Greetings Church,
This week we talked about BOLD disciple making. Making Disciples is our great commission given to us by our Savior. Therefore it is something that we must take seriously.
Read Ephesians 4:1-16.
1. The Big Problem
Paul points out that every Christian begins as a spiritual baby. In 1 John, John talks about believers as “Children,” “Young men” (adolescents), and “Fathers” (adults). Which of these would you say best describes your personal spiritual growth- are you a spiritual child, adolescent, or adult?
Read Ephesians 4:2-3. Do these words describe you? Or are you self- centered and easily offended?
2. The Bold Reality
Read Ephesians 4:4-6 again. The Bold reality is that the Trinity lives in each and every Christian. What is the Trinity like (think about character traits and community)? What does it mean that these things are inside of you too?
3. The Bold Vision
How would you define a Christian? A Disciple? Does your definition include a changed life that comes from the power of the indwelling Trinity?
Read Ephesians 4:13. How is spiritual growth described here? Is it just a list of behaviors? How is it directly connected to Jesus’ life?
We said that a disciple is “someone who is learning to depend on the indwelling life of Christ in order to love like Christ and live like Christ.” Do you agree with this definition? What stands out to you in this definition of a disciple?
4. The Bold Commitment
Read Ephesians 4:11-12. What commitment must the pastor make? What commitment must the saints make? Have you made this commitment? Are you committed to building someone else up?
Read Ephesians 4:15-16. Are you committed to DEED ministry and WORD ministry? Why are both important? Why must each Christian be willing to prayerfully speak the truth in love to other believers?
5. Living Life on Mission
Engage-Evangelize-Establish-Equip
Where are you on this scale? Have you been engaged? Evangelized? Established? Equipped?
How are you moving someone else along this process? Are you engaging others? Evangelizing others? Establishing others? Equipping others?
If you are reading these questions it is likely you are already in a group. How can a small group or family disciple one another mutually? Is that happening in your small group?
What is one thing you could do this year to get equipped to make disciples?
For families:
How can you as a family make disciples? Think about our scale:
Engage- Evangelize-Establish-Equip
Think through these questions together: How can you as a family move others to the right? How can you engage your neighbors? How can you evangelize you friends?
What is the primary way that you are equipping your children to be disciple makers? Is this ONLY happening within the walls of the church? Is it happening in your home? Are you equipping your children to speak the truth in love to others? Do you model this for your children?
Fighter Verse Questions for Groups and Families
Ephesians 4:15. but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.
The truth we are to speak is the truth of Christ and his gospel. Do you speak the truths of the gospel to others- both saved and unsaved? If not, why?
Tim Keller says “Love without truth is sentimentality. Truth without love is harshness.” Why do truth and love need to always be put together when we do WORD ministry.
What is the aim of our speaking truth in love? Is this your aim in life? To grow up into Christ? What might be getting in the way of this for you?
