Discussion Questions: "A Discipler's Aim"

AUTHENTIC CHURCH
A Discipler’s Aim

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Discuss some or all of the following questions.

1. During the sermon, we imagined Apostle Paul sharing dinner with us to have a tough conversation with us. If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive to have a tough conversation with you who would it be and why?
2. Re-read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-10. What about the gospel message energizes Paul to work night and day as a tent-maker and then to work some more as a disciple-maker when he was “off the clock?”
3. How does Paul’s example in these verses challenge you as a disciple-maker?  
   1. How are you thinking differently about being a representative of Jesus at work?
   2. How does Colossians 3:23 challenge your current view of work?  
   3. Who is the one person at work (or neighborhood) God wants you to care for, serve, and pray for?
4. Read Colossians 4:5-6. 
   1. Who do you think are the “outsiders?” 
   2. What does it mean to act wisely?
   3. How might living wisely lead to opportunities to talk about God?
   4. What things from your speech or attitudes need to change in order for you to be gracious and appropriate?
5. How can your Community Group follow Paul’s example of urging one another to live up to one's profession of faith for the sake of Jesus' Church and the Gospel?
6. Re-read 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12. How did Sunday’s teaching exhort, encourage, and charge you to walk in a manner worthy of God?
   1. If we examined how you stewarded your time, talent, and treasure last week, what would we conclude that you’re living for?  Was it the life of a disciple-maker? 
   2. What do you live for?  Is it the three eternal things of God, God’s Word and the souls of men?  What is something in your life that prevents you from living for these things?
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PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP
Paul, Silas, & Timothy began their relationship with the Thessalonians through evangelism. They were compelled by the gospel to share the gospel—and their lives—with the Thessalonians. Finish your time together by asking God to grow you as evangelists and disciple-makers. Prayer is an essential discipline—not only to grow in our relationship with the Lord, but also to develop the habit of deliberately thinking about others’ interests.

PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT