Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2015 A Discipleship Project For New Members At The St. John's Seventh-day Adventist Church Wayne Rupert Knowles Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Knowles, Wayne Rupert, "A Discipleship Project For New Members At The St. John's Seventh-day Adventist Church" (2015). Dissertation Projects DMin. 286. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/286 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT A DISCIPLESHIP PROJECT FOR NEW MEMBERS AT THE ST. JOHN’S SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH by Wayne Rupert Knowles Adviser: Steve Willsey ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Document Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A DISCIPLESHIP PROJECT FOR NEW MEMBERS AT THE ST. JOHN’S SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Name of researcher: Wayne Rupert Knowles Name and degree of faculty adviser: Steve Willsey, DMin Date completed: August 2015 Problem During the first decade of the 21st century, a review of the ministry structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Johns, Antigua, was done. It revealed that there was a need for a systematic plan to nurture new members into leaders. Although there were new converts classes held and materials were available for study, there were few organized plans within the church that would assist new members to become spiritually mature and equipped for ministry. This lack of structure has resulted in very few people being prepared to serve in the ministries of the church. Something needed to be done to move new members to spiritual maturity and into ministry. The creation of a discipleship model for new converts at the St. John’s SDA church was deemed to be most important to help it fulfill its mission. Method A 12-week discipleship small group structure was developed in 2013 to help the congregation mature its members. It included the learning components of linking theory to practice, fostering personal spiritual development, and utilizing mentoring relationships. Five goals for a spiritually healthy life were the central focus. These included worship, fellowship, nurture, ministry, and evangelism. The success of this process was measured by how each member magnified God, matured, and involved themselves in ministry and mission. Results All six persons completed the 12-week small group discipleship session. The results showed minimal but consistent growth in the five areas of spiritual health that were measured as mentioned above. Only one of the six persons in the group did not show any growth. The short time used was the main weakness of this program. However growth was shown in areas that were not measured by the instrument used in this project. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a well-structured small group model with a clearly defined plan for spiritual growth of each member of the group can assist new believers to achieve spiritual maturity. Spiritually matured members should improve the leadership potential of a congregation. It may also have implications for how we plan, organize, and apply conservation methods in our congregations. © Copyright Wayne Rupert Knowles 2015 All Rights Reserved Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A DISCIPLESHIP PROJECT FOR NEW MEMBERS AT THE ST. JOHN’S SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A Project Document Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Wayne Rupert Knowles August 2015 A DISCIPLESHIP PROJECT FOR NEW MEMBERS AT THE ST. JOHN’S SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A project document presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Wayne Rupert Knowles APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ______________________________ ______________________________ Adviser, Director, DMin program Steve Willsey Skip Bell _______________________________ ______________________________ Eugene Daniel Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Jiří Moskala _______________________________ ______________________________ Allan Walshe Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ................................... 1 History and Purpose ............................................................................... 1 Statement of the Task ............................................................................. 1 Justification of the Project ...................................................................... 2 Expectations for the Project ................................................................... 3 Limitations of the Project ....................................................................... 3 Description of the Project ....................................................................... 4 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP ............................ 6 A Biblical-Historical Look at Discipleship ............................................ 7 The New Testament Emphasis ............................................................... 8 Becoming a Disciple .............................................................................. 10 Spiritual Transformation and Discipleship............................................. 11 Disciples are “Called” ............................................................................ 12 Disciples Follow Their Master ............................................................... 13 Disciple-Making ..................................................................................... 16 Disciple-Making is a Process ................................................................. 16 Making Disciples Within a Structure ..................................................... 18 Small Groups .......................................................................................... 19 Disciples Make Other Disciples ............................................................. 19 In the “Name” ......................................................................................... 21 Discipleship and the Early Church ......................................................... 22 Implications for the Church Today ........................................................ 23 Small Groups and Spiritual Maturity ..................................................... 24 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 24 3. LITERATURE RELATING TO DISCIPLESHIP AND SMALL GROUPS .................................................................................................. 26 iii Spiritual Maturity ................................................................................... 29 Small Groups and Discipleship .............................................................. 34 Spiritual Transformation and Discipleship............................................. 37 Discipleship and Emotional Health ........................................................ 41 Discipleship and Ministry ...................................................................... 42 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 44 4. IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW CONVERTS' DISCIPLESHIP GROUP .................................................................................................. 45 Ministry Context .................................................................................... 46 Description of the Research Method ...................................................... 46 Development of Intervention.................................................................. 47 Review of the Theological Foundation .................................................. 49 Research Methodology ........................................................................... 50 Membership..................................................................................... 51 Maturity ........................................................................................... 51 Ministry ........................................................................................... 52 Mission ............................................................................................ 52 Magnification .................................................................................. 52 Spiritual Practices ................................................................................... 53 Prayer .............................................................................................. 53 Spiritual Companionship ................................................................. 54 Bible Study ...................................................................................... 55 Devotional Bible Reading ............................................................... 56 Service ............................................................................................. 57 Development of Intervention.................................................................