Jesus: Son of God series part two
DISCIPLESHIP
Small group devotion
The purpose of this discussion is to explore what discipleship involves and to challenge your group to “step out” of the boat and follow.
Opening question: On a piece of newsprint, write two words: “Disciple” and “Discipline”. What positive/negative connotations do each of these words have? What are the connections between them? What are the differences?
When you see these two words together, how does that change your understanding of “disciple”? How about “discipline”? How does it make you feel?*
Watch the “Living vlog” posted on 5th October to the Living Room facebook page. Jordan discusses how God’s kingdom has come immediately near in Jesus.
What do think about what he said? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
On Sunday we heard the story of Jesus calling the first disciples. Here’s another one…
Read Mark 2:13-17.
What does this story tell you about God’s kingdom?
What does this story tell you about discipleship?
Like Simon and Andrew, James and John, Levi just drops everything and follows Jesus. What is stopping you from responding to Jesus’ call wholeheartedly?
What would a wholehearted response look like for you?
If this story were set today, what might the Pharisees look like? How about “the tax collectors and sinners”? **
Where would you place yourself in this story?
On Sunday, Jordan used this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“If you believe, take the first step, it leads to Jesus Christ.
If you don’t believe, take the first step all the same,
for you are bidden to take it.
No one wants to know about your faith or unbelief,
your orders are to perform the act of obedience on the spot.
Then you will find yourself in the situation where faith becomes possible
and where faith exists in the true sense of the word.”
How do you respond to this?
Close by praying and encouraging one another in your journeys of discipleship.
Leader’s notes:
* Often young people today struggle with the idea of “discipline” or “obedience”. Try and challenge your young people to think about discipline and obedience in a positive way i.e. not as restrictive and narrow legalism, but as living into the fullness that God intended. One illustration could be road rules. Technically these limit our freedom, but if we didn’t have them, there would be pandemonium. And so they actually increase your freedom and everyone else’s.
** If need be, be a bit controversial to draw out conversation. Perhaps the Pharisees are like many Christians today who turn up church or youth group, sit in the pew, say the right words etc. Perhaps the sinner and tax collectors are people we least expect. What would it mean if we saw ourselves on the side of the Pharisees against whom Jesus was speaking?