read: 1 Corinthians 4:15-17
The connection between discipleship and the concept of family within the church might not naturally seem related, but Scripture presents them as inseparable. The heart of discipleship is deeply rooted in the understanding that believers belong to God's family. Paul’s teaching across all churches consistently points to “the ways in Christ” as the central mission, and his primary focus is on forming communities that learn and live the way of Jesus. His goal could be summarized as becoming faithful families of disciples who make disciples. Significantly, Paul uses the language of family to express this mission.
1. Family provides the identity for discipleship. We are first and foremost children in God's family. Just as no one chooses their biological family, believers do not choose to enter God’s family on their own; they are born or adopted into it by God’s grace alone. This identity is not earned or selected through reason or personal decision. Our faith is not the result of calculated choice, but of God’s initiative. God chose us. The truth is, being a disciple begins with being a child of God. Understanding this order is essential, because it is from this identity that discipleship naturally flows.
2. Family lays the pattern of discipleship. Paul writes, “Imitate me,” and “Follow me as I follow Christ.” When he cannot be present, he sends Timothy to embody and remind the church of his ways in Christ. This passage reveals that the way of Jesus cannot be taught merely through words; it must be lived and demonstrated. Discipleship must be shown, not just told. It is not primarily about biblical knowledge or theological concepts, though those have value. True discipleship is about how one lives, about how one thinks, acts, and embodies the way of Christ. As such, the church needs visible examples of what it looks like to follow Jesus, in everyday, ordinary ways.
3. God enables the family resemblance, the resemblance to Jesus Himself. Without being part of God’s family, spiritual growth would be no different from learning a skill through practice and discipline. But discipleship is more than self-effort. There is something deeper at work: the life of the Spirit within us. Just as children in earthly families resemble their parents, the Spirit that was in Jesus is now in his people, shaping them from the inside out. Even when someone resists or struggles, God patiently works within his children, committed to their transformation. God is at work, forming his people to bear the likeness of Christ, not by effort alone, but by the deep, transforming power of belonging to his family.
a. What is your favorite story about Jesus? Why do you like this story? What can this story tell you about him? If we struggle to have favorite stories about Jesus, what might that say about our knowledge about him?
b. Thinking About God's Family: Kris spent a lot of time talking about why our earthly families can teach us about belonging in God's family. As it is true in our earthly families, we don't gain admission, we are born and accepted first apart from what we do. Like our earthly families (at least good ones), we learn the way we are encouraged to live. Like our earthly families, we resemble one another in God's family by the Spirit. But what are ways God's family isn't like our natural families?
c. Discipleship is Shown Not Taught: Kris spent a lot of time talking about why the "Ways in Christ" needed a living example to imitate (whether Paul himself or Timothy in his place). If Paul could simply teach the ways in Christ with words, he could have just written them down. Why do you think this was so important? Why couldn't Paul just write this down for the Corinthians to remember?
d. A Puzzle for Deeper Thought (optional but a good discussion nevertheless): Kris talks about the importance for members of the church family to show what it looks like to follow Jesus with their lives. But, Jesus once said in the Sermon on the Mount to do your good deeds in secret (Matthew 6:1-8). He mentions that "hypocrites" love to be seen for the good things that they do. Does this cut against the idea of showing and demonstrating examples of the way of Jesus for those in our church family? Why not?
e. What are ways we can show the way of Christ for people in our community group? In our Church? (One of Kris’ points is that this can be done in both big and small ways: even the act of standing up for communion or showing up for community group is a way of showing the way of Jesus).
f. If we are children before we are disciples, what does that mean when children don't want to be good disciples? When they don't want to learn the ways of Jesus?