Discipleship and Race

The Samaritans

The leper - Luke 17:11-16
Was there any distinction in the group before they were healed?
Why is it important that the Samaritan was the only one who returned?
What does this demonstrate about Jesus’ healing touch?
Who was he sent to heal?
The woman at the well - John 4:39-42
Why did the people come to hear Jesus?
What did Jesus do when the crowd came out to see him?
What did the people come to believe?
Why did the believe Jesus was the savior of the earth?

The Gentiles

The centurion - Luke 7:1-11
Who was this man and why did the Jews urge him to heal the servant?
What can we learn about disciple ship from how this man treated his servant?
How did the centurion get word about his servant to Jesus?
How did the centurion know about Jesus?
Why did the man send a servant to ask Jesus not to come to his house?
What can we learn about discipleship from this story?
Cornelius - Acts 10:28, 34, 35
Who was this man and why did an angel appear to him?
What was he told by the angle to do?
How did God prepare Peter to go and minister to these people?
Who was waiting for Peter when he returned with the servants?
What can we learn about discipleship from this story?

Canaanites

The woman – Matt 15-21-28
Does anything trouble you about this story?
Why were the disciples so hostile to this woman?
What lesson did the disciples learn from this story?
What can we learn from the disciples about discipleship in this story?

Us – Acts 11:1-3, Acts 17:26-28, Heb 2:9

What group of people would cause you to be shocked that a disciple would eat with?
What group do we belong to?
Does recognizing that all of us are as the dogs at Jesus feet impact how you see your neighbor?
Because of the civil rights movements in this country we really don’t have racial prejudices but do we make distinctions among believers?
Once again what group makes you uncomfortable to sit down with and share a meal?
How will this lesson affect you this week, how will it affect your behavior towards those who make us uncomfortable?

The Call of Jesus, SS Disscussion Questions

Luke 5:1-11

Did Jesus have a relationship with the four?
Why did Jesus choose these men?
Why did Jesus use Peter’s boat?
Why did he instruct them to try and fish again?
What does Peters answer tell us about Peter?
Why did Jesus fill their boats with fish?
What was their response when Jesus asks them to follow him?
How did they know it was the right thing to do?

Luke 5:27-29

How were tax collectors viewed in Jewish society?
Why did Jesus call Matthew?
What was Jesus demonstrating by reaching out to Matthew?
How do you think the other disciple reacted?
How do you think the call of Matthew impacted Jesus’ ministry?


Do you think the disciples knew Jesus before he called them to follow him?
Did Jesus know them?
While they clearly didn’t understand his mission what did they see in him that emboldened them to follow him?
What advantage do we have today?
Does Jesus want us to be his disciples? How is he calling us?
Would you be willing to trust him completely and follow him?

Sabbath School Discussion Questions - January 5

We embark upon a new quarterly this sabbath and I'm always a little torn between sad to move on a tired of the old topic. I must admit I'm looking forward to studying about discipleship this quarter as it complements an in-depth study I've been doing in my personal bible study. I'm looking forward to a conversation this morning with my Sabbath School class about what it means to be a disciple.

What is a disciple?
How do you become a disciple?
Why do would someone want to become a disciple?
In the story of Jesus calling the four fishermen, whose idea was it for the fishermen to follow Jesus?
What did Jesus ask them to do?
What did they have to give up?
Put yourself in their shoe's, picture walking away from you family, home, and business to follow Jesus, how did they feel?
Why did they do it?
Can you be a disciple if you are not asked to follow the master?
Do you feel Jesus calling you to sit at his feet?
Can we be disciples today?
How?
Is it possible to be a disciple of TV, or books, or a preacher or education or religion?
What or who are we disciples of?

What has collected my thoughts this week has been the power of Jesus' call, the invitation to follow, we cannot be disciples unless we are called, we cannot be lead unless we follow. We are all disciples of something and someone and our actions, our time, reveals the object of our devotions.