How To Lead A Discipleship Group During The Holidays

How To Lead A Discipleship Group During The Holidays

November is here! ‘Tis the season to spend a whole lot of quality time with family, put bunches of miles on the car and notice your wallet feeling emptier by the day. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away! And let’s be honest, most of us have just gone ahead and started celebrating Christ because anything goes in 2020!   This is a really easy time of the year to coast in our spiritual lives. We have excuses galore for not spending as much time with the Lord and so many other things on our mind that compete for our attention. We could all use a little help keeping our discipleship groups moving and focused during the most wonderful time of the year. Here are three things to keep in mind as your year together comes to a close.  

Keep Your Foot on the Gas

Don’t let off just yet. You only have a couple months left together so get the most out of them! Your group members may need a little push to stay focused. So as the leader, make sure your group knows you’re not going to slack on your spiritual growth just because we’re a little busier this time of year. Remember, the things that help us become more Christlike are the things that ought to go on the calendar first.   Understandably, your group may not end up meeting all of December but finish as strong as you can. Be willing to utilize technology! We’ve all become experts of the video call whether we wanted to or not this year. Zoom, Facetime, etc. are all great options to keep your group in tact as you enter the holiday season and people begin to travel.  

Solidify Your Plan for Next Year

Make sure your groups members (and you!) are thinking about 2021. If you haven’t already, start thinking about and praying for God to show you who you need to invite into your group for next year. Encourage your group members that they are ready to lead and it’s their turn to take the baton!  

Celebrate!

No doubt, God has done some unbelievable things in your group this year! Take some time to celebrate and have some fun with your group. Whether you go to a concert, show off your skills (or lack thereof) at TopGolf or just share a great meal together, do something just to spend quality time with your group.   Ask how your group members how they have seen themselves grow throughout the year and how they have seen God work in their lives. Then, go the extra mile and tell them the ways you’ve seen them grow as their leader! When we are able to look back on the year and celebrate the many ways Jesus has moved we are able to praise Him and strengthen our motivation to continue with the task of discipleship in the years to come.   When we think of the holidays, family is one of the first things that comes to mind. I hope that over these last 10 months your discipleship group has started to feel like a small, spiritual family. Keep your spiritual family a top priority and enjoy the gift of God’s work in each of your lives!   As your year ends, remind your group members about the D-Group Starter Guide! It will be an encouragement to them as they think about leading a group themselves. Pastors, help your church members end groups well, and develop every other aspect of your discipleship ministry by checking out the Replicate Network.