Discipleship Lab takes place through live, online, group training sessions. Serge coaches will facilitate the conversation and provide key insights for the discussion, but the group learns from each other and everyone contributes.

We ask that you work through content online prior to the cohort meeting, so that much of the conversation can be centered around case studies that each member of the group will present, as you all seek to apply what you’re learning to real-life situations.

You’ll get to know one another and build a sense of community as you pray for one another and think together about important things.

1. A combination of solid Biblical theology (Core Gospel Concepts–for instance, a consideration of sin, faith, and the Holy Spirit) and practical coaching in discipling skills (for instance listening well, and asking good questions).
2. Collaborative learning in community. We learn as we listen to a variety of voices, and as each of us contributes to the conversation.
3. A grounding in the gospel of grace. Our goal in building disciples is not that they would try harder to be different on an external level. It’s rather that they would grow deeper in knowing God’s love for them, and the resources available to them in Christ, so that they may be changed from the inside out as the Holy Spirit delivers the gospel to their hearts.

Men and women who want to help others grow as followers of Jesus, and who are currently involved with others toward that goal. Cohorts may include Serge workers serving overseas, overseas workers from other agencies, local church leaders outside the US, and others serving in a variety of ways within the US — as pastors, elders, church planters, those involved in student ministry, or women’s ministry, “professionals” as well as “ordinary Christians,” veterans and those new to ministry. We consider the diversity of participants to be a great asset and value each voice in the conversation.

The coaches are staff members of the Serge Renewal Team, a small group of men and women with extensive ministry and life experience. Some have been pastors; all have advanced theological degrees.

Collectively we have mentored hundreds of people through Sonship and have taught and trained all over the world, and have a unique perspective that comes from having worked with people across cultures, different stages of life, and from many different backgrounds.

Over the course of six months, your cohort will meet for 12 (2-hour) sessions via video conference every two or three weeks (we’ll give you the schedule upfront).

For each session, you’ll want to budget three or four hours of time for reading, writing, and reflection.

No. Anyone is welcome, regardless of prior experience, and the principles you’ll be trained in have wide application.

However, given the significant investment of time and energy that Discipleship Lab requires, many participants are people who have already used other Serge resources and found them valuable.

Some have completed Mentored Sonship, and now desire to grow so that they can lead others through that program – but many others have only been exposed to small group resources such as The Gospel-Centered Life, and their ministry context is informal.

We work to set meeting times for an international learning community that lives in many different time zones. If you have a reliable internet connection, you can participate in this course.

If you’re unsure about time differences, go ahead and register — there’s no obligation — and we’ll do our best to find a cohort that will work for you.

Sometimes you can’t, and that’s okay. Over the course of six months most folks will miss at some point.

But because nurturing community is part of the goal, we don’t allow participants to attend a different cohort’s meeting. If you have to miss multiple meetings, you may want to postpone participation for a future date.

We have two start times every year.

Fall cohorts begin in September and usually conclude by the end of March.

Spring cohorts begin in late January and conclude by the end of June.

The exact dates depend on the cohort.

Yes. We changed the name of this course from Discipler Training to Discipleship Lab because we wanted to highlight one of the most important aspects of the course – the group experience and immediate, practical application of the material to real, live discipling relationships.

Discipleship Lab is an intensive training program led by 2 coaches with over 20 years of discipleship experience.

We do not profit from any fees invested in this course, but instead, all fees cover our coaches’ time and allow us to continue to provide this program. If you are actively discipling others, we highly believe this course is a valuable investment in your long-term ministry goals.

We don’t usually offer scholarships. Our trainers are missionaries who raise their own support to work with Serge and we only charge what is needed to continue to offer this type of training at a high level.

But sometimes we’re able to help – please write to Marc Davis, Global Learning Program Leader, to inquire: mdavis@serge.org.