Discipleship leaders play a vital role in shaping and guiding others to grow in their relationship with Christ. But being an effective leader is not just about facilitating discussions or organizing meetings—it is about cultivating habits that model a life of faith and inspire those in your group to do the same.
When it comes to our faith, we are often tempted to seek out the big, life changing moments. More often than not, however, change comes through simple, consistent habits.
In his book, Habits of the Household, Justin Whitmel Earley explains this multiple times. He argues, for instance, that “the greatest spiritual work happens in the normal moments of domestic life.”
James Clear, a secular author and writer of Atomic Habits, explains this same idea in another way, “Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.”
Earley also outlines the process of discipleship when it comes to parents and children. We can apply the same principle to discipleship groups: “parents who want to pattern our households in gospel formation should not just be looking for that one-off spiritual conversation that we hope our kids remember, we should be patterning our houses with the kinds of keystone family rhythms that turn kids into disciples of Jesus.”
If you are a discipleship group leader and you want to both experience spiritual growth and model that growth for your group, then good habits should be an essential part of your life. Little habits, done consistently over time, often lead to big transformations.
In this article, we will explore 11 habits of effective discipleship group leaders that can help you lead with intention and purpose:
1. Daily Personal Worship
Your relationship with Christ is the foundation of your leadership. Spending time in God’s Word and in prayer every day not only deepens your faith but also equips you with the wisdom and strength you need to lead others. Personal worship is not just a religious thing to do. It is a spiritual channel through which God’s glory, grace, and truth continually flow into your life
Jesus modeled this behavior for us, for instance, He often withdrew to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16). When you prioritize personal worship, your leadership flows out of an overflow of your own walk with God. Need guidance on getting started? In our Journey Curriculum, we share The 21 Day Personal Worship Journal, a supplemental document to help you establish a consistent habit of daily personal worship.
2. Pray Regularly for Your Group Members
One of the greatest acts of love you can offer your group members is to pray for them regularly. Interceding for their spiritual growth, challenges, and needs shows that you care for them deeply and trust God to work in their lives.
It is easy to spend your entire group meeting going over curriculum and run out of time to pray, but make a habit of creating space for people to share what’s going on in their lives. Write their requests down, and pray for them consistently.
Want more advice on praying with and for your group? Check out our resource on Discipleship Foundations: Prayer and Supplication for practical tips and guidance.
3. Communicate with Your Group
Life moves pretty fast—it is easy to lose touch with people or even forget when your next group meeting is. Consistent communication builds trust and strengthens relationships within your group. Regularly check in with group members, whether it’s through texts, emails, or calls, to encourage them, share updates, and keep everyone connected.
Remember, discipleship is relational. A quick message during the week can go a long way in making your group members feel seen and valued.
4. Attend Corporate Worship
Discipleship groups are a critical part of spiritual growth, but they don’t replace the importance of worshiping with the larger body of Christ. Attending corporate worship with your church helps reinforce the importance of community, keeps you connected to the body of Christ, and even provides you with opportunities to meet and recruit future group members.
Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks to the value of gathering as a church: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
It is also another possible touch point during the week. For instance, your discipleship group may meet every Wednesday, so seeing everyone on Sunday, even if it’s brief, helps cultivate and strengthen relationships.
5. Plan for Group Discussions
Effective discipleship meetings don’t happen by accident. A good leader takes time to prepare thoughtful questions, study the material, and create a welcoming environment for open discussion. Planning ensures that your time together is intentional and fruitful.
For ideas on how to prepare, read our guide on How to Plan Your Next Discipleship Meeting.
6. Pursue Personal Growth
Good leaders are always learning. We have talked about the importance of daily personal worship, but there are many other opportunities for leaders to pursue growth. Whether it is reading books, attending workshops, or listening to podcasts, seek opportunities to grow in your knowledge of God and your leadership skills. As you grow, you will have more to offer those you’re discipling.
John Maxwell speaks to the value of personal growth, “Growth is the great separator between those who succeed and those who do not. When I see a person beginning to separate themselves from the pack, it’s almost always due to personal growth.”
7. Encourage Accountability
Accountability is a key element of discipleship. Create an environment where group members feel safe sharing their struggles and celebrating their victories. As the leader, you can encourage accountability by sharing your own struggles, following up on prayer requests, setting spiritual goals together, and gently challenging group members to pursue Christ-likeness.
Accountability can be a tricky area for some, so check out our article on effective accountability to learn how you can help ensure accountability is a positive habit for you and your group.
8. Integrate Faith into Everyday Moments
We started this article by referencing the author, Justin Whitmel Earley. One concept he speaks to is the value of integrating faith into ordinary activities to help families connect with God throughout their daily lives. Discipleship leaders can apply this by making faith and discipleship a natural and continuous part of their daily routines.
For instance, life-on-life missional discipleship means more than simply meeting as a group once every week. There are plenty of ways to connect outside of the group, integrating discipleship into things like baseball practice or grocery shopping. For more on this, checkout our article with 11 opportunities for life-on-life discipleship outside of group.
9. Practice Hospitality
The Bible frequently calls us to show hospitality to others. 1 Peter 4:9 says, Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Titus 1:8 says that overseers in the church must be “hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”
As the discipleship leader, you should make a habit of creating a welcoming environment—whether it’s in your home or wherever your group meets. Simple acts like offering snacks, remembering details about someone’s life, or being intentional in creating a comfortable atmosphere show care and help foster a sense of community. Hospitality reflects the love of God and creates an environment for spiritual growth.
10. Meet with Group Members One-on-One
Group meetings are important, but one-on-one time allows you to connect with group members in a deeper and more personal way. Meeting individually gives you the opportunity to address specific needs, encourage personal growth, and build stronger relationships.
It can be hard to find the time for this, but consider making it a habit to meet with each group member twice per year. Those meetings can make a big difference in their lives and cultivate stronger community in the group. For more on this, check out our resource on Disciples and Discipleship: One-on-One Time.
11. Memorize Scripture
Hiding God’s Word in your heart is a vital habit for any believer, but it is especially important for leaders. Scripture memorization equips you to encourage others, combat spiritual challenges, and deepen your personal relationship with God. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
As part of the Journey curriculum, we encourage members to memorize scripture together. As the leader, it’s up to you to set the example for your group when it comes to Scripture memory.
Conclusion
As a discipleship leader, your habits set the tone for your group. By cultivating these practices, you not only deepen your own faith but also inspire those you lead to do the same. Discipleship and spiritual transformation are ongoing processes, and consistently adhering to spiritual habits can help you walk faithfully and fruitfully alongside those God has entrusted to your care.