Tag: Stewardship

Categories
Five

The Community of Disciples

Week 51 | Section 60


This week our scripture passage is very brief –  only two sentences that comprise three verses.  Still their significance and the dialog that your small group will have will surely spark all sorts of activity and a greater sense of community.

The passage is exemplifies Jesus’ missional ministry, and includes two significant aspects – He was joined by “the twelve” (the apostles whom he had appointed (section 53) and a few women who’s lives had also been transformed by his ministry and who now offered significance financial assistance to the mission.

The focus of your small group dialog should focus on stewardship of our gifts and the way in which a community lovingly provides for one another. This is an imperative of believers in the Christian community. What will you do to further the Gospel and offer aid to those in your community?

Luke 8:1-3

Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.

Study Notes:

  • Gundry and Thomas place this transition of ministry in the winter of AD 29, just 3 months or so since he appointed them as apostles (Sec 53).
  • This marks a turning point in Phase 5 – Jesus’ missional phase of ministry. He went out and traveled from town to town in which he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of  God. This is not an earthly empire, but the Gospel of grace and truth provided by the promised messiah who sets people free from the law. This happens by the inward transformation of our souls, our minds and lifestyle. Not more obedience but an expression of love and gratitude. Not civic obedience or an institution but a movement  that begins in our very souls.
  • Its important to see how these women are both honored for their support of Jesus’ ministry but also for their testimony. Today its imperative to honor all members of the church, and equally important to help every member prepare and share their testimony – not just serve or give to support the ministry.
  • The real Mary Magdelene
  • Winter time around the Sea of Galilee was a pleasant time of the year. The temperatures don’t dip too low. Winter rains reinvigorate the region. (climate information)
  • This week is ideal for your group to obtain a better understanding about the stewardship of our lives. Consider downloading our Field Guide for Ministry Discernment and Discipleship and encouraging one another to create a life of ministry springing forth from the life of Christ within them.

Small Group Dialog:

  1. To what ministry are you called?
    You might want to have your group complete the surveys within the Field Guide for Ministry Discernment and Discipleship.

  2. Take a moment to offer thanksgiving and prayers for those who have most recently supported you in ministry or helped you mature in the faith.

  3. What needs do you have this week?

  4. What are the needs of others? What will you offer your community, friends and family this week?

Categories
Three Two

Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men

Week 27 | Sections 40,41

Fishers of MenIn this week’s study we’re transitioning from phase two to phase three of Jesus’ ministry. Though this is week 26 for us, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist about a year before. In today’s study the five men who had been following Jesus choose to become his disciples. This is a major transition in their lives, and in the life of every disciple who since believed because of the ministry they embraced – to become fishers of men.

Scripture:

Section 40 | Matthew 4:13-16
13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum,1 which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,2 14 that it might be fulfilled3 which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”4

Section 415

[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 4:18-22
18 Walking by the sea of Galilee,6 he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:16-20
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.7¯8 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.9   19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 5:1-11
1 Now while the multitude10 pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.11 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”12  6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”13 9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”14 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What is the difference between being a follower and being a disciple? 
  2. What were these men risking, leaving, and gaining in becoming Jesus’ disciples?
  3. What might you say are the primary lessons you’ve learned thus far in your journey of faith?
  4. Are there people you know who have chosen not to respond to God’s grace? How many chances does God give to become his disciple?
  5. If you’ve made the decision to be a disciple what would you say you are learning now? To what mission are you compelled?
  6. What choices have you recently made to become more proficient as a disciple, and fisher of men?
  7. What can we learn about humility, worth,membership, and stewardship from Peter’s response and that of the other disciples?
  8. What preparation and relationships ought to exist before enlisting people into leadership roles of the local church?

Learning Objectives:

evangelism, become disciples – not just followers, vocation, trust, choice, divine abandon,  spiritual growth, humility, purpose, lifestyle, worth, value, unworthy, stewardship

Study Notes:

Categories
Two

Humble Service

Humble Service

Week 22 | Sections 33, 34

Humble ServiceIn these two sections we read once again the witness of John the Baptist who personifies the humility we ought all embrace with the understanding that “He must become greater; I must become less”. We also read of the first account of Jesus’ disciples “doing ministry” – the baptizing of many – more than whom John had baptized thus far.

Scripture:

Section 33
John 3:22-36
22 After these things,1 Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim,2 because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.3 25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.4¯5   26 They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”6 27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’7 but, ‘I have been sent before him.’8 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.9 This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.10 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.11  32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. 33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.12 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.13 36 One who believes14 in the Son has eternal life,15 but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”16

Section 34
John 4:1-4
1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples),17   3 he left Judea, and departed into Galilee. 4 He needed to pass through Samaria.

Luke 3:19-20
19 but Herod the tetrarch,18 being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 4:12
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.19[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:14a20
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:14a21
14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit22  into Galilee,[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

  1. What rituals (especially baptism) have enriched your faith?
  2. What rituals fall short of satisfying the longing of your soul to be united and reconciled with God? Why? What danger are there in the rituals of the church today?
  3. How is the peace of God obtained? How are we purified from our sin today?
  4. In what ways do you struggle with jealousy? How have you overcome that sin?
  5. What way do pride, jealousy, and human allegiances often divide the body of Christ and the interrupt the work of God among us.
  6. What is your vocation? How have you needed to serve along side of others with a different vocation and spiritual gifts?
  7. If you have you ever experienced a commissioning, or passed on a ministry to another, how did you feel?

Learning Objectives:

disciples who make disciples, Jesus empowers and commissions the disciples to begin serving in ministry, humility of John, the bride belongs to the bridegroom,

Study Notes: