Almost every church uses curriculum, which makes sense. Curriculum is designed to help people learn, and we are certainly learning in the church. We are learning more and more about God, ourselves, and His plan for the world, and then seeking to submit ourselves to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit as He makes us more like Jesus. And most of those curriculum resources follow a familiar pattern—there’s a book, and often a video clip, and people answer a series of questions and then gather once a week to discuss what they’re learning.
Curriculum of various sorts is a good tool that helps people learn and grow. But one of the pitfalls of curriculum, if we’re not careful, is that it can inadvertently train people to show up, have a good discussion, and go home completely unchanged. If that’s the case, then the curriculum is really just an exercise in knowledge growth. What makes Rooted different is that is helps move people from understanding that discipleship is not something to only be learned, but a lifestyle to be adopted. It moves people from academic spectators to active followers of Jesus, and it does this through prioritizing high commitment, immediate and experiential application, and transparent and transformational conversations. These things happen through three primary avenues during Rooted.
Rooted Experiences
The primary factor that makes Rooted different is the emphasis on experience. Rather than just focusing on gathering information, which is the “head”, Rooted targets the head, the heart, and the hands by embedding experiences into its 10-week journey. Instead of just talking about the importance of prayer or serving, Rooted groups are required to step out of their comfort zones and physically do these things together.
In those 10 weeks, groups will have an intentional and sustaining prayer experience. They will serve together practically in the community. They will share their stories with each other and with those outside the group. By pushing participants to live out their faith in real-time, Rooted bridges the gap between biblical knowledge and real life. What’s more, it sets the expectations that these experiences ought to be normative for every Christian as they move forward.
Rooted Rhythms
While some curricula jump from one topic to another, Rooted anchors its entire framework in the timeless spiritual practices we find in the early church as recorded in Acts 2. The entire 10-week journey is built around these seven rhythms of discipleship, helping people understand them to be lifelong habits that spur spiritual growth rather than legalistic rules. These seven rhythms include:
- Daily Devotion: People build a sustainable habit of daily engaging God’s Word through personal reading and journaling.
- Prayer: Groups move past quick prayer lists into deep, interactive, and reflective communication with God.
- Repentance: People learn to identify, confess, and break free from personal strongholds in a safe and supportive environment.
- Sacrificial Generosity: People shift their perspective to view their time, talents, and financial resources through a kingdom-minded lens.
- Serve the Community: Groups physically get outside the church to practically love and serve their neighbors.
- Share Your Story: People are equipped to clearly articulate what God has done—and is continuing to do—in their lives.
- Worship: Believers cultivate a continuous posture of gratitude and praise which culminates in corporate gatherings.
By focusing on these core rhythms, Rooted launches people into a lifelong pattern of spiritual growth and community with others.
High Expectations
In an effort to boost attendance, many churches tend to lower the bar of entry to their groups. They offer short studies that operate within an hour time slot with no other expectations. Rooted does the opposite. It’s a high-commitment environment that challenges people to take responsibility for their spiritual formation.
That begins with a covenant which group members sign, promising not to miss more than two sessions, that they will complete the daily devotions every week, and they will make themselves willing and available for the extra meetings to accommodate the experiences. When churches raise the bar like this, people meet it. When they do, they find a deeper level of community and growth because everyone in the room is equally invested.
What’s more, Rooted then becomes an amazing catalyst to launch new groups. After 10 weeks, the Rooted group is bonded together, and then is ready to continue their journey into the future.
When churches choose to engage Rooted, they aren’t just offering another program. They are beginning to change their entire culture. If you’re interested in learning more about Rooted and how you can get started, you can sign up for a preview, or you can join us at one of our webinars.
