Life Groups // Spring 2025 // Week 4
Posted April 25, 2025 — Lincoln Berean
Who is a Disciple? // Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 5:11, 27-28, John 15:18-27, 3:16-21,
James 4:4, 1 John 2:15
Introduction
This is the first week of our new “Everyday Disciples” sermon series, where we will discuss what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Bryan spoke about why discipleship is important, what it means for somebody to devote their lives to that path, and the life-changing impact that it can have.
In addition to the sermon and these discussion questions, LBC is recommending resources each week that you could look at if you want to dig further into this topic. After the sermon each weekend, you can find links to these resources on our website. Here are the resources for the first week of this new series: www.lincolnberean.org/everydaydisciples
We invite you to look over all the questions on the following pages and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group. Some people even use these questions to take notes during the sermon. The questions are meant to stir your thinking and prompt open discussion, and we do not expect you will cover every question each week.
Warm Up (Suggested time: 30 min)
1) What was/is your favorite subject in school, and why?
2) If you could ask any celebrity or historical figure (living or dead) to teach you how to master one skill, who would it be, and what would you ask them to teach you?
Getting Started
Transition into group discussion.
1. Open group discussion with prayer. Here are a few potential prayer items:
a. For the Spirit of God to lead you in truth
b. For the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in your lives
c. For grace to hear and apply what the Spirit says to you
2. Choose someone to read the passage aloud for the group.
Study Questions (Suggested time: 40 min)
1) What are some details about discipleship that you remember from Bryan’s sermon, or from the scripture passages that he covered?
2) In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus delivers a set of instructions to His followers traditionally known as the Great Commission, including the commandment to “make disciples of all the nations.” What does this tell us about why discipleship is important?
3) Read Mark 8:34-38. In your own words, based on the descriptions in the Bible, what does it mean to truly be a disciple of Jesus?
Next, turn to Luke chapter 5 and read verses 1-11 and 27-28, which describe the experiences of some of the disciples of Jesus joining His ministry for the first time. What do these verses tell us is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
4) Now, take a look at the following passages: John 15:18-19, John 17:13-21, James 4:4, and 1 John 2:15. What do these passages say about how followers of Jesus should view the world around them?
How do these passages help us understand the importance of standing apart from the world as disciples of Christ, but also be a loving presence to the people we interact with?
What are a few opportunities in your own life where God might be calling you to intentionally be a loving presence to those around you?
5) Do you consider yourself to be a disciple? Why or why not?
Do you consider yourself to be a disciple-maker? Why or why not?
In order to be the best disciple that you can be, do you think it’s necessary to be a disciple-maker? Why or why not?
Personal Spiritual Exercises
Just like physical exercises help strengthen and stretch our bodies for healthy living, these spiritual exercises are meant to move us spiritually in ways that may be new so we might experience inner growth. Since God longs for us to experience Him with our whole selves—mind, body, spirit—we invite you along each week to strengthen your souls with suggestions and prompts.
Scripture Focus:We explored a lot of different scripture from all around the New Testament this week. As you take what you’ve learned into your everyday life, consider just one verse from Jesus’ teaching: Mark 8:35, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Think about what is at stake when committing to being a disciple of Christ and ask yourself if that is something you’re ready for in your life. Take some time to listen to the Holy Spirit and journal your thoughts.
Prayer Focus: This week, engage with the Lord in a prayer of gratitude for your faith journey, considering the priceless value of having companions with whom you can pursue a sanctified life as the original disciples did. Whether it’s your Life Group, your friends or family, a mentor in the church, or anyone else that God has brought into your life to join in following Him, pray for them by name and ask God to be the enduring cornerstone of your relationship with them.
Prayer (Suggested time: 20 min)
A significant part of “coming together” is being open and honest with our lives. Sitting in a group of people for prayer may be new or it may be familiar to you. If you would rather not pray aloud when it is your turn, feel free to pray silently and then say “Amen” aloud signaling the next person in the group to pray. Whether or not you choose to verbalize your prayer, everyone is a participant in sharing this time before God together.
Take a few moments to prepare a prayer request. What did the message, working through the above questions or the discussion cause you to notice about your own relationship with Jesus? Would you be willing to share your prayer request with the group?