Mathetes

Mathetes attempts to follow Jesus’ approach to making disciples. The most notable aspect of Jesus’ approach is that it was deeply relational. He invested most of the time during the three years of His earthly ministry with a small group of people which he designated ‘apostles’ (Matthew 10:2). He often worked with a specific sub-group of three apostles: Peter, James and John (Matthew 17: 1–13, Mark 9:3-13, 13:3 – 4, 14:33,  Luke 8:51). He ate regularly with them (Matthew 9:10), walked through the corn fields with them (Luke 6:1) and went fishing with them (Luke 5:4-7). He kept them close to Himself so that they could not only listen to His teaching, but could observe the way He lived and so learn from His example. It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus’ strategy in making disciples was to “build slowly and build solidly”[1].

The approach to discipleship used in Mathetes follows a similar pattern. Disciples work together in small groups of three or four. The small groups meet regularly to share a meal and to progress together through the course material. Their primary purpose is to support and encourage each other as they learn together how to become disciples of Jesus. Over time, it is hoped that the members of the small groups would form loving, open, trusting accountability relationships with each other. Between two and four small groups meet together in large group sessions every six weeks.

Mathetes extends over thrity six weeks and follows six stages which correspond roughly to six aspects of Jesus’ approach to making disciples.[2] Jesus did not follow these sequentially, but they are evident in various places of the New Testament:

Stage 1: Becoming a Disciple of Jesus
Stage 2: Character of Jesus
Stage 3: Understanding Ourselves
Stage 4: Kingdom of God
Stage 5: Transformation of Character
Stage 6: Great Commission