BodyBuilders Equips those who Build the Body of Christ
- the small group leaders (aka Bible Talk Leaders, Family Group Leaders, Life Group Leaders).
Deliberate Discipleship
Jesus' call to "make disciples,… teaching them to obey all that He taught" is an elegant, simple, and unstoppable plan if only we Christians pursued it deliberately. When we do, we realize the brilliance of His plan and the exhilaration of His charge.
AFFIRM-COACH-EXPLORE-LAUNCH!
1. Affirm
AFFIRM via Scripture (See Scripture Bank below for helpful Scriptures on “Affirming Our Standing in Christ”)
What does Jesus want you to know about yourself? What’s encouraged you in Christ this week? What progress did you notice this week in your walk in Christ? You can follow up that question or almost any other question with the next 4 universally helpful questions:
What difference did that make?
How did that promote or invite even more work of the Holy Spirit in you?
How does that benefit the Body of Christ?
Tell me more.
What’s your best hope for this meeting concerning your spiritual progress?
2. Coach
A. Strength/Gift Assessment
Does this strength build up the body of Christ?
Are you good at it?
Do you enjoy it?
B. Coaching Cycle
1Timothy 4:15. Consider both Consistency and Intensity for Progress
3. EXPLORE
Edifying Questions
Gifts. What gift/strength would you like to develop and deploy to benefit the body of Christ? Have you ever been deliberately discipled to boost this strength? What could God do through you if you were deliberately trained in this area?
Transparency. Is there anything that we can talk about that will help you enjoy fellowship in the light? If necessary, see “Reproving Sin” Section
QTs. Did anything that you’ve experienced in a QT with God encourage you recently? Tell me about it. How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you? What else has God been saying to you via His Word? What do you think He wants you to do about it? How can I help you stay the course? If you put that into practice, what difference will that make in you? How will that invite even more work of the Holy Spirit in you?
Outreach. Has God put someone on your heart to love? Tell me about it. Who can you love next? What might be a new way to reach them? Have you had any success disrupting someone with an invitation lately? Tell me about it. How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you?
School/Work. What is work teaching you about godliness? What challenges have you braved? What’s your best hope for a great week of school (or work) this week? How can I “spot” you as you get after that?
Marriage/Parenting. What would your spouse hope that we would discuss today; about marriage, about parenting? Has there been a moment of growing closer together recently? What difference did that make? How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you? What could you proactively do to boost it higher? How can I help you stay the course?
Finance. Have you had an experience with trusting God that put money into a better perspective recently? How would you most like to grow in your stewardship of the financial resources God has entrusted to your care?
Good Shepherding. Have you seen some progress in the faith of someone whom you disciple? Tell me more about that. What difference does that make for them? What difference can that make in the Body of Christ? How can you boost their discipleship even higher? What difference will that make? How can I help you achieve that plan? Who is someone that you were tempted to give up on but instead prayed for them and made an effort to help them? What difference did that make? What else could help? How can I join you in this service to the saints?
Reinforcing Questions. You can follow up that question or almost any other question with the next 4 universally helpful questions:
What difference did that make?
How did that promote or invite even more work of the Holy Spirit in you?
How does that benefit the Body of Christ?
Tell me more
4. LAUNCH
May I share what I think would be a helpful next step for you?
On a scale of 1 to 10 how motivated are you to launch this challenge?
Deliberate Discipleship Scripture Bank
Proverbs 22:18 (ready on your lips)
Affirming Your Identity in Christ
Ephesians 2:4–10 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Corinthians 12:9 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Isaiah 43:1–2 1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Titus 3:5–7 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Romans 8:1–2 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:15–17 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
1 Peter 5:10 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
2 Timothy 1:9–10 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Romans 8:37–39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 1:3–6 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
1 John 1:3–4 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
1 Peter 1:3–5 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
James 1:12 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Zephaniah 3:17 17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Isaiah 49:13–16 13 Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
John 14:1–4 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
1 John 2:1–2 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Deuteronomy 7:9 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
1 John 3:1 1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Romans 4:23–25 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Finding God's Will
Romans 12:1-2, 2:18-24
1Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18
1Peter 4:1-4, 2:15
Matthew 26:29, 7:21, 12:50, 21:31
Psalm 143:10
John 7:17
2Corinthians 5:15
Galatians 2:19-20
Ephesians 5:15, 17
Colossians 1:9, 4:12
Hebrews 13:21
1John 2:17
Sanctification (Holy Spirit), Holiness, Counter-Cultural
Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30
2Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:5
1Peter 4:1-4
Numbers 14:24, 38
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
2Thess 2:13
1 Peter 1:2
Romans 15:16
2Corinthians 7:1
Romans 6:19-22
1Thess 4:3-7
1Thess 5:23
Hebrews 2:11
Hebrews 10:14
John 17:17
Ephesians 5:26-27
Colossians 1:22
1Thess 3:13
Holy Spirit Power
Romans 8:1-13, 26
Galatians 5:16-26
Ephesians 3:15-17
Philippians 2:12-13
1Corinthians 12:3
John 14:16-17
Work Ethic
Colossians 3:23-24
Ephesians 6:5-7
1Peter 2:15
2Thessalonians 3:6-15
1Thessalonians 4:11-12
2Chronicles 31:21
Eccl 9:10
Family Matters
Parenting
Ephesians 6:1-4
Colossians 3:21
Deut 5:16, 6:6-7
Exodus 13:8
2Timothy 3:14-15
1Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12
Psalms 34:11
Proverbs 1:10-11, 15, 2:1-2, 3:1-2, 4:1-2, 3-12, 5:1-2, 6:1-2, 7:1-2, 24, 31:1-9
1Timothy 5:1-8
Marriage
Ephesians 5:21-33
1Peter 3:1-6, 7
Colossians 3:18-19
Proverbs 5:15-19, 19:13,
1Corinthians 7:3
Genesis 2:24, 18
Malachi 2:4, 14-16
Hebrews 13:4
Matthew 19:6, 8-9
Song of Songs (all), SS 1:4, 2:6, 14, 16, 1:3, 4:10-11, 7:5, 4:7, 8:6-7, 7:1-3, 4:9
Kingdom Mindset
Matthew 6:9-10
Matthew 6:19-24
Matthew 18:1-5
Mark 1:15
Money Matters
Matthew 6:19-24, 25-34
Mark 10:21-29
Luke 12:15-34
Luke 19:1-9, 18:24-25
Psalm 36:6
Proverbs 11:4
Eccl 2:26, 5:10-14
Colossians 3:1-3
1Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19
Hebrews 10:34, 13:5
1John 2:15-16
Philippians 3:19-20
Acts 4:32-36, 5:1-11
Grace After Baptism
John 1:16
1Peter 1:2
2Thessalonians 2:16-17
Romans 2:4, 3:8, 6:1, 6:15
Jude 4
Repentance after Baptism
Acts 19:17-19
2Timothy 2:24-26
Romans 2:4
2Corinthians 7:8-11
Revelation 2:4-5, 3:1-3, 14-22
Perseverance and Persecution
Romans 4:19-21
Psa 37:24, 28, 73:24, 138:8
Proverbs 4:18
Matthew 10:22, 24:13
Luke 22:31-32, 10:42
John 8:31-32, 10:28-29, 15:4-9
Acts 11:23, 13:43, 14:21-22
Romans 8:30, 33-35, 37-39, 11:29
1Corinthians 1:8-9, 15:1-2, 58, 16:13
2Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:9, 15
Galatians 5:1, 10, 6:9-10
Humility & Pride & Correction
Philippians 2:5-8
2Chronicles 34:19-28, 32:24-26, 33:12-14, 34:27, 36:12
Deuteronomy 8:11-14
Psalm 36:1-4
Revelation 3:14-20
Proverbs 11:2, 13:10, 16:6, 16:8-9, 21:4, 27:2, 30:12-13
More on Humility
Philippians 2:3-8
John 13:3-5, 14-17
Micah 6:6
Psa 138:6
Isa 66:2
Matt 18:4
Col 3:12
More on Pride
Dan 5:18-23
Isa 47:10
Esther 6:6
Rom 12:16
1Cor 5:2
1Tim 6:3-4
2Tim 3:2
Hosea 7:10
Psa 10:4, Psa 73:6, Psa 31:23
More on Correction
Proverbs 3:11, 10:10, 15:12, 19:25, 28:23
Amos 5:10
Matthew 18:15
Luke 3:19-20
John 3:19-20
John 16:8
1Cor 14:24-25
Ephesians 5:11-13, 4:25-27
1Tim 5:20, 2Tim 4:2
Evangelism
Matthew 28:19-20, 9:36-38
Luke 9:59-60, 61-62, 19:10
1Corinthians 9:16
2Corinthians 5:15-20
2Timothy 4:2
Mark 8:34-38
Acts 8:1-4
Colossians 1:4-6, 4:3-6
1Peter 3:15
Connecting to God
Lordship
Matthew 7:21-27
2Timothy 2:19
2Corinthians 5:14-15
Luke 9:23-26, 61-62
John 13:13-17
Community and Conflict
John 17:20-23
Matthew 18:15-17
Philippians 1:27-28, 2:1-5, 14-15, 4:2-3
Ephesians 4:2-3, 4-6, 29-32, 5:21
General Scriptures on Purity/eMANcipators
James 1:13-15
Colossians 2:20-3:10
John 8:31-36
Romans 6:6-7
2Timothy 2:22
Loving Light (Confession)
Proverbs 28:13
1John 1:3-10
John 16:7-8
James 5:16
Acts 19:18
Matthew 3:6
Ephesians 5:11-14
Matthew 18:15
Psalm 51:1-4
John 3:19-21
Discern Desires
Genesis 1:27-31
Proverbs 16:26
Proverbs 23:1
Mark 4:19
Romans 1:24, 6:12, 7:8, 8:5, 13:14
Galatians 5:16-17, 24
Ephesians 2:3-8, 4:22-24
Col 3:5
2Timothy 2:22
James 1:14-15
1Peter 1:13-15, 2:11
2Peter 1:4
Jude 16-18
Hebrews 4:4-13
Desires Filled in God
Romans 6:12, 8:5, 13:14
Galatians 5:16-17, 24
Colossians 3:5-14
1Timothy 6:9
2Timothy 2:22
James 1:14-15
1Peter 1:13-15, 2:11, 4:2
2Peter 1:4, 2;18
Jude 16
Isaiah 58:13-14
Psalm 119:24, 35, 94:19, 112:1, 145:19, 42:1-2, 37:4
Ephesians 3:14-20, 2:4-10, 4:22-24, 5:1-11
Titus 2:11-14
Recalibrate Righteousness
Before and After
1Corinthians 6:9-10 & 1Corinthians 6:11
Ephesians 2:1-3 & 2:4-10
Ephesians 4:17-19 & 4:22-24
2Corinthians 4:3-4 & 4:5-6
Romans 1:18-32 & 5:6-11
Our Righteousness - Justified!
2nd Corinthians 5:15, 21
Philippians 3:8-9
Isaiah 53:11
Romans 3:24; 4:22-25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18; 8:30
Ephesians 1:3-14
Sinners?
Romans 3:7, 5:8, 5:19
1 Peter 4:18
Galatians 2:15-2:17
1 Timothy 1:9
1 Timothy 1:15
Hebrews 7:26, 12:3
James 4:8, 5:20
Jude 15
Strive for Holiness
Hebrews 9:13-14
Philippians 3:12-14
1Peter 1:13-18
Matthew 5:48
Psalm 119:9
2nd Corinthians 7:1
Colossians 1:28
1st John 3:4-9
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 26:36-42
Expose Excuses
Genesis 3:1-7 (see also Gen 2:16-17)
Matthew 4:1-11 (Satan's scheme replayed)
Ephesians 6:10-12
Luke 4:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6, 6:23-25, 7:10-21
Proverbs 2:16, 9:18
Ecclesiastes 7:26
Hebrews 12:15-16
John 16:6-8
John 3:19-21
Proverbs 2:16
Proverbs 7:10-18, 21
LINK to more Excuses Exposed
Terminate Temptations
James 1:13-15
Matthew 6:13
Matthew 6:41
Matthew 5:27-30
Genesis 39:6-20
1Corinthians 6:12-20
Seeking God
Matthew 7:7 & 7:13-14
Matthew 13:44-46
Matthew 6:25-33
Acts 8:26-40
Hebrews 11:6
Jeremiah 29:10-13
Luke 13:22-27
1 Timothy 4:7b-8
II Chronicles 15:1-4
Acts 17:22-27
Acts 17:10-11 (Word)
Deuteronomy 4:28-31
Daniel 9:3
Word/Feelings
Hebrews 4:12-13
II Timothy 2:15
II Peter 1:19-21
John 7:17
James 1:22-25
Mark 7:6-9
Ezekiel 33:30-33
I Thessalonians 2:13
Proverbs 3:5, 14:12, 16:2, 28:26, 28:9, 30:5-6
I Corinthians 4:4
2nd Peter 3:16
John 8:31-32
Psalm 119:60
2nd Timothy 4:2-3
Matthew 13:1-23
2nd Timothy 3:16-17
1st Timothy 4:15-16
John 12:47-48
Knowing Jesus
John 1:1 & 1:14
John 2:13-17
John 3:1-16
John 6:35
John 14:6
John 4:1-42
John 7:10-24
John 13:1-17
John 12:32
Luke 4:1-13
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 2:9-11
Hebrews 2:17-18
Hebrews 4:15-16
1st John 2:5-6
Mark 1:32-39
Discipleship
Acts 11:25-26
Luke 9:23-27
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 13:22-27
Mark 1:16-20
Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 22:34-40
Matthew 10:36-39
Luke 19:10
Luke 11:1-4
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 7:21-27
Survey of Acts: Acts 2:41-47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:1-7, 8:1-4, 9:31, 9:42, 11:21-26, 12:24, 13:49, 14:1, 14:21, 16:5, 17:4, 17:12, 18:8, 18:10, 19:10, 19:18-20, 19:26, 21:20
Sin
Luke 7:36-52
Mark 7:21-22
Galatians 5:19-21
Ephesians 5:3-13
James 4:17
Isaiah 59:1-3
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 1:21-32
Revelation 21:8
Revelation 21:24-27
I Corinthians 6:13-20
Colossians 3:5-11
2nd Timothy 3:1-5
Matthew 5:48
Cross/Grace
Romans 3:21-26
Romans 4:22-25
Romans 5:6-11
Mark 14:26-15:41
II Corinthians 5:14-21
1st Peter 2:22-25
Isaiah 52:13-53:13
Psalms 22:1 ff
Acts 2:22-38
Colossians 2:13-14
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:16
John 1:29
Repentance
II Corinthians 5:14-21
Luke 3:7-14
Luke 13:1-5, 6-9
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
2nd Corinthians 7:8-11
2nd Timothy 2:24-26
Luke 16:19-31
Acts 26:16-21
Hebrews 12:1-2
Romans 2:4
Acts 3:19-20
Acts 5:30-31; 11:18; 2Tim 2:24-26
Luke 19:1-10 vs. Luke 18:18-30
Colossians 2:20-23 vs. Titus 2:11-12
Salvation/Baptism
Colossians 1:13-14
Ephesians 2:8-9
Colossians 2:11-14
Titus 3:4-6
John 3:3-5
Romans 6:1-4
Acts 22:7-16
Romans 10:5-13
Acts 2:36-41, 47
Acts 8:26-40
Acts 9:1-19, 22:7-16
1st Peter 3:21
Ephesians 4:4-6
Galatians 3:23-27
Holy Spirit
Acts 2:36-38
John 7:39
John 16:5-11
Ephesians 3:14-21
Romans 8:5-16
Galatians 5:22-23
John 14:16-18 v. 1st Sam. 16:13, 19:18-24; Act 2:1-4, 8:16, 10:44-45
Luke 1:15 v. John 10:41
Ex. 4:5; 1st Kings 17:24, Mark 16:20, Act 14:3, Heb 2:4
Act 8:18
Rom 1:11, 12:4-8 v. 1st Cor 2:1-5, 12:4-11
1st Cor 13:8-12
Church/One Another
Acts 2:40-47
John 17:20-26
1st John 1:5-10
Philippians 2:1-5
Hebrews 10:23-25
Hebrews 3:12-14
2nd Cor 6:14-18
Ephesians 2:19-20
Romans 12:4-8
1st Cor 12:12-27
Colossians 1:18
Colossians 2:18-19
John 13:13-15
Deliberate Discipleship Question Bank
Questions designed to Build Up rather than Tear Down
Affirm your friend in Christ via Scripture
What does Jesus want you to know about yourself?
What did it take for Jesus to give you this status? Why did he do it?
What does God reveal about his estimation of you here? What would Satan prefer you to think about yourself? Do you sometimes buy into his accusations? What difference does it make to replace that accusation with this affirmation from God’s Word for you?
What is the honor that describes your identity here?
What place does your shame have in this description of you? Where does he want your shame to go?
Remind him/her of his/her /Teleios/ in Christ (that is, you’re done growing yet!)
What’s encouraged you in Christ this week?
What progress did you see this week in your walk in Christ?
What difference did that make?
How did that promote or invite even more work of the Holy Spirit in you?
How does that benefit the Body of Christ?
Gifts. What gift/strength would you like to develop and deploy to benefit the body of Christ?
Transparency. Is there anything that we can talk about that will help you enjoy fellowship in the light? If you need to help via reproof:
QTs. Did anything that you’ve experienced in a QT with God encourage you recently? Tell me about it. How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you? What else has God been saying to you via His Word? What do you think He wants you to do about it? How can I help you stay the course? If you put that into practice, what difference will that make in you? How will that invite even more work of the Holy Spirit in you?
Outreach. Has God put someone on your heart to love? Tell me about it. Who can you love next? What might be a new way to reach them? Have you had any success disrupting someone with an invitation lately? Tell me about it. How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you?
School/Work. What is work teaching you about godliness? What challenges have your braved? What’s your best hope for a great week of school (or work) this week? How can I “spot” you as get after that?
Marriage/Parenting. Has there been a moment of growing closer together recently? Tell me about it. What difference did that make? How did that invite even more work of the Spirit in and through you? What could you proactively do to boost that even higher? What would your spouse hope that we would discuss today; about marriage, about parenting? How can I help you stay the course on that plan?
Finance. Have you had an experience with trusting God that put money into a better perspective recently? How would you most like to grow in your stewardship of the financial resources God has entrusted to your care?
Good Shepherding. Have you seen some progress in the faith of someone whom you disciple? Tell me more about that. What difference does that make for them? What difference can that make in the Body of Christ? How can you boost their discipleship even higher? What difference will that make? How can I help you achieve that plan? Who is someone that you were tempted to give up on but instead prayed for them and made an effort to help them? What difference did that make? What else could help? How can I join you in this service to the saints?
Questions for me? Input for me? What
How to Construct a Solid Bible Talk
Understanding Your Leadership Style
