THE MESSAGE AND METHODS OF JESUS

Planning the Session

Session Goals

As a result of conversations and activities connected with this session, group members should:

• explore Jesus' method of personal discipleship;

• explore the central message of Jesus' ministry;

• consider three key aspects of Jesus' ministry and our discipleship;

• reflect on tools for developing discipleship.

Biblical Foundation

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

(Mark 1:14-15)

Special Preparation

• Read the entire study book to get a sense of its scope. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be present in and through your preparation and as you lead the first session.

• If possible in advance of the first session, tell participants to bring either a notebook or an electronic means of journaling, such as a tablet. Provide writing paper and pens for those who may need them. Also have Bibles for those who do not bring one.

• Print the following questions on a large sheet of paper or a board: What does it mean for us in the twenty-first century to be disciples of Jesus? What is the essential content of the gospel, and how can we best make disciples today?

• Print on a large sheet of paper or a board the sections of the pericope (pe-RIC-o-pe) from Matthew noted in the video: Matthew 4:23-25, opening; Matthew 5–7, compilation of teaching; Matthew 8:1–9:35, survey of healing ministry; Matthew 9:36-38, summary.

• Also print and post the following list of paths to discipleship: academic path, "soul training" path, path of asceticism or self-denial, charismatic path, path of service.

• For the imaginative reflection in the closing activities, you may want to do an Internet search and download and print (or plan to project) images of the three locations (Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and region of the Gerasenes), although actual images are not necessary.

• Remember that there are more activities than most groups will have time to complete. As leader, you'll want to go over the session in advance and select or adapt the activities you think will work best for your group in the time allotted.

Getting Started

Opening Activity

As participants arrive, welcome them to the study. If group members are not familiar with one another, make nametags available. Provide Bibles for those who did not bring one.

When most participants have arrived, gather together. Invite the group to name several topics of interest on any subject (not just religious subjects). Narrow the list down to three or four common interests. Have participants self-select a topic and form a small group. Ask them to have a brief conversation, giving each person an opportunity to talk while others in the group genuinely listen. After allowing a few minutes for discussion, bring the group back together. Tell them that as they begin this study, it is important that they get better acquainted with fellow group members, and today's opening activity has begun that process.

Ask participants to form pairs. Invite pairs to introduce themselves if they are not acquainted and then relate to their partner a learning experience they had that was particularly memorable and had a long-term impact on them. After a few minutes, gather together. Invite one or two volunteers to relate the experience they shared. Ask for a show of hands in response to the following:

• How many of your memorable learning experiences happened in a formal classroom setting?

• How many were memorable not so much for what was learned, but for how it was communicated?

• How many were noteworthy because of being in relationship with someone else?

If they have not already done so, invite participants to silently read the book Introduction. Discuss:

• Explain what you think is meant by the statement, "What Jesus promised was the kingdom of God, but what he got was the church!"

Call attention to the two questions you posted from the Introduction, regarding discipleship and the gospel. Tell the group that in this study they will be exploring these questions.

Point out that the author describes his own spiritual awakening and subsequent diminishing of his passion for ministry, followed by the recognition that he needed to return to his theological home. As you begin this study, invite participants to reflect on their own spiritual journeys. Distribute drawing paper, crayons, or colored pencils. Invite participants to draw a line horizontally across the page. It can be a simple straight line, or it can be a line that represents for them the trajectory of their spiritual journey up to this point. Ask them to note along the line high and low points in their journey. Encourage them to refer to this spiritual "lifeline" as they continue in the study.

Tell the group that the Scripture passage grounding this entire study is John 14:12, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing." In the study, participants will explore just what it means to grow in discipleship and do what Jesus did.

Opening Prayer

We yearn, O God, to know more clearly what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today. By your Spirit, give us fresh insights and a deeper commitment. In the name of Jesus Christ, whom we seek to follow. Amen.

Learning Together

Video Study and Discussion

The Session 1 video explores Jesus' message and the methods he used to communicate that message. Give the group the following information about the author of the study and video presenter:

Jeff Kirby serves on the Adult Discipleship Team at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, where he leads men's ministries and the Alpha Course, for which he is a national trainer. He is a national and international educator and speaker who is also a consultant on leadership development. His Bible study courses at Resurrection often bring in more than five hundred participants, who come to hear Jeff's message and experience his challenging style of teaching.

Before viewing, invite participants to consider as they watch the video why Kirby uses the term apprentice to refer to discipleship. After viewing, discuss the following:

• What does the video have to say about apprenticeship? How does apprenticeship apply to being a disciple, and how did it function in terms of Jesus' relationship with his followers?

• What, in Kirby's view, were the three most basic things that Jesus did?

Point out to the group that this video introduced the three basic activities of Jesus and that each of the next three videos will explore one of those activities in more depth.

Bible and Book Study Discussion

Exploring Learning in the Ancient World

Remind the group of their discussion in the opening activity about learning, and ask them to consider how many of their...