So you want to offer a Bible study that doesn’t use the PG tools. Here’s how to do it within a discipleship culture.
Key Points:
- External studies and resources can be good within a PG church.
- The good can become the enemy of the great if you’re not careful.
- If people do Bible study instead of disciple-making, you’ve got a problem.
- Make sure that everything you do adds to the bottom line.
Quote This:
Ephesians 4:11-12 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- In your own words, define “sideways energy”.
- Make a list of some of the things that can become “sideways energy” in your church.
- Describe a Bible study that you have attended in the past. How many of the faithful attendees were actively discipling people outside of the study?
- Why do you think some people would rather attend a Bible study than actively invest in someone else through disciple-making?
- Read Ephesians 4:11-12. What is the ministry leader’s job? How well are you doing that job?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
