A description of the course that explains what you will learn and how it will help you grow closer to Jesus
4 lessons
4 lessons
4 lessons
We pause to celebrate what God has done, metabolize these truths into our lives, and discern where Jesus is leading us.
We live in a culture of constant consumption. We binge-watch shows, doom-scroll news, and can use the internet (or AI) to do an immediate deep-dive into any question we might have. But in the kingdom of God, growth doesn't come from consumption but digestion. It's easy to learn more to pique our interest but never slow down long enough to allow God to transform our identity. This week, we pause to celebrate what God has done, metabolize these truths into our lives, and discern where Jesus is leading us as we approach the end of the Following Jesus in Life's Tensions study.
To become like Christ as we celebrate how God has worked in every area of our lives, update our Life Plans to reflect our deepening maturity, and discern our next steps in following Jesus together.
When I was in seminary, it was impossible to process all that I was learning. Some days, I would read a couple of hundred pages on topics like systematic theology, practical discipleship, or faithful preaching. Then I would go to campus and lead Bible studies and talk about life with students.
I heard a preacher say, "A hard heart is over-exposed and under-responsive to the truth." I knew that was true of me, but I was on a treadmill that wouldn't stop for three years. It was like eating a seven-course meal every day. I got spiritually bloated, and it took years to decompress from this experience.
To balance this story out, I also experienced this season as a time of feasting on God's Word and living in community with friends who deeply loved Jesus.
The goal is not to squash more and more biblical knowledge into our heads, but to grow as disciples.
That's why Following Jesus in Life's Tensions pauses every six weeks to celebrate what God has done, invite God to work deeply in our souls, and develop an expectation for what he will do in the next six weeks.
It's the move from "I know this truth" to "This is who I am." It's not a day to go further, but deeper. Not for accomplishing, but for becoming. That takes time, prayer, and conversation.
Here's a version of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing:
Or if you have a playlist of favorite worship songs, turn it on, and enjoy God's friendship for a while.
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul commands us to "let the word of Christ dwell richly among you." Looking back at the last six weeks, which specific truth has stayed with you? What does that tell you?
As you have time, review each lesson or your notes. What did you miss on the first pass that you want to intentionally bring into your life?
Paul reminds us that our identity is "holy and dearly loved." How do you experience these realities as who you are? How does this identity affect how we grow?
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I want to rush ahead. But I need to slow down.
Thank you for the work you are doing in me to make me like Christ.
Fill me with gratitude, clothe me with Christlikeness, and renew my passion to glorify you in whatever I do.
Amen.
Check-in: Which of the past six topics (Weakness, Questions, Trinity, Wholeness, Church, Love) did you need the most? Why?
Five-Dimensional Growth: Share one specific way you have seen God work in these areas (choose one or two to share): Mind - How has your thinking about God changed? Heart - How has your emotional life changed? Soul - How has your intimacy with God shifted? Body - How have your physical habits changed? Relationships - How have you engaged differently with your family, friends, or enemies?
Life Plan Updates: If you feel comfortable, share your Life Plan with the group. What did you remove from your Life Plan that felt like guilt or obligation? What did you add to your Life Plan that connects you to God or others? If you haven't created a Life Plan yet, start by writing down three ways you sense God at work in your life, and how you want to respond to his loving care for you.
Honoring One Another: Before we move on, share how you have seen God at work in the life of one other person in the group.
Duration: 2 minutes of silent reflection
Because of what God has done in the last six weeks, what do you hope will be true about you a year from today?
Let's each take a turn to share how we are sensing God is leading us into Christlikeness. After reviewing the big picture, what's the priority for this week?
Pray together as a group.
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