Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.
Personal comment:
Everything we do as followers of Jesus Christ is surely to be measured against the amazing generosity of God in providing His new Covenant through Jesus’ forgiveness of our sins. How can we make forgiveness the heart of our discipleship? I have frequently realised that unless I can forgive others myself, my ministry is utterly compromised. It does not depend on whether anyone else repents or responds to my forgiveness. It is a matter of my spiritual approach and attitude to others. I have to ask myself, does it match up to the sacrificial generosity of Christ?
Ideas for discipleship programme
- Attend a communion service and dwell on the words of Jesus spoken here in Matthew’s Gospel. Let the power of these words direct your mind and spirit as you take part in the service, and let the Holy Spirit explain it to your spirit.
- Pray for those who find it hard to receive the bread and the wine of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. Some people feel they are not worthy of this great forgiveness of Christ, and stand back from receiving God’s grace. Pray for them.
Lift us out of the ordinary, Lord God, and show us the mysteries of heaven, even at a distance, or ‘as in a mirror’. Draw us near to You in the mysteries of faith at Christmas time, and give us the gift of new life through the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord God AMEN
Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- Look carefully through this text and discuss what it means to you. Compare this story with the equivalent texts in the other Gospels.
- Why is it important that bread and wine are used to celebrate the Lord’s ‘Last Supper’, or ‘Passover’?
- In what ways does Jesus provide for the disciples’ weaknesses, so that they may meet Him again after His death? How does He help us now?