Triad Discipleship: Overview, Structure, & Curriculum Snapshot Overview A discipleship triad has a membership of three or maximum of four persons who covenant together to meet at least weekly for 19 months. At the conclusion of the 19 months, each member will begin the process all over again with two more people. What begins as three, in 18 months becomes nine! The triad concept is not new and has a rich history behind it. Specifically, I need to reference the work of Greg Ogden for many of the thoughts that have shaped structure and practice. What is unique with this resource is using discipleship model we use at Olivet in order to shape the curriculum--more on this in a moment. Here are the five primary ways God transforms us: 1. Worship- What I think and believe about the Triune God Who Is. 2. Character- How and Who God is transforming my heart to be in Christ. 3. Action- The kinds of interactions God is calling and leading me to take with others. 4. Reproduction Following Jesus as a disciple-maker of all people everywhere. 5. Knowledge - How God continually expands my capacity to see Him and myself better. Structure & Curriculum The structure of the group covenant is a three-season cyclical structure. Each member will take a season in leading and facilitating the group through the guided study. This will include taking an active role in facilitating curriculum, maintaining group communication, planning of extracurricular activities, etc. Younger or inexperienced group members need not worry about this because what everyone will find is the dynamic of the group becomes a shared leadership. In terms of curriculum, the year will follow the structure of discipleship components as we have adopted here at Olivet. It is important to note that curriculum is a guide, a tool, and tools of their own right don t have the ability to transform. It is only the Spirit using the Word to shape our lives to follow Christ. This is why I put quotes around curriculum. So please don t think that completing the curriculum in any way masters discipleship. This is intended to serve as a structured guide, a start that will enable the group to get on the same page in order to journey together in white hot pursuit of Jesus. As stated above the five components of discipleship are: worship, character, action, reproduction, and knowledge. Each component will receive 4 weeks of curriculum devoted to it for a total of 20 weeks in three seasons for a grand total of 60 weeks. Interspersed between each 4 week study is an alternate learning experience called soul training. (This is a helpful way
that James Bryan Smith refers to the disciplines.) Spiritual disciplines are intended to provide a focused environment where the heart can be nudged toward God in a unique and appropriate way. Don Whitney reminds us that spiritual disciplines are done for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim 4:7). Other s may be extended times of prayer or in service for others (both of these happen to be spiritual disciplines). At the beginning of seasons two and three, group leadership shifts to a new person, so pass the Leadership Baton. The total weeks invested is 75 weeks of curriculum guided time with a three week set up and a final three week wrap-up to prepare for birthing into three new groups for a grand total of 81 wks. One very important thing to note is that during the entire 3rd season, the group should be actively thinking about and praying about the next Discipleship Triad every week. Who is God leading me to invite into the next triad? Below is a table to illustrate the structure. Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Invitation to Triad Discipleship:3 wks Group Covenant (Signed at conclusion of the 3 rd wk) Worship ST Character ST Action ST Reproduction ST Knowledge ST 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 Pass off the Leadership Baton 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 Pass off the Leadership Baton Begin praying and talking about the next Discipleship Triad weekly 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 4 wks 1 Final Wrap-Up: 3 wks Topics of Study If we are to engage in any kind of discipleship endeavor, the Scriptures must occupy a central and primary place after all, we are not engaging in some kind of amorphous spirituality. We intend to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). Our primary access to this pursuit is found in the Scriptures themselves as the Spirit of God uses the Word to shape our lives in the Truth. The goal of the Triad is essentially the pursuit of God and embracing the life He is calling us to! Below is the calendar of study a very brief overview of the curriculum to follow.
Invitation to Triad Discipleship Week 1: Making Disciples: Matt. 28:19-20 Week 2: Overview of the Journey Ahead Week 3: Necessary Tools In the Back Pack: Commitments and Covenant Season 1 Worship Week 4: Loving the LORD with all your heart (Emotions) Pt 1 What does this mean? Week 5: Loving the LORD with all your mind (Intellect) Pt 1 What does this mean? Week 6: Loving the LORD with all your soul (Will) Pt 1 What does this mean? Psalm 133 Week 7: Loving the LORD with all your strength (Body) Pt 1 What does this mean? Worship ST Week 8: Soul Training: Fasting and Meditating on Ps 119 Character Week 9: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Love Week 10: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Joy Week 11: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Peace Week 12: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Patience Character ST Week 13: Soul Training: Confession Action Week 14: Week 15: Week 16: Week 17: Action ST Week 18: Soul Training: Serving the Body Reproduction Week 19: Disciple Making in the Family Deut 6:6-9 Week 20: Spirit-Empowered Witnesses of the LORD: Acts 1:8, Week 21: Feed my Lambs Cultivating Discipleship in Others: John 21:1-19 Week 22: Love your neighbor as yourself- Loving the lost
Reproduction ST Week 23: Soul Training: Discipling your Family & Friends Knowledge Week 24: Essentials of Christian Belief: Trinity- The threeness and oneness of God Week 25: Essentials of Christian Belief: God, our Father Week 26: Essentials of Christian Belief: God the Son, Our Savior & LORD Week 27: Essentials of Christian Belief: God the Spirit, Our Comforter & Empowerer Knowledge ST Week 28: Soul Training: Study Read and Discuss one or more chapters from Wayne Grudem s Systematic Theology Season 2 Worship Week 29: Loving the LORD with all your heart (Emotions) Pt 2 Misplaced Joy Week 30: Loving the LORD with all your mind (Intellect) Pt 2 Recalibrating the Mind Week 31: Loving the LORD with all your soul (Will) Pt 2 Desiring to Love Him Week 32: Loving the LORD with all your strength (Body) Pt 2 Keeping my Body Pure for Him Worship ST Week 33: Soul Training: Celebration and Gratitude Character Week 34: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness Week 35: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness Week 36: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness Week 37: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness Character ST Week 38: Soul Training: Secrecy Action Week 39: Week 40: Serving Week 41: Week 42: Tithing and Giving
Action ST Week 43: Soul Training: Serving the World Reproduction Week 44: Disciple Making in the Family Pt 2 Week 45: Spirit-Empowered Witnesses of the LORD: Pt 2 Week 46: Cultivating Discipleship in Others Pt 2 Week 47: Love your neighbor as yourself- Loving the lost Pt 2 Reproduction ST Week 48: Soul Training: Putting together your personal testimony in a polished way to share with unbelievers Knowledge Week 49: Essentials of Christian Belief: Inerrancy of Scripture Week 50: Essentials of Christian Belief: Sin Week 51: Essentials of Christian Belief: Grace Week 52: Essentials of Christian Belief: Justification and Sanctification Knowledge ST Week 53: Soul Training: Study group select chapters in: The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun Season 3 Worship Week 54: Loving the LORD with all your heart (Emotions) Pt 3 Week 55: Loving the LORD with all your mind (Intellect) Pt 3 Week 56: Loving the LORD with all your soul (Will) Pt 3 Week 57: Loving the LORD with all your strength (Body) Pt 3 Worship ST Week 58: Soul Training: Solitude and Silence Character Week 59: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit Self Control Week 60: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Faith Week 61: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit - Hope Week 62: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit Love Pt 2-1 Cor 13 Character ST Week 63: Soul Training: Prayer Action Week 64: Week 65:
Week 66: Week 67: Action ST Week 68: Soul Training: Sacrificial Giving Reproduction Week 69: Week 70: Week 71: Week 72: Reproduction ST Week 73: Soul Training: Make a Personal Evangelism Contact Knowledge Week 74: Essentials of Christian Belief: The Church Week 75: Essentials of Christian Belief: The Kingdom Week 76: Essentials of Christian Belief: The Security of the Believer Week 77: Essentials of Christian Belief: Spiritual Gifts Knowledge ST Week 78: Soul Training: Study Begin Reading Dallas Willard s Divine Conspiracy Final Wrap Up Week 79 Week 80 Week 81 Modeling a life pursuing growth for the sake of God and others. Hearing God s voice and following His leading. Praying for God to leadership in the Next Triad.