GS-Primer-Leader-Guide-1

:Leader Guide
42
Part II: Developing the Conversation
Disciple-
Making
Discussion
The intent of the last section of this
reader (part 9) was to force assessment of
understanding of the definition of a disciple.
Like many words that are common in the
church, the word “disciple” is one ripe
for misunderstanding and impoverished
definitions. But, as we will see in the upcoming
section, if we don’t have clarity on our
definition of a disciple, we will never have
clarity on our mission. If we don’t know what
something is then we certainly can’t create it.
We must seek knowledge of what an applepie
is before we understand how to make one.
We must know the objective of soccer before
we work to build a team. As church leaders,
we have to know what a disciple is before we
go about designing church systems that make
such a person.
Use this introduction to provide a bit of
rationale to your group for the following
discussion. Give each group a sheet of poster
paper and ask them to work to define a
disciple. Instruct them to develop a holistic
view of the distinctive marks of a mature
disciple of Jesus. What would they think?
What would they say? What would they
do? How would they be known by others?
Encourage them to use whatever method
best helps them arrive at this definition. They
could draw a person on the paper and label
that person. For example, they might list the
traits of a disciple’s speech beside the mouth
of the drawing. Or they might list the actions
of the disciple by the hands and feet. Other
groups may simply want to make a list of the
various characteristics of a disciple in groups
or categories that they see as most significant.
Whatever method they choose, encourage
the group to list Scripture beside each
characteristic they choose.
▼