Multiply I:1 - What is a Disciple?

"Come, follow Me."

Jesus' invitation to Peter, James, John, and the other original disciples are just as relevant to us today in the 21st century as they were in those early days of Christianity.  We must never become so busy in our lives that we neglect the central commands of Jesus to "follow Me" -and- to "go and make disciples."

Through this material freely offered by Francis Chan, we as Christians are challenged to revisit what these commands mean, to examine ourselves in our obedience in heeding the call, and to be equipped to do so.  Some portions of the materials are elementary refreshers of truths we are well familiar with; other portions present us with a mirror to reflect upon our own spiritual journey.  Through it all, Chan presents a cohesive overview of the Bible as a singular narrative from Genesis to Revelation, illuminating the grand design established from the very beginning.

The complete text of the book can be found at multiplymovement.com, not only as text on a web page, but as downloadable PDFs, -and- MP3s of Francis Chan reading each chapter.  Additionally, the book is available on Amazon.com here.

I invite you to join us as we make our way through this book, and deeper yet, the great Book it points to!  Christ & Coffee meets at Dunkin Donuts in Woodsville, NH on Thursday mornings at 7:30 AM.  We would love to see you there!

Love in Christ,
Pastor Joe

Part I - Living as a Disciple Maker: What is a Disciple?

1. Up to this point in your life, would you call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ? Why do you say that? Do you see evidence of your faith as described in Luke 6:40?
2. Read Ephesians 2 carefully and take some time to consider the truths it presents. Do you trust in the death of Christ for your salvation? Do you ever struggle with believing you need to do something to save yourself?
3. Evaluate your approach to following Jesus. Would you say that you view Jesus as your Lord, Master, and Owner? Why or why not?
4. As you look at your life, how would you say that your love for God is shown in your actions? (If you’re having trouble coming up with an answer, take some time to think through some changes you may need to make in your lifestyle.)
5. If you choose to obey Jesus’s call to follow, what might it cost you? (Avoid being vague. If following Jesus would cost you specific possessions, comforts, or relationships, list them below.)
6. What might hold you back from following Jesus at this point? Are you willing to let go of these things if necessary?
7. Before you end this session, spend some time in prayer. Ask God to work in your heart and prepare you for what is ahead. You don’t need to have all the answers or know specifically how God will use you. He simply calls you to follow wherever He might lead. As you pray, be honest about your doubts, hesitations, and fears. Ask Him to give you the strength to proceed and follow Him no matter what the cost. In other words, place your faith in Him.

Disclaimer: These questions have been drawn from Francis Chan’s book “Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples,” and are posted here for further reflection and study in conjunction with the full text of the book found at MultiplyMovement.com.