D-Group Info

Many of you have been asking questions about D-Group, so I decided to put a lot of information here in one place, where I can direct people to it easily. If you're a regular blog reader and you have no interest in this, carry on...

"D-Group" = Discipleship Group. It's like a Bible study, but more intense. Through trial and error, this is how we've found things work best for us.

COMMITMENT:
We meet weekly. You're expected to do the work on your own time and show up weekly to discuss it. You should make this a primary commitment on the night of the week that you're attending. We expect that you'll show up prepared, and we promise that you'll leave challenged and encouraged. :)

You'll be expected to honor this commitment throughout the duration of the study (usually 6-10 weeks). We believe that every person in your life will benefit from your commitment to know God more fully, so we ask you to respect your commitment not only to God and to the group, but to everyone in your life, and attend weekly. If you're sick or out of town, we understand. But if you're just tired or make other plans, that's not cool.

We close the group during the course of each study, so new members have to join during Interim Week (explained below). We cap the group at 12 people. Anything bigger is too large for the intimacy we desire, and usually takes more time than the schedule allows. It's also a good excuse to branch off into another group and train new leadership so we can further our discipleship influence.

SCHEDULE:
D-Group lasts 2 hours, and here's what the general format looks like. In this example, D-Group starts at 7pm, although the groups vary in start time (see below).

6:55pm - Arrive, say hello, whatever whatever.
7pm - Turn off your phone, grab a seat. It's go time.
- Opening prayer
- Individually say memory verses from previous week; we memorize a verse each week
7:15pm - Break off into prayer groups. These are groups of 2-3. Groups stay the same throughout a study.
- Confess / Accountability
- Praise
- Prayer Requests
- NO GOSSIP. You will be shut down immediately.
- Each person prays aloud for the other person in the group.
7:45pm - Discussion time!
- Gather into main meeting area again.
- Discuss the study or sermon series.
- Please contribute whatever insights, questions, or highlights you encountered! We encourage everyone to contribute.
8:35pm - Weekly Challenge
- Share the results of the previous week's challenge. Any interesting stories?
- Then I will share (via video, unless you're in one of the groups I lead) a practical challenge for us to grow deeper.
8:55pm - Closing Prayer
9pm - Group ends

INTERIM WEEK:
Interim Week is the week between studies / semesters / sessions (we use these words interchangeably). During this week, we usually have a potluck dinner party, go out to dinner, go bowling, etc. This is our chance to celebrate what God has done during the past study while welcoming new members for the upcoming study! If you're interested in joining D-Group, Interim Week will be the first thing you attend. Then, your personal study (at home) will begin the next day, and the following week we will discuss Week 1 of the study.

RELATIONSHIPS:
Sometimes we hang out during the week... that's up to each individual group. Invite some girls to lunch! This is how we really come to bond as a group over time. It also helps us to be involved with each other to the degree that we don't waste prayer time "catching up", because we're already caught up! We want this to be a true community. It doesn't mean you'll be best friends with everyone right off the bat, but if you put in the time, pray for these ladies, and show up... it will naturally evolve into some very meaningful relationships.

WHEN & WHERE:
If you want to be in a D-Group, here's a list of times and places that you can choose from. Many of the groups are very diverse in demographics (age, marital status, parental status, etc.), but if you have specific questions, don't hesitate to email me about it (tlc [at] tara leigh cobble [dot] com). In fact, you'll need to contact me to let me know you're interested regardless.

MONDAY
-Anderson / near Chick-fil-A on Hwy 81 / 7-9pm
-Clemson / Woodlands Clubhouse / 6-8pm
TUESDAY
-Florence / Central Florence off Edisto / 5-7pm
-Greenville / Augusta Road area / 7:30-9:30pm
WEDNESDAY
-Anderson / near Exit 19 off I-85 / 7:30-9:30pm
-Charleston / West Ashley area / 6:30-8:30pm
THURSDAY
-Greenville / East North Street area / 7-9pm
-Easley / Syracuse Road area / 6:30-8:30pm

WANTED:
- We are looking to plant a D-Group in Myrtle Beach as well. Please let me know if you're interested in this option! We have a leader and a location... now we just need attendees!
- Several people have expressed interest in a Columbia group. We need a leader and a location for this.

Our next series will be the 6-week study (beginning in September) called "Duty or Delight" by Tammie Head. You can pick up a copy of the Bible study book at LifeWay. Please do not order it online, as it may not arrive in time.

WE START NEW SESSIONS THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19-23, so you will need to let me know prior to the beginning of the study if you're interested in joining one of the groups. Also let me know which group you're specifically interested in, if one if better than the others.

There are only four requirements for joining a D-Group. You must be:

1. Christian
2. Female
3. Committed
4. Teachable

Okayyyyy, that is a lot of info. But it's much easier to have it here in one place than to have to send it to multiple people in separate emails. I really hope you'll join us!

Grace & Peace,
Tara-Leigh