Dust of the Rabbi In-Depth Study for Session 2

Walking with the RabbiDay by DayIn-Depth Personal Study Sessions

Day One I How Do You Follow God ?I

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Our Father in beauen, ballotued be your nant,e, ))our kingdoyr-t. conl,e,

your uill be done on eartb as it is in beauen. Giue us today our dailybread. Forgiue us our debts, as we also baue forgiuen our debtors. Andlead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from tbe euil one.

Matthew6:9-li

What Did lt Mean to Follow God?

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segment at 0mrit, the temple Herod built

..;,,,in.1:h0n0'r.. 0f .the1,;R0rna ,efiP,dror, Eoes tb the heart of what it means to be

''l. uisiiple. .;i'.iesu$''- hbw dor you follow God? we know that Jesus spent

;,,: !Gsf$,,''teaching'and:,,showin-g his disciples how to follow God, but we may not

'',,.,iearile,,. rr,ofi.iiuCial.,a,., *iilUn'this was' tor -tews at the time. How to follow....0 ou Wii d, f.rignlv ohn;1 fi,,fdbic consioer just a few of the varied ways that

. J0*g.iorrffi G;'d'duri'ngthe:time of Jesus and his disciptes:

' Paul Follawed God

.'.,.5;;1',liii;i'ilili#ld p;ri)::*u* an exceptionat student of the scriptures. He

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Wai'i nigfiii: q#iif ed'#ffi Wno had stuoieo under Gamatiet, one of the

i':greate$ Anbient $a0e$,..,.hnd.,,,,,.leader of the Hillel school. So Paul knew Scrip-

.,,,.,,tule,.,wa$ tiai:nbd in.tlr,B',,.rabbi.,hic system, flfld was absolutely con-vlnced,that',.the..wat,ib"*oliq*,G'ou Wis lo purrecute the early Christians. It-took a divine

,,$'H'-Unidi.Withleius'(Which must have happened just down the road from

.ffrA ,iAmpie at 0miiii:,for Paut to recognize his blindness and open his eyes to"THE,WORSHt*tp sON OF A WORSHtpED GOD'

continued on nert page " . .

,....,"obegi.:hi$i:raib'bltbiteaihi.h$..,0n :how to follow God wa$ to take 0n "the yoke of

i Torahl' {see .M:atthew 1;1:28'=30)

i'.:$0"t b',,.FlHafisee$ ,had,,'im:U,ltiple pUrp0ses in mind when they asked Jesus

.'dbililt,ffitnbi0i nat tO sive tribute to,Ciesur (Matth ew Z2:1b- 2zl. They

]ffiho$'ihg he'W0uld'$d$,$bmbthin0 they could use against him before the'Hffi'0r',ternnle',.auth0,dfiBs,But

Fart 0f rwhat

they were asking was where

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"Hdff,' O,you follOWl,God?" question. They wanted to

' kno* who$e.,iiUb:he,WfiS],Unt.,io$u$, wnO iinew ttre hearts of his questioners

i.ti,,i,,afidithe.1hgAql .of..h;s;rne$$406', gave an amazing response that silenced his

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Sible Discovery

Follow God and God Alone

Jesus' response to the question of whether of not one should paytribute to Caesat which meant to acknowledge the emperor's divinesuperioriry communicated a powerful message toJesus' disciples as

well as to his critics. (See Matthew 22:18- 21.) t$t/ithout exactly say-

ing so, Jesus cleady communicated that Caesar was not God! Whywas this important? The sovereign lordship of God as eternal kingwas the fundamental premise of everything thatJesus taught! God'sexclusive authority has always been the reason for following himand obeying him in everything.'WhenJesus taught, he often used the phrase "the kingdom ofheaven." In Scripture, this phrase can refer to paradise or the lifeto come, but it also had a special meaning for theJews inJesus' daythat related to following God. You will better understand how to fol-low God if you understand howJesus used this phrase to communi-cate to his audience.

1. The kingdom of heaven concept originated wtreg g,9q deliv-\ered the Israelites from the Egyptians. Even the Egyptihnsrecognized God's power at work in the plagues upon Egypt(Exodus 8:19). In Exodus 19:3 -8, God reminded the people

of how he had acted in power to deliver them from Egyptand cleady stated what he expected of them.

\f/hat kind of kingdom did God say they would be if theyobeyed him? S[rhat did the people agree to do?

.What were

they accepting and affirming by agreeing to obey?

2. Vhat did the Israelites do after they crossed the Red Sea andsaw the Egyptian army s\nrept away? $t/hat conclusion hadthey reached about God's power? How did they acclaim hisrule? (See Exodus 14:29 - 75:18.)

3. It is one thing to see God's po\ /er and acclaim his ruleo butit is another to accept his rule in one's own life. The Jewswho remembered the exodus would take on obedience tothe kingdom of heaven by seeking to obey God in all thingsso that his reign would become a rcality in their lives. Mosesrirst expressed this allegiance in Deuteronomy 6:4 - 12.

In what ways were the Israelites to obey God and therebymake God's kingdom a rcality on earth?

4. How do we know that allegiance to the kingdom of heavenas expressed in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) was verymuch on the minds of religious Jews in Jesus' day? (See MarkT2:28 - 34.)

How was God's great power revealed in Jesus' ministry? (See

Luke 11:20")

How did the people acclaim Jesus? Is acclamation enough?(See Matthew 7:2I -23.)

\[rhat else is required to show allegiance to the kingdom ofheaven? (See Matthew 7:2L.)

5. How essential do you thinkJesus considers obedience to bein the kingdom of heaven? (See Matthew 2L:28 - 32.) Nfhatdoes this understanding of the kingdom of heaven-lequire o(you? - " o '; i J

Reflection

Most likely you are familiar with the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew6:9 - 13 (also Luke 1L:.2 * 4). Possibly you have even memorized it.Read this ptayff again (preferably aloud), and focus on the meaningof its individual phrases in light of what the disciples would haveunderstood about the kingdom ofheaven:

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Remember, there is a connection between doing God's will andthe coming of his kingdom: God's kingdom comes as his willis done. Vhat is our pafi in this process? '$0/hat must you do inyour life in order for God's kingdom to come?

Now read the prayer again and focus on the meaning of its indi-vidual phrases in your life and your walk with God. Vhat areyou affirming as you read? To what are you making a, commit-ment? Sflhat do you desire to see happen as you pray this prayer?

In what wrys is this pra\rer a model for following God in yourdaily life?

.DID'Y0U KNOW?

How to Experience the Kingdom of Heauen

r Rscognize God,and Fod alone as sovereign Lord.o, ,Accept his reign by,obeVing him in all things.

,i.,, Establish the kingdom of heaven by doing his will.

DayTWo I f ollow the Rabb! tc Become Like'the Rabbi

The Wery Wwrds mf ffimd

A student is not aboue bis teaclter, but eueryone ubo is fully trainedu.till be like bis teacber.

Luke 6:40

Bible Discovery

Follow ta Become: The Core of Discipleship Training

The relationship between a first-century rabbi and his disciples wasunique. It was very intense and personal-like a dynamic father/sonrelationship. As a disciple followed his rabbi, he would get to knowhim as well or better than his own family. In time, the walk of thedisciple would become like the walk of his rabbi.

1. Each of the following passages describes some aspect ofwhat it meant to followJesus. Read each one and carefullynote whatJesus expected his "disciples-in-training" to doand be.

a. Mark 3:13 - 19

b. Mark 8:34 - 35

c. Matthew 19:21 - 30

FACT FILE

what Jesus'Meant when He $aid, "Follow Me!,,. .,'. .,.

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'The Sre€k,wafa axatilitigin (based on the Hebrew to "walk after"), which

, ,aFPBars m0re than eighty-five times in the New Testament, captures the c6m-' nand a ianni WoulO giVdt0 a poteniial disCiple. lt was an invitation to join himwherever he went and especially to do whatever he did. As the disciples fol-

lb@JeSus, thet Waked hundreds of miles and faced danger, difficulty, and

. OFposition, Often they did not know where they were going, hgw long it would

,,,tflker how difficult it would be, or whether they could do it. Through everything,

'theV needed to learn to:'tffi their rabbi with their lives without being able to

, ,.0vhlUate,their -.iapabilitl4 to do what he asked. They needed to believe that her',knbw Wher:e he was leading, had a purpose in doing s0, and would never lead."the:m

lnto a Situation tnat they, by God's grace, cguld not handle.i.,r. , ..

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2- People responded to Jesus in different wAys, and many wereunwilling to follow him. Read Luke 9:57 - 6Z and note thekinds of obstacles that prevented some people from follow-ing Jesus. In what way do these obstacles still trip up poten-tial disciples?

b. How did Jesus respond to their faithfulness and success?

How might Jesus respond whenever a disciple follows,obeys, and becomes more like him?

4. Despite their human failings, Jesus' disciples eventuallybecame very much like their Rabbi. They walked as hewalked, and when they were fully trained, they became likehim. Read Acts 4:5 - 13; 5:I2 - 16 andlist the ways the dis-ciples had become like their Rabbi.

3" The point of followingJesus, as expressed in l John 2:3 -6,is to obey and learn to walk as Jesus walked to becomelike him. So part of the disciples' training included goingout to preach the kingclom of God just as Jesus had done.Jesus sent out the twelve as well as a larger group of seventy-two followers. Read about their experiences in Luke 9:L - 6;1o:1 -9, 17 -2o.

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a- $flhat happened to Jesus' followers after t6ey went r.rito do what he had prepared and trained them to do? Inwhat ways were they becoming like Jesus?

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:',,,,Alth0ugh.il6$.u,$,':..l$l Ot:,,With:.U$.iih,,,thb flesh as he was with the twelve disciples,

,.,,,.hiS.:0*pqitfitififi::lfd.ill,fi9.l:t'U,,:'fb1id l.nift, walk with him, and become like him has

,,,:.n0t.chan$eil.l.l0un$|il6,ri' me,,of'tho,ways in which we can spend time walking

.,.,.',.,fiith.,:'JASU' l..ff,fif Indilfii'.'iO;thatlwe can',",,neeome like him. The following ideas

:::.'.,I' .,,,:$p0'nd time,:Wiih' 6;5 [od,y, the community of faith....'.'r,' .i',Kde'[''*nt,,images' oftrb* iaiui walred fresh in your mind by reading the:..r :'::.:.' r:!:r:.:: .: : .

i,..,,.,. ,:.;|i,,Go$[et$.,|egu,terly,-fi'bfhaps once a month for the rest of your life.r'.,''.f. ,', fi6aU.i5r. ehtiie''Bib'te'eVery trrree vears-0r more frequenily. (The Bible..,. r:.....,,:..,:.:,r.:::::j:: .. :. .,: ...,

.':.....''...;...'..'.'i.part'.0fbec0:rn'in'$.like.'':.JesUs'}'.i'.

,." f" ffiemoitib'as, muiH,',.$.iliiiiiii,,,lll lu iin. iou might start by memorizing

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Vhat must be an absolute priority in a disciple's life if he orshe is to obeyJesus' command to "follow me?" Are you willingto accept his call, without knowing what such obedience willentail? $[hy or why nor?

Have you ever followed anyone with total trust? If so, what wasit like ? what challenges do you face in seeking to trust and fol-low Jesus completety?

If you were to use the amount of time you spend in the Wordof God as the measure of your commitment to being a disciple,how committed are you to following Jesus and becoming likehim?

In what ways might you expect to change - in your heart, inyour life, in your relationships with others - if you were to makebecoming like Jesus your top priority? How would your life bedifferent if you were to become more like Jesus?

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.,:FR0F{,E.'...gpt',,,:, ,.:.',PE0PLE wHO WEnr DETERMINED T0

','Je$us: greW..'..,U i.,..i.a.fid,i.,,$beht',his ministry am0ng the most religious Jews in

;i'ithe'ffiilfffiit'$aiil e S.,,Were known tor the;f $r:eat reverence for Scripture and

;]thei ',$il$$lonate oesire,.tb .bc,,.fai+hfui. .to if ix every aspect of daily life. The

'''$'fiA iHl$fi,,Geiiii ,:' dff,'b'Ifiiliuie':,6u *[mor,y, debated its apprication with

Bnthusiasm,,lorred God with all their heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy

,:.,6i5),, and,trained their children to do the same. Their great desire to follow

i...Gdil tf ffid,intd $ibiant religious Communities whose synagogues echoed

ii.ii'trvltH.....flbbat $,,'dnd,,'di$Cu$$ibn$.,'about keeping the Torah. As a result, Galilee

,,i i$ilUfi fi.,..,.ffifii$,'.ffib [.' iUb61$. ihah any otrrer resion in the wortd.

i,. .,JesUS'..fit.,.int :,tni$:.CUit r^e, perfectly. God had prepared an environment where

.., hi$. ,hew'fi.fi Uffi'eht;.,6U,'|n6:, frbvioeo exacily the context Jesus needed in

' Whilh to ffiifiH#eiiaUe ot ttre kingoom of heaven. The spirituat cutture

;,, 01 ,Gfllile0.U|.$0':..he,llp$,,l.Us undeibtand the great faith and courage of Jesus'

i'i ,ili$:dl$t6 :,ffiU$,+6ilft'fibius' messagU,to the:wortd. Their courage, methods,t.r.U,fid.,..cfi l.etgl...fie ti.dn.',to'.G,ou,[ d,,his, Word:were born and cultivated in the

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DayThree I

I

Walk in Cbedience

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If you loue me, you uill obey ubat I command. . . . If a.nyone loues me,

be will obey my teacbing. My Father usill loue bim, and oue will come tobim and make our bome with bim.

John l4:l 5, 23

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Is 0bedience Absol utely Necessaryl

God gives us salvation by grace alone ; no amount of obedience canevef earn it for us. But that doesn't mean obedience is not necessafy

for those who love God and call themselves his disciples. The fol-lowing study of Scripture will help those who want to walk withJesus put obedience in its rightful perspective.

GoO, is a *A$edy.

1. You're akeady familiar with it, but take one more look atl John 2:3 -6. Do yotl see any way that obedience andwalk-ing as Jesus walked can be thought of as optional for a dis-ciple ofJesus? tVhat is the identifying mark of aperson whotruly follows Jesus?

2. Jesus not only taught obedience to God, he also lived it. ReadJohn 8:28 - 3l and note what Jesus said rcgarding his ownobedience in action and in words.

a" $i/hat did Jesus do and say, and what was the result in hisrelationship with God?

b- What did Jesus teach those who believed in him aboutobedience to his teachings? Vhat do you think we canexpect when we obey his teachings and please theFather in all things? ,'\'\

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3" 'We tend to underestimate the importance of obedience inthe life of a follower ofJesus. In whatways do the followingpassages contradict that assumption?

a. Read Luke 6:46 - 49.$/hat question does Jesus ask, andin what tone do you think he asked it? What did he say

obedience is like, and what does it accomplish? Vhat arethe results when obedience is lacking?

b. Read John 14:19 - 24. Vho does Jesus say loves him?In this passlge,Jesus explains much about obedience,relationships, and the results. $flhat relationships existamong Jesus, the Father, obedience, and love? (Theserelationships are so intenelated it might be helpful todiagram them so you clearly see the picture Jesus pre-sented.)

c. ReadJohn L5:9 - 11. \flhat are the results of obedience?Describe in terms of the wodd you live in how differentlife would be if you walked in obedience - or did not.

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Think about your understanding of obedience in the Christianlife. To what extent is obedience emphasized in the Chfrstihncommunity in which you are involved? $f/hat is it you have beentaught to obey and why? In wh at way might your understanding

-T.!irl

of what obedience is, its importance, and what it requires differfrom what you have just explored in the Scriptures?

What happens when a person's faith practice is based solely onknouing the right things instead of also doing the right thingson the right path?

James 2:L4 - 26 can be a confusing passage for Christians today.

How does understanding the context of discipleship as Jesustaught it help clarify the meaning of this passage for you?

How serious is youf personal commitment to "walk as Jesuswalked? In what specific u/ays does your walk need to followhis more closely? Nflhat are you looking forward to as you takethose steps?

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If you loue rne, you uill obey ubat I command. . . . If a,nyone loues me,

be utill obey my teacbing. My Fatber uill loue bim, and ute usill come to

him and make oLtr bome witlt bim.

John l4:t 5, 23

Day Four l whar was Peter Th in king ?I

Yfue Werp Wmrds mf ffimd

"rord, if it's ?ou," Peter replied, "tell me to come to jlou on tbe rD,ter.,,"Comer" I)e said.Tben Peter got down out of tlte boat, watked on tbe r.uater and came

totuard.fesus.

Motthew t4:29-29

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Pushing the Limits sf Devotion

You don't have to know much about the disciples to know the storyof Petef's nighttime walk with Jesus on the sea of Galilee. chancesare you've heard a vafiety of explanations as to what happenedthat night and the lessons learned. But let's look at this story againthrough the eyes of a talmid who is completely devoted to becom-ing like his Rabbi and has a consuming passion to follow him wher-ever he goes.

1' Read Mark 5:45 - 50 andJohn 6:18 - lg. This event happenedimmediately afterJesus fed the five thous and. Scripturaldetails and historical tradition indicate that the Oisciptesprobably started their boat ride west of Bethsaida in the gen-eral vicinity of Capernaum.

a" $irhat do you imagine the mood of the disciples was asthey started out toward Bethsaida? what might they havetalked about? what might they have been thinking aboutJesus and why he was nor with them? In what ways doyou think their frame of mind might have changed dur-ing the night?

b. Vhat is the only recorded activity that Jesus did withouthis disciples [hint: it's described here] , andwhat doesthis reveal about the Rabbi's commitment to his talmi-dim and the need for time alone with God?

c. For how long did the disciples row before Jesus went outto them? (Norn: The "fourth watch" is between 3 and 6a.m.) What had Jesus been doing as the disciples strug-gled on the sea?

d. How did the disciples react when they first saw Jesus?How might their location (on the abyss) as \Mell as theirdifficulties during the storm have intensified theirresponse? If you had been in the boat, what would youhave been thinking about following the Rabbi at thatmoment?

Read Matthew T4:26 - 33. Keep in mind that rhe discipleswere probably not at their best when Jesus showed up.Sfithin a few hours they had seen Jesus perform an amazingmiracle, spent hours fowing in heavy seas, faced grave dan-ger in the storm, and thought they had seen a ghost" So we

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can assume that they were physically, mentally and emotion-ally exhausted.

a. How much do you think Peter thought about what hewas going to do before he did it? What does this tell youabout what was most importantto him?

b. 'What do you think motivated Peter to take the action hedid? What in the text indicates that this was his motiva-tion? How badly did he wanr to be like Jesus?

c. If you had talked to Peter eadier in the day, do you thinkhe would have said that he could walk on water?'What,then, enabled him to do it?

d. What do you think caused Peter to doubt? In what did helose confidence?

e. After things calmed down, how did Jesus' tatmidimrespond? How do you think this event affected theirwalk with God? .\'\.\

DATA FILE:

,Fi$hin$ 0n the $ea of Galilee

,.This fie$hWater lake in northeastern lsrael is nearly thirteen miles long, more

,,,ihan.$eVdn,,'111iles wide, and up t0 four hundred feet deep" lt is fed by the Jor-

,,,,, afi Ri*.6r:..and runoff from winter snow, and even today remains a key source

::,bf ff0$h'',WAtdrr for,l$fael. The water's surface is seven hundred feet below

rr$:e4,,.feVel,,but most of the lake is surrounded by steep hills. 0n the east side

,',{tO,Aeyib.,,60'un Heights), the hills rise up to fifteen hundred feet above sea

IeVCl,"Whdh Weather conditions are right, this topography can create sudden,

severe storms 0n the Sea of Galilee.

,Th, ie stoims' only added to the reputation of the Sea of Galilee during New

,ife$tAmeint,times as being a place of evil and chaos. Traditionally, the Jews

, have fe,alred the sea as a symbol of the abyss, the place where evil spirits live.

,.,,,S0;r,.,althbilgh fish were plentiful, fishing was not a major industry at that time.

,,:,Tfii[$, ,fiU|tural ,background helps us better understand the disciples' reaction

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,,WhehJd$u.$ stilled the storm (Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 4:35-41). lt may

,,,rhlsO,:0X0lain why even today this lake remains free of piers, condominiuffis,

E,SEA OF GALILEE AND ThtE GOLAN HEIGHTS (THE DECAPOLIS. .:..:. II{ JESUS'PAY} AS SEEN FROM THE HILLS ABOVE CAPERNAUM

continued on next page . . "

fld resorts'lhat Are typicatly found around beautiful lakes in other parts of

Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee today still catch the same kinds of fish anduse

lh::ume types of nets and small boats that the disciptes woutd have

used A fiist century@'iecently discover.ed in the mud of the Sea of Galileei$'tWffiyjsix feetLofi$'.dnd seien and a half feet wide, and would have had asmalt'saiiano oais, Ttre $i ei' of these small boats are low to make it easierfor fishermen to cast their nets over the edg; il il ,iur back in. Wavesdo not have to be high to threaten a boat's occupants.

A.'.REP[ICA OF A FIRST-CENTURY FISHING BOAT

fteflection

scripture reveals that the disciples rowed quite a distance in thestorm-at least three miles eohn 6:19; Mark 6:45).Why_do you i IthinkJesus allowed them to struggle so long andhard{'' '1 , r

Have you evef been "rowing against the wind" in youf attemptto follow Jesus? tVhat did you think Jesus \Mas doing while youstruggled? How does this event in the lives of Jesus' discipleschange your perception of what rnight be happening when youface difficulties?

'$[hat do you think all twelve talmidim learned that night aboutthe effort and commitment required to be like their Rabbi? Howbadly did they want to be like Jesus after that night?

In which area(s) do you fear that you are unable to follow yourRabbi? Does that stop you from trying? Vhy or why not?

.What

do you believe Jesus is willing to do if you take that risky step?

Sfin you take it? W"ill you get out of the boat?

I

Day Five I Ma ke Ta lm id imI

Yhe Wwry Wwwds mf ffimd

All autltority in heauen and on eartb bas been giuen to ma Therefore

go and rnake disciples of all nations, baptizing tbem in tbe name of tbe

Fatber and of tbe Son and of tbe Holy Spirit, and teacbing them to obey

euerything I baue commanded you. And surely I arn tuitlt you ahua.ys,

to tbe uery end of tbe age"

Matthew 28:18 - 20

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The cliscipXes were in Jerusalem when jesus was crucified and rosefrcm the dead, trut before jesus ascended into heaven he had themwalk back to Galilee. Ttrlere, offi tnae sa{T}e hills abcve the Sea of

Galilee where he had taught them how to be disciples, Jesus com-

missioned them to make disciples. Then, he had them walk back

to Jeruselem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. So

even during these last preparatory events, the disciples were still\r{ralking in obedience to their Rabbi. Once their preparution was

complete, they would walk even farther!

1. Read Matthew 28:16-20.

a. As Jesus commissioned his disciples to make disciples,

what impact do you think the setting in Galilee had onthem? What do you think they remembered of theirtraining experiences in the area? How might that settinghave encouraged them in their future ministry?

b. 'W'here did Jesus tell his talmidim to go? How much trav-

eling had the disciples done up to that time? \flhat do

you think they thought when Jesus told them where tomake disciples?

c. W'hat four things did Jesus command the disciples to do?

What is significant, in light of thetionship, about Jesus' final words:be with them?

Rabbi /talmidirn reLL-

that he would alwaysd.

WHAT DO.YOU.THINK? :

Why did J-eslls.c0mmand his disciples t0, "G0 and make disciptes? " He couldh-ave told them,.to ,rnake,converts or church members, t0 do evangelism, 0rthe like, ls there,a-difference, between a Christian and a disciple of Jesus?

boe* ii;;;* * ;*il; *r;'ch,irtians today have ,rr.nrr*en the discipre-ship p;art of Jesus'-eommission? What has happened to our desire:

' To follow Jesu$, the,Rabbi and Bassionately seek to become like him?r ,, To immerte ourselves in Scripture?.,, ,T0

:Se ek ini.,tire ot,:tnb SpiriiZc T.0,teach and live, as,if ,the,kingdom of heaven is near?

B'y i"fi;b i0 b i", , ho* *uch of Ure tf,rill of being part of God,s greatwoik'are We misSinrg?

'

2- Although he was not one of the disciples who walked withJesus through the hills and villages of Galilee, paul wascertainly a talmid. He had two rabbis - the great Gamalieland the greatest of all,Jesus. Read 1 Corinthians 4:L6 - 17;11:1 -2; Philippians 3:I7 -20; and 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 andnotice how Paul taught those who followed him. Vhat didhe say over and over again? Why did he ask believers to dothis?

To help establish in your mind the biblical model for makingdisciples, list all of the u/ays in which Paul imitared his Rabbias he poured his life into making disciples.

''....W0RTH'.0BsERUlNG'..l,.'.'''''

,,,,,M,a,king.,Disciples the First-Gentury Way

::i::i-les:us' disciples wentout'flild made disciples just as Jesus had taught them.

irl,b tCii$tilia'i' iatbia .Ai,thAii *ork helps us see the practicat side of the

;:;,:,:

pf0ce$s,.,,,,,,:N0te',what, ea0l-t of these passages reveals about the process of

,..'1"ffi.'bli'l'i Filitirting ihe'ministry of the word of God by making dis-

'..'''....''[1il;iffi.didn.niioiiu:.'..:..ii.'-tffit$'til 28ffhet hot onlV continued teaching, they strengthened

l,;,,,,,,,,1:,:,,;,,',,,,tlfld,,Bflcouraged.disciples to remain true to the faith.*lffi+ 8ri,ffinbV taught, 'nototy and faithfutly, in this case, teaching

" ," deiltiibrffib.,VeaiSl ' ,.'" " , ,'

'".t'.i',ilct$'2i'li 5'r'16''ufhey- CaieO for and supported one another.

ffimffimsff$mm

Jesus' disciples had to choose to follow him and learn the pathof discipleship before they could go out and make disciples. It isno different for those who would be Jesus' disciples today.

.We

can make disciples on$ when we are disciples. Are you willingto be a disciple of Jesus?

In light of how Jesus prepared his disciples for ministry, whatis God doing in your life to preparc you to make disciples? Howclosely are you walking in his steps? Is your preparation suffi-cient that you should be making disciples? S[hy or why not?

Think about what it would look like to be a talmid of Jesus inyour wodd. what does becoming a disciple involve?

How must your life change if you truly dedic ate yourself tobeing like Jesus the Rabbi?

Sfhat is required for you to make disciples who will becorne likeJesus as they imitate you?

How committed are you to going into your world and makingdisciples? Ttrhy?

I ,..,,-*-_;.u-'.r ,'.,,i;.' "l.ir,'''.1+ . r . r

',THE W-1t00[I 1OF.THE RABB lSrOo.nffinru"wif4fuUmiinni or die without a disciple.i., ."r: ",-.:i..r.".'.," , I ,.'t,.

Memorize

Follotu my example, as I foilotu tbe ercample of Cbrist. I pralse you forremembering nxe in eaerytbtng andfor bording to tbe teacrrings,Just asI passed tbem on to you.

- { . : i }

1 Corinthians I l:I -2