09 Oct
2022

Growing as Disciples

Passage: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Speaker: Kennerly King

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Read Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. What surprises, encourages, or sparks questions for you?

An important point of Jesus being the sower is that we recognize Jesus comes to us to bring us what we need to live. How does this vocation or characteristic of being a sower shape your understanding of God? How does he sow? How does knowing he is sowing impact the way you pay attention?

Earthly kingdoms come by force. God’s kingdom comes as a seed. What are the qualities of a seed (consider the comparison of a seed and a boulder)? How does this description of the kingdom of God shape your expectations of listening to Jesus?

Our purpose at Covenant is: “to make disciples of Jesus who love God and love our neighbors because of Jesus’s love for us.” One practice of ours towards this purpose is growing as disciples: “We put a priority on seeking the transformation of our minds through sound thinking and compassionate listening.” From Matthew 13, we focused on the need to listen to Jesus through his Word revealed by the Holy Spirit. How do you see this happening well at Covenant and in your life personally? In what ways could you see this being done even more in our church family and in your personal life? To see all of our practices, go to https://covenantsd.org/vision-values/

The parable of the sower gives us a 4-part hearing test. German pastor Helmut Thielicke wrote, “There are certain times in our life and there are certain levels in the self in which we are hard ground, rocky ground, and fertile soil all in one.” What environment am I exposing God’s word? In what areas of your life are you more prone to listening with a hard heart (path), shallow heart (rocky), divided heart (thorns), or a grateful heart (fertile soil)?

What does listening to Jesus look like on a daily basis in your life right now? What practices help or distract you in paying attention to God in this season?

What from this passage do you need to remember, rejoice in, request, or repent of?

PRAYER

Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?