Discipleship Anatomy 101

Discipling happens in many ways and many contexts. It can be:

1. relational
2. conversational
3. pastoral
4. missional
5. instructional
6. collaborative
7. and more

Thinking in terms of Discipleship Anatomy can help us identify and lean into these different contexts.

Side-by-Side

Activity-driven context for those who may not yet be ready or comfortable with face-to-face connection, are still learning how to converse comfortably, or need to move physically in order to focus.

May include play, action, or competition, interspersed with questions, conversation, and listening.

1. active
2. relational
3. conversational
4. comfortable
5. onramp to deeper connection

Face-to-Face

Meeting with a small group of people to talk about life and Jesus.

May include friendly chit-chat, discussion, prayer, Bible study, creative activities, and food (for sure food).

1. relational
2. conversational
3. devotional
4. instructional

Eye-to-Eye

Meeting one-on-one to encourage and guide someone toward personal development and spiritual growth.

May include everything in Face-to-Face, plus deeper levels of guidance, challenge, teaching, and encouragement.

1. relational
2. conversational
3. devotional
4. instructional
5. pastoral

Knee-to-Knee

Specific one-on-one times of deep challenge beyond what happens in Eye-to-Eye, focusing not just on development and growth but on direction and even redirection when needed.

May include prayer, Bible study, deep (even difficult) conversations, pastoral listening, guidance, correction, affirmation, and counsel.

1. relational
2. pastoral
3. instructional
4. exhortative
5. corrective  

Shoulder-to-Shoulder

Working together in service or mission.

1. relational
2. missional
3. collaborative
4. Kingdom-context
5. service-centered
6. sacrificial 

Hand-in-Hand

The joining of two or more followers of Jesus in prayer, partnership, solidarity, and unity, declaring that we are family, we serve the same God, we are saved by the same Christ, we share the same Spirit, we have a common hope, and we love one another sincerely.

Reflect - Discuss

• What discipling context is most comfortable for you and why? (side-by-side, face-to-face, etc.)
• What discipling context is least comfortable for you and why?
• In what context does most of your discipling ministry currently happen? How do you prepare for and engage with it?
• What are some ways you can move your discipling contexts to the next level?
• How and by whom are you discipled in a deep "knee-to-knee" way as described above? How have you grown and changed through that?