Week 2 Obedience/Submission

Quotes

Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction.”

“Obedience is not a stodgy plodding in the ruts of religion; it is a hopeful race toward God’s promises.”

Eugene Peterson

The basic question 'will I obey Christ 's teaching?' is rarely taken as a serious issue. For example, to take one of Jesus' commands, that is relevant to contemporary life, I don't know of any church that actually teaches a church how to bless people who curse them, yet this is a clear command.

Dallas Willard

Bible Verses

Ephesians 5:20–21 (ESV)

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Philippians 2:3–8 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

James 4:7 (ESV)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Questions

General Questions

You might want to ask each other some of the following questions:

Where have you seen God at work in your life in the past week/month?

How did you experience God’s presence through your rhythms?

How have you been shaped by the rhythms?

What differences did the rhythms make to those around you?

What is the Spirit stirring and wanting to grow in you in this season?

What unhealthy rhythms or habits have you adopted and what practices will help you refocus on Jesus?

Specific Questions

What is one thing you like about Obedience & Submission and why?

What has been an obstacle to obeying God?

How can obedience/submission free you and from what?

What is one thing you learned about Obedience & Submission this week? After listening to the rhythm podcast what was new to you or what changed your view?

How do you think obedience/Submission will help you follow Jesus?

Practice

What is a small way this week you can incorporate this rhythm in your life?

What way can the group help you practice this rhythm?