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Describe a time in your life when you helped someone with something that was important to them. What was rewarding for you about this? What was difficult about it?
Cultivate
Summary: Every believer in Christ is a “CoJourner” with those who don’t yet know Him. CoJourners come alongside others in their spiritual journeys, helping them take next steps toward faith in Christ.
CoJourners Overview: Every person is on a spiritual journey, and God is already at work in the life of each person you meet. As a CoJourner, you can help others on their journey toward Christ through:
- Exploring: The Explorer engages in significant conversations to discover and understand the spiritual journeys of others. Being an explorer involves Asking Questions and Actively Listening.
- Guiding: The Guide shows the way to faith in Christ. Being a guide involves Sharing Your Faith Story & Articulating the Gospel in conversationally appropriate ways.
- Building: The Builder bridges over and beyond the issues and obstacles that hinder others in their journey to Christ. Being a builder involves Prayer and Gentle Persuasion.
- Mentoring: The Mentor encourages others to continue to follow Christ. Being a mentor involves helping people make Relational Connections to other believers and understand Foundational Concepts for Christian living.
Read Colossians 4:5 and ask the following questions:
- What do you like about this passage?
- What do you find uncomfortable or difficult to understand in this passage?
- What appears to be the main idea emphasized in this passage? (Look for repeated words or ideas.)
Consider how the following passages increase our understanding of this topic:
A. Read Acts 17:26-27 and Matthew 9:37-38
- In your opinion, what gets in the way of seeing that each person is on a spiritual journey?
B. Read 1 Corinthians 3:9
- What do you notice here about the role of believers in God’s mission?
C. Read Acts 17:16-23
- What indications here give hints that Paul was living out the role of an Explorer?
- What kinds of general questions can you ask to get to know people?
- What are some non-threatening questions can you ask to explore spiritually?
D. Read John 4:28-29, 39-42
- How did this woman carry out the role of a Guide? How can you share your story?
E. Read Romans 6:23
- How could you use this short passage to explain the essence of the Gospel?
- What kinds of hurdles or hangups have you heard that keep people from faith in Christ?
4. What are the beliefs and values promoted in these passages?
5. What do they reveal about our human condition and God’s response?
6. How are these beliefs and values similar or different from those that have influenced you? (such as your family, culture, peers, church, etc.)
7. How might our faith increase and our lives change as we embrace what is true and important?
8. In light of what we’ve discussed, how can we pray for each other right now?
Note: For a comprehensive discussion of this topic, read this CoJourners article.
Care
Since we last met, what happened as a result of expressing Christ’s love to others?
How can you, or we, express Christ’s love to others this week?
Here are a few ideas:
- Pray God would meet their deepest needs.
- Help meet a felt need they have.
- Encourage them with a text, note or verbally.
- Give them a thoughtful gift or buy them coffee.
- Invite them to do something fun or meaningful.
- Listen to their story.
- Explore their thoughts on the gospel.
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