Initial Lessons | Long Term Lessons | Walking with the Spirit | How to Meet | How to Train
Check out this video by NPL training describing Three Thirds.
Download a three thirds cheat sheet you can print out and use to guide your meetings. After modeling, assist your friend in facilitating the meetings so he'll be ready to launch!
Looking Back
CARE
Be sure your friend knows you love and care for them. Ask how they've been doing since you last saw each other. Encourage and pray for them. No one likes to be considered a project.
LOVING ACCOUNTABILITY
This portion is designed as a follow-up to the goals set at the end of the previous meeting. (See Goals, below). Celebrate steps of obedience and lovingly try to get at the root of not following through. If they need coaching, or a partner, consider going with them (if the situation allows for it).
VISION
Have a broad vision for your disciple to have before them. Some overarching Biblical truth. This will be reiterated each meeting to remind the disciple why they're doing what they're doing as so they will remember to pass it on to their disciples.
Looking Up
SCRIPTURE
Read...This is where you'll the passage you will read. Do so in your friend's native tongue as well as English if you don't speak their language.
Retell...Without looking at the passage, try to give a recap of the passage. Help each other if things are accidentally omitted. This helps reinforce the story in your friends memory so s/he can more easily share it with friends.
Ask...Questions to ask related to the passage:
- What does this passage teach about people?
- What does this passage teach about Jesus?
DIVE DEEPER
You may choose to look at the topic more deeply. If so, try to help your friend discover the truths from the text itself, rather than becoming dependent on you.
When you get together to disciple your friend, consider using a format called Three Thirds. Used for years in various contexts, the components have been prayerfully and strategically assembled with an eye towards the growth of your disciple as well as the disciples s/he will make.
Use this format each time you meet for discipleship so it becomes second nature and easily reproducible when it's time for your friend to be making disciples.
The three major sections - Looking Back, Looking Up and Looking Forward - are described below.
Looking Forward
GOALS
Tell your friend that God gives us His word to encourage us, comfort us and also to obey it. Based upon the passage studied, ask God how this passage should be followed until the next time you meet. Be sure to model this by also obeying. This step is meant to reinforce application of God's word.
COMMISSION
Pray for your disciple as s/he's sent out. Pray that they would enjoy and obey the Lord Jesus.