Topic: Discipleship

Series: Call Of A Disciple
Title: Following The Voice Amidst Noises
Text: Matthew 7:15-23

Believers may be hindered from following Jesus because they are distracted or derailed by false prophets. They might also be deluded over their own relationship with God. What are some ways in which believers can recognise false prophets, and properly evaluate their own walk with God?

General Questions:

1. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus states that though false prophets are ferocious wolves, they come to us in sheep’s clothing. What does this imagery teach us about the role of false prophets? Based on this imagery, what could false prophets look like in today’s context?

2. Based on the context provided in the preceding passages (Matthew 5-7), what could “good fruit” (v17) refer to?

Perspective Questions:

1. What are some things that can make us susceptible to being deceived by false prophets? What do these tendencies reveal about our walk with God?

2. Besides being deceived by false prophets, we can deceive ourselves when we become complacent in our walk with Jesus. How and why do we become complacent? What are your potential pitfalls? How can the LG support you in overcoming such complacency?

3. While we want to be careful about who and what we are listening to, we do not want to veer to the extreme of being critical of every speaker/leader we encounter. How does one be discerning but not critical? What are some attitudes we need to adopt in doing so?

Application Questions:

1. Refer to the self-examination questions raised during sermon. Think of one area in your life that the LG can support you in as you strive to be a true disciple of Christ.

   • Do I desire to appear right before man more than to live right before God?

   • Are we motivated by church activities more than a desire to know God?

   • Are we concerned about what you can do for God more than what God wants to do in you?

   • Are you concerned about being theologically right more than walking right?

   • Do we seek after God’s blessings more than we seek after God?

   • Do you feel good about your “righteous acts” more than being sorrowful over your sins?

Series: Call Of A Disciple
Title: Choosing The Road Less Traveled
Text: Matthew 7:13-14

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. 

General Questions:

1. In this passage, Jesus challenges His disciples to choose the road less travelled. How did you feel listening to this message? Were you surprised? Challenged? Concerned? Share your thoughts and feelings. 

2. Share an occasion that you choose to do something that is right but inconvenient or unpopular. What motivated you to do the right thing?

Perspective Questions:

1. What are some factors that lead to people choosing the wide gate and broad road that leads to destruction? How can believers avoid them?

2. There is belief among non-believers that “all religions lead to heaven.”  How has v14 reinforced or debunked this belief? How does living out v14 in our daily lives look like to you?

3. This Bible passage clearly debunks the notion that Christian life will always be easy, smooth-sailing or comfortable. What would help you to stand firm in your faith when you meet life challenges as a result of following Christ?

Application Questions:

1. Our prayer life, giving and attitude to God can indicate whether we are living a cozy Christian life instead of walking the narrow path. How would you rate your prayer, giving and attitude today? What is one thing you can do to improve?

2. By nature, we are inclined to choose what is convenient, comfortable and popular. How can we involve our church community to help us to choose and persevere on the narrow path?

Series: Call Of A Disciple
Title: Where It All Begins
Text: Matthew 7:7-12

In the final installment 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. 

General Questions:

1. What are some character traits of God that are highlighted by the passage?

2. Persistent prayer shifts our hearts from one that is distant to one that is intimate with God. It can also lead to greater trust in His character. Share some personal experiences or stories you have heard from others about these “shifts”.

3. Beyond wanting others to treat us well, what biblical basis does the passage provide for us to be able to love others? 

Perspective Questions:

1. Consider some of our own experiences as we journey with God. How do we make sense of moments where our prayers seemingly go unanswered? What helps us to trust Him despite such moments?

2. What are some circumstances or factors that can make it challenging for us to apply the Golden Rule, i.e. to do to others what we would have them do to us, towards others? How does a trusting, intimate relationship with God affect this?

Application Questions:

1. By nature, we are self-centred, self-seeking, self-preserving and self-pleasuring. What can we do to fight these natural instincts to care only for ourselves? Think of a few practical solutions you can incorporate into your life.

2. Are there any adjustments that we need to make in order to grow in how we approach God and how much we engage God in our lives? For example, in our understanding of prayer or in the things we tend to pray about.

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.