Family Values - Disciples 

Readings

Matthew 22:37-40 (New Living Translation)
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
 
Prayer
Father God, forgive us for the times we have been just like fans, not followers. Help us by the power of your Holy Spirit to be true and faithful disciples of Your precious Son, Jesus, and to show it by our love for You and our love for one another. Strengthen us to show this love every day, and to lead others into a growing relationship with this Your church and so into a growing relationship with You, O God. Loving God, help us to be disciples who make disciples – for our benefit and theirs, and to Your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
 
Questions to Consider

1. Are you just exploring Christian faith at the moment or would you say you are a committed follower of Jesus (i.e. a disciple)?
2. Take some time to think about people who have helped you along in your understanding of God and your relationship with Him. Who are/were they? How have they helped you?
3. Thinking about those same people, and the reading above, was/is their love for God and other people evident, and if so, how did it show itself?
4. How might someone who knows you well describe you? Would they see in you evidence of love for God, love for people, or both?
5. Think of some people that you really, really love. What is your “language of love” and how does that show itself towards those people?
6. Keeping that in mind… now think of some people whom you find difficult, for whatever reason. You might not like them… but how might you, maybe on your best day, express godly love towards them?
7. Who led you to faith in Jesus, and is there anyone you have done the same for? If not… who might you begin to invite, pray for and disciple? Who would you dearly love to see come to faith?