Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, By Greg Ogden
Discipleship Essentials
paperback
  • Length: 256 pages
  • Dimensions: 7 × 10 in
  • Number of Studies: 25
  • Published: January 15, 2019
  • Imprint: IVP Bible Studies
  • Item Code: 2128
  • ISBN: 9780830821280

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We grow in Christ as we seek him together. Jesus' own pattern of disciple-making was to be intimately involved with others and allow life to rub against life. By gathering in twos or threes to study the Bible and encourage one another, we most closely follow Jesus' example with the twelve disciples.

This workbook by Greg Ogden is a tool designed to help you follow this pattern Jesus drew for us. Working through it will deepen your knowledge of essential Christian teaching and strengthen your faith.

Each week contains the following elements:

  • a core truth presented in a question-and-answer format
  • a memory verse and accompanying study
  • a field-tested inductive Bible study
  • a reading on the theme for the week
  • questions to draw out key principles in the reading

This material is designed for groups of three. It has also been used successfully as an individual study program, a one-on-one discipling tool, and small group curriculum. This expanded and completely updated edition includes a new guide for leaders.

Jesus had a big enough vision to think small. Focusing on a few did not limit his influence. Rather, it expanded it. Discipleship Essentials is designed to help us influence others as Jesus did—by investing in a few.

"I have long admired Greg Ogden's rare ability to distill the complex down to the essential. Discipleship Essentials has become a modern classic in the field of discipleship because it does just this. If you've ever looked for a tool to help people you care about understand the core principles and practices of the Christian life, look no further than this book. I have seen it help absolute beginners and advanced disciples alike mature in their walk with Christ in a life-changing way. The book is interactive, thought-provoking, enjoyable and deep. I use it weekly myself."

Daniel Meyer, senior pastor, Christ Church of Oak Brook, Illinois

"If you're looking for a shortcut to the likeness of Christ, stop looking because there isn't one. No program or structure can replace the hard, time-consuming, rewarding and utterly fulfilling process of discipleship. Discipleship Essentials is revolutionizing the lives of the people in our church. Everyone can and should use this effective tool!"

Jan den Ouden, minister-at-large, OM International, Rotterdam

"Our entire congregation used Discipleship Essentials as the template for a yearlong sermon and small group series. It served as a life-changing tool that united our church family and deepened our faith as a community. Ogden's work is thorough, organized and challenging—a great resource for churches and small groups who desire to grow in their love for the Lord and their commitment to following him."

Jane Filkin, associate pastor of community life, First Presbyterian Church, Boulder, Colorado

"I am currently leading my fourth group. The study is a Spirit-inspired study of the skeletal structure of our Christian faith upon which individuals can flesh out the shape of their individual walk with our Lord. If taken seriously and followed as a spiritual discipline, the truths it contains will change the follower's life, and lives that come in contact with the disciple will be touched by God's love. It's a powerful tool in a group for learning to practice confession and being accountable. It is never old for me. The Spirit speaks to me through the Word in the study. I am refreshed every time we meet as a group."

Hudson Staffield, president, Chi Rho Ministry

"Greg Ogden's engaging book sets the expectation that every follower of Jesus has the joyful responsibility to invest into two or three regularly and purposefully for the kingdom. For the past ten years, Discipleship Essentials has provided an engaging and balanced approach to the task of raising up mature believers who will then themselves invest in others. I can only imagine that in the next ten years thousands more will be shaped toward maturity because of his important work that gives each believer the inspiration and the framework to do what they were made to do: advance the kingdom by making mature disciples."

Timothy J. Yee, minister of young adults, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California

"One of the most serious challenges facing the church in North America is that of undiscipled church members. Greg Ogden's work seeks to move Sunday-only consumer Christians into the adventurous life of following Jesus on a daily basis in authentic community. It provides an indispensable resource to help local churches address this challenge."

Eddie Gibbs, professor, Fuller Theological Seminary and author of ChurchNext

"Discipleship Essentials is the most effective tool I know of for use in encouraging actual growth in personal discipleship. I give it to all of the pastors I am working with in congregational transformation and missional engagement because growing disciples is essential to their congregations' vitality."

E. Stanley Ott, president, The Vital Churches Institute
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A Look Inside

Core truth in Q&A format plus memory verse

Core truth in Q&A format plus memory verse

Inductive Bible study and themed reading

Inductive Bible study and themed reading

Reflections and discussion questions

Reflections and discussion questions

Bonus resource: Leader's Guide

Bonus resource: Leader's Guide

Read an Excerpt

CONTENTS

A Word from the Author
Getting the Most from Discipleship Essentials

Part One: Growing Up in Christ
1. Making Disciples
2. Being a Disciple
3. Quiet Time
4. Bible Study
5. Prayer
6. Worship

Part Two: Understanding the Message of Christ
7. The Three-Person God
8. Made in God’s Image
9. Sin
10. Grace
11. Redemption
12. Justification
13. Adoption

Part Three: Becoming Like Christ
14. Filled with the Holy Spirit
15. Fruit of the Holy Spirit
16. Trust
17. Love
18. Justice
19. Witness

Part Four: Serving Christ
20. The Church
21. Ministry Gifts
22. Spiritual Warfare
23. Walking in Obedience
24. Sharing the Wealth
Bonus Section: Money
Appendix: Building a Discipleship Ministry
Leader’s Guide

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Greg Ogden

Greg Ogden is a speaker, teacher, and writer with over twenty-four years experience in pastoral ministry. He is the author of several church ministry and discipleship resources such as Discipleship Essentials, Transforming Discipleship, and The Essential Commandment.