VERGE NETWORK

DISCIPLE MAKINGNo Plan B

DISCIPLE MAKINGNo Plan B

Verge Network

LifeWay Press®

Nashville, Tennessee

Disciple Making: No Plan BPublished by LifeWay Press®

©2013 Verge Network

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LifeWay Press®, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0152.

ISBN: 978-1-4300-2551-1

Item: 005588802

Dewey Decimal Classification Number: 269.2

Subject Heading: DISCIPLESHIP \ CHRISTIAN LIFE \ EVANGELISTIC WORK

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English

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CONTENTS

About Verge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

About Disciple Making: No Plan B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

How to Use This Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

SESSION 1 Discipleship: Becoming Like Jesus . . . . . . . . . . .11

SESSION 2 Discipleship: Being a Parent to Imitate . . . . . . . .23

SESSION 3 Discipleship: Motivated by the Gospel . . . . . . . .31

SESSION 4 Discipleship: Pointing to Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

SESSION 5 Discipleship: Putting It Into Practice . . . . . . . . .53

SESSION 6 Discipleship: God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Leader Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Project Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Group Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

ABOuT VErGE

Vision of VergeAs a network, Verge seeks to be an advocate and champion for movements

of gospel-centered, missional communities. Our hope is to resource everyday

leaders—from church pastors, to college students, to artists, to entrepreneurs—

for the mission of God, in community, for the sake of the gospel.

We provide resources that are useful for equipping God’s people for God’s

mission. Our passionate and engaged audience wants to see the gospel

change them, their communities, their neighbors, and the world they live in.

So we help Verge leaders and churches missionally engage and contextualize

the gospel for everyday people where they live, work, and play.

History of VergeVerge Network started as a church-based training seminar at The Austin

Stone Community Church in 2008. During the weekend seminar, Austin

Stone discussed what it would look like for the church to engage the city

of Austin with the gospel. We discovered, however, that groups from other

churches were there with us that weekend.

After that seminar, we thought more about the other churches and

considering how to engage our neighbors with the gospel. There were many

other churches we could learn from. Thus, the Verge Network started in an

effort to facilitate a conversation about the missional church.

In 2010, the Verge Conference launched as a gathering for people engaged in

the mission of God in their everyday lives. In our first year we had more than

2,000 attendees and nearly 3,000 online viewers from 11 countries.

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Following the conference, we launched vergenetwork.org, a website that

offers timely and topical information, videos, interviews, articles, and ongoing

dialogue about living in gospel-centered, missional communities. Our desire

was to continue the missional conversation and provide leaders with great

content year round.

In 2011, Verge partnered with Exponential, the largest church planting

conference in the U.S., to equip and teach more than 4,000 leaders what it

means to live out the gospel on mission in community.

In 2012, Verge was back in Austin. Around 2,000 people gathered to learn

from leaders like David Platt, Matt Carter, Jo Saxton, Dr. John Perkins,

Christian rapper Propaganda, Alan Hirsch, Mike Breen, Hugh Halter, Neil

Cole, and many more. Additionally, through live streaming, the conference

had almost 1,000 multi-sites in 49 countries, with nearly 30,000 people

participating worldwide. In this study guide, we share with you what we

learned at the 2012 conference so you can share it with your missional

community right where you are.

Looking forwardAs Verge Network continues to grow, we have a deep desire to create more

gospel-centered missional resources to equip leaders. Our hope is that we

can play a part in resourcing the church to build the kingdom of God in our

generation.

Michael “Stew’” Stewart

Founder and Director of Verge Network

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ABOuT DiSciPle-MakiNg: No PlaN B

If we were responsible for putting into motion a plan for the whole world to

hear the gospel, we would probably question Jesus’ approach. He healed

people, raised a few from the dead, and preached to the multitudes, but then

He left the scene. Surely Jesus could have maintained a thriving ministry,

healed many more people, and taken the good news to numerous lands

before He departed. But He didn’t.

Instead, Jesus revealed Himself and His Father to twelve men for three years.

He taught them how to live in His kingdom. He encouraged them, corrected

them, and sent them out to do what He did. Certainly it was hard, and at

times messy, but this was His method for disciple-making, and these were

the people He trusted to carry the gospel to the rest of the world.

What was Plan B? Jesus should have made a backup plan, right? Some kind

of safety net to ensure that if these guys failed, the message would still go

forward and people would hear the good news of the gospel. There was no

backup plan—no Plan B.

And we don’t need one. God will rescue every one of His children from every

nation, tribe, people, and language. And He will do it the way He said He

would when Jesus looked at His disciples and said,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Join us for a few weeks to look at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Together we’ll join God’s plan to take the gospel to the whole world.

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hOw TO uSE ThIS STuDy

We’ve designed this study guide to be used by a missional community. The

sessions are most fruitful in a cozy atmosphere where people can speak freely

and listen and love well. We envision groups of 6 to 12 people hanging out in

a home and discovering Jesus together.

The ideal environment for these sessions includes food. There is something

about eating together that allows people to push below surface conversations.

We encourage you to start your time with snacks or a small meal. As you eat,

learn about each other and how God is working in your lives.

But don’t let the fun stop when you put your forks down. Gather around for

a candid discussion, a short video about God’s Word, and a glimpse of what

God wants to do in your hearts, your families, your community, and the world.

Each session has four sections:

reCogniZing oUr PersPeCtiVeEach of us has a worldview—a basic set of values and beliefs that help

us interpret the world. Our worldview shapes our decisions from where we

choose to live, to the relationships we choose to have, to the job opportunities

we pursue. In this section you will explore your worldviews and begin to

understand how what you value and believe influences your lifestyles.

refoCUsing oUr VisionWe live in a broken world. Our values have been marred by sin, and therefore,

our lifestyles often fail to reflect how God has asked His people to live. In this

section a new idea will challenge your current worldviews. As you consider

this new paradigm, you will reflect on your lifestyles and note where they

differ from God’s plan.

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aLigning witH tHe gosPeLOften we look for motivation outside of God. We adopt a try-harder attitude

or create a new list of rules to follow. But the Bible is clear that true, lasting

change comes by remembering the promises of God in the gospel. In this

section you will consider how the gospel motivates you to change your current

lifestyles so that your life aligns with its truth.

standing on tHe Verge At this point you may be standing on the verge of something new and

exciting. God may be asking you to change where you live or work or to build

relationships with people who are different from you. He may also be calling

you to engage more faithfully right where you are. Each group has particular

strengths and weaknesses, so growth will be different for each community. In

this section, you will work out practical steps to put into practice what you

are learning.

At the end of this study, your group will complete a project together. And in

light of what God shows your group, you’ll create a plan for living missionally

beyond the extent of this study. This study is merely a jump start to a lifestyle

of following Jesus. Thanks for letting us stand here on the verge with you.

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sUggested CaLendar

wEEK 1 Becoming Like Jesus

wEEK 2 Being a Parent to Imitate

wEEK 3 Motivated by the Gospel

wEEK 4 Pointing to Jesus

wEEK 5 Putting It Into Practice

wEEK 6 God’s Plan

wEEK 7 Review and finalize plans for group project

wEEK 8 Begin group project

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SESSION 1 discipleship: Becoming Like Jesus

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In this week’s session, we’ll look at what we’re imitating. More than likely,

we’re imitating our idols and leading others to imitate them with us. We’ll

also discover a life-giving truth about Jesus that is much better than anything

these idols could ever give. Before group members leave, we’ll commit to

exchanging our idols for this truth and make a plan for imitating that truth

about Jesus as a group.

reCogniZing oUr PersPeCtiVeAfter you read the excerpts from the articles below, you’ll answer a few

questions to help identify your idols. Try to be specific and transparent in

your answers.

rEAD | “A NEW AGE OF CELEBRITY”

in [a study] with more than 600 people, psychologists found that about a

third qualified for a condition they coined “celebrity worship syndrome”—a

condition wherein, at its most severe, the object of our worship becomes the

central figure in our lives. …

“The whole Hollywood spin machine works together to create images

that are impossible for any of us to live up to. They purposefully set us up to

admire and even covet something we can never have,” says long island, N.Y.,

psychologist abby aronowitz, Ph.D.

“Then,” she says, “when we are completely vulnerable, they sell us the

image even harder—from headlines that titillate us with ‘celebrity secrets,’ to

the books, diets, cosmetics, foods, jewelry, and clothes that promise we’ll be

closer to the ones we adore.”

“There are fortunes being made by turning fans into victims, and [it all]

starts by creating that frenzy known as celebrity worship,” says aronowitz.1

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Which celebrities have you found yourself worshiping? Who was your first

celebrity crush?

Look beyond celebrities to the personal influences in your everyday life. Other than your family members, who are you most like? Who do you want to be like? Complete the sentences below to find out:

I dress (or I want to dress) like _______________.

I talk (or I want to talk) like _______________.

I listen to the music _______________ listens to.

I watch the movies or TV shows _______________ watches.

I eat what/where _______________ eats.

I buy (or I want to buy) what _______________ buys.

I drive a car (or I want to drive a car) like _______________.

I spend/save/invest money (or I want to) like _______________.

I have (or I want) the same career/calling as _______________.

I have the same values as _______________.

When you look at your answers, who do you seem to imitate the most? What are some other ways you’re like this person or want to be?

rEAD | “7 COMPANIES WITH CULT FOLLOWINGS”

“[at] the extremes, people join cults to make up for some nagging

shortcoming—like poverty or some sense of humiliation,” says William Taft

Stuart, an anthropology professor at the University of Maryland.

in the classic sense, “cults” are followers gathered behind charismatic

and possibly dangerous leaders. But consumers can develop cultlike

attachment to products when they help satisfy similar needs.

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cult products convey membership in a cool group. They signal status.

and they’re hard to quit.

one great example is the way annoying early adopters in your office

get a discernible thrill from checking their [new iPhone or carrying the new

iPad] every time they walk into a meeting. … “it’s like the bird who weighs

one ounce but puffs himself up to look like he weighs a pound,” says Philip

Muskin, a psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital who also teaches

clinical psychiatry at columbia University Medical center. …

a recent University of Southern california Marshall School of Business

study … found cultlike brand attachments can be so powerful that people

feel “separation anxiety” when cut off. They will make big sacrifices to avoid

this. This can give the company you own the perfect customer: someone who

will buy every product, every time—and probably fight to be first in line. 2

Do you think you are obsessed with any products or brands? If yes, give an example of your “cultlike attachment.”

refoCUsing oUr VisionIn this section you’ll watch a video about consumerism and how it is linked

to idolatry—substituting something else for God. See if you recognize any of

your own tendencies in this short explanation.

wATCh | ALAN HIRSCH—DISCIPLE MAKING

In the video, Alan Hirsch says, “Consumerism is being defined by what

we consume. … It is the search for meaning, identity, purpose, and

belonging, tied to the consumption of products. The problem is, I think that

consumerism is the alternative religion of our day. Without doubt, it is the

secular religion of our day. There’s no such religious force in the West as

powerful as consumerism.”

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Think about the people you influence. What are you influencing them to put their trust in? What are you influencing them to live or die for? Are you influencing them to be consumers or disciples of Jesus?

aLigning witH tHe gosPeLIn this section you’ll discuss your own consumerism and idolatry. Form

groups of three (men with men, women with women) for these conversations.

rEAD | PSALM 115:4-8

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

Psalm 115 says we become like the idols we worship. Take a look at the

products you crave and the people, organizations, or other influences you

tend to imitate. Could any of these be your idol, your substitute for God?

Have you idolized your influencers or consumed any of their idols hoping they will give you meaning, identity, purpose, or belonging? Explain.

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Psalm 115 says we will become as meaningless, powerless, and lifeless as our idols. Has your trust in your favorite products, your influencers, or their idols ever left you lifeless? How so?

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being desperately bad, how badly do you want to exchange your idol for Someone who can give you life?

1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 10

Isaiah 30:22 tells us that when we see God’s grace and mercy toward us,

we then see our idols as so disgusting that we want to throw them away.

Let’s take a look at how we can do that.

rEAD | ROMANS 1:21-25

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!

Paul warns the Romans that some people have “exchanged the glory of the

immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and

creeping things” (v. 23). Most of us probably aren’t tempted to exchange

the glory of God for an image of a creeping thing, but Paul also warns that

some people have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped

and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25). It is likely that we’ve

exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and we’ve probably worshiped and

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served something created—maybe another person, a product, a job, a goal,

or a special gift from God—rather than God Himself.

The apostle Paul says in Colossians 3:9-10 that we can, “Put off the old

self with its practices and … put on the new self, which is being renewed

in knowledge after the image of its creator.” Just as we can exchange God

for idols, we can exchange our idols for our Creator and be renewed to look

like Him.

Imagine taking one of your idols back to the store where you bought it and asking for an exchange. What would you say was wrong with it? Why were you dissatisfied?

ITEM DEfECT

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The following chart lists life-giving truths about Jesus and gives a Scripture that supports each truth. Underline or highlight the one you want to claim in exchange for your defective item. Read the Scripture and then tell how this truth gives you life.

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LIfE-GIVING TruTh ABOuT JESuS SCrIPTurE

God gave His Son for us so we could live. John 3:16

Jesus has freed us from condemnation. John 3:17; 8:2-11; Romans 8:1-2

Rather than steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus lays down His life so we can have abundant life.

John 10:10-11

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in Him, though we die, we will live.

John 11:25

Christ died for us when we were weak, ungodly sinners.

Romans 5:6-8

When Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, He freed us from sin and death.

Romans 6:1-14

The fruit of sin is death, but Jesus freed us to receive the free gift of life.

Romans 6:21-23

The God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us and gives us life.

Romans 8:11

Who can condemn us when Jesus died to pay the price for our sins?

Romans 8:31-34

Christ lives in us, and we don’t want to nullify the grace God showed us through Christ’s death.

Galatians 2:20-21

Christ took on our curse for us. Galatians 3:13

God has freed us from our idols. Why would we want to return to being enslaved by them?

Galatians 4:8-9

Christ has set us free. Let’s not submit to slavery again.

Galatians 5:1

We used to be dead when we followed the passions and desires of the rest of the world, but God mercifully made us alive with Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-9

Jesus, who suffered like we do, paid the price for our freedom from sin and fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-18

Jesus, who endured temptation like ours, gives grace and mercy to sinners.

Hebrews 4:15-16

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Think about how you can exchange your defective item for the Person of

Jesus this week. If you need to fast from something or confess to someone,

make plans to do that soon. Spend time this week memorizing the Scripture

passage that corresponds to the truth about Jesus that you chose earlier. Next

week you’ll talk about how these verses are giving you life. You’ll also have an

opportunity to recite and apply the passage(s) you’ve chosen in other sessions

as you move forward.

standing on tHe VergeIn this section you’ll join the large group again to discuss together how you

can exchange your idols.

What are some of the defective items/idols you’re exchanging this week? What truths are you claiming instead?

Have you noticed any trends or common themes in the products you’re consuming or the people you’re imitating other than Jesus? Explain.

What are some of the idols that are prevalent in your city? Your nation?

What do you think your city and nation would look like if they exchanged those idols for Jesus?

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After you finish these six sessions, you’ll do a group project that will help you

imitate Jesus in your city. Start by discussing with your group what you can

do that will help you imitate an attribute of Jesus that opposes one of the

trends you’ve discussed this week. For instance, if you consume technology,

maybe you can collect and donate old phones to organizations that share

them with abused women. Or you can volunteer at a local library to teach

computer skills to job seekers or internationals. If you consume clothes,

maybe each of you can donate three outfits to refugees in your city. If you

consume music, maybe you can organize a children’s music program at your

community center. If you consume cars, maybe you can provide vehicles for

international students or cross-cultural workers. Whatever you choose to do,

base your motivation on some aspect of Jesus’ life you want to imitate. You

can choose from the list below or choose a character trait Jesus is revealing

about Himself in your own lives.

ChArACTEr Of JESuS SCrIPTurE

Friend of sinners Matthew 11:19; Mark 2:15-17

Gentle and humble in heart Matthew 11:29

Humble and obedient Philippians 2:5-8

Does good even though He suffers for it; does not deceive; does not return evil; does not threaten; trusts God to judge justly

1 Peter 2:21-23

Endures temptation Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16

Endures rejection, oppression, and affliction Isaiah 53:3,7

Does no violence and does not speak deceitfully

Isaiah 53:9

Shows us mercy and forgives us Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16; 1 John 1:9

Helps us and does not forsake us Hebrews 13:5-6

Serves us Luke 12:37; 22:24-27; John 13:1-17

Makes peace; unifies us Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:11,15

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ChArACTEr Of JESuS SCrIPTurE

Receives children Mark 10:13-16

Preaches the gospel to the poor; releases captives; frees the oppressed; gives sight to the blind; makes the lame walk and the deaf hear

Luke 4:16-20; 7:21-23

Heals the sick Matthew 8:16-17; 9:35

Feeds the hungry Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-14

Prays Luke 11:1-4; John 17

Start a list of potential project ideas based on what you have just talked about as a group. You can come back and narrow down your options later.

ChArACTEr Of JESuS TO IMITATE

SCrIPTurE PrOJECT IDEA

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Thanks for trusting each other through this session as you’ve looked at the

idols you’ve substituted for Jesus. As this group experience progresses, you

will discover more about the life Jesus offers you as you exchange your idols

and imitate Him together.

Read the Scriptures for your group project one more time and then spend

some time praying together. Pray that God will help you, your city, and your

nation exchange your idols for Jesus and imitate Him.

1. Colette Bouchez, “A New Age of Celebrity Worship,” http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-1366162.html.

2. Michael Brush, “7 Companies with Cult Followings,” http://money.msn.com/investing/7-companies-with-cult-followings/.

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God will rescue His children from every nation, tribe, people, and language. And He will do it the way He said He would when Jesus looked at His disciples and said:

ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN

GIVEN TO ME. GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL

NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND

OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO

OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND BEHOLD,

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.

Matthew 28:18-20, ESV

Jesus left us no Plan B. He spent three years revealing His Father, His kingdom, and His gospel, and now it’s our turn.

In Disciple Making: No Plan B, you’ll hear from men and women who are making disciples around the world and in their own communities and homes. You’ll learn from them how to make disciples by modeling Jesus, pointing to Jesus, and putting Jesus’ words into practice. You’ll see how discipleship is motivated and fueled by the gospel. And if you fear you can’t make disciples because you’re unfit or incompetent, you’ll find the gospel especially qualifies you for making disciples of Jesus.

Discipleship is God’s surefire plan for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. And you’re invited to be a part.