Discipleship - Week 5 Discussion Questions
Discipleship Matters: Maturity Matters
Scripture
Hebrews 5:11-6:12, NLT
A Call to Spiritual Growth
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen: You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
So let us strop going over the basic teaching about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the lying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.
When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.
Dar friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
Take some time to re-read these passages from Sunday’s Sermon.
Discussion Questions
Take some time at the start of your group to discuss some of your experiences with discipleship. Is there anything else you’re learning about discipleship during this season?
Spend some time with your group rereading the scripture passage from Sunday’s sermon. Try to read from different translations if possible.
Would anyone in the group like to share about their salvation experience?
Maturing in our discipleship is very important. What are some obstacles that you have seen personally or generally that prevent maturity for followers of Christ, for groups or for communities of faith?
Take some time with your group to pray that if those obstacles are present in your life or in your group that the Lord would make you aware of steps we can take to remove those obstacles.
How do the essentials of the Christian faith bring you encouragement?
In closing, discuss as a group who in your life would benefit from an encouraging text message, letter, card or phone call this week.
Which whom might you have an interesting discussion regarding this specific passage?
