Disciple Experiment : A Faith-in-Action Student Journal

by Mike Yaconelli

• ISBN13: 9780310251699
• ISBN10: 0310251699
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus? During those rare moments when it's just you and God and nobody is bugging you, maybe you ask yourself that very question. (That's great! At least you're asking!) But what if you could get beyond the question and actually grow toward discipleship? This little book makes it possible to find out! No, you don't have to pray five hours a day. And no, you don't have to read a chapter of the Bible after you're done praying. It's a lot simpler than that! This is a Faith-In-Action Journal (Yes, you can write in it!), and it's a road map for adventure. Each day, this journal will take you through some realistic scenarios from your own world set against actual events in Jesus' life and end with a challenge to be a disciple of Jesus on that day. And before you know it, the month will be over - and you find your faith has deepened, you're more familiar with the Bible, and you're inspired like crazy to follow Jesus. But Beware: If you take this assignment, watch out! If you're not careful, you may find your life becoming a little wild, a little mysterious, a little unpredictable, a little risky. (So don't say we didn't warn you.) All this in: 30 Days (Not a bad deal, eh?)

Table of Contents

Intro Would This Be Cool or What? You open the door to head for school, and there he is---Jesus

Prep For the Next 30 Days You Are Going to Ask Yourself What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? In every circumstance of life?

Pre What Are Your Expectations for the Next 30 Days?

The 30-day adventure

Parent problems...Jesus and his parents

Mark and the locker gorillas...Jesus and the wild animals

Cara and the rain man...Jesus and the strange man

Fear at school...Fear at home (hometown boy does bad)

No place to go...Only one place to go

Over her head...The cost of telling a lie

When life gets dark...Life got dark for him, too

No big deal...One big deal

Degrading women...A degraded woman upgraded

Put up or shut up...Call in the big boys

What are friends for?...House wreckers

No hope...No hope?

Secret past...Not-so-secret past

Living in a perfect world...Staying in a perfect world

Makin' the big bucks...Hangin' on to the big bucks

I'm a nobody...A bent-over somebody

Obnoxious...Ex-obnoxious

Did she or didn't she?...Is he or isn't he?

Bad witness...Bad Sabbath-keeper

Where's God?...Where's Jesus?

Who do I serve?...Who is my neighbor?

The most important thing...Well, maybe this is the most important thing

How do I say it?...How do I do it?

Doubting Diane...Doubting Thomas

Smothered...Blinded

Wild man...Drunk man...Wild children

Bad year...Bad storm

Is it okay to cry?...Is it okay to waste perfume?

When?...Hurry!

Life is hard, but it's good...Rowing is hard, but it's worth it

Mid How Are You Doing Now, Considering the Expectations You Wrote Down at the Beginning?

Post A Letter to Jesus

Excerpts

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

PARENT PROBLEMS

Seems like every day I'm getting hassled by my parents. We fight all the time. If it's not my room, it's my homework, my music, my clothes, my friends, my choices. I guess there are good moments, but not very many and not very often. I don't get it. I'm not saying it's all their fault, I'm just saying I thought Jesus would make my family better. When I get into arguments with my family, I try to stop myself, but it never works. I always end up saying something I wish I hadn't said. My parents are always criticizing me. I never hear anything positive or good about what I'm doing. Course, I don't talk to them much anymore, either. How can I make my family better?

IN THIS SITUATION, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS?

Jesus and his parents

Luke 2:41-52

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day, then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

They he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Your turn ...

Jesus went home and "was obedient" to his parents after he ditched them for three days. They were very upset. What do you think of Jesus' answer to his parents? Is obeying your parents a non-negotiable, or are there some exceptions?

REAL-LIFE RESPONSE

Look for someone who appears to be really hurting. It doesn't matter whether or not you know the person's name. Pray for that person. If there's anything you feel you can do for the person, do it.

SO HOW'D IT GO TODAY?

1. Were you conscious of Jesus at all today? If so, when? If not, why not?

2. What, if anything, did you notice about yourself today?

3. What do you want to say to Jesus after today?

Dear Jesus,

4. What would Jesus say to you after today?

Dear ,

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Disciple Experiment Student Journal by Mike Yaconelli Copyright © 2003 by Zondervan
Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.