The Disciplemaking Pathway at Freshwater
During our “Disciplemakers” sermon series, we introduced our Disciplemaking Pathway. The pathway consists of four primary streams, or specific next steps people can consider taking in their faith journey: Outreach, Fresh Groups, Community Groups and Discipleship Groups. This is designed to be a simple pathway for how to be discipled and how to disciple someone else.
Our hope is to give a better understanding of each area on the pathway. Some of these areas have been part of Freshwater for a long time so you might already be very familiar with them, while others are new things that we’re introducing because we’ve identified gaps that need to be filled to better serve our people.
The Disciplemaking Pathway
Outreach: Outreach are opportunities to simply bring people in. This could be something like the Backyard Block Party, our annual outreach event where we can invite others into our Christian community in hopes that maybe they would encounter Christ. A more regular example is a Sunday morning service, where someone shows up wanting to explore their faith and learn about who Jesus is for the first time. It could also be a men’s breakfast or women’s coffee night where new connections are made. Alpha is also a major area for Outreach here at Freshwater where we provide a safe space for individuals to explore the big questions of life, spirituality and faith.
Fresh Groups: Fresh Groups are a 12-week journey for someone who is newer to the faith who wants to learn where to start. This is an area on the pathway for them to walk with a leader and alongside a couple other newer believers. They will begin to learn the core foundations of the faith – like how to read the Bible, how to pray, who the Holy Spirit is, and how to actually live this new life in Christ. Fresh Groups are a great opportunity to walk life-to-life with someone who is further along in their faith journey. They’re also a great place to ask questions, find answers, and to see what walking in faith looks like being modeled day-to-day in the life of another believer.
Community Groups: Community Groups connect believers with other believers who are committed to growing as disciples of Christ within a small-group setting. They generally meet weekly or bi-weekly for fellowship and discussion. In these groups, you’ll study the Scriptures together, talk through the sermon and come alongside each other, side-by-side, as you grow together in your faith. These groups are where real life happens and you help carry each other’s burdens. If you’re struggling with a sin in your life, or you need a push in your faith because you’re stagnant, this is where the group can help encourage and challenge each other towards what a deeper level of faith can mean in their lives.
Discipleship Groups: Discipleship Groups go even deeper. A Discipleship Group is a gathering of 4 to 6 people who commit regularly to meet for at least 18 months, sometimes longer. Individuals in these groups commit to being formed by spiritual practices like Sabbath, solitude, fasting and prayer. In these groups, there is deeper level of accountability where sins are confessed to one another as Jesus commands. These groups are gender specific so that real life can be discussed on a deep, authentic level. This is where great transformation can happen in your spiritual life as you journey together toward deeper intimacy with Jesus.
Our goal is to be a church of disciples who make disciples. The purpose of the Disciplemaking Pathway is to give clear next steps for that process – whether you are seeking Jesus, growing in faith, looking for community, or desiring to go deeper with a small group of people. Click the button below to fill out the interest form to let us know where your next step on the Disciplemaking Pathway might be. Completing the form does not commit you to anything right now, but simply gives us an idea of where on the pathway you would best grow or serve in your current season of life.