You don’t become more like Jesus by accident. The word “disciple” comes from the same root word as “discipline.” It takes intentionality to develop anything good in your life. Do you have an intentional plan to grow in your walk with Christ?
Life group discussion questions are up next!
If you are the discussion leader, have everyone open to this page on their mobile device. Take turns reading questions, verses, and having discussion.
Jesus’ “Great Commission” is that we do this:
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
-Jesus, Matthew 28:19-20
What would you say the difference is between a “convert” and a “disciple?”
Which of those two do you think the American church has focused on in our generation?
Does Jesus’ description of “follower” in Matthew 16 sound like our appeals to lost people?
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
-Jesus, Matthew 16:24-26
Is this the way we tend to “sell” Christianity to people? Is it about denying self, and taking up our crosses… Or is it about just “believe” and everything will be okay?
Isn’t it true that we make the mistake of “asking Jesus to come into my life,” when in reality, he IS the life?
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
-Jesus, John 14:6
So, which are we making? Converts, or disciples?
Which one am I?
One of Sunday’s points was that “you don’t have to be done to make one.” What does that mean for us?
He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
-Jesus, Matthew 9:37-38
Jesus’ two components of deepening his disciples seems to have been “learning,” and “doing.” We talked about “doing” a couple of weeks ago, and I was so proud of our church for responding to that aspect of discipleship.
If you don’t have an intentional plan for “learning,” you should have a look at the awesome classes we have lined up for this fall.