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Disciples in Every Area of Life

April 23 | DNA Guide

Be Real Together:

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DNA, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DNA share their story.

Read Together: Matthew 4:18-20 ESV; Matthew 19:16-22 CSB

The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or DNA.

On Sunday, Pastor Sean shared about the "5 Spheres of Life," the areas a disciple needs to grow (see image below). We tend to compartmentalize discipleship. We have a small vision for what areas of our lives need discipleship, and how. Jesus invites us to follow him completely, which means every area of our lives needs to be discipled. Which areas of your life have you not really viewed as part of your discipleship?

Grow Together:
Use these questions to go deeper with your DNA or for personal study.

  1. In Matthew 4:19 we see the general calling of disciples: "Follow me." It’s about a big picture decision to respond to the Gospel and follow. That's good, but our discipleship can not end there. “Most people in America, when they are exposed to the Christian faith, are not being transformed. They take one step into the door, and the journey ends. They are not being allowed, encouraged, or equipped to love or to think like Christ. Yet
    in many ways a focus on spiritual formation fits what a new generation is really seeking. Transformation is a process, a journey, not a one-time decision.”― (David Kinnaman, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters).     How does this quote resonate with you?

  2. In Matthew 19:17-19, we see the particular calling of disciples: "keep the commandments." They're specific and personal. Some people are comfortable inviting God into the generalities, but they never invite him into the particulars. This is dangerous territory and we run the risk of creating “a Jesus” in our own image. Others are so focused on the particulars that they forget to see God as Lord over their lives in general. They run the risk of becoming legalistic, becoming so fixated on doing the right thing that they forget who they’re following to begin with. Do you tend towards one of those extremes? 

  3. Every area of our lives is undergoing a discipleship process:
    • as we ABIDE within relationship with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
    • within the CHURCH (groups, ministry, family of God, conflict resolution)
    • within the HOME & FAMILY (spouse, parents, children, singleness)
    • within the WORLD (employee/employer, hobbies, friends, neighbors)
    • within the SPIRITUAL REALM (we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, Armor of God)
      Is there one or more area(s), you'd like to be intentional about growing in as a disciple of Jesus in this season? Share more with your Group/DNA. Feel free to use the 5 Spheres of Life Personal Reflection Questions below if it's helpful for considering how to grow.

Pray Together:

Take time to pray with and for each other.

Deeper Study:

Commentaries:

5 Spheres of Life // Personal Reflection Questions:
  • Abiding Relationship with God: Do I know what Jesus commands? Am I submitted to him? Does my life bear fruit as a result of abiding in Christ? Am I putting what I learn to practice? Using my gifts? Following where Jesus leads?
  • Church: Do I understand what the Bible teaches about the church and the importance of my engagement therein? Am I growing in love for other believers? Am I growing in relational skills I need in order to have healthy relationships with other believers? Am I using my gifts to build up others?
  • Home & Family: Do I seek to understand what God values for my household / family interactions? Do I love and serve my family as Christ has loved and served me? In what ways is my posture towards my family incongruent with what I believe?
  • World: Am I tuned in with God’s mission for the world? Do I see the world through a Biblical lens or my own? What parts of the world / culture am I holding onto too tightly? What do I need to lay down in order to be more set apart for Christ? What parts of the world / culture am I holding onto too tightly? What do I need to lay down in order to be more set apart for Christ?
  • Spiritual Realm: Do I live with a mental awareness that I’m in a spiritual battle? Have I kept my heart pure and put on the armor of God lately? Is there sin I need to renounce / activities I need to cast off that are dragging me into a direction I don’t want to go?