Session Extras

Year 1

Commissioned: Session 1
Be My Witnesses

Digging Deeper:

• Disciples is based on “The Bible’s Teaching on Discipleship,” a paper by David Holwerda, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary. Pages 17-25 specifically address the themes of the Commissioned discussion guide.
• “Any of us can disciple others if we believe God, love people, and follow Christ with the intent of becoming like him.” In the article “Who, Me? Make Disciples?” Lee Brase discusses how to step out in faith and invest in someone else’s life.
• Dan Owens suggests that sharing our faith in Christ can be a natural part of our life. Read his five principles in the short article “A Natural Witness.”
• Read or listen to the following sermons by John Piper on Acts 1.
• “What Jesus Did After the Beginning”
• “The Spirit Wants the World for Christ”
• Dustin Armstrong tells his story of faith in the article “My Story Is My Witness”
• Do we really see the people in the world around us or are we going through the motions? Jim Peterson describes how to view the world with Jesus’ eyes in the article “A Disciple's Vision.”
• Read more about martyrs in the book “Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks” by the music group DC Talk or the book “Foxe's Book of Martyrs: An Edition for the People” by John Foxe.
• In the article “What I Learned from Modern Martyrs” Lesa Engelthaler describes how Christians are not victims but victors. Check out the sidebar to this article that includes a short piece called “What Can I Do?” as well as a list of resources.

For the Leader:

• Throughout the study, your group’s openness to sharing will be a reflection of your own openness as a leader. See the Leadership Tips page for some thoughts about appropriate ways of communicating vulnerability wisely as a leader.
• State your expectation for the group and acknowledge that you do not have all the answers.
• The Scripture passage read for the Word Search on pages 10-11 is Acts 1:1-11. Have different members of the group read the following parts:
  • Narrator
  • Jesus
  • Disciples
  • Men dressed in white
• This fun video called “8 Reasons I Don’t Share My Faith” can be used as a discussion starter.
• For Option 1 on page 12, the group is asked to make a list of obstacles to witnessing. Be prepared to tell a short personal story about an obstacle in your life to witnessing.
• If your group chooses Option 3 on page 12, be prepared to give a personal example of evidence of Christ’s power and grace in your own life.
• John Piper has assembled a list of things the early church prayed for in the article “What should we pray for?” Select two or three topics from the list and ask your group to focus on them in their prayers.
• Read the article by Lois Tverberg called “The Richness of Jewish Prayer.” Encourage each member of your group to give a blessing to God such as, “Lord, we bless your name,” “Blessed are you, most high God,” or “Blessed is our God who is good.”

Submit your ideas!

Do you have suggestions for this particular session? Something that was especially meaningful for you or your group? Extra reading you’d like to suggest? Help others get the most out of this session. Send your ideas to editors@FaithAliveResources.org and we’ll consider adding them here!