Recap
From the beginning, God's plan was never simply to rescue individuals—it was to create a people who would reflect His character and invite the world into His Story. Israel was called to be a light to the nations, and through Jesus, that calling has been extended to the Church. Filled with the same Holy Spirit, we become one body with one King and one mission: to make disciples who know, love, and follow Jesus. The Church isn't a building or an event we attend; it's God's family, united by His Spirit and sent into the world to continue the work Jesus began.
The Spirit has uniquely gifted each one of us, not for our own recognition, but to strengthen and serve the body so that together we reveal God's Kingdom to the world. When every member embraces their role, the Church grows stronger, disciples are formed, and God's mission moves forward. The invitation is to move from being a consumer of the Church to becoming an active participant in it, using the gifts God has entrusted to you, pursuing unity through the Spirit, and joining His ongoing work of making disciples.
The Spirit has uniquely gifted each one of us, not for our own recognition, but to strengthen and serve the body so that together we reveal God's Kingdom to the world. When every member embraces their role, the Church grows stronger, disciples are formed, and God's mission moves forward. The invitation is to move from being a consumer of the Church to becoming an active participant in it, using the gifts God has entrusted to you, pursuing unity through the Spirit, and joining His ongoing work of making disciples.
Reflection & Training
Mission: Making Disciples
Are you making disciples?
What steps could you take to get your life on a mission of "making disciples"? What would you cut out?
What if making disciples of your children is your primary mission?
What would change if we believed raising big, strong families was the most effective way to change the world? Read Psalm 127.
If we learn primarily by imitating, how should we structure our spiritual growth for our children and us?
Who else could you disciple with the strategy of imitation?
What steps could you take to get your life on a mission of "making disciples"? What would you cut out?
What if making disciples of your children is your primary mission?
What would change if we believed raising big, strong families was the most effective way to change the world? Read Psalm 127.
If we learn primarily by imitating, how should we structure our spiritual growth for our children and us?
Who else could you disciple with the strategy of imitation?
Life of the Church
Do you belong to a body? Why or why not?
How are you developing body life with other disciples?
In what ways do you live as if the Church is your family? In what ways do you not? How could you make changes in the areas where you are not?
Do you think the quality of common life the early church experienced (sharing things, meeting regularly, meals together, praying and devotion to apostles' training) is worth the effort and sacrifice it might take?
What can you do to experience body life more consistently?
How are you developing body life with other disciples?
In what ways do you live as if the Church is your family? In what ways do you not? How could you make changes in the areas where you are not?
Do you think the quality of common life the early church experienced (sharing things, meeting regularly, meals together, praying and devotion to apostles' training) is worth the effort and sacrifice it might take?
What can you do to experience body life more consistently?
Unity in the Spirit
How are you supporting unity in the church?
Seek out another believer at school, work, or in your neighborhood and engage them in conversation about their faith. Attempt to keep the mindset that we are one body and look for areas where we agree.
Consider as a family attending another church community as an experiment to see how the Spirit works in that part of the Body. Again, seek commonalities and reserve judgment. Celebrate as a family the ways God is using another part of the body to bring his Kingdom on earth.
Seek out another believer at school, work, or in your neighborhood and engage them in conversation about their faith. Attempt to keep the mindset that we are one body and look for areas where we agree.
Consider as a family attending another church community as an experiment to see how the Spirit works in that part of the Body. Again, seek commonalities and reserve judgment. Celebrate as a family the ways God is using another part of the body to bring his Kingdom on earth.
Spiritual Gifts
Of the five-fold gifts listed in Ephesians, which has most heavily influenced you? How could you round out your faith by being equipped by the other four? (evangelist, teacher, pastor, prophet, apostle)
What gift(s) has the Spirit given to you to use in the body?
How are you using your gift(s)?
How else could you use them?
How could you train in your gift(s) to be able to use them more?
If you do not know what gift the Spirit has given you, consider these questions to help you discover it.
1. What are things you do that energize you? Something you feel full of energy after and excited to do it again.
2. What things would you do for free?
3. What do other people say you are good at? Ask others what they think your spiritual gift is.
What gift(s) has the Spirit given to you to use in the body?
How are you using your gift(s)?
How else could you use them?
How could you train in your gift(s) to be able to use them more?
If you do not know what gift the Spirit has given you, consider these questions to help you discover it.
1. What are things you do that energize you? Something you feel full of energy after and excited to do it again.
2. What things would you do for free?
3. What do other people say you are good at? Ask others what they think your spiritual gift is.
Share your Thoughts
Take a moment to share your reflections with your group in your group chat. Sharing how God is working in your heart will encourage others in your group.