Gayle Watson has given a valuable gift to the church in this book.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is organized in four parts. Part One answers the question: "Why Covenant Discipleship Groups?" Here Watson provides an excellent account of the Wesleyan heritage that is the foundation of Covenant Discipleship groups. She helps the reader understand that discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition is a "matter of heart and life." What we believe guides the way we live our life in the world. Watson also provides a very good and concise interpretation of the General Rule of Discipleship as a guide for living a balanced and varied discipleship. Part One provides an excellent foundation for understanding the "why" of covenant discipleship groups.

Part Two answers the question, "What are Covenant Discipleship Groups?" Watson clearly explains the nature, purpose, and goal of the groups. She also is very clear about what Covenant Discipleship groups are not. This helps to allay any confusion the reader may have about the character of the groups. Watson does not stop with answering the question posed in the section title. She goes on to answer several commonly asked questions: "Why am I joining a Covenant Discipleship group?" "Does this mean that my discipleship has been inadequate?" "Why do I need to join a Covenant Discipleship group?" "How will joining a Covenant Discipleship group affect my Christian friends and family who do not wish to join?" "What will happen to me in a Covenant Discipleship group?" These are important questions that Watson addresses in an honest and winsome fashion.

Part Three provides the "nuts and bolts" or the "how to do it" section of the book. Watson gives step-by-step processes for writing a covenant, leading the weekly meeting, and how to introduce and sustain Covenant Discipleship groups in your congregation. She asks and answers some of the common questions around the need for a written covenant and the covenant's role in the life of the group. As in Part Two, Watson's way of dealing with these questions is reason alone for reading the book. She has a way of clearing up common confusions and misconceptions that will bring down barriers and resistance to participation in and support for Covenant Discipleship groups.

In Part 4 Watson provides many useful helps for covenant writing and interpreting the groups for the congregation. There are sample covenant preambles, clauses, and conclusions. There is a sample covenant and a covenant worksheet. All of which are on reproducible pages. She also provides an excellent bibliography of other resources that will support group members in their journey of discipleship.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is the new, essential resource for pastors, lay leaders, and covenant discipleship group members who need to learn about and interpret covenant discipleship for the local church. Gayle Watson has given the church a valuable tool that will help the local church form faithful and dependable disciples who will witness to Jesus Christ in the world and follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under