7.19.26 Huddle
Teacher notes! Don’t feel obligated to read through every question with your group. Pick a few that will bring about a good discussion. If you only get to one of the passages, that’s fine! The purpose of this is to help you and your team grow spiritually.
Opening Discussion
Tell a brief story about a time you were lost, but thought you were going the right direction.
Read and Discuss
Luke 9:23-26
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself?
Why would this have been a radical way of thinking for the disciples and the people listening?
Why do we have to deny ourselves to follow Jesus?
What does it look like from day to day to actually deny ourselves?
How is denying ourselves more than just making a list of things we shouldn’t do?
How do you take up your cross daily?
What’s something you can do (or currently do) to remind yourself daily to take up your cross?
What is difficult about following Jesus?
What is freeing about following Jesus?
How can we change our thinking about wanting to gain the things of this world and pursue the things of Christ?
Romans 6:1-4
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
Why might people think it’s okay to continue doing what they want after they’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus?
What does it mean to be baptized into Jesus’ death?
What does it look like to die to yourself?
Is that the same as denying yourself?
How can we be dead to sin, but still sin sometimes?
What does it look like to walk in the newness of life?
Discipleship Questions
How can you take a step closer to Jesus this week?
What is a way you can deny yourself this week?
Memorize it!
Luke 9:23
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Prayer Focus
Think through your past week. What were some little things you did to follow Jesus and grow closer to Him? Think about this upcoming week. What might be some hurdles to following Jesus? Spend some time praying through those things.