Topic: Discipleship

In the final instalment of our Discipleship mega series, Jesus challenges His disciples to take the call of discipleship seriously. The choice is ours – which road to travel on, which voice to follow, which action to take – and it will determine the way we live today and forever more.

Series: Ways of a Disciple
Title: Beyond Loving Those Who Love You – Loving Perfectly
Text: Matthew 5:43-47

More than a feel-good sentiment, love in the Bible is the persistence to do good to all – even those who hate us.

General Questions:

1. Was there a time when you received a love you did not deserve?

2. Why do you think it is easier to love those that love us?

Perspective Questions:

1. The text in Matthew 5:46-47 says that God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good. What is the implication for His children?

2. Why should we as Christians love those who hate us? Romans 5:8 says that God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. Beyond following a rule or a command, how can loving people we dislike be something meaningful and joyful?

Application Questions:

1. Is there anyone that you do not particularly like in your workplace, family, or even this lifegroup? How can you do good to them?

Series: Ways of a Disciple
Title: Beyond Withholding Retaliation (Exhibiting Magnanimity)
Text: Matthew 5:38-42

It is natural to retaliate when people wrong or hurt us, yet Jesus challenges us to not just hold back but also to be big-hearted towards them.

General Questions:

1. Who do you know to be a magnanimous person? How has the person impacted you?
2. Why do you think it’s natural that we wish to retaliate when people wrong or hurt us?

Perspective Questions:

1. Among Jesus’ four illustrations in Matthew 5:38-42, which is the toughest for you to live out? Why?
2. Withholding retaliation is difficult enough, but exhibiting magnanimity to those who want to take advantage of us is even harder. Why do you think Jesus thinks it is possible for believers to live out His difficult teaching? How has Jesus’ work on the cross shown that He practices what He preaches?

Application Questions:

1. Who do you need to show magnanimity to? What are a few things you can do to turn the other cheek to the person?
2. Practising magnanimity alone is tough. How can the LG support one another in pursing magnanimity?

Series: Ways of a Disciple
Title: Beyond Making Promises
Text: Matthew 5:33-37

We explore God’s call for our words and actions to be congruent, to be people of integrity that others can trust.

General Questions:

1. Who are some people you would consider as a man/woman of integrity? What makes you say so? 

Perspective Questions:

1. We know having integrity and being honest is easier said than done. Discuss circumstances that make it hard for people to be honest. 

2. How do you think a believer with integrity (or lack thereof) affects their witness of Jesus to the world? 

3. Having integrity comes at a price and might lead to negative consequences. What would you hold onto to give you the courage to choose integrity in any circumstance? 

Application Questions:

1. We become people of integrity by keeping every promise we make, even the small ones. How can you work on being a person who keeps their word?

2. What can you do to help LG members struggling with integrity? What can the LG members do to help you grow in integrity?

Series: Ways of a Disciple
Title: Beyond Settling for the Acceptable – Pursue Faithfulness
Text: Matthew 5:31-32

What is God’s view concerning how we should treat our covenants, such as the covenant of marriage, and how can Christ-followers pursue faithfulness in their committed relationships?

General Questions:

1. Do you think it is possible for Christ followers to pursue faithfulness in accordance to God’s standards for marriage? What do you think are the reasons that there are divorces even among Christians?

Perspective Questions:

1. If our purpose of marriage is just to seek happiness, we will be disappointed and have many reasons to leave when our marriages go through rough patches. What do you think are the godly values and perspectives that we should have towards marriage instead? 

2. Marriage is one example of a covenant relationship. We also have covenants with God, our church family and our friends. If faithfulness is the foundation of our covenants, what do you think it takes to be faithful?

Application Questions:

1. How can we pursue faithfulness in our covenants? What are some small steps we can take to be loyal to those we are covenanted to?

Series: Ways of a Disciple
Title: Beyond Restraining Desires
Text: Matthew 5:27-30

When we want things that we know we are not supposed to have, we try to control or suppress our desires. But this does not mean that we are content. How can we find true contentment?

General Questions:

1) In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus teaches that the law points towards a higher standard that is marked by internal attitudes. Based on Jesus’ emphasis in this passage, what do you think Jesus’ definition of true righteousness entails?

Perspective Questions:

1) Covetousness can be so seductive that it makes us believe that we must have the thing we desire, otherwise our lives will be incomplete. Think of your peers in the same life station as you. What are some things that are commonly coveted by people of your age group? Why are these things desirable? As a Christian, how would you handle this differently from your secular peers? Why?

2) We can be content in any and every situation through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:10-13). How does this understanding address and challenge the ways we deal with our desires? What would we do with desires that are unmet in our lives? Why?

3) Beyond restraining our desires, we must be decisive and be willing to take extreme measures when dealing with temptation and sin. What are some reasons why we might be hesitant to be decisive and take extreme measures when faced with temptations? What does this reveal about the condition of our hearts?

4) We sometimes veer away from accountability because we do not want others to infringe upon our private life. What does this show about our understanding of living in a Christian community? What are the long-term implications that this mindset will have on ourselves and on the church?

Application Questions:

1) Think of a situation in which you know you will be tempted to sin. What are the measures you can take to decisively flee from temptation? What would help you to choose these measures more often? How can the LG help you to be victorious in this area?

2) Think: what are some areas in your life that you would need to be accountable in today? What is one step you can take to be accountable to your LG/mentor etc in this?

3) How can we help one another to choose lasting joy over instant pleasures? Are there verses or stories we can share to encourage one another who may be struggling with unmet desires?

The saying “don’t aim for perfection because it does not exist” sounds right and good. But what about pursuing God’s standards?

Even as we rest in the truth that we are saved by grace alone, we are to press on to complete maturity. But what does it mean to be ‘perfect’? Discover how to strive to live to honour God rather than settle for the minimum standard.

Series: One Life at a Time
Title: Committed to Truth
Text: 2 Timothy 1:13-14

In a world where people are constantly bombarded by information, differing opinions and news both real and fake, how can we stay committed to God’s eternal truth and lead others to His truth?

General Questions:

1) How do you usually respond when you encounter questionable doctrines? Would you consider yourself to be someone who watches your doctrine closely? Why?

2) Can you recall a mentor or leader who impacted your life because of their commitment to God’s truth? What can you learn from them?

Perspective Questions:

1) We may have encounters with controversial doctrines. What do you think is the wise way to deal with them? Do you have experiences or examples? How would you advise those who may encounter such situations?

2) Paul reminded Timothy to not just hold on to sound teaching but to do so with “love and faith”.  What do you think our life will be like if we just have the right knowledge but do not act upon it? What do you think are the dangers of inconsistent living (when we don’t act according to what we profess)?

Application Questions:

1) As a mentor/leader, what are the challenges you face as you endeavour to teach and live out the truth? What are some helpful things you can do to remind or encourage yourself to stand firm in the truth if such situations arise?

2) Spiritual leadership must be committed to sound doctrine. For leaders and mentors, how can we be faithful in transmitting God’s truth to the next generation? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in this

We may not be able to change the world but as Christian mentors, we can make a difference one life at a time. Examine the qualities that make a good Christian mentor and learn how to help God’s people to live a life of faith and love in any circumstance.