In the Workshop--Lesson 17--Make Me a Servant--John 13; Exodus 21 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.     What does it mean to take up your cross to follow Jesus?  How do you live this out in practical ways throughout your days?  What makes this a challenge to do?

2.     What would you say your eternal purpose is?  What gifts, resources, and opportunities has the LORD blessed you with to fulfill your eternal purpose?  What hinders you from fulfilling this purpose?

3.     What struggles do you face with desiring to be recognized for the service you do for others?  What tips would you give for growing in humility?  How does knowing who you are and where you are going help with this?

4.     What is the difference in serving and being a servant?  How does knowing your role of being a servant help you feel secure, or does it? 

5.     How does self-sufficiency show one is insecure?  How does self-sufficiency hinder working together as a community?  How does being servant-minded assist in building community?

6.     Why do you suppose none of the apostles volunteered to take on the role of washing feet?  What struggle do you have with trying to be Jesus the LORD instead of Jesus the servant?

7.     How does seeing Jesus as the servant willing to be pierced out of His love for His Master, His wife, and His children help you understand your role as an apprentice of His?  Why is it important that Jesus still wears the scars from the choice He made to die to self and serve His Master?  Do you have any scars from choosing to serve your Master for life?  What are they?

8.     Why do we tend to be more like those who ate and were satisfied instead of those who are transformed?  How does the role of being a servant help you see more of the power of God?  How does this assist in your transformation into a true apprentice or disciple of Jesus?

9.     Where do you practice service?  What specific places do you intentionally take on the role of servant?  How much recognition do you wish you would receive from it?

In the Workshop--Lesson 16--The Art of Hospitality--Luke 15 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.     In what ways have you experienced being a stranger or orphan?  What do you see from the word for “hospitality” being made up of two words in the Greek, the word for love (philo) and the word for strangers or outsiders (xenia)?

2.     What is the difference in hospitality and entertaining people?  Why was hospitality in Old Testament times so challenging?  What do you like or dislike about what hospitality was like in Old Testament times?

3.     Why is it important to focus on reaching those who are outsiders, and not just exclusively on a relationship with God?  How did Tony Campolo’s example of throwing a birthday party for Agnes inspire you?  Who do you know that is an outsider?

4.     How should our church provide hospitality to those who will never join us for worship? 

5.     What makes accepting hospitality from others difficult to do?  How has this unfortunate attitude crept into our relationship with God?  How has God offered you hospitality?

6.     What is table fellowship?  How did Jesus constantly offer table fellowship to the people He encountered?  How is communion a form of table fellowship?  How do you feel about being invited to the table with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?

In the Workshop--Lesson 15--Living in Community--Luke 22; Matthew 18 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  How is intentionally choosing to live within community a practice that helps you be a better apprentice of Jesus?  How did Jesus demonstrate through His lifestyle that community was important to Kingdom fulfillment?

2.  Who would you say knows your story well enough that they could tell it accurately?  Why is it important to have people who know us this well?  Whose story could you tell?

3.  How does community provide strength and support in your life?  How surprised were you that the two legal pads were able to hold a bucket of bricks?  What did you learn about doing more than just rubbing up against people when it comes to being part of a church family?

4.  How has being part of community hurt you?  Why do so many find it difficult, or even impossible to stay when they have been hurt by community?  How would things be different in your life if Jesus chose not to stay when you did something to hurt Him?

5.  Why does Jesus emphasize that it is when two or three are gathered that He is with them (Matthew 18:20)?  How does the context prior to His statement (Matthew 18:15-17) influence what He is saying?  What is Jesus teaching here about the importance of unity and community?

6.  What is the purpose behind removing someone from the community of the church for disciplinary purposes?  What does it say about the low level of understanding of the importance of community when people will choose to remove themselves from meeting with other believers?  How, or in what ways have you been tempted to quit being part of Kingdom community or church fellowship?

7.  What does it mean that we have been given a ministry of reconciliation?  How is Jesus’ example with the Rich Young Ruler helpful in understanding what “staying” or “offering a breath mint” should look like when dealing with potential offensive situations?