ADULT MINISTRIES

At Discovery, we believe that discipleship entails experiencing God in Christian community, growing in faith and knowledge of God, serving others in the name of Jesus and sharing the good news of Christ with others.  Designed for people of all ages, our Discipleship System (our intentional discipleship strategy) offers year-round opportunities to engage in the life of a disciple.

FALL TRIMESTER     all-church study around a specific book

September – promotion and sign-ups for all-church study small groups

October – participants read the book and meet in small groups

November – participants read the book and meet in small groups

December – specific church-wide service and mission involvement

Past all-church studies have included:

• Unbinding Your Heart, by Martha Grace Reese

• Change the World, by Mike Slaughter

• Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell

• Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton
  
  

WINTER TRIMESTER     Wesleyan Quadrilateral-themed small groups

* The Wesleyan Quadrilateral refers to the principal factors that John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, believed illuminate the core of the Christian faith. The four components or “sides” of the quadrilateral are: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience.  Taken together, the four components bring individuals to a more mature, holistic and fulfilling understanding of faith and life. *

January – promotion and sign-ups for quadrilateral-themed small groups

February – small groups meet and participants read theme-specific books, if applicable

March – small groups meet and participants read theme-specific books, if applicable

April – specific church-wide service and mission involvement

Past Quadrilateral-themed small group studies have included:

Scripture – the Bible: the primary source and standard for Christian doctrine

• Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally by Marcus Borg

• Transformation Journal: A Daily Walk in the Word edited by Applegate, Nilsen Kibbey, and Slaughter

Tradition -- the experience and witness of the development and growth of the faith through past centuries

• A Muslim-Christian Interfaith Discussion Group using The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner

Reason – to an individual’s understanding and appropriation of the faith in light of his/her own life

• Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues by the Rev. Adam Hamilton

• If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland
  
  

Experience – when a person brings discernment and cogent thought to the Christian faith

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni

• Welcoming the Stranger: Christians and Immigration a study developed by Sojourners

SPRING/SUMMER TRIMESTER     affinity- or interest-based small groups

May – promotion and sign-ups for affinity-based small groups

June – participants meet in affinity-based small groups

July – participants meet in affinity-based small groups

August – specific church-wide service and mission involvement

Past affinity-based small groups have included:

• Running – take a run together after worship

• Picnics & Playgrounds – families invited to bring picnics to designated parks

• Discovery Gardening – planting, mulching, maintaining, weeding, cleaning up and beautifying Discovery’s grounds.

• Movie Discussion Group – watch and discuss movies together

• Bicycling – family bike rides on trails in the community

• Friday, Food & Fellowship – adult dining opportunity at restaurants and in people’s homes