Discipleship is about more than a book, a Bible study, or an author. It is not just for youth and children. It is not a piecemeal program completed by taking random studies. It is not for an elite group of Bible scholars and super-Christians. Discipleship is learning to live out the words of Scripture, while being transformed into the likeness of Christ. It is a deepening grasp of doctrinal truth and fellowship with the company of saints both living and dead. It for all believers. It is a growing zeal to reach lost souls with the Gospel, even if it means taking your family to the ends of the earth.
Group studies can play a role in this, but they have to be focused and purposeful.
essentials aims to provide group discipleship opportunities to adults at Crabapple. The strategy’s name means that discipleship is not for an elite few in the church who are either gifted or interested, but that discipleship is for everyone. The material that we cover is
essential for believers. We host it on Sunday evenings at 5 pm from the fall to the spring. In offering these classes, we are striving to get away from discipleship programs that focus on popular personalities, publishers, and packaging, and focus on the basics—again, the essentials. Things like: evangelism, apologetics, parenting, missions, and theology. At the same time, we hope to offer these classes in a way that people at all levels in their spiritual walk can access.