AME First Episcopal District

From Membership To Discipleship Curriculum Guide

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A Biblical Model for Discipleship

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The First District Episcopal leadership presents the Membership to Discipleship Curriculum Guide: A Biblical Guide to Discipleship to serve as a tool to stimulate structured instruction and training to help every Christian grow to maturity and fruitfulness in Christ. While the Membership to Discipleship Curriculum Guide is a work in progress, we believe the basic design layout will continue in this format. We also welcome comments and/or suggestions regarding needed corrections, or enhancements for accuracy or clarity. Our desire is, under the Holy Spirits guidance, to make these spiritual concepts as understandable as possible for all believers, especially new and immature believers.

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Content The Membership to Discipleship Curriculum Guide succinctly lays out the stages of true discipleship. It is designed to for equipping clergy and lay with training objectives for discipleship, which can be used congruently with other resources that teach discipleship. The Membership to Discipleship Curriculum Guide is divided into seven major sections: I. The Call from Unbeliever to Believer: Salvation Jesus came to seek and save the lost Luke 19:10

II.

The Call and Response to Discipleship

Come, follow me, Matthew 4:19

III.

Total Commitment to the Call: The Cost of Discipleship When Jesus Calls You, He Calls You to give Your Entire Life. Luke 14:2526 Matthew 10:37-39

IV.

Preparation for the Discipleship: Submit to the Teaching and Ministry of Christ Colossians 1:28-29

V.

Living the Beatitude: Transformed by the Renewing of the Mind Blessed and Sent by Christ to love and serve the world Matthew 5:3-10

VI.

The Commission: Disciple begat disciple Go Forth and Make Disciples Matthew 28:19-20

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VII. Facilitating Growth of Discipleship Incorporate ongoing discipleship teaching on all levels

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Biblical Model for Discipleship

Overview Disciples are called and commissioned to Go! And make other Disciples. When Jesus was on Earth He called people to come to Him and follow Him. It is a wonderful thing to know that He is still calling people today and He called you. He not only called you to come to Him for salvation, but He also called you go and make other disciples. The invitation to follow Jesus is a commitment to leave the everyday world and its values and embrace an alternative vision. It is essential that Christians understand how the Bible informs the practice of our faith.
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Example: Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to follow him (from the books of Matthew and Mark)

The Biblical Mandate: The making of Disciples

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Remember, I am with you always, to the end of age. (Matthew 28:19)

While much has changed in the world over the course of history, The Great Commission of Jesus Christ remains the same, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). Arguably, Jesus mandate for discipleship is the most important objective of the Church. However, in many instances the Churchs work is curtailed because of the omission of a designated plan for outreach, as well as, training programs for members both old and new. The biblical mandate calls disciples not only to submit to the call of Jesus, and to be trained in the core values of Jesus, but it also involves understanding that as disciples, we are commissioned to go and make other disciples. The great commission establishes the goal that disciples are called to make other disciples for the purpose of building the Kingdom of God. This means that disciples cannot be separated from the mandate to MAKE other disciples. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew issues the classic commission for the disciples to Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:19-20, RSV). This text establishes and affirms the making of disciples as the goal of Christian discipleship.

The path to discipleship involves several stages. First is to hear the call of Jesus Christ, second is to respond to the call, third involves making a commitment to become like Christ, fourth is to submit to the teachings and ministry of Jesus; and the fifth is to go forth and make disciples.

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Curriculum Format:
The Membership to Discipleship training materials are designed in a workbook- format. Space is provided for writing answers to each question. This is ideal for personal study and allows the Believer to prepare in advance for the discussion. The curriculum also provides notes and suggestions to help Believers search for answers by using Scriptures, and exciting, easy to read Scriptural material that speaks to the heart. Note: The first lesson will be very different from the other lessons because we want to be sure that each member has a clear understanding of what it means to know Christ as his/her personal Savior.

Teacher Preparation in Advance You must set aside study time Review the Scriptures and show connection to the lesson You must be prepared to lead and guide the discussion Design strategies for implementing introduction and presentation Review homework and reading assignments and prepare answers for focus question Maintain Unity Reference: Study Bible (required) 25 Articles of Religion Textbook: Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. (required) Bohnoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship (vol. 4)
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Helpful Hints Pray, Pray, and Pray Be Prepared Scripture must always be interpreted with definition, identifying context, importance and application. Be Available Be Consistent

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Lesson One

The Call to Salvation COME TO ME

Lesson overview

COME TO ME. Have you heard and responded to this first call of Jesus?
Key Scriptures: "Come to me. Lay down your heavy burden of sin and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). For God so love the world t hat He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (Romans 10:9-10). INTRODUCTION Jesus came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). He calls to those who are wearied and burdened with life, "Come to me. Lay down your heavy burden of sin and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). He never gives up until the lost are found and brought back safely into the Fathers arms. When a person hears the call of Jesus and believes and comes to Him in repentance and faith, that person becomes a "Believer" and a child of God. That person receives Gods forgiveness and changes from being lost to being found.
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OBJECTIVES: To review the Scriptures to understand that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10); to affirm salvation and to confirm understanding that: Mans sin called for judgment. Yet Gods love for man called for forgiveness. God remains true to His character of being just and loving by paying sins penalty Himself. (Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (John 4:6) You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Romans 10: 9-10) All your sins have been forgiven, and you now have eternal life: John 5:24; Romans 8:1 and 16, 10:13, and I John 5:11-13 You have been brought with a price, and you are no longer your own Romans 14:7-8; and I Corinthians 6:19-20 You are special and God has a marvelous, unique design for you entire life, and He wants to manage His plan for you.Proverb 3:5-6; Psalm 139:16; and Jeremiah 29:11 The Holy Spirit along is capable of guiding and revealing Gods plan to you Psalm 3:8; Isaiah 55:8-9; John 14:26, 16:13-15; and I Corinthians 2:9-14 The Holy Spirit will train you to recognize, follow and obey His guidance Luke 9:2324; John 10:27, 12:24-26; Romans 11:36-12:2 God is sovereign

PRESENTATION Scripture/Bible Story and/or the following:

What is Salvation and what does it mean to be saved?

Salvation is a free gift from the Holy God to a sinful world. You can only be saved by believing in the Son of God and receiving Him into your heart. It is an act of faith. You
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received the gift of eternal life when you repent and turn to God. Salvation denotes a release from the effects of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin This lesson should incorporate the following insights and concepts: The Hebrew word for Salvation that is written in the Old Testament of the Word of God is " yeshuwah and means literally "something saved" and abstractly "deliverance".

The Greek word for Salvation that is written in the New Testament of the Word of God is soteria and means literally the act of "physical and moral rescue".

The word save means "to rescue, to keep from harm, to keep safe and sound, to rescue from destruction or loss, to deliver." The word always implies some kind of danger. The basic steps to receiving salvation are to ACKNOWLEDGE, REPENT, BELIEVE AND RECEIVE.

Being a Christian Means Fellowship with Jesus One God: The Holy Trinity is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Personal Response Activity: Memory Verse: Closing: Prayer Assignment: Discipleship Chapter 2 Read and study the following Scriptures: Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 2:14; John 1:35-51, 8:31, 10:4, 24-28, 13:35

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Thinking Ahead: I AM SAVED, NOW WHAT? You have been called to walk with Christ, be equipped to live like Christ, and sent by Christ to make the disciples

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Activity and Application Lesson 1

Concepts and Focus Questions to cover in Lesson One The consequences of our spiritual disobedience (See Romans 6:23) Gods demonstrated His great love toward us as sinners What did Christs death accomplish on our behalf? Salvation and what it means to be saved Explain and discuss John 1:12 You are special and God has a marvelous, unique design for you entire life, and He wants to manage His plan for you. Eternal Life is based on our faith rather than our works (See Ephesians 2:8-9 and 1 John 5:11-13) Assurance of Salvation Discuss Gods solution for sin? Read Colossians 2:13-14; John 19:30 and 2 Corinthians 5:21

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Lesson Two

The Call to Discipleship FOLLOW ME

Lesson overview

Hear the Call to Discipleship FOLLOW ME

Key Scriptures: As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22 ) And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. (Mark 2:14). Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 2:14; John 1:35-51, 8:31, 10:4, 24-28, 13:35 Key Verse: Come, Follow me, Jesus said, And I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 Introduction The first call of Jesus is a call to salvation Come to Me. The second call "Follow Me" is a call to discipleship. This means that you must make the decision that you want to COME to Christ. By coming to Christ and becoming a believer is only the start of what God wants to do in your life. The rest of the Christian life has to do with Jesus call to FOLLOW HIM and become a His disciple. A disciple is a disciplined one, one who submits to Christ as Lord. Do
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you want your life to count for eternity? Then the condition is discipleship. A disciple is one who has not just been "found", but one who is "following" Jesus Objectives: To review the Scriptures to understand that He not only calls you to come to Him for salvation, but He also calls you to make disciples and to understand:

To become a disciple one must answer the call of Jesus. The same call that was extended to the twelve - Follow Me.

Faith is more than just confession or profession. When Christ commands us to follow our response should be obedience. When Christ calls a man He bids him come and die, Following is believing and Believing is following.

PRESENTATION When Jesus first called those early fishermen with the words " follow me", He also told them His purpose with the words "...and I will make you fishers of men". Just as Jesus reached out to you and found you when you were lost, so He wants to train you to become a part of this same process of reaching out to other lost people and bringing them to Him also. This is still a part of being a disciple. You will always be a disciple and a learner of Christ right to the end of your life. But as part of following Jesus, He wants to put within you the desire to go and find others that you can bring to Him also. This portion of the lesson is for the leaders personal study COMMENTARY Review John 15:16 and Matthew 4:18-22 Using the commentary at the beginning of the lesson, explain what disciple-making is and that by reproducing ourselves through disciple-making we obey His command to bear fruit that lasts (John 15:16). Also, stress that this was not an overnight change, but a life-long process that resulted from being in relationship with Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22). Review and understand the Context Matthew 4:18-22 takes place at the very beginning of Jesus public ministry. In Matthew chapters 1-2 we have the birth of Christ. In chapter 3 we see the baptism of Jesus. At the opening of Matthew 4, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
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Then Jesus learns that John the Baptist has been imprisoned so He returns to Galilee (4:12) and begins to preach what John the Baptist had been preaching Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. (Matthew 4:17). This brings us to our key Scripture as Jesus is calling the first four of His twelve disciples (Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John). Note that one of the first things Jesus does is to call this small group of men to follow and learn from Him. Discuss the scripture and define the meaning of disciple. Explain that Jesus was calling these men into a teacher/learner relationship with Him, and that His relationship with them would be different from His relationship with anyone else on earth. Concepts to cover in this lesson: The lesson should incorporate the following insights and concepts: The Call - As we study this passage, it is important to examine exactly what Jesus meant when He invited these men to follow Him. We commonly hear the term disciple as it refers to the twelve men that Jesus called. A disciple was not a term reserved only for those who believed in Jesus. John 1 tells us that John the Baptist also had disciples. A disciple is simply a learner, an apprentice or understudy, a student. So what is a disciple of Christ and what makes him different? Come, Follow Me - His call is to leave everything and come now. Christ calls; the disciple follows. That is grace and commandment in one. I walk joyfully, for I seek your commands (Psalm 119:45)

Summary A Song That Calls Theres an old hymn that speaks to the call of the disciples called I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. If you have a moment at the close of your time together, you may want to reflect on these words, or sing the song together. I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus, I have decided, to follow Jesus,
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No turning back, no turning back. Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, Though I may wonder, I still will follow, No turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, No turning back, no turning back! The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, The world behind me, the cross before me, No turning back, no turning back! Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, Will you decide now, to follow Jesus, No turning back, no turning back! Closing: Prayer Assignment Read and study Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; John 1:35-51, 10:24-28

Thinking Ahead: From Disciple to Fishers of Men

Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men

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Activity and Personal Application for Lesson 2 Lead a discussion to connect Jesus calling of these four men in Matthew 4:18-22 with His purpose in John 15:16. Talk about being fishers of men as a means to bear lasting fruit.

Review for Understanding and Application What must one do to follow Christ? Who is establishing the dynamics of this relationship, the Caller or the one being called? How does this relate to the command word follow (deute) in Matthew 4:19? Jesus invitation to Andrew and Simon Peter in verse 19

Interpretation / What does the Scripture mean? INSIGHT

To become a disciple one must answer the call of Jesus. The same call that was extended to the twelve - Follow Me.

Discipleship is a direct and personal call of Christ to follow Him as an introduction to reach others. APPLICATION - How will this Truth change me? Read John 17:20 and explain that this is from Jesus prayer to God before His crucifixion. Who is Jesus praying for according to this verse? Reflect on the words of A Song That Calls I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

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Lesson Three Responding to the Call Simple Obedience

From Disciple to Fishers of Men

Hear the Call of Jesus Christ Follow Me. Key Scriptures: Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ) John 1:41. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand (John 10:24-28). INTRODUCTION When Jesus called His disciples, whether it was Mathew, the publican or Levi they followed Him instantly and spontaneously. There were not questions or discussions about involvements or conditions of following Him. Matthew 9:9 "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said to him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him." Mark 2:14 "And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him." John 1:35-51. Those that the Spirit of God touches when He speaks to them, hear and respond to His call without question and those who are not His do not hear nor heed the call. Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:24-28 When Jesus first called those early fishermen with the words "Follow Me", He also told them His purpose with the words "...and I will make you fishers of men".

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Objectives - To review the Scriptures to understand that responding to the call is simple obedience and to affirm and confirm that: Disciples always respond to a call given by Jesus Christ When Jesus calls a response is imperative. Sometimes that response involves leaving everything to follow Jesus The call to discipleship always involved telling others. PRESENTATION In last lesson, we studied Jesus call to His first four disciples. He said, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). This call to follow Him required complete obedience. There is a high cost involved, and His disciples must be willing to surrender their lives to His mission. We defined disciple of Christ as: A lifelong learner and follower of Jesus Christ who surrenders his or her life to Christs mission. The relationship that Christ had with these twelve men was different than His relationship with anyone else on the earth. He called them into a deeper, more intimate relationship so He could invest His life in them. The result of following Him would be that Jesus would make them fishers of men. They would not only be His disciples, but they would become disciplemakers as well. Discuss Martin Luther Kings response to love humanity by standing up for justice. The lesson should incorporate the following insights and concepts: Just as Jesus reached out to you and found you when you were lost, so He wants to train you to become a part of this same process of reaching out to other lost people and bringing them to Him also. This is still a part of being a disciple. You will always be a disciple and a learner of Christ right to the end of your life.

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 Call of Christ - An invitation that once accepted requires full obedience and surrender to His conditions, as in response to a command. Discipleship begins when you respond to His call. Following Jesus produces a strong attachment to Him. The response to the call of Jesus was spontaneous and unconditional. We do not read of any discussion or conversation about the content or involvement of this call, or its terms and conditions. It might seem strange, but the fact remains that the simple disciples simply followed Him as they heard His call. Discipleship is a direct and personal call of Christ to follow Him as an introduction to reach others. To become a disciple one must answer the call of Jesus. The same call that was extended to the twelve - Follow Me. A Promise to True Disciples - Remember we said that Jesus sets the conditions, but also promises a blessing for His disciples. John 8:12 contains an incredible promise: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Set Apart From The Crowd - Jesus says that all men will know who His disciples are by how they love one another. John 15:16 goes on to say that He appointed us as His disciples to go and bear fruit. And this fruit will not just be good deeds, but fruit that will last. The Result of the Call - He says, Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Disciple-Making - The simple and life-long process of following Christ, becoming more like Him, and leading others to do the same.

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 A disciple of Christ - is someone who answers the call to a lifetime learner and follower of Christ by surrendering his or her life to Gods mission. As a part of following Jesus, He wants to put within you the desire to go and find others that you can also bring to Him. Memory Verse: Closing Prayer: Assignment: Share the Word In this lesson we studied the first component of disciple-making, which is to share the Word. We saw how faith in Christ should compel us to share with others what we know about Him. We saw this illustrated in John 1:29-51. In this passage John the Baptist shared the Word with two of his disciples, one of which was Andrew. Then Andrew shared the Word with his brother Simon Peter. Phillip also shared the Word with Nathanael. These men did not wait until they had it all figured out to go and share the Word with others. Their belief compelled them to share the Word without hesitation. Matthew 9:37-38 says that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, so we should pray for the Lord of the harvest to send more workers. He will send them through our lives as we make disciples for Christ. Assignment Read Chapter 3 The Cost of Discipleship Carefully read and study - Matthew: 4:17-22, 10:16-40; Luke 9:57-62, 14:2533; John 8:31

Thinking Ahead: Making a Total Commitment

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When Jesus Calls you, He calls you to give your entire life

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Activity and Application for Lesson 3

Discuss the Result of the Call In verse 19 Jesus not only calls these men to follow Him, He also tells them why He wants them to come. He says, Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Verse 20 tells us that they immediately left their nets and followed Him. It is important to note that being Christs disciple requires giving up a former way of life completely in order to fully surrender to Christs mission. These four would no longer be ordinary fisher-men. Now they would be fishers of men. The phrase fishers of men may seem odd, but we must remember that all four of the men Jesus is calling in this passage are fishermen by trade, so He was speaking to them in terms they understood. In Johns account of this event, Andrew even calls Jesus Rabbi, which means teacher (John 1:38). The natural result of these four following Jesus is that they will learn to be fishers of men. To use the fishing analogy, Jesus caught them so that He can now train them to catch others. The way that God planned for His Gospel to be shared is through this teacher-learner relationship. In this passage we see Jesus Himself begin to live out Gods plan. We call this simple method of learning and reproducing disciple-making. Review for Understanding and Application Fruit That Lasts - Remember that John 15:16 says Jesus appoints us as His disciples to bear fruit that will last. He appointed them to follow Him as He showed them and taught them how to be like Himself.

It is love that motivates a disciple in the path of discipleship when his heart is filled with Gods love. Romans 5:5 says, "and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

"Following after Christ comes as a natural response to hearing the gospel message of His love. " But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

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 Discipleship, then is the response in love, to the call of love from Jesus. It is not a code of good conduct or good works, or conditions of serving Him. It does not consist of a list of things to do or the things that are taboo. It is simply following Jesus Christ in love. Hearing the call of Christ and obeying Him produces enough love energy in the disciple enabling him to follow his master.

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Lesson Four The Cost of Discipleship: The CROSS

Opening Prayer Theme

Total Commitment to the Call

Key Scriptures
31

And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." 34And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 35For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life. 37For what can a man give in return for his life? 38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:31-38)

25

Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:25-27). Scriptures: Matthew: 4:17-22, 10:16-40; Mark 8:31-38; Luke 9:57-62, 14:25-33; John 8:31

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INTRODUCTION
There is an old saying that goes: "Anything that is free is worth what was paid for it." This even applies to our salvation. While it is freely given to us, it was the most expensive gift ever given. It cost God the death of His Son. The cost of your salvation was paid on the Cross. Today, Jesus calls you to do that which He first did on your behalf a total commitment to the call. He put you before his family, possessions, and even His own life. And He calls for you to do the same. Jesus calls for a level of commitment and loyalty that surpasses any you have for your family and even that which you have for your own life. Objective: To review the Scriptures to help understand that the cost of discipleship is connected to the Cross and what it means to make a total commitment to follow Jesus: When Jesus Calls a man, he bids him come and die. Jesus bore the cross on our behalf, but we each have an individual cross to bear. Pick up your cross as we follow Him. Jesus calls for a level of commitment and loyalty that surpasses any you have for your family and even that which you have for your own life. He says, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27). Death is the first step on the path of discipleship: "let him deny himself". This is the death that is laid on every Christian If you wish new life, you must be willing to give up your old one because the "New Man" must crucify the "Old Nature" to follow Christ. You are to simply obey and followed Jesus at once, leaving all things, if necessary.

PRESENTATION: Scripture/Bible Story and/or the following: THE COMMITMENT OF DISCIPLESHIP Here Jesus connects discipleship to the cross. First he proclaims that He, as messiah, must suffer and be rejected. This is so shocking that Peter, the same Peter who moments before made his confession of faith ("You are the Christ"), takes Jesus aside and rebukes him. Jesus in rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of
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men. And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. This portion of the lesson is for the leaders personal study: Review and prayerfully study Chapter Four from Dietrich Bonhoeffers Cost of Discipleship COMMENTARY Review of Mark 8:31-38 and Luke 14:2527 to understand that following Jesus includes denialdenial of our previous way of living (our habitual sins, the way we lived as old creations), denial of our previous commitments if they conflict with what Jesus is calling us to, denial of what the world values, denial of what the world prioritizes, and denial of self.

The lesson should incorporate the following concepts: Following [Jesus] is not something that is self-evident, even among the disciples. No one can be forced; no one can even be expected to follow him. Jesus says, If any want to become my followers. Note: Remember the song, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. By following Jesus and living in daily surrender to Him and to what He has called us to, we have grace and joy. The greatest victories come when we are the most surrendered. The greatest triumphs come when we are the most submissive to Gods will. When Jesus Calls a man, he bids him come and die. The first cross that you must bear is to give up all your desires that take your allegiance away from Christ. Remember, the rich young ruler had to give up his wealth; the eager disciple we read of last week had to give up his family in order to follow Jesus. We each have a cross to bear for Jesus. The cross includes both suffering and rejection. If you truly follow Jesus you will experience rejectionrejection by the world, rejection by worldly acquaintances, rejection by everything that is opposed to Christ and His call. To bear the cross is to do the will of God in our lives. To fulfill Gods purpose and calling in our lives.
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 We are to follow Jesus wherever He takes us. Jesus suffered and so we will suffer. Jesus was persecuted and so we will be persecuted (John 15:20). In fact, if you live for God, you will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Every attachment that we would lift to a place of prominence must be given up in the face of Jesus absolute call "Come and follow me". We will suffer for our faith, eventually the world must despise us. God demands to be the center of attention and the object of complete loyalty. You must give Him preeminence. You must recognize His sovereignty and His Lordship. You must give Him your devotion and love. You are to simply obey and followed Jesus at once, leaving all things, if necessary. Follow Him wholly and completely, obeying Him, serving Him, going wherever He takes us, doing whatever He asks us to do. Review and understand the Context of: If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39) Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:25-26).
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Memory Verse: Closing Prayer: Assignment

(Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Mathew 5:1 -7:28, 14:23, 26:39; Romans 6:13; Ephesians 1:13; James 1:2, 18)

Looking Ahead: Prepare yourself

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved

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Activity and Application Lesson 4

Concepts and Focus Questions for Lesson Four

Everything worth doing has a cost. And it is incumbent upon each one of us to consider that cost and whether being a disciple of Jesus Christ is worth paying the price. Jesus made a very strong statement that discipleship involves a willingness to come and die. This is a great cost. Jesus goes on to picture this willingness with two illustrations.

Read and discuss Luke 14:26-32 The issue is one of loyalty and commitment. Jesus Himself stated the challenge with, "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace" (14:26-33).

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Lesson Five Preparation for the Discipleship Submit to the Teaching and Ministry of Christ
Theme Study to show yourself approve

Key Scriptures
You must give diligence to present yourself approved. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2nd timothy 2:15). As a workman, you need not to be ashamed of the ministry of the word because it is a good work. The mysteries of Gods will were revealed to these men for the purpose of making disciples after Christ returned to heaven. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus(2 Timothy 3:14-17). All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her (Proverbs 3:13-15). Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:11-12).
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God desires a close relationship with everyone. In fact, He wants all people to eventually be His "sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Introduction
Preparation is a process in which people are actively engaged through prayer, study, devotional life, and worship to become like Christ. This section is focused upon what it means to make a commitment to follow Christ, and submit to the teachings of Christ. Objectives:
Teach the Word

PRESENTATION The Bible is more valuable than all the rest of the books in the world, combined; it is priceless! It is the Creator's revelation to His creation regarding His plan and how we should live our lives to fulfill our purpose and to obtain, by far, the best results. Even kings were commanded to read the Scriptures daily (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). The Bible is God's Word God speaking to each of us. We must listen, and listen carefully!
How is it possible for a mortal human to have an intimate and ongoing relationship with the divine God? The most important key is God's gift of His Spirit to dwell in one's heart and mind! God's Spirit works to transform human nature to a godly nature and the mind of Christ, so instead of being inclined to selfishness and sin, we become inclined toward love and godliness (Philippians 2:1-5). To receive the Holy Spirit, we must repent of our sins and be baptized.

Prayer - The essence of prayer, whether public or private is communication with God. At the heart of discipleship is the ability to communicate with God. Communication must be cultivated and practiced so that it is honest and open. Honest communication begins by acknowledging who God is and speaking to God without pretense. The prayer time must be a priority in the life of discipleship. The biblical mandate for this is found in the life and ministry of Jesus. Whenever Jesus made a decision or was wrestling with a decision Jesus retreated to pray.
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 Sincere prayer is powerful because the Creator of the universe loves to hear our prayers and loves to answer them. The Bible has many scriptures that exhort us to pray and many that give pointers on how to pray. God expects us to maintain daily two-way communication with Himreading His messages in the Bible and talking to Him in prayer. And the more you pray, the more natural it will be for you. The Bible compares the "prayers of the saints" with sweet-smelling incense, because they please God (Revelation 5:8). Your discipling relationship must be bathed in prayer and the reading of Gods word. This will keep all of the other tips in balance and to make sure that this relationship is not just earthly wisdom from you and your life experiences but rather a committed relationship where Christ and the Word of God is at the center of everything that you do.

Study - Preparation for discipleship also involves study. Study can be defined as the dedication of time to the acquisition of knowledge and understanding. To contextualize this for the purposes of discipleship, study is the dedication of time to the acquisition of knowledge and an understanding about the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ. It's important to read the Bible with much prayer and meditation. Take time to really think about what you are reading and you will get a lot more out of it. Meditate and reflect deeply on the meaning of the scriptures and their application to your life. Meditating on God's laws helps immensely to write them on your heart (Hebrews 8:10). Time with God - Arguably, one of the most challenging parts of the Christian life is exercising stewardship over time. The demands upon the time of people in contemporary society are great and varied and often leave people feeling that they do not have enough time. Learning how to manage time is a key element to being successful not only in professional life but more importantly in ones spiritual life as well. Managing time successfully involves planning, discipline, and commitment. Disciplined time management requires being committed to schedules and routines in which we set goals and tasks. In the context of discipleship it means setting aside and sticking to specific times which are dedicated to studying the teachings of Jesus. There are numerous ways to create and structure daily routines, and individuals should experiment to find one that works for them. What follows is an illustration for structuring a basic daily routine.
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Sample daily routine 6:00-6:05am: Begin with a moment of silence and then prayer. 6:05-6:10am: Select an appropriate devotional reading, this can be taken directly from scripture or an alternative devotional source may be used. 6:10-6:20am: Take a few moments to contemplate and reflect upon what has been read. 6:20-6:30am: Record your thoughts and reflections in a journal and close with prayer. In addition to developing a daily routine, individuals should also be committed to attending Bible study on a regular basis, participate in church school, and take advantage of opportunities provided by the Christian Education department, and other sources for continued growth and enrichment.

Bible Study - The primary source for the acquisition of knowledge is the Bible, but in particular the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus. The key to understanding the teachings of Jesus can be found in the Sermon on the Mount which is comprised of the beatitudes (Matt. 5:112), and a series of parables and sayings (Matt. 5:13-7:28) which illustrate important principles for understanding our mission and purpose as Disciples of Christ. It should be remembered that the acquisition of knowledge is a process and knowledge and understanding is cumulative. That means that principles must be learnt and practiced repeatedly so that they become a way of life. People must be unceasing in their prayer and study habits in order to unite knowledge and understanding which is expressed through witness. Devotional Life - Devotional life refers to the process by which individuals commit to growing in relationship with God and Christ through the cultivation of spiritual disciplines: prayer, study, meditation, contemplation, fasting. Just as the body needs the right food for nutrition, and exercise to stay strong and healthy, so too do Christians need to cultivate a devotional life to remain spiritually healthy, strong and focused in witness. The devotional life involves setting aside time in order to reflect and contemplate in communion with God so as to facilitate our continual transformation to become like Christ. The devotional life is one in which priority is given to growing in our relationship with God, and Christ through prayer, study, meditation, and contemplation. Worship - There are many definitions of worship but the purpose of this section is not to present a definitive definition but rather to provide a working definition in order to illustrate the role of worship in the context of cultivating discipleship. The English word worship traces its
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origins to the Old English word weorphscipe, a compound word comprised of weorp from which we get worth and ship, and means to be deserving of dignity, reverence, and honor. Thus, worship is to express reverence and honor toward God through acts of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. In the context of preparation for discipleship, communal worship refers to ceremonies and or rituals in which worshipers express their love and reverence for God through acts of praise, prayer, and thanksgiving. Worship plays a vital role in the process of discipleship because worship is the setting in which new disciples are born, and worship serves to replenish, inspire and encourage existing disciples to remain committed and focused on fulfilling their obligations to God through the church. Because worship is so critical to discipleship worship should be well planned, prepared for and executed. Individuals need to prepare themselves for worship. This means that time should be spent clearing ones mind of distraction and potential impediments to experiencing God in worship. Although worship involves fellowship or communion with like minded believers, it also more importantly involves fellowship with God. When individuals come to worship they should come with a mindset that anticipates entering into the presence of God and thus responding to God through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving honestly and openly. William Temple, in The Hope of a New World (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1942), summarized the purpose worship as: o To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God o To feed the mind with the truth of God o To purge the imagination by the beauty of God o To open the heart to the love of God o To devote the will to the purpose of God. (p.30)

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Lesson Six

Living the Beatitude

Theme:

The Ordinary is called for Extraordinary Living

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-23 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV) Objective: To review the Scriptures to understand that the Beatitudes (Sermon on the Mount) provides a biblically based process for training members so they can be transformed from members to disciples Introduction:
The extraordinary disciples are the blessed of the Beatitudes. They are the poor in spirit, the meek and merciful, and the peacemakers; they mourn, they hunger and thirst after righteousness, and they are ultimately persecuted for this. Because their good works are seen, they are persecuted, but they also cause others to worship God. It is by seeing the cross and the community beneath it that men come to believe in God. The world sees not the disciples and their good deeds, but the righteousness of Christ, a better righteousness than that of the followers of the law. They see a community characterized by brotherly love and unity- a community of purity in marriage and life. The extraordinary disciples of Jesus have no need for oaths, because they live in utmost integrity, enduring suffering, and extending forgiveness to their enemies. (Bonhoeffer)

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Scripture/Bible Story and/or resources to teach the historical context, purpose and meaning of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount Scripture/Bible Story and/or the following: PRESENTATION: Leader is to use Scripture/Bible Story and/or resources to teach the historical context, purpose and meaning of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. The presentation should include the following concepts: The teachings of Jesus called the Beatitudes, recorded in the gospels of Matthew (5:1-10) and Luke (6:20-23), are an invitation to a way of living that brings true happiness and both inward and outward peace. The beatitudes call us to a radically new way of being when we center our lives on God, and we become transformed. The beatitudes call us to true happiness and the deepest of joy as we find our true identity in our relationship with God and true peace both inwardly and outwardly. Beatitude is Latin for an abundant happiness. In his lesson on the Beatitudes, Jesus calls us to an abundant happiness that makes us complete and whole, in which we find our true selves, the person that God intends us to be. God leads us to a transformation of ourselves, gives us the ability to see what needs to be transformed and to find Gods help in that transformation. They lead us to a peace and joy to be experienced here and now: in knowing Christs Living Presence. Just as He did over 2000 years ago in Galilee, the Living Christ brings joy as He seeks us through and accompanies us in our pain. He brings a joy which sorrow and loss and pain and grief are powerless to touch, a happiness that shines through our tears. This is a joy that nothing in life or death can take away, because nothing in life or death can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39). As Jesus said, no one will take your joy from you (John 16:22). Each Beatitude begins with the word blessed. The Greek word translated as blessed means extremely fortunate, well off, and truly happy because one is favored by God. To live the Beatitudes is to be centered on God and Gods desires for our life. They invite us to live in a true inward peace that leads to a desire to be outward peacemakers, to bring reconciliation, to seek out opportunities for mercy and compassion, to pursue justice and righteousness as a hunger and thirst. We live the Beatitudes where we are right now, one day at a time, one leading
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at a time, and one action at a time. We live them realizing that we are imperfect, that we make mistakes, and need forgiveness. We live them with confidence in Jesus promise of a joy and peace that only God can give. The eight Beatitudes in Matthew can be arranged into two categories. The first reflect a longing for a deeper relationship with God (blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn). The second group reveal the transformation of our lives as fruits of that relationship (blessed are the pure of heart, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted). The first group brings us into closer relationship with God, which results in the transformation of our lives described, in the second group. Moses went up Mount Sinai and came down with the Ten Commandments to begin us on the journey to God. In Galilee Jesus went up the mountain and taught the Beatitudes to reveal fully how you can enjoy the peace of heaven by knowing the heart of God. In the Beatitudes Jesus is praising certain values and attitudes and telling us if you have these values and attitudes you will be close to God, you will be blessed. If we want to know what the heart of God is like we have to look no further than the Beatitudes. Then knowing what the heart of God is like the Beatitudes invite us to imitate the heart of God. Some Church Fathers tell us that God became man in Christ so that we would become more like God. The Beatitudes teach us how to become more like God, how to reflect the goodness and beauty and truth in the heart of God, in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is true that the qualities and virtues praised in the Beatitudes are in some ways contrary to what is exalted and practiced in the world. That only tells us how far the world is from the heart of God because in the beatitudes we see the heart of God.

Additional Resources: Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chapter 6 The Beatitudes: The Path to a New Life by David Padfield (Appendix __) The Beatitudes: Pathways of Living in True Joy and Peace by Virginia Schurman Living the Beatitudes
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The Beatitudes were lived perfectly by Jesus

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Lesson Six Activity and Application

Personal Application of the Beatitudes Lead a discussion Living the Beatitudes lesson should incorporate the following concepts: The root of the English word beatitude is beauty. The Greek term kalos implies attractiveness literally, an attraction toward divine beauty. Matthew is addressing a people in crisis and he is offering a way of living for a new Israel. Jesus is speaking to the disciples those who are already under the power of His call. Disciples are blessed because Jesus call that they followed. In the Beatitudes Jesus teaches us the attitudes of a Christian. The more we live the Beatitudes, the closer we are to Jesus. Jesus gives us the underlying attitudes that should inform the decisions we make in our concrete and specific situations. We all aspire to image Jesus, to be his disciples, so we aspire to live the Beatitudes. The beauty for which God created and intended the world must become part of our own life style and worldview.
For a basic understanding of the meaning of the Beatitudes, you are to paraphrase and rewrite each of the Beatitudes for personal application. 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Paraphrase:
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Explain the meaning of the phrase poor in spirit. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning of mourn" 5. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning and concept of "the meek". 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning and concept of "Hunger and thirst" 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning and concept of the Merciful 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning and concept of "the pure in heart" 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Paraphrase: Explain the meaning and concept of the peacemakers
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10. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Paraphrase: "." Explain the meaning and concept of the persecuted

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Lesson Seven
The Commission: Disciple begat disciple
THEME

Go Forth and Make Disciples: From Being a Member to a Disciple-maker

The Biblical Mandate: The making of Disciples Key Scripture:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Remember, I am with you always, to the end of age. (Matthew 28:19)

INTRODUCTION We have seen how Christ reproduced His own life in the lives of His disciples. It began with a call and a promise, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. When they answered the call, He spent the next three years sharing, showing, and teaching the Word to them as they served the world together. In this session, we will see the culmination of Christs ministry to these men as He leaves them with one last command before He ascends into heaven. He says to them in Matthew 28:18-20, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the Age. PRESENTATION Explain to your students that today how all of the components of disciple-making come together in Christs command to make disciples of all nations. Have them open their Bibles to Matthew 28:16-20 and read it aloud.

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Using the commentary, explain the Greek meanings of the words authority and make disciples. Make sure to tell them that this is a command to all believers in Christ, not just a select few with certain gifts. If we have placed our faith in Christ, we each have the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are equipped with all we need to make disciples. Illustrate and explain how each component of disciple-making is contained in these verses. Go and make disciples (share the Word) Baptizing (show the Word) Teaching them to obey (teach the Word) Of all nations (serve the world) Using the commentary, explain that Christ is still at work on earth through our lives. Our power still comes from Him. He works through our lives. Explain that He does have a ministry even now in heaven. The lesson should incorporate the following insights and concepts: The Great Commission - This passage is what we know as The Great Commission. Jesus prefaces His command to go and make disciples by telling His disciples that all authority has been given to Him. This word authority in verse 18 is the same Greek word exousia that we studied last week in Mark 6:7 when Jesus gave His disciples authority and sent them out to serve the world. Go Into All The World The gospel is for all (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Galatians 3:28). The Law of Moses had been given just to the Jews. Even during the personal ministry of Jesus, the focus was always on "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 10:5,6). But both the Law and the ministry of Jesus were preparatory in nature, making way for the universal gospel (John 10:16; Isaiah 56:6-8). The Law had been a barrier to such, but it has been removed (Ephesians 2:13-18).

We Must Spread the Gospel (Mark 16:15; I Corinthians 1:18). It is always our obligation to make sure that what we teach is the gospel of Christ. The Gospel message has to do with convicting of sin and saving souls. It means proclaiming the love and grace of God by which we
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were redeemed. It means a call to repentance and obedience. It includes the message of the holiness of God and the judgment to come (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Making Disciples Our goal is to help turn people into followers of Christ (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is for those with the fortitude to pay the price, even when it means bearing a heavy cross. A disciple is one who follows Jesus. We seek to look at things the way He does; at sin, at others, at God and at His Word, and at ourselves.

Baptizing Them in The Name of The Father; The Son and The Holy Spirit Jesus made it quite clear about baptism's role in the gospel. He said that baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is what we do in making believers into disciples. He said that this was true for "all nations." He said that when this is done that the baptized person "shall be saved."

Teaching To Observe All Jesus Taught (Matthew 28:20). (2 Timothy 2:2). There is nothing in the teachings of the New Testament that is not included in the "teach them to observe all that I have commanded you." When we obey the apostolic doctrine, then we are obeying the commands of Jesus.

The Gospel closes with a promise: as Jesus' disciples carry out the Great Commission, he will be with them to the end of the age (28:20). The text probably specifies the end of the age because at that time the Son of Man would return in his kingdom--after the nations had heard the good news of the kingdom (24:14) and hence been prepared for the judgment (25:32-36). His Plan: Make Disciples - His plan revolves around two simple words in this passage make disciples. The phrase make disciples does not appear in the King James translation of the Bible. It actually says, Go ye therefore and teach all nations The phrase make disciples (NIV translation) and the word teach in both translations is the same Greek word, matheteuo. It means, To be a disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instructions; to make a disciple; to teach and instruct.
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This word, matheteuo, is a command verb in the Greek and it is plural. That means that it is a mandate from Christ, a direct command that was issued not just to one person, but to all of the people to whom He was speaking. To whom was He speaking? Verse 16 says the eleven disciples (Judas was no longer with them) went to a mountain in Galilee and Jesus came to them there and issued this command to make disciples of all nations. This command was for all of them, and all who would believe through their message.

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Activity and Application Lesson 7

Lead a discussion on The Great Commission Have them turn in their Bibles to Mark 16:19-20 and read it aloud. Using the lesson commentary and the following questions, lead a discussion about these verses. 1. What does verse 19 say Christ did after He gave His disciples the command to go and make disciples? 2. What is the significance of Christ sitting down at Gods right hand? How does it illustrate His finished work on earth? 3. Is the right hand position significant? 4. If He is seated in heaven, how will His work continue on earth? 5. Why do you think the Great Commission was His last words to His disciples? Application - How will this Truth change me? 6. After all that we have studied in Gods Word, do you think it is possible for your one life to impact the world for Christ? Why or why not?

7. Explain how this series will be lived out in your life. Discuss practical ways that you as a small group can begin to live it out together. Let this be a time for honest communication and questions, and a time for your group to make plans to take practical steps together to make disciples of all nations. Close your time together in prayer.

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