On Sunday, we saw how a disciple is to be taught so as to obey and then to pass on Jesus’ teaching. This means that we need serious teachers and to be serious students. The church is like a school of teachers; we are all learning God’s word so as to teach it to others who will in turn teach others…
Readings and reflections
1. Again, let’s begin by reminding ourselves of our Great Commission,
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Who does Jesus tell to teach and what are the ways that we can all be involved in this?
God has given all of us people whom he wants us to teach Jesus’ word. Who are the people that God has given you to teach?
Who are your principal teachers and would you say that you are being diligent to learn and assiduous to apply what you are learning?
2. The elders in a local church have the primary responsibility of teaching the flock that is under their care. However, we are all to play our part in teaching others to obey.
‘Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.’ (Colossians 3:16)
What are we to allow to dwell among us richly and what does this teach us about the primary emphasis of all of our teaching?
What are some of the methods that can be employed to teach one another?
Let’s Pray today for our teaching one another
1. Use Matthew 28:18-20 and Colossians 3:16 to pray for increased loving devotion to teaching others inside and outside the church.
2. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to help your local leaders in the preparation and preaching of God’s word.
3. Ask the Spirit to lead you to specific Christians with whom you can become ‘Running Partners’.
4. Pray for the Father to lead you to non-believers to whom He wants you to teach wisdom and the gospel.
To memorise this week
‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.’ (2 Timothy 2:15)
To consider this week
What are your current habits of taking in God’s word? Do you have a balanced diet of:
1. Reading - Getting an overview of the whole story of the bible.
2. Meditation - Reading a passage slowly and repeatedly, leading to prayer, worship and obedience. Writing/journaling is a helpful tool in this.
3. Study - Studying a book, chapter, passage, character, word… using study aids such as a study bible.
4. Memorisation - Only those who regularly memorise scripture will be able to effectively use ‘the sword of the Spirit’!
5. Hearing it taught - Devotion to seriously listening to the bible being taught by leaders you trust.
Maybe you’d like to pick one or two areas to work on this week.
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - GOOD SOIL RECEIVES, GROWS AND SOWS
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
Have you ever said something that you wish you hadn't or not said something that you wish you had?
Introduction - please share in your group
On Sunday we saw how Jesus' Great Commission involves learning, doing and passing on what Jesus teaches. Jesus tells us,
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
We saw how The Parable of the soils helps to illustrate this idea that disciples are those who receive the seed of Jesus' teaching, grow in doing/obeying, and then go on on to sow truth into other's lives. Jesus describes the good soil thus,
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.’ (Luke 8:15)
Disciples of Jesus are to:
i) Receive- they have a devotion to learning God's word
ii) Grow - As they read or hear teaching, they ask the Spirit, "How do you want me to respond?"
ii) Sow - Disciples want to help their brothers and sisters to grow; they have a passion for Jesus to be known by the community that God has put them into.
We all need to regularly reflect on our receptivity to learning and doing what Jesus' teaches. Finally, let's pray for ourselves using the words of Hosea,
“Break up your unplowed ground…” (Hosea 10:12)
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