QUARTER 1 INTRODUCTION
The First Quarter
Humility
Welcome to Twelve! You are about to start what could be a life-changing journey. There’s nothing magical about this material, and the person or people you’re meeting with each week are not miracle workers. But you’re about to go on a journey with Jesus, and Jesus has been changing lives for thousands of years. Not only that, you’re going to spend time with Jesus alongside someone else, or perhaps even a group of people, and that has the potential to bring deep friendships and life transformation in a way that you’ll never experience on your own. You should be excited and expectant as you begin this journey. Who knows what God will do as you encounter Jesus week by week?
Twelve is designed to be taken in weekly sessions. Week by week, you’ll consider twelve questions that Jesus asks his followers in the Gospels. For each question, you’ll find an introduction to that question along with a tool that is meant to help you process the material you’ll be covering. These tools are designed to be versatile—you’ll figure out what the tool is trying to convey, then you’ll use the tool to examine the material in the three to four sessions that accompany each question. Each tool should function well as a picture, a mirror, and a window. It’s a picture in that it gives you a concept to consider. It’s a mirror in that it challenges you to see yourself in light of that concept—it should lead you on a process of self-discovery. And it’s a window in that once you’ve seen the concept and seen how it applies to your own life, it will provide a unique lens through which you can see the people and systems and structures around you.
You should expect to meet once a week with your group to discuss the material. The question introductions can either be discussed as separate sessions, or you can each read them on your own as you move into the three to four sessions that accompany each question. Your group will have to decide which approach will work best. When you gather to discuss the sessions, there is always a passage, an explanation of the general concept for that session, and a key reflection question. After that initial page, you’ll find a reflection guide that will help you break down the passage and consider how it might shape you. Whenever possible, it’s best for each person to have reflected on the passage prior to the group meeting.
When you meet, your goal is simply to have an encounter with Jesus based on the passage for that session. It doesn’t matter precisely how that happens. You’ll have to decide what’s best for your group, but in general, it’s best to start by reading the passage together, then addressing some of the reflection questions. You may be able to have a meaningful discussion just by reading the passage and perhaps asking only the key question. But you may also find it helpful to consider some of the reflection questions together. However it happens, you want to move beyond intellectual answers into genuine reflection on and application of the passage.
Three Questions
In this first quarter, you’ll address three questions that Jesus asked his disciples:
1. Do you need me?
2. Do you desire me?
3. Will you learn from me?
As you consider these questions, you’ll cover everything from Jesus calling his first disciples to Jesus preaching his famous Sermon on the Mount. During this first quarter, your job is mainly to soak in these accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching. Your group leader(s) will do most of the teaching, but you’ll get way more out of this if you are opening yourself up to be challenged and to share your experiences and struggles. We never grow when we hold ourselves back in self-protection.
The sessions in this first quarter focus on humility. Jesus calls us to see our need for him. He asks us if we have a true desire for him. And in that context, we are invited to learn from him. Be sure you are entering this study with a humble heart that is ready to learn and be vulnerable in your pursuit of Jesus. Humility is a vital aspect in our spiritual lives. Without humility, growth is impossible. Lack of humility will keep you from seeing and encountering Jesus. Rejecting humility may be the best way to ensure that you get nothing out of this study.
Challenge
If our time with Jesus remains purely intellectual, we are not truly engaging with the Messiah, who calls us to follow him, not just think about him. For the first quarter, your challenge will focus on examining the context of the story. This will take two forms: the context of Jesus’ story and the context of your story.
(1) The Context of Jesus’ Story: Read through the Gospel of Mark
At some point this quarter, read through the Gospel of Mark in a single day. This may sound daunting, but it takes most readers only a few hours. It does mean that you’ll need to set aside—i.e., sacrifice—a significant chunk of your personal time, but the process is hugely beneficial. Most people have only read the story about Jesus in small chunks, a bit at a time. But reading the story as a whole changes the way you perceive the individual parts. We’re choosing the Gospel of Mark because it’s the shortest of the four Gospels, and it’s also written for a non-Jewish audience, which makes it an easier entry point for most modern readers. As you read through this compelling story (Mark is a fast-paced, enthusiastic storyteller), ask how Mark’s presentation of Jesus sets the context for the story.
(2) Tell your own story with Jesus
At some point this quarter, each of you should briefly share your story with your Twelve group. This doesn’t need to be a dramatic, eloquent speech. Simply spend five minutes explaining what your experience with Jesus has been thus far. Not only will this help you get to know the other members of your group better, it will also help you account for your own context as you approach the story of Jesus.