WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Follow

Introduction:

Everyone is invited to follow Jesus. Being a sinner doesn’t disqualify you. Being a doubter doesn’t disqualify you. The goal of following Jesus is a faith that overcomes our fear of the future or our current circumstances. It’s a faith that gives us peace. But what do people who follow Jesus look like? What do they wear?

Something To Talk About:

Christians all desire to be more like Jesus. We strive to live according to the wisdom and commands of God that are given in the Bible. What are Christian qualities? Christians should be God-fearing and humble. They should display the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 6: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. While no Christians possess these qualities perfectly, we must and will continually grow in them due to the Spirit’s work in us. So, what should we wear as Christians?

Compassion: Compassion is all about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, especially when they are having a hard time. It’s about trying to understand how they are feeling and then being proactive in wanting to help. Our primary goal is to love the Lord your God while loving your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-39). This means that compassion is not just an attribute of God but also a quality of His people.
Patience: We must be patient with others. And that’s not always easy. Many people we must deal with—and sometimes even live with—can be obstinate, frustrating, selfish, inconsiderate, and impossible to please. They say and do the wrong things at the wrong time. Sometimes, they are standing on our last nerve. At that point, we need to realize that patience flows from understanding. We are too quick to judge, and we are too prone to treat others harshly. They, too, have troubles—bills to pay, sick children, spouses to please, bosses to impress, and heartaches to bear. Because God is patient and long-suffering, we need to give the other person a break and be patient.
Kindness: Kindness is a lifestyle. It is a daily practice. It is a choice. And it takes time. A seed does not transform into a tree overnight, but with careful watering, tending, and patience, a seed will slowly grow day by day into a strong, towering tree. It is the same with kindness. Being kind should be our default mode, a habit of goodwill, a heart of continual service every day of the year. If kindness needs faithful practice every day, kindness also requires intentionality.
Forgiveness: Jesus’ teachings — in the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere — point us toward forgiving one another, and there’s a reason. Jesus knew that seeking revenge or even getting revenge doesn’t fulfill, and holding on to hatred and resentment only breeds more of the same. Forgiveness is a two-way street. It is a powerful display of love for the one being forgiven, but that’s not all. Jesus chose forgiveness. He offered that forgiveness freely, and He called for us to do the same.
Humility: If humility is defined as “thinking of others as more important than yourself,” then humility is something every Christian should wear. Considering others as more important than ourselves would seem strange before Jesus. But it’s difficult to be humble, even if you are. What is there about us that makes us want to receive credit? Why do we tend to compare ourselves to others? Why are we prone to find fault with others? In those times, in fact, we need to remember that Jesus became nothing during His life on earth, and He gives us His example so that we may follow in His steps. As John the Baptist said, ”He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30).
Love: We are commanded to love one another as Jesus does. There is not one person Jesus does not love and did not come to save, so by default; we should love everyone we lock eyes with, walk past on the street, hear about in the news, live next door to, or sit next to in class. Christian love is more than just a nice, heart-warming feeling. Love involves unselfish service to others and shows that you care. Not all of us can preach or teach. Not all of us can sing or play an instrument. Not all of us will go to foreign lands as missionaries. But we can all love, and love is the greatest witness of the Christian life.
Gentleness: A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. It requires great strength and self-control. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. In order to be gentle, we must not view ourselves as better than someone else. Rather than asserting superiority, someone who is gentle wants to help others, even when they have been done wrong.

Discussion Questions:

When you think of the word “Christian,” what qualities come to mind? Are they positive or negative? Why?
Are there times when we are more interested in making a point than making a difference? If so, what do we do?
Read Colossians 3:12–14. What are some challenges to living the kind of life Jesus calls His followers to live?
Which of the 7 attributes we wear when we follow Jesus is the easiest to do? Which is the most difficult. Are there attributes you think should be included in the list?
Think of one person in your life who is difficult to love. What is one thing you can do this week to love that person better?
Have you ever met someone choosing to trust God through enormously difficult circumstances? Did you find yourself wanting some of that?
The Sermon on the Mount portrays a life of perfect faith. Can you imagine how liberating that would be?
What was your main takeaway from this week’s message?

Take One Thing Home with You:

When Jesus called His disciples to “follow Him,” He spent the next several years training them to be like Him and to carry on His work. For this to happen, they needed to master specific competencies to do the job. When a master electrician trains a new apprentice, his goal is to make that novice competent in every area of their new job. Certain skills need to be mastered. Certain problems need to be solved. There is a certain baseline of knowledge that he or she needs to have to carry on the work. In the same way, Jesus trained His men in specific competencies so they could carry on the work He had begun. You may be asking, “What kind of competencies did Jesus train in His disciples?”

What kind of competencies is He trying to instill in us?