While OMEGA discipleship is well researched and doctrinally rich, its agenda isn’t one that tracks bible history or the full spectrum of theology. A more basic discipleship, prior to advanced discipleship, will teach doctrine (the authority of Scripture, the attributes of God, the doctrine of salvation, etc.) and the essentials of lordship (in marriage, parenting, finances, discovering and deploying spiritual gifts, etc.). OMEGA, however, focuses on the daily disciplines for a fully-functioning follower of Jesus. In undertaking this agenda, OMEGA extends and expands some of the topics introduced in basic discipleship—prayer, for example, since prayer won’t derive its best understanding from those definitions set forth for the recently converted. Ditto faith, ditto Christian service, ditto processing God’s Word. None of the truths taught in OMEGA are academic or ancillary (meaning not really needed, just interesting). OMEGA rivets its attention on providing instructions that intrigue, so seeking believers emerge from OMEGA with a godly grasp of the holy habits of faith.
The OMEGA Ministry involves:
- Reading a chapter each week from OMEGA books (there are ten in this two-year program)
- Sharing personal assessments and projecting scriptural solutions in their response to reflection questions at the end of each chapter
- Meeting with a small group once a week (for an hour and a half) mentored by a leader, where participants take life-changing steps with the support of encouraging friends
- Tracking the progress of new behaviors begun and old behaviors eliminated for a duration of time that better ensures needed changes are now locked in
OMEGA includes a group leader’s guide that provides training in effective group dynamics. Also, different scenarios with different contingencies are contemplated for every chapter of every book so the group leader can more effectively lead.
While everything in OMEGA is accessible (in terms of the language used) and practical (in terms of its applicability to daily life), OMEGA does have high standards. Oswald Chambers called this “My Utmost for His Highest”—and that is the course OMEGA follows! According to Jesus, it is the believer with “much fruit” who brings honor to the Father (John 15:8).
The church’s track record for bringing people to this level isn’t very impressive, and it also isn’t very surprising. Churches have been so afraid of presenting truth in a way that leaves people out, they have ended up doing this very thing. Only they’ve done it to the people who have been coming to church for a long while. They led them to the middle, and then left them there.
Some wonder if high goals discourage people from opting in. Actually, the reverse is more common. High goals motivate people by encouraging them to stop drifting and start purposing in a more serious, heart-felt, Spirit-energized way.
The best way to revive a church is to bring her more faithful members to a much higher level — to advanced discipleship. Their freshly inspired zeal, increased knowledge, and ability to help others rise to a higher level of living (II Timothy 2:2) will bless the rest of the church.
This article on advanced discipleship originally appeared on OMEGA—a discipleship that delves deeper, a discipleship developing the holy habits of faith—is further explained on this website: www.omegaadvanceddiscipleship.com.
