Deepen Your Discipleship

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These pages are about deepening your discipleship – both your own and the people in your church or small group.

Support others in their discipleship journey – Access small groups resources, CYF materials, guidance for leadership, Method and Discipleship Pathways

Mention here that support is always available and link to Need support?

Contents

• What is discipleship?
• Start your discipleship journey with Jesus
• Grow in your discipleship journey with Jesus
• A Methodist Way of Life
• Explore faith

What is discipleship?

Discipleship is the process of encountering Jesus and following Jesus, learning his way of life and putting it into practice, and even being changed to be more like him in how we love, live and serve.

It’s more than simply believing in something, and more than practising a set of teachings. It’s a living relationship with God, and the lifelong journey of growth and transformation shaped by that relationship.

Rooted in community through the Church, discipleship is not done alone: we learn together, support and grow together, sharing in God’s mission of love, hope and renewal in the world.

Start your discipleship journey with Jesus

Following Jesus begins with a simple but life-changing step: responding to the God who already knows you, loves you and calls you by name. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need perfect faith or perfect answers. You just need a willingness to explore what it means to trust Jesus and to let his way shape your life. Our churches are here to walk with us, to help us ask questions, discover faith and take our next steps.

One of the best ways to get started is getting to know others. You could visit your local Methodist church (find a church near you). Just visit one of the worship services or contact the minister and let them know that you would like to know more.

On The Way is a course made for people who would like to explore faith and what it means to follow Jesus as well as Christians seeking a refresher in deepening faith. Your local minister will be able to tell you when the next one is running.

??? Find out more about small groups resources to support you.

Discipleship Pathways

How do people start following Jesus? What does this look like in a local context? Here are some examples.

Grow in your Discipleship Journey with Jesus

Growing in and deepening your spirituality is about more than adding new practices. It's about learning to recognise God’s presence in every part of life and allowing that awareness to shape who you are becoming. Many people reach a point in their faith where they long for more:

• richer prayer
• a broader understanding of Scripture
• new ways of worshipping
• a clearer sense of how God speaks and guides us today.

The Methodist Church offers ways to help you explore the depth and breadth of Christian spirituality. Whether you are seeking to strengthen your own discipleship or to support others in theirs, this is a place ??? to stretch your understanding, deepen your relationship with God and discover practices that sustain faith for the long journey.

On The Way is a course made for Christians seeking a refresher in deepening faith. Your local minister will be able to tell you when the next one is running.

??? Find out more about small groups resources to support you.

We run events and webinars throughout the year for individuals and church leaders to explore what this means for them.

A Methodist Way of Life

A good way to grow your spirituality in the Methodist tradition is through A Methodist Way of Life, which offers a path through twelve spiritual practices for everyday living. Each practice, like a stop along your journey, can become a ‘thin place’, a moment where God’s presence becomes clearer, helping us to encounter God’s love and grace in the ordinary and be transformed by it.

Explore faith

EXPLAIN HOW LINKS IN WITH DISCIPLESHIP: Faith is what we have, discipleship is how we live out our faith.

Exploring faith helps us:

• deepen our understanding of God
• ask honest questions
• discover how faith connects with our everyday lives
• create space for curiosity, learning and reflection
• remain open to where the Holy Spirit may be leading us.

Exploring faith is not only for those who are new to Christianity. Throughout our lives, new experiences, challenges and opportunities can invite us to see God in fresh ways.

As we explore scripture, theology, worship and the experiences of others, our faith can mature, our confidence can grow and our relationship with God can be strengthened. In this way, exploring faith becomes an important part of deepening discipleship and continuing the journey of transformation in Christ.

Start exploring...

This is a good place to explore questions you might have and find out about how other people experience faith and spirituality.

Need support?

We’re here to come alongside you on this journey. We can provide resources, support and practical encouragement to help individuals and churches listen to the Holy Spirit and partner with God’s work.

If you cannot find what you are looking for, please get in touch: