Study 6 of 13 on Discipleship
“The “show business,” which is so incorporated into our view of Christian work today, has caused us to drift far from Our Lord’s conception of discipleship. It is instilled in us to think that we have to do exceptional things for God; we have not. We have to be exceptional in ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, surrounded by sordid sinners. That is not learned in five minutes.” That’s Oswald Chambers said so long ago but relevant to our work in discipleship today.
Scriptural Basis:
Luke 2:21–28; Matt. 15:32–39; Matt. 16:13–17; Luke 12:6, 7; 13:1–5; James 2:1–9.
Key Text:
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Mark 1:16-18 NIV).
1. What is ordinary? Does ordinary mean poor? (The lesson seems to imply that.)
2. How did Jesus use simple situations to make disciples and transform lives?
3. What is it about celebrity…even within the church…that has us captivated?
4. Why is it wrong to assume that just because people are ordinary they lack self-sufficiency so therefore are better prepared to trust God completely?
5. Based on Acts 2:43-47 and Acts 4:32-37, in what ways did the early Christians apply the principle of universal acceptance?
6. What holds us back from being like them?
7. Why should disciple makers concentrate on practical subjects rather than theoretical ones?
8. As a church of disciples, what must we do to be effective instruments for the Lord, for legacy, justice, human rights?
9. What can our Bible Study groups do to become more user-friendly for ordinary people?
Paolo Benini (Italy) contributed to the questions of this lesson