Follow Me Group Guide

The Follow Me Group Guide is a practical tool for learning how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how to help others become disciples. Following the methodology and themes Jesus used to train his Twelve, the Group Guide is a companion to Dr. David Schroeder's popular book, Follow Me: the Disciple-making Strategy of Jesus (aka Discipleship by the Book). Dr. Ravi Zacharias, popular speaker and author of many outstanding Christian books, has this to say about Follow Me: "David Schroeder wisely observes that the foremost task of the church is to make disciples and that genuine discipleship takes place in the context of intimate relationships. Conjoining scholarly research with rich practical and devotional insights, he examines values that Jesus taught-such as humility, compassion, and accountability-and shows how they can transform individuals as well as communities. I have known David for nearly four decades and commend his important work to you." Follow Me and the Group Guide present a biblical picture of a primitive and powerful brand of Christianity that was effective in its first few generations and would be effective in this generation if followed more faithfully. In this book, we enter into the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ to see the strategies which he communicated to his first followers. Undoubtedly the ways in which we might apply those strategies will differ from Christians in the first century because we must adapt them to different cultural settings. Nevertheless, human nature has not changed in twenty centuries, and these teachings of Jesus must still be the backbone of effective Christian witness. Taking a cue from Jesus, the Group Guide encourages disciple-making in small groups. The questions for discussion open group members to discover of What It (the biblical text) Says, What It Means, and What It Means for Me. Following the purposeful, progressive strategy of Jesus by focusing on character formation in three stages -- Learning Kingdom Values, Ministry, and Leadership -- the material helps the groups explore what it means to follow Jesus as a disciple in their personal lives, in the world, and in the church. Churches that adopt the strategy of disciple-making used by Jesus are certainly going to be change agents in their communities and throughout the world. That was Jesus' plan. That is your possibility.