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Becoming like Jesus is an invitation to walk with Jesus in the Gospels and allow His life to shape your own. It is meant to be used in personal discipleship relationships. This study is designed in a way that would minister to both the newer believer, and any believer looking to grow in what it looks like to follow Christ.

Design
Each week follows a similar structure. As you grow in following Jesus, this framework can be reapplied with other passages of Scripture. See Appendix 3.

Context
Context gives the background needed to understand the passage and move through the rest of the guide with clarity. Each week will start with a basic summary of the events, followed by brief explanations of important people, places, concepts, etc. The last part of context is understanding the significance of these events in light of the gospel so they can begin to shape our lives.

God Reveals
The Bible first shows us who God is. It is His words, His voice, and one of the primary ways He makes Himself known to us. When we see God rightly, we are then able to see ourselves rightly. Each week, we begin by looking for how God reveals Himself and by responding to His invitation to know Him and be known by Him.

Humanity Responds
We are given the freedom to respond to God’s revelation. In Scripture, we see people accept or reject God and the consequences of those choices. This section helps us slow down and consider how we are responding to God, and whether we are trusting or resisting His design for our lives.

The Gospel
The gospel changes everything. From the beginning God has been working to restore what has been broken by sin. Through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return of Jesus, God deals with our deepest needs, for forgiveness, rescue, and new life.

In this section, we are invited to confess our sin and need before a merciful God, trusting that through Christ we are forgiven and made new. This is the great exchange: Jesus takes on our sin and gives us His righteousness, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s grace and love.

The Spirit Empowers
Jesus tells His followers that it is better for Him to go so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit would come (John 16:7). The Spirit empowers us to live the new life made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, leads us into truth, brings Scripture to life, intercedes for us, and gives gifts to build up the church. In this section, we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit for real change as we turn away from sin and walk in obedience to God.

Means of Grace
Means of Grace are practices Christians participate in to experience the abundance of God in our lives. They help us to grow in intimacy with God and in spiritual maturity. Rooted in Scripture and shaped by the wisdom of the Church across generations, each week highlights a means of grace that can be incorporated into our lives as we learn to walk with God over time.

How to Utilize in Personal Discipleship?
Within personal discipleship meetings, we consider three things essential:

• Look together to God in Scripture and prayer- listening for His voice, and reorienting your hearts toward Him.
• Respond to the gospel by confessing sin, remembering who God is and what He has done in Christ, and walking in repentance, faith, and loving accountability.
• Live as sent people, helping others know and follow Jesus by stewarding what God has entrusted to us, both locally and globally, in dependence on Him. This curriculum is designed to help shape the first two essentials—looking to God through His Word and prayer, and responding t o the gospel through confession, remembrance, and accountability.

To use this curriculum as intended, complete the weekly self guided pre-work before meeting together. You won’ t cover every question when you meet. To help, w e provide four to five discussion questions on the first page of each week to focus on together. These are starred (*) in the pre-work section, as well. You are also encouraged to follow the Spirit’s leading and discuss what will best help you t o better love, follow , and serve Jesus. Please note: the third essential—living sent-does not ha v e explicit questions in the weekly curriculum. Be intentional to leave space in your time together to help one another live sent (see Appendix 1).

Appendix 1 Discipleship: Love, Follow, Serve
This appendix answers common questions about discipleship: What is discipleship? Who disciples me? Who do I disciple? And what does discipleship look like when you meet together?

Appendix 2 Attributes of God
A description of the characteristics of God revealed in scripture. Each attribute includes a definition and supporting scripture reference.

Appendix 3 How to Apply this Framework Elsewhere
This appendix shows how the sections God Reveals, Humanity Responds, The Gospel, and The Spirit Empowers can be used when reading passages beyond the Gospels.

Week 1: The Baptism & Temptation of Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-4:11

Summary
Jesus meets with His cousin John at the Jordan River and is baptized. The Holy Spirit descends, and God the Father speaks identity and blessing over Him. Jesus is then led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He overcomes Satan’s schemes and will begin His ministry.

Helpful Things to Know
Jesus’ baptism can be found in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and alluded to in John 1:29-34. The temptation of Jesus can be found in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13.

John the Baptist was to prepare the way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3-5). He proclaimed a baptism of repentance, which is turning away from sin, and that the Kingdom of God was at hand. He himself declared that there was one to come (Jesus)who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. For more on John see Luke 1:5-25, 57-66 (John’s birth foretold) and Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:4-8, & Luke 3:1-18 (John prepares the way).

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward faith and commanded by God for those who believe in Jesus (Matthew 28:19). Water in Scripture is used many times as a symbol for life and death (Genesis 6, Exodus 14, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 6:3-11, etc.)

For those who want to learn more, join us for Baptism Class at thewellaustin.com/events

At Jesus’ baptism, we see the Father speaking, the Son being baptized, and the Holy Spirit descending. This reveals that God is one God who eternally exists as three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit- united in purpose, love and power but distinct in their works. This mystery is known as the Trinity. (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Significance

• Jesus is obedient to the Father’s will by being baptized (Psalm 40:7-8)
• Jesus is identified as God’s Son and is empowered by the Spirit (Isaiah 42:1).
• Jesus succeeds where Adam (Genesis 3), Israel (Exodus 15-17, Exodus 32, and many more scriptures), and we (James 1:13-15)fail in overcoming temptations.
• Jesus provides a way for us to pass from death to life, to live from our identity as God’s beloved children, and to resist temptation by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:3-11 & Romans 8:14-16)

Pray
Read then pray through Psalm 100:1-5

Read Matthew 3:13–4:11
What stands out? What questions arise? Don’t overthink- simply observe.

God Reveals
What is God the Father doing and saying? What is Jesus doing and saying? What is the Spirit doing and saying? List what you see in the text.

*What does this passage reveal about what God is like and how He relates to His people? (See Appendix 2 for Attributes of God)

How does encountering God in this passage move your heart towards Him?

Pause to Pray
God desires us to know Him intimately. In light of the last section, take a moment to thank God for revealing Himself to you.

Humanity Responds
God only speaks the truth. He cannot lie and He desires for us to live in the love and identity He’s given us.

Satan on the other hand is known as the Father of lies and desires to deceive us. We are presented with a choice in who and what to believe.

Jesus is fully God and fully man and sets a perfect example for us in how to respond. Take a close look at how Jesus responds to His Father (3:15), the Holy Spirit (4:1), and to Satan(4:3-4, 6-7, 9-10). Pay attention not only to what He says, but what He trusts.

What emotions and desires does Jesus likely face? What beliefs do you think shaped His responses? Reflect thoughtfully, praying with the Spirit; Scripture may not state this directly.

*How do you respond to…

• The Father’s claim of your identity (Psalm 139:13-14, John 1:12)?
• The Spirit’s leading (John 14:16-17, 16:13-15, Ephesians 2:10)?
• The enemy’s lies (John 8:44b, 1 Peter 5:8-9)?
• Jesus’invitation to follow in His footsteps?

You may focus on one or two areas rather than all four.

Up to this point, we have observed and reflected. Now we turn to what this passage reveals about our need for the gospel.

The Gospel
What problem, pain, need, or sin does Jesus encounter in this scripture? How does He address it?

*In light of Jesus’ example in this passage, where have you fallen short? What do you need to confess and surrender to God today?

*What does the gospel invite you to receive as you confess sin? What truth do you need to cling to in order to receive that forgiveness and begin walking in the newness of life?

The Spirit Empowers
Obedience flows from what God has done for us, not our effort to earn His love. How is God calling you to live differently in light of what He has revealed and in response to the gospel?

*What practical step of obedience can you take this week?

What will it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit?

Have you been baptized as a believer? If not, consider doing so at our next Celebration Sunday! If you have questions about baptism or what it looks like to get baptized sign up for our Baptism Class at www.thewellaustin.com/events

Closing Prayer
What does God want you to remember about Him? How does this truth impact your relationship with Him? What does God want to speak over you?

Week 2: The Call & The Commission
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11 & Matthew 28:16-20

Luke 5: Jesus gets into a boat of a man named Simon and teaches a crowd. Performing a miracle, Jesus fills the fishermen’s nets to overflowing, amazing those who witnessed it. Jesus invites Simon, James, and John to follow Him and become His disciples. They leave everything and follow Him to become fishers of men.

Matthew 28: Some time after Jesus’s resurrection, He calls the disciples to a mountain in Galilee where they meet with Him and worship Him. Jesus tells them to go and make disciples from every nation baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that He commanded. Jesus promises that He will be with us always.

Helpful Things to Know
Simon’s calling is recorded in multiple Gospels. Matthew 4:18–20, Mark 1:16–18, and Luke 5:1–11 describe the same event from different perspectives.

When Simon refers to Jesus as “master” (Luke 5:5), he is recognizing Jesus’ authority as a teacher, often called a rabbi. In Jesus’ time, rabbis invited disciples to follow them closely—to travel with them, learn from their teaching, and observe how they lived. Disciples were formed not only by what a rabbi said, but by how he lived, with the goal of becoming like their teacher.

Matthew 28:16–20 is commonly called the Great Commission. In this passage, Jesus sends His disciples to make more disciples by baptizing and teaching others to obey all that He commanded. Similar moments appear at the end of the other Gospels (Mark 16:15–16; Luke 24:44–49; John 20:21–23), showing that this calling is central to Jesus’ mission. Luke 5 shows the beginning of Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, while Matthew 28 shows how that invitation continues after His resurrection.

Significance

• Jesus calls ordinary people to be His disciples. (Matthew 10:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10)
• Jesus invites us not only to believe in Him, but to learn from Him and leave behind former ways of life. (Matthew 11:28-30)
• Jesus sends those who follow Him to make disciples, trusting His authority and His promise to be with them. (John 20:21, Acts 1:8)
• The call to follow Jesus is inseparable from His call to be part of His mission. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

Prayer
Read then pray through Psalm 33:4-5, 20-22

Read
Luke 5:1-11 & Matthew 28:16-20 What stands out? What questions arise? Don’t overthink- simply observe.

God Reveals

• What is Jesus doing and saying in these texts? List what you see.
• *What does this passage reveal about what God is like and how He relates to His people? (See Appendix 2 for Attributes of God)
• How does encountering God in this passage move your heart towards Him?

Pause to Pray

God desires us to know Him intimately. In light of the last section, take a moment to thank God for revealing Himself to you.

Humanity Responds
In Luke 5, how does Simon (v. 5, 8-9, 11) respond to Jesus? What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape and change his reactions? Reflect thoughtfully asking the Spirit for understanding.

At the end of Matthew 28, the disciples receive Jesus’ commission to go and make disciples. Read Acts 2:1-12 and 42-47 to see how they respond after Jesus sends them to go and make disciples.

• What do the disciples and those they teach do? What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape their responses?
• *How have you responded to Jesus’ invitation to follow and learn from Him (Luke 5:11, Acts 2:42)? And how have you responded to His call to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:47)?

The Gospel
What problem, pain, need, or sin does God address in these scriptures? How does He do it?

• *Where have you fallen short in receiving Jesus’ invitation to follow and learn from HIm or His call to make disciples? What do you need to confess and surrender to God today?
• *What does the gospel invite you to receive as you confess sin? What truth do you need to cling to in order to receive that forgiveness and begin walking in the newness of life?

The Spirit Empowers
How is God calling you to live differently in light of what He has revealed and in response to the gospel?

• *What practical step of obedience can you take this week?
• What will it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit?

Closing Prayer

• What does God want you to remember about Him? How does this truth impact your relationship with Him?
• What does God want to speak over you?

Week 3: Power Over Evil and Death
Scripture: Luke 8:26-56

Summary
Jesus and his disciples encounter a man oppressed by the enemy, living alone among the tombs. Jesus delivers him, and though the man begs to go with Him, Jesus sends him home to tell what God has done.

Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, pleads with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way to Jairus’ house, they are surrounded by a crowd, including a woman who has suffered for many years from a bleeding illness. She reaches out to touch Jesus’ garment and is healed. Before they arrive, Jairus’ daughter is reported dead, but Jesus continues on and raises her from the dead.

Helpful Things to Know
Spiritual warfare is a reality Scripture teaches clearly: there are spiritual forces opposed to God that seek to harm God’s image bearers. In Luke 8, this opposition is shown directly through a man whose source of suffering is spiritual with physical and social ramifications. At the same time, Scripture is equally clear that these forces are limited and subject to God’s authority. We do not have to be afraid.

For those who want to learn more about spiritual warfare, the following resource on The Well’s website may be helpful:

• Spiritual Warfare Resources

In the Old Testament, blood represents life itself (Leviticus 17:11), so the woman’s continual bleeding in Luke 8 made her ceremonially unclean and symbolically “losing life,” which rendered her socially and religiously outcast under the Law (Leviticus 15:25-27). Merely touching her, would cause others to be ritually unclean. Her act of touching Jesus’ garment, by Levitical law, should have made Jesus unclean, yet he remained pure and healed her.

For further study, see:

• Completely Jesus | Jairus’ Daughter & Bleeding Women | Jason Stein

Scripture teaches that resurrection is central to God’s redemptive work. Jesus raises the dead during His earthly ministry (Luke 7:11-17, Luke 8:40-56, John 11:1-44), and He Himself is raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit (Matthew 28:1-10). It is foundational to the Christian faith to live and hope in the spiritual and physical resurrection we experience through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:50, 53-57).

Significance

• Jesus has authority over every form of brokenness sin has introduced, whether physical or spiritual. (Matthew 28:18, Colossians 1:15-20)
• There is nothing that can separate us from Him and nothing He doesn’t desire to make right. (Romans 8:31, 37-39). 

Prayer
Read then pray through Psalm 46:1-3, 10.

Read Luke 8:26-56 What stands out? What questions arise? Don’t overthink- simply observe.

God Reveals

• What is Jesus saying and doing for the oppressed man (v.26-39)? The afflicted woman (v.43-48)? Jairus and his daughter(v.41-42, 49-55)? List what you see in the text.
• *What does this passage reveal about what God is like and how He relates to His people? (See Appendix 2 for Attributes of God)
• How does encountering God in this passage move your heart towards Him?

Pause to Pray
God desires us to know Him intimately. In light of the last section, take a moment to thank God for revealing Himself to you.

Humanity Responds

• How does the oppressed man (v. 27-28, 35, 38-39) respond to Jesus? What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape his reactions? Reflect thoughtfully asking the Spirit for understanding.
• Compare and contrast how Jairus (v.41, 51-52, 56) and the afflicted women (v.44, 47-48) respond to Jesus’ presence, words, and actions? What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape them?
• *How do you tend to respond to Jesus when you are faced with what you cannot control or fix? Comparing your response with those in this passage, where do you see trust and where do you see resistance, hesitation, or self-reliance?

The Gospel

• What problem, pain, need, or sin does Jesus encounter in this scripture? How does He address it?
• *Where have you fallen short in trusting and turning to Jesus as the ultimate power and authority over sin and brokenness? What do you need to confess and surrender to God today?
• *What does the gospel invite you to receive as you confess sin? What truth do you need to cling to in order to receive that forgiveness and begin walking in the newness of life?

The Spirit Empowers

• How is God calling you to live differently in light of what He has revealed and in response to the gospel?
• *What practical step of obedience can you take this week?
• What will it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit?

Closing Prayer

• What does God want you to remember about Him?
• How does this truth impact your relationship with Him?
• What does God want to speak over you?

Week 4: Compassion for the Outsider
Scripture: Luke 8:26-56

Summary
Luke 7: Jesus is approached on behalf of a Roman centurion whose servant is near death. Though a man of authority, the centurion humbly trusted that Jesus’ word alone is enough to bring healing. Jesus marvels at his faith, noting that He has not found such faith even in Israel, and the servant is healed just as Jesus said.

John 4: Jesus stops at a well in Samaria and speaks with a Samaritan woman while His disciples are away. He asks her for water and then speaks about living water, leading to a conversation about her life and about worship. Jesus tells her about her past and teaches that true worshipers worship in spirit and truth. The woman speaks of the coming Messiah, and Jesus reveals to her that He is the Messiah.

Helpful Things to Know
During the time of Jesus, the Jewish people lived under Roman occupation. Roman soldiers and officials enforced foreign rule, which many Jews experienced as oppressive and incompatible with faithfulness to God because of Rome’s pagan practices.

A Roman centurion was a military officer who represented Roman power and authority. Because of his role and religious background, interaction between Jews and Roman officials was often marked by tension, suspicion, and resentment.

Jews and Samaritans shared a common ancestry but were divided by long-standing religious and ethnic hostility. Samaritans were viewed by Jews as impure and heretical, and interaction between the two groups was often avoided altogether.

In the first century, it was socially inappropriate for a Jewish man to speak alone with a woman in public, especially a Samaritan woman. Jesus’ conversation at the well crosses multiple social boundaries related to ethnicity, gender, and religious identity.

Significance 

• Jesus’ compassion crosses cultural, ethnic, social, and religious boundaries. (Ephesians 2:13-22, Acts 10:34-35)
• God’s heart is for all people to know and experience Him. (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Revelation 7:9-10) 

Prayer
Read then pray through Psalm 145:9-13.

Read Luke 7:2-10 & John 4:7-26 What stands out? What questions arise? Don’t overthink- simply observe.

God Reveals

• What is Jesus saying and doing for the centurion (Luke 7:6, 9, 10)? The Samaritan woman (John 4:7, 10, 13-14, 17-18, 21-26)? List what you see.
• What does this passage reveal about what God is like and how He relates to His people? (See Appendix 2 for Attributes of God)
• How does encountering God in this passage move your heart towards Him?

Pause to Pray
God desires us to know Him intimately. In light of the last section, take a moment to thank God for revealing Himself to you.

Humanity Responds

• In Luke 7, how does the Roman centurion respond to Jesus (v.3, 6-8)? What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape his reactions? Reflect thoughtfully asking the Spirit for understanding.
• In John 4, how does the Samaritan woman respond to Jesus (v. 9, 11-12, 15, 17, 19-20, 25)? For more context, read John 4:28-30 & 39. What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape and change her reactions?
• *When you encounter people who feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or different from you, what reactions tend to surface in your heart- judgement, avoidance, fear, indifference, compassion, etc.? How does this compare to the way Jesus responds to the centurion and the Samaritan woman?

The Gospel

• What problem, pain, need, or sin does God address in these scriptures? How does He do it?
• *Where have you fallen short in loving and caring for all people as Christ does? What do you need to confess and surrender to God today?
• *What does the gospel invite you to receive as you confess sin? What truth do you need to cling to in order to receive that forgiveness and begin walking in the newness of life?

The Spirit Empowers

• How is God calling you to live differently in light of what He has revealed and in response to the gospel?
• *What practical step of obedience can you take this week?
• What will it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit?

Closing Prayer

• What does God want you to remember about Him?
• How does this truth impact your relationship with Him?
• What does God want to speak over you?

What is discipleship? 

A disciple is someone who loves, follows, and serves Jesus. Discipleship is the lifelong process of helping people love, follow, and serve Jesus with all of themselves, in obedience to Jesus’ command to make disciples and teach them to observe all that He has commanded (Matthew 28:18–20). Through discipleship we are shaped by the power of the Holy Spirit to reflect His character, walk in His ways, and live under His lordship.

Discipleship happens in the context of community and includes both personal discipleship (intentional relationships, accountability, one-on-one discipleship, etc.) and corporate discipleship (Sunday gatherings, community groups, classes, ministries, etc.). We grow holistically as disciples when we both receive discipleship and participate in discipling others as members of the body of Christ.

Participating in Discipleship 

God is the one who forms us by His Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit. He shapes us as we walk with Jesus and submit our lives to Him. God also uses His people as part of this work, which is why discipleship happens within the life of the church and through intentional discipleship relationships. These relationships do not replace God’s work; they participate in it.

In Deuteronomy 6, God calls His people to talk about Him “when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you rise.” Discipleship is not tied to a specific place or setting, but to a shared pursuit of Jesus where life happens.

Who disciples me? You are discipled through the corporate life of the church: gatherings, community groups, classes, serving, and shared worship. In addition, every disciple should pursue personal discipleship by intentionally seeking someone who is faithfully walking with Jesus and growing in obedience to Him.

Finding a discipler most often begins with initiative. Rather than waiting to be noticed or assigned, ask someone you respect spiritually to walk with you. This does not require finding the “perfect” person or committing to a lifelong arrangement. Discipleship relationships are often seasonal, shaped by where God is currently forming you. Faithfulness, availability, and teachability matter more than age, stage, or expertise so peer-to-peer discipleship is real discipleship.

Who do I disciple? Discipleship is not only something we receive; it is something we do. You disciple others by intentionally walking with them toward greater faithfulness to Jesus, not simply by being relational or present in their lives. This may include people already within your circle, such as friends, peers, newer believers, or people you intentionally invite into a discipleship relationship.

Discipling others does not require having everything figured out. It requires that you are walking with Jesus yourself and are willing to walk alongside someone else toward greater maturity. Discipleship grows as we open Scripture together, pray together, confess honestly, and encourage one another to live out what Jesus has commanded.

At The Well, we encourage a simple discipleship rhythm often described as “One Up, Two Down,” being intentionally discipled by someone while also walking intentionally with others toward greater faithfulness to Jesus.

Discipleship at a Glance
Discipleship is a lifelong journey of growing in what it looks like to love, follow, and serve Jesus together. God is the primary discipler, using the life of the church and relationships to shape us. Every disciple both receives and participates in discipleship, walking with others toward faithfulness to Jesus.

Discipleship
What to do when you meet?

Discipleship meetings do not require special curriculum or expertise. The three practices that follow are meant to be included each time you meet, serving as a shared framework rather than a rigid script. As disciples grow in maturity, these rhythms may take different forms under the leading of the Holy Spirit, while the essentials keep the purpose in view.

Scripture and Prayer

Discipleship is rooted in a growing, personal relationship with Jesus through His Word and prayer by the power of the Holy Spirit. Most Scripture reading and prayer happens individually with the Lord. When disciples meet, they come together to look to who God is, what He has revealed, and how He has been at work.

• Share how God has been revealing Himself through Scripture and how He has been faithful in prayer.

• Read scripture together, teaching, questioning, and challenging one another in response to God’s Word.
• Pray together with adoration, gratitude, and dependence, for people and situations.

Helpful Questions: What has God been showing you about Himself? How have you seen God’s faithfulness or provision in prayer?

Confess, Remember the Gospel, and Walk in Accountability

Discipleship requires honesty before God and with one another. What is brought into the light is transformed; what is left unaddressed continues to deform. Discipleship creates space to both celebrate where God is at work and lovingly address where growth is still needed. We do this in light of the gospel, responding to His love.

• Celebrate evidence of God’s grace and faithfulness, and confess sin, weakness, or ongoing struggles honestly.
• Remember the gospel together, who Jesus is, what He has done, and what is now true because of Him.
• Walk together in loving accountability as a response to God’s love, marked by repentance and faith.

Helpful Questions: Where have you seen God’s grace or faithfulness? What needs to come into the light? What is true because of Christ? What step of repentance or obedience is God inviting you into?

Live Sent

Living as sent people means recognizing that following Jesus always moves beyond ourselves. We are sent into our everyday lives to help others come to know and follow Jesus, walk with believers toward maturity, and to live in ways that reflect and advance God’s kingdom, depending on God to bring about growth and change. This outward life is not optional or secondary, but a natural expression of life with Jesus.

• Talk together about who you are discipling and how those relationships are growing.
• Share about relationships with those who are spiritually curious, how you are investing, and how you are clearly speaking about Jesus
• Consider together how you are stewarding your time, talents, and resources to make God known locally and globally.

Helpful Questions: Who are you discipling, and what is God doing in that relationship? Who are you investing in and clearly speaking to about Jesus? How are you stewarding what God has entrusted to you locally and globally?

Essentials for Meeting
Look together to God in scripture and prayer—listening for His voice, and reorienting your hearts toward Him Respond to the gospel by confessing sin, remembering who God is and what He has done in Christ, and walking in repentance, faith, and loving accountability. Live as sent people, helping others know and follow Jesus by stewarding what God has entrusted to us, both locally and globally, in dependence on Him.

Appendix 2
Character & Attributes of God

Attentive: God hears and responds to the needs of His children. (Psalm 34:15, 1 Samuel 1:9-20)

Compassionate: God cares for His children and acts on their behalf. (Psalm 103:13, Luke 7:11-15)

Creator: God made everything. He is uncreated. (Isaiah 44:24, Genesis 1:1-31)

Deliverer: God rescues and saves His children. (Psalm 18:2, Exodus 14:21-31)

Eternal: God is not limited by time. He exists outside of time. (Psalm 90:2, Revelation 1:12-18)

Faithful: God always keeps His promises. (Lamentations 3:23, Joshua 21:43-45)

Generous: God gives what is best and beyond what is deserved. (James 1:17, Matthew 20:1-16)

Glorious: God displays His greatness and worth. (Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:1-7)

Good: God is what is best and gives what is best. He is incapable of doing harm. (Psalm 34:8, Mark 10:13-16)

Holy: God is perfect, pure, and without sin. (Isaiah 6:3, Leviticus 16)

Immutable/Unchanging: God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 22-24)

Incomprehensible: God is beyond our understanding. We can comprehend Him in part but not in whole. (Romans 11:33, Job 38-41)

Infinite: God has no limits in His person or His power. (Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 40)

Jealous: God will not share His glory with another. All glory rightfully belongs to Him. (Exodus 34:14, Exodus 32)

Just: God is fair in all His actions and judgments. He neither over-punishes nor under-punishes. (Deuteronomy 32:4, Genesis 18:22-33)

Loving: God feels and displays infinite, unconditional affection toward His children. His love for them does not depend on their worth, response, or merit. (Romans 5:8, Luke 15:11-24)

Merciful: God does not give His children the punishment they deserve. (Psalm 103:10, Jonah 3)

Omnipotent/Almighty: God holds all power. Nothing is too hard for God. What He wills, He can accomplish. (Jeremiah 32:17, Genesis 18:1-14)

Omnipresent: God is fully present everywhere. (Jeremiah 23:24, Psalm 139)

Omniscient: God knows everything, past, present, and future—all potential and real outcomes, all things micro and macro. (Hebrews 4:13, John 4:1-26)

Patient/Long-suffering: God is untiring and bears with His children. (2 Peter 3:9, Numbers 14)

Provider: God meets the needs of His children. (Philippians 4:19, Exodus 16)

Refuge: God is a place of safety and protection for His children. (Psalm 46:1, 1 Samuel 23:14-18)

Righteous: God is always good and right. Righteousness belongs to Him (Romans 3:10, Matthew 3:13-17)

Self-existent: God depends on nothing and no one to give Him life or existence. (Exodus 3:14, Exodus 3:1-12)

Self-sufficient: God has no needs and lacks nothing. (Acts 17:25, Psalm 50)

Sovereign: God does everything according to His plan and pleasure. (Ephesians 1:11, Daniel 4:28-37)

Transcendent: God is not like humans. He is infinitely higher in being and action. (Psalm 113:5-6, Isaiah 55)

Truthful: Whatever God speaks or does is truth and reality. (John 17:17, 1 Kings 18:20-39)

Wise: God knows what is best and acts accordingly. He cannot choose wrongly. (Romans 11:33, 1 Kings 3:5-14)

Worthy: God deserves all glory and honor and praise. (Revelation 4:11, Revelation 4-5)

Wrathful: God hates all unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18, Genesis 19)

God Reveals, We Respond

This framework offers a simple way to approach most passages of Scripture with the desire to know God and be formed by Him. These questions help you slow down and pay attention to how God reveals Himself, how people respond, how the gospel meets our need, and how the Holy Spirit empowers obedience. Used regularly, this pattern shapes a discipleship rhythm that moves from seeing God rightly to living in response to His grace.

God Reveals

The Bible first shows us who God is. It is His words, His voice, and one of the primary ways He makes Himself known to us. When we see God rightly, we are then able to see ourselves rightly. Begin by looking for how God reveals Himself and by responding to His invitation to know Him and be known by Him. 

• What stands out? What questions arise?
• What is God doing and saying, and what does that reveal about who He is? 
• How does encountering God’s revelation of Himself move your heart toward Him? 

Humanity Responds
We are given the freedom to respond to God’s revelation. In Scripture, we see people accept or reject God and the consequences of those choices. Slow down and consider how you are responding to God, and whether you are trusting or resisting Him.

• How do people respond to God in this passage?
• What emotions, desires, and assumptions shape their reactions? 
• How do you respond in similar situations? 

The Gospel
The gospel changes everything. From the beginning God has been working to restore what has been broken by sin. Through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return of Jesus, God deals with our deepest need, for forgiveness, rescue, and new life. 

The gospel calls us to confess our sin and need before a merciful God, trusting that through Christ we are forgiven and made new. This is the great exchange: Jesus takes our sin and gives us His righteousness, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s grace and love. 

• What problem, pain, need, or sin does God address in this passage, and how does He do it?
• Where do you need to confess and surrender to God?
• What truth does the gospel invite you to receive about God or about yourself as you walk in newness of life?

The Spirit Empowers
The Spirit empowers us to live the new life made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice. The Spirit helps us in our weakness, leads us into truth, brings Scripture to life, intercedes for us, and gives gifts to build up the church. We must rely on the Holy Spirit for real change as we turn away from sin and walk in obedience to God. 

• How is God calling you to live differently in light of what He has revealed and in response to the gospel? 
• What practical step of obedience can you take this week?
• What will it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit? 

At a Glance

God Reveals
What does this passage show about who God is, what He is doing, and how he relates to His people?

Humanity Responds
How do people respond to God’s revelation and where do you see trust or resistance in your own life?

The Gospel
What problem, need, or sin is present and how does God meet it through Christ?

The Spirit Empowers
How is God calling you to live differently in dependence on the Holy Spirit?