Have you ever faked being someone s friend in order to get something?

Transcription

1 Discipleship 101 Week 1 What does it mean to be a disciple (Luke 8:4-21)... 2 Week 2 Who am I following (Luke 8:22-56)... 5 Week 3 Why should I follow Jesus? Luke 12: Week 4 What does it look like to follow Jesus? (Luke 12:22-34) Week 5 What should I do with those who do not follow Jesus? (Luke 15) Week 6 What tools do I have to follow Jesus? (Spiritual Disciplines) Week 7 Free... 18

2 Week 1 What does it mean to be a disciple (Luke 8:4-21) Introduction: Around the Circle What is your name and who is your favorite celebrity? When I tell people that I am a Christian I get a lot of strange responses. People think being a Christian means all these different things. When I tell some people that I am a Christian I hear, Oh, so you don t party, I see. Or So you don t cuss. Or, You re one of those people who hates gays, right? What do some of your friends say about what it means to be a Christian? The reality is that Christians are disciples of Jesus. A disciple is simply someone who follows another person, who takes time to learn from that person, and tries to do the same things that he does. This means that Christian are just people who try to follow Jesus s teachings and examples. We are going to spend the next several weeks looking at what it really looks like to be a disciple of Jesus. We are going to ask, What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? We are then going to look at who we are actually following. Next we will try to answer, Why should I follow Jesus? Then we are going to see what it looks like to follow Jesus. The next big question is, What should I do with those who do not follow Jesus? Finally I will give you tools that will help you follow Jesus better. Going Deeper: Popcorn All Do you have a fake laugh? You know a laugh that you use when something really is not funny, but you don t want the person to feel bad? Lets hear it. Can you tell the difference between this fake laugh and a real laugh? How? Have you ever faked being someone s friend in order to get something? Do you think people fake being followers of Jesus? How do you think you can tell the difference? There are three stories in Luke 8, each one tells us how to separate real followers of Jesus from fakers. If you are faking being a follower of Jesus, maybe you are faking just to make your parents happy, I hope by the end of our series you will decide that you are ready to be a real follower of Jesus. But first, let s take some time to pray. Let s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us understand his word better. Let s also pray for whatever needs we might have. Do you have any prayer requests? Getting Into the Word: In this story, a large crowd surrounds Jesus. There are a lot of people in this crowd, who are just there because they think Jesus is entertaining. Some are there because they hope

3 Jesus will heal them. Others are there just because it is cool. Some are there just because. So, Jesus tells a parable. A parable is just a story told to get people thinking. Jesus tells this story to get them thinking about what a real and a fake follower of Jesus looks like. Luke 8:4-8 What are the types of soil? (hard, rocky, thorny, good) What happens to the seeds in each soil? (hard: birds eat the seed. Rocky: the plants withered because they had no moisture. Thorny: the thorns choked the plant out. Good: the plant grew and produced much fruit). If you were a seed, which soil would you want to land on? What question do you think Jesus really wanted to hear from his listeners? Jesus now explains the parable: Luke 8:9-15 What type of followers does the seed on the path represent? (Those who completely ignore Jesus teachings). What type of followers does the seed on the rocky ground represent? (Those who turn away from God because of tough times). What type of followers does the seed in the thorny soil represent? (Those who turn after idols). What type of followers does the seed on the good soil represent? (Those who are real followers of Jesus. What then does it take to be a real follower of Jesus (be a person with noble and good heart, who hears the word, retains it, perseveres until the end). So a true follower of Jesus believes what Jesus says is true and tries to follow it. He follows God, even when times get tough, and he does not allow worldly things to distract him. He follows Jesus until the end. Game Break Luke 8:16-18 Imagine being out camping, in a place you have never been before. It is dark, and there are many things that you could trip on or run into. If you had a flashlight on you with extra batteries in case it ran out. You would be pretty foolish not to use the light. What do you think the light is in this story? (Jesus teaching). How do people hide Jesus teaching? (Not doing what Jesus says). What is the danger of not following Jesus teachings? (Everything will be taken away from them, meaning God will judge them and they will not stand his judgment). Review: So fake followers, do not put Jesus teachings to practice, they abandon Jesus when times get tough, and they allow the pursuit of more things to distract them from following Jesus. Real followers do what Jesus says until the end.

4 Jesus now sums it up. He states clearly what it means to be his real follower. Luke 8:18-21: Application: What are some of the distractions in life that might keep you from following Jesus? What are some of the difficulties in life that might keep you from following Jesus? What are some ways that you can make sure that you hear Jesus teaching? What are some ways that you can make sure that you put Jesus teachings into practice?

5 Week 2 Who am I following (Luke 8:22-56) Introduction: Around the Circle What is your name and what is one really cool thing you have been able to witness? Last week we started trying to answer the question what does it really mean to be a follower of Jesus. We are going to spend the next several weeks looking at different aspects of what it means to follow Jesus. Last week we looked at the difference between real followers of Jesus and fakers. What did we find was the real difference between followers and fakers? (fakers do not actually do what Jesus teaches us to do. Fakers stop following God when things get tough, and they get distracted by the things of this world. Followers do what Jesus says). Today we will look at who Jesus is. Hopefully by the end of our conversation today you will think Jesus is someone worth following. Going Deeper: Popcorn All Name some people who you believe are great leaders. What makes a person a great leader? What are some of the things you see in others that makes you respect them? But first, let s take some time to pray. Let s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us understand his word better. Let s also pray for whatever needs we might have. Do you have any prayer requests? Getting Into the Word: Luke 8:22-25 What qualities does Jesus show here? (Power and authority over creation). A storm is one of the most powerful things on earth. Even with all our technologies we still have not found a way to control storms. On the sea, in a small boat storms can be especially scary with massive waves that threaten to sink ships. Because of the power of storms and seas these became images of chaos. Monsters represented them and no one even the gods could not control it. Yet, Jesus controls the storm with just his words. Luke 8:26-39

6 How powerful were the demons that affected the man? (though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Parallel in Mark 5 describes it this way, He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.) Yet the Demons were scared of Jesus, why were they terrified of Jesus? (Jesus is the son of God and had the power to cast them into the Abyss forever). What does this episode teach us about Jesus? (He is the son of the Most High God, He has power over demons, he as compassion on even those we would consider insane). Game Break: Luke 8:40-48 The woman s issue made her unclean. If someone touched her or was touched by her, he would be considered unclean also. This made her an outcast; someone no would want to be around. She was hoping that she could slipped unnoticed through the crowd and no one would have to know that she touched Jesus, but Jesus knew, and he called her out. Knowing this, why do you think Jesus called out the Woman? (To show her value in his eyes, she would not be one of the crowd, she would not be an outcast, but she is a daughter and an example of great faith). What does this episode tells us about Jesus? (He shows love and compassion to outcasts, he can heal diseases that no one else could heal). Luke 8:49-54 What does this episode tell us about Jesus? (He can raise people from the dead) Application: What have we learned so far about Jesus? (He has power over nature, he has power over demons, he can heal the sick, he can raise the dead, he is the Son of the most High God, he is compassionate, he takes care of those no one can or is able to help). Does what you have learned so far about Jesus make you want to follow him? Why or Why Not? I am going to give you a couple minutes to think about whether Jesus is one you would want to follow. Then I am going to pray a simple prayer telling Jesus that he is the one I want to follow. If you want to follow Jesus too, pray silently with me. If you are not convinced that Jesus is worth following, take the time to think about what more you would need to know about Jesus before you are willing to follow

7 him. Feel free to talk to any of us leaders about your doubts. Questions are great things and we want to help you through your questions.

8 Week 3 Why should I follow Jesus? Luke 12:4-21 Introduction: Around the Circle What is your name and what is your favorite thing to do in your free time? We are in the middle of a series asking the question, What does it mean to follow Jesus? We are going to spend the next several weeks looking at different aspects of what it means to follow Jesus. Two weeks ago we looked at the difference between real and fake followers of Jesus we discovered that fake followers refuse to put Jesus teachings into practice. We also saw that fakers stop following God when things get tough, and that the things of this world distract them easily. Followers, on the other hand do what Jesus says no matter the cost. This is a major commitment. It requires a lot out of us. So, last week and this week we are exploring why following Jesus is so important. Last week, we asked, Is Jesus really someone that I would want to follow. I hope that when we showed you that Jesus has power over nature, he has power over demons, he can heal the sick, he can raise the dead, he is the Son of the most High God, he is compassionate, and he takes care of those no one can or is able to help; you decided Jesus really is someone I want to follow. Today we will look at why we should follow Jesus. Going Deeper: Popcorn All What was the craziest thing you ever did to get to know or impress a girl or a boy you liked? What is the biggest or hardest thing you have ever done just to impress another person? Why was it so important for you to impress them? What are some good and some bad reasons to work extra hard to impress someone? Do you think there are good and bad reasons to follow God? But first, let s take some time to pray. Let s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us understand his word better. Let s also pray for whatever needs we might have. Do you have any prayer requests? Getting Into the Word:

9 Luke 12:4-5 What are some reasons disciples have to fear other people? (Peer pressure, being teased, being ostracized, but also get them to think about those who are martyred for the faith. Look up a current incident of martyrdom to share voiceofthemartyrs.org) Why should disciples fear God more than man? (God controls our eternal destiny). Luke 12:6-7 Take a guess how many hairs are on an average persons head. (On the average there are over one hundred thousand strands of hair on a young adult). So it says that God knows every single hair on your head, what does that tell you about God? (God knows everything. God cares enough to know you intimately). Think about what Jesus says about the sparrows. There are a lot of sparrows. They are not that valuable to humans, which is why they can be sold so cheaply. Yet God knows every single one of them. What point do you think Jesus is making? (If God cares so much for them, how much more will God care for you). So in one moment Jesus tells us to fear God and the next he tells us to not fear, why the sudden change? (The difference is what side you are on. If you follow God his knowledge and power is good, if you do not follow God and are under his judgment his knowledge and power will not turn out good for you. Game Break Luke 12:8-12 From verses 8-9, who is on Jesus side and who is not on Jesus side? (The ones who publicly declare that they follow Jesus, when there could be negative consequences for doing so are on Jesus side. Those who abandon Jesus when times get tough are not on his side). In case you are asked: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is refusing to accept the Holy Spirit s witness to Jesus Christ. Only those who die having never believed that Jesus is Lord have committed this sin. It is therefore, impossible for a Christian to commit this sin, and anyone who is worried that they have committed this sin, are far from committing this sin. Luke 12:13-21 What was Jesus response to the person who wanted to Jesus to make his brother divide his inheritance with him? (Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions).

10 What did the man in the field decide to do with his mega harvest? (Keep it all for himself). Jesus calls this man a fool, why is he a fool? (He stored up things for himself, but was not rich towards God). Application: It is important to follow Jesus because Jesus is the only one who can control our eternal destiny. This makes pleasing him more important than making others happy, and living your life for him more important than living your life for material things. If you have not yet decided to follow Jesus, now is the time. I am going to give you a few seconds to think about the decision, then I am going to lead a prayer telling Jesus that we have decided to live our lives for him, not for others, and not for things. I strongly encourage you to make the decision to follow Christ and to pray with me.

11 Week 4 What does it look like to follow Jesus? (Luke 12:22-34) Introduction: Around the Circle What is your name and if you could do anything for a vacation what would you do? We are in the middle of a series asking the question, What does it mean to follow Jesus? We are going to spend the next several weeks looking at different aspects of what it means to follow Jesus. First, we looked at the difference between real and fake followers of Jesus we discovered that fake followers refuse to put Jesus teachings into practice. We also saw that fakers stop following God when things get tough, and that the things of this world distract them easily. Followers, on the other hand do what Jesus says no matter the cost. This is a major commitment. It requires a lot out of us. So, the next two weeks we explored why following Jesus is so important. We asked, Is Jesus really someone that I would want to follow. I hope that when we showed you that Jesus has power over nature, he has power over demons, he can heal the sick, he can raise the dead, he is the Son of the most High God, he is compassionate, and he takes care of those no one can or is able to help; you decided Jesus really is someone I want to follow. Last week we looked further at why we should follow Jesus. Since Jesus is the one who controls our eternal destiny, he is the one we should follow. This week we will take a closer look at what it looks like to follow Jesus. Going Deeper: Popcorn All What are some of the things your friends obsess about, what are they always talking about? What are some of the things that cause your friends to worry? What are some of the things that cause you to worry? But first, let s take some time to pray. Let s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us understand his word better. Let s also pray for whatever needs we might have. Do you have any prayer requests? Getting Into the Word: Luke 12:22-34 What reason does Jesus give not to worry in verse 23? (Life is more than just food and clothes, or possessions).

12 What reason does Jesus give not to worry in verse 24 and verses 27-28? (God cares for you, and provides for you like he provides for a Raven, and the flower of the field). What reason does Jesus give not to worry in verses 25-26? (Worrying about the little things does not help you at all, it cannot even add one hour to your life). What reason does Jesus give not to worry in 29-30? (The rest of the world is obsessed with these thing. How does it show that we have a big God when the same little things that cause the world to worry worries us? What do all these reasons not to worry have to do with being a good disciple? (1. Good disciples trust their leader. Worrying about possessions shows that we do not trust God. It is impossible to follow God without trusting him. 2. Everyone else worries about these things. When we are like everyone else in worrying about these things we do not look different from the world). Game Break Instead of worrying, what does verse 31 tell us to do? (Seek first the Kingdom of God). What is the promise that God gives to those who seek the Kingdom of God first? (All other things will be added unto us) How does verse 32 tell us to seek the kingdom of God? (Do not be afraid; receive the free gift of God). John 3 tells us that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they have been born again. The problem is that we are citizens of Satan s kingdom, and the two kingdoms are at war. We look like citizens of Satan s Kingdom, we act like citizens of his kingdom, we are natural citizens of his kingdom. Since the two kingdoms are at war, the borders of the kingdoms are tight and well secured. No one can enter into God s kingdom without first being transformed into a new person who looks, acts, and has a nature like a citizen of God s kingdom. This is something that only the Holy Spirit can do for us. We cannot put on a disguise to sneak into the kingdom. The only way to enter the Kingdom is by a miracle from God that completely changes us from the inside out. Verse 32 of the passage we are studying says that God is happy to give you the kingdom; it is something he is eager to do. He only has two requirements, and they are easy ones. The first requirement is that we recognize who the true king is. Jesus is the true king. He proved it by sacrificing himself for his people, something no other king is willing to do. He also proved it by rising again from the dead. He is currently reigning at the right hand of God, and when he returns everyone will recognize that he is king. So, we recognize that Jesus is the true king and commit to serve him as king. The second requirement is that we admit that Jesus is the only way to get into the kingdom. We admit that all our efforts took us farther away from the kingdom. We are like sheep that have gone astray. We have each turned to our own way, away from God. Yet, God put all our rebellion on

13 Jesus when Jesus was sacrificed for us. Without this we cannot enter the kingdom. If we recognize the true king, and confess that his way is the only way to live in the kingdom, the Holy Spirit will transform us into a Kingdom citizen and we will be able to enter it. The command is not just to enter the kingdom, but to seek it. This means that we try to make Kingdom more visible in our lives and in the world. So how does verses tell us to make the Kingdom more visible in our lives? (Sell your possessions to the poor, Treasure God and his kingdom more than the things of this world). Application: What are some of the things you are tempted to seek instead of the Kingdom? What are ways you can show that you treasure God more than these things?

14 Week 5 What should I do with those who do not follow Jesus? (Luke 15) Introduction: Around the Circle What is your name and what kind of pets do you have? We are in the middle of a series asking the question, What does it mean to follow Jesus? We are looking at different aspects of what it means to follow Jesus. First, we looked at the difference between real and fake followers of Jesus we discovered that fake followers refuse to put Jesus teachings into practice. We also saw that fakers stop following God when things get tough, and that the things of this world distract them easily. Followers, on the other hand do what Jesus says no matter the cost. This is a major commitment. It requires a lot out of us. So, the next two weeks we explored why following Jesus is so important. We asked, Is Jesus really someone that I would want to follow. I hope that when we showed you that Jesus is both powerful and compassionate and that Jesus is the one who controls our eternal destiny, you decided Jesus really is someone I want to follow. Last week we saw that following Jesus is about trusting him for everything, and choosing to prioritize living for him over living for the things of this world. This week we will try to answer the question, What do I do with those who do not believe in Jesus? Going Deeper: Popcorn All How many friends do you have that are not following Christ? How do you see other people treat those who are not followers of Christ? (Two bad ways: not acting any different, or being judgmental). Let see how Jesus treats those who do not know God and why he treats them the way he does. But first, let s take some time to pray. Let s pray that the Holy Spirit will help us understand his word better. Let s also pray for whatever needs we might have. Do you have any prayer requests? Getting Into the Word: Luke 15:1-2 Introducing the characters: Tax Collectors: The tax collectors were hated by nearly everyone. They were hated because they worked for the Romans occupied the land. They were also hated because

15 tax collectors made money by over charging for taxes and keeping the extra for themselves. No self respecting Jew would associate with them. Sinners: The sinners were the other people no one would associate with. They were a large group of people, like prostitutes, alcoholics, and other deviants. Yet, it also included those who were disabled, either physically or mentally, and the extreme poor. The Jews believed that if something bad happened to someone, it was because God was judging them for the sins they committed (See John 9:1-2). Pharisees: The Pharisees were the most respected religious leaders of the day. They knew that the Jews were exiled because of their breaking of God s commands, and therefore were rigorous about following God. They created extra rules to keep them from breaking the law of God. Keeping the law was more important to them than showing mercy to those who had sin. Jesus and the Pharisees were often at odds, because of who Jesus claimed to be, and because Jesus had no patience with the Pharisees extra oral traditions. Teachers of the Law: Pretty self-explanatory. Knowing this, read in between the lines of the Pharisees complaint. (Look this guy is just like all of those sinners). Luke 15:3-6 Listen John Oswalt 23:28-25:28 Luke 15:8-10 What are some of the similarities between the two parables (Two things that are not that valuable, the owner still has way more than he lost, the owner goes out of her way to search for it, the owner finds it, the owner throws a party). According to Jesus, what happens when a sinner is saved? (The Angels rejoice when one sinner repents). If Angels rejoice when one sinner is saved, how should we react when a sinner is saved? (We should rejoice). Game Break: Luke 15:11-19 Back in those days, it was really rare for a son to leave home to go to another country. It was expected that children would take over the family business and provide for the parents when they were too old to provide for themselves. It was a high power shame culture, which means showing the proper respect to those older than you was the most

16 important thing you could do. It would be unthinkable to ask for your inheritance before your parents died. It was a huge slap in the face, like saying, I wish you were dead. Imagine being a Father and your child comes to you and demands his inheritance, basically telling you I wish you were dead. Then your child takes off to a foreign land without telling you where he was going. How would you feel? What would you do? Imagine being the son, going from living the dream life, to having nothing, wishing to eat pig slop. How would you feel? What would you do? If you were a father and saw your son coming down the road, how would you react? Luke 15:19-24 How did the Father react to seeing his Son? (He threw a party) Luke 15:28-32 What was the older brother s reaction to the party? (He was angry and refused to go in) Why did the older brother feel this way? (He was angry because he worked for his father for so long, and no one threw a party for him). What was wrong with his attitude? (He was like the younger son, and resented his Dad. Working for him was like slaving and he expected a reward for his labor. What was the Father s response? (We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found). Sum up Jesus response to the Pharisees accusation, This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. (You should not shun sinners, because God loves sinners and wants to bring them back to him). Application: What does God s reaction towards sinners tell us about how we should act towards those who do not follow God? What are ways that we can show the same kind of love to those who do not follow God? If you are not following God, yet, I want you to know that God greatly desires a relationship with you. Maybe you are like that sheep in the first parable. You

17 have been following your own way for so long that you have gotten lost. Your life feels like a mess and you do not know how to get out. I can tell you, your life is a mess because you have selfishly put yourself at the center and not God. God is eagerly asking you make me the center of your life again, turn back from you own way, and follow me. Or maybe you are like the younger son in the last story. Maybe you have told God you hated him. Maybe you told him, I want my own way. I want to live my life for my pleasure, and I do not care who I hurt along the way. Maybe now you have seen what that life leads to and you can not stand it any longer. Yet, like the Son, you do not feel good enough to go back to God. You do not feel worthy of him, so you stay away. God wants you to know that he is eager to welcome you back as his Son. He will rejoice when you return to him. He will not send you away. All you have to do is accept his love and come live as his son again.

18 Week 6 What tools do I have to follow Jesus? (A walk through my quiet time) This week we are going to do something a little different. Instead of going through a normal lesson, I am going to walk you through what I did for quiet time this morning. It will give you a chance to see how God speaks with me, and maybe you can pick up a couple of tools you can use on your own. Before we do this there are a couple things you need to know about spiritual disciplines. First, everyone has a different way they structure their times with God. There is no one right way. People should do what fits them and their personalities. You will not do it the same way throughout your life, and you may find varying your pattern will give fresh life to your time with God, especially when it feels like it has been dry a while. There are things that every time with God should have: a time to worship, a time to talk to God, and a time to listen to God, yet there are many ways to do those three things. Find what works for you. Second, you should think of this time not as what defines whether you are a good Christian or not, but as a tool to help you become a good Christian. Imagine a contractor without a hammer, or an artist without a paintbrush. It is the same way with Christians and time with God. You can be a disciple without having time everyday to spend with God, but it will be really difficult. If you do so, you deprive yourself of the very tools that make being a disciple easier. You should also remember, though, these are tools. A hammer does not make a contractor, a paintbrush does not make an artist, neither does a quiet time make a good Christian. So, if you miss your time with God, do not feel guilty. Just try again tomorrow. If you are consistent in your time with God, do not feel too good about your self, there is more to be a follower of Jesus than having a consistent quiet time. Walk through your morning devotional. Think through everything you did. Why did you do it? What do you gain from doing it this way? Feel free to be honest if you did not get much from a particular discipline. This would actually be encouraging to those who feel like they have to get something every time the read the bible. Remember the three things your time should have, a time to worship God, a time to talk to God, a time to listen to God. Week 7 Free