Raising Disciples

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  Sadly, it's so much easier to teach others than to teach myself (Rom 2:21).

• Focus on "be" not "do," "being" not "doing," "being a disciple" (Mk 1:17a; Mt 28:19a) not "raising disciples" (Mk 1:17b; Mt 28:19b).
• Focus first on yourself (Ac 20:28a) and not primarily on others (Ac 20:28b).
• Focus on Jesus (Heb 12:2), not the Bible student (Isa 53:6a).

Learning Requires Unlearning

This profound quote by Australian missiologist and theologian Alan Hirsh explains why we Christians might get severely stuck--like the Pharisees. But this quote may be quite uncomfortable, unnerving, disconcerting and disagreeable to some (Disciples are learners and learning requires unleaning):

"In the NT the disciples of Jesus are called "learners" (matheiteis). A disciple can therefore never leave learning behind, and consequently can also never leave unlearning behind. No one can learn, who is not prepared to unlearn. (Learning) is gained only by those who break out of boundaries that have been set, who venture out of fixed paths into the unknown, and who do not let their heart and head be stunted by routine. ...only by what we can unlearn do we show whether and to what extent we are capable of learning."

Empowered to Witness (Acts 1)

1. Who is the author of Acts? What is "my former book" (Ac 1:1)? How and why did he write both books (Lk 1:1-4)? What is his main theme ["Song of Simeon"] (Lk 2:30-32, 10; Ac 4:12; 5:31; Isa 40:5)? What does "all that Jesus began to do and to teach" suggest (Ac 1:1; Lk 24:19)? What happens after you are "saved by grace" (Eph 2:8-10)? What are you doing with what you've been given (Lk 16:10-11)?
2. What is "the day he was taken up to heaven" (Ac 1:2, 9)? What were the 2 main topics of the Risen Christ "over a period of 40 days" (Ac 1:2-3)? What was his command (Ac 1:4-5)? How long did they have to wait (Ac 1:3; 2:1)?
3. What were Jesus' followers expecting (Ac 1:6)? How did Jesus correct them (Ac 1:7-8; Dt 29:29)? What is the clear evidence that you have the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:8; 2 Tim 1:7)? How does Acts 1:8 give an outline of Acts (1-7; 8-12; 13-28)?
4. How is the ascension a watershed moment (Lk 24:51; Ac 1:9)? What's wrong with Jesus' followers "looking intently up into the sky as he was going" (Ac 1:9)? What should they know about "this same Jesus" (Ac 1:11; Lk 9:26; 17:24; 21:27)? In the meantime, what should they be doing instead (Ac 1:8; Lk 24:47-49)?
5. How far away were the apostles from Jerusalem (Ac 1:12)? Where did they gather and who were they (Ac 1:13)? What did they do (Ac 1:14)? How important is this (Lk 18:1; 1 Th 5:17; Jas 1:5)?
6. What was the immediate problem that needed to be addressed (Ac 1:15-17)? What is the tragedy regarding Judas (Ac 1:18-19)? How did Peter resolve the problem (Ac 1:20; Ps 69:25; 109:8)? What does this teach us about Scripture (2 Tim 3:16; Jos 1:7; Ps 1:2)? What was the criteria for replacing Judas (Ac 1:21-22)? How was Matthias chosen (Ac 1:23-26)?

Following Jesus is Serious Business (Luke 14:25-35)

Bishop Barron calls the large crowds following Jesus as "The Fair-Weather Fans of Jesus (Lk 14:25-26)."

• From last Sunday's sermon (9/4/22) on Time and Money how do those closest to you shape how you use your time and money?

1. Why might large crowds be travelling with Jesus (Lk 14:25)? Is Jesus telling them to hate those closest to them (Lk 14:26; Mt 10:37)?
2. How might the crowd have felt about Jesus' "slap in the face" challenge? Why did he use such strong language (Lk 13:24-27; 14:16-20; Mt 10:37-39; 22:36-40)? What is Jesus affirming about Himself (Col 1:15; 2:9; Heb 1:3; Phil 2:5; Jn 1:1-3)? Did Jesus perceive them to be "fair-weather fans"? Do they know what following Jesus means?
3. What does it mean to those following Jesus to "carry their cross" (Lk 14:27)?
4. What do the 2 parabolic stories (Lk 14:28-32) tell us about what we should do if we are serious about following Jesus (Lk 14:33)?
5. What does it mean for salt to lose its saltiness (Lk 14:34-35a)? What should we hear from Jesus (Lk 14:35b)?