This highly-informative handbook is intended to help congregations implement the task of making disciples in their own community. Go Make Disciples provides updated resources for preparing adults for baptism or affirmation of baptism, and for Christian discipleship. Appropriate for a wide range of Protestant denominations, especially Lutheran, Episcopal, Anglican, United Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed traditions.
Materials intended for group use and distribution are available on the companion CD-ROM, which is sold separately.
“This ecumenical guide to the restored catechumenate is brimming with worship suggestions, personal stories, sample
outlines for instructional sessions, hundreds of bullet points, even a glossary, for those churches that want, not merely to
increase their membership, but to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Congregations considering the catechumenate as well as
those already engaged in this way of making disciples will find much assistance in this accessible handbook.”
Gail Ramshaw
Lutheran Theologian
LaSalle University
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“… offers a map and a trail guide for taking the Jesus road, beginning with hearing the stories and telling the tales of that
journey. This is a guide for leaders and congregations who want to help themselves and others learn to walk in company,
how to climb the hills and keep going in the dark, and above all, how to make this the journey of your life, toward the Reign
of God.”
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
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“You’ll find within these pages rich insights, reasoned wisdom, and a paradigm-shifting view of the possibility of the church’s
tomorrow. Sink your teeth in; it will be worth every effort.”
Andrew Root
Presbyterian Theologian
Luther Seminary
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“Recovering Christian initiation as a part of a congregation’s mission always brings new life into the congregation. Now
those congregations that want to recover this exciting part of mission have a handbook to help them begin!”
Tim Whitaker,
Florida Area Resident Bishop
The United Methodist Church
11 . . . . . Foreword
Introduction
14 . . . . . Welcome to Making Disciples!
16 . . . . . Using This Handbook
18 . . . . . The Shift from Membership to Discipleship
21 . . . . . Shifting to Discipleship: Stories from the Field
23 . . . . . Understanding the Process for Making Disciples
26 . . . . . A Ministry of Welcome
28 . . . . . An Overview of the Disciple Making Process
30 . . . . . An Overview of Rites of Discipleship
32 . . . . . What Is Offered to People Who Are Already Baptized?
33 . . . . . Baptized People Are Invited to Discipleship
34 . . . . . Non-member Parents Requesting Baptism for Their Children
Getting Started
38 . . . . . Why Be Involved in Making Disciples?
44 . . . . . Why Should the Congregation Care about Making Disciples?
45 . . . . . Is the Congregation Ready to Do This?
50 . . . . . Evangelization and Making Disciples
52 . . . . . Encouraging Relational Evangelism
53 . . . . . Starting a Disciple Making Team
58 . . . . . The Pastor’s Role in the Disciple Making Process
61 . . . . . Recruiting and Training Team Members
63 . . . . . Leadership Skills
64 . . . . . Scheduling the Disciple Making Process
66 . . . . . Launch Guide for Making Disciples
68 . . . . . Fifty Ways to Involve the Congregation in Making Disciples
Inquiry
76 . . . . . Snapshot of Inquiry
77 . . . . . Welcome
78 . . . . . Actions of the Inquiry Stage
79 . . . . . Gathering Inquirers
82 . . . . . Suggested Outline of an Initial Inquiry Session
84 . . . . . Storytelling
87 . . . . . Identifying Sponsors
89 . . . . . Suggested Outline of Subsequent Inquiry Sessions
91 . . . . . Preparation for the Rite of Welcome
Exploration
94 . . . . . Snapshot of Exploration
95 . . . . . Reflection on the Rite of Welcome
96 . . . . . Exploration
97 . . . . . Actions of the Exploration Stage
99 . . . . . Suggested Outline of Weekly Exploration Sessions
101 . . . . Topics for Groups in the Exploration Stage
102 . . . . Intercessory Prayer for Disciple Making Groups
103 . . . . Discernment for Baptism
104 . . . . Preparation and Rehearsal for the Rite of Enrollment
Intense Preparation
108 . . . . Snapshot of Intense Preparation
109 . . . . Reflection on the Rite of Enrollment
110 . . . . Intense Preparation
111 . . . . Baptismal Preparation
112 . . . . Ideas for Lent and the Three Days
114 . . . . Suggested Outline of Weekly Sessions during the Stage of Intense
Preparation
116 . . . . Additional Suggestions for Sessions during the Stage of Intense
Preparation
119 . . . . Retreat for Candidates and Sponsors
120 . . . . Water Life: A Bible Study on Baptism and Water Images
122 . . . . Preparation for Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism
Baptismal Living
126 . . . . Snapshot of Baptismal Living
127 . . . . Reflection on Baptism or the Affirmation of Baptism
128 . . . . Baptismal Living Sessions
129 . . . . Ideas for the Easter Season
131 . . . . Mystagogical Reflection
133 . . . . Ministry in Daily Life
134 . . . . Exercises in Identifying Ministries in Daily Life
136 . . . . Preparation for the Rite of Affirmation of Vocation
137 . . . . Beyond Baptism and Affirmation of Baptism
Additional Resources
140 . . . . Scripture Reflection Methods
African Bible Study or
Collatio
Visualizing the Text
Martin Luther’s Four-Stranded Garland
144 . . . . Supplemental Models for Disciple Making Sessions
149 . . . . Small Group Blessings and Prayers
Prayers before Reading the Scriptures
Prayers and Thanksgivings after Reading and Praying the Scriptures
Prayers and Blessings to Conclude a Session
Additional Prayers and Blessings
156 . . . . Rehearsing the Rites
159 . . . . A Word to Preachers
162 . . . . Preaching to Catechumens
165 . . . . Sampling the Ecumenical Rites
168 . . . . Denominational Rites for Making Disciples
173 . . . . Constructing a Temporary Font
174 . . . . Praying for Those Preparing for Baptism and the Newly Baptized
176 . . . . Making Disciples in Intercultural Settings
181 . . . . Adapting the Process of Making Disciples to Your Congregation
183 . . . . Cata-What? A Brief History of the Catechumenate
186 . . . . Forming Christians, Transforming Congregations
189 . . . . Dates for Easter and Related Days
191 . . . . Contributors
193 . . . . Acknowledgments
195 . . . . Glossary
201 . . . . Bibliography
207 . . . . Contents of Companion CD-ROM
