DISCIPLESHIP TIPS / FAQ
Introduction to The Discipleship Covenant
The Discipleship Covenant
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands us to all
"go and make disciples". The Lord shared with Dan Bohi, a vision of how one person can change the world by making a lifetime commitment to make 2 Disciples who will commit to making 2 Disciples, who make Disciples.
By implementing a few simple "
Lifestyle Disciplines" on a daily/weekly basis, we will be more able to lead others to becoming more like Jesus.
(See "5 Lifestyle Disclipines" in this section for more details.)
WHAT'S NEXT?
Check out Getting Started: "Discipleship 101"
Getting Started: "Discipleship 101"
Jesus spent time with His Disciples. They learned together ... they shared life together ... they followed Jesus in His examples of daily living. This is a big part of what being/making a Disciple looks like - Sharing life as we grow closer to Jesus, to each other, becoming more like Him.
Each year, you commit to doing this with just two people, and repeat the following year with two new people. And THEY repeat the cycle with two more each, and
THIS is how we change the world!
If you don't believe you're ready to disciple others, then spend the first year
BECOMING a Disciple. We reproduce what we are, so why not make sure we are the best follower of Jesus before leading others?
The Discipleship Cycle
We commit to an annual discipleship cycle. Our cycle runs from January 1 - December 31 (9 months for Bible reading commitments, and 3 months for catching up - if needed).
Be Intentional
Pray and ask the Lord who He would have you disciple.
Prayerfully secure 2 people to commit to the "5 Lifestyle Disciplines" to meet with you each week.
What It Looks Like
Select and meet with 2 others each week for 1 year to help each other establish
for a lifetime this Discipleship Covenant using the "5 Lifestyle Disciplines".
WHAT'S NEXT?
"The 5 Lifestyle Disciplines"
Daily Reading Plans - Adults
We have developed 3 daily reading plans to help guide you as you read God's Word.
LEVEL A - Approx. 15 min/day
This plan is designed to help you read the Old Testament once, and
1X through the New Testament.
VIEW LEVEL A PLAN
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LEVEL B - Approx. 30 min/day
This plan is designed to help you read the Old Testament once, and
3X through the New Testament.
VIEW LEVEL B PLAN
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LEVEL C - Approx. 45 min/day
This plan is designed to help you read the Old Testament once, and
5X through the New Testament.
VIEW LEVEL C PLAN
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For Pastors / Leaders: Sermon Starters
Pastors, we have created 10 Sermon Starter Ideas from each week’s Discipleship Bible Reading Plan for you to use as possible ideas for that week's Sermon.
These Sermon Starters have been ordered to follow along with the posted reading plan, allowing you to share a message that flows with the Scriptures your people are reading through at the same time.
Go To Sermon Starters Page Now
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #2: The 5 Questions
There are 5 Questions that are used to help us
HEAR,
SEE, and
GROW in our time and relationship with Jesus.
1. "Who do you say that I am?"
This is a conversation with Jesus about His NATURE -- About who YOU say He is.
2. “Do you understand what I have done?”
We talk with Jesus about how we have recognized Him at work in the last 24 hours.
3. “Are you listening to me?”
This is a conversation about what He has spoken to me through His written Word (Bible reading).
4. “Do you truly love me more than these?”
I get to share with Jesus, my love for Him.
5. “Do you believe?”
This is a conversation about my faith in Him to empower me to be like Him; to be holy as He is holy; to do what He did; and I express my confidence in Him to meet all my needs.
What If I Don't Feel Ready To Disciple Others?
If you don't believe you're ready to disciple others, then spend the first year BECOMING a Disciple. We reproduce what we are, so why not make sure you are the best follower of Jesus before leading others?
Once you feel comfortable, you can begin to pray and ask Jesus who He would specifically desire for you to help become a better follower / Disciple of His.
Then proceed to the "
Getting Started: Discipleship 101" section of this page and begin a new Discipleship Cycle.
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #1: Bible Reading
BIBLE READING - ADULTS
With our detailed and flexible reading plans, we will read through the Old Testament and the New Testament each year.
Looking for CHILDREN'S READING PLANS? Go Here.
Level A - Approx. 15 min/day
Read through the Old and New Testament
1X
View Level A Plan Now
Level B - Approx. 30 min/day
Read through the Old Testament
1X; New Testament
3X
View Level B Plan Now
Level C - Approx. 45 min/day
Read through the Old Testament
1X; New Testament
5X
View Level C Plan Now
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #2: Prayer
Praying is dialogue with Jesus. He is present, listening, and speaking by His Spirit and through His Word.
Ideally, dialogue with Jesus (pray) using a journal.
We recommend responding to some specific questions Jesus asked His disciples. (SEE "LIFESTYLE #2: The 5 Questions" in this Resources list).
If possible, participate in Dan Bohi Ministries prayer conference calls, online via social media, etc.).
Level A: 15 min / day
Respond to 1 or 2 core questions Jesus asks as time allows.
Goal: Meaningful communication, not the number of questions answered. (See "5 Questions" section on this page).
Level B: 30 min / day
Respond to 3 or 4 of Jesus’ questions, as time allows.
Goal: Meaningful communication, not covering a predetermined number of questions.
Start tomorrow where you leave off today.
Level C - 45 min / day
Respond to 5 of Jesus’ questions each day.
Goal: Meaningful communication with a living Person and Jesus, not getting through the 5 questions. (See "5 Questions" section on this page).
DISCIPLESHIP COVENANT FACEBOOK PAGE
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #3: Fasting
Fasting - to increase time for prayer
Objective - to pursue time with Jesus, in place of a normal activity/meal.
HOW DO I DO IT?
There are many types of fasting (such as from food, social media, screen-time, soda, etc.), but the main point is to substitute a normal event (this is why meals are good choices) for a time devoted to prayer. Instead of eating breakfast, devote that normal time period in prayer. Don't just skip a meal - Intentionally take that time to seek the Lord and spend time talking
AND LISTENING to Him during these times.
TIP: Remember to have your Bible and journal close by, if you're able. When He speaks, you will want to write it down!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Here are some examples of 3 different levels for fasting from food. You may choose to alternate between activities or frequency.
Level A: One meal / week
Level B: One 24-hour period or 3 specific meals / week
Level C: One 48-hour period, or three 24-hour periods, or 6 specific meal times each week
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Don't make it so difficult that it feels more like a job than an honor. The goal is to spend time with Jesus in place of a normal activity/meal.
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #4: Acts of Caring & Mercy
Perform A Specific Act of Mercy - See Matthew 25:31-40
Do one specific act of mercy (at least), alone or as group, each month for one of Jesus’ broken and/or lost sheep … motivated by love for Jesus and others.
In John 21:15-17, Jesus has a conversation with Peter during which He asks Peter, "Do you truly love me more than these?" To which he replied, "Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus' response was: "Take care of my sheep.”
We, like Peter, as a Disciple of Jesus, are to tend to His sheep.
4 TYPES/KINDS OF SHEEP
Because of our authentic love for Jesus, we sincerely partner with Him to care for and feed His lambs and sheep. Which ones? How many? How?
1. Ourselves
2. Our family – those with whom we live
3. A specific few of our church family
4. Specific, long term relationships with lost sheep (especially the under-privileged)
HOW DO I DO IT? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
->Free Download: "Feeding & Care of Sheep" by Hal Perkins
LIFESTYLE DISCIPLINE #5: Intentionally Make Disciples
Make Disciples – Select and meet with 2 others each week for 1 year to help each other establish for a lifetime this Discipleship Covenant of 5 Lifestyle Disciplines. (See "5 Lifestyle Disciplines" on this page/section).
GOALS OF DISCIPLING MEETINGS
Goal 1: All 3 in group profoundly discipled by Jesus’ Body, Word, and Spirit--an authentic encounter together each week.
Goal 2: Individuals, having been discipled in group to be discipled by Jesus, able--in private--to be discipled by Jesus’ Word and Spirit several times per week, and to then make great progress in being discipled moment by moment / led by Jesus’ Spirit all day long.
Goal 3: For all 3 of Jesus’ disciples who are meeting weekly to be intentionally trained (discipled) to effectively make disciples in successive annual discipling cycles.
MEET WEEKLY
Meet weekly to be discipled by Jesus together for 1 hour, or 1 ½ hours, or 2 hours each week. The quantity of time given to meetings impacts the quality of discipling that can be accomplished.
Pre-Recorded Discipleship Conference Calls
You can access previously-recorded conference calls at the bottom of this page HERE.
(web address: https://www.danbohiministries.com/discipleshipcall)
Levels of Discipling
LEVELS OF DISCIPLING
The time commitments for discipling meetings greatly determines the level of discipling that occurs each meeting. How to facilitate each level of being discipled by Jesus’ Body, and His Word, and His Spirit will be taught, modeled, dialogued, and tested for anyone committed to making disciples via DBM Discipleship Initiative.
Level A - 1 hour / week
Discipled by Jesus’ Body
Level B - 1 ½ hours / week
Discipled by Jesus’ Body and Word
Level C - 2 hours / week
Discipled by Jesus’ Body, Word, and Spirit
Daily Reading Plans - Children
There are currently TWO Bible reading plans available for children.
You can read about them in detail
HERE, or skip directly to the daily reading plan of your choosing by clicking on one of the links below.
1 - The Bible-Only Reading Plan - This plan is for use with a standard Bible with your child.
GO TO THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE-ONLY READING PLAN
2 - The Kingstone Bible Reading Plan - This plan is for use with the Kingstone Bible, available for purchase direct from the Publisher;
READ ABOUT IT HERE.
GO TO THE KINGSTONE BIBLE READING PLAN
KINGSTONE BIBLE TRILOGY, PRINT + DIGITAL (ONLINE VIEWING ONLY)
$49.99 (reg. $149.99)
The Kingstone Bible is the most complete graphic adaptation of the Bible ever created. This graphic Bible trilogy contains all 66 books of the Bible, is over 2000 pages in length and consists of over 10,000 art panels.
ISBN 978-1-61328-194-9
How To Start Each Day (suggested)
Below are guidelines/suggestions on how to learn to receive more from your daily reading and prayer time. Choose what works best for you as you get more comfortable with your own routine.
DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE TO PRINT
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HOW TO START EACH DAY by Craig Wesley Rench
1. Look up each day’s reading schedule.
2. Open your Bible to the Gospels reading for that day.
3. Praise the Lord before you start reading for the great time that you are going to have in His Word that day.
4. Thank Him for His Holy Eternal Living Word.
I like to pray something like this before I begin reading:
“Lord, I delight in Your Word! I love Your Word! Help me to delight in Your Word more today than I ever have! I am expecting You to speak to me today through Your Blessed Word! Help Yourself to my heart, Lord!
Speak Lord, through Your Mighty Word — Your servant is listening. Help me to understand and appreciate Your Word right now! As I pick up Your Precious WORD please speak to me through its priceless pages. Reveal the WORD OF THE LORD to me.
Speak to my heart … my spirit … my soul … my mind. Help me to change (repent) and become like Jesus as I see the LORD OF THE WORD revealed. Help me to apply what I am learning. Help me to be an ‘EFFECTUAL DOER’ of your Word and not a ‘forgetful hearer’. (James 1:25) Help me to do what You tell me to do today! I love you, Lord!”
5. Begin to read carefully and slowly. The slower you go — the more you will gain and glean from God’s Blessed Word. “Go Low - Go Slow!”
6. Have your Journal open and your pen ready to write.
7. Put the day’s date in your Journal.
8. Begin to note or jot down verses that seem to stand out to you or speak to you as you read through the various sections of Scripture for that day.
9. After reading the Gospels section move on to the New Testament portion and follow on reading the Wisdom Literature passages for that day and then finish with the Old Testament designated reading.
AT THE END OF YOUR DAY'S READINGS
Ask the Lord 3 simple questions:
QUESTION ONE
Ask the Lord:
“Lord, which verse or passage of Scripture that I just read do You want me to focus on and meditate on before You?”
Listen to His Voice.
-
Write down in your Journal the reference of the verse or verses that the Lord wants you to focus on.
-
Take the time and write out (or type out if you are doing your journaling on a computer) the verse so that it is before you. Later, you will be so glad that you took the time and made the effort to write down the whole passage.
QUESTION TWO
Ask the Lord to speak to your waiting heart about that important passage that He has highlighted for you to pay attention to.
Pray something like this:
“Lord, what do You want to say to me from this passage of Scripture?”
-
Listen quietly.
-
Write down what you sense the Lord is saying to you from that passage.
I like to write in my Journal: “Dear Craig,” as I sit before the Lord. I write these words as if the Lord is about to dictate a letter to me personally. (Of course, you would write your own name in your Journal). Then, I sit quietly before my God. Be still and know that He is God!
Write down what you sense the Lord is saying to you from that passage.
QUESTION THREE
Ask the Lord what He wants you to DO about what He has just told you.
You could ask the Lord this question:
“Dear Lord, what do You want me to DO about what You just told me through Your Holy Spirit and Your Word?”
-
Write down what You sense that He is telling you to do or believe about that verse.
Decide before the Lord if you are going to obey or not! For a Christian obedience is not an option!
Now decide what you are going to do to truly and fully obey the Lord’s command to you. In other words, decide what are you going to
DO about what the Lord has just told you?
Now write out the commitment that, with the Lord’s help, you are going to do about what He just told you to do.
Your Journal is becoming God’s Assignment Book for you! Ask the Lord to truly help you to obey His Voice!
Then, “Just Do It!” Obey your Lord and your God!
Later, after you have obeyed, come back and check it off or mark your Journal so that you know that you indeed did what the Lord just told you to do. Your Journal becomes a log of your obedience!
Praise your Lord for speaking to you through His Powerful Word!
The 5 Questions
There are 5 Questions that are used to help us HEAR, SEE, and GROW in our time and relationship with Jesus.
1. "Who do you say that I am?"
This is a conversation with Jesus about His NATURE -- About who YOU say He is.
2. “Do you understand what I have done?”
We talk with Jesus about how we have recognized Him at work in the last 24 hours.
3. “Are you listening to me?”
This is a conversation about what He has spoken to me through His written Word (Bible reading).
4. “Do you truly love me more than these?”
I get to share with Jesus, my love for Him.
5. “Do you believe?”
This is a conversation about my faith in Him to empower me to be like Him; to be holy as He is holy; to do what He did; and I express my confidence in Him to meet all my needs.
READING PLAN: 3 Daily Questions
These 3 simple questions are designed to help us truly engage with the Holy Spirit as we apply ourselves to reading, studying, meditating and obeying the Word of God.
During daily reading time, we encourage each reader of God’s Word to ask the Lord these 3 questions about what they have just read in His Book:
1. “Lord, which verse or passage of Scripture that I just read do You want me to focus on and meditate on before You?”
2. “Lord, what do You want to say to me from this passage of Scripture?”
3. “Dear Lord, what do You want me to DO about what You just told me through Your Holy Spirit and Your Word?
