The Discipleship Test
“How Obeying Jesus Helps You”
1 John 2:3, 5:3; Matthew 6:9-13
The litmus test of discipleship is obedience, but Jesus’ commands are helpful not burdensome.
- Obeying Jesus’ command to pray helps you get perspective.
- Since God is Sovereign, release your anxiety.
- Since God is Father, release your fear.
- Obeying Jesus’ command to pray helps you gain wisdom.
- Wisdom is aligning with God’s will not asserting your will.
- Prayer helps us make wise choices in times of crisis.
- Obeying Jesus’ command to pray helps you grow as a disciple.
- Helps you love God
- Loving God as Father develops a relationship of trusting dependence.
- Loving God as Holy develops reverent, humble worship.
- Helps you live surrendered
- Surrender your heart to his loving leadership.
- Surrender your will to his trustworthy leadership.
- Surrender your day to his sovereign leadership.
- Helps you love people
- Pray God’s Kingdom will come in people’s lives.
- For the lost: That they would surrender their lives to God
- For disciples: That they would live surrendered
- Pray for provision, forgiveness, and protection.
- Obeying Jesus’ command to pray helps you glorify God.
LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives
- With what word(s) or phrase do you typically begin your prayers? Why?
- Which of the following words best describes how you view God’s leadership in your life: wise, severe, loving, harsh, passive, trustworthy, confusing? Be honest.
- Do you tend to think of “father” in terms of your earthly father or the biblical picture of God?
- Are you living more of a “my kingdom come, my will be done” or a “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” life?
- Which one: surrendering “your heart,” “your will” or “your day” seems more challenging/difficult to you?
- Who in your circle of relationships is God putting on your heart to pray for and invite to Easter?
- Close your time together by acknowledging that God is Sovereign over all and our Father, and releasing to Him any fear or anxiety that is present or may arise in the days to come.
Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/Loving God