Shifting To Follow The Methods Of Jesus

John 1:35-43

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them. John 3:22

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him. Mark 3:13-14

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. Luke 10:1 NLT

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him. Matthew 5:1 NLT

Questions for D group and/or personal reflection:

Opener:

• Why do you think the Church of Jesus Christ has endured and flourished for the last 2000 years in spite of opposition, persecution, etc.?

Go to the Source:

• Read John 1:35-43
• Why do you think the method of Jesus was so much about informal relationship building as opposed to the formal rabbinical structures of his day?

Live it out:

• Starting with the smallest circle, in a new perspective of church; who are 2-3 people you can invite into intentional discipling relationship with you?
• Over the spring/summer, when it’s safe to do so, how and when could you gather with these people?