2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ESV
What if discipleship isn’t as complicated as we’ve thought. What if discipleship is simply all about authentic friendship? Friendship with God is where we learn his love and friendship with others is where we share his love.
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. MSG
Over the past two years we’ve been exploring the revelation of The Table. Jesus always seemed to be going to a meal, at a meal or coming from a meal. In the beginning it was a meal without God that ruined it all. In Revelation we see the fulfillment of reconciliation as the Marriage supper of the Lamb.
The revelation of the Table of the Lord is shaping much of what we’re sensing for the future of the church. This is a highly relational movement that is deeply devoted to pursuing Jesus with others as a true expression of discipleship at the Table of the Lord.
The Table revelation should be helping all of us to understand a more relational way of life as ministry to others. There is a difference between leading a Community Group and leading The Table. You can hear two brief and simple explanations at www.destinyokc.com/TheTable
For those who desire to explore this more intentionally and prayerfully we will have four training sessions starting Sunday April 10th. Lunch will be provided but seating is limited to our conference room in order to keep it small enough to be around the table. Email us at info@destinyokc.com if you are interested.
The purpose of church is discovered in the revelation of family and maybe this is why homes have been central from the very beginning. We are instructed to gather together but also we see the value of ministry in our homes. God initiated fire from heaven in homes. In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Jews in a home. In Acts 10 the Holy Spirit is poured out on Gentiles in a home.
Christians were perceived as enemies of the state and actively persecuted. Intense persecution took place for those first 300 years making gathering difficult and dangerous. In those that time 6 million people began following Christ. Over the next fifty years another 30 million people followed Christ.
This is the biggest movement in the history of the world and there were no mass evangelism crusades taking place! It was all about connecting personally. What if making disciples has looked like genuine friendship all along. Lance Ford wrote, “If every Christian family in the world simply offered good conversational hospitality around a table once a week to neighbors, we would eat our way into the kingdom of God.”
To love people well we must move away from an attitude that feels obligation of having conversations with people to change their mind about their beliefs. Our job is to love people not to change them. You can't truly love someone if you're trying to change them at the same time. #BasicMarriageFriendship
God is not trying to draw people into YOUR BELIEFS. He's drawing them into HIS LOVE.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Earnestly pray for people God has entrusted to your care and sincerely care for them in some meaningful way this week.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ESV
EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLING
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: As a church family we want to be OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
Our 2022 New Year’s Revelation as a church family is EVERYONE IS CREATED FOR ABUNDANT LIFE!
Much will flow from heaven into our hearts and homes this year!
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy but realize the aim of death is not to kill you but to keep you from the fulness of life until you die. Distraction is destruction of what could have been in your life.
John 10:10b “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” Amplified
Jesus came demonstrating that true life is discovered in a willing death. When we die to ourselves we learn what it means to be alive in Christ.
God’s plan is for us to hear his voice together as a family. This is why we start each group with the first question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Don’t move on to the next question until everybody who is willing to share has had the opportunity to give their perspective.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
6. Who comes to mind when considering a person you might share this with this week?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Earnestly pray for people God has entrusted to your care and sincerely care for them in some meaningful way this week.