1. The Ways of Jesus
  2. Connect
  3. Discussion Guide

General Leader Tips

  • Our year-long journey through the Ways of Jesus is a great opportunity to accompany new believers and not-so-new believers in their walk with Jesus. The purpose of this guide is to encourage participants to engage scripture and consider how the Holy Spirit may be inviting them to reflect on their ongoing relationship with Jesus. In light of this, feel free to tweak and adapt this guide based on your group’s familiarity or unfamiliarity with scripture to facilitate discussion with your group. 

  • As you facilitate your group, may you always lead with an extra dose of grace. At EastLake Church, we desire to help people grow in friendship and faith through their participation in the community. May you make space for participants to ask questions and share insights and encourage those new to faith or just checking out the community to engage in comfortable ways.

  • You may find that once participants get acquainted with the passage by reading it individually and sharing their observations and questions, conversations will naturally gravitate toward what they are interested in talking about. Don’t feel as though you have to ask every single question. Be mindful, however, of staying on topic. The materials will take between 60-90 minutes to go through, depending on participation.

  • Also, this guide is designed for communal investigation of Jesus’ ways in a loving and grace-filled environment. As the facilitator, and as much as you may be gifted in breaking down passages, supplying historical context, etc., resist the temptation to teach. Also, remind participants that this is an opportunity to share their reflections and hear from others on how the passage connects to how God might be showing up in their lives.

  • To have a fruitful experience with your group, we highly recommend that you prepare weekly before your group session by:
    • Praying for your group members;
    • Reviewing the Leader Tip, Big Idea, Anchor Scripture, Command, and selected passage(s) to discuss; and
    • Familiarizing yourself with the study content.

  • For questions or concerns, feel free to contact your Groups pastor.

How to Use This Guide

  • Each weekly guide includes the sections described below:
    • Leader Tip - Tips on what to be mindful of each week.
    • Connect - Take time every session to connect with each other before beginning the discussion. You may use two or three of the following fun "get-to-know" questions and then jump to the questions in each week's "Connect" section.
      • Share your name and how long you've been coming to EastLake Church.
      • What brought you to EastLake Church the first time and what keeps you coming back?
      • What’s your current favorite restaurant? 
      • What is the best movie you recently watched?
      • What show are you currently binging? 
      • Pick any season of your childhood and tell us: What was your favorite show growing up? 
      • When you were a kid, what was your dream job? 
      • If you could do anything for a day, what would you choose to do? 
      • If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
      • Are you a morning person or a night person? Are you an introvert or an extrovert? 
    • Opening/Closing Prayer - As the facilitator of the group, please open and close your sessions with a short prayer. Sample prayers are provided. Also, as participants feel comfortable, invite others to open/close in prayer.
    • Big Idea / Anchor Passage / Command - We recommend that you read these sections to your group to frame the discussion. Or you may simply just keep these in mind to keep the discussion on track.
      • Big Idea - Describes what the overarching idea/theme is for the week.
      • Anchor Passage - The scripture passage that the weekend message is based on.
      • Command - The command of Jesus that the weekend message is based on.
    • Read Passage / Re-Read Passage - Ask volunteer(s) to read the passage. Then ask the group to read the passage again silently to themselves. Invite them to write down their observations, questions, and things that might be confusing, surprising, or challenging. You might want to let them know to bring something to write on/with to each session or perhaps use a Notes APP. These two sections can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the length of the passage.
    • Let’s Talk - This section has two parts:
      • General Questions - These questions are the same every week and are based on the participants' general observations. This set of questions are designed to prompt participants to focus on what the passage says.
      • Reflection & Application - This section is designed to invite participants to further consider how the Holy Spirit may be inviting them to apply what they gleaned in the text to their lives.
    • Looking Ahead - This section is intended to prepare participants for the coming week. You may want to suggest that participants continue to reflect on the week’s study by doing the “For Further Study and Reflection.” You may also suggest preparing for the next week by reading the material ahead of time.
    • For Further Study and Reflection - Encourage participants to continue to reflect on the study throughout the week with additional scripture reading.

Learn More

The Way of Life | Choose the Narrow Way

Participant Guide (Week 1)

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Doing hard things requires inner conviction, commitment, and consistent effort. There are few things more challenging than getting our bodies in shape. Setbacks are inevitable, even with a well-planned regimen of daily movement and healthy eating. There are even tools such as the Apple Watch that help us plot our daily goals, setting our sights on "closing the loop" towards physical fitness. Spiritual transformation is not unlike getting in physical shape. Jesus invites us to specific ways of living. In this four-week series, join us as we explore practicing the narrow way of mercy, grace, and hope. Spiritual transformation requires ongoing effort. We can close the loop towards a transformative spiritual life by continuing to partner and walk with Jesus, in whom we can experience the abundant life.

CONNECT

(5 - 10 mins)

In your small group, take time to connect. You may start with two to three icebreaker questions from the General Leader Tips. If time permits, you may also ask the following questions.

  • What are you thankful for this week?
  • Where did you see goodness in your life this week? 
  • How has your journey in The Ways of Jesus been for you thus far?
  • Have you committed to going on The Ways of Jesus Journey this year? It’s not too late! [Encourage them to sign up at www.thewaysofjesus.com.]

If your group has new members, take time to go around the circle sharing names. Have new people share how long they have been coming to EastLake Church, why they chose to sign up for a group, and a little bit about their family and/or professional life.

OPENING PRAYER

(1-2 minutes)

Sample prayer: “God, thank you for inviting us into this community of faith to hear what your spirit has to say as we study your word. May we be attuned to the Holy Spirit that teaches and guides, and may we be empowered to follow through on whatever it is you are asking us to reflect on or do. May we be continually formed, transformed and conformed into your image by your work in each of us. Amen.”

BIG IDEA

The Way of Jesus is a life of daily choosing between the narrow way that leads to abundant life in Jesus, or the broad way that leads to death. Choosing the narrow way puts us on a different trajectory than those around us, sometimes even our family and friends. Nevertheless, Jesus promises that his path leads to a life of deep joy and flourishing. This week we explore what it looks like to choose the narrow way.

ANCHOR PASSAGE

13 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

COMMAND

Choose the narrow way.

READ PASSAGE

(7 - 10 mins)

13 ‘Go in by the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction, you see, is nice and wide, and the road going there has plenty of room. Lots of people go that way. 14 But the gate leading to life is narrow, and the road going there is a tight squeeze. Not many people find their way through.

15 ‘Watch out for false prophets. They will come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are hungry wolves. 16 You’ll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear: you don’t find grapes growing on thorn-bushes, do you, or figs on thistles? 17 Well, in the same way, good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit. 18 Actually, good trees can’t produce bad fruit, nor can bad ones produce good fruit! 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. 20 So: you must recognize them by their fruits.

21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Master, Master” will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my father in heaven. 22 On that day lots of people will say to me, “Master, Master – we prophesied in your name, didn’t we? We cast out demons in your name! We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name!” 23 ‘Then I will have to say to them, ‘ “I never knew you! You’re a bunch of evildoers – go away from me!” ’

24 ‘So, then, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and beat on that house. It didn’t fall, because it was founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them – they will be like a foolish man, who built his house on sand. 27 Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and battered the house – and down it fell! It fell with a great crash.’

28 And so it was, when Jesus finished these words, that the crowds were astonished at his teaching. 29 He was teaching them, you see, on his own authority, not like their scribes used to do.

Matthew 7:13-29 NTE

RE-READ PASSAGE INDIVIDUALLY

(10 - 15 mins)

  • Read the passage again silently to yourselves. Optional: You may use another translation.
  • Write down your questions and observations.
    • Look for - repeated words/phrases; key characters; what’s happening?
    • What questions or insights do you have about this passage?
    • Take note of anything in the text that is confusing, interesting, challenging, or hard to understand.

LET’S TALK

(40 - 60 mins)

General Questions

  • What was encouraging about this passage? What, if any, was challenging?
  • What text stood out to you? Why?
  • What does the passage tell us about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
  • What does the passage tell us about humanity?
  • What biblical principles did you pick up from this passage?

Reflection and Application

  • How does Jesus explain the differences between the narrow and the broad way?
  • What commands/instructions can you spot (implicit or explicit) in the passage?
  • What promises and warnings can you glean from the passage? Which ones resonate with you and why?
  • Think of some examples of the narrow and broad way in your life? Relationships? Workplace? Where do you find yourself at that crossroads of choosing which way to follow?
  • Reflect upon the foundation upon which you have built your life. Are there any areas in your life that appear to be on sandy ground? What invitation, if any, do you hear from Jesus?

CLOSING PRAYER

(3-5 mins)

Sample prayer: “Jesus, thank you for your word that graciously speaks truth to each of us. May we continue to abide in and obey your word. May we continually be formed, transformed and conformed into your image not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others and the world. Amen.”

LOOKING AHEAD

  • At your leisure, take time to reflect on this week’s topic by going over the material in the “For Further Study” section below.
  • To prepare yourself for next week’s topic, feel free to read the anchor scripture and accompanying passage.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

READ

11“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. 12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ 14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. 15“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 17“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 19“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NLT

REFLECTION & APPLICATION

  • Moses, as God’s representative, was speaking with the Israelites, God’s chosen people. This passage is a continuation of what we might consider “terms of engagement” God had given Moses to help guide their relationship with God. What options did God give the people of Israel to choose from?
  • What specific command did God give the people of Israel?
  • Do you believe that living a “blessed life” or a “cursed life” is directly related to or associated with your strict obedience to the commands of God and the ways of Jesus? Why or why not?
  • Living in the tension of the importance of obeying God’s commands and the truth of God’s grace can pose some challenges. How do you see the tension living out in your own life?

PRAY

In prayer, offer to Jesus what might have stirred in your heart as you read through, studied, and reflected on this week’s reading(s). Is there anything God might be inviting you to do?