Module 4 Meeting 1 - Countryside Church

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean for the Bible to be our “script?”

2. How does understanding the Bible as a script differ from viewing it as an instruction manual, newspaper, or novel?

3. Today, people live out many different scripts. What are some of the false scripts that threaten to draw our attention away from the truth of scripture?

4. We’ve laid out the Bible in four “acts.” Take a moment to review:

Act 1 is Creation. We read about this in Genesis 1-2. An all-powerful, loving God forms the universe. He then places his image bearers inside this world to represent him, and he calls it “very good.”

Act 2 is called The Fall. This happens in Genesis 3, and it keeps getting worse, all the way through chapter 11. It’s where God’s people stop trying to reflect God and instead try to be God. All of creation is now broken, and things start to fall apart.

Act 3 is Redemption. It starts in Genesis 12, where God puts his rescue plan into action. He begins by calling Abraham and his descendants to show the world how He made them to live. It leads us to one Israelite named Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection show us how everything can get back on track. This is the act that we are still living out today.

Act 4 is called Completion. We read about this in the book of Revelation. It’s where God will one day make all things right again, and we will live with Him, and nothing will get in the way.

On the one hand, the Bible is complete, with nothing to be added or taken away (Revelation 22:18). On the other hand, we’re still living out the story of scripture (Act 3). How might understanding Acts 1 and 2—as well as what’s to come in Act 4—help us live out Act 3 today?

5. Choose one of the following passages to read together: Deuteronomy 6:1–12, Psalm 51,Matthew 6:25–34, or Colossians 3:1–17. Spend some time reflecting on the passage, sharing any ways that it speaks to you today.

6. We’ve discussed the four great Acts of the Bible. How does your passage call forth redemption (Act 3) in your own life as well as the world around you? How is it inviting you to join God in renewing what was broken in the fall?

7. Now that you’ve had a chance to reflect on scripture in this way, what might it mean for us to “live out” the Bible? How is this more than simply knowing scripture, understanding scripture, or even obeying scripture?

Assignment

ASSIGNMENT: Before your next meeting, work through the Scripture Practices below. Also watch the video, Beginning, in preparation for the next meeting.

Scripture Reading Exercise

By Megan Koch

In this exercise, you’ll use a simple 5 step approach to reading the Bible. This is an excellent way to weave scripture into the fabric of your life. However, we all know that sometimes it’s hard to make Bible reading a regular discipline. So set a goal. For the next week, commit to following this method for at least 5 days, and write down the ways that God speaks to you. At your next meeting, come prepared to share with your discipler at least one new way that God is calling you to live out Scripture.

Here are the 5 steps:
Quiet · Read · Listen · Reflect · Pray

1. Quiet your heart and mind. Take a minute to simply ask God to speak through his
word.

2. Read the entire passage slowly.

3. Listen for something in the passage to grab your heart. This could be just one verse, a simple phrase, or even one word. Whatever comes to the surface, consider it a word from God.

4. Reflect on whatever verse, word, or thought God brought to the surface. Chew on it and enter into it. What would it look like for you to live out this word from God? What new characteristic of God does it show you? How is it an encouragement to a certain area of your life? Or, what area of your life do you need to submit to this word and work on? How would living this out give you more life in Christ? Write down some thoughts.

5. Pray a prayer of thankfulness and action. Thank God for his voice in your life, and ask him to help you live this out.

Devote space in your journal for this practice. Try to stick to passages that are anywhere between 5-15 verses long. Use the format provided below, or come up with one on your own. If you’re unsure of what passages to read, ask your discipler to help you get started.

Repeat the following exercise for five days:

Day #
Passage:
As you listened, what part of the passage did God bring to the surface for you?
Reflections:

Day 1

Make Space

Get to your prayer space. Eliminate distractions. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

Read Psalm 8

1 Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

in the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?[c]

5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]

and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their[g] feet:

7 all flocks and herds,

and the animals of the wild,

8 the birds in the sky,

and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth.

Begin the Conversation:

God, you’re good because …

Today I’m handing this over; it’s heavy and it’s in the way …

Thank you for …

I’m asking for …

Journal:

Day 2

Make Space

Get to your prayer space. Eliminate distractions. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

Read 1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Begin the Conversation:

God, you’re good because …

Today I’m handing this over; it’s heavy and it’s in the way …

Thank you for …

I’m asking for …

Journal:

Day 3

Make Space

Get to your prayer space. Eliminate distractions. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

Read John 17:20-26

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Begin the Conversation:

God, you’re good because …

Today I’m handing this over; it’s heavy and it’s in the way …

Thank you for …

I’m asking for …

Journal:

Day 4

Make Space

Get to your prayer space. Eliminate distractions. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

Read Colossians 3:12-17

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Begin the Conversation:

God, you’re good because …

Today I’m handing this over; it’s heavy and it’s in the way …

Thank you for …

I’m asking for …

Journal:

Day 5

Make Space

Get to your prayer space. Eliminate distractions. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Begin the Conversation:

God, you’re good because …

Today I’m handing this over; it’s heavy and it’s in the way …

Thank you for …

I’m asking for …

Journal:

The Discipleship Pathway is a collaborative work between Pastors Phil Wiseman & Megan Koch of Table Church and Pastor Jake Thurston of The Ransom Church.