Disciple Bible Study
What is Disciple? The Disciple is a learner, believer, follower, and proclaimer. In the Bible the word disciple is connected with instruction and training. In 1986, a group of eighteen United Methodist leaders gathered in Flower Mound, Texas, committed to a dream of developing a Bible study for training Christian Disciples. Together they shaped the dream into a vision of what is now the Disciple Bible Study program. What is the Purpose and Goal of Disciple? People are hungry for the word of God, for fellowship in prayer and study, and for a sense of appropriate ministry as baptized, believing, committed Christians. The purpose of Disciple is to develop strong Christian leaders through regular in-depth study of Scripture. Disciple-making and Christian nurturing are its goals. Disciple History at Holman First Lady Diana Masters introduced the Disciple Bible study program to Holman in August 2001 after talking to several members and sensing their desire to have an in depth study of the Bible. All Disciple classes offered at Holman follow the curriculum developed by the United Methodist Church and is designed to give students a deeper understanding of God’s Word Since the introduction of the Disciple Bible study program at Holman, many students have graduated from one Disciples class and moved on to the next class. Some have even become teachers of the courses. Mrs. Masters not only brought Disciples to Holman, but has been directly responsible for introducing the program to many other churches. She’s received many letters from Holman members who have taken Disciples and when they had to relocate, started the program at their new church. As a result of hearing about Holman’s Disciples program and consulting with Mrs. Masters, First African Methodist Episcopal in Pasadena started a Disciples program and are now in their 2nd year. The Disciple courses offered at Holman are as follows: Disciple I: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study A 34-week introductory course of the Bible. It covers the biblical story from Creation to the New Jerusalem. Click here for a list of the weekly topics. Disciple II: Into the Word, Into the World A 32-week study of Genesis – Exodus and Luke – Acts • Teaches basic study skills for going deeper into Scripture • Links Bible study to witness and service in the world. • Emphasizes practice of the spiritual disciplines • Encourages Sabbath-keeping as trusting God • Calls for evaluating and reordering life’s priorities in response to God’s call Disciples III: Remember Who You Are A 32-week study of the Prophets and Paul’s letters • Identifies God’s people as a community of memory • Sets the Prophets and Paul’s writings in historical and geographical context • Introduces the context portfolio of maps and charts • Understands Bible study as a call to repentance -- to turn life toward God • Echoes the demand of the prophets and Paul to put God first -- to be a community obedience Disciples IV: Under the Tree of Life A 32-week study of the Writings (Old Testament books not in the Torah or the Prophets), the Gospel of John and Revelation • Addresses community an individual life • Appeals to the senses and emotions through words, images, dance, music • Taps into the power Psalms with a Psalm of the week • Shows the distinctive character of the Gospel of John • Provides a video-led worship experience of the book of Revelation Due to requests for continued Disciples Bible study, a fifth class entitled Jesus and the Gospels was added in 2005 and a sixth course called Christian Believers will start in August 2007. Registration for Disciple classes are held in August. Each class begins in September and continues through May. Each class meets once a week for a minimum of 2 hours. Class times and meeting days vary. (For example: Disciples I may meet every Tuesday at 7 pm, Disciples II may meet every Saturday at noon, etc.) There is a two-week break during the Christmas/New Year Holidays and a one-week break for Easter. Students are encouraged not to miss more than 1 - 2 classes during the session. There is no enrollment after the first class begins. For more information on the Disciples Bible study program, Mrs. Masters recommends talking to Disciples graduates or those who teach Disciples classes. For a list of Disciples students and teachers, call the church office at (323) 731-7285.
