All-Church Lenten Study

Practicing The Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did.
By John Mark Comer

During the season of Lent, our worship resource will be Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did, by John Mark Comer. Outlining the timeless process of being with Jesus, becoming like him, and living as he did, bestselling author and teacher John Mark Comer unpacks God's vision for the journey of our soul. In this powerful and practical work, he explains his core philosophy of spiritual formation to help us form a "rule of life." Along the way, he offers rich cultural insight, deep biblical teaching, and his honest and hopeful view of the potential of each human soul. By simply following Jesus and embracing countercultural practices around hospitality, Sabbath, simplicity, scripture, and community, Comer invites us to lay aside our assumptions about discipleship and embrace apprenticeship under Jesus as a way of life.

To join a small group, talk to Terry Bolender (tbolender@kentmethodist.com).

Beginning February 15, we will have a few copies of the book available at the church for purchase for $20, or you may order directly from amazon.com using this link: Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did.: Comer, John Mark: 9780593193822: Amazon.com: Books. The book is also available on Kindle or in audiobook format.

What Are Small Discipleship Groups?

You were made for community.

Finding community in today’s world might be harder than ever before. KUMC’s small Discipleship Groups invite each person to a journey to know, love, and serve God… together. You don’t have to have it all figured out—you can ask hard questions, embrace doubts, and grow alongside others on the same journey.

D-Groups at KUMC are communities of about 5 to 15 people who meet regularly on the journey of becoming committed followers of Jesus. They are built on an intentional journey with the potential to develop deeper relationships. Groups get together regularly to connect, share life, encourage one another, and grow in their faith together. Some groups use material we provide as the basis for discussion, and others choose their own books – but all of them are primarily about building one another up in Christlikeness.

Each group is a little different, and includes discussion, prayer, laughter, maybe a group activity, encouraging and supporting one another in our faith journey and in all aspects of life. Most groups meet for about 90 minutes – just enough time to truly connect. Each group determines its own schedule.

No experience is required to join a D-Group. Groups will talk about the Bible, but there’s no reason to be worried if you are new to faith or if you’ve never studied the Bible before.

To find out more or to connect with a small group, contact Terry Bolender at tbolender@kentmethodist.com or (206) 755-4275 – or fill out this online form so we can help find the group that’s the right fit for you! Find A Discipleship Small Group — Kent United Methodist Church 

LOVE * GROW * SERVE * SHARE

Encourage * Learn * Explore * Community

Throughout the Bible, you can see that God often did amazing things through groups of people. God provided Adam, Abraham, Moses, and the great King David with companions, family, and other leaders. Jesus, especially, worked in a group. He selected twelve men (and many other men and women) to be his followers – and then he chose three (Peter, James, and John) to join his inner circle. These people became the leadership team of the early church. And the Apostle Paul traveled in groups for his missionary journeys and appointed elders to oversee churches he planted. It’s clear that God does big things through small groups.

Our small Discipleship Groups at KUMC are an important part of helping individuals grow together in Christlikeness through friendship, study, and accountability. Life is better when it’s lived together:

We work better together. A group can accomplish far more than an individual can accomplish on their own. As your group meets, you’ll go and grow further, faster.

We learn better together. When we seek to understand scripture or what God intends for our lives, there are others there to help us discern. And when we stumble or question, we can rely upon each other’s accountability, support, and prayers.

We help each other. In a small Discipleship Group, you will experience the warmth of community that comes from knowing others and being known by them. You will form a bond of friendship that will last for years to come.

We strengthen each other. It is easy to get caught up in busy-ness, discouragement, and the distraction of worldly things. As you meet and you all seek to become more like Jesus, you will find it easier to stay and grow stronger together.

Our small Discipleship Groups are launching again in September, and we want you to be included! Check out the active groups below – and if you are interested but are looking for a group that meets on a different day or time, contact Terry Bolender at tbolender@kentmethodist.com:

Check out the active groups below:

Young Adult Small Group

Pastor Jim and Sandra host a Young Adult Small Group on Sunday evenings at their home. This is a post-high-school discipleship small group for anyone who would like to meet other Christians, learn about following Jesus, and share good food at the table. This group is open to everyone. This Advent, we are studying Michael Slaughter’s book, Christmas Is Not Your Birthday: Experience the Joy of Living and Giving Like Jesus.

Bible Study and Dessert at Pastor Jim’s, 6:30 to 8 p.m. most Sundays. Contact us for details.

Let Us Help You Find the Right Small Discipleship Group

Beginning the small group journey with a group can be a powerful experience, and we recommend you give that a shot. However, we know your time, schedule, and preferences don’t always align with our current groups—we’re here to help! Click on this link and fill out the form to let us know a little bit more about you, and we will do our best to pair you with a group.

More Information

Call the church office at (253) 852-3900 or email us below to find the group that's right for you!

Emergency Contact Form