SESSION 5
JOINING JESUS ON MISSION
Disciples are called to know Christ, grow with Christ, and go for Christ.
GET STARTED
REFLECT
As we learned in the previous session, living as a disciple of Jesus is a deeply personal matter that must also be expressed in a public way. People are designed to live in community, which is why participation in the church—the community of people who follow Jesus Christ as Lord—is an essential part of following Jesus.
Which of the assignments did you explore this week? How did it go?
What did you learn or experience while reading the Bible?
What questions would you like to ask before moving forward?
PRAY
Begin the session by connecting with God through prayer. Use the following guidelines as you speak with Him:
·
Thank God for creating the church and offering you the blessing
of community.
·
Ask God to give you an understanding of and a passion for His
mission in the world.
·
Ask for wisdom as you study what it means to join the church in
working to achieve Christ’s mission for the world.
INTRODUCTION
“Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people
everywhere march with you.”1
These were the opening words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower when he sent the orders launching the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, near the end of World War II. Until that day, Axis forces held Europe in an iron grip of oppression and tyranny. The situation was grim. The world was waiting.
Thankfully, we know the rest of the story. The landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy essentially turned the tide of the war. Less than a year later, the European campaign came to an end.
In a similar way, Jesus’ life,
death, and resurrection forever changed the course of human history. Although
Jesus didn’t use an army to achieve His victory over sin, He did launch the
church—an ever-increasing, always-expanding movement of disciples.
As a follower of Christ, you’re
part of that movement. Therefore, you’re called to participate in His
continuing mission for the world. That mission contains several different
elements, but they can all be boiled down to a core assignment: making
disciples of Jesus Christ.
How do
you feel about being included as a member of the movement called the church?
What
emotions do you experience at the thought of telling others about Jesus?
1.
Jonathan Foreman, The Pocket Book of Patriotism,
(New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2005), 75.
THE STORY
KNOW THE STORY
Jesus talked often about
His mission for the world. But His most memorable descriptions of that mission
were connected with His first and last words to the disciples. The first came
when He called the disciples to follow Him.
In Session 1 we explored
this story from the perspective of choosing to follow Jesus. Now let’s focus on
Jesus’ larger mission for the world:
18 As He was walking along the Sea of
Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother
Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 19 “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I
will make you fish for people!” 20 Immediately they left their nets
and followed Him.
MATTHEW 4:18-20
Jesus’ mission for His
disciples can be boiled down to two simple phrases: “Follow Me” and “fish for
people.”
What have
you learned about the process of following Jesus? Of fishing for people?
After His death and
resurrection, Jesus confirmed and expanded His mission during one of His final
conversations with the disciples:
18 Then Jesus came near and said to
them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end
of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
How
confident do you feel about obeying Jesus’ commands in these verses? Why?
UNPACK THE STORY
YOUR MISSION IS FROM JESUS
Jesus
words from Matthew
28:18-20 are often referred to as the Great Commission. They
summarize what Jesus commissioned, or sent, His disciples to do. And because
Jesus extended the mission “to the end of the age” (v. 20), His words apply to
all His disciples throughout history—including you.
As a new disciple of
Christ, you are part of Jesus’ continuing mission for the world. What’s more,
as a new disciple, you are called to participate in that mission by helping to
make more disciples of Christ.
What
emotions do you experience when you think about “making disciples” of Jesus?
Why?
With that in mind,
remember that the foundation of Jesus’ commission was His own authority. Jesus
said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (v. 18). In
other words, He wanted everyone to understand that He’s in charge of everything
connected to this world—and beyond.
Why is that important?
Because a mission is only as good as the person (or Person) commanding it.
If a regular soldier had
sent out the order to attack on D-Day, nobody would have paid attention. But
since the orders came instead from the general in command, they had weight.
They carried authority that demanded obedience.
In the same way, Jesus is
the most important person who ever lived. His life, death, and resurrection are
the central moments in human history, and He exists as both God and man.
Therefore, His words demand obedience from us.
How do
you respond to Jesus’ claim of authority?
YOUR MISSION IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES
The core of Jesus’
statement from the Great Commission is “make disciples of all nations” (v. 18).
But how do we do that? What does it look like to make disciples? Where do we
get started, and what are we supposed to do?
Fortunately, Jesus offered
three practical steps we can follow in order to make new disciples in His Name:
·
Go: You
can’t be passive about making disciples. Jesus commanded us to go to our family
members, go to our friends, go into our communities, and even go throughout the
world as we proclaim the gospel.
·
Baptize: To
be baptized is to make a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. This
helps us remember our mission isn’t to get people to stop sinning, or even to
convince them to attend church. Our mission is to proclaim the good news of
Jesus Christ and help others confess Him as Lord.
·
Teach: The
process of making a disciple doesn’t end at conversion. When someone
experiences salvation, we’re called to teach them to observe everything Jesus
commanded. In other words, we have a responsibility to teach new disciples what
it means to live as a disciple of Christ.
Which of
the above steps seems most difficult to you? Why?
How have
you experienced the process of discipleship in your journey as a follower of
Christ?
The process of making
disciples for Jesus is called discipleship. And it is a process—it takes time.
In fact, you will never be “finished” as a disciple of Jesus. You will always
have room to grow and mature.
Therefore,
be patient with yourself. And be patient with the people you serve as you begin
the ministry of making disciples.
ENGAGE
Taking advantage of
opportunities to share your testimony—your story of experiencing salvation and
choosing to follow Jesus—will be one of your most effective tools for making
disciples. Many Christians feel nervous at the thought of sharing their testimony,
but doing so doesn’t have to be a frightening or frustrating experience. Nor
does it need to be confrontational.
Instead, simply talk
through your answers to the following questions:
How would
you describe your life before you encountered Jesus?
How did
you come to know and follow Jesus?
What
changes have you experienced since becoming a disciple of Jesus?
Telling
your story can be a powerful experience—both for you and for those who hear
you. As time allows, practice sharing your testimony with the members of your
group. Use this experience to gain insight and feedback so you can be ready
when the time comes for you to share the good news of salvation with someone
who needs to hear it.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
In addition to studying
God’s Word, work with your group leader to create a plan for personal study,
worship, and application between now and the next session. Select from the
following optional activities to match your personal preferences and available
time.
Worship
·
Read your Bible. Complete the reading plan for this session.
·
Connect with God by praying about your place in His mission for
the world. Ask God to show you opportunities to help make disciples each day.
·
Spend time with God by engaging the Prayer Mission devotional.
Personal
Study
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 1, “Your Mission Is for the World.”
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 2, “Your Mission Includes the Church.”
Application
·
Go for it. Share your testimony this week with at least one
person who needs to experience what Jesus has to offer.
·
Memorize John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
·
Look to your community. Meet with your pastor or a church staff
member to determine specific ways you can spread the message of the gospel
within your local community.
·
Look to the ends of the earth. Research individuals and
organizations currently working to spread the gospel internationally. Determine
a way you can participate in that ministry throughout the week.
·
Other:
WORSHIP
READING PLAN
Continue reading through
the Gospel of Mark this week. Record your thoughts and responses.
Day 1
Mark 13:14-37
Day 2
Mark 14:1-26
Day 3
Mark 14:27-52
Day 4
Mark 14:53-72
Day 5
Mark 15:1-20
Day 6
Mark 15:21-47
Day 7
Mark 16:1-8
PRAYER MISSION
Here’s another time when
Jesus spoke with His disciples about their mission in the world:
1 After this, the Lord appointed 70
others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He
Himself was about to go. 2 He told them: “The harvest is
abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into His harvest.”
LUKE 10:1-2
You must not forget to
pray as you seek to obey Jesus’ mission of making disciples. In fact, prayer is
one of your most valuable and effective resources in that mission.
For that reason, spend
some time making a list of the different people in your life who need to hear
the message of the gospel and experience salvation. Think of as many people as
you can. As you write each name, pray that God would make Himself known to that
person, and that he or she would experience salvation through Jesus Christ.
MY LIST:
PERSONAL STUDY
YOUR MISSION IS FOR THE WORLD
The four Gospels at the
beginning of the New Testament all tell the story of Jesus. The Book of Acts
describes the birth and early stages of the church. For that reason, it’s
important to understand that Jesus Himself launched the church by stating once
again His mission for any who choose to follow Him:
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or
periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After He had said this, He was
taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
ACTS 1:7-9
How do
these verses connect with the Great Commission? (See Unpack the Story.)
Notice that Jesus
mentioned three specific places in which His disciples will serve as witnesses:
Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Looking more
deeply at these locations will help us carry out our mission as followers of
Christ.
First, Jerusalem was
essentially home for Jesus’ first disciples. As the major city in Israel, it
represented everything that was familiar and comfortable to the disciples. They
had grown up around Jerusalem, they had ministered with Jesus in Jerusalem, and
they would spend most of their time in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended into
heaven (see verse 4).
As a
modern disciple of Jesus, you’re also called to serve in your version of
“Jerusalem.” In other words, your first actions as a witness for Jesus should
be centered around your home—around the places where you feel most comfortable.
You’re called to speak with your family members and closest friends about your
decision to follow Christ.
What
questions do you have about talking to your family members and closest friends
about Jesus?
What
steps can you take to begin sharing the gospel with the people you care about?
Second, the phrase “all
Judea and Samaria” referred to the broader regions around Jerusalem. These were
the homes of people from different races and nationalities—people who were
considered outsiders or even enemies by the Jews. Jesus commissioned His first
disciples to reach out to people not like themselves.
In the same way, you’re
called to serve the people in your community who are different from you. You’re
called to be a witness for Jesus in your workplace, in your neighborhood, in
your interactions with acquaintances, and even in your encounters with
strangers.
What’s
your initial reaction to the above statements?
What
steps can you take to intentionally serve as a witness for Jesus in your
neighborhood and community?
Third, Jesus commanded His
disciples to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Amazingly, they obeyed.
Jesus’ original disciples were the founders of the church. Through their
efforts, the church grew at an incredible rate and has continued to expand for
centuries—bringing the message of Jesus to every corner of the world.
As a disciple of Jesus,
you are part of that church. Therefore, you have inherited the continued
mission to spread the gospel message to the ends of the earth. That doesn’t
mean you’re obligated to become a missionary, but it does mean you have been
called to play a part in proclaiming the gospel throughout all nations.
What
questions do you have about serving as a witness for Jesus even “to the ends of
the earth”?
What
steps can you take to begin obeying Jesus’ commands?
PERSONAL STUDY
YOUR MISSION INCLUDES THE CHURCH
As a disciple
of Jesus, you’ve inherited His commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew
28:10). You’ve also been given His command to serve as His
witness “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth” (Acts 1:8).
Obviously, you can’t fulfill either of those charges by yourself. You need to
be part of something bigger—something capable of reaching through your
community and outward to the entire world.
In other words, you need
the church in order to fulfill your mission as a disciple of Christ.
How do
you respond to the above statement?
As we saw in session 4,
the church is the community of people who follow Jesus as Lord. We don’t follow
Him only as individuals, however. We are connected together as the body of Christ.
We all have specific roles within that body, and we’ve all been given
gifts—often referred to as “spiritual gifts”—to help us engage our mission
effectively:
4 For just as each of us has one
body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form
one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according
to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in
accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if
it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it
diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
ROMANS 12:4-8 (NIV)
What are
some gifts, talents, or abilities you’ve been given as a follower of Jesus?
What
steps can you take to use those gifts as a member of the church?
The important thing to
remember about spiritual gifts is that every follower of Jesus is unique and
uniquely gifted to serve Him—including you. It’s also important to understand
that the church is most healthy when all of Jesus’ disciples do their parts to
carry out His mission.
That’s a point the apostle
Paul made in the Book of Ephesians:
15 But speaking the truth in love,
let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted
and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body
for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16
There’s a progression
involved in the working of the church. Jesus is Head of the body of Christ.
When we stay connected to Him as His disciples, we remain spiritually healthy.
And when we use our gifts to participate in the church and fulfill the
commission He has given us, the church remains healthy.
And as
we’ve seen many times throughout history, a healthy church can change the world
in miraculous ways.
How have
you seen the church bless your community?
How have
you seen the church bless the world?
God’s will for your life
is that you come to know Jesus in a deep and personal way, that you grow in
your relationship with Him, and that you use your gifts to advance His mission
for the world through the community of the church.
What are
some next steps you will take in order to continue advancing as a disciple of
Jesus?
TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
Disciples Path is a series of resources founded on Jesus’ model of
discipleship. Created by experienced disciple makers across the nation, it is
an intentional path of transformational discipleship. While most small-group
studies facilitate transformation through relationship and information, these
disciple-making resources do it through the principles of modeling, practicing,
and multiplying.
·
Leaders model a biblical life
·
Disciples follow and practice from
the leader
·
Disciples become disciple makers and
multiply through Disciples Path
Each of the six studies in the Disciples Path series has been
written and approved by disciple makers for one-on-one settings as well as
small groups. The series includes:
1. THE BEGINNING
Take the first step for a new believer and new disciple,
exploring the foundations of following Jesus and discovering the answers to
questions that all disciples ask.
2. THE WAY
Walk through the Gospels and follow the journey of Jesus
and the first disciples.
3. THE CALL
Gain a deeper understanding of what it means to follow
Christ in everyday life.
4. THE TRUTH
Dive into the doctrinal truths of biblical discipleship.
5. THE LIFE
Take a deeper look at the essential disciplines and
practices of following Christ.
6. THE MISSION
Get equipped for God’s mission and discover your role in
joining Him in the world.
To learn more or take the next step, visit lifeway.com/disciplespath
LEADER INSTRUCTIONS
As a
group leader or mentor, you have a vital role in the process of
discipleship—one that involves both blessing and responsibility. Keep in mind
the following guidelines as you faithfully obey the Great Commission.
YOUR GOAL
Remember that your ultimate goal
in the discipleship process is spiritual transformation. The best fruit for
your efforts as a leader is spiritual growth that results in transformed
hearts—both for you and for the disciples under your care.
Remember
also that spiritual transformation is most likely to occur when a godly leader
applies truth to the heart of a person while that person is in a teachable
posture. As the leader, you have direct control over the first two of those
conditions; you can also encourage and support disciples as they seek a
teachable posture. Take advantage of those opportunities.
YOUR METHODS
Use the following suggestions as
you work toward the goal of spiritual transformation.
·
Pray
daily. Studies have shown that leaders who pray every day for the
disciples under their care see the most spiritual fruit during the discipleship
process. Your ultimate goal is spiritual transformation; therefore, seek the
Holy Spirit
·
Teach
information. This resource contains helpful information on the basic
elements of the Christian faith. During group discussions, you’ll want to be
familiar enough with the content to avoid reading each page verbatim.
Highlighting key words or even creating your own bullet points will help you
facilitate the time most effectively. Prepare in advance.
·
Seek
conversation. As you lead disciples through the material, seek to engage
them in meaningful conversation. To help you, discussion questions have been
provided throughout the group portion of each session. These questions provide
an opportunity to pause and allow each disciple to react to the teaching. They
also allow you as the disciple-maker an opportunity to gauge how each person is
progressing along the path of discipleship.
·
Model practices.
Many disciples learn best by observing others. Therefore,
each session of this resource includes opportunities for you to model the
attributes, disciplines, and practices of a growing disciple of Jesus. Take
advantage of these opportunities by intentionally showing disciples how to
pray, interact with God’s Word, worship God, and so on—and by inviting feedback
and questions.
May God bless your efforts to guide others toward the blessing of new life through
Christ and continued transformation through His Spirit.
JOINING JESUS ON MISSION
Disciples are called to know Christ, grow with Christ, and go for Christ.
GET STARTED
REFLECT
As we learned in the previous session, living as a disciple of Jesus is a deeply personal matter that must also be expressed in a public way. People are designed to live in community, which is why participation in the church—the community of people who follow Jesus Christ as Lord—is an essential part of following Jesus.
Which of the assignments did you explore this week? How did it go?
What did you learn or experience while reading the Bible?
What questions would you like to ask before moving forward?
PRAY
Begin the session by connecting with God through prayer. Use the following guidelines as you speak with Him:
·
Thank God for creating the church and offering you the blessing
of community.
·
Ask God to give you an understanding of and a passion for His
mission in the world.
·
Ask for wisdom as you study what it means to join the church in
working to achieve Christ’s mission for the world.
INTRODUCTION
“Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people
everywhere march with you.”1
These were the opening words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower when he sent the orders launching the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, near the end of World War II. Until that day, Axis forces held Europe in an iron grip of oppression and tyranny. The situation was grim. The world was waiting.
Thankfully, we know the rest of the story. The landing of Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy essentially turned the tide of the war. Less than a year later, the European campaign came to an end.
In a similar way, Jesus’ life,
death, and resurrection forever changed the course of human history. Although
Jesus didn’t use an army to achieve His victory over sin, He did launch the
church—an ever-increasing, always-expanding movement of disciples.
As a follower of Christ, you’re
part of that movement. Therefore, you’re called to participate in His
continuing mission for the world. That mission contains several different
elements, but they can all be boiled down to a core assignment: making
disciples of Jesus Christ.
How do
you feel about being included as a member of the movement called the church?
What
emotions do you experience at the thought of telling others about Jesus?
1.
Jonathan Foreman, The Pocket Book of Patriotism,
(New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2005), 75.
THE STORY
KNOW THE STORY
Jesus talked often about
His mission for the world. But His most memorable descriptions of that mission
were connected with His first and last words to the disciples. The first came
when He called the disciples to follow Him.
In Session 1 we explored
this story from the perspective of choosing to follow Jesus. Now let’s focus on
Jesus’ larger mission for the world:
18 As He was walking along the Sea of
Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother
Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 19 “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I
will make you fish for people!” 20 Immediately they left their nets
and followed Him.
MATTHEW 4:18-20
Jesus’ mission for His
disciples can be boiled down to two simple phrases: “Follow Me” and “fish for
people.”
What have
you learned about the process of following Jesus? Of fishing for people?
After His death and
resurrection, Jesus confirmed and expanded His mission during one of His final
conversations with the disciples:
18 Then Jesus came near and said to
them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end
of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:18-20
How
confident do you feel about obeying Jesus’ commands in these verses? Why?
UNPACK THE STORY
YOUR MISSION IS FROM JESUS
Jesus
words from Matthew
28:18-20 are often referred to as the Great Commission. They
summarize what Jesus commissioned, or sent, His disciples to do. And because
Jesus extended the mission “to the end of the age” (v. 20), His words apply to
all His disciples throughout history—including you.
As a new disciple of
Christ, you are part of Jesus’ continuing mission for the world. What’s more,
as a new disciple, you are called to participate in that mission by helping to
make more disciples of Christ.
What
emotions do you experience when you think about “making disciples” of Jesus?
Why?
With that in mind,
remember that the foundation of Jesus’ commission was His own authority. Jesus
said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (v. 18). In
other words, He wanted everyone to understand that He’s in charge of everything
connected to this world—and beyond.
Why is that important?
Because a mission is only as good as the person (or Person) commanding it.
If a regular soldier had
sent out the order to attack on D-Day, nobody would have paid attention. But
since the orders came instead from the general in command, they had weight.
They carried authority that demanded obedience.
In the same way, Jesus is
the most important person who ever lived. His life, death, and resurrection are
the central moments in human history, and He exists as both God and man.
Therefore, His words demand obedience from us.
How do
you respond to Jesus’ claim of authority?
YOUR MISSION IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES
The core of Jesus’
statement from the Great Commission is “make disciples of all nations” (v. 18).
But how do we do that? What does it look like to make disciples? Where do we
get started, and what are we supposed to do?
Fortunately, Jesus offered
three practical steps we can follow in order to make new disciples in His Name:
·
Go: You
can’t be passive about making disciples. Jesus commanded us to go to our family
members, go to our friends, go into our communities, and even go throughout the
world as we proclaim the gospel.
·
Baptize: To
be baptized is to make a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. This
helps us remember our mission isn’t to get people to stop sinning, or even to
convince them to attend church. Our mission is to proclaim the good news of
Jesus Christ and help others confess Him as Lord.
·
Teach: The
process of making a disciple doesn’t end at conversion. When someone
experiences salvation, we’re called to teach them to observe everything Jesus
commanded. In other words, we have a responsibility to teach new disciples what
it means to live as a disciple of Christ.
Which of
the above steps seems most difficult to you? Why?
How have
you experienced the process of discipleship in your journey as a follower of
Christ?
The process of making
disciples for Jesus is called discipleship. And it is a process—it takes time.
In fact, you will never be “finished” as a disciple of Jesus. You will always
have room to grow and mature.
Therefore,
be patient with yourself. And be patient with the people you serve as you begin
the ministry of making disciples.
ENGAGE
Taking advantage of
opportunities to share your testimony—your story of experiencing salvation and
choosing to follow Jesus—will be one of your most effective tools for making
disciples. Many Christians feel nervous at the thought of sharing their testimony,
but doing so doesn’t have to be a frightening or frustrating experience. Nor
does it need to be confrontational.
Instead, simply talk
through your answers to the following questions:
How would
you describe your life before you encountered Jesus?
How did
you come to know and follow Jesus?
What
changes have you experienced since becoming a disciple of Jesus?
Telling
your story can be a powerful experience—both for you and for those who hear
you. As time allows, practice sharing your testimony with the members of your
group. Use this experience to gain insight and feedback so you can be ready
when the time comes for you to share the good news of salvation with someone
who needs to hear it.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
In addition to studying
God’s Word, work with your group leader to create a plan for personal study,
worship, and application between now and the next session. Select from the
following optional activities to match your personal preferences and available
time.
Worship
·
Read your Bible. Complete the reading plan for this session.
·
Connect with God by praying about your place in His mission for
the world. Ask God to show you opportunities to help make disciples each day.
·
Spend time with God by engaging the Prayer Mission devotional.
Personal
Study
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 1, “Your Mission Is for the World.”
·
Read and interact with Personal Study 2, “Your Mission Includes the Church.”
Application
·
Go for it. Share your testimony this week with at least one
person who needs to experience what Jesus has to offer.
·
Memorize John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
·
Look to your community. Meet with your pastor or a church staff
member to determine specific ways you can spread the message of the gospel
within your local community.
·
Look to the ends of the earth. Research individuals and
organizations currently working to spread the gospel internationally. Determine
a way you can participate in that ministry throughout the week.
·
Other:
WORSHIP
READING PLAN
Continue reading through
the Gospel of Mark this week. Record your thoughts and responses.
Day 1
Mark 13:14-37
Day 2
Mark 14:1-26
Day 3
Mark 14:27-52
Day 4
Mark 14:53-72
Day 5
Mark 15:1-20
Day 6
Mark 15:21-47
Day 7
Mark 16:1-8
PRAYER MISSION
Here’s another time when
Jesus spoke with His disciples about their mission in the world:
1 After this, the Lord appointed 70
others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He
Himself was about to go. 2 He told them: “The harvest is
abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into His harvest.”
LUKE 10:1-2
You must not forget to
pray as you seek to obey Jesus’ mission of making disciples. In fact, prayer is
one of your most valuable and effective resources in that mission.
For that reason, spend
some time making a list of the different people in your life who need to hear
the message of the gospel and experience salvation. Think of as many people as
you can. As you write each name, pray that God would make Himself known to that
person, and that he or she would experience salvation through Jesus Christ.
MY LIST:
PERSONAL STUDY
YOUR MISSION IS FOR THE WORLD
The four Gospels at the
beginning of the New Testament all tell the story of Jesus. The Book of Acts
describes the birth and early stages of the church. For that reason, it’s
important to understand that Jesus Himself launched the church by stating once
again His mission for any who choose to follow Him:
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or
periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After He had said this, He was
taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
ACTS 1:7-9
How do
these verses connect with the Great Commission? (See Unpack the Story.)
Notice that Jesus
mentioned three specific places in which His disciples will serve as witnesses:
Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Looking more
deeply at these locations will help us carry out our mission as followers of
Christ.
First, Jerusalem was
essentially home for Jesus’ first disciples. As the major city in Israel, it
represented everything that was familiar and comfortable to the disciples. They
had grown up around Jerusalem, they had ministered with Jesus in Jerusalem, and
they would spend most of their time in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended into
heaven (see verse 4).
As a
modern disciple of Jesus, you’re also called to serve in your version of
“Jerusalem.” In other words, your first actions as a witness for Jesus should
be centered around your home—around the places where you feel most comfortable.
You’re called to speak with your family members and closest friends about your
decision to follow Christ.
What
questions do you have about talking to your family members and closest friends
about Jesus?
What
steps can you take to begin sharing the gospel with the people you care about?
Second, the phrase “all
Judea and Samaria” referred to the broader regions around Jerusalem. These were
the homes of people from different races and nationalities—people who were
considered outsiders or even enemies by the Jews. Jesus commissioned His first
disciples to reach out to people not like themselves.
In the same way, you’re
called to serve the people in your community who are different from you. You’re
called to be a witness for Jesus in your workplace, in your neighborhood, in
your interactions with acquaintances, and even in your encounters with
strangers.
What’s
your initial reaction to the above statements?
What
steps can you take to intentionally serve as a witness for Jesus in your
neighborhood and community?
Third, Jesus commanded His
disciples to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” Amazingly, they obeyed.
Jesus’ original disciples were the founders of the church. Through their
efforts, the church grew at an incredible rate and has continued to expand for
centuries—bringing the message of Jesus to every corner of the world.
As a disciple of Jesus,
you are part of that church. Therefore, you have inherited the continued
mission to spread the gospel message to the ends of the earth. That doesn’t
mean you’re obligated to become a missionary, but it does mean you have been
called to play a part in proclaiming the gospel throughout all nations.
What
questions do you have about serving as a witness for Jesus even “to the ends of
the earth”?
What
steps can you take to begin obeying Jesus’ commands?
PERSONAL STUDY
YOUR MISSION INCLUDES THE CHURCH
As a disciple
of Jesus, you’ve inherited His commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew
28:10). You’ve also been given His command to serve as His
witness “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth” (Acts 1:8).
Obviously, you can’t fulfill either of those charges by yourself. You need to
be part of something bigger—something capable of reaching through your
community and outward to the entire world.
In other words, you need
the church in order to fulfill your mission as a disciple of Christ.
How do
you respond to the above statement?
As we saw in session 4,
the church is the community of people who follow Jesus as Lord. We don’t follow
Him only as individuals, however. We are connected together as the body of Christ.
We all have specific roles within that body, and we’ve all been given
gifts—often referred to as “spiritual gifts”—to help us engage our mission
effectively:
4 For just as each of us has one
body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form
one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according
to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in
accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if
it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it
diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
ROMANS 12:4-8 (NIV)
What are
some gifts, talents, or abilities you’ve been given as a follower of Jesus?
What
steps can you take to use those gifts as a member of the church?
The important thing to
remember about spiritual gifts is that every follower of Jesus is unique and
uniquely gifted to serve Him—including you. It’s also important to understand
that the church is most healthy when all of Jesus’ disciples do their parts to
carry out His mission.
That’s a point the apostle
Paul made in the Book of Ephesians:
15 But speaking the truth in love,
let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted
and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body
for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16
There’s a progression
involved in the working of the church. Jesus is Head of the body of Christ.
When we stay connected to Him as His disciples, we remain spiritually healthy.
And when we use our gifts to participate in the church and fulfill the
commission He has given us, the church remains healthy.
And as
we’ve seen many times throughout history, a healthy church can change the world
in miraculous ways.
How have
you seen the church bless your community?
How have
you seen the church bless the world?
God’s will for your life
is that you come to know Jesus in a deep and personal way, that you grow in
your relationship with Him, and that you use your gifts to advance His mission
for the world through the community of the church.
What are
some next steps you will take in order to continue advancing as a disciple of
Jesus?
TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
Disciples Path is a series of resources founded on Jesus’ model of
discipleship. Created by experienced disciple makers across the nation, it is
an intentional path of transformational discipleship. While most small-group
studies facilitate transformation through relationship and information, these
disciple-making resources do it through the principles of modeling, practicing,
and multiplying.
·
Leaders model a biblical life
·
Disciples follow and practice from
the leader
·
Disciples become disciple makers and
multiply through Disciples Path
Each of the six studies in the Disciples Path series has been
written and approved by disciple makers for one-on-one settings as well as
small groups. The series includes:
1. THE BEGINNING
Take the first step for a new believer and new disciple,
exploring the foundations of following Jesus and discovering the answers to
questions that all disciples ask.
2. THE WAY
Walk through the Gospels and follow the journey of Jesus
and the first disciples.
3. THE CALL
Gain a deeper understanding of what it means to follow
Christ in everyday life.
4. THE TRUTH
Dive into the doctrinal truths of biblical discipleship.
5. THE LIFE
Take a deeper look at the essential disciplines and
practices of following Christ.
6. THE MISSION
Get equipped for God’s mission and discover your role in
joining Him in the world.
To learn more or take the next step, visit lifeway.com/disciplespath
LEADER INSTRUCTIONS
As a
group leader or mentor, you have a vital role in the process of
discipleship—one that involves both blessing and responsibility. Keep in mind
the following guidelines as you faithfully obey the Great Commission.
YOUR GOAL
Remember that your ultimate goal
in the discipleship process is spiritual transformation. The best fruit for
your efforts as a leader is spiritual growth that results in transformed
hearts—both for you and for the disciples under your care.
Remember
also that spiritual transformation is most likely to occur when a godly leader
applies truth to the heart of a person while that person is in a teachable
posture. As the leader, you have direct control over the first two of those
conditions; you can also encourage and support disciples as they seek a
teachable posture. Take advantage of those opportunities.
YOUR METHODS
Use the following suggestions as
you work toward the goal of spiritual transformation.
·
Pray
daily. Studies have shown that leaders who pray every day for the
disciples under their care see the most spiritual fruit during the discipleship
process. Your ultimate goal is spiritual transformation; therefore, seek the
Holy Spirit
·
Teach
information. This resource contains helpful information on the basic
elements of the Christian faith. During group discussions, you’ll want to be
familiar enough with the content to avoid reading each page verbatim.
Highlighting key words or even creating your own bullet points will help you
facilitate the time most effectively. Prepare in advance.
·
Seek
conversation. As you lead disciples through the material, seek to engage
them in meaningful conversation. To help you, discussion questions have been
provided throughout the group portion of each session. These questions provide
an opportunity to pause and allow each disciple to react to the teaching. They
also allow you as the disciple-maker an opportunity to gauge how each person is
progressing along the path of discipleship.
·
Model practices.
Many disciples learn best by observing others. Therefore,
each session of this resource includes opportunities for you to model the
attributes, disciplines, and practices of a growing disciple of Jesus. Take
advantage of these opportunities by intentionally showing disciples how to
pray, interact with God’s Word, worship God, and so on—and by inviting feedback
and questions.
May God bless your efforts to guide others toward the blessing of new life through
Christ and continued transformation through His Spirit.