Session #4 - Disciples Reproduce - Leaders
SESSION #4: Disciples Reproduce Matthew 4:184:18-22— 22 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And 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, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 28:18Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been 28:18-20—And 20 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.” Acts 1:8— 1:8— But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
INTRODUCTION: Icebreaker: Speed Dating Mixer Mixer Overview You may have heard of 8-minute dating, where 100 people meet for an evening full of 8-minute dates. They talk to one person for 8 minutes and then move on to the next person. Eight minutes is a long time in the classroom, so we’ll call this ice breaker a 2-minute mixer. Materials Needed A clock or watch and a whistle or some other noise maker. You can also provide canned questions if you want, but it’s not necessary. Adults don’t usually have any trouble making conversation on their own. Instructions Ask people to get up, pair up, and chat for 2 minutes with each other about whatever interests them. You’ll be the timer. When 2 minutes are up, you’ll blow your whistle or make some other sound loud enough for everyone to hear. When they hear your signal, everyone is to find a new partner and chat for the next 2 minutes. If you have flexibility, allow enough time for everyone to have 2 minutes with every other person. If using this at the beginning of a course or meeting, combine it with introductions. After the mixer, ask each person to give his or her name, and share something interesting they learned from someone else during the mixer
INVESTIGATION: Read Matthew 4:18-22 and answer the following questions: ♦ What images come to mind with the activity of fishing?
♦ According to this passage, when in the chronology of Jesus’ ministry does
He first call His disciples to be on the mission of making disciples?
♦ Why do you think Jesus used the illustration of fishing to describe the
mission He was giving to the disciples?
♦ How do your images (both positive and negative) of fishing relate to the
mission of “fishing for men”?
♦ In Matthew 4, Jesus is calling His first disciples. What all do you see Jesus
calling His disciples to? (Make a list) ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
Disciples are called to follow Jesus (“Follow Me”) Disciples are called to be changed by Jesus (“I will make you”) Disciples are called to be on mission with Jesus (“fishers of men”) (Taken from DiscipleShift pages 46-51)
Read Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 and answer the following questions: ♦ When in the chronology of His ministry does Jesus give these directives to His disciples? The call to be on the mission of making disciples bookends Jesus’ ministry. It is the first and last thing He calls His disciples to be about.
♦ What should the timing of this, in conjunction with the timing of His
statement in Matthew 4, tell us about the priority of “Disciple-making”?
♦ Make a list of what Matthew 4, Matthew 28 and Acts 1 tell us regarding the
process for making disciples. Pre-conversion: ⇒ Relying on the Holy Spirit for power ⇒ Going out to where those who need Jesus are ⇒ Teaching them about Jesus ⇒ Sharing the impact Jesus has had on your life—aka: witness about Jesus Post-conversion: ⇒ Relying on the Holy Spirit for power ⇒ Baptizing them ⇒ Teaching them what Jesus commanded ⇒ Showing them how to obey what Jesus commanded
♦ Is this process best accomplished in a classroom? If not, then how?
INTEGRATION: Are you living on the mission of reproducing disciples?
What is the biggest thing holding you back from fully engaging in this mission?
There are 3 different discipleship relationships necessary for every disciple to live obediently and faithfully. Every disciple needs a: ♦ Paul: Paul Someone further down the road from you who is discipling you.
Are you being discipled? ♦ Barnabas: Barnabas Someone who is around the same part of the journey with
you to encourage you and hold you accountable. Do you have a trusted
friend to walk with you? ♦ Timothy: Timothy Someone you are further down the road from whom you are
discipling. Do you have someone you are discipling? (Taken from Eternal Impact by Phil Downer)
Leaders: Lead your group in a discussion of these relationships. Challenge them to either identify these relationships in their lives, or relationships that could potentially become these types of relationships.
Close your time by praying for these relationships. Pray that each one in your group is discipling and being discipled.
INTRODUCTION: Icebreaker: Speed Dating Mixer Mixer Overview You may have heard of 8-minute dating, where 100 people meet for an evening full of 8-minute dates. They talk to one person for 8 minutes and then move on to the next person. Eight minutes is a long time in the classroom, so we’ll call this ice breaker a 2-minute mixer. Materials Needed A clock or watch and a whistle or some other noise maker. You can also provide canned questions if you want, but it’s not necessary. Adults don’t usually have any trouble making conversation on their own. Instructions Ask people to get up, pair up, and chat for 2 minutes with each other about whatever interests them. You’ll be the timer. When 2 minutes are up, you’ll blow your whistle or make some other sound loud enough for everyone to hear. When they hear your signal, everyone is to find a new partner and chat for the next 2 minutes. If you have flexibility, allow enough time for everyone to have 2 minutes with every other person. If using this at the beginning of a course or meeting, combine it with introductions. After the mixer, ask each person to give his or her name, and share something interesting they learned from someone else during the mixer
INVESTIGATION: Read Matthew 4:18-22 and answer the following questions: ♦ What images come to mind with the activity of fishing?
♦ According to this passage, when in the chronology of Jesus’ ministry does
He first call His disciples to be on the mission of making disciples?
♦ Why do you think Jesus used the illustration of fishing to describe the
mission He was giving to the disciples?
♦ How do your images (both positive and negative) of fishing relate to the
mission of “fishing for men”?
♦ In Matthew 4, Jesus is calling His first disciples. What all do you see Jesus
calling His disciples to? (Make a list) ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
Disciples are called to follow Jesus (“Follow Me”) Disciples are called to be changed by Jesus (“I will make you”) Disciples are called to be on mission with Jesus (“fishers of men”) (Taken from DiscipleShift pages 46-51)
Read Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 and answer the following questions: ♦ When in the chronology of His ministry does Jesus give these directives to His disciples? The call to be on the mission of making disciples bookends Jesus’ ministry. It is the first and last thing He calls His disciples to be about.
♦ What should the timing of this, in conjunction with the timing of His
statement in Matthew 4, tell us about the priority of “Disciple-making”?
♦ Make a list of what Matthew 4, Matthew 28 and Acts 1 tell us regarding the
process for making disciples. Pre-conversion: ⇒ Relying on the Holy Spirit for power ⇒ Going out to where those who need Jesus are ⇒ Teaching them about Jesus ⇒ Sharing the impact Jesus has had on your life—aka: witness about Jesus Post-conversion: ⇒ Relying on the Holy Spirit for power ⇒ Baptizing them ⇒ Teaching them what Jesus commanded ⇒ Showing them how to obey what Jesus commanded
♦ Is this process best accomplished in a classroom? If not, then how?
INTEGRATION: Are you living on the mission of reproducing disciples?
What is the biggest thing holding you back from fully engaging in this mission?
There are 3 different discipleship relationships necessary for every disciple to live obediently and faithfully. Every disciple needs a: ♦ Paul: Paul Someone further down the road from you who is discipling you.
Are you being discipled? ♦ Barnabas: Barnabas Someone who is around the same part of the journey with
you to encourage you and hold you accountable. Do you have a trusted
friend to walk with you? ♦ Timothy: Timothy Someone you are further down the road from whom you are
discipling. Do you have someone you are discipling? (Taken from Eternal Impact by Phil Downer)
Leaders: Lead your group in a discussion of these relationships. Challenge them to either identify these relationships in their lives, or relationships that could potentially become these types of relationships.
Close your time by praying for these relationships. Pray that each one in your group is discipling and being discipled.
