Follow

John 1:43

Other times we hear about Jesus telling someone to “follow”

“Follow” implies Command (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 2:20)

“Follow” implies Commitment

Obedience based on command → obedience based on commitment

“Follow” implies Community
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Faith in Christ is not just a single step - it’s a lifelong walk with Him.

Icebreaker: Just for fun, play “follow the leader” for a few minutes around your space. Why was this easy or hard?
What significant lessons did you learn from Brad’s message on Sunday?
Read the account of the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19:16–30, Mark 10:17–31, and Luke 18:18–30. What lessons can you glean from this event?
Notice the unusual phrase which only John Mark places in Mk 10:21, “And Jesus…loved him.” How does Jesus demonstrate his love for the man? How is Jesus demonstrating his love for you today?
It is possible that the Mark deviation from the Matthew and Luke accounts is a literary clue that Mark is the rich young ruler, similar to Mark’s veiled reference to himself in 14:51-52, where an apparently wealthy man has only his fine linen inner garments left after giving much of his possessions away. What does this reveal about Jesus’ command to follow him and how it affected Mark?
Consider spending a day this week following whatever Jesus commands you to do. This might mean in terms of not only activities, but also in how you perform them. At your next gathering, report back to your group what happened.

Pray for your group before and after you meet. Prayerfully work through the questions and bible passage yourself before you meet.
At the beginning of your first time together, explain that these groups are meant to be discussions not lectures. Encourage the members of the group to participate. However, do not put pressure on those who may be hesitant to speak during the first few sessions.
Avoid answering your own questions. However, leaders may set the tone by occasionally sharing their own answers without dominating the time or the discussion.
Learn to accept silence in the group while they process your questions.
Appropriately call upon quieter members when they seem to have something to share.
Acknowledge and thank group members for their sharing. Redirect the group if they get off-topic too much.
Don’t be afraid of controversy. It can be very stimulating. If you don’t resolve an issue completely, don’t be frustrated. Move on and keep it in mind for later. A subsequent study may solve the problem.
You may need to divide the group into smaller subsets (men, women, pairs, etc.) to help the time and participation to flow.
If possible, the group host should not also be the group shepherd/facilitator. This helps the group to eventually multiply as it grows larger.
Look for ways to share the tasks in the group to help build a healthy discipleship culture. Look for the persons God may be leading to serve as apprentice hosts or shepherds.