Following Jesus [Build] Discussion Guide

Summary

This sermon concludes a series on biblical discipleship, walking through the progression of believe, belong, become, and now build. Jonathan challenges the congregation to move beyond simply receiving discipleship and to actively pour into others, helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus. Drawing from Matthew 28 and Paul's letters to Timothy, the message makes clear that making disciples is not optional for followers of Jesus. It is the natural next step in the journey of faith.

Using the imagery of a master woodworker and Jesus washing His disciples' feet, Jonathan paints a picture of discipleship as humble, relational, and ongoing work. It requires presence, honesty, patience, and a willingness to speak truth even when it is uncomfortable. The goal is not to build a personal following or a comfortable faith, but to multiply the gospel through faithful people who invest in other faithful people, generation after generation.

Intro Prayer

Lord, thank You for bringing us together today. As we open Your Word and discuss what it means to be disciples who make disciples, we ask that You quiet our hearts and open our minds. Help us to set aside our own agendas and truly hear what You want to speak to each of us today. Give us humility to receive correction, courage to speak truth, and love that compels us to invest in others. We do not want to just talk about discipleship. We want to live it. Have Your way in this group, Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.

Ice Breaker

Who is someone in your life, inside or outside of church, who has genuinely invested in your growth as a person? What is one thing you remember about how they showed up for you?

Key Verses

- Matthew 28:18-20
- 2 Timothy 2:2
- 2 Timothy 4:2-4
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- John 13:12-17
- Romans 6:6

Questions

- Jonathan described discipleship as a four-step progression: believe, belong, become, and build. Where do you honestly see yourself in that progression right now, and what feels like the next step for you?
- In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul writes about passing truth on to trustworthy people who will then pass it on to others. What do you think makes someone a trustworthy or faithful person to pour into? What qualities come to mind?
- The sermon drew a contrast between cheap grace and costly grace, referencing Dietrich Bonhoeffer. How have you personally experienced the difference between a surface-level faith and a faith that actually costs you something?
- Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that people will eventually seek teachers who tell them only what they want to hear. Where do you see that pressure showing up in your own life or in the culture around you?
- Jesus washed His disciples' feet the night before He died, knowing one of them would betray Him. What does that act of humble service teach us about what it looks like to disciple someone even when it is inconvenient or painful?
- Jonathan said that real discipleship sometimes means saying hard things, like pointing out pride or gently confronting a poor decision. Have you ever had someone love you enough to tell you a hard truth? How did that shape you?
- The sermon emphasized that discipleship happens through relationships, not programs. What does a discipleship relationship actually look like in your day-to-day life? What would need to change for you to be more intentional about it?
- Jonathan closed with the challenge to build others toward Jesus, not toward a comfortable version of faith. Who is one person in your life right now that you could begin investing in spiritually, and what would that first step look like?

Life Application

This week, identify one person in your life who is at an earlier stage of their walk with Jesus. Reach out to them intentionally, whether through a coffee, a phone call, or a simple text. Let them know you are thinking about them and that you want to walk alongside them. Share with someone who is pouring into you how that conversation went and what you felt God stirring in you through it.

Key Takeaways

- Discipleship follows a clear biblical progression: believe in Jesus, belong to Jesus, become like Jesus, and then build others toward Jesus. Each step flows naturally into the next and none of them are optional.
- Paul's vision in 2 Timothy 2:2 is a multi-generational chain of faithful people passing on the truth of the gospel. Discipleship is not about expanding personal influence. It is about deepening the roots of faith in people who will outlast you.
- Jesus modeled discipleship through humble, servant-hearted action. Washing His disciples' feet the night before His death showed that making disciples means getting low, being present, and doing the unglamorous work of walking with people through their struggles.
- Healthy discipleship requires both encouragement and honest correction. Paul instructs Timothy to patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage. Discipleship that only encourages becomes flattery, and discipleship that only corrects becomes criticism. Both are needed, grounded in love.
- The gospel spreads through relationships, not programs. One faithful person pouring into another faithful person, who then pours into another, is how the kingdom of God actually grows.

Ending Prayer

Father, thank You for this time together and for the truth of Your Word. We confess that discipleship is not always easy. It requires humility, patience, and a willingness to put others ahead of ourselves. But You have shown us through Jesus exactly what that looks like. Help us to leave this place not just informed, but changed. Stir a hunger in each of us to be disciples who make disciples. Show us who You are calling us to pour into, and give us the courage and love to do it faithfully. May the gospel continue to spread through our relationships, one faithful person at a time. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.