A discipleship band is neither a traditional small group nor a typical accountability group. The primary curriculum is the lives of its participants, joined together in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
What is a discipleship band?
A discipleship band is a group of three to five people who read together, pray together, and meet together to become the love of God for one another and the world.
A discipleship band is a group of three to five people who read together, pray together, and meet together to become the love of God for one another and the world.
Commitments to join a band:
be consistent
Show up for meetings, and share within 15-20 minutes.
be considerate
Don’t interrupt, give advice, or try to fix problems.
be courageous
Share honestly, and as deeply as you are ready.
be compassionate
Show grace and affirm the forgiveness we have in Christ.
be confidential
What’s shared here, stays here—always.
be consistent
Show up for meetings, and share within 15-20 minutes.
be considerate
Don’t interrupt, give advice, or try to fix problems.
be courageous
Share honestly, and as deeply as you are ready.
be compassionate
Show grace and affirm the forgiveness we have in Christ.
be confidential
What’s shared here, stays here—always.
I want to join a band, what are the next steps?
Fill out this form:
Wait for a response:
Prepare for your first meeting:
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to join a band if I attend Kingdom Collective?
This is where the description goes.
How are bands formed? Do I choose?
****We consider this a matter that you should enter with some level of prayer and discernment. There may be people in your life who you already feel a sense of spiritual connection with. There may be friends whom you have known for some time who also have a desire to grow deeper in their faith. If you do not know who to band with, you can still sign up and we will place you in a group!
How frequently do bands meet together?
Bands should meet every-other-week, either in person or virtually via phone or video call.
How long do band meetings last?
The length of the meeting will depend on how many people are in your band. It is suggested to have a minimum twenty minutes for each person in the group. For example, a group with three participants would be about one hour.
My schedule makes it hard to meet in person, is there a virtual option?
Yes, there is an option for virtual banding! The key is not so much face-to-face as it is person-to-person. Some bands may also take a hybrid approach. They may determine from week to week what can work: in-person, video call, or phone call. It is important to be flexible and innovative while staying true to the purpose of banding.
Are bands a forever commitment?
No, **** expand on this
Where did the practice of banding come from?
John Wesley was originally introduced to a form of band meetings by the Moravians in 1738. His meetings gathered a small number of people together and divided them by marital status and gender. Our desire is not to replicate his band meeting model exactly, but rather to find a new model to live out what was at the heart of the band meeting—namely, deeper discipleship in the context of strong relationships. For Wesley, the purpose of the band meeting was summarized in James 5:16a: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
Who is the discipleship band for?
Anyone who desires to grow in love for God and neighbor. It is for those desiring to share life on a deeper level with a few others. It is for those who wish to share joys and burdens and pray and be prayed for. Most important, these groups are for ordinary, everyday people who face real life and want to journey with real people.
What if I am not comfortable going this deep?
We recommend that you view the band questions as an aid to your sharing time—it is not required that each person answer all the questions each time that you meet. For a season, the group could decide to just answer question one for the first month of meeting.
What if I am not comfortable sharing personally in front of others?
For some, the invitation to take fifteen minutes and share about yourself with others sounds like your worst nightmare. You may choose to share less on any given week and this will be fine. Perhaps, if you feel you have nothing to share, you may simply take a pass or just ask to have people pray for you. This is okay!
Are bands made up of the same gender?
Yes, bands should be same gender groups in order to increase the possibility of sharing with openness and honesty, and enforces healthy boundaries among men and women in our church family.