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:
The path of discipleship is the path of faith, not the path of denial. Throughout my life within the Western church, it has been fashionable amongst many I have known to promote doubt as a form of reasonable questioning. There is no point in asking questions, however, if there is no hope of finding answers, and the Christian disciple is fundamentally someone who has found answers; they have found the answer to the meaning of life in Jesus Christ whatever logic may be inadvertently missing or further questions remain. Moreover, as with Peter, a disciple is one who has had to travel a path of repentance and forgiveness before faith can take root.
Ideas for discipleship programme
- Look back on your own life and try to recall those moments when you have been caught out doing something you should not. Remember how this felt. Prayerfully ask yourself whether there are things you are hiding from the Lord and search your heart concerning what to do about this.
- Do you find it easy to talk to people about Jesus, and are you content to be identified as one of Jesus’ disciples? Discuss your feelings about t his with a friend.
Stay with us, Lord Jesus, we pray, and at those moments when we are most vulnerable, help us to remain firm in faith. With Your help, may we take our stand against all that is wrong and evil in our world, and testify to Your saving and redeeming love. We praise You, Lord Jesus Christ: AMEN
Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- Was Peter running away from his responsibilities right from the start, or did he start with the right intention and fall away?
- Discuss the nature of Peter’s denials of Jesus. What are the general characteristics of Peter’s sin?
- Write down a list of feelings that Peter probably had as he left the courtyard of the High Priest’s house, weeping.