STUDY GUIDE – Step Up & Raise Up

Icebreaker: Name someone who has encouraged you to “Step-Up” in your faith journey.

Sermon Title: Generation to generation – “Step-Up & Raise-Up”

Group Discussion:

Read 1 Timothy 4:10-12 – Take action regardless of any limitations; we all have limitations. How can acknowledging, and even embracing, our personal limitations actually empower us to serve Jesus more effectively? How might Paul’s encouragement to Timothy challenge us to step forward and serve Jesus despite those limitations?

Read Joshua 1:9 & Jeremiah 1:6-8 – Jesus is calling younger generations to “step-up.” Whether we are younger or growing older, these verses should resonate: In what ways can these verses empower us to take action and trust in Jesus’ presence and strength as we serve or as we mentor others? So, for the child, teen, or even an adult, what could “stepping up” look like. What is a potential first step?

Read Deuteronomy 6:6-7 & Psalm 78:2-4 – Older generations are called to raise-up others regardless of age. Younger generations want to learn from us and need to share life with us. How can we encourage younger people, and people new to faith, to actively seek wisdom and build relationships with more spiritually mature people? Likewise, how can we be “open” to genuinely making ourselves available?

Read 1 Corinthians 11:1 & Proverbs 27:17 – Invite others into your life and let them watch. Discuss some practical ways we can (1) invite others into our lives, (2) be open and authentic, and (3) model walking with Jesus through life. In your discussions, you might differentiate approaches with younger generations and older generations for iron to sharpen iron (e.g., Stepping-Up & Raising-Up).

Read 1 Chronicles 28:20 & 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – Regardless of our age, the Lord has called us to be strong and courageous. Share specific situations in your life right now that require you to rely on the Lord’s strength to help you be courageous as disciples and in making disciple-makers.

Spiritual Discipline: Review resources for this series at: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources

Action Steps: (1) Pray for the Lord to show you who to invest in, (2) Reach out and schedule that first coffee or meal together, (3) Continue to get to know them and express your own desire to grow in Jesus and invite them to join you on the journey, (4) Suggest meeting regularly for a defined period, and (5) Keep it simple: pick a gospel to read through together or a basic discipleship resource to guide your discussions (Check out the Real-Life Theology Handbook tool in our sermon resources).