A discipleship triad can study The Pursuit of God effectively by rotating leadership, using a consistent four-part process, practicing accountability, and planning for multiplication.
Why three people works
Three people provide more perspective than a pair while preserving enough time for every person to speak. If one member is absent, the remaining two can still meet.
Rotate facilitation
Each week, a different member leads. The leader summarizes the chapter, selects Scripture, and guides questions.
Rotation develops leadership and prevents the group from depending on one teacher.
Use four movements
- Truth: What does the chapter and Scripture teach?
- Reflection: What does it expose or encourage?
- Obedience: What specific action will each person take?
- Prayer: How will the group ask God for help?
Review every commitment
Begin each meeting by reviewing the previous action. Accountability should be honest and grace-centered.
Ask what happened, what resistance appeared, and what adjustment is needed.
Protect confidentiality
Agree that personal disclosures remain within the triad unless safety or serious harm requires outside help. Clarify that confidentiality is not secrecy that protects abuse or danger.
Plan multiplication
By the middle of the study, each member should identify one person to encourage or disciple. Near the end, decide whether members will form new triads, continue one-to-one, or serve within a church pathway.
A triad succeeds when all three grow as followers and potential disciple-makers.
Biblical anchors
Ecclesiastes 4:12 grounds the article’s central question. Read the surrounding paragraph or chapter and note what it reveals about God and the response expected from the believer.
Luke 10:1 adds an important biblical balance. Read the surrounding paragraph or chapter and note what it reveals about God and the response expected from the believer.
2 Timothy 2:2 shows how the truth becomes lived obedience. Read the surrounding paragraph or chapter and note what it reveals about God and the response expected from the believer.
Questions for further study
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Which statement in this article most needs to affect your understanding or conduct?
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How does Ecclesiastes 4:12 confirm, correct, or deepen the article’s answer?
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What fear, attachment, distraction, or habit makes a faithful response difficult?
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Which person or responsibility should be affected by your next step?
Put it into practice
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Study: Read Ecclesiastes 4:12 in context and write one sentence explaining how it contributes to the answer given in this article.
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Respond: Choose one statement—such as “Rotate facilitation so every member develops leadership.”—and turn it into a specific prayer and action.
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Review: Tell a trusted believer what you plan to do and ask that person to follow up within seven days.
Common mistakes to avoid
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Disciple-making is not creating dependence on a human leader.
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Multiplication without abiding can become technique without spiritual life.
Name the real situation
Consider a real situation connected to this statement: Three people create enough diversity for conversation while preserving personal participation. Name the person, decision, or responsibility involved. Read Ecclesiastes 4:12 in context, then write what faithfulness would look like before the end of the week. Avoid a broad promise such as “try harder.” Choose an action that another person could recognize and review.
Examine the heart response
Consider a real situation connected to this statement: Rotate facilitation so every member develops leadership. Name the person, decision, or responsibility involved. Read Luke 10:1 in context, then write what faithfulness would look like before the end of the week. Avoid a broad promise such as “try harder.” Choose an action that another person could recognize and review.
Continue with the annotated study guide
The annotated edition connects personal pursuit and abiding in Christ with the Great Commission and the formation of disciples who make disciples. This article answers one focused question; the complete edition brings all ten chapters into one connected study experience.
The Pursuit of God (Annotated): A Modern Study Guide to A. W. Tozer’s Classic on Abiding in Christ and Making Disciples