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Discipleship Curriculum

GO MICRO – Transforming and Multiplying Disciples Through MicroGroups

GO MICRO is a relational disciple-making and multiplication model developed by Greg Ogden and the Global Discipleship Initiative (GDI). It combines intentional discipleship in groups of 3–4 people with a…

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GO MICRO is a relational disciple-making and multiplication model developed by Greg Ogden and the Global Discipleship Initiative (GDI). It combines intentional discipleship in groups of 3–4 people with a structured, Bible-based training curriculum.

The central approach: MicroGroups provide the relational environment, while Discipleship Essentials – A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ provides the foundational training content. Together, they equip believers to grow into mature followers of Jesus who make more disciples.

Start small. Go slow and deep. Think BIG.

1. The GO MICRO Disciple-Making Model

  • Group size: 3–4 people, preferably of the same gender.
  • Duration: Approximately 12–18 months.
  • Meetings: Weekly, typically around 90 minutes.
  • Foundation: Scripture, trusting relationships, mutual accountability, and a shared covenant.
  • Training: The 25-study Discipleship Essentials curriculum.
  • Multiplication: Participants are equipped to facilitate new MicroGroups.

Groups can meet in homes, churches, workplaces, coffee shops, or other suitable locations. They are designed to be simple, relational, and reproducible without requiring formal theological education.

2. Discipleship Essentials – The Core Training Curriculum

Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ is Greg Ogden’s foundational discipleship workbook, published by InterVarsity Press (IVP). The revised and expanded edition (2019) contains 25 Bible studies organized around four major areas of Christian discipleship.

Each study combines biblical teaching with personal preparation, Scripture study, reflection, discussion, and practical application. The workbook also includes guidance for disciple-making leaders.

Part 1 – Growing Up in Christ

Studies 1–6: Establishing the foundations of discipleship.

  1. Making Disciples
  2. Being a Disciple
  3. Quiet Time
  4. Bible Study
  5. Prayer
  6. Worship

Goal: Help believers understand what it means to follow Jesus and develop essential spiritual habits.

Part 2 – Understanding the Message of Christ

Studies 7–13: Understanding the Gospel and our identity in Christ.

  1. The Three-Person God
  2. Made in God’s Image
  3. Sin
  4. Grace
  5. Redemption
  6. Justification
  7. Adoption

Goal: Establish a biblical understanding of God, humanity, salvation, and the believer’s new relationship with God.

Part 3 – Becoming Like Christ

Studies 14–19: Developing Christlike character.

  1. Filled with the Holy Spirit
  2. Fruit of the Holy Spirit
  3. Trust
  4. Love
  5. Justice
  6. Witness

Goal: Encourage personal transformation through the Holy Spirit, growing in faith, love, justice, and sharing the Gospel.

Part 4 – Serving Christ

Studies 20–25: Living out discipleship through ministry and mission.

  1. The Church
  2. Ministry Gifts
  3. Spiritual Warfare
  4. Walking in Obedience
  5. Sharing the Wealth
  6. Money (Bonus Study)

Goal: Equip disciples to serve within the Body of Christ, use their spiritual gifts, practice obedience, exercise stewardship, and participate in God’s mission.

Additional material: The expanded edition includes an appendix on building a discipleship ministry and a leader’s guide.

3. How a MicroGroup Meeting Works

A typical weekly meeting includes three complementary elements:

  1. Personal Sharing: Participants share joys, challenges, and experiences from their lives.
  2. Biblical Discovery and Application: Participants discuss the prepared Discipleship Essentials study, share insights, and identify practical steps of obedience.
  3. Prayer and Accountability: Participants pray for one another, their personal growth, relationships, and opportunities to share Christ and serve others.

The facilitator encourages participation, openness, and learning together rather than relying on lecture-style teaching.

4. Four Elements of Spiritual Transformation

  • Biblical Truth: Engaging deeply with God’s Word.
  • Relational Transparency: Building honest and trusting relationships.
  • Mutual Accountability: Encouraging obedience and personal growth.
  • Multiplication and Mission: Preparing believers to make disciples and serve others.

These elements create an environment for ongoing spiritual transformation and reproducible disciple-making.

5. Multiplication – From Disciples to Disciple-Makers

GO MICRO is designed to develop new disciple-makers, not simply to establish permanent small groups.

One facilitator invites two or three others into a MicroGroup. As participants grow in maturity and confidence, they prepare to start additional groups. This process can continue across multiple generations of disciples.

Biblical foundation: 2 Timothy 2:2; Matthew 28:18–20.

The multiplication principle is particularly valuable for churches seeking to develop a disciple-making culture and equip ordinary believers to take responsibility for discipling others.

6. Training, Coaching and International Use

The Global Discipleship Initiative offers additional support for churches and leaders:

  • Coaching MicroGroups: Introductory online training, usually 8–12 weekly sessions, preparing leaders to launch their own MicroGroups.
  • Leadership Training: Teaching videos, workshops, and practical guidance.
  • Church Development: Coaching and cohorts that help churches develop multiplying disciple-making cultures.
  • Multilingual Curriculum: Discipleship Essentials has been translated into more than 30 languages. Availability varies by language and edition.

7. Application within the Great Commission Network (GCN)

GO MICRO supports GCN’s vision of every believer becoming a multiplying disciple-maker.

Potential applications include:

  • Developing multiplying disciples within existing churches.
  • Equipping believers and emerging leaders for disciple-making.
  • Forming disciple-making groups across churches and ministries.
  • Strengthening discipleship within newly planted fellowships.
  • Developing disciple-making relationships in workplaces and communities.
  • Connecting personal discipleship with evangelism, church multiplication, and Kingdom transformation.

GCN Perspective: GO MICRO complements Discovery Bible Study (DBS), evangelism, and church planting approaches. Its distinctive contribution is a long-term, structured discipleship process combined with deep relationships and intentional multiplication.

8. Resources, Curriculum and Downloads

Core Curriculum – Discipleship Essentials

Discipleship Essentials – A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ
Greg Ogden | Revised and Expanded Edition | 2019 | 256 pages | 25 studies.

Official Curriculum – InterVarsity Press (Book and eBook)

Publicly hosted PDF copy:
Discipleship Essentials – PDF

Note: The PDF is hosted by a third party. Its authorization for free distribution has not been verified. For official use or redistribution, please consult the publisher.

GO MICRO – Introductory Book

GO MICRO – Book and Information
An introduction to relational disciple-making through MicroGroups. GDI advertises a free copy of GO MICRO for readers outside the USA and Canada upon request.
Email: gomicro@globaldi.org

Free Training Materials

9. Organization and Contact

Organization: Global Discipleship Initiative (GDI)
Author: Greg Ogden
Website: theglobaldiscipleshipinitiative.org
Blog: gomicro.blog
Contact: info@globaldi.org

GCN shares this resource to encourage disciple-making, collaboration, and multiplication. GO MICRO and Discipleship Essentials are independent resources developed by Greg Ogden and their respective organizations and publisher.

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