Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple E-Book

Greg Ogden

• Herausgeber: IVP Bible Studies
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: The Essentials Set
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 140

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

IVP Readers' Choice Award What am I committing to when I say I want to follow Jesus? Using the Great Commission to explore the mission to make disciples as well as the core characteristics that identify us as Jesus' followers, this guide lays the foundation for a life in Christ. Following the popular and effective design of his curriculum Discipleship Essentials that sold over 250,000 copies, Greg Ogden has included the following elements in each of the eight sessions: - a core truth - a Bible study - a reading - life applicationWhether you are mentoring one-on-one or in a small group, this essential guide will serve as an ideal on-ramp into the discipleship journey.

Leseprobe

Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple

Eight Sessions for Mentoring and Discipleship

Greg Ogden

Contents

A Word from the Author

Introduction

What Does Jesus Expect of His Followers?

1 Jesus

Who Does He Think He Is?

2 Become Disciples

What’s the Difference Between Disciples and Christians?

3 Go

Reach All People

4 Baptize

Enter the Circle Dance of Love

5 Teach

Fall in Line Behind Jesus

6 Make Disciples

Jesus’ Relational Way

7 Transformation

Get Real and Find Freedom

8 The Jesus Promise

I Am with You Always

Closing Challenge

Are You Ready to Be “All In”?

Notes

The Essentials Set

Praise for Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple

About the Author

More Titles from InterVarsity Press

Global Discipleship Initiative

Copyright

A Word from the Author

What motivated this study? For the past thirty years I have been meeting with men in small groups of three or four for the express purpose of growing together as faithful followers of Christ. Of all the responsibilities that I have carried as a pastor, nothing has been more satisfying than the life shared in these groups. After our time together I have consistently said to myself, “What an honor it is to share the joys and challenges in these men’s lives. Where else would we have the freedom to be as real as we were today?”

My underlying motivation for creating these groups was to address the persistent need I had observed. Jesus painted a verbal picture about the importance of a solid foundation when he said that houses built upon rock can withstand the stormy times, whereas houses built upon sand are washed away (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus is the rock on which to build our lives, but as I have walked with people in these groups I have witnessed the cracks and missing building blocks in their foundation. Even as my concern to help others build their lives on Jesus grew, I realized that I did not have a building plan. I was constantly scrambling to cobble together various resources to address different issues. To fill in the gaps I wrote Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ. This was my attempt to cover a broad spectrum of what makes up the underpinnings of the Christian life.

Yet I still had the nagging sense that something more was needed. As I looked at the Christian community through the lens of my pastoral leadership, I saw so many people who said they were Christians but were not defined by that label. Many of these people had made a profession of faith in Christ that was meaningful to them, but being a disciple of Jesus was not their identity.

I wondered how we could engage those who have received the benefits of forgiveness in Christ to consider what it actually means to follow him. What if there was an on-ramp that clarifies what Jesus expects of his followers? What if there was a short study that helped more people to consider Jesus as their lifelong mentor and Lord?

It dawned on me that the Great Commission, given by Jesus to the apostles (Matthew 28:18-20), was not just the trumpet call for evangelism but also contained the answers to my questions. This short study of eight sessions is designed to be that on-ramp to a journey of following Jesus Christ all of our days. Once the decision is made to identify ourselves as his disciples, then we can go on to lay the foundational building blocks of a life in Christ.

Introduction

What Does Jesus Expect of His Followers?

What exactly does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? What am I committing myself to if I say I want to follow him? What will be required of me if I identify myself with Jesus?

These are the questions at the heart of these sessions. I believe Jesus himself would affirm that if we are considering becoming his disciples, then these are the kinds of questions we should be asking. Jesus says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30). Jesus wants us to count the cost up front because he is not looking for half-hearted followers who can’t complete what they have started.

Francis Chan captures this half-hearted attitude with more than a touch of sarcasm. He invites us to imagine Jesus walking up to the disciples and saying, “Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with Me in some way? Don’t worry, I don’t actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all. I’m just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in Me and call themselves Christians.”1

Of course, we can’t imagine Jesus ever being this wishy-washy. Jesus didn’t start a movement that has penetrated almost every part of the globe over the last two thousand years without asking for the ultimate loyalty of his followers. But what does this loyalty to Jesus actually look like?

Jesus has not left us with a muddle of vagaries. He gathered the eleven disciples together on a mountain in Galilee after his resurrection and delivered what we have come to call the Great Commission. These were their marching orders:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every­­thing I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)2

These three verses will be the basis for exploring the mission to make disciples, as well as the core characteristics that identify us as his followers.

Though the heart of the Great Commission is to make disciples, it also contains Jesus’ thumbnail of what he expects of those who respond to his call to follow him. As you work through these three verses a phrase at time, a picture will emerge of Jesus’ claim upon your life.

Getting the Most Out of Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple

By following these suggested steps, you will be able to launch a network of on-ramp groups. The goal upon completion of these eight studies is that participants can make an informed commitment to become disciples of Jesus Christ. This lays the groundwork for a longer-term investment of building a sure foundation.

Make the invitation for others to join. Each group should be birthed in prayer. The facilitator prayerfully asks the Lord to draw him or her to those interested in considering what it means to be a Christ follower. The facilitator will then meet privately with individuals to extend an invitation that could sound something like this: “Would you join me and one or two others as we journey together to explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus? We will meet weekly to cover eight sessions over a period of approximately twelve to sixteen weeks. At the conclusion, we will then decide if we want to go on together to explore more about what it means to be a Christ follower.”

Keep the group small. There are two main reasons that the ideal size of a group is three to four people: First, in order for real growth to occur it requires an atmosphere of openhearted trust, which can occur only in smaller units. The larger the group the harder it is to achieve relational transparency. Second, smaller units allow every­­one the opportunity to share their thoughts and insights.

Make a covenant. In order to make sure there is shared investment, a covenant has been included that states the mutual expectations in the relationship. If you start a group with clarity and shared commitment, then it is far more likely to remain strong throughout your time together. As a part of the invitation to join the group, facilitators should talk through each item in the covenant, look through the table of contents and review the three-part structure of each session so that participants have a good feel for the amount of time required.

Find a private place to meet. In order to create the kind of trust described above you will usually need a place where others are not listening in. Though it is quite common to meet in public spaces such as a coffee shop or restaurant, the participants might be too self-conscious to be as honest or open as you are longing for in these settings. Spaces such as an office board room, home, church or even a quiet separate nook in a restaurant are best to foster the desired results.

Follow the pattern in the curriculum. Each session has three parts and is intended to serve as a guide for the discussion:

Core Truth: The core truth serves as the foundation on which each session is built. The rest of the chapter is designed to further clarify this central focus. Each session begins with interactive questions that are designed to bring out the meaning of the Core Truth.

Inductive Bible Study: An inductive study uses questions to explore the meaning of Scripture and set up a conversation with the material. Think of yourself as a reporter assigned to cover a story, asking the who, what, where, when, why and how questions. People complete their own answers to these questions independently and then share their responses as you work through the guide together. Some questions are simply observation, stating what is in the Scripture text; other questions ask for an interpretation of the meaning or conclusions that are implied from the Scripture; still other questions focus on application, applying the truth to where you are in life now.

Reading: The third element in each session is an article intended to provide a contemporary discussion of the core truth that will stimulate your thinking and challenge your lifestyle. Each reading has a study guide that will serve as the basis for your discussion.

Suggested format. Here is a simple way to divide up your time if you meet for ninety minutes:

Part 1 (30 minutes): Relationship building. Stay in touch with what is happening in each other’s lives. At the start of your new group begin your time with some fun questions to get acquainted. Given that there may be a little anxiety as you get going, begin with something light that could foster laughter and create a sense of ease. In the subsequent weeks, follow up on prayer requests and what is developing in their lives. Go around the circle and ask if there are any joys or concerns to share together.

Part 2 (60 minutes): Walk through the study material. Do not feel the obligation to complete a session a week—just resume where you left off the week before. Get as far as you can and then simply say, “We will pick it up here next week.” It is important to only go at the speed where you can comfortably interact over the content with appropriate application. This allows the relationships to remain primary.

You may also want to recite this prayer together as you begin:

Dear Lord, we are here together to listen to what you expect of us as your followers. Give us the courage to explore the implications of what it means to be your disciples. May this group become a place of safety and deep caring for one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the Lord bless your journey into understanding what it means to follow Jesus more fully.

A Covenant of Commitment

The purpose of a shared covenant is to state clearly and up front the expectations in your relationship with each other. As you begin, review the following covenantal elements and share with each other in your own words your understanding of the commitment you are being asked to make.

I will complete the sessions prior to each of our meetings by answering all the questions as best I can.I will make every effort to be present for all of our sessions in order to complete the entire study.I will keep strict confidence so that whatever is shared in the group stays in the group without exception.I will adopt an attitude of exploration and be open to considering the varied dimensions of Christ’s call on my life to be his disciple, no matter where that takes me or whatever that means.Once I have completed this study, I will consider making a commitment to go on to a more in-depth exploration of the implications of what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ by engaging in the relational study of Discipleship Essentials and/or The Essential Commandment. (In this next phase you will gain a more complete understanding of what it means to be a disciple, as well as be trained to take the lead in discipling others.)

In the presence of my partners, I commit myself to complete the Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple by fulfilling the above covenant.

Signed ___________________________________________

Dated ____________________________________________

1 / Jesus

Who Does He Think He Is?

Looking Ahead

CORE TRUTH VERSE: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18)

BIBLE STUDY: Mark 8:27-30

READING: Jesus, the Unrivaled Ruler of the Universe

Core Truth

What authority does Jesus claim for himself?

Jesus declares the most astonishing thing that anyone could say about oneself: he announces that his Father has given him all authority over the entire universe. Abraham Kuyper succinctly and famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’”1

What key thoughts from the Core Truth stand out to you and why?What questions or issues does the Core Truth raise for you?

Inductive Bible Study

Since the disciples had observed Jesus heal, forgive sin, still storms and cast out demons for two years, the question of Jesus’ identity had been on their minds. Yet it was Jesus who asked them the question “Who do you say I am?” Read Mark 8:27-30.

Jesus first engaged the disciples with the general question, “ Who do people say I am?” How did the general public seem to view Jesus?Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples about “the buzz on the streets” before putting the question directly to them?What are some of the different views people have of Jesus today?Think about the different responses to this question about Jesus’ identity. What’s the significance of these different answers? Why is the identity of Jesus so crucial?Then Jesus turned the question on his own followers: “Who do you say I am?” Peter, speaking for the twelve, answered, “ You are the Messiah (the Christ).” In Matthew, Peter’s response adds, “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). What is it that Peter has grasped about Jesus?By calling the question to his followers, Jesus raises the same question for us: Who do you say that Jesus is?

Reading: Jesus, the Unrivaled Ruler of the Universe

The late journalist Sydney J. Harris was asked a discerning question by a parent regarding the authority of teachers: “How is it that some teachers are able to control their classes with a very light rein, and have no disciplinary troubles, while others must shout and plead and threaten and still get nowhere with the troublemakers?”

Harris replied that the authority of a teacher has far less to do with teaching techniques or lesson plans, but with the “authenticity” of the teacher. Genuine authority is the result of the “realness, presence, aura, that can impress and influence even a six-year old. . . . A person is either himself or not himself; is either rooted in his existence, or is a fabrication; has either found his humanhood or is still playing with masks and roles and status symbols. Only an authentic person can evoke a good response in the core of another person.”2

The most authentic person who ever lived was Jesus Christ. From the outset Jesus impressed people with his innate authority. Early in his public ministry, Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath