The church my family attends is heavy into discipleship. Basing it off of the great commission it is a double focus to spread the Gospel but even further to make disciples. They make it a point that the congregation is living life together and walking with one another and helping each other grow in their faith. The simplicity of how it is viewed is one I had not experienced before going to this church. It is viewed as helping those that are walking in faith around you to take their next step in the faith. I.E. older men and women helping younger men and women to walk through life trusting in God and growing in relationship with God.

I like the approach. All other churches I'd been to before never really addressed discipleship as a priority. It was more focused on evangelizing and not much support for new believers. How does your church approach it?

Catechism class with the pastor before becoming a member. Sunday school. Bible studies at members' homes midweek are available. Wednesday night corporate prayer.

Martin Q. Blank said:

---

Catechism class with the pastor before becoming a member. Sunday school. Bible studies at members' homes midweek are available. Wednesday night corporate prayer.

---

Similar situation. We have a small church, which is much more advantageous for discipleship, in my opinion. The pastor can actually, you know, shepherd his flock on a very personal basis.

In past churches, discipleship has almost been nonexistent. Sometimes I believe driven by the size as it becomes harder to create an organization in which people are able to get the personal growth they are wanting/needing. In past churches, I was part of some weekly "life groups" with varying success. Many churches are a bit too seeker friendly and can often neglect those who are believers that need to deepen their faith.

The single best thing I have experienced so far has been what what one of my past men's groups called "Fire Teams." This was essentially 3-5 men that meet intentionally every single week. No excuses or conflicts, for the most part. You are in a committed relationship to these other men with the intent to grow together in your faith through all of life's challenges.

Martin Q. Blank said:

---

Catechism class with the pastor before becoming a member. Sunday school. Bible studies at members' homes midweek are available. Wednesday night corporate prayer.

---

We have small groups. Mine is McChurch, which meets at McDonald's on the corner of Rock Prairie and Longmire in CS. About 20 guys who have been meeting over 30 years.

I love it,

Did you guys not get the memo that Chick-fil-a is the officially sanctioned Christian fast food meeting place?

dermdoc said:

---

10andBOUNCE said:

---

Did you guys not get the memo that Chick-fil-a is the officially sanctioned Christian fast food meeting place?

---

McDonald's was predestined for us, the elect.

---

Well played, sir. Almost spit up my coffee.

10andBOUNCE said:

---

dermdoc said:

---

10andBOUNCE said:

---

Did you guys not get the memo that Chick-fil-a is the officially sanctioned Christian fast food meeting place?

---

McDonald's was predestined for us, the elect.

---

Well played, sir. Almost spit up my coffee.

---

I concur...

Do you go to a Bible church in West FW?

Nondenominational in Keller

My ongoing spiritual formation is as a professed member of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans after the founder of the order -St. Dominic.

Not unlike the friars and nuns, the laity enter the order as a novitiate and after a year or two of discernment (both the individual and the order) may make a profession. I made mine in 1999 having just turned 31 years old.

The order is split into four regional provinces, I belong to the Southern Dominican Province headquartered in New Orleans, LA. Our chapter is based in Austin and is one of two, the other being primarily a Spanish speaking chapter. We meet monthly, usually at Saint Catherine of Siena in west Austin. We pray the office, sing and chanting. Afterwards, we have a brief Lectio Divina, scriptural reflection, led by one of the members. Then we have a deeper session on a book that the members have selected to read together. We have read a number of the conciliar documents from Vatican II, particularly those that relate to the mission and role of the laity. The order assigns a Friar, Nun, or fraternal priest (in our case) as each chapter's spiritual advisor. Our priest travels from Houston.

Most of the major religious orders, Franciscans, Carmelites, Jesuits, etc., have a similar lay fraternity that shares their particular spirituality. We have met with the Lay Franciscans in the past.

Visit www.laydomsouth.org for more information.

AgBQ-00 said:

---

The church my family attends is heavy into discipleship. Basing it off of the great commission it is a double focus to spread the Gospel but even further to make disciples. They make it a point that the congregation is living life together and walking with one another and helping each other grow in their faith. The simplicity of how it is viewed is one I had not experienced before going to this church. It is viewed as helping those that are walking in faith around you to take their next step in the faith. I.E. older men and women helping younger men and women to walk through life trusting in God and growing in relationship with God.

I like the approach. All other churches I'd been to before never really addressed discipleship as a priority. It was more focused on evangelizing and not much support for new believers. How does your church approach it?

---

Thanks for sharing and sounds like you've found a strong church body!

Many churches speak of this but I don't see it done well ever. It usually turns into another bible study to attend.

I want good Christian friends that I can trust and be real with. That's not anything a church can assign me, it has to happen organically. Unfortunately that is difficult in modern life.

Frok said:

---

Many churches speak of this but I don't see it done well ever. It usually turns into another bible study to attend.

I want good Christian friends that I can trust and be real with. That's not anything a church can assign me, it has to happen organically. Unfortunately that is difficult in modern life.

---

Agree completely. And that is how my group is.