How to Know I Am Growing as a Disciple

THE TEXT: Acts 18:23-19:1-10. 

How to know I am growing as a disciple:

1. A growing disciple is to the .

| Luke 6:40 | Acts 18:23-24 | Joshua 1:8 | 2 Timothy 3:16-17 | John 8:31 |(MULTILINE)

2. A growing disciple what’s been them. 

| Acts 18:25 | Matthew 28:19-20 | 1 Peter 4:10 |(MULTILINE)

3. A growing disciple is open to and .

| Acts 18:26 | Matthew 18:15 | James 1:19 |(MULTILINE)

4. A growing disciple is and helps make .

| Acts 18:27-28 | 1 John 2:6 |(MULTILINE)

5. A growing disciple is by the .

| Acts 19:1-10 | Galatians 5:22-23 | John 13:34-35 |(MULTILINE)

Small Group Questions

What do you think?

Have someone quickly read through the main points from Sunday’s message. From the message, what particular point stood out to you, got you to think, or raised a question for you?(MULTILINE)

The story of your life.

1. On Sunday, Pastor Obie talked about how to know if you’re growing as a disciple. Schools, businesses, volunteer teams/organizations, and even churches often use group exercises to help teams grow together. Which of the following “team bonding/building” exercises have you done in your life? Which was your favorite? Which was the hardest?
   1. Obstacle/ropes course.
   2. Escape room.
   3. Attend a sporting event (or play in one).
   4. Scavenger hunt.
   5. Go to a conference together.
   6. Mini-golf.
   7. Go-kart racing.
   8. Other?(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
2. Even though spiritual growth is less externally noticeable than physical growth, there are lots of disciplines/rhythms to help us move in step with the Holy Spirit. Which of the following have you tried? Which nourishes your soul the most? Which resonates the least with you?
   1. Scripture reading.
   2. Silence/Solitude.
   3. Sabbath.
   4. Fasting.
   5. Journaling.
   6. Worship.
   7. Generosity.
   8. Fellowship.
   9. Serving.

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

1. Perhaps the most spiritually forming experience of any Christian’s life is to learn to love others as Jesus loved us. John 13 is a wonderful picture of Jesus displaying love to his disciples on the final evening before his crucifixion. Read John 13:1-38 and respond to the following prompts/questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   2. What does this passage teach us about God? Love? People and ourselves?(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   3. In light of this, is there anything you need to do differently?(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
2. Perhaps other than the crucifixion narratives that show Christ loving us, 1 Corinthians 13 is probably the greatest “love passage” in the Bible. Read it together in its entirety three times (if possible in a different translation every time) and respond to the following prompts/questions.
   1. Have a few group members recap the main tenets of the passage using their own words.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   2. What does it teach us about God? Love? People and ourselves.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   3. Now take a minute as a group and quietly/privately read verses 4-8, inserting your own name in place of the word “love.” After doing this exercise, share an insight with the group that you learned about yourself.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
3. Read the following verses, one at a time, sharing insights about love from each one.
   1. John 14:15, 15:13.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   2. 1 Corinthians 16:14.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   3. Colossians 3:14.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   4. 1 John 4:7-12.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Personal reflection and application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.(MULTILINE)
2. Pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).(MULTILINE)