Response #2: Be Baptized—Follow Jesus in Baptism!

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

“Jesus arrived at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!” But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So, John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.”

(Matthew 3:13-17 The Message)

“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always!” (Matthew 28:18-20 ERV).

“When we are baptized, we are buried with Jesus and take part in his death. Just as Jesus was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 ERV)

Anyone can be baptized anywhere and at any time to express the change they’ve experienced in following Jesus. Some people have the wrong idea that they think they need to make themselves good enough before they get baptized. But Jesus teaches us to simply: “Come as we are, and we will be changed!”

4. What does this story tell us about baptism?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Baptism Story

Response #3: Love God

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

Love God Story

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth! Store your treasures in heaven! Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely, he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!

“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in Heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is to Seek Jesus First and to do what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need. (Matthew 6:19-33).

“I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me” (Hosea 6:6 Living Bible)

“Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you” (Matthew 22:37 TPT)

4. What does this story tell us about loving God and seeking Jesus first?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

#4: Pray—Spend time together with Jesus!

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

Spending time together with Jesus Story

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha, and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated with finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 TPT)

“Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you’ve been carrying and I will give you rest. Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle in spirit, and you’ll be able to get some rest. Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ERV)

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find it. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them.

“Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock? Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not! You people are so bad, but you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:7-11).

*Download the Lectio 365 App and learn more about how to PRAY and spend time with Jesus

4. What does this story tell us about loving God and seeking Jesus first?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Response #5: Gather—Spend time together as a group!

The Gathering story

“Many people, about three thousand, responded to Peter’s words and got baptized on that very day. From that day on, these new disciples were very enthusiastic to learn more about Jesus and his teachings. They would gather regularly to give thanks, share life, focus on the teachings of Jesus, and pray for one another. Very amazingly, they had many miracles and supernatural experiences that they grew more and more in awe of God. Because of their love and compassion toward one another, they would do everything they could to help those who were in need. In their own homes, they would praise God, celebrate communion, and eat meals with great joy and thankfulness. Even neighbors and friends were amazed at what they saw in these disciples. God was working in people’s lives because every day someone would want to become a follower of Jesus.” (Acts 2:41-47 paraphrased)

“We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and to put that love into action! We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other and spreading the Message of Jesus. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

4. What does this story tell us about prayer and spending time with Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

Response #6: Scatter—Spread the message of Jesus!

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

The Scattered Story

“A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

But the believers who were scattered shared the Message about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about Jesus. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his story and God’s story. As a result, many people not only received the Message of Jesus but experienced miraculous healings in their lives! So, there was great joy in that city.

A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time, he had astounded them with his magic.

But now the people believed Philip’s message about the Good News of Jesus. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He joined Philip wherever he went and was amazed by the signs and wonders he saw God doing!

After sharing the Message of Jesus in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to share the Message about Jesus.

As for Philip, the Lord impressed upon him: “Go to the desert road that leads to Gaza.” So, he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, someone of great authority under the queen of Ethiopia. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”The man replied, “How can I unless someone instructs me?” And he invited Philip to sit with him. (They had the most amazing conversation as Phillip shared the Message of Jesus and how Jesus had changed his life!). As they were finishing talking, they came to some water, and the man was so moved he asked if Phillip would baptize him on the spot! “Look! There’s some water! I want to be baptized!” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him!” (Acts 8:4- 40)“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

“We pray for a fearless confidence in us as we continue to spread your message. And at the same time, together with that message, we ask you to release your supernatural power in healings and miracles and wonders for the sake of the name of your holy servant Jesus.” While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to share God’s message with fearless confidence” (Acts 4:29-31 paraphrased)

4. What does this story tell us about prayer and spending time with Jesus?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Response #7: Love Others—Love like you’ve been loved!

1. What are we thankful for?

2. What are we struggling with?

3. How did your living it out and sharing go this past week?

“I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love. My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness! “So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends. “You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you. I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate and cherished friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father. You didn’t choose me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit. And your fruit will last because whatever you ask of my Father, for my sake, he will give it to you! So, this is my parting command: Love one another deeply!” (John 15:9-17 TPT)

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” (John 13:34-35 ERV)

4. What does this story tell us about loving others?

5. Imagine God is speaking something to you from this story: What do you sense God saying to you?

6. After reading this story, what can you do to live it out?

7. Who can you show Jesus’ love or share with this week?

Love Others Story