The POD^© Strategy

The POD©

A POD is a group of people who are being discipled by the same POD leader. The church provides specially formatted materials for POD leaders to use as teaching guides. These are short Bible teachings that include an application, something to share, and a set of questions for accountability and further study. POD leaders receive these teachings from the Pastor, which they in turn share with their POD members. Every POD member is encouraged to find at least one person to whom he or she will share what is being learned in the POD. This is an essential element of the POD strategy for disciple formation. We learn best when we are teaching what we learn to others.

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

POD leaders are encouraged to limit the size of their PODs to a maximum of six people. The members of a POD may meet with the leader together, as individuals or as subsets of the entire group. It all depends on the ability of the group to mesh schedules and the needs of the group. POD leaders should set up opportunities for one-on-one sessions with the each member of the POD, if this is not how the regular meetings take place.
New PODs led by disciples who are being taught in a POD may be started at the discretion of the POD leader after conferring with the Pastor and elders of the church. This decision will be based on the readiness and maturity of the disciple who wants to lead a new POD and the need to start one based on the interest of new potential disciples. If a new POD is started and led by a disciple who has not yet completed the course of study in his own POD, he will simply begin teaching what he has been already taught and confer regularly with his POD leader about his leadership experience and any challenges that may arise.

Once a disciple faithfully completes the course of study provided by the POD leader, the POD should strategize how best to launch new PODs that will be led by those who have just completed the assigned work. Of course, this always will be done under the general oversight of the church elders. Each graduate will receive access to a Teacher’s Edition of the study materials for use in leading and teaching members of any new PODs that he may lead.

Since the discipleship process will continue until the Lord returns, disciples should always be involved in passing on what they have been taught and helping new people learn how to walk in obedience to the Lord. We hope you will enjoy your discipleship experience under the POD system and will pass it along to many others.

The POD© Meeting

A typical POD meeting might consist of talking about life issues and anything currently needing attention in the disciple’s life. One or more lessons from Discipleship Essentials also should be covered unless something urgent displaces it. The POD leader and disciple should discuss the teaching, the application and how to share what has been learned. Each lesson also has a memory verse attached; so, time should be given for the student to recite from memory the verse from the previous week. Over time the disciple should build a reservoir of memorized verses. The questions at the end of each lesson are designed to help the disciple keep “on mission” – loving God, loving people and making disciples. The mentor should be sure to keep encouraging the disciple to take steps to become active and fruitful in these areas. Activities and fellowship outside the actual POD meeting are also highly encouraged in order to strengthen relationships and build unity.

The Discipleship Essentials Workbook

At the front of each book is place to for the disciple to put his own name, the date he joined the POD and date he finishes the workbook. He should also list the names of his Pastor, his POD leader and the other people in his POD. After that, he should list the names of anyone outside the POD that he may be discipling on a one-on-one basis. Husbands are encouraged to share what they are learning with their wives and children as is age appropriate. The last group of names is a list of any persons the disciple is reaching out to on a friendship basis in the hopes of sharing the gospel and developing as a disciple in the future. This list will make a great prayer list, too.

As with any new project, there will be numerous adjustments and improvements over time. If you have a suggestion for how we can make this a better and more productive experience, please contact Pastor Pete.