“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2: 6-7.

What Paul is saying in this Colossians passage is that you don’t start with something else and then move on to Jesus. There’s no next step or graduating from Jesus to something else. It starts and ends with Jesus. Paul is reminding us to live in Christ. Not just around Him, not just beside Him, but in Him. Christ is not just another element of our lives or a compartment in them. He should be the central part of every area of our lives. Christ lives in us, and we are to reflect that in everything we do and everywhere we go.

The Bible uses the imagery of tree roots to emphasize the importance of a strong faith foundation, the need to address the root causes of issues, and the potential for growth and resilience when we are deeply connected to God. Our faith is the same way. The deeper we go in our relationship with Christ, the greater our impact becomes. Are we spending time with Him, seeking Him, and His wisdom? Our roots must dig deep into Christ through His Word, worshipping Him, and reflecting His character to those around us.

Each plant thrives in a specific location and environment. And so do we. Certain plants need sun while others do not. But even when planted in the perfect location, root development is critical. Trees need time until their roots spread far enough to support them in heavy winds. Water is essential as well. God has planted or transplanted us, even in some cases, not ideal conditions. The reality is that the deeper our roots are in Jesus and His Word, the stronger we will be when faced with life’s challenges. When we have deep roots, we can weather the storm of change, lies, guilt, or difficulty. Psalm 1:3 says, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”  It takes faith.

Jesus calls us to be rooted in Him.  A life that is rooted in Jesus is a radically different life. It is not about doing extreme things. It is about living life centered on Him. It may seem different or even extreme to the rest of the world, and rightfully so. The teachings of Jesus turned the world upside down: the last become first, and the first end up last. It is the servants who are considered the greatest of all, manifesting the life and love of God.

God is committed to growing His people. He has rooted us in Christ through our salvation and fosters our growth through the Holy Spirit working through His Word.. Paul says in Galatians 4:19,”Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

The practical application in Colossians 2:6 is to walk in Him in everything. Let this reality transform everything you do, everything you think, everything you desire, everything you say, every decision you make, every interaction you have, do all of it through and with Him.   

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to “walk in Him?” How does this compare to the idea of following Jesus? 
2. What does it mean to be “rooted and built up in Him?”
3. In what areas of your life do you need to be more rooted and built up in Christ? 

Summary: Following Jesus is a lifelong journey that requires consistent effort and practice, not just a one-time decision. It’s about aligning one’s life with His teachings and example, embracing His values, and living a life of discipleship. This involves daily habits of prayer, reflection, and actively choosing to live following His teachings.

Being Christian is not at all natural to us, nor do we achieve being Christian by instinct. Faith and spiritual growth are not passive processes but require intentional effort and active engagement. It emphasizes that becoming a more authentic Christian involves making conscious choices, taking deliberate actions, and pursuing God’s will. Spiritual growth is cultivated through consistent practice and intentional effort.

Our growth in Christ doesn’t come via osmosis, nor is there a passive transfer of God’s character and heart without real practice. Our efforts without practice will be littered with frustrations and failures, starts and stops, like so many New Year’s resolutions. No, we have to allow God to direct our path, to have faith in His leading, to wait upon Him, to surrender and let go of our agenda, exercise faith, to wait on the Holy Spirit for direction. God has a good plan for your life. His will is for you to walk forward, confident in His love, trusting Him to take care of you all along the way. Moving forward means walking toward the purpose God has for us.

In Jeremiah 29:1-11, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to the nation of Israel as they navigate a difficult time. He tells them that while they were waiting for deliverance, they needed to live intentionally, showing up for each day. Even though they didn’t have what they wanted, God still had a mission for them to accomplish, and they needed to practice their faith and trust in God.

The reality is that God doesn’t always provide the answers we want, even though we work hard following Him. It is hard to know when we are face-to-face with trials and troubles. It is in these times that we are called to faithfully live out God’s mission every day by putting our faith into action. We continue practicing the way by caring for our families, loving our neighbors, and participating in a church community. Whether they are large or small, each day we find ways to live on mission for God intentionally.

The Christian journey is not a passive state but a journey of growth and development. This growth involves studying God’s Word, praying regularly, engaging in meaningful conversations with others, and actively living out one’s faith in daily life

Being Christian takes practice.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some practical ways you are or could be practicing the way of God? What hinders your pursuit of God, and what helps you overcome these obstacles? 

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates.

Once you commit your life to Christ, you start the process of becoming more like Jesus. A necessary part of this process is continually taking an honest inventory of our lives to see where we need to seek transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool we can use to grow closer to and encounter God in the inner workings of our hearts and lives. Regular reflection is something that we, as Christians, need to incorporate into our daily lives. Reflecting on who we are, who God is making us to be, how God is working in us, and how God is working around us will allow us to live more fully Christian lives. Christian reflection will help us reorient ourselves toward God. It may not come naturally to some of us, but it is a great spiritual practice that can truly deepen our relationship with God.

We can take an honest look at ourselves and see our weaknesses and our strengths. Reflection also allows us to keep our spiritual things at the forefront of our minds. If we reflect daily on what God is doing and has done in our lives, it makes living in God’s presence much easier for us. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

In this passage, David comes before God to be searched. He knows not the depths of his own heart and sinfulness, and requests that the Lord search the deep things of his heart, so he can process them and grow. We also need to check our spiritual status from time to time. To do that will require guidance from God and intentional self-reflection.

The spiritual practice of soul searching is hard, but the benefits of the discomfort and, yes, even the pain, are so worth it.  It is through recognizing, acknowledging, and releasing these difficult personal things to God that we are drawn closer to Him.  It is here that we discover God has given us a greater purpose: a purpose that revolves around us.  It is here that we learn to live our lives according to God’s design.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you see self-reflection as a spiritual tool? Yes or no, and why?
2. How can we make that tool a part of our lives?

“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” ― Matthew 28:5-7.

Central in all of history is the resurrection of Jesus. After He arose, He appeared to some people. Some of those to whom He appeared were women who had come to the tomb where He had been buried, expecting Him still to be dead. But He wasn’t. In a very short period of time, they went from experiencing deep sorrow to exceeding great joy. They realized that their Savior was alive and quickly went to tell the good news to all the others.

Imagine for a second the scene. Jesus cried, “It is finished.” He died, and the people there knew He was dead. On that same day, He was buried and was in the grave. Then He arose, just as He said that He would. It was real. His body could be touched. Jesus expressed this. He said: “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” (Luke 24:39).

Yet the disciples did not expect the resurrection. They did not expect it, even though Jesus had spoken of it repeatedly. For example, Jesus had said this to His disciples, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Matthew 20:18-19). Yet even after what He said would happen did happen, even after He had been crucified just as He had said that He would be, they still did not expect Him to rise from the dead.

So these women came to the grave expecting Him still to be dead. They had seen the place where He was buried two days before.  They went to the grave with some spices that they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1). It was an act of love, to be sure. Yet they should not have been seeking the living among the dead.

As they went to the grave, they thought about the big stone that was put in front of the sepulcher. They wondered who was going to roll that stone away from the opening, so that they could get in. Yet when they got close enough to see the stone, they noticed that it had already been rolled away.

When these women saw and heard Jesus, they came close to Him. They recognized Him. While these women were holding Jesus and worshiping Him, “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matt. 28:10).

Imagine the joy that must have filled their hearts as they quickly brought the disciples the news.

Discussion Questions:

1. What emotions would you have experienced if you were one of these women, finding the tomb empty?
2. How does the resurrection provide hope for today and for eternity? 
3. How does the resurrection inspire you to live out your faith in the world? 

Summary: Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, signifying victory over death and a promise of eternal life. It’s a time for Christians to rejoice in God’s love and grace, and to reflect on the profound implications of Christ’s death and resurrection from the grave.

Easter is special because it celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, a pivotal event in Christianity that brings hope and offers the promise of eternal life. It marks the triumph of life over death and the restoration of a relationship with God, reminding believers of the transformative power of God’s love. The resurrection of Jesus is the central tenet of Christian belief, proving His divinity and offering hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him. But now that Easter has come and gone, what’s next? Does everything go back to normal? Do we go back to living our regular everyday lives?

The temptation is to return to our safe, everyday routines and view the Easter weekend as the spiritual highlight of the year. Or we could let Easter transform our lives. There were hundreds of people, including the disciples, who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. Many of Jesus’ disciples were present for His arrest, trial, flogging, and crucifixion. While some fled in fear, others, including Peter, followed at a distance. John the apostle was present at the foot of the cross. The disciples witnessed Jesus being taken into custody, interrogated, and eventually sentenced to death. The Gospels mention various people, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Roman soldiers, who were present and presumably witnessed His death on the cross. Yet, He appeared to over 500 people. Think for a moment about Jesus’ disciples and the hundreds of people who saw Him after He rose from the dead. How could they go back to their everyday lives? If we were there and witnessed what they had, could you go back to life as usual? Probably not.

Knowing that Jesus rose from the dead is widely believed to have had a profound and transformative impact on the lives of the disciples, particularly those who witnessed the resurrection. This belief in Jesus’s resurrection is seen as a primary catalyst for their courage, confidence, and willingness to proclaim the Gospel, even in the face of persecution and death. The same should be true of us. If you know Christ is living and you trust Him as your own Savior, then you should live it out. Tell others. Invest in the lives of others. Let Christ’s love, which so transforms you.

Jesus isn’t just a “good guy” — He’s our Savior, worthy of all praise and attention. We were made for a relationship with Him, a consistent prayer life with Him, and a committed practice of reading His Word. Even in the busyness of our lives, we must tend to our relationship with Jesus every day.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you let Easter be a passing holiday? How can you change that?
2. What is your basic answer to the question, “Does Easter matter?”

“ Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).’ – Matthew 27:32-33.

It’s a natural human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Much of our lives is shaped around this instinct. We’re innately inclined to turn away from what hurts, and to seek safety in what’s pleasurable and familiar. We cling to what’s secure, safe, and feels good in our circumstances and relationships. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, because we were designed to value life.

But following God often means coming out of our comfort spots and setting ourselves aside for His glory. He wants us to trust Him, but we can only do that when we let go and obey. More likely, Simon (mentioned in Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, and Luke 23:26) had other things to do that day than get personally involved in Jesus’ crucifixion. His plans and agenda were interrupted when he was given an order to carry the bloody cross for Jesus. It was hard work, bloody, and humiliating, but he carried the cross for Christ and walked with him in His most difficult hours. In doing so, he became part of the greatest story in history.

What a powerful example of what Jesus had taught just a short time before. Even more significant is that what Simon was forced to do, Jesus did willingly. He subjected himself to public mockery, severe beatings, and one of the most horrific deaths the world has ever come up with. As the Son of God, He didn’t have to endure anything; He allowed Himself to be a prisoner of the Roman soldiers. Even in those last excruciating hours nailed to the cross, He could have opted out. But Jesus understood his suffering was not about Him; it was the only way to restore sinners to the heavenly Father.

God doesn’t force us to follow him either. He doesn’t put the cross on us, but asks us to pick it up willingly. Our decision will cost us something; there’s heavy lifting, rejection, and personal interruptions. Actually, it will cost us everything. The only way to get the life we work so hard to protect is to give it back to God and trust Him to take care of it.

Luke is the only Gospel that says Simon carried the cross behind Jesus. “As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (luke 23:26). All the other Gospels that mention say he carried it. Does Luke want us to remember Luke 9:23, where he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”  

The Christian faith is the cross and resurrection, sacrificial love, and life. We who are followers of Jesus Christ surrender to the life and death of Christ so that he will be glorified through us. Simon carried the cross provided for Jesus, and that is precisely what we must do today. Simon of Cyrene, who followed behind Jesus with the cross, is a picture of discipleship. Christ has gone first, but can we follow in his steps, bearing the cross behind Him? It is reminiscent of the lyrics to the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” written by the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh: “I have decided to follow Jesus; The world behind me, the cross before me; Though none go with me, still I will follow; My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Simon an example of discipleship?
2. What can we learn from Simon’s willingness to help Jesus? 
3. In what ways are we often “compelled” to do things we don’t want to do, but that may be part of God’s plan for us?
   

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”  – Proverbs 25:28.

The family is sitting around the dinner table enjoying a meal. It is not all that interesting, but everyone is engaged. Suddenly, Aunt Thelma decides to turn her political opinions into moral measuring sticks, and in a matter of a few seconds, people are irritated, heat rises, nerves fray, and the worst version of you begs to come out in a clear, concise rant. But you look around and decide that you will never argue someone into a change of opinion on any topic they are invested in, at least not in the moment or a forum like a family dinner, so you say nothing.

That, in a nutshell, is the concept of self-control. In the Bible, self-control, also known as temperance or self-discipline, is a fundamental virtue, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and essential for living a godly life. It involves restraint and moderation in thoughts, words, actions, and desires.

But it’s hard to display self-control when it feels like someone else does things out of our control and triggers our basic instincts. When someone else’s actions or statements threaten us, we have a choice. It may feel like we don’t have a choice, but we do. When we react by yelling or flying off the handle, or silencing them with a snappy comment back, it can be seen as a failure to live according to God’s will and can reflect a lack of faith and trust in His guidance.

Isaiah 55:10-11 is a good reminder of how we can tap into God’s power no matter our situation: “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Did you catch that? The answer to keeping God’s power with me and working in me to produce self-control is letting His Word get inside me. His Word seeping into my mind and my heart will accomplish the things that help me display self-control. So when facing a situation where someone is getting on your last good nerve, remember God’s word. 1 Peter 5:6-8 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

In the moment, choose to have self-control. When somebody is treading on your last nerve, realize that you have an enemy, but it is not the person irritating you.  The devil is prowling and roaring and looking to make us lose self-control. We fight that happening by staying humble and quietly letting God have His way in us right now. And when we do this, God will lift us and our frayed nerves up from this situation and fill us with a much better reaction than what we can give Aunt Thelma in the moment.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some ways we can show self-control by honoring God with our emotions?
2. How can we seek God’s help through prayer to develop self-control?
3. How can we cultivate self-control through accountability and surrounding ourselves with fellow believers?
   

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” ― Luke 14:28.

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the economic feasibility of a project or decision by comparing its projected costs and benefits. It involves listing all costs and benefits, converting them to a common monetary value, and then comparing them to determine if the potential benefits outweigh the costs. The project is generally considered worthwhile if the benefits exceed the costs.

Cost-benefit analysis is pretty common in business, but what about doing a CBA with Jesus? How do we weigh the benefits versus the costs of following Jesus? Many people want to follow Jesus but without thinking about the hard parts because following Jesus is hard. The Apostle Paul knew the cost of following Jesus. He wrote in a letter, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

What will it cost you to follow Jesus? Each of us has our cross to carry, and your struggle may differ from others, but the challenging part is you don’t get to pick your struggle. Jesus does. If you follow Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him. Trusting Jesus even when you don’t know the details of how He’s going to do it. You don’t even know where the difficulties are. You don’t know the details, but you follow Jesus because you trust them. You follow because you think He can care for you, even if you don’t know how. You trust Him. In other words, it is faith.

Abram was a man with amazing faith. “The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). For Abram, the cost of following the Lord is that you have to leave your home and go to a different country. You would have questions. Where are we going? How long will we be gone? How far away is it? Is it hot there or cold? What’s my job going to be? Abram didn’t get to know those details. So, does he trust the Lord? Verse 4 says, “So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed…” If you keep following Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him.

So how did Abram do that? The Lord promised him that it would be worth it. He said, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3).

It will be worth it for you too.  You don’t know what it will cost you to keep following Jesus. Following Jesus can lead to a more profound sense of joy and happiness, rooted in faith, hope, and the love of God. While happiness can be found in various aspects of life, the promise of eternal life and a relationship with God through Jesus offers a unique and profound source of joy that transcends earthly limitations.

Discussion Questions:

1. Following Christ means dying to yourself. What does that mean in practical terms?
2. Do your views and opinions influence your friends? Why or why not? How do your peers respect your beliefs and values?