New Wine - End of Week 5

Introduction
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN
When you think of following Jesus, truly following (living, breathing, studying His every move), is there someone in your life that has significantly influenced you in the Way? Maybe a book, an exercise, or an experience that has been meaningful to you in your life as a disciple?

QUOTE
”There are no experts in the company of Jesus.”
- Eugene Peterson
We are all disciples, we are all learning what it means to follow Jesus.  No matter how long we’ve been at it, we are still just learning.

HEAD

1. When you think of discipline, what thoughts or images come to mind?
2. How would you define a disciple of Jesus?  And in light of that, how would you define what it means to be disciplined in the Way of Jesus?
3. In the Greek, a disciple is a learner. We talked this week about several methods of learning more about God and His ways; meditating on God’s word, prayer, giving, serving, and fasting.  Are there any others you can think of?  Is there one for you that is a favorite? Why? One for you that is hard?  If you’re willing to share, what makes it hard for you?

HEART

1. Let’s try a meditative practice in the Word.  Read the following passage through a total of five times, stopping after each time to reflect on any aspect of the verse that speaks to you and why.  Pray before you begin, asking God to speak to you through the reading of His Word.  For today’s passage, read Colossians 1: 15-20.
2. What did you think of this experience?  Was it helpful? Difficult? Frustrating? Transformative? Explain.
3. Do you think you could spend the rest of this week just reading through this passage and continue to learn, to grow, to be impacted, by it?  Why or why not?
4. Share with the group one spiritual practice that you do that you find particularly meaningful.  What do you do as part of this practice?  Has it always been meaningful for you or did it take time to practice?

HANDS
Try a discipline this week that you have never tried before or that you struggle with; confession, fasting, thanksgiving, prayer, serving, solitude, rest, study, giving, worship.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“Jesus told him ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14: 6 NLT