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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 to serve 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.

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.

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.