Week 3 - DISCOVERY
WORSHIP
What can you/we praise or thank God for? (You could sing this or pray this to the Lord.)
What do you/we need to repent of? (This can be a time of silent or public confession.)
The Way
The early church was frequently called the Way.
Acts 9:1-5 (NIV)
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Why do you think the early church was called the Way?
If you haven’t come up with these already, here are two possibilities:
They followed Jesus who is The Way
John 14:6 (NIV)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
They followed Jesus’ way of life.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NET)
13 Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
The Meal
Let’s celebrate the Lord’s Supper and that Jesus is the Way who brings us to the Father, the Truth who sets us free and the Life who gives us eternal life.
Have someone pray a prayer of thanksgiving.
Take bread and say, “The body of Christ, given for you.”
Take a cup and say, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”
Review
We’re working through the four key relationships and crucial priorities of a follower of Jesus and a church family. Last week we looked at:
WORSHIP - Our Relationship to Jesus
Devote yourselves to praying, praising and prioritizing Jesus in everything
Today, let’s look at:
DISCOVERY - Our Relationship to the Bible
DISCOVERY
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 10-17 (NIV)
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Have someone retell the passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
Matthew 7:13-14 (NET)
13 Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
How does the wide and the narrow way show up in the verses we just read from 2 Timothy 3?
When you consider the days that Paul and Timothy lived in and the days that we live in, why is it so important to know the Bible?
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NIV)
15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
What’s the origin of the Bible (Holy Scriptures)?
What’s the purpose of the Bible?
Why is the order of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness important?
Last week we looked at the Discovery Sequence in relationship to God’s Word.
To hear God’s Word
To obey God’s Word
To experience God’s Word
Once again, why does each component of this Discovery Sequence build on each other? What happens if you skip hearing or obeying? Will you experience God’s Word?
How do these three components factor into James 1:22-25?
James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
What has helped you to take in and live out God’s Word?
Discovery Bible Study
For three weeks, we have been using what is called a Discovery Bible Study. Instead of having someone teach you God’s Word, in a Discovery Bible Study you discover God’s Word by answering questions in community. Discovery promotes engagement in the process and ownership of the outcomes.
How has this format for Bible study helped you?
What are its advantages and disadvantages?
Good things happen when you ask good questions.
Here are additional response questions from a Discovery Bible Study. Answer them for today’s study.
For the sake of time, or more importantly, to encourage deeper sharing, you could divide up into groups of 2 to answer the following questions.
Ask these pairs to connect with each other midweek to see how their “I will …” statements and sharing goals are coming along and how they can continue to support and pray for each other.
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
In Summary
The church’s first two key relationships and crucial priorities are:
WORSHIP - Our Relationship to Jesus
Devote yourselves to praying, praising and prioritizing Jesus in everything
DISCOVERY - Our Relationship to the Bible
Devote yourselves to taking in and living out God’s Word
Closing
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that gathering? (See FOR THE FACILITATOR for help in leading a gathering.)
Each week you are encouraged to share a meal together.
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