Introduction
Getting connected
1. What was a highlight of the last month?
2. What has God been saying to you in his Word lately?
Teaching
Watch the video from “One By One”.
3. Joann said she would not be back the next week because she didn’t have the courage. What does this tell us about the challenge of an unchurched person walking into a church?
4. Joann said she did not believe there was a heaven. What would likely have happened if Pastor Rosenau had tried to change her mind?
5. Joann’s husband, Dick, didn’t believe there was a God and said that men wrote the Bible, not God. How did pastor’s response demonstrate both humility and confidence?
6. After Joann died, why could pastor’s wife say that what they had sacrificed for him to become a pastor would have been worth it if it was just for Joann?
7. Pastor Rosenau does a really good job of treating Joann as an individual. What did he miss?
Bible study
8. When Jesus wanted to spread his ideas, he told people “Come follow me and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19) When he finished his work and wanted his people to spread the news, he told them, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) He didn’t say things like, “Come follow me and I’ll make you smarter.” He didn’t say, “Go inform everyone”. He said make disciples. What makes Jesus prefer “make disciples” instead of “make you smarter”?
9. CS Lewis once said, “Being a great theologian can easily be mistaken for being a good Christian.” What do you think he meant? Are you a better theologian or Christian?
10. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Jesus is connecting at least two important biblical truths here. What are they? Then discuss some of the ways Jesus did so well speaking to his own sheep.
Getting it into our lives
11. I don’t think that it takes any great spiritual ability or skill to be able to do what Pastor Rosenau did. Have you? What kind of response do you have to the idea? (Confused, excited, scared, overwhelmed, etc).
12. Think of a person you would like to love better with the love of Jesus. I would guess that person doesn’t believe in Jesus or follow Jesus well. What do you know about this person’s past experience that is particular to them? (Don’t assume you don’t know; you probably just don’t realize you know.)