Discipleship Conversations 03 – Wayfinding

If discipleship is a skill that we learn one step at a time, today we look at how we take each step.

Dave today talks about how we make our way through life. What is our destination, how do we get there and how much do we involve God in both of those questions?

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5

Conversation Questions:

• What is your instinctive metaphor for life? Is it a race, a game, a slog, a competition? How does this manifest itself in the way you approach life? What is it you are looking for to make your life a success?
• Have you had a sense of destination for your life? Has it changed? How have you tried to get there? What have you learnt so far?
• How have you involved God in the direction of your life? What has happened at those crossroads moments? Have you had experiences of God guiding you? Have you ever looked back and seen God was there even when you didn’t know it at the time?
• Look at today’s key verse and consider how each of the enormous ideas fit with you. Do you find these ideas easy or difficult to believe? How does this challenge or inform our idea of God?
  • Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5

Bible Study:

It is so easy to read the Bible knowing what happens next and missing the drama in the moment. In this study we are going to try and capture the surprising events.

First read Mark 1:32-34. Try to imagine the scene, if you are a townsperson, or a disciple, or even Jesus. Can you imagine the buzz and excitement?

• Without reading ahead, what would you think should happen next?
• If it helps, imagine we have an Exeter Vineyard meeting where crowds of people turn up and there is amazing miracles and healings. What do you think we would plan to do next?

Now read Mark 1:35-39.

• • What do you think happens to set the next step of Jesus’ and his disciples’ journey?
  • Thinking about mapmaking and wayfinding – if the destination is for Jesus to usher in the Kingdom of God what would the pre-planned map look like?
  • How are the events in verses 35-38 more like wayfaring?
  • How does what Jesus did contrast with the world’s idea about success, progress and achievement?
  • What can you learn from this in your everyday life?
    • Can you think of one action you could take to embed something you’ve learned?