The Work of a Disciple: Living Like Jesus
Copyright 1992, 2016 by Willow Creek Community Church
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
ePub Edition September 2016: ISBN 978-0-310-08122-7
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Originally produced by The Livingstone Corporation, with James C. Galvin, J. Michael Kendrick, Daryl J. Lucas, and Darcy J. Kamps, project staff.
Cover design: Kirk DouPonce, DogEared Design
Cover photography: The Image Bank / gettyimages.com
First Printing August 2016
In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes] or [Your Response Here]. Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).
CONTENTS
T he Walking with God Series was developed as the core curriculum for small groups at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. The material here flows out of the vision and values of this dynamic and world-renowned ministry. In the early years of Willow Creek, small groups using these studies produced many of the leaders, both staff and volunteer, throughout the church.
Don Cousins, who at the time was associate pastor at Willow Creek, wrote the first draft of this material and used it with his own small group. After testing it there, he revised it and passed his notes to Judson Poling, who was the director of curriculum development. He edited and expanded the outlines, and then several pilot groups helped retool the material. After the pilot groups completed the studies, a team of leaders labored through a yearlong, line-by-line revision. The revisions became the original six-volume Walking with God Series. Since its first publication in 1992, the series has sold more than one million copies and has been translated into seven languages.
Thirty years later, the authors have reworked the six-book series and created this updated and condensed edition, now 42 sessions in two volumes (instead of 78 sessions in six books). However, while there are fewer sessions overall, the authors have made sure this adaptation is true to the original and retains the distinctives of that proven study. They believe this new version will reach a whole new generation of Christ-followers who seek to become mature disciples of Jesus. A small group that uses and completes The Way of a Disciple: Walking with Jesus and The Work of a Disciple: Living Like Jesus will lay a solid foundation for a lifelong walk with God.
M ost of us have felt some measure of frustration with the church. At times we cant help feeling that the Spirit-driven, culturally relevant body of Christ has become a confused and ineffective institution. The church has been attacked from the outside and compromised on the inside, and in many places it is showing signs of wear. Those of us with the courage to be honest realize we have even made the situation worse on occasion. It is true there are churches that have been faithful witnesses for Christ, but too many others have been put to sleep.
Its one thing to declare, Things are bad. Its another to say, Heres the way out. Anybody can criticize. We must go further than diagnosewe must revive. We need to not only discover the church but also discover our place in it. We need to discover what contributions we can make to the church so it can again become the beautiful bride of Christ that God intended.
People must come together to become the church, but its rare to find members who come together to give and not just to take. Your small group is a perfect place to change this pattern. The first step toward contributing to the work can happen there. It is a place where you are able to experience not only the joy of the church in action but also feel the satisfaction of being players in Gods great plan.
By committing to this study, you are opening yourself up to some profound changes. You will never be able to look at the church in the same way, nor will you see yourself as you have in the past. This reality is the wonder of the church, the blessing of using our gifts, the satisfaction of being a contributorrelationally, emotionally, financially. This realization is what it means to discover the church.
PERSONAL STUDY: Psalm 145; Ephesians 1:122
SCRIPTURE MEMORY: Colossians 3:17
ON YOUR OWN: Jesus Mission and the Church
One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.
A. W. T OZER
Gods People
Having just moved to a new city, Daryl and Ruth were anxious to find a new church. They had written a list of musts their church had to havedynamic preaching and teaching, excellent music, a top-notch educational program, and activities for their children. But actually finding a church that met these qualifications was far more difficult than they imagined. Some churches they visited had great speakers but almost nothing for the youth. Others provided wonderful music in their worship services but had no commitment to evangelism or outreach.
Finally, after weeks of searching, Daryl and Ruth found what they were seeking. What ultimately tipped the scales for them was not what they originally expected. A sense of community existed among the members in this church that was infectious, and Daryl and Ruth realized this church was experiencing not only relevant teaching but also relevant living. This was a group they could worship with. These were people they could enjoy serving alongside. This was a place they could invite unchurched friends to attend without embarrassment. This was a community they could call home. They had foundand wanted to be part ofthe church.
Like Daryl and Ruth, we must keep in mind that the church ultimately is Gods peoplenot a building, a pastor, or even the special programs that we commonly think of when we hear the word church. This study will show you some of the biblical teaching that lays out how God intended the church to function.
Life in My Church
1. What are two words or phrases that best describe your church experience growing up? Explain your answer.