Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups by Gayle Turner Watson is the latest of the new generation of Accountable Discipleship books to be published by Discipleship Resources. It is the new basic resource that every pastor and all members of Covenant Discipleship groups need to read. Well written, clearly organized, concise, and user-friendly, it is a valuable gift to the church.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is organized in four parts.

Part 1 answers the question: “Why Covenant Discipleship groups?” Here Watson provides an excellent account of the Wesleyan heritage that is the foundation of Covenant Discipleship groups. She helps the reader understand that discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition is a “matter of heart and life.” What we believe guides the way we live our life in the world.

Watson also provides a solid, concise interpretation of the General Rule of Discipleship as a guide for living a balanced and varied discipleship.

Part 2 answers the question, “What are Covenant Discipleship groups?” Watson clearly explains the nature, purpose, and goal of the groups. She is also very clear about what Covenant Discipleship groups are not. She does not stop with answering the question posed in the section title, but goes on to answer several commonly asked questions: “Why am I joining a Covenant Discipleship group?” “Does this mean that my discipleship has been inadequate?” “How will joining a Covenant Discipleship group affect my Christian friends and family who do not wish to join?” “What will happen to me in a Covenant Discipleship group?” These are important questions that are addressed in an honest and winsome fashion.

Part 3 provides the “nuts and bolts” or the “how to do it”section of the book. Watson gives step-by-step processes for writing a covenant, leading the weekly meeting, and introducing and sustaining Covenant Discipleship groups in your congregation. She asks and answers some of the common questions around the need for a written covenant and the covenant’s role in the life of the group. As in Part 2, Watson’s way of dealing with these questions is reason alone for reading the book. She has a gift for clearing up common confusions and misconceptions that will bring down barriers and resistance to participation in and support for Covenant Discipleship groups.

In Part 4 Watson provides useful helps for covenant writing and interpreting the groups for the congregation. Included are sample covenant preambles, clauses, and conclusions, as well as a sample covenant and a covenant worksheet. All of these are on reproducible pages. Watson also provides an excellent bibliography of additional resources that will help support Covenant Discipleship Group members in their discipleship journey.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is the new, essential resource for pastors, lay leaders, and covenant discipleship group members who need to learn about and interpret covenant discipleship for the local church. Gayle Watson has given the church a valuable tool that will help local congregations form faithful and dependable disciples who will witness to Jesus Christ in the world and follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups is available from Discipleship Resources, toll-free (800) 685-4370, and online at www.discipleshipresources.org. It can also be ordered from Cokesbury, (800) 672-1789.