CHAPTER 1

Week One

The Decision to Follow

Day 1

Today's Scripture John 1

Key Verse

Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." John 1:49 NIV

1. Why were John the Baptist's disciples willing to change rabbis and follow Jesus so suddenly? ____________________________________________________________________________

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2. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Philip told Nathanael. Who was instrumental in bringing you to Christ, and how did they influence you?

Faith in Action

Discipline yourself to do the Bible readings and journal in this book every day.

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Going Deeper

Many people are trying to understand their purpose in life. We hope that God will speak to us in some way. The men listed in John 1 got an invitation from Jesus himself to join him on a journey. While they did not know Jesus' identity at this point, they heard John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God. The phrase must have reminded them of the lamb that was slain when the Israelites were escaping from slavery in Egypt. To ensure that the angel of death would "pass over" their homes during the plague of the firstborn, they were to sacrifice a lamb without any blemish and place a mark of its blood over the doorway. John was telling people something significant about Jesus that no one would have been able to comprehend at that time. These men did understand that important things were going to happen with Jesus.

This was an important decision for two of John's disciples. Switching rabbis was equivalent to changing universities in your junior year of college. Rabbis were Jewish teachers who had been given the authority to interpret the Scriptures so that people knew how to live a holy life. A disciple had to be chosen by his rabbi and agree to submit completely to his rabbi's interpretation of the Scripture. By switching rabbis from John to Jesus, the disciples were leaving their old interpretation of Scripture behind and promising to believe Jesus' interpretation fully. Jesus calls us to follow him as well. Just as the first disciples' lives were changed when they made a decision to follow Jesus, so our lives will be changed as well.

Notable Quotable

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

—Jim Elliot

Going Deeper Questions

3. When you think of Jesus as "the Lamb of God," what does that mean to you?

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4. What is the hardest thing you've had to give up in following Christ? Is there anything you are called to give up now?

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Day 2

Today's Scripture

Exodus 3:1--4:17

Key Verse

God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'"

Exodus 3:14 ESV

1. Why can't Moses set foot on the ground around the burning bush with shoes on?

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2. Moses comes up with lots of excuses for why he shouldn't follow God's call for him. What excuses have kept you from following where God calls you?

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Going Deeper

For many people, the thought of directly hearing the voice of God telling them what to do would be a dream come true and the answer to their most heartfelt prayers. Moses, however, finds that it is not so easy. He is fearful of following the voice of God because sometimes God asks us to do things that we don't understand, things that we aren't ready for.

When Moses first approaches the burning bush, God's voice tells him to take off his shoes. It seems like an odd request, but consider friends who ask you to take off your shoes before you come inside their home. You may comply to keep their carpet clean, but it is also a sign of respecting their authority—their house, their rules. By having Moses remove his shoes, God was claiming authority over everything—nature, the Israelites, Moses, everything.

Moses yields his rights to God's authority, but he is still overwhelmed by God's direction. He comes up with many excuses to avoid his role in the plan God shares —"I'm not important enough." "I'm not a good enough follower." "No one will listen to me." "I don't speak very well." "I really don't want to go!" For every excuse Moses makes, God has an answer. Sometimes we find it hard to follow because God has more confidence in us and our abilities than we have in ourselves. Other times it is hard to follow because the task we are undertaking is difficult or because we feel unworthy of being asked by a holy God to do anything. The good news is that God uses ordinary people to bless others, and sometimes they do extraordinary things.

Notable Quotable

"Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion. It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ."

—Billy Graham

Going Deeper Questions

3. In what area of your life do you find it hardest to yield to God's authority? Why?

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4. God calls each of us to step out in faith, sometimes in small ways and sometimes in big ways. What do you feel called to do, and how can you accept that calling?

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Day 3

Today's Scripture

Judges 4

Key Verse

Then Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go."

Judges 4:8 NASB

1. What opportunities are lost when we ignore God's call?

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2. Barak refuses to fight against Sisera until Deborah joins his quest. What struggles do you face that could be easier if you asked friends to come to your aid? Who would you ask for help?

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Going Deeper

Just like Moses, Barak hears a clear commandment of God through Deborah, one of the great judges of Israel. He experiences fear at this request, knowing that he is being sent into battle against a formidable enemy. Following will mean great sacrifice and even death. There is also a cost, however, for not following. The security of the nation is at stake, and it is the role of the general to face that challenge.

While you may not be facing an enemy army, no doubt there are people in your life who depend on you. There are service projects to do, church functions to attend, friends who may never hear the gospel unless you share it with them—not to mention schoolwork, housework, homework, yardwork, paperwork, and busy work. Sometimes it just doesn't feel like you can make it on your own, but maybe that's OK. One of the wise things that Barak does is invite Deborah to accompany him. He seems not to care that this will have the appearance of cowardice or that a woman will gain a great reputation when the opposing general is defeated. In order to follow, Barak knows that he needs a companion and an ally in his corner.

Notable Quotable

"It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it."

—J. R. Miller

Like Barak, we often find ourselves outnumbered by the stresses of life and the magnitude of what we are called to accomplish. We all need a community of fellow believers around us, friends who can help us in the tough times and push us to greater things in the good times. We need to be able to share our lives and our struggles, to "bear each other's burdens," and to keep each other strong. And the best way to do that is to be a burden- carrier for others.

Going Deeper Questions

3. Where have you found friends who have bolstered your courage and made it easier for you to follow God's call? How can you thank them for their fellowship?

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4. What is one area of your life where you feel called to follow God but are struggling to do so? How could you share that burden with a friend?

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Day 4

Today's Scripture

Luke 3:1-18

Key Verse

John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Luke 3:16 ESV

1. John preached "a baptism of repentance." Why are visible actions an important part of following Christ's call?

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2. When questioned, John gives specific actions that people can do to enact God's will in their lives. What actions can you take to make Christ's love apparent in your life?

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Going Deeper

Sometimes we can hear the voice of God through simple words that challenge us to obedience. We read the Bible, listen to a sermon, or hear the advice of a trusted friend, and we realize that something in our life is not as it should be.

John the Baptist's preaching left people with an important question: what should I do? They felt convicted and wanted to repent of their sins. The word "conviction" has two meanings: "a firmly held belief" and "a formal declaration that someone is guilty of an offense." In Christianity, the word takes on both meanings simultaneously. We are all convicted sinners. We have been declared guilty and deserve punishment for our guilt. In this conviction comes the opportunity for pardon. We are given the option to repent, to turn away fully from the mistakes we've made and run in the other direction, back inside the gracious boundaries of obedience to God.

Notable Quotable

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with big love."

—Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Conviction is one way that God speaks to us. Change comes only when we admit our shortcomings and ask God for help. Our desire to turn in God's direction and be obedient is how we respond to that conviction. John was more than happy to point out the obvious changes that his listeners needed to make: don't extort money, don't collect more than you should, share with the poor. These are obvious changes, and the decision to make them is life-changing.

Going Deeper Questions

3. What actions in your life do you feel most convicted about? Have you fully admitted your guilt, or do you still make excuses about those actions?

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4. What are some obvious steps of obedience you can make in the areas of life where you feel convicted?

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Day 5

Today's Scripture

1 John 5:1-12

Key Verse

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

1 John 5:2 NKJV

1. What does our obedience have to do with how we love God?

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2. In other venues of your life (sports teams, community organizations, schools, and so on), following the rules is necessary to be part of the group. Why, then, is it so hard to do this when it comes to being Christian?

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Going Deeper

The book of 1 John makes a compelling case regarding the importance of following Jesus Christ as a way of hearing the will of God for your life. At the time 1 John was written, a splinter group of Christians had broken off and were teaching that Jesus was so divine that he had no humanity. The author of 1 John wanted people to know that in Jesus, God had come as a man who lived in ordinary circumstances. Christ was divine, but he was also fully human and understood the complexities of human existence completely as one who experienced it fully. This was a revolutionary idea, that God would come in human form and guide us in the way we live our lives. No longer could people say that God did not understand what it was like to face the difficulties of being a human. First John states repeatedly that to be a Christian, one must confess that Jesus Christ has come in flesh.

Notable Quotable

"To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name."

—Thomas Merton

As a wise person once said, the importance of any journey is where it takes you in the end. First John tells us that Christ has the ability not only to guide our steps in this life but also to take us to eternal life as well. He was not just "a good teacher" but the creator of all things, not just a man God used but God in human form. He came not to give "secret" knowledge of how God works to a chosen few but to open the path to salvation to everyone throughout eternity.

First John calls its readers to demonstrate the love of Christ in the church and in the world. This happens when our experience of Christ's love leaves us with a desire to be obedient to him in the decisions we make and the callings we pursue.

Going Deeper Questions

3. Why is it important that Jesus is both God and man? What does that mean to you?

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4. How can we use our love for God and for others to help prove to the world that Jesus is the only way to true life?

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