Preparing for Sunday - Matthew 10:1-4

September 19, 2013 by Bret Capranica Preparing for Sunday

Read Matthew 10:1-4.
List what those who are mentioned were called to do. How do these activities relate to what Jesus was doing in Matthew 8 & 9? How are they different?
What titles are used to describe the men Jesus called to him? What does each title suggest about their responsibilities?
From what you have read in Matthew's Gospel thus far, when did these men begin following Jesus? What is different about this calling of these men and that described in Matthew 4:18-22?
What do you learn about the order in which these men's names are mentioned and grouped (if anything)?

Glance back through Matthew 5-9 and make a list of what these twelve disciples have heard from Jesus and seen Jesus do. What does this suggest about what discipleship is to look like between God's people in general? How would this inform the way we should understand Jesus' call for us to "make disciples" in Matthew 28:18-20?
Who are you personally investing in to assist them in growing as a disciple? How do you go about it?
What keeps you from this kind of discipling relationship with others in the church? How could that change?
Who are the people that you tend to interact with most within the church? What does discipleship look like between you? How could it grow?

Intentionally pray about who you should invest yourself in through ongoing, ever deepening discipleship relationships. What will you do this week to act on that prayer?
Ask God to reveal in you what would keep you from being open to another person being significantly involved in your life in an ongoing, ever deeping way for the purpose of discipleship. What do you need to address in yourself?
Pray earnestly that God will raise up people in our church who will aggressively engage in significant discipleship with others in our church.
Pray for those leading our service this Sunday to be helpful in focusing our attention on Christ: Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, Elders' Prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Meditate on the lyrcis of the songs we will sing this Sunday. Listen to them through the weekend to prepare yourself to sing with focus and zeal with God's people.