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A WORD TO THE SHEPHERDS
Welcome to part two of the Engage curriculum! We’ve all come a long way in the past year as we completed Engage: Gospel together. How exciting it was to watch the spiritual growth and maturity of our group members as they shared their personal experiences with God and wrote their faith stories.
None of this would have been possible without the love, time and commitment of our Shepherds and we thank you!
Part two of this curriculum is entitled Engage: Discipleship. Now that we have begun to explore what we believe and how to speak about it, what does it mean to live as a disciple of Christ? How does this impact our everyday lives? What are we supposed to be doing? These questions and more will be the focus in the next year.
We will be staying with the same format as Engage: Gospel. This year, instead of having a Practice at the end of each lesson, we will be having a Prayer Request at the end of each lesson with a follow up at the next lesson. We would also like everyone to keep a prayer journal during this study. The first Session will explain why this is important and the different ways it can be done. Among the options will be a traditional journal with paper that requires a pen. A second option will be to use an online prayer journal that we have created exclusively for our GIFT ministry. Prayers can be shared with a group or with individuals who are using the app.
Our hope is that the continuation of the Engage series will build on the excitement and momentum of last year as we explore together what it truly means to be one of Christ’s disciples and live in a community of faith.
In faith and love,
Sue
Diane
SESSION 1 – Part 1
DISCIPLESHIP IS CONTINUING
CHRIST’S MINISTRY
Supplies:
Bibles
Copies of Serving Inventory
Question: What was the most important thing you learned from last year’s study? (Note to Shepherds: Please make a note of these comments)
This year’s study is called Engage: Discipleship and builds on last year’s lessons. Engage: Discipleship is intended to call, train, inspire and support disciples of Jesus Christ. This year’s lessons are intended to revive our call to serve as Christ’s disciples, to strengthen our abilities to witness to him, to enhance the ways we call others to discipleship and simply to enjoy life together as the Body of Christ.
Read Aloud: Acts 1:1-11 The Ascension of Jesus
In departing from his disciples—the ones he had called, trained, equipped and prayed for—Jesus leaves them with work to do. They are to continue his earthly ministry. They are to be his witnesses everywhere. Imagine the responses of those who had once been close companions of Jesus but now are left on their own. Yet far from being alone, they are promised power and guidance through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus ascended to heaven after “giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles” (Acts 1:2). Jesus had devoted his entire ministry to giving instructions to the disciples who gathered around him, especially the Twelve
he called. By observing, learning, listening, paying attention and working alongside him, they came to know the heart of Jesus. They were equipped to continue his ministry: “You will be my witnesses: (1:8). The news of Jesus’ resurrection: the good news of life in the kingdom of God, the forgiveness of sin and God’s redeeming love and the invitation to live life in ways that reconcile and restore.
What does the word “disciple” mean?
When you think of a disciple of Christ, who do you think of? What did that person do that made you think they were a disciple of Christ?
The Greek word mathetes is the word that Scripture uses for “disciple,” and it means “learner-follower.” A disciple learns to follow and learns by following; Jesus’ disciples learn to follow Jesus and learn by following Jesus. And what do they learn? Disciples or apprentices of Jesus, learn to live a life informed and empowered by the life of Christ so that they may be equipped to continue his ministry.
Have you ever considered yourself to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Why or why not? Does the above definition fit with what you believed discipleship to be?
Discipleship is all about living a life connected to God through Christ and to all of God’s children. It is the life Jesus lived, a life connected by the love of God. We want to live this same kind of life because Jesus’ deep love for us causes us to love and desire him above all else. The key to discipleship is remaining connected to the one who loves us.
In what ways do you stay connected to God? In what ways do you stay connected to God’s children?
How do you feel about “living the life Jesus lived?” Does that seem overwhelming or do you see yourself as already doing it? What does that kind of life look like?
It is beneficial at the beginning of Engage: Discipleship to complete a simple inventory. Significant change often happens after we take stock of our lives and determine to do something about them. Using the four essentials of worship, fellowship, learning and serving, we will complete a disciple-making inventory. This week we will concentrate on serving.
Note to Leader: Hand out copies of the Serving Inventory. Give members time to fill them out and then discuss as a group.
Prayer is an important tool (and spiritual discipline) for keeping connected to God and one another. For this year’s study, we would like everyone to keep a Prayer Journal. Keeping a journal is a great way to slow yourself down and really think about what you are praying and why. (talk about online journaling and handwritten journaling here).
At the end of each lesson we will have a Prayer Request that you will be asked to pray for once a day before the next lesson. This is also a great way to keep ourselves accountable to one another. There will be a brief check-in at the beginning of each lesson so we can share what we’ve learned and support each other, if some of us find this to be a challenge.
Prayer Request: Pray for each member of your group individually by name. Concentrate on areas of their life where you know they need to feel God’s love and support.
SERVING INVENTORY
In what ways are you using your gifts in serving through the ministry of our church?
______
Is there a current ministry or new ministry in which you would like to serve?
______
Where is God calling you to serve? What is a gift you offer in serving?
______
SESSION 1 – Part 2
DISCIPLESHIP IS CONTINUING
CHRIST’S MINISTRY
Supplies:
Bibles
Copies of Acts of the Disciples
Copies of Worship Inventory
Check In: Did you use your Prayer Journal over the past two weeks? How did you feel praying for each member of your group? How did you feel knowing that you were being prayed for?
To be a disciple is to follow Christ and learn his ways in order to continue his ministry. Jesus calls, teaches, blesses and sends disciples to continue his redeeming and reconciling work. Discipleship is all about living life in Christ.
Read Aloud: 2 Timothy 1:8-10 God’s Salvation in Christ
In 2 Timothy we hear the Apostle Paul writing to his dear friend and fellow evangelizer, Timothy. In these short verses, Paul is encouraging Timothy to keep proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and not to be ashamed to do it! Paul is also reminding Timothy of the gift of God’s grace.
Do you ever feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about your faith? In what settings is it hardest to do this?
What were some of the descriptions of a disciple that you remember from our last session? When you think of yourself as one of Christ’s disciples, what do you see yourself doing?
Being a disciple is not a sedentary assignment. Christ has given us responsibilities and work that needs to be done to continue his ministry. Let’s explore some of the works of the twelve disciples.
Note to Leader: Hand out a copy of the sheet Acts of the Disciples to each member of your group.
As a group, look at each action listed. Discuss how the word helps define what it means to be a disciple of Christ and how they see disciples doing these things today.
Look at the completed list and discuss whether every disciple must do all of these things - and if not, which ones get a pass and which are essential?
Throughout this study our challenge is to learn and practice actions of those called to continue Christ’s ministry.
Note to Leader: Hand out copies of the Worship Inventory. Give members time to fill them out and then discuss as a group.
Prayer Request: Pray for Mitch and Sue, the Worship Committee and all those who lead us in worship.
ACTS OF THE DISCIPLES
BAPTIZE—
SERVE—
PROCLAIM—
LEARN—
TEACH—
MAKE DISCIPLES—
LOVE—
BLESS—
PRAY—
WORSHIP—
SHARE—
OBEY—
WORSHIP INVENTORY
In what ways is worship challenging and equipping you for discipleship?
______
How do you engage in prayer, both personally and with the community?
______
What are your expectations and hopes for your prayer and devotional life?
______
What spiritual disciplines do you practice that help draw you closer to God, and are you contemplating others? (Examples: Prayer, worship, fellowship, Bible Study, singing, devotional reading, service, tithing, fasting, etc.)
______
SESSION 1 – Part 3
DISCIPLESHIP IS CONTINUING
CHRIST’S MINISTRY
Supplies:
Bibles
Copies of Fellowship Inventory
Check In: Have you ever prayed for pastors of our church before? If not, what was it like? Do you think that praying for those who lead us in worship will make worship a different experience for you?
Read Aloud: Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission
These four verses finish the book of Matthew. Known as the “Great Commission” they are Jesus’ final words to his disciples. Here we see Jesus giving his disciples their “marching orders.” These are instructions to the disciples of how they are to continue Christ’s ministry.
The instructions of Jesus found in the Gospels provide the heart of the disciples’ witness. Many of these instructions you may already know: how we are to love God and love our neighbor; how we are to pray, offer our worship and serve others. Some of Jesus’ teachings are easy to grasp; others are more difficult to understand. All of his instructions are intended to train his disciples to live their lives in the same manner as Jesus lived his life.
Think of the different teachings of Jesus. Which teachings are easy to grasp? Which ones are more difficult?
Jesus’ instructions from the Gospels live on through the written faith stories shared by Christ’s disciples through the ages. These faith stories will continue in what we share as disciples of Christ at this particular time and place among these particular people.
Discipleship is about growing and maintaining a relationship with God. The Jewish people of Jesus’ day had developed a way of knowing God. Their elementary school experience involved memorizing the first five books of the Bible. That’s right: they memorized Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy! Middle school involved memorizing much of the rest of what we know as the Old Testament. Then, the best and the brightest would apply to learn from a rabbi. If the rabbi believed the student could live and share his life, that is, take on his yoke, then the rabbi would invite the student to follow and learn from him. A student not yoked to a rabbi would learn the family business.
Do you feel like you have been yoked (mentored) by someone on your faith journey? Who is that person and how have they helped you mature in your faith?
Where did Jesus find his disciples? They were already at work in the family business. They were not the best of the best! But Jesus invited them to take on his yoke (Matthew 11:28) because he believed they could live his life and share his ministry. Jesus believes that we can live his life! Jesus believes that we can serve others and share our faith in ways that change our communities and world. God gives us a community of faith in which we can grow up to live Jesus’ life and continue his ministry.
Do you believe that you need to be “the best of the best” in order to be a follower of Christ? Discuss the lives of some of the 12 disciples and Paul and their backgrounds before Jesus called them to be followers. Far from being the cream of the crop, they were willing “learners” who believed in Christ’s message, even though they didn’t entirely understand it!
Note to Leader: Hand out copies of the Fellowship Inventory. Give members time to fill them out and then discuss as a group. (Please take note of answers to the last question and send them to Sue)
Prayer Request: Pray for those who organize fellowship activities in our church (Fellowship Time, church picnic, Christmas dinner, pot lucks, etc.). Pray that our church family will make more time to spend in fellowship with one another.
FELLOWSHIP INVENTORY
In what ways are you involved in supporting and enjoying the church’s fellowship?
______
Who are the people and groups with whom you would like to deepen your friendships in the future?
______
Where in the church do you receive support, encouragement and guidance for your discipleship?
______
Do you have specific ideas about building and strengthening community with the church?