Simple steps and tools to help you invite others to follow Jesus in one on one or in a group settings.
More Than Sunday Mornings · Lead
Help someone else
follow Jesus.
You don’t have to be a pastor to make disciples. Start with a relationship, open God’s Word together, and help someone take their next step toward becoming like Jesus.
Choose your starting point
Who are you helping follow Jesus?
Begin where God has placed you. Choose the setting that fits your next step.
Lead one person
Walk alongside a friend, family member, or new believer as you read Scripture and put it into practice.
Begin with one person →Lead a small group
Gather a few people, guide an honest conversation, and help one another follow Jesus.
Get practical guidance →Teach the Bible
Understand the passage, find its main idea, and prepare to explain and apply it faithfully.
Explore commentaries →Lead from the pulpit
Connect your sermon to resources that help your church keep engaging with Scripture throughout the week.
Explore sermon resources →
One person.
One passage.
One next step.
Discipleship can begin over coffee, around a kitchen table, or during a lunch break. You don’t need a ministry title to read the Bible with someone and encourage them to follow Jesus.
Find a journal to walk through together →- Invite someone into a relationship. Ask, “Would you like to read a book of the Bible together?” Agree on a time and rhythm you can both sustain.
- Listen to God’s Word together. Read a manageable passage. Ask what it reveals about God, what it means in context, and how it calls you to respond.
- Help each other take a next step. Choose one specific response, pray together, and follow up the next time you meet.
An invitation you can use
“I’d love to grow in following Jesus together. Would you be open to meeting regularly to read the Bible, talk about what we’re learning, and pray for each other?”
Practical help · Available right here
A healthy group starts simply.
Your role is to help people engage with Scripture, care for one another, and respond to Jesus. Start with these essentials.
A simple rhythm to try
Use this flexible 60–75 minute outline. Adjust it to your group rather than rushing through a checklist.
- Connect · 10–15 minutes Welcome people and ask a simple question that helps everyone participate.
- Read and discuss · 30–35 minutes Read the passage aloud. Explore what it says, what it means, and how it shapes everyday life.
- Respond and pray · 15–20 minutes Give each person room to name a next step. Share prayer requests with permission and pray together.
- Stay connected · 5 minutes Confirm the next meeting and choose a way to encourage each other during the week.
How do I start a small group?
Invite a few people, agree on a consistent time and place, and choose a manageable Bible book or guided journal. Explain the purpose: growing in following Jesus together. If you’re starting a group within a church, connect with its leadership and follow its guidance.
How do I prepare to lead?
Pray for your group. Read the passage in context before the meeting, identify its main idea, and prepare a few open questions. Use the book commentaries when you need help understanding the text. Leave room for people to talk and for the group to respond.
What questions should I ask?
Try these: What stands out in this passage? What does it show us about God? How does the surrounding context help us understand it? What response does it call for? What could obeying that truth look like this week?
What if nobody talks—or one person dominates?
Allow a little silence, simplify the question, or give people a moment to think. Invite participation without putting anyone on the spot. If one person dominates, kindly say, “Thank you for sharing. Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t had a chance yet.” Follow up privately if needed.
What if I don’t know the answer?
Say, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure—let’s look into it.” Return to the passage and its context, consult a reliable commentary or pastor, and follow up at the next meeting. You can model humility without guessing.
How do we move from study to discipleship?
Make room for more than information. Ask how people are responding to Scripture, pray for specific needs, care for each other between meetings, and invite someone to help lead part of the discussion. Growth happens as you practice following Jesus together.
Planned resources include How to Start a Small Group, How to Lead a Small Group, and What Could a Small Group Meeting Look Like? Until those guides are published, use the starter guidance above.
Guided journeys · Explore the journal collection
Give your time together a clear direction.
Use a discipleship journal to bring structure to time in Scripture. Explore the collection and choose a journey that fits the person or group you’re leading.
Luke
Philippians
The Gospels
Mission & Messages
NT260
Prepare to lead · Study the passage
Understand the Word.
Help others live it.
Thoughtful preparation serves the people you lead. Start with the biblical text, then use the commentary resources within each book hub to strengthen your understanding.
Clarity for the conversation.
A practical place to prepare for a Bible discussion, class, or message. Look for help understanding the passage and communicating its truth clearly.
- Read the passage in its context.
- Identify the main idea.
- Consider how to explain and apply the text.
Depth for careful study.
Spend more time with the details of the passage as you explore its background, meaning, and connections throughout Scripture.
- Explore context and the flow of the passage.
- Consider important words and interpretive questions.
- Trace theological themes and biblical connections.
One destination. Choose your book first.
Both commentary options are housed within the book hubs. Open the commentary library, choose the book you’re studying, and explore the resources available there. Availability varies by book.
For pastors and teachers
Carry the message beyond Sunday.
Bring your teaching and supporting visuals together. Explore sermon series resources, then check each kit’s listing for the media and ministry tools included.
Bible Shorts
Big truths from the shortest books of the New Testament.
Ghost Stories
Discovering the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
Money Matters
Explore the Money Matters series and available media resources.
Think beyond the series graphic.
As you browse, look for resources you can use in preparation, group discussion, and follow-up during the week. Kit contents vary; review the individual listing to see whether sermon notes, Pastor’s Guides, devotionals, or guided studies are included.
Putting the tools together
One passage. More ways to help people grow.
You don’t need every resource to begin. Choose the tools that fit the people you’re serving. Here’s how you might connect them around a study of Philemon.
Understand it
Start with the passage.
Read Philemon, then explore its book hub for commentary that helps you understand the letter in context.
Browse book hubs →Walk through it
Read and respond together.
Use a guided journal to give your meetings a rhythm. Discuss what you’re learning and choose a next step to practice.
Browse guided journals →Share it
Connect study and teaching.
If you’re preaching Philemon, explore Bible Shorts for supporting series media. Keep inviting your church to respond during the week.
Browse sermon resources →Lead → Multiply
Help someone become
a disciple maker.
As you help others follow Jesus, invite them to help someone else. Give them opportunities to serve, practice leading, and grow in confidence—with your encouragement along the way.
Who could you invite to lead alongside you?
Ask them to read the passage, lead a question, or pray for the group. Prepare together beforehand and talk afterward about what they learned.
Over time, share responsibility and help them prepare to walk with someone else.
Faithful leadership makes room for another leader.