Investing Like Jesus

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 ESV

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Take time for discussion regarding the personal study sessions. Invite those who are willing to share something God did in their lives or taught them in His Word this week.

After a few minutes, engage in the following discussion.

Do you know what a “forge” is? It’s a blazing oven used to melt metal so that it can be strengthened and shaped into something more useful and beautiful.

This study is about the environments and relationships that form disciples. As you think about the spaces where you have grown the most and the relationships that have literally “forged” you, start this week with prayer. Consider allowing several group members to pray as you begin. Remember Ms. Clara’s words that prayer isn’t a spare tire for emergencies; it’s a steering wheel we hold tightly as we follow Jesus.

Let’s begin by praying for one another by name. Pray for significant spiritual growth. Pray for Christlike countenance. Pray for healthy discipleship relationships with those who lead you and those you are positioned to lead. Pray for spiritual multiplication and for God’s will to be done in and through you.

Based on this clip, how would you describe this meeting of men?

Looking around the circle of older mentors and younger men in The Forge, we catch a glimpse of what true community can and should be like in the church. Describe the best experience of community you’ve seen in the church.

What are some reasons (or maybe excuses) for why this type of community isn’t often “forged” or found in the life of the church today. How can we, as a group, be involved in changing that?

READ the following verses and note the elements and attributes that God wants to be present in Christian community.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2 Community

Here we see the body of believers just after Pentecost

they have accepted the Lord

They are following in obedience to the Lord

In this obedience we see a beautiful example of discipleship

specifically discipleship as a body of believers

instead of individually

Not only do we see an example we see results

the results of obedient discipleship are endless

we see they had things in common

they lived together as their own community

unity amidst the believers

they took care of each other

above all things the Lord was using their community to impact the lost world around them!

When we are obedient to the Lord we see a grand design of structure and order that follows

Galatians 6:1–2 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Here we see Paul encouraging the church at Galatia

knowing that Galatia had struggled with the law

we know the temptation to the law was difficult

Galatia has now been transformed into a body unified for the Lord

we see a body being told to uphold one another

hold each on accountable

bear burden’

s together

do not leave people to struggle and suffer on their own

come along side physically and spiritually and love them like yourself

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Here in Hebrews we see an encouragement

to stir one another up

to mix things up

to stoke the fire

to build each other up

to keep each other revived

we call this many different things but it is simply building up together

Have you ever laid a log on fire off by itself

if you put it off by itself it will slowly go out

it needs the help of the other pieces of wood

the heat and fuel that they provide are vital to the health of the fire

once they are split up they burn for a short while then diminish to smoldering coals

the church operates in the same way

we need each other

we each are a log in the fire

when we go off on our own we often will leave ourselves in an environment that is not conducive for fire

instead we drift in our obedience to the Lord

we drift in our understanding of the Lord

we change our will to counter God’s

our spiritual fire begins to die

we are to build one another up

meet together to encourage each other and keep the fires burning

Colossians 3:12–14 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Paul in Colossians calls for the church yet again to come together humbly

loving and forgiving each other

reflecting the love that Christ first showed to us

love is the binding piece to discipleship

love is the general theme of the Bible concerning God’s attributes

God’s love is limitless

we as disciples must be loving and nurturing in our relationships

prayerfully seeking where God would have us move

not discipling out of obligation but out of LOVE

1 Corinthians 12:12–26 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Lastly Paul refers to the body

he refers to the fact that when one part of the body hurts the rest of the body feels the pain

the body must be unified and working together

a body of believers has many parts with many different functions

when used appropriately everything will work in unity with love and care for each other

What takeaways do you have from these passages regarding community, authenticity, unity, and diversity?

Which of these seems most challenging to you? Why?