I encourage you to listen or re-listen to the past two Sunday’s messages in preparation for Gather, Grow, and Go. You can go to the website, www.livinghopeministriesny.com and click on the “listen to sermons” tab. The weekly reflections are there as well.
- What are your thoughts on the idea that there is a difference between foundational discipleship and formational discipleship? Is there a tendency to want to start with formation before spending the time to make sure there is a solid foundation?
- Grant Edward’s in his resource for disciple-making (Conversations, First Steps Discipleship) identifies 4 foundational disciplines that he believes should be focused on in the first three months of a new-believers life: prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and discipleship/evangelism. If this approach became an intentional part of disciple-making, do you think we would see more disciples who are making disciples? Why or why not? Do you feel it is important to be intentional and structured in disciple-making? What is one thing you could do to become more intentional?
- Of these four disciplines is there one or more that is a struggle for you, or you know you need to grow in? What can you do about that? Are you willing to?
- Does applying the “principle of specificity” to these four disciplines help keep them from becoming dry and dutiful? In other words, making these disciplines personal, using them specifically to help you train yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
- Luke 14:25-35 – What are reasons that keep us from this full surrender and complete allegiance that Jesus requires?
- Jeremy Miller said that the dominate worldview is that “the truest thing in the universe is what you think and feel inside, that what you feel is the truest thing, and that all this so-called truth must be affirmed.” How would having a durable foundation of prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, and evangelism/disciple-making help us from drifting along with this worldview? How would discipling new believers in these four foundational disciplines help the church to stay true to God’s Word and not drift along with the views of the world?
- How does the intentionality of the church to make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus compare to the world’s effort to form and influence people? Is there anything you/we should do about your answer?
- Question: “What is the posture of faith that causes people to thrive in any circumstance?” Answer: “A posture of self-surrender.”
What does a practical-daily life of self-surrender look like? What are some practical-daily disciplines you can implement in your life to help you live in this posture of self-surrender?
Living Hope Ministries 