Many of us had the great privilege of attending d4 last month. We spent two days together learning how to follow, hear from, and obey Jesus, as well as what it looks like to make disciple-makers. The question I kept asking myself throughout the two days? What does all of this mean for me as a small group leader?

Each one of us, as followers of Jesus, is called to be obedient to the Great Commission: 

And Jesus came and said to them, 

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." 

- Matthew 28:18-20

As small group leaders, you have been entrusted with discipling a group of people. Of course, the responsibility for each individual's journey with the Lord ultimately belongs to Jesus. However, as a spiritual leader placed into the lives of your small group members, he has certainly invited you into the process. 

We looked at how this all of this works at d4 with the help of Dave Beuhring. The ultimate goal is a transformed life, but it is up to God to reveal his character, ways, and mission to us, as well as to transform us to look more and more like him. So where do we come in? And how do we lead those within our small groups toward transformation?

Obedience is the bridge that lies between revelation and transformation. Obedience is where we come in. Obedience is how we lead those within our small groups toward transformation. Dave encouraged us to focus on two questions as we make disciple-makers:

What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you?

How are you going to obey this in your life?

As you lead your small groups this week, this month, or beginning this year, consider incorporating these two questions into your time together - whether connecting with one another socially, growing in your faith by studying God's Word, or serving together in community.  Opportunities for discipleship - and for partnering with God in his transformational work - exist all around you!