More Mission Essentials Helps

Here are the questions:

• What was something you learned about or were reminded of regarding missions?
• What are some things you need to pray for our missionaries and other missionaries?
• What are some things you need to do related to missions?
• How can you leverage your job/current situation for the Gospel?

Here are some blog resources to possibly help you with the last two questions.

• www.emmanuelbaptist.com/more-mission-essentials/
• The Gospel @ Work resources mentioned in this post can be found at www.emmanuelbaptist.com/the-gospel-at-work/

Roof Wrecker

The following four questions are going to be what we keep revisiting each week in our Soul Care questions:

1.  What was something you learned about or were reminded of regarding missions?

2.  What are some things you need to pray for our missionaries?

www.emmanuelbaptist.com/praying4missionaries/ is a helpful link.

3.  What are some things you need to do related to missions?

4.  How can you help Emmanuel Baptist Church share the Gospel with more people?

Steve Barnes' and the Bibles International presentation provided some great prayer requests.

Gary Walton's roof wrecker challenge is a starting point for questions 3 and 4.

Soul Care questions for Resurrection Sunday!!

Read Luke 24:1– 12. 

What emotions are expressed in this passage?

Here are some helps
perplexed  (4)
frightened (5)
excited (12)

As a result of these emotions, what did people do?
bowed down before the angels
ran to tell the disciples
ran to see the tomb

Read Luke 24:13-35. 

What facts about Jesus are revealed in this passage?
Jesus was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.
Jesus died.
Angels said he was alive.

As a result of these facts, what did people do?

Hearts burned for Jesus 
People shared about Jesus

Additional Questions:

What emotions do you feel about the crucifixion and resurrection?
Emotions are not bad.  If you have trouble thinking about this question, go to 
http://ekidzministry.blogspot.com/search/label/Resurrection%20Sunday 
I have been sharing with families about the Emotions of Easter.

What facts do you know about the crucifixion and resurrection?  Historical facts and Spiritual realities.

Additional Notes:

This month's ministry is EKIDZ ministry.

This week's missionaries are the Arthurs (www.emmanuelbaptist.com/missions)

Helps for 03.06 questions

I would strongly urge you to use a Psalm for your prayer time.
Check out the prayer resources at www.emmanuelbaptist.com/blog/
I have shown some of these pray the Bible videos in my Soul Care group! 

Be sure to read Roman 6:19-23 out loud.

I am going to offer some responses below to the three questions:

1. What does this section tell me about God and/or Jesus?

2. What does this section tell me about myself?

3. What must I remember/pray from this small section of scripture?

BUT remember the important part of your group time is the discussion and reaching Biblical answers together.

From blog.emmanuelbaptist.com site.

Here is the resource I posted at yesterday (01.23) blog.emmanuelbaptist.com for this week's Soul Care questions.

I want to encourage you as a Soul Care leader to check the online resources I reference in the Soul Care notes.




This week's Soul Care questions deal with observing Romans 6:1-11, the passage Pastor Duke preached from this week.

Below are some additional questions for studying the Epistles

For more One to One Bible Reading resources you can download, click HERE


Context questions:
What can you learn about the person or situation to which the letter is written?
What clues are there about the author and his circumstances?
What was the main point of the passage immediately before this one?
Are there logical or thematic connections to the passage you are reading?

Observation questions:
Are there any major sub-sections or breaks in the text?
Are there key connecting words (for, therefore, but, because) that indicate the logical flow of the passage?
What is the main point or points?
What supporting points does the author make?
What surprises are there in the flow of the argument?

Meaning questions:
How does this text relate to other parts of the book?
How does the passage relate to Jesus?
What does this teach you about God?
How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?

Application questions:
How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
Is there some attitude you need to change?
How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?

Studying Romans 6 with Soul Care

This week's Soul Care questions have a specific observation question.

Don't over complicate the question or allow your group members to do it

Here is the observation question "From Romans 6:1 - 11, what should we know?"

Below is the passage with the simplest answers to this question.  The answers are highlighted.

Be sure check this Sunday's blog post about leading the discussion time:  http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/bible-reading-helps-for-this-week-and-beyond/

1  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound

2  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  

3  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 

4  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.7  For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Additional DIscussion Ideas!

This Sunday's sermon was on Soul Care, not necessarily EBC's small group ministry, but rather the church's responsibility to care for one another's souls.

The note sheet has some initial discussion questions.

So here are some additional things you can talk with your group about...

The Ministry of the Pew!  Read the following article together and talk about the questions at the end. http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/1994/03/factotum-1-the-ministry-of-the-pew/

Seven Ways to Become a Better Sermon Listener.  Read the following article together and talk about how you can help one another become better sermon listeners.  http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-ways-to-become-a-better-sermon-listener

How to be a small group member.  Read the following article and discuss how you as individuals and a group can do each of these 5 things better.  http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2006/02/how-to-be-a-small-group-member/  

No notes but obvious discussion topics

As noted in last week's Soul Care notes, there are no Soul Care notes for December.

If your group is meeting this week here are some suggestions for this week.

Remember, God is the greatest gift you could ever receive.

• How has or can your life show this?
• How can you make much of God this Christmas season?
• List ways that you can honor God each day, from small to big ways.
• Watch the following 28 minute video by John Piper  http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-blazing-center-part-1

Check blog.emmanuelbaptist.com  for prayer and Bible study resources.
Today's post is specifically about praying for Senior Saints and Shut-ins.

A great devotional to read and discuss is the first advent reading from John Piper,
http://solidjoys.desiringgod.org/en/devotionals/prepare-the-way

Who's on First? resources

I have used this graphic on the church blog and social media pages.
You can share this on your own social media pages.



Also, I have posted resources on the church blog at
blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/category/soul-care/

Great Human Tragedy!!

Here are two blog posts that could be a help to you and your group members related to your group.

"Glorify God?  What do that mean?"
http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/glorify-god-what-does-that-mean/
To help you and your group consider how you pray individually and in groups.

Gospel Growth
http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/gospel-growth/
To help you and your group understand what Soul Care and other ministries are.

Great Human Tragedy
http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/great-human-tragedy/
To review the 4 W's Dr. Lee shared on Sunday.

Here are some suggestions for your group time.

• Pray for the Lost:  Dedicate some time to pray passionately for those who don't know Jesus Christ as their Savior.  If you understand the seriousness of sin and Hell, it will really challenge you to think how you pray. 
• Time for Thanksgiving:  Take time to worship God by sharing people you are thankful for.
• Think ahead:  Discuss some ideas you and your group can begin to increase our gospel influence in our church and in our world.  Two specific things you can think about this week and future weeks.    How can your group multiply its impact on others outside of your current group and at EBC?  How can your group serve our community?  

 Hope these are helpful ideas.

Adam & Jesus (11.08)

Check back throughout the week for more helps.

"According to the passage" questions are reading observation questions.  (Head questions)

Adam

brought condemnation.

bad

Action Resulted in death

Failed to honor the Word of God

Jesus

brought justification.

so much better:

Action Resulted in life

Christ is greater.

Christ is stronger.

Christ conquers 

Christ overcomes.

After reading the passage and answer these questions, you could ask group members to list out other differences between Adam and Jesus.

These questions provide more than an opportunity to list out factual statements

These questions provide a great opportunity to consider our sinfulness and celebrate Christ's righteousness 

How should Christ's great obedience encourage you in your struggle against sin this week? (Heart question)

I should want more of Jesus, not deliverance from circumstances.

You can discuss how this should impact how you pray.

Consider what the the Gospel IS DOING today in this world.  

In what ways do you see life reigning over death in your life? (Hand question)

Check out this article on a proper perspective throughout life.

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/worship-on-a-bad-day

"When you know how the story ends, everything changes."

Several of this past week's 9:00 am Bible Teaching classes went along with the sermon.
In the Young Adults Ephesians class we were studying chapter 6 and were reminded that...
Employees: Work THROUGH , LIKE and FOR Christ.
Employer: Lead THROUGH , LIKE and FOR Christ.

In the Ten Questions classes, people were reminded that a growing person is quicker to forgive.  These are two specific questions to consider:  Are you ready to forgive? and Do you need to initiate the process of forgiveness with anyone?

The Benefit of Sharing the Benefits of Being God's People

Prayer Helps:
Military:  You should have received your military assignment this past week in your mailbox.  If you didn't I am emailing them to the group leaders.
Fighter Verses:  Trying Psalm 118:5 - 8 to start out your prayer time.  

This week's sermon and discussion time provide a great opportunity for you and your group to talk about God and the amazing gifts we have in Christ.  The mere reading of Romans 5:1 - 11 should stir up some excitement and passion in you and your group members.  And if it doesn't you have some serious heart issues to discuss.


My tips are in red!

A great way to do the first two questions are to have everyone write down their answer and then have individuals read what they wrote to the group.

Read Romans 5:1—11 out loud.  This will really help those who were not in the service because of absence or service.

According to the passage and Romans 5 sermons what benefit’s are there to being God’s people?

This is a HEAD (knowledge) question.  You should have people look at the Bible and find a verse for their answer.

Everyone should have similar answers.

Because of these benefits, what are some practical ways God’s people should live?  Think  attitude change and action steps.

This is a HAND (action) question.  Have people think about really practical, actionable, measurable things.  

How should you live differently in light of these benefits?

This could be used as a HEART (passion) question.  What do I need to desire more in this life, not just this week.  It could connection with the previous question but this would be a more general lifestyle.

On the back of the notes, I put part of our sermon discussion training notes for every to understand the purpose of Soul Care.  You should remind people of the purpose of Soul Care each week.  

Sermon—Based, Life Changing Discussion

Here are some tips the Soul Care leaders learned this summer on how to kill their groups discussion time.

1. Don’t READ THE BIBLE PASSAGE.  While we say our groups are sermon-based, we really want them to be Bible-directed.

2. Don’t MAKE IT PERSONAL.   We don’t want groups to merely share information.  We want them to share life.

3. Always STICK TO THE SCRIPT.  The questions provide a guide for the leaders but the goal is not to get through every question.

Soul Care meetings should challenge each group member to live differently because of what God has done.

You can share on social media how you have been challenged by using
#EBCdiscipleship

Here is the "Banning Bible Studies" link.  

This article is a great reminder of what we are doing in Soul Care.

https://davidwhiting.today/2012/02/banning-bible-studies-northridge-church.html

Bible Reading, Prayer and spiritual conversations (05.17)

Because of the question/answer nature of this week's sermon, there are no Soul Care notes.

Here are three suggestions for you as you lead your group...

1. BIBLE READING:  What are the marks of a true believer?  Read 1 John together out loud.  This can be done in  about 15 minutes and answer this question.  When Pastor Duke was talking about true believers he referred to this book several times.    You can use the questions on page 6 of http://matthiasmedia.com/Samples/otobr/OTOBR-Sheets-for-copying-US-letter.pdf to help with the Bible reading.  You don't necessarily need to do preparation before hand.  This is a read and think through exercise.
2. PRAYER:  Pray with the glory of God as the focus.  Here are some prayer focus questions to use.
1. How can you, individually, glorify God?
2. How can we, EBC, glorify God?  Think how you can work with others to help fulfill our mission.
3. How can God work in the lives of others specifically to bring Him glory?
3. DEEPER QUESTION:  Depending on where your group in openness, you could ask "Which one of these best describes you right now?  Why?"

• changing and growing
• not perfect but progressing
• failing but fighting
• desire to please God
• persevering in faith
• living outside the will of God and headed toward discipline

Are we that kind of church? (05.10.15)

You can always check to see what helps are posted for the whole church at http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/category/soul-care/

HERE IS THE MOST RECENT POST FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH REGARDING SOUL CARE DISCUSION.  

As we gather in our Soul Care Groups this week, let us encourage one another to fight sin.
As we meet together and grow in Christ this week and beyond, let us encourage one another to fight sin.

When you gather in your Soul Care groups, meet together with others from EBC and do family devotions, think about these 2 questions and 2 prayer challenges.

Think about these two questions,

1. What are the marks of a church that helps one another fight sin?  (Notice is not “What are the marks of a church that identifies sin in others and yells about?”)
2. Are we the kind of church that helps one another fight sin?

Here are two prayer challenges Pastor Duke shared in the sermon:

1. Pray that those who don’t believe will REPENT and BELIEVE.
2. Pray these truths will produce HOLY HUMILITY
   1. Thank God that He saved you
   2. Be reminded how easily we will fall away without Him
   3. Pray that this will help us deal with Christian complexity

Don’t forget the free ebook God is the Gospel by John Piper.  Click HERE to find out how to get a copy.

Prayer guide helps!!

Extended prayer focus times can be difficult but this post is full of ideas to help you with your prayer time.

Romans 1:21—24

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

While this past Sunday's message was great, sometimes there is a human tendency to respond to these truth like Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh.  “It’s all for naught.”  Poor me!
This is the song I referred to in the email "The dark is just a canvas for your grace and brightness."  Think about the trust from this passage and this sermon with God's glory in mind.

This Thursday is National Day of Prayer.
We want our Soul Care groups this week and every week
to focus on praying to the God who demonstrated His love by sending His Son to be our Savior

We don't gather together to focus on the problems of this world.
This does not mean foolishly closing our eyes and acting like there is nothing wrong.
It does mean choosing to focus on the King of Glory.

These questions and prayer items are meant to help focus your minds on God.  The links are resources you can use in group or private prayer times.

Based on Romans 1:21—24 and this week’s message, how would you answer this question:  What in the world is wrong with the world?
The problem in this world is that God is not worshipped by humans the way he should.
We are sinners.
The problem is not the circumstances I face, my biggest problem is me!  Your biggest problem is you!

As we remember what is wrong in this world, let's remember the truth in the month's memory verses for our children's ministry.

Philippians 4:12 & 13.
No matter what the circumstance, we find our strength and peace in Jesus Christ.

I must be content, satisfied in Jesus Christ, no matter the circumstances or situation in this life.

This week in Soul Care we want to focus on PRAYER FOR
OUR WORLD,
OUR COUNTRY,
OUR CHURCH and
OUR LIVES.

Take time do to the following:

10 minutes:  Answer these 3 questions:  Your group could probably talk about these all night.  Limit the time and encourage people to talk about these questions outside of your group time. 
- How have you honored God this last week?  Questions like this one and the next one should be difficult to answer because we don't want to seem arrogant and self-righteousness.  At the same time we should want to talk about how God's has glorified himself in us.

- How can you honor God this week?

- What can you thank God for this week?

10 minutes:  Prayer for our world

- Nepal.  http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/pray-for-nepal/

Read through parts or all of this article with your ear listening for prayer requests.  Here are some:
pray for the Hindus.  "Most of the people of the people hit by this tragedy in Nepal are Hindu." 
"Please join me in praying that this dark tragedy will open up new doors of ministry and make new ways for the hope of Jesus Christ to shine even more brightly in the nation of Nepal, bringing with it the message of hope, consolation and restoration."

- Unreached people group of the day http://joshuaproject.net/pray/unreachedoftheday
This is the website Pastor Duke referred to during the Missions conference.  You can use their other prayer resources.

10 minutes:  Prayer for our country

-  National Day of Prayer Guide.  http://nationaldayofprayer.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/30-Ways-to-Pray-Authority.pdf

Here is the National Prayer http://nationaldayofprayer.org/national-prayer/

-  This week's missionaries are Jack & Cindy Stumme,  He is a U.S. Army chaplain.  Pray for the Stumme and the military person that was assigned to your Soul Care Group.  Go to http://www.emmanuelbaptist.com/missions.php for more about the Stumme's and our other missionaries.

10 minutes:  Prayer for our church

-  Prayer Guide for Emmanuel Baptist Church. http://tinyurl.com/soulcareprayer

This contains 11 things you can be praying for EBC.
- Here are some specific prayer requests for pastors.  http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/tag/pastors/

Each week one of the pastors shares prayer requests on the prayer update page.  These requests can be found here.

Here are some prayer requests for pastors in general.  http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-pray-for-the-pastoral-staff

Close your time praying that each of you would be a testimony of God and His power.

Gospel Primer and Bible Study Helps

Four tools God uses to grow us spiritually happens through Bible reading, Biblical community, Biblical books and prayer.  This week’s Soul Care questions use these four resources.

BIBLE READING: 

Read Romans 1:1—15 together in your group. 

What was the main point of 1:1—7?  What are the connections between 1:1—7 and 1:8—15?

You can have more discussion than this but here is a good start. It helps develop the context of the passage we are studying (1:8-15).  This question is taken from the one to one reading plan.  http://matthiasmedia.com/Samples/otobr/OTOBR-Sheets-for-copying-US-letter.pdf on page 6.

Here is a simple way to think about this answer.God loved Paul.God called PaulPaul was eager to tell others about God's love demonstrated in Christ.

BIBLICAL COMMUNITY AND CONVERSATION:

From the sermon, four reasons why Christians need the Gospel:

1. Means to greater worship

2. Motivation to grow

3. Model to follow

4. Message that gives purpose

What is ONE way the Gospel has helped/could help you in ONE of these areas.

 This provides a great opportunity for people to talk about ways they have grown.  This could be encouragement to others.

This could also be an opportunity for confession.  You might want to have people write down their answers before sharing concisely. 

BIBLICAL BOOKS:

As a group read and discuss one of the following Gospel Primer topics.  These are available at http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/category/gospel-primer/

· Freedom from Sin’s Power from the Gospel Primer

· Perspective in Trials from the Gospel Primer

· My Inheritance in the Saints from The Gospel Primer

Leaders received study helps for each of these topics.

If you have never used The Gospel Primer here is a suggestion.Read the Bible passagesRead the Gospel Primer statementShare how the connection between the passage, statement and lifeHave a couple of people pray the truths in the passage and the statement

Kids, Acts and Romans

If you have families with kids here is a good activity that connects Sunday's sermon with this week's children's lesson.

In EKIDZ this week we started the book of Acts.
During part of the 10:30 class with the 1st - 3rd grade we played corn hole.

How does corn hole connect with the sermon and children's lesson?

Let me explain how we explained Acts 1 using corn hole.


Corn hole
There is a simple target/goal in cornhole.  Throw the bean bag into the hole.
But in achieving this goal, certain rules must be followed, like where to stand and when to throw the bean bag.


Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus gave the disciples a goal:  Spread the Gospel throughout Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria
But they needed to do this God's way.
Jesus gave the disciples specific directions:  Wait on the Holy Spirit.  Do the work of witness for God in God's way.


Our Church and Romans 1
We want to TAKE THE WORD TO THE WORLD but we must be sure to do it God's way so that God will get the glory.

We as individuals and as a church need to be about glorifying God and doing this God's way.

Soul Care Note helps (04.12.15)

Read Romans 1:1—7 together in your group.

What is the goal of apostleship?  (v. 5) 

 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations

What is the goal of discipleship?  (Matt. 28:18-20)  

Go to  www.desiringgod.org/labs/i-am-with-you-always, especially starting at 3:30 mark for help in this discussion.

Teaching is not the goal of discipleship.  Transferring information is not the goal.
Obedience, living out the what Jesus has commanded, is the goal of discipleship.

The apostles were not supposed to just transfer information to the next generation.
They were to challenge others to follow Jesus in obedience.

Discipleship is not about learning more information.
It is about life change.
It is about life change that glorifies God.

“People this past week became upset over crime, drug abuse, corporate greed, abortion, sex trafficking but how many people this week grieved that the God of heaven was not worshipped, was not admired, was not proclaimed as He deserves.  While all those other things are bad, that is the biggest travesty this week.”

How has “If only I did _____, God would accept me” thinking impacted your life this week?  This year?

A good idea here would be to have people write down some ways they have lived a me-centered life rather than a God-centered life.

Another way to ask this question is "How has unhealthy guilt motivated you this past week?  This year?

This is a very personal question.

"If only I did my devotions more consistently, God would accept me."

"If only I did everything I was asked to do, God would accept me."

A CLARIFYING QUESTION MIGHT BE
Why is "If only I did ______, God would accept me" wrong?

• The object of worship is wrong.
• The focus is wrong.  It is misplaced
• It should be "Because of what Jesus did for me, I am/can  _______________________

How do you know you are loved by God?  (Don’t make the answer too complicated)

Some verses

John 3:16

Romans 5:8

God's Word and God's character.

HERE IS A POINT TO DRAW OUT THROUGHOUT THE EVENING:
Because of these things, how should we live?

Soul Care notes (02.15)

We want to take the Word to the World because we love God & want to see Him glorified and because we love people & want to see them in a growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Take a moment to examine your heart. In all honesty, why do you want to make disciples? Do you struggle with wanting your actions to be noticed by others?

What does 1 John 4:7—12 say about God’s love and our love?

Love comes from God.

Our love shows that we are God's.

God's love is made known to us in Jesus Christ.  Through Jesus Christ we have life. 

God showed us love first.

God provides the greatest example of love and the only true source of real love.

When we love it shows God is in us.

Our desire to make disciple must be motivated by love. 

- Why make disciples of those who don’t know Jesus?  How can this love grow?

Love for God and compassion for those who desperately need Jesus.  These people need Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.   

Remember who you were before Christ and what God saved you from.  

 - Why make disciples of those who are part of EBC?  How can this love grow?

Love for God and a love for fellow believers in Jesus Christ and a love for the church.  These people are part of the body of Christ and need to be encouraged to grow closer to God. 

Remember that we are in this together for the glory of God.

-  Why make disciples of those who claim to be believers but are not part of a local church?  How can this happen?

Love for God, a love for the church which is the Bride of Christ and a love for those who have been deceived into thinking they can live the Christian life in their own strength without the church.  These people have been deceived.

Remember how you have been blessed by God through the church.

In addition to praying fervently, what practical steps can you take to increase your love for people?

Reviewing your testimony and remembering what God did and is doing for you.  

Serving in a way that stretches your beyond what is "easy" for you. 

Soul Care Notes (02.08)

February Soul Care groups have a Disciple making emphasis.
If you didn’t do Week 1 of our discipleship study, go to blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/category/soul-care/ 

From this weekend’s message “How do I persevere?”
- single minded purpose—the glory of God, the making of disciples. Acts 20:24
- close, godly relationships

This week's Soul Care questions:

How is Emmanuel Baptist Church on a single minded purpose of glorifying God by making disciples?
Challenge your group members to think about how EBC is working out this single minded purpose.
A SINGLE MINDED PURPOSE:  
How is this SINGLE MINDED PURPOSE evidenced in our worship services, our programs and our people who are the church?
Check the blog for some specific things to talk about.

CLOSE, GODLY RELATIONSHIPS
What are the marks of a godly relationship?  Good connection to next question.  

Here is a quote from the Gospel Primer to consider.
"Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine."

What are you doing to make disciples? Think about what God did through and with Paul.
Spending time in prayer (21:5)
Meditating on the Word of God
Speaking boldly (21:13)
Being Aware of the culture he was in (21:26)
Knew that he was part of something so much bigger than his circumstances.  See Gospel Primer quote above.

Would you say that you’re committed to studying the Word so you can live it out and share the Word with others? Why or why not? (see Monday’s post)


What excuses tend to keep you from following Jesus’s command to make disciples? What do you need to do in order to move past these excuses?
Ask people to share

Whom has God placed in your life right now that you can begin making into a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Ask people to share.  
Be share to pray for these people.

Whom has God placed in your life for you to partner with in making disciples?
Ask people share.
If they don't have people to partner with, think about how you can help one another.