WEEK 2 | THE WAY
THE WAY
John 14:6 (ESV) — Jesus said to him, “I am the way.”
John 17:18 (ESV) — As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
John 20:21 (ESV) — Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent
THE QUESTION : HOW WAS JESUS SENT?
Question: Do you notice in John 17:18 and John 20:21 Jesus says, “As you sent me...so I have sent them...” The important word in this sentence is “as,” which tells us the nature of our mission to the world. If we want to know how to make disciples, then we need to first look to how Jesus did it, because we are sent in the same way.
CORE TEXT: READ John 1:1-18
John 1:1-5
What does this passage say about the nature of the “Word?”
In verse 5, John says that the “Light shines in the darkness.” How was the life of
Christ characterized by bringing light to the darkness? Is there a time in your life when you feel like Christ shined the light into the darkness?
John 1:6-8
In these verses it talks about John, who came to bear witness about the Light. Why do you think this is important?
While John’s mission was to bear witness, what does verse 7 say about the purpose of his ministry? How is that relevant to us today?
John 1:9-18
While the beginning of this chapter describes the nature of who Christ is, and the events leading to his life and ministry on earth, these verses really describe the nature of his ministry itself. While on Earth, the way Christ was sent is summed up in two ways.
JESUS DWELT AMONG US
The word INCARNATION is a theological term that literally means “to take on flesh,” or “become enfleshed.” As it relates to Christ, this concept is described in John 1:14 when John says that the Word “became flesh and dwelt among us.” Through the taking on
of flesh and the act of living with us, Christ was able to make an unseen God known to humanity (v. 18).
Colossians 1:15 (ESV) — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
John 14:8–11 (ESV) — 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know
me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
In what ways do you believe that Jesus was the “image of the invisible God?”
Spend some time praying about ways that Jesus physically revealed the Father and write as many ways as you can think of.
Why is it so critical that Jesus dwelt among us? What does that tell you about his heart and mission toward humanity?
Now spend some time journaling about how we, as the church, can dwell among people of the world? What about in our community?
JESUS BORE WITNESS
While Jesus was the visible incarnation of God; he also came to bear witness about the Father and himself. He did this through teaching and parables, which revealed the heart of the Father and revealed the nature of Jesus’ mission and ministry on Earth.
John 8:18–19 (ESV) — 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
John 14:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Spend some time praying about ways that Jesus’ teachings revealed the Father and write as many ways as you can think of.
Now spend some time journaling about how we, as the church, can do the same.
In what ways do we, as the church, have the opportunity to bear witness about the heart of the Father and the works of Christ?
What does Jesus’ continued focus on the Father communicate to those around Him?
THE EXCUSE: IT’S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY
“I’m not qualified”
“I’m not good with people” “I don’t know what to say” “There isn’t enough time”
“I don’t know anybody”
“I have a heart for the church” “It’s not my gifting”
“Someone else will do it”
Do any of these excuses sound familiar? Regardless of how we phrase it, each of these scripts are different ways of dictating what our heart wants to think is true:
“Making disciples is not my job.”
Often times, the excuse we use to absolve ourselves from the call to bear witness in the world is that it isn’t our responsibility. It may be motivated by a feeling of inadequacy,
or fear of judgment, but we like to pass the responsibility on to others who we feel are better qualified or more mature. We all feel woefully inadequate and, apart from God’s spirit, we all are. But let’s not allow our fear and lack of faith to pervert what the Bible clearly teaches about our role in spreading the gospel.
Romans 10:14–17 (ESV) — 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes through the word of Christ.
In this verse, what does Paul say is essential for those who are to come to faith in Christ? What does this verse say is the way people would hear the gospel, and the means by which it would get to them?
As you interact with people in your life that are outside the influence of the church, what does this verse say is your responsibility in regards to their exposure to the gospel message? What would it look like if you believed you were truly sent into the lives of the people around you?
Do you honestly feel the weight of responsibility for the spiritual health of those dwelling beside you? How does that make you feel? What would it look like to dwell among them as Jesus did?
THE HOPE: I WILL BE WITH YOU
Read the interaction between God and Moses, after God told Moses that he was sending him to free the Hebrew people from slavery.
Exodus 3:10–12 (ESV) — 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought ht people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.
Moses also feels woefully inadequate, but God could not be clearer about his expectations of him. Moses could not pass the responsibility to someone else. But what did God say to Moses to comfort him?
Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) — 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am until the end of the age.
How is the message of God in Matt. 28:20 and Ex. 3:12 the same? How does this message translate to your own feelings of inadequacy?
Do you believe that Christ is with you now? How does that influence your ability to dwell among others?
Not only do we have the promise of God’s presence, but we have the very Spirit of God living in us, guiding us as we interact with others.
Acts 1:8 — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
How hard is it for you to believe the Spirt of God will equip and enable you to share the gospel?
How does this idea comfort you as you dwell among people and bear witness about the gospel?
THE CHALLENGE: THE DUAL RESPONSIBILITY
The responsibility of the disciple-maker is two-fold and mirrors the dual mission of Christ. In his mission, we can see that our call is to dwell among people and to bear witness. Both are crucial and to overemphasize either presents an incomplete view of disciple making.
TO DWELL AMONG
Dwelling among people is an essential part of making disciples. If we bear witness but never dwell among people, at best, we make converts but not disciples. This call to “dwell among” means that our lives are intertwined with those around us, providing us the opportunity to speak truth into their lives and situations. This was exemplified in the life of Christ as he came to dwell among us on earth, but it is essential in the context of our lives as well.
In everyday terms, what does it look like for us to dwell among others vs. dwelling beside others? Is there a difference?
In what ways would you say that you dwell among the people in your life? Where have you settled for dwelling beside them?
Why is it so critical that we dwell among those who are around us? What does our willingness to do so communicate to them?
TO BEAR WITNESS
Bearing witness is the other crucial element in our disciple making process. If we dwell among people but never bear witness of Jesus, then we may have great friendships
but never make disciples. This call is to communicate the truth and life that can only be found in the message of Christ, and is motivated by our care and concern for the welfare of others.
What does our bearing witness about the Father communicate to those around us? Why is it so important?
What would you say is hardest for you to do: dwell with people or bear witness? How might this hinder your ability to make disciples?
John 1:18 says that Jesus made God, who was unseen, known. How can you as an individual make God known to those around you? How would your life be different if this was your focus?
THE ASSIGNMENT:
As we’ve begun to look at the way that Christ was sent into the world, and the call that He made to us, it’s obvious that our mission is much larger than we often realize. This mission includes the people we interact with everyday, and focuses on our willingness to dwell among them and bear witness about who we know Christ to be. This presents us with a unique challenge and encompasses every aspect of our lives, breaking down the walls between what we view as sacred and secular. As we begin to think like this, every day, every relationship, and every conversation can be an opportunity for us to bring the gospel of Christ to those that need it.
Begin to think about those people in your life that need to hear the message of the gospel. Can you think of ten? If not, begin praying about the places where you have
some presence or influence, whether it’s your kid’s school or soccer team, or maybe your neighborhood, workplace, or classroom. God has put these relationships and situations in your life as an opportunity for you to shine the light of Christ in the lives of those involved.
After prayer and consideration, identify at least ten people that God has sent you to. Commit to praying for them throughout this study, begin to pray about how you can represent Christ to them, and ask God to show you what it would look like if you were to truly dwell among them.