Introduction
As you get started, share vision for growing in your relationship with the Lord together and what you are excited about as you go through Look Up together.
Biblical Foundations
Jesus didn't just call His disciples to work for Him but first and foremost to be with Him. Even before sending them out to do ministry, He wanted them to experience His presence, learn from Him, and develop a relationship with Him.
The Scriptures use a variety of images to paint this picture including vines and branches, fountains of water, shepherds and sheep and the language of friendship and joy. Here are a few key Scriptures on this topic:
Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve that they might be and that he might send them out to preach.
John 15:4-11 " in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am , you are ; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears , for you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has , I have also ; . If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that , and that ."
Psalm 16.11 You will make known to me the path of life; In is fullness of ; In Your there are forever.
Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a compared to the surpassing greatness of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may Christ.
Questions for Discussion: What does it mean to "know" Jesus rather than just know about Him? What excites you about building this type of relationship with Jesus?
Modeling
For the Leader: One of the key habits for developing our relationship with the Lord is spending daily time in the Scriptures, prayer, worship and listening to him. We call this a personal devotional life. If we can help disciples build a daily habit of spending time with Jesus in His Word, in worship, in prayer and in listening we plant the seeds for a lifelong, life-giving friendship with the Lord.
Take time to model how you do your daily devotional life and explain how it your relationship with God and your daily life.
Practice
We have developed a 40 Days of Devotion daily email that will help you spend daily time with Jesus in personal devotion and abiding throughout the day.
Challenge:
- Sign up for the 40 Days of Devotion
- Every day for the next 40 days, set aside focused time to “be with the Lord” and use the devotionals to help structure your daily times.
- Start a journal to record what God is showing you