BE THE WAY - Week 3 — The Way MicroChurches

WORSHIP

What can we praise or thank God for? (You could sing this or pray this to the Lord.)
What do we need to repent of? (This can be a time of silent or public confession.)

The Lord’s Supper

Read Psalm 23 (ESV) out loud together.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Have someone pray a prayer of thanksgiving that the Lord has prepared this table in the presence of our enemies.
Take bread and say, “The body of Christ, given for you.”
Take a cup and say, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”

Review

We’re working through the four key relationships and crucial priorities of a church family. Last week we looked at:

WORSHIP - Our Relationship with Jesus

Devote yourselves to connecting with and following after Jesus

Today, let’s look at:

DISCOVERY - Our Relationship with the Bible

DISCOVERY

Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.

Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
46 So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.

Read the passage again (perhaps in another version).
Have someone retell the passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in the passage?
Do you have any questions about the passage?
What does the passage say about God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)?
What does the passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does the passage say about the life God invites us to live?

Dig Deeper

Most of us are used to hearing God's Word preached or taught.

What are the advantages of listening to the preaching and teaching of God's Word?

In our MicroChurches, we use a Discovery Bible Study. The following questions will help you discover why engaging with God's Word together can be so powerful:

When do you remember learning something best? What made it stick?
How does discussing God's Word with other believers help us understand it, apply it, and live it out?
How can hearing others' insights strengthen your own faith and obedience?
Why does discussing God's Word together prepare us to talk about and live out our faith in our everyday relationships?
Based on our discussion, what are the advantages of a Discovery Bible Study?

Hearing AND Obeying

Jesus taught that those who hear His words and obey them build on a solid foundation. James echoes the same truth: God's Word is not merely something to be heard; it is something to be obeyed.

James 1:22-25 (NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Why does obeying God's Word help us experience the truth of God's Word?

Good Questions Lead to Good Discoveries

Discovery Bible Study concludes with the following five reflection questions. What do these questions help us discover?

What truth is God highlighting for you from the passage?
What would keep you from believing or obeying this truth?
What blessing would you experience if you believed and obeyed this truth?
How will you live out this truth this week? ("I will...")
Who needs to hear this truth? How will you share it?

Reflection

Facilitating Notes

For the sake of time, or more importantly, to encourage deeper sharing, you could divide into groups of 2 to answer the following questions.
Ask these pairs to connect midweek to see how their “I will …” statements and sharing goals are coming along and how they can continue to support and pray for each other.
If you don’t divide into pairs, record each other’s “I will …” statements and sharing goals and remind each other of them during the week through a text or an email.

Now let’s answer these Discovery Bible Study questions for today’s study.

What truth is God highlighting for you from the passages?
What would keep you from believing or obeying this truth?
What blessing would you experience if you believed and obeyed this truth?
How will you live out this truth this week? (“I will…”)
Who needs to hear this truth? How will you share it?

In Summary

The church’s first two key relationships and crucial priorities are: