What is Discipleship?
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In Colossians 1:28, the Apostle Paul writes, “We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Simply put, discipleship is the lifelong process of spiritual growth, aided by the Holy Spirit and personal relationships. We see in Scripture that discipleship is an important, joyful, and at times difficult process of learning and maturing spiritually.
Based on these two passages of Scripture, Northstar refers to our discipleship ministry as D28. There are many different elements to D28, and we hope that you will find a place both to be discipled and to disciple others!
Discipleship matters at Northstar because discipleship matters to Jesus.
In Colossians 1:28, the Apostle Paul writes, “We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Simply put, discipleship is the lifelong process of spiritual growth, aided by the Holy Spirit and personal relationships. We see in Scripture that discipleship is an important, joyful, and at times difficult process of learning and maturing spiritually.
Based on these two passages of Scripture, Northstar refers to our discipleship ministry as D28. There are many different elements to D28, and we hope that you will find a place both to be discipled and to disciple others!
Discipleship matters at Northstar because discipleship matters to Jesus.
What does discipleship look like?
A D28 group at Northstar will have some key elements.
The group will be made up of a leader and 2-3 participants, all of the same gender. They will meet regularly at an agreed-upon time, and there will be some homework and reading throughout the rest of the week. There will also be time for prayer and sharing in these groups as part of the meeting time. Our goal is to have these groups become an open and honest place for participants to be vulnerable and encouraged in their walk with Christ.
The group will be made up of a leader and 2-3 participants, all of the same gender. They will meet regularly at an agreed-upon time, and there will be some homework and reading throughout the rest of the week. There will also be time for prayer and sharing in these groups as part of the meeting time. Our goal is to have these groups become an open and honest place for participants to be vulnerable and encouraged in their walk with Christ.
Where do I start?
New to discipleship at Northstar? Start with D28: Initiative.
D28: Initiative should be thought of as an “initiation into discipleship,” and thus is the starting point for discipleship at Northstar. The curriculum is based on what it looks like to cultivate an intimate love relationship with Jesus, and is focused on the ideas of intimacy, humility, obedience, and influence. D28: Initiative ensures that all those involved in D28 have a common understanding of what it means to have and grow a relationship with God, and some common language to describe that relationship. Your discipleship journey does not stop with the Initiative! There are many options available to you for continuing discipleship.
New to faith? Start with D28: Follow.
D28: Follow is for those who are new to the Christian faith, or maybe have just never learned what it means to be a Christian. This curriculum is made up of 10 sessions based on different commands of Christ, and covers everything from salvation, baptism, the Lord's Supper, to prayer and disciple-making. It is designed as a first step before the Initiative to help newer believers get a grasp on the basics of faith before moving on in their discipleship journey. If you are excited about following Jesus, but wondering where to start and what to do, D28: Follow will help you get started on your walk with the Lord!
How do I sign up?
D28 groups start a few weeks into each semester (Spring, Summer, Fall), but we are flexible and can start groups at any time. Fill out the interest form below, where you will be able to share a bit about yourself and what discipleship track you are interested in. We are excited to see how God uses our discipleship ministry to encourage and grow us in our walk with the Lord!