disciple making sample lesson
DESCRIPTION
Jesus left us no Plan B. He spent three years revealing His Father, His kingdom, and His gospel, and now it's our turn. In Disciple Making: No Plan B, you'll learn how to make disciples by modeling Jesus, pointing to Jesus, and putting Jesus' words into practice. You'll see how discipleship is motivated and fueled by the gospel. And if you fear you can't make disciples because you're unfit or incompetent, you'll find the gospel especially qualifies you for making disciples of Jesus. At the end of this study, your group can complete a project together. And in light of what God shows your group, you'll create a plan for living missionally beyond the extent of this study. Disciple Making: No Plan B is merely a jump-start to a lifestyle of following Jesus.TRANSCRIPT
VERGE NETWORK
DISCIPLE MAKINGNo Plan B
DISCIPLE MAKINGNo Plan B
Verge Network
LifeWay Press®
Nashville, Tennessee
Disciple Making: No Plan BPublished by LifeWay Press®
©2013 Verge Network
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without express written
permission of the publisher. Request for permission should be addressed to
LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0152.
ISBN: 978-1-4300-2551-1
Item: 005588802
Dewey Decimal Classification Number: 269.2
Subject Heading: DISCIPLESHIP \ CHRISTIAN LIFE \ EVANGELISTIC WORK
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English
Standard Version® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright
2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
To order additional copies of this resource, order Online at www.lifeway.com;
write LifeWay Small Groups: One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0152;
fax order to 615.251.5933; call toll-free 800.458.2772.
Adult Ministry Publishing
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CONTENTS
About Verge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
About Disciple Making: No Plan B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
How to Use This Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
SESSION 1 Discipleship: Becoming Like Jesus . . . . . . . . . . .11
SESSION 2 Discipleship: Being a Parent to Imitate . . . . . . . .23
SESSION 3 Discipleship: Motivated by the Gospel . . . . . . . .31
SESSION 4 Discipleship: Pointing to Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
SESSION 5 Discipleship: Putting It Into Practice . . . . . . . . .53
SESSION 6 Discipleship: God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Leader Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
Project Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Group Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
ABOuT VErGE
Vision of VergeAs a network, Verge seeks to be an advocate and champion for movements
of gospel-centered, missional communities. Our hope is to resource everyday
leaders—from church pastors, to college students, to artists, to entrepreneurs—
for the mission of God, in community, for the sake of the gospel.
We provide resources that are useful for equipping God’s people for God’s
mission. Our passionate and engaged audience wants to see the gospel
change them, their communities, their neighbors, and the world they live in.
So we help Verge leaders and churches missionally engage and contextualize
the gospel for everyday people where they live, work, and play.
History of VergeVerge Network started as a church-based training seminar at The Austin
Stone Community Church in 2008. During the weekend seminar, Austin
Stone discussed what it would look like for the church to engage the city
of Austin with the gospel. We discovered, however, that groups from other
churches were there with us that weekend.
After that seminar, we thought more about the other churches and
considering how to engage our neighbors with the gospel. There were many
other churches we could learn from. Thus, the Verge Network started in an
effort to facilitate a conversation about the missional church.
In 2010, the Verge Conference launched as a gathering for people engaged in
the mission of God in their everyday lives. In our first year we had more than
2,000 attendees and nearly 3,000 online viewers from 11 countries.
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Disciple Making
Following the conference, we launched vergenetwork.org, a website that
offers timely and topical information, videos, interviews, articles, and ongoing
dialogue about living in gospel-centered, missional communities. Our desire
was to continue the missional conversation and provide leaders with great
content year round.
In 2011, Verge partnered with Exponential, the largest church planting
conference in the U.S., to equip and teach more than 4,000 leaders what it
means to live out the gospel on mission in community.
In 2012, Verge was back in Austin. Around 2,000 people gathered to learn
from leaders like David Platt, Matt Carter, Jo Saxton, Dr. John Perkins,
Christian rapper Propaganda, Alan Hirsch, Mike Breen, Hugh Halter, Neil
Cole, and many more. Additionally, through live streaming, the conference
had almost 1,000 multi-sites in 49 countries, with nearly 30,000 people
participating worldwide. In this study guide, we share with you what we
learned at the 2012 conference so you can share it with your missional
community right where you are.
Looking forwardAs Verge Network continues to grow, we have a deep desire to create more
gospel-centered missional resources to equip leaders. Our hope is that we
can play a part in resourcing the church to build the kingdom of God in our
generation.
Michael “Stew’” Stewart
Founder and Director of Verge Network
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ABOuT DiSciPle-MakiNg: No PlaN B
If we were responsible for putting into motion a plan for the whole world to
hear the gospel, we would probably question Jesus’ approach. He healed
people, raised a few from the dead, and preached to the multitudes, but then
He left the scene. Surely Jesus could have maintained a thriving ministry,
healed many more people, and taken the good news to numerous lands
before He departed. But He didn’t.
Instead, Jesus revealed Himself and His Father to twelve men for three years.
He taught them how to live in His kingdom. He encouraged them, corrected
them, and sent them out to do what He did. Certainly it was hard, and at
times messy, but this was His method for disciple-making, and these were
the people He trusted to carry the gospel to the rest of the world.
What was Plan B? Jesus should have made a backup plan, right? Some kind
of safety net to ensure that if these guys failed, the message would still go
forward and people would hear the good news of the gospel. There was no
backup plan—no Plan B.
And we don’t need one. God will rescue every one of His children from every
nation, tribe, people, and language. And He will do it the way He said He
would when Jesus looked at His disciples and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Join us for a few weeks to look at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Together we’ll join God’s plan to take the gospel to the whole world.
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hOw TO uSE ThIS STuDy
We’ve designed this study guide to be used by a missional community. The
sessions are most fruitful in a cozy atmosphere where people can speak freely
and listen and love well. We envision groups of 6 to 12 people hanging out in
a home and discovering Jesus together.
The ideal environment for these sessions includes food. There is something
about eating together that allows people to push below surface conversations.
We encourage you to start your time with snacks or a small meal. As you eat,
learn about each other and how God is working in your lives.
But don’t let the fun stop when you put your forks down. Gather around for
a candid discussion, a short video about God’s Word, and a glimpse of what
God wants to do in your hearts, your families, your community, and the world.
Each session has four sections:
reCogniZing oUr PersPeCtiVeEach of us has a worldview—a basic set of values and beliefs that help
us interpret the world. Our worldview shapes our decisions from where we
choose to live, to the relationships we choose to have, to the job opportunities
we pursue. In this section you will explore your worldviews and begin to
understand how what you value and believe influences your lifestyles.
refoCUsing oUr VisionWe live in a broken world. Our values have been marred by sin, and therefore,
our lifestyles often fail to reflect how God has asked His people to live. In this
section a new idea will challenge your current worldviews. As you consider
this new paradigm, you will reflect on your lifestyles and note where they
differ from God’s plan.
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aLigning witH tHe gosPeLOften we look for motivation outside of God. We adopt a try-harder attitude
or create a new list of rules to follow. But the Bible is clear that true, lasting
change comes by remembering the promises of God in the gospel. In this
section you will consider how the gospel motivates you to change your current
lifestyles so that your life aligns with its truth.
standing on tHe Verge At this point you may be standing on the verge of something new and
exciting. God may be asking you to change where you live or work or to build
relationships with people who are different from you. He may also be calling
you to engage more faithfully right where you are. Each group has particular
strengths and weaknesses, so growth will be different for each community. In
this section, you will work out practical steps to put into practice what you
are learning.
At the end of this study, your group will complete a project together. And in
light of what God shows your group, you’ll create a plan for living missionally
beyond the extent of this study. This study is merely a jump start to a lifestyle
of following Jesus. Thanks for letting us stand here on the verge with you.
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sUggested CaLendar
wEEK 1 Becoming Like Jesus
wEEK 2 Being a Parent to Imitate
wEEK 3 Motivated by the Gospel
wEEK 4 Pointing to Jesus
wEEK 5 Putting It Into Practice
wEEK 6 God’s Plan
wEEK 7 Review and finalize plans for group project
wEEK 8 Begin group project
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SESSION 1 discipleship: Becoming Like Jesus
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In this week’s session, we’ll look at what we’re imitating. More than likely,
we’re imitating our idols and leading others to imitate them with us. We’ll
also discover a life-giving truth about Jesus that is much better than anything
these idols could ever give. Before group members leave, we’ll commit to
exchanging our idols for this truth and make a plan for imitating that truth
about Jesus as a group.
reCogniZing oUr PersPeCtiVeAfter you read the excerpts from the articles below, you’ll answer a few
questions to help identify your idols. Try to be specific and transparent in
your answers.
rEAD | “A NEW AGE OF CELEBRITY”
in [a study] with more than 600 people, psychologists found that about a
third qualified for a condition they coined “celebrity worship syndrome”—a
condition wherein, at its most severe, the object of our worship becomes the
central figure in our lives. …
“The whole Hollywood spin machine works together to create images
that are impossible for any of us to live up to. They purposefully set us up to
admire and even covet something we can never have,” says long island, N.Y.,
psychologist abby aronowitz, Ph.D.
“Then,” she says, “when we are completely vulnerable, they sell us the
image even harder—from headlines that titillate us with ‘celebrity secrets,’ to
the books, diets, cosmetics, foods, jewelry, and clothes that promise we’ll be
closer to the ones we adore.”
“There are fortunes being made by turning fans into victims, and [it all]
starts by creating that frenzy known as celebrity worship,” says aronowitz.1
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Which celebrities have you found yourself worshiping? Who was your first
celebrity crush?
Look beyond celebrities to the personal influences in your everyday life. Other than your family members, who are you most like? Who do you want to be like? Complete the sentences below to find out:
I dress (or I want to dress) like _______________.
I talk (or I want to talk) like _______________.
I listen to the music _______________ listens to.
I watch the movies or TV shows _______________ watches.
I eat what/where _______________ eats.
I buy (or I want to buy) what _______________ buys.
I drive a car (or I want to drive a car) like _______________.
I spend/save/invest money (or I want to) like _______________.
I have (or I want) the same career/calling as _______________.
I have the same values as _______________.
When you look at your answers, who do you seem to imitate the most? What are some other ways you’re like this person or want to be?
rEAD | “7 COMPANIES WITH CULT FOLLOWINGS”
“[at] the extremes, people join cults to make up for some nagging
shortcoming—like poverty or some sense of humiliation,” says William Taft
Stuart, an anthropology professor at the University of Maryland.
in the classic sense, “cults” are followers gathered behind charismatic
and possibly dangerous leaders. But consumers can develop cultlike
attachment to products when they help satisfy similar needs.
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Disciple Making
cult products convey membership in a cool group. They signal status.
and they’re hard to quit.
one great example is the way annoying early adopters in your office
get a discernible thrill from checking their [new iPhone or carrying the new
iPad] every time they walk into a meeting. … “it’s like the bird who weighs
one ounce but puffs himself up to look like he weighs a pound,” says Philip
Muskin, a psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital who also teaches
clinical psychiatry at columbia University Medical center. …
a recent University of Southern california Marshall School of Business
study … found cultlike brand attachments can be so powerful that people
feel “separation anxiety” when cut off. They will make big sacrifices to avoid
this. This can give the company you own the perfect customer: someone who
will buy every product, every time—and probably fight to be first in line. 2
Do you think you are obsessed with any products or brands? If yes, give an example of your “cultlike attachment.”
refoCUsing oUr VisionIn this section you’ll watch a video about consumerism and how it is linked
to idolatry—substituting something else for God. See if you recognize any of
your own tendencies in this short explanation.
wATCh | ALAN HIRSCH—DISCIPLE MAKING
In the video, Alan Hirsch says, “Consumerism is being defined by what
we consume. … It is the search for meaning, identity, purpose, and
belonging, tied to the consumption of products. The problem is, I think that
consumerism is the alternative religion of our day. Without doubt, it is the
secular religion of our day. There’s no such religious force in the West as
powerful as consumerism.”
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Think about the people you influence. What are you influencing them to put their trust in? What are you influencing them to live or die for? Are you influencing them to be consumers or disciples of Jesus?
aLigning witH tHe gosPeLIn this section you’ll discuss your own consumerism and idolatry. Form
groups of three (men with men, women with women) for these conversations.
rEAD | PSALM 115:4-8
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Psalm 115 says we become like the idols we worship. Take a look at the
products you crave and the people, organizations, or other influences you
tend to imitate. Could any of these be your idol, your substitute for God?
Have you idolized your influencers or consumed any of their idols hoping they will give you meaning, identity, purpose, or belonging? Explain.
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Disciple Making
Psalm 115 says we will become as meaningless, powerless, and lifeless as our idols. Has your trust in your favorite products, your influencers, or their idols ever left you lifeless? How so?
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being desperately bad, how badly do you want to exchange your idol for Someone who can give you life?
1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10
Isaiah 30:22 tells us that when we see God’s grace and mercy toward us,
we then see our idols as so disgusting that we want to throw them away.
Let’s take a look at how we can do that.
rEAD | ROMANS 1:21-25
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!
Paul warns the Romans that some people have “exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and
creeping things” (v. 23). Most of us probably aren’t tempted to exchange
the glory of God for an image of a creeping thing, but Paul also warns that
some people have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25). It is likely that we’ve
exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and we’ve probably worshiped and
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served something created—maybe another person, a product, a job, a goal,
or a special gift from God—rather than God Himself.
The apostle Paul says in Colossians 3:9-10 that we can, “Put off the old
self with its practices and … put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Just as we can exchange God
for idols, we can exchange our idols for our Creator and be renewed to look
like Him.
Imagine taking one of your idols back to the store where you bought it and asking for an exchange. What would you say was wrong with it? Why were you dissatisfied?
ITEM DEfECT
Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The following chart lists life-giving truths about Jesus and gives a Scripture that supports each truth. Underline or highlight the one you want to claim in exchange for your defective item. Read the Scripture and then tell how this truth gives you life.
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Disciple Making
LIfE-GIVING TruTh ABOuT JESuS SCrIPTurE
God gave His Son for us so we could live. John 3:16
Jesus has freed us from condemnation. John 3:17; 8:2-11; Romans 8:1-2
Rather than steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus lays down His life so we can have abundant life.
John 10:10-11
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in Him, though we die, we will live.
John 11:25
Christ died for us when we were weak, ungodly sinners.
Romans 5:6-8
When Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, He freed us from sin and death.
Romans 6:1-14
The fruit of sin is death, but Jesus freed us to receive the free gift of life.
Romans 6:21-23
The God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us and gives us life.
Romans 8:11
Who can condemn us when Jesus died to pay the price for our sins?
Romans 8:31-34
Christ lives in us, and we don’t want to nullify the grace God showed us through Christ’s death.
Galatians 2:20-21
Christ took on our curse for us. Galatians 3:13
God has freed us from our idols. Why would we want to return to being enslaved by them?
Galatians 4:8-9
Christ has set us free. Let’s not submit to slavery again.
Galatians 5:1
We used to be dead when we followed the passions and desires of the rest of the world, but God mercifully made us alive with Christ.
Ephesians 2:1-9
Jesus, who suffered like we do, paid the price for our freedom from sin and fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-18
Jesus, who endured temptation like ours, gives grace and mercy to sinners.
Hebrews 4:15-16
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Think about how you can exchange your defective item for the Person of
Jesus this week. If you need to fast from something or confess to someone,
make plans to do that soon. Spend time this week memorizing the Scripture
passage that corresponds to the truth about Jesus that you chose earlier. Next
week you’ll talk about how these verses are giving you life. You’ll also have an
opportunity to recite and apply the passage(s) you’ve chosen in other sessions
as you move forward.
standing on tHe VergeIn this section you’ll join the large group again to discuss together how you
can exchange your idols.
What are some of the defective items/idols you’re exchanging this week? What truths are you claiming instead?
Have you noticed any trends or common themes in the products you’re consuming or the people you’re imitating other than Jesus? Explain.
What are some of the idols that are prevalent in your city? Your nation?
What do you think your city and nation would look like if they exchanged those idols for Jesus?
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Disciple Making
After you finish these six sessions, you’ll do a group project that will help you
imitate Jesus in your city. Start by discussing with your group what you can
do that will help you imitate an attribute of Jesus that opposes one of the
trends you’ve discussed this week. For instance, if you consume technology,
maybe you can collect and donate old phones to organizations that share
them with abused women. Or you can volunteer at a local library to teach
computer skills to job seekers or internationals. If you consume clothes,
maybe each of you can donate three outfits to refugees in your city. If you
consume music, maybe you can organize a children’s music program at your
community center. If you consume cars, maybe you can provide vehicles for
international students or cross-cultural workers. Whatever you choose to do,
base your motivation on some aspect of Jesus’ life you want to imitate. You
can choose from the list below or choose a character trait Jesus is revealing
about Himself in your own lives.
ChArACTEr Of JESuS SCrIPTurE
Friend of sinners Matthew 11:19; Mark 2:15-17
Gentle and humble in heart Matthew 11:29
Humble and obedient Philippians 2:5-8
Does good even though He suffers for it; does not deceive; does not return evil; does not threaten; trusts God to judge justly
1 Peter 2:21-23
Endures temptation Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16
Endures rejection, oppression, and affliction Isaiah 53:3,7
Does no violence and does not speak deceitfully
Isaiah 53:9
Shows us mercy and forgives us Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16; 1 John 1:9
Helps us and does not forsake us Hebrews 13:5-6
Serves us Luke 12:37; 22:24-27; John 13:1-17
Makes peace; unifies us Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:11,15
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ChArACTEr Of JESuS SCrIPTurE
Receives children Mark 10:13-16
Preaches the gospel to the poor; releases captives; frees the oppressed; gives sight to the blind; makes the lame walk and the deaf hear
Luke 4:16-20; 7:21-23
Heals the sick Matthew 8:16-17; 9:35
Feeds the hungry Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-14
Prays Luke 11:1-4; John 17
Start a list of potential project ideas based on what you have just talked about as a group. You can come back and narrow down your options later.
ChArACTEr Of JESuS TO IMITATE
SCrIPTurE PrOJECT IDEA
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Thanks for trusting each other through this session as you’ve looked at the
idols you’ve substituted for Jesus. As this group experience progresses, you
will discover more about the life Jesus offers you as you exchange your idols
and imitate Him together.
Read the Scriptures for your group project one more time and then spend
some time praying together. Pray that God will help you, your city, and your
nation exchange your idols for Jesus and imitate Him.
1. Colette Bouchez, “A New Age of Celebrity Worship,” http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1366162.html.
2. Michael Brush, “7 Companies with Cult Followings,” http://money.msn.com/investing/7-companies-with-cult-followings/.
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God will rescue His children from every nation, tribe, people, and language. And He will do it the way He said He would when Jesus looked at His disciples and said:
ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN
GIVEN TO ME. GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL
NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND
OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO
OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND BEHOLD,
I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.
Matthew 28:18-20, ESV
Jesus left us no Plan B. He spent three years revealing His Father, His kingdom, and His gospel, and now it’s our turn.
In Disciple Making: No Plan B, you’ll hear from men and women who are making disciples around the world and in their own communities and homes. You’ll learn from them how to make disciples by modeling Jesus, pointing to Jesus, and putting Jesus’ words into practice. You’ll see how discipleship is motivated and fueled by the gospel. And if you fear you can’t make disciples because you’re unfit or incompetent, you’ll find the gospel especially qualifies you for making disciples of Jesus.
Discipleship is God’s surefire plan for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. And you’re invited to be a part.