I was asked to unpack some of my suggestions as to what is efficacious in making disciples of Jesus Christ. My first suggestion is that TRUTH transforms people.
In Jn 8:32 Jesus challenges a group of people by saying "the truth will set you free". In the next verse they respond by saying that they were already free. Jesus then goes on to explain that they didn't even know how bad of a situation they were in.
Too many people today have been deceived and they don't even know it! In 2 Cor 10:5 Paul clearly states that we must demolish the arguments and pretensions that are enemies of God and take every thought captive to obedience of Christ. This is the "renewing of the mind" which Paul also describes in Romans 12:2
Wrong beliefs lead to wrong behaviors lead to wrong feelings. The key to changing one's emotions is to bring the underlying assumption into accord with truth.
Our classes and small groups must be places where we discover God's truth and where we are unafraid and unashamed to speak truth about one one another. If we are not grounded in truth our times together will be no more transformational than a TV talk show.
Truth matters because as Paul wrote to the Ephesians "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Eph 4:15)
These thoughts are great and good to keep in mind when considering what bible study material to go through as a group or how to better tailor the study material you are going through to make it more effective.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the other thoughts you will unpack for us :0)