“I have been a Christian most of my life, but only recently I realized that ‘disciple’ can be a noun and a verb, and I am called to both.” Is this really true? Is it possible that the term “disciple” refers to both identity and activity in our lives?
We Are Your Church
What did you think of our band’s new song they debuted on Sunday!?
We will definitely be singing that THIS COMING Sunday at the big 9-year birthday party. We will all also have a chance to partner together for 2018 in loving God, loving others, and making disciples.
Discussion Questions
I remember when our local Chick-fil-a had their grand opening. Lots of my friends crowded into the parking lot and spent the night there, waiting to be among the first in the door on opening day, because they knew that they would get free food for a year. I got to hang around in the parking lot that night with everyone… It was a real positive, party atmosphere. Everyone was happy and excited that Ellijay was getting this new restaurant.
But, I didn’t stay, and I never had an actual place in line. So, quite a few of my friends had the blessing of free Chick-fil-a for a year… But not me. I missed out.
What is one experience you regret not having participated in even though you had the chance to do so? Why did you end up choosing not to do that thing?
What did you miss out on because you didn’t?
Galatians 6:1-3 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
According to Paul, what are the two key characteristics to helping a person back onto the right path?
What is the difference between the restoration described here and looking down on others for their sin?
Why is bearing one another’s burdens linked so closely to personal accountability? What do you demonstrate about the nature of God when you bear one another’s burdens? How does doing so fulfill the law of Christ?
So, a big part of discipleship is being deeply involved in others’ lives. But also, a big part is to be involved in “doing what is good,” or serving others. That same passage continues on to say:
Galatians 6:4-10 NLT
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Think about how Jesus’ led His followers in their journey of discipleship. What traits of that leadership can you identify?
As we seek to be a disciple of Christ by leading (serving) others, what adjustments, schedule changes, priorities do we need to shift or make in order to be identified as a disciple, and to be active as a disciple?
Does that task of leadership ever truly end? Why or why not?