Session One Recap

Mike Conan, Legacy staff, reminded us of the goal for this group and for the organization: for each of us to become disciples who will make disciples.

Bill Duppenthaler, Legacy staff, discussed the "need" around us that was the driving force behind the start of Legacy and continues to be a huge reality as we observe the guys around us.

The NEED is significant on three levels:

1. So many guys have wandered away from their faith and need to get reconnected to Jesus.

2. Most guys do not have a “3am friend” or a small group of “brothers in Christ” around them encouraging them in their faith & in life.

3. While most followers of Christ would agree that making disciples (fulfilling the “Great Commission” of Jesus from Matt 28:19) is a crucial part of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, very few are actually actively involved in “making disciples”.

The CALL to multiply and make disciples: (see below)

Mike walked us through an overview of how the Bible from the very beginning has had the theme of "multiplying" from Genesis all the way to the end of Jesus' life in Matt 28:19 where He told his disciples to "go make disciples!" We also discussed the difference between being a "Christian" and a "Disciple" being like a bystander or a participant.

Mike then previewed for us where we are going for the next three sessions - diving into Mark 3 where Jesus...

1. Called them - how are we called?

2. To be with Him TOGETHER

3. And to send them out to make disciples

Challenges to think and pray about before our next session:

1. Become aware of the spiritual needs/opportunities of guys around you.

2. Do you think YOU are called to be a disciple-maker?

3. Is it possible that YOU are called to be a disciple-maker specifically with Legacy?

Homework - To be completed in the next two weeks:

1) Listen to these three podcasts from the "Legacy Discipleship Podcast" (Apple, Spotify, Google) or www.ourtruelegacy.com :

Episode 3 - Seven things that are killing men

Episode 4 - One thing you need to change the world

Episode 7 - Are you simply a Christian or a disciple?

2) Plan to meet 1 x 1 (phone or in-person) with either Bill or Mike in the next 2 weeks to discuss all this stuff personally, prior to our next zoom call.

Session #1 Teaching Notes
The Core of Discipleship
Genesis 1, Luke 6, Mark 3, Mattew 28

One of the things Jesus did was follow the rabbinical custom and gather a group of disciples whom he would invest in for years.  These disciples, after being together with Jesus, were then charged to go into the world and make disciples themselves.  Discipleship was the centerpiece of our Lord’s earthly ministry.  Throughout the New Testament followers of Jesus are called disciples 260+ times and Christians a handful of times.

Questions:

What do you think it means to be a disciple?

What are the characteristics of a disciple?

Is there a difference today between being a disciple and being a Christian?  Should there be?

Genesis 1:27-28

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Questions:

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

How has sin impacted being made in God’s image?

What did God want to fill the earth with? Hint: use verse 27 to understand verse 28

How can we today live out this first mission?

Luke 6:12, Mark 3:13-19

“Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God. When morning came, Jesus called to him those he wanted, and they came to him… He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Questions:

What stood out to you from this story?

What do we learn about discipleship from these verses?

Over the next few months, we are going to break these verses down into three sections, 1) called by Jesus, 2) being with Jesus and 3) being sent out by Jesus.

Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

How does the call in Matthew 28 tie in with Genesis 1 and Mark 3?

What can we learn about our mission from these three passages?