Discipleship Action 2

If you like, you can draw upon some of last week’s activities and see if people have had some new thoughts about some of last issues. You could consider the following:

• Understanding and definitions of discipleship as a lifelong process
• The aspects of discipleship that are attractive and unattractive
• What it means to ‘carry your cross’ daily

Additionally your group needs to consider some practical applications and events:

1.       Some action in the wider community

2.       Some action within the OS community / RLC community

3.       A social engagement

You could also try to develop some commitment and accountability within the group: ‘What am I going to commit to in my own life and share that commitment with the group.

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The following is a ‘study’ resource from the Sunday readings and message.

Discipleship: The Rag-Tag Fishermen

Pastor Matt described the first disciples a ‘rag-tag collection of fisherman’. He wasn’t saying this to be unkind but it served as a reminder that the Christian life begins with a blessing: you are the salt of the earth and you are the light of the earth.  It is always worth thinking about the group of men who Jesus first called. After his call, they followed as disciples of Jesus: always students in and of the life of Jesus.

Sometimes we feel that we are unable to be disciples because we are ‘not good enough’. We are right that we are not ‘good’ but wrong about ‘enough’.  The call to discipleship is a call that is not heard by those who consider themselves good but is heard by those who are lost and know it. So, we too belong to the tradition of ‘rag-tag fishermen’.

Initial Reflection  (Matthew 5: 13-16)

• Can you recall when you first heard the call of Jesus?
• Are the symbols of salt and light meaningful to you? Why/why not?
• Have there been times when you have felt that you have lost your saltiness or that your light has dimmed?
• What are the things that have restored your saltiness or made your light shine brighter?

Other readings to reflect upon:

 

Ephesians 5 : 8-14

The Ephesians reading takes the light symbol further. In this reading Paul draws the images of light and darkness, life and death together.

I Corinthians 2: 1-12)

The reading is from Paul written to members of a church.  As such it needs to be read as members of a worshipping community. Consider:

• Have you ever felt part of a close-knit team? How did that feel?
• How were divisions dealt with?
• What does Paul expect of a worshipping community/church?
• What obstacles does Paul identify as preventing that unity of purpose?
• To what extent are such obstacles a problem for churches today?
• How might a church overcome these divisions or are they just human nature?
• How can we apply the reading to our daily life and to our church life? Are these applications different?

Prayer

Encourage your group to develop an understanding of personal and intercessory prayer. Perhaps encourage them to identify prayers and praise points that are appropriate.

A useful activity is to work through the Lord’s Prayer section by section and add prayers through it.

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