1. How do I handle a member who is attending several Dgroups?

Clarify their intentions by asking them why they are doing this. It may be possible that the person simply wants to have many mentors, but you can remind them that the goal of a Dgroup is discipleship, which involves commitment and accountability. If this is the case, it is best that they select one group to commit to.

2. How do I handle members who are active with their downline but not with their upline/D12?

Talk to them about the importance of being spiritually fed and their need to be accountable to a discipler. Remind him or her that one cannot pass what one does not have – including spiritual feeding and accountability through a discipleship relationship.

3. If a member expressed the desire to join but rarely joins Dgroup meetings or has never been present for a long time, do we remove them from the Dgroup list? How about members who do not respond anymore?

Don’t be discouraged — sometimes people are in certain seasons in their lives that cause them to act this way, make them busy, or affects their schedules. You cannot control the person’s response, but continue praying for them and show them love when the opportunity arrives. If possible, speak to them heart to heart and ask why they’re having a hard time attending. Be patient with them and treat your members like your children. We simply don’t remove our kids from our family — perhaps the only time you remove them from the list is when they indicate that they want to transfer or leave your group.

4. I’m slowly losing motivation to disciple others who are rejecting invitations. Any tips?

Focus on being a good relative or friend to them. Continue to pray for them regularly. Practice pray, care, share. Be patient and wait for God’s timing. Remember Galatians 6:9-10 — Don’t lose heart, keep doing good! In due time you will reap. Just remember that the goal is not to get someone into your group, but to show them God’s love in action so that the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts.

5. How do I handle members who are constantly promising to attend our Dgroup meeting but are not showing up?

Talk to them. Lovingly tell them that you value truth, honesty, and keeping the word. If the person feels that they cannot commit to attend, then it’s okay to let the person go. You can help them find another Dgroup more suitable for them as well.

6. I’m already a Dleader but I don’t have active members. Sometimes I get busy and lose the drive to disciple, as I’m also facing struggles. What should I do?

Spend time with the Lord regularly. There’s no substitute to real Spiritual growth than immersing oneself in the word. You may want to take a short, personal retreat between you and the Lord to seek His direction for you. Also be transparent to your Dleader about your condition.

1. How do I handle members who are not yet willing to lead even though they have already been attending Dgroup for few years?

Give more time to those who are willing, as it is only fair to “move with the movers.” But keep seeing the reluctant ones for who they can become, not as they are now. Do not despair; continue to cast vision and model servant leadership. Have a heart to heart talk with them and keep praying for them. You may encourage them to attend GoViral and see how simple it is to facilitate a group, or have them co-lead a group until they are confident to handle one of their own.

2. How do I handle a member that I see as a potential leader but says they are unready because they have something to deal with internally first?

Keep on training, encouraging, and building up the person; believe in their potential and continue to cast vision. Be patient, let God work in them and allow the Holy Spirit to stir their heart towards discipling others. Do all possible to know exactly what is going on in the life of that member so you can be of genuine and practical help.

3. One of my members has expressed intention to lead a Dgroup but she is pregnant out of wedlock, with plans to get married because of this. Should I allow her to start a Dgroup?

For the sake of the body of Christ, the person should not be given the responsibility to lead a Dgroup yet. Give her some time to grow and develop in character first. But by all means, encourage her that God uses all sort of imperfect people – including you, her leader – and that the Lord can redeem her situation and use it for His glory.

1. Can I share my challenges to my members, or does it always have to be addressed to my D12/upline?

The leader should be as open to their disciples, and vice versa. Discipleship is not a one way street — we can learn from both our D12/upline and downlines.

2. What can I talk about with my downline during a one-on-one session to make it more meaningful and not just chatter?

We have a list of accountability questions that can help you have a more meaningful one-on-one with your disciple:

• Do you have regular quiet time, Bible reading, and prayer?
• How is your relationship with your spouse and children, parents and siblings?
• Did you share the Gospel last week? Who are you discipling?
• How is your thought life? Have you looked at any questionable material?
• Have you been in a situation where your feelings towards a man/woman became inappropriate?
• How is your financial life? Any debts? Have you been faithfully giving your tithes to the Lord?
• Are there any challenges or struggles in your personal life, family, work, or ministry?

3. How do I respond to my members when they repeatedly call or address me as “Pastor”?

Remind them that you are not, and that you are all are the same — that you are brothers in Christ.

1. How should I disciple a Christian who is attending another church but wants me to disciple them?

Disciple them as you would any other disciple. Helping others to grow in the Lord is always good! Best of all, challenge that person to teach what he learns about discipleship back at his church so they can also pursue the Great Commission.

2. How do I handle a member who belongs to a certain traditional religion and have expressed that they are not ready to change their religion?

Be patient with them. Respect their decision, but constantly teach them God’s word and allow it to convict them. Most of all, remind them that the issue is not religion but their need for a personal relationship with the Lord.

3. I have members who are from other churches and they tend to get bored with our pattern of Dgroup. How do I address this?

You can do breaks or create a way to spice up your meetings. Rather than having a regular program, think of ways to make the meeting more fun. But in the end, the goal of the group is discipleship and transformation, not entertainment. Don’t be pressured to embellish your group meetings, especially if the ones giving feedback may not be in total agreement with the whole idea of small group discipleship.

4. My disciple’s parents don’t want them to participate in a Dgroup because they’re from another Christian church. This church does not have a discipleship ministry, and their Bible studies are meant for the general congregation, with little accountability and intentionality. My disciple is keen on attending but is conflicted because of this. How do I handle this?

Indeed, children are to obey and honor their parents. What you can do for now is to pray that God would open the hearts of their parents so they would see the need for discipleship and accountability. If your disciple cannot attend anymore because the parents prohibit them, you can suggest that they ask their parents if they would allow one-on-one with you instead. As you continue to disciple the person, help them build Christ-like influence towards their parents. Hopefully they would see the importance of discipleship in your disciple’s changed life.

1. I have a member who is not able to adapt to a virtual set-up and is more comfortable in sharing in person. How do I respond to them when they want to meet in person instead of online?

You may meet with them in person if you are comfortable with it. While it is good to meet physically, it is important for you to consider the government’s safety protocols and guidelines for meeting physically. This is important since we want to obey our authorities especially during this time of lockdown.

2. Given our current situation, how will I encourage disciplers in my group who are emotionally tired and seem to have a hard time keeping up with the weekly meetings?

Continue to pray for them, and check in with them personally to find out how they are doing. You may join them once in a while during their Dgroup meeting to encourage them. Zoom fatigue is real, so you can suggest that they hold their Dgroup every other week or shorten their meetings to maximize impact and minimize stress.

1. When we start a new group using GoViral thru Zoom, when and how can we be considered an official CCF Dgroup?

Be sensitive to the members before registering the group. If they are regularly watching CCF services and understand that the group is a CCF Dgroup, you may register through smallgroups.ccf.org.ph. But if they are new believers, they may not be comfortable with being considered as a CCF Dgroup member. Help them grow, and then get them more connected with CCF over time.

2. I have a group that I consistently meet online during Sunday services and discuss the questions with after. How do I transition them to a Dgroup?

You can tell your Sunday group what a CCF Dgroup is all about and let them know you want to continue meeting them in that capacity.

3. Is it okay to include live-in partners in a couples Dgroup?

Definitely! A couples Dgroup would be the best venue to influence unmarried couples to follow God’s design for marriage and for family. You may lovingly encourage them to make it right with God by getting married. Please feel free to ask your Area Pastor for help and advice.

1. How do I deal with a leader who is critical, discouraging, and thinks they are always right?

It is best to talk to them directly and inform them that some members are already being hurt by his actions. If the matter needs to be elevated, do so with your pastor.

1. How do I continue leading when I am struggling with a habitual sin? Am I qualified to lead a group in this state?

None of us is perfect. We all sin. What is serious is living a lifestyle of deliberate and rebellious sin. Ask God for forgiveness and truly repent, then sit down with your upline/D12 leader and seek counsel by share it with them. They will guide you through whether you should continue leading your Dgroup or take a break. It will also be best to come clean to your Dgroup and share what you’re going through.

The key to your sin is to FLEE. You can have victory over this. You are not hopeless. God who lives in you gives you the power to say NO. Surrender and yield to Him.

2. I know the importance of being spiritually fed but I feel like I’m not growing because I’m not being discipled properly. The discussions with my D12/upline are shallow, and it’s more focused on attendance rather than growth and transformation. I’m thinking of joining a different group but I don’t know how to proceed.

It’s okay to be honest to your D12/upline leader about how you feel. Talk to them, explore options, and find the best solution so you can be helped spiritually.

1. How do I handle members who are constantly struggling with the same sin? They know how to say the right thing during Dgroup but then I find out later that they have committed the same sin again.

This can be tricky and frustrating. But if there is clearly no evidence of transformation, you may need to view that person as if he is not yet truly saved. Graciously warn him that willful sin will have consequences sooner or later. When a person keeps staying and dealing with the same sin, they may not understand the way God looks at them and how precious they are in God’s eyes. When they see how loved they are and how God has given His Son for them, this will change their understanding and cause them to desire to do what God wants them to do. You may want to teach them Ephesians 1 and ask them to meditate on it as well.

Don’t judge him but look at him with compassion as you would someone who is lost. Listen to their heart as to why they are struggling and help them see how God truly loves them and wants the best for them. Be patient with them as God has been with you, and keep reaching out to them with the love of God.

2. I just started leading a Dgroup and I have a disciple who is having suicidal thoughts every day. How can I approach them effectively?

If people share suicidal thoughts, we need to take it seriously. If you feel it is difficult to deal with, you can ask help from your upline/D12 leader, area pastor, or the Pastoral Care Department.

3. I have a member who is in a same sex relationship. How will I tell them to obey God without hurting them?

Speak the truth in love. Assure the person that you still love him/her regardless of his/her decision.

4. Is it a sin to feel lonely/loneliness as a Christian?

No it is not a sin. The Lord Jesus himself was very transparent about his emotions. He got angry, He cried, He got lonely, but He never sinned. He processed His emotions by drawing closer to the Father. We encourage you to do the same. Jesus loves you. He promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 11:28-30 — “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

5. How do I handle a member who is living in with their partner?

Encourage your member to get married in obedience to God’s word and to show their commitment to their partners. Marriage is a picture of Jesus’ relationship with us which is a committed relationship.

6. One of my members is hesitant to do Obedience-Based Bible Study (OBBS) because they are not comfortable in doing it and they think paraphrasing the Bible in your own words is not right. How do I explain in a loving manner?

Explain that all Tagalog or English translations of the Bible are paraphrases. But if the person is still uncomfortable with the process, don’t force them.

1. Every Dgroup leader must have an up-line Dgroup leader and must be regularly participating in the Dgroup meetings under that leader for accountability.

We need to be connected to each other for mutual encouragement, accountability, and protection, serving together and helping each other grow in Christlikeness. Every DGroup leader must also be under an Area/Satellite Pastor. If for any reason you or your DGroup leader are no longer with CCF, please inform Discipleship Management or your Area Pastor for endorsement of your group to another DGroup leader.

2. The weekly materials for Dgroup discussion should be based on the Sunday worship service messages and then our GLC materials before using other materials.

God leads His local church through His appointed pastors. Therefore, discussing the messages in the DGroup meetings is important for review, application, and transformation. The 4Ws Small Group Guide is provided weekly to aid in this. You may download a soft copy of this material from the CCF website (www.ccf.org.ph/4ws). In addition, to help ensure systematic progress in our spiritual life, you may use the DGroup meeting as a venue to complete the GLC curriculum. Please visit the GLC website (glc.ccf.org.ph) for more information.

If, after discussing the message-based 4Ws and completing GLC, you would like to take up other materials in your Dgroup, kindly seek the approval of your up-line Dgroup leader or your Area Pastor, or send an email to Ptr Peter Tan-chi ([email protected]) and/or Ptr Ricky Sarthou ([email protected]). Other resouces can also be found on our website at the resources tab (ccf.org.ph/resources), at the DLeader’s Corner (ccf.org.ph/dleaders-corner), and by utilizing CCF’s resource subscription to Right Now Media (rightnowmedia.org) for commitment card holders*.

* To sign-up for a commitment card, go to ccf.org.ph/commitment-card.

3. DGroups should not use the DGroup for business or borrowing money.

Our DGroups are for life-on-life discipleship. Its purpose is not for business transactions, network marketing. selling goods, and borrowing of money. These are not to be practiced in the DGroup.

4. DGroups are challenged to multiply.

In obedience to the Great Commission, let us make it our goal for all DGroup leaders, to prayerfully identify, equip, and empower all DGroup members to become DGroup leaders. Two practical suggestions that can be considered in multiplying our DGroups would be by: 1) Using the Go Viral Process, and 2) Disciple immediate family members and start a family DGroup.

We are also encouraging every leader to plug their DGroup via CCF’s Small Groups Account. For those who are already registered, don’t forget to update your information to make sure that the email address and contact number are up to date. For those who are planning to start their own group, you can create your account by going to smallgroups.ccf.org.ph. Go to go.ccf.org.ph/StartADGroup to view the tutorial.

If you have friends or relatives who wants to join a DGroup, they can sign-up at the same portal (smallgroups.ccf.org.ph). To view the tutorial, go to go.ccf.org.ph/JoinDGroup.

If any of these guidelines are not being followed in your DGroup, please share this with your Area/Satellite Pastor. It is important for you to do so to ensure that we move forward together in this discipleship process of making Christ-Committed Followers.