Exploring the Christian Lifestyle

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Introduction Welcome to this Cell Group for New Disciples! It’s part

of our ABC Pathway for New Disciples (see leaflet):

A = Alpha

B = Baptism and Membership

C = Cell Group for New Disciples

We hope you’ll deeply enjoy this year of exploration into the basics of Christian discipleship. The hope is that these three terms will equip and empower you with some helpful knowledge, practices and experiences that will give you a great foundation for the lifelong adventure of following Jesus.

The UP-IN-OUT triangle is a helpful way of re-membering that as Christians we need to re-main in balance. We need to look UP-wards to God (worshipping and enjoying him, absorbing his truth); IN-wards at ourselves and our rela-tionships (the Christian life-style, pursuing Godly relationships etc.); and last but not least OUT-

wards towards our world (sharing and embodying the good news of Jesus through word and action).

This first term we’ll be looking at IN, and will be camping out in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), where Jesus paints what the Kingdom lifestyle looks like.

If you’re a reader, a good accompanying book that tackles the sermon on the mount and is designed for those who’ve just done the Alpha course, is Nicky Gumbel’s Challenging Lifestyle (Kingsway, 2001).

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The Sessions

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INTRO: What is a disciple anyway?

Throughout the four Gospels and Acts, the word disci-ple is the most frequent title given to Jesus’ followers and imitators. It came from the old Greek verb ‘to learn’ and literally means a ‘learner’ or ‘pupil’. The aim of a disciple is to echo the teacher with their lives, to become like him - i.e. ‘little Christs’.

Discipleship is the term given to the distinctive and all-encompassing way of life that is centred on the teacher Jesus Christ, and lived out through the new community he established.

READ (20 mins) Let’s look at Matt 4:17-5:2.

We’re going to use a method of Bible reading called ‘Dwelling in the Word’ or ‘Lectio Divina’ (sacred reading). This is a way of reading scrip-ture more carefully, and gives a bit more space and time to the Holy Spirit that he might speak deeply into our hearts and minds.

‘Disciple (mathētēs) says we are a people who spend our lives ap-prenticed to our master, Jesus Christ. We are in a growing-learning relationship, always. A disciple is a learner, but not in the academic setting of a schoolroom, rather at the work site of a craftsman. We do not acquire information about God but skills in faith.’

Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

DISCIPLES OF JESUS

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1. Ask one person to read the passage through slowly and expressively.

2. Allow the passage to sink in for a minute or so of silence. 3. Now is an opportunity for anyone to read out loud a word or phrase that has stood out for them. Speak it out three times in a row. 4. Ask a different person to read the passage through a second time. 5. The floor is now open for folk to share any thoughts in that have struck them with the group. Place the emphasis on listening rather than arguing or discussing. Note down anything you’d like to remember:

REFLECT (20 mins) Q: Are there two types of following here (v.18, 25)? If so,

what’s the difference? Q: Judging from this passage, what place did discipleship play as part of Jesus’ mission?

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My next step is...

Q: What changed for the disciples? What stayed the same? Q: Two types of fishing? What was Jesus offering to these disciples?

RESPOND (20 mins) Q: What do you think following Jesus means for you right now? What’s your ‘next step’? Write down some notes and boil it down to an action in the box below.

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Today we’re looking at the very first words that Christ speaks at the be-ginning of his famous ‘sermon on the mount’. They are often referred to as the ‘beatitudes’, which is an old fashioned way of saying ‘the bless-ings’. They are called this because they are made of short sentences all beginning with the words ‘blessed are those...’ or ‘happy/fortunate are those...’. They are a rich and strange teaching, seemingly upside-down at first, but very profound the deeper you go.

READ (15 mins) Turn to Matt 5:1—12. Move round the circle and take it in turns to read a verse. Leave a pause between each sentence

so that in can sink in. Q: Which of these ‘beatitudes’ appealed to you the most? Q: Which of these ‘beatitudes’ surprised/disturbed you the most?

REFLECT (20 mins)

Breathing in, breathing out

I find it helpful to think of the first four beatitudes as blessings that come to those who are broken or in need in some way. Into the vacuum of these wounds God promises to pour his grace. The second grouping are blessings that Jesus promises to those who are pursuing God’s kingdom; those who are trying to be a blessing to the world even though it may cost them.

BLESSED AND BLESSING

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Breathing in God’s Blessing (vs 3-6) ~ the activity of God’s grace in our lives ~

Q: Was Jesus mad?! What do you think Jesus means when he uses the word ‘blessed/happy’? Q: What form do you think God’s blessing is supposed to take in these situations?

Breathing out God’s Blessing (vs 7-12) ~ the activity of God’s children in the world ~

Q: What are some of the key components of the Christian lifestyle ac-cording to these verses? Why are these things necessary? Q: What do these things concretely look like in practice? Can you give any examples, maybe from the Bible or your own life and experience?

RESPOND (20 mins) Spend some time slowly breathing in and out. Take the opportunity to receive from God. Q: Would anyone like prayer for a difficult situation at the moment? Q: Where is Jesus calling you to show mercy or make peace this week?

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Today we’re looking at two metaphors Jesus used to paint a picture for how he wants his disciples to interact with society: salt and light.

READ (3 mins) Turn to Matt 5: 13-16

REFLECT (20 mins)

Q: How do you think these words will have made his hearers feel?

‘They’re the salt of the earth’

Q: This phrase is one which has entered our common usage, what do we mean when we use it? Q: Why do you think Jesus used this metaphor of salt to describe the role of his disciples?

Q: How might someone lose their saltiness?

GLOWING WITH THE MESSAGE

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This little light o’ mine In John 8:12 Jesus claimed he was ‘the light of the world’. But here he transfers the term to his disci-ples.

Q: Why do you think he used the metaphor of light? Q: In what ways do we hide our light?

RESPOND (20 mins) Brainstorm round these two questions, share in the group and pray to-gether.

How can I be saltier?

How can I shine brighter?

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Today we’re looking at how Jesus explained himself in relation to the Bi-ble, and how he unpacked several lifestyle issues, namely: anger, lust, adultery and divorce.

READ: Matt 5: 17-32 (4 mins)

REFLECT (20 mins))

Q: Any ideas what Jesus is referring to when he talks of the ‘Law’ and the ‘Prophets’? (v.17)

THE HEART OF THE LAW

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The Heart of The Law

Q: How can the law be abused? It can be broken, bent and used to bludger BUT: It can make beautiful—getting to the heart

of the Law 1. The Law and the Prophets point forward to Jesus For an example of how one prophet pointed to Jesus see Isaiah 53. John 5:39-40 Jesus challenged the religious authorities of the day: ‘You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you pos-sess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.’ It’s about relationship! 2. Jesus points back to the Law and Prophets Q; Look at the formula Jesus uses in the next few blocks of teaching (‘You have heard that it was said... But I say...’) Is Jesus ‘abolishing’ the original teaching or is he doing something else with it? Q: What jumps out at you about these teachings?

RESPOND (10 mins)

Q: Is there anything you’ve been particularly challenged about? What do you think Jesus is telling you to do about it this week?

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Today we’re looking at the last three ‘you have heard that it was said... But I tell you...’ teachings. These have to do with the making of oaths/promises, responding rightly to those who do you harm, and cross-shaped principles for relating to all people.

READ: Matt 5: 33-48 (4 mins) There are 3 sections, so pick out 3 volunteers to read?

REFLECT (20 mins)

Oaths and Authenticity (vs 33-37) Q: What forms of oaths can you think of that people make from the play-ground to the court-room?

Q: Does making an oath/promise imply our normal speech is unreliable? Q: Does your yes mean yes and our no, no?

INTEGRITY & CROSS-SHAPED RELATIONSHIPS INTEGRITY & CROSS-SHAPED RELATIONSHIPS

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Retaliation and cheek-turning (vs 38-42) Q: Does turning the other cheek mean Jesus calls us to be the world’s doormats? Is this just a call to passively accepting evil? Q: Can you think of any powerful examples of non-violent resistance?

Loving Your Enemies (vs 43-48)

Q: Who did Jesus mean when he referred to our ‘enemies’? Q: Have you ever tried praying for your enemies? How did it feel? What were its fruits? Q: In what ways might we say the death and resurrection of Jesus exem-plify and empower these teachings?

RESPOND (15m) Below is a list of suggested practices you might like to try, in order to push into the territory of cross-shaped relationships. Don’t try to do them all at once. Why not pick one or two and focus on them properly for a period of time? Ask God to cause them to become holy habits in you.

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cross-shaped ‘relationshipping’: to do list!

□ Act of Random Kindness: Think of something special to do for someone, and

do it, out of the blue.

□ Love your Enemies: Pray to God for someone you dislike / struggle with for

five minutes each day this week, asking God to bless them and work for their good.

□ Give Away the Last Word: If there is someone you often argue with, how

about resolving this week to always allow them to say the last word. Instead of snapping back, why not take your anger/frustration to God. Chat freely to him about how this makes you feel and why. Ask him for his help to ‘die’ to your need to justify yourself, allowing him to justify you through his death and resurrection.

□ It’s Good to Talk: Set aside a hefty chunk of quality time, free from distractions

to really talk to a close friend, partner, or family member, about stuff that matters to you both.

□ Warm Welcome: Have a think about who you, or a group you’re a part of,

might be currently excluding others and resolve to invite them to join in or come along to something.

□ Forgiveness Audit: Get a blank sheet of paper and write down on it a list of

people or groups that have wronged/hurt you. Then go through each name on the list and ask God to help you forgive them, or at least to get there one day so that you can be truly free. Maybe he’ll prompt you to take some action off the back of this.

□ Encourage a friend: Have a think about your friends and family – who could

really do with an encouraging word right now? You could perhaps give them a card or take them out for breakfast, a walk, or a drink and tell them how and why the world’s a better place with them in it.

□ Thou shalt not slag off!: Declare this week to be a Gossip Free Zone, and re-

solve only to speak positively about people, saying nothing behind someone’s back that you wouldn’t say to their face.

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A Silent Prayer of Death and Resurrection The below is a simple way of placing difficult situations or relationships into the con-text of Jesus’ death and resurrection and asking for God’s help, power and direction. Each step is accompanied by a hand gesture. Don’t rush—you should take your time over each ‘movement’ of the prayer. Ask God to bless and protect you through the process before you begin. 1. Fists clenched Consider a relationship that is not all it could or should be. Picture it in your mind, and name it before God. 2. Hands face down As you unclench your fists and turn you palms downwards ‘let go’ of your hold on the situation. Picture the crucified Jesus, imagine your hands are his and have been pierced with nails. Imagine that you are laying this situation/person at the foot of the cross. Do not ‘dress it up’, explain or justify the situation; but instead simply ac-knowledge before God the pain and powerlessness of the situation, hold it before God in all its brokenness. 3. Hands open, palms upward Simply receive from God, imagine God is placing or pouring into your hands the power, patience, and peace needed to see things through. Be thankful in your heart, confident that God promises to be with you in the midst of this situation. 4. Hands raised upwards As you raise you hands slowly picture Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, your hands are now the hands of disciples raised in surprise, joy and celebration at seeing Jesus alive again beyond all hope. Thank him for the power of resurrection even in the midst of trouble and death and ask that he might bring that power to work in your situation. Now picture that situation/relationship transformed.

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Today we’re looking at the next section of Jesus’ teaching on what he re-fers to as the ‘acts of righteousness’, namely: giving, praying and fasting.

READ: Matt 6: 1-18 (5 mins)

REFLECT (50 mins)

Hiding the Spiritual Life

Q: In 5:16 Jesus told us: ‘let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father’. Why do you think he’s now saying that we should hide our ‘acts of righteousness’ (6:1)? What’s the difference?

Q: In chapter 5 the formula which linked the teachings was ‘You have heard that it was said... But I tell you...’. Can you spot a formula linking these three teachings too? Q: Jesus is essentially saying you can choose to ‘cash in’ these ‘acts of righteousness’ in one of two different bank accounts: an earthly one or a heavenly one. What are the pros and cons offered by these competing bank accounts?

A ‘Geeky Greek’ note from Phil: The New Living Translation of the Bible (which we use in church) uses the phrase ’good deeds’ in both 5:16 and 6:1. This is a bit unhelpful because actually Jesus uses two different words/phrases in the original Greek language. In 5:16 he uses the phrase ‘kala erga’ - literally ‘good/honourable works/deeds’, whereas in 6:1 he uses the phrase ‘dikaiosunen’ which means ‘righteous (perhaps religious) acts’. So it’s safe to say Jesus is making a distinction.

HIDDEN ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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Spiritual Practices

Of all the spiritual disciplines Jesus could have picked out, he selected these 3 for special attention: giving to the needy, praying and fasting. He takes for granted that his followers will do these things — it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but of ‘when’.

1. Giving to the needy (vs 2-4)

Q: What did Jesus mean when he said ‘don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’ (v 3)? (And does that mean giant novelty cheques are out?!)

2. Prayer (vs 5-15)

Q: What qualities does Jesus say should characterise our prayers? Q: Which part of the Lord’s Prayer resonates with you most?

3. Fasting (vs 16-18)

Q: Have you had any experience of fasting (e.g. giving up something for Lent)? What’s the point of it? And what might this practice look like in our lives? Please note: sometimes people who may have struggled with eating disorders need to think carefully about fasting, and may need to focus on fasting things other than food (e.g. TV, caffeine, other luxuries etc.)

RESPOND (5m)

Q: Is there anything from this week you feel you particu-larly need to take on board or put into practice?

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Many people these days don’t appear to believe in heaven, but this may include many Christians in that although we may sign up to the ‘doctrine’ (belief) of heaven, our lives can tell a different story. When it comes down to it, we invest a lot of time and energy in acquiring worldly securities (mortgages, savings, material wealth, status and influence etc.), rather than desperately throwing as much energy and resource as possi-ble into purchasing shares in heaven!

READ: Matt 6: 19-34 (15 mins)

Exercise: What do you carry around with you about your

person? What would a detective deduce was important to you based on these objects?

REFLECT (30 mins)

Q: Read vs19-21 again. What is Jesus arguing is the advantage of invest-ing your savings in a heavenly bank account rather than an earthly one? Q: Jot down in bullet points below what you think a human life would look like if all its treasure was being banked in heaven. Then share with the group.

INVESTING IN HEAVEN

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Q: If Jesus claims it is impossible to ‘serve both God and money’ (v24), is it possible for Christianity to survive (let alone thrive) in a materialistic and consumerist society like ours?

Do Not Worry (vs25-34) Q: Looking at the stats, anxiety is pretty epidemic in the West. Isn’t that odd given that we’re probably one of the most materially ‘secure’ socie-ties in history? Q: How are worrying and insecurity linked? Q: Jesus’ command not to worry seems easier said than done. What ad-vantage does Jesus say there is to worrying? And on what grounds does he claim we can stop worrying about worldly things?

RESPOND (15m) My Worry List Write down below a list of the things that you worry about most in life before committing them prayerfully to God.

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In many ways Christianity is all about relationship. Right relationship with God, our neighbour, our own self, and the material world. Sin warps and destroys these relationships, but Jesus came to make a way for them to be restored. Today we’re looking at some basic but radical principles which Jesus taught his disciples and asked them to build into the commu-nity he was establishing.

READ: Matt 7:1-6 (5 mins)

REFLECT (30 mins)

Do Not Judge (vs1-2)

Q: In what ways do we judge others?

Q: What do you think Jesus means when he says that ‘the measure we use will be used to measure us’?

Start With Yourself (vs3-5) Q: ‘It’s human nature to assume that if there’s a prob-lem, the problem is more them than me’. Discuss!

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITY

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Q: What is Jesus saying should always be the starting point when it comes to rooting out sin in community?

Take Care with the Precious Things of the Soul (v6) Q: What do you think Jesus is referring to when he speaks of pearls here? Q: In what ways can we give what is holy to dogs? Q: In what ways can we avoid trampling the precious things of the soul which others give to us?

RESPOND (15m) Q: What concrete practices could we adopt so that... 1. We stop looking at the world through a lens of judge-mentalism? 2. We break our ‘speck-obsession’ and start with our plank? 3. We tread gently with the sacred things of our soul and others?

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Today we’re looking at Jesus teaching about the attitude of seeking God that should characterise the Jesus life. Our Father wants to be found and to bless us! This should lead us to love our brothers and sisters too.

READ: Matt 7:7-12 (4 mins)

REFLECT (30 mins)

An Active Faith (vs7-8)

Q: In verses 7-8 Jesus tells us the spiritual life is active not passive, and lists three verbs (action words). What are they and what might they look like if we were to do these in our lives?

Q: What does Jesus promise will be the fruit of this kind of action?

Praying to Our Father (vs 9-11) Q: On what does basis does Jesus say we can pray confidently to God?

FINDING LIFE

1. ____________ -

2. ____________ -

3. ____________ -

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Q: How do you think this fits in with the experience of “unanswered” prayer?

The Golden Rule (v 12) This profound little verse is often called ‘the golden rule’. Jesus says ‘This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets’ (i.e. The Old Testament) Q: Since this simple rule is in some ways so obvious and logical, why do you think we find it so hard to follow? Q: How are the verses about our Father and this verse linked? (clue: re-member the Great Commandment!)

RESPOND (15m)

Get into pairs and take it in turns to ask the other person the simple but profound question: ‘what do you want?’ Keep asking the question as you journey more deeply into our strongest hopes and desires. Q; In what ways have these deep heart-yearnings caused us to ‘ask, seek and knock’ in positive ways, and in what ways negative? Spend some time committing these things to God in prayer and asking that he might take them and use them to fuel a closer walk with him, and in the process find life in all its fullness.

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As he draws to the close of his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us how to avoid building our lives on false foundations and how instead to con-struct lives around his teaching.

READ: Matt 7:13-29 (3 mins)

REFLECT (30 mins)

The narrow gate and broad highway (vs13-14)

Q: What is your response to these verses?

The below quotation is from a fictional account in which one devil is giv-ing advice to another in a letter.

Q: How might it actually be in Satan’s interests to keep us lazy and con-tented, thinking we’re ‘mostly good’?

FIRM OR FALSE FOUNDATIONS

“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the ex-tent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [i.e. God]. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumula-tive effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. In-deed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, with-out signposts “

CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

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This picture is of an advertisement placed on London buses by the British Humanist Association in 2008. Maybe

there are buses on the ‘broad way’!

How to Spot a False Prophet (vs15-20)

Q: What are ‘false prophets’ and why do people follow them? Q: What’s the litmus test that Jesus gives us for discerning one?

Building on Firm Foundations (vs 21-29)

Q: What mistake have the ‘Lord-Lorders’ of v21 fallen into? Q: Anyone got an example of some ‘sandy real estate’ they’ve been hoodwinked into believing and building on in the past? Q: If someone were to look at our lives what ‘words’ would they say we’ve built them on?

RESPOND (15m)

Q: Looking back over the whole sermon on the mount what has spoken to you most powerfully and called you to live differently? How can you put this into practice and so build these teachings into your lifestyle?

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NOTES

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Last updated: 3/12/2014