Last week, I suggested what your first D-Group meeting should look like. In this post, I would like to share what I typically do in my second D-Group meeting.
Pep Talk and Recap
After some intentional conversation, quoting our memory verses, and sharing HEAR journals, I will typically review things we talked about in our first meeting. This is so we will all have a clear understanding of expectations and all be on the same page. I’ve found that you can’t overemphasize expectations enough. I will typically ask probing questions to see if they really understand the commitment they are making to God and to one another.
I will also share a quote from Greg Ogden in his book, “
Transforming Discipleship” where he says, “When we open our hearts in transparent trust to each other in a spirit of mutual accountability around the truth of God’s Word, we are in the Holy Spirit’s hothouse of transformation.”
I point out to the guys that we are striving for three things during our time together to make our D-Group the very best it can be. The three are transparent trust, the Word of God, and mutual accountability.
Transparent Trust
The saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is used by some to sweep ungodly behavior under the rug. But for the D-Group, what is said and shared in the D-Group stays in the D-Group. In other words, we must create an atmosphere of confidentiality, because a D-Group is a place where you can discuss deeply personal things. In doing so, we develop the foundation for trust to develop in the group.
The Word of God
The Bible is the textbook and when we engage the Word of God, it will change our lives! Consider what the Apostle Paul tells Timothy:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, CSB)
I will share this verse with the group to explain why we are going to saturate our lives with the Word of God and seek to apply it, so that God will begin to transform us both as individuals and the group as a whole.
Mutual Accountability
I will explain that to be accountable by definition is to be answerable to and responsible for one another. We are accountable to the members of our group. That is, we voluntarily submit to one another to allow them to inspect our assignments as well as our lifestyle, our attitudes and our actions.
We are also responsible for one another. That means we care about the other members of our D-Group both in the good times and the bad times. Again, the Apostle Paul reminds us:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4, CSB)
Caring for one another by sharing words of encouragement, prayer, counsel and if need be, correction, but out of love for each other. As time goes on and the group journeys together they will grow closer.
I generally will conclude the meeting by allowing members of the D-Group to share prayer needs and then praying with the group for one another.
