UP-IN-OUT DISCIPLESHIP › wp-content › uploads › ...Discipleship is a process, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other. WHAT TO EXPECT. 2 A DISCIPLE is to love God

UP-IN-OUT DISCIPLESHIPA Guide for Community Groups

B O O K L E T 1 O F 4

WHAT TO EXPECT

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Page 3 — UP: The major branch for a disciple loving God

Page 5 — BIBLING: Mental branch #1 of loving God

Page 9 — BATTLING: Mental branch #2 of loving God

Page 13 — REVERING: Emotional branch #1 of loving God

Page 17 — ENJOYING: Emotional branch #2 of loving God

Page 21 — ASSESSMENT: Collect and submit your responses

This is booklet 1 of 4 in the UP-IN-OUT Discipleship series. The goal is to move you one step further into 4 of the 20 branches of discipleship. The remaining booklets will cover the remaining branches. Discipleship is a process, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

WHAT TO EXPECT

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A DISCIPLE is to love God and love people. There is a distinction between people in the church and people in the world, so we summarize the life of a disciple as UP (loving God), IN (loving the church), and OUT (loving the world). Discipleship is the process of growing these major branches of love.

UP LOVINGGOD

IN LOVINGTHE CHURHOUT

LOVING THE WORLD

UP

3

Mark 12:28-30 says, “‘What commandment is the foremost of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’”

1. What might be the motivation behind the question Jesus was asked?

2. The one prescribed action is to “love”. Why might Jesus have singled out “love”?

3. The term “love” is widely defined by culture today. What would you say is commonly meant when someone says they “love” someone else?

UP

4

4. Jesus gives definition to loving God. Include the words “mental” and “emotional” as you summarize His response.

5. The term “heart” includes your affections. Name some affections involved in loving the Lord.

6. Talk about the significance of the term “all” appearing 5 times in the passage.

Jesus essentially said to love the Lord with everything you’ve got. Don’t withhold anything from Him. The following pages will help you explore specific branches to grow UP in this love. Pray that the Lord will further develop you for His glory.

UP

5

BIBLING

On a scale of 1 (not very) to 10 (very) how true of you is the following statement?

I am BIBLING by intentionally feeding my mind with Scripture. _____

UP

MENTAL

Bibling

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BIBLING

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

1. “Inspired” means God-breathed. How might this affect your view of Scripture?

2. If “all” Scripture is inspired, respond to someone who says that the red letters (words of Jesus) in the Bible are more important than the black letters.

3. What “profit” is there to the parts of the Old Testament some would consider boring?

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4. If “correction” is profitable, how should you respond to someone who confronts your sin?

5. What does “training” imply about the commitment required in BIBLING?

6. What might prevent the Scripture from equipping us “for every good work”?

Intentionally feeding your mind with Scripture (i.e., BIBLING) is essential to aligning your life with the mind of God. When you proactively nourish your mind with the word of God you are mentally growing UP. But how do you do this?…

Brainstorms for BIBLING• Pray — Ask God to give you a growing hunger for His word.• Read — Reflect on the depiction of God’s word as described

in Psalm 119.• Listen — Find sermons to listen to while driving or exercising.• Discuss — Meet a friend for coffee or lunch to talk about

your BIBLING.• What brainstorms can you think of for BIBLING?

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From your brainstorms, customize a BIBLING growth plan. Be specific — consider when and where you will do what. Be realistic — don’t over commit; just take ONE step. Be accountable — tell someone your plan.

UP

9

BATTLING

On a scale of 1 (not very) to 10 (very) how true of you is the following statement?

I am BATTLING against feeding my mind with unholy thoughts. _____

UP

MENTAL

Bibling

Battling

10

BATTLINGRomans 8:5-6 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

1. List some common behaviors that exemplify “the things of the flesh”.

2. Describe the outlook of those who “set their minds” on particular behaviors.

3. How do you explain the relationship between your “mind” and your behavior?

4. The mind is a battlefield for the flesh against the Spirit. How often would you expect a Christian’s mind to experience this battle?

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5. Why are the consequences of a fleshly mind so severe — ”death”?

6. Describe a situation in your life where you really feel the battle for your mind?

BATTLING against feeding your mind with unholy thoughts is essential to aligning your life with the mind of God. When you proactively fight this battle you are mentally growing UP. But how do you do this?…

Brainstorms for BATTLING• Pray — Confess the battle to God in prayer.• Read — Reflect on the battle depicted in James 4:1-10.• Bounce — Train your eyes to quickly shift from unhealthy

images or texts.• Unplug — Turn off the device that’s feeding you filth. And

maybe get rid of it!• What brainstorms can you think of for BATTLING?

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From your brainstorms, customize a BATTLING growth plan. Be specific — consider when and where you will do what. Be realistic — don’t over commit; just take ONE step. Be accountable — tell someone your plan.

UP

13

REVERING

On a scale of 1 (not very) to 10 (very) how true of you is the following statement?

I am REVERING the Lord, meaning His character amazes me. _____

UP

MENTAL

BiblingBattling

EMOTIONAL

Revering

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REVERINGPsalm 33:8 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”

1. Compare/Contrast “fear” (reverence) of the Lord with fear of bad news or of a difficult situation.

2. Describe the spiritual posture of those who “stand in awe” of the Lord.

3. What conclusions could be drawn about a Christian who is NOT REVERING the Lord?

4. Name an attribute of the Lord that should cause someone to revere Him.

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5. Name an event in the Bible that should cause someone to revere the Lord.

6. In your experience, what is most likely to prevent you from REVERING the Lord?

REVERING the Lord is allowing the fullness of His character to amaze you and to humble your affections toward Him. When you “stand in awe” of the Lord you are emotionally growing UP. But how do you do this?…

Brainstorms for REVERING• Pray — Declare some attributes of the Lord to Him in prayer.• Read — Reflect on Job 38-42 as the Lord poetically portrays

His sovereignty.• Nature — Study a sunrise, a mountain, or other majestic

scene the Lord has created.• Baby — Hold a newborn baby and marvel at the intricate,

loving design of the Creator.• What brainstorms can you think of for REVERING?

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From your brainstorms, customize a REVERING growth plan. Be specific — consider when and where you will do what. Be realistic — don’t over commit; just take ONE step. Be accountable — tell someone your plan.

UP

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ENJOYING

On a scale of 1 (not very) to 10 (very) how true of you is the following statement?

I am ENJOYING the Lord whose presence delights me. _____

UP

MENTAL

BiblingBattling

EMOTIONAL

ReveringEnjoying

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ENJOYING

Psalm 100:1 says, “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.”

1. When you hear the word “joy”, what typically pops into your mind?

2. Is joy the same as happiness? If not, what would you say is the difference between them?

3. Would you say that your joy in the Lord is impacted by circumstances?

4. How can joy be possible regardless of circumstances?

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5. What circumstance in your life is most likely to keep you from ENJOYING the Lord?

6. Tell about a time you remember ENJOYING the Lord.

ENJOYING the Lord is finding your delight in who He is and what He does regardless of temporal experiences. When you maintain joy despite your circumstances, you are emotionally growing UP. But how do you do this?

Brainstorms for ENJOYING• Pray — Ask the Lord to restore to you the joy of your

salvation.• Read — Reflect on 1 Peter 1:3-9 where joy is held up

alongside suffering.• List — Write down your blessings of belonging to the Lord

Jesus Christ.• Celebrate — Host a gathering to intentionally celebrate a

spiritual victory.• What brainstorms can you think of for ENJOYING?

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From your brainstorms, customize an ENJOYING growth plan. Be specific — consider when and where you will do what. Be realistic — don’t over commit; just take ONE step. Be accountable — tell someone your plan.

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ASSESSMENT

Name Date

Group

Record your responses below and hand this page to your group leader.

• I am BIBLENG by intentionally feeding my mind with Scripture.

(page 5):

• My ONE step for BIBLING is (page 8):

• I am BATTLING against feeding my mind with unholy

thoughts. (page 9)

• My ONE step for BATTLING is (page 12):

• I am REVERING the Lord, meaning His character amazes me.

_____ (page 13)

• My ONE step for REVERING is (page 16):

• I am ENJOYING the Lord whose presence delights me. _____

(page 17)

• My ONE step for ENJOYING is (page 20):

HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS

OF WATER THAT YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN ITS SEASON, AND ITS LEAF DOES NOT WITHER. IN ALL THAT HE

DOES, HE PROSPERS.

PSALM 1:3

T H E M O U N T. C H U R C H