Discipleship group leaders’ hub

We’re so grateful for this collection of Spirit-filled leaders helping us cultivate the community life of Trinity Church. This ‘hub’ is a dedicated web page where you, as leaders, can find all the information you will need to lead your group.

September Content

As we begin a new term, we are returning to the four core practices of Discipleship Groups: Eat, Share, Pray, and Try.

These practices are designed to help us become like family, be known by one another, grow as disciples of Jesus, and put our faith into action.


Week 1 — EAT

Why eat together?

We eat together because Jesus used the table to show us what God's kingdom is like — a place where people are welcomed, strangers become family, and everyone has a place. When we share meals, we hope to encounter the kingdom together.

This week: Eat a meal together. We know that some groups don't normally eat a full meal together. For our first week back, we're encouraging every group to share a full meal together. It can be something simple like oven pizzas, takeaway, or jacket potatoes where everyone brings a topping.


Week 2 — SHARE

Why share with one another?

We can't be Christians alone. Trinity is now a size where we can’t know everyone, but hopefully through Discipleship Groups, everyone can have someone. We share our lives with one another—our joys, struggles, questions, and stories of what God is doing—so that we can be known and know others. After being apart for August, this is a chance to reconnect and hear how people are really doing.

Questions to help you share:

  • How are you? What has brought you joy or been difficult recently?

  • What has your relationship with God been like? What have you been enjoying, struggling with, or learning?

  • How can we pray for you?


Week 3 — PRAY

Why pray together?

Prayer is one of the ways we make space for God. When we pray together, we remind one another that God sees us, knows us, and hears our prayers.

As Tyler Staton puts it:

“Pray as you can, and somewhere along the way, you will make the most important discovery of your life—the love the Father has for you. That discovery is God’s end of the deal. Your part is just to show up honestly. Show up, and keep showing up. That’s the one nonnegotiable when it comes to prayer.”

1. Look back with gratitude by thanking God for what he has done. 

  • Where have you seen God's goodness?

  • What prayers have been answered?

2. Look forward in hope by praying for what is ahead.

  • What do you sense God is inviting us into? 

  • What are you hoping to see God do this year? 


Week 4 — TRY

Why TRY?

Following Jesus means putting our faith into action. We want to create a culture where we regularly try doing the things Jesus teaches us to do. Success or failure, we celebrate the try.

1. Share your TRY stories

Invite people to share a TRY story, which includes:

  • Sharing a prophetic word. 

  • Telling someone about Jesus. 

  • Doing a miracle. 

Celebrate the TRY. 

2. Make space for the prophetic

The prophetic means listening to God and sharing what we believe he may be saying to encourage someone.

Practise the prophetic together. Invite someone to receive prayer, then have everyone in the group pray for them. Tell your group — if you're new to the praying in this way, a great place to start is with encouragement and blessing. Your prayer can be as simple as “I bless you with joy.”

LEADERS’ HANDBOOK

For more information on our core practices, what it means to be a group leader and more read our Leader’s Handbook here, which includes a guide for the first six weeks of your Discipleship Group.

KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Stay tuned for the date of our next Trinity Leaders’ Gathering

ATTENDANCE

In order to make sure that our Discipleship Groups are serving our whole church family as best as they can we are asking that you take an attendance for your first, last and mid-term gathering. We’ve made this as simple and easy as possible by setting an email reminder for you each time you need to submit an attendance with simple instructions on it - it should take you less than 2 minutes! If you want to find out more read this article.

PASTORAL CARE

While many of you are gifted in supporting and pastoring your Group, this is a responsibility and honour we share together. If you feel that a group member would benefit from some more targeted pastoral support, you can suggest that they get in touch Trinity’s Pastoral Care team. There are two options:

PASTORAL PRAYER

Our pastoral prayer team can meet with you 2 or 3 times over a few months. They will listen and pray with you. This is helpful if something in your life is significantly affecting your relationship with God and others. In these conversations and prayer times we hope to stand with you to bring this before God and see Him work.

To request pastoral prayer please complete this form

ENCOUNTER PRAYER

This is a one-hour prayer session with two people who will guide you as you meet with Jesus. Encounter prayer is often helpful if there’s a memory, thought pattern, or belief that is holding you back. Many people find new freedom and healing during this time.

To request encounter prayer please complete this form

SAFEGUARDING

We ask that all leaders complete the Church of England Basic Awareness 2024 safeguarding course which can be done here: CofE Safeguarding. Once you have done the course, please send your certificate to groups@trinitychurchnottingham.org.

If you have any safeguarding concerns that come up in your group, no matter how small, please don’t hesitate to pass them on to one of the team. Luke Meadows is the parish safeguarding officer for adults at Trinity and will log or action your concern as appropriate, but any one of the safeguarding team would be more than happy to help.