The Cost of Not Following Jesus, Part 5
To not follow Jesus is to miss out on being part of the eternal, magnificent, unexplainable kingdom of God, where everything is different than we would expect. Everyone has a platform in His kingdom, so we must get away from the mentality that there are only certain types of important people.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing about this message that you found particularly compelling, encouraging, challenging, or beneficial?
- What is a parable? Why do you think Jesus employed this method of teaching?
- Read and discuss Matthew 13:24-35. What is Jesus trying to tell us about the kingdom of God? How is God’s kingdom “already but not yet”? How do these parables help illustrate that?
- Can you think of any real life stories or experiences that show the principles in these parables?
- What other parables in the Bible are most meaningful to you? Why? What other parables teach us about living in God’s kingdom?
- Why should believers gather together as local churches? What does this have to do with the kingdom?
- Are there ways you have of thinking of people as more- or less-important than others? In what ways do you need to adjust your mindset?
- Why should God’s people also scatter out into the world? What does this have to do with the kingdom?
- Consider Pastor Mike’s statement, “If the world is going to eat our lunch, let’s make sure they taste the honey of the gospel.” What did he mean by this? How can this be lived out?
- As you consider the following points of instruction regarding kingdom living, why are each of these important and which ones do you need to grow in the most?
- See yourself as a valued member of the kingdom.
- Learn to be observant wherever you go.
- Listen well, and listen carefully.
- Be a seed-sower, not a weed-wacker.
- Spend time thanking God for the access we have to His kingdom because of Jesus Christ. Ask Him to help you see the beauty of His kingdom and live well as a citizen thereof while navigating a broken world.