The Difference

The overview on the bottom half of the homepage identifies the scope of this curriculum. What makes OMEGA unique is not the topics selected but how the topics are dealt with. For example, when discussing intimacy with each other, the author thoroughly explains why the small group movement in the church today comes nowhere close to Scripture’s vision of fellowship. An in-depth analysis of the dynamics that make fellowship work is set forth in OMEGA.

For discipleship to be what it should be, there must be a small group approach that allows us to know early in the process if the truths taught are being applied, and if the problems encountered are benefiting from group support. Without these solution-focused dynamics in place, the result, as hundreds of investigative studies show, is many of God’s people living in documented defeat.

Researchers have discovered that retention is low if one only hears a message (5-10% at the end of the week), or only reads a message (10-20% at the end of the week). But if truth is meditated in advance (OMEGA provide a four-step procedure for doing this), and then shared in a group where there’s the expectation, the accountability, and the support needed to produce behavioral change, the retention jumps to 75%. And if these principles are then passed on to others, through teaching or testimony, the retention rate increases to 90%. A huge difference!

Another major factor that contributes to the unique difference OMEGA makes is the extensive information provided to group leaders. Since most people won’t grow what is expected unless it is inspected, the Group Leader’s Guide, for every chapter, explains how this can be done. Among the questions to be asked and answered are these: 1) What is the area of your life that needs this principle the most? 2) When did this problem begin? 3) How often does it occur? 4) Are there certain hours of the day, or certain days of the week, when this problem seems to occur? 5) What appear to be major triggers? 6) What is the major way this has affected you? 7) Who else has been adversely affected? 8) How have you attempted to solve this problem before? 9) What part of this previous solution seemed to help? (Steer way from dichotomous “black and white” thinking that may say, “Nothing worked!”) 10) What do you think may be part of the solution we should focus on right now? This encourages the person sharing to see himself or herself not as a clueless person dependent upon the group to solve his or her problem, but sees this person as one who has good insights that we want to hear first.

The Group Leader’s Guide anticipates what may occur in the group for each chapter discussion and prepares the group leader in advance with multiple contingency-based approaches so he or she can more effectively lead.

When factoring in the variables, OMEGA discipleship, because of its methodology, more than quadruples the effectiveness of a sermon or a teaching. Instead of “a blurb and a verse” format with fill-in-the-blank questions, the books in OMEGA are theologically rich, providing practical application and transformational impact. Each division of OMEGA, once explained as they are in these books, accounts for the significant contribution OMEGA make.