WE ARE DISCIPLE of JESUS CHRIST - BIBLE STUDY WITH PASTOR

This Wednesday at 6:30 pm Pastor continues our new Bible Study series

“We are Disciples of Jesus Christ,” with week 3, “Love Boldy.”

Following Him, growing together. Psalm 119:1 tells us

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord!

Let’s come and engage, here, in-person in the Social Hall.

To join by phone conference, call 346-248-7799. When asked, enter the meeting ID 951 7916 9014 then "#." When asked, enter Passcode 906461, then "#." Please press *6 to mute your phone if you are not speaking.

A New Vision, A Shared Calling

Embracing a New Era of Ministry as United Methodists

Saint Andrews United Methodist Church

@ 6:30 pm each week

WRITTEN BY Bishop Héctor A. Burgos‐Núñez

Bible Study Guide

To access the Guide, please choose of the following options:

1 - Use this QR Code to download the Study Guide

SESSION 2

Disciples Empowered By the Holy Spirit

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

1 John Wesley, Sermon 7, “The Way to the Kingdom,” cited in Kenneth Cain Kinghorn, John Wesley on Christian Beliefs: The Standard Sermons in

Modern English (Abingdon Press, 2002), 129-130.

Primary Scriptures:

• Psalm 16

• Colossians 2:6-10

• John 10:10

Framing/Big Idea

Disciples are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live with purpose, joy, and the abundant life Jesus

promises.

Gathering Grace/Opening Prayer

Take a moment to open your heart(s) to God through prayer.

Gracious and Holy God, we come seeking your Spirit—not for comfort alone, but for courage. Stir

within us a holy boldness, that we might live your vision with joy. May your Spirit fall afresh on us

today, awakening hearts, renewing minds, and empowering hands for your mission. In the name of

Jesus, who sends us forth, Amen.

Opening Questions/Conversation Starters

Before diving into the study, take a moment to reflect and share.

• When during the week do you feel most at peace or most yourself?

• When have you sensed God’s presence in a way that made your faith feel real or alive?

• What would a Spirit-led renewal in your community look or feel like? What would it smell

like?

John Wesley Quote

“God’s love was poured into the believers’ hearts through the Holy Spirit that was given to

them…Furthermore, the believers’ filial love for God grew continually, due to the testimony of

God’s pardoning love now within them…God was now their desire, the strength of their hearts and

their portion forever.”

–John Wesley, “Scriptural Christianity” 2

Whispers of Grace/Reflection Questions

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s gentle guidance. Use the prompts

below for personal journaling, small-group conversation, or both. Follow whichever questions draw

you deeper into God’s love.

1. Psalm 16 describes a movement from refuge toward fullness and joy. Which stage feels

closest to your life right now—seeking refuge, growing in trust, or living more fully in God’s

presence?

2. Jesus promises abundant life in John 10:10. What does “fullness” look like for you? Where

do you sense the Spirit inviting you to receive it?

3. In Colossians 2, Paul warns against anything that diminishes our joy. What can “empty” your

faith or drain your joy? How might the Spirit restore that fullness?

2 John Wesley, Sermon 4, “Scriptural Christianity,” quoted in Kenneth Cain Kinghorn, John Wesley on Christian Beliefs: The Standard Sermons in

Modern English (Abingdon Press, 2002), 81.

4. Abundance is both communal and personal. Where might the Spirit be empowering your

church or community to live more abundantly?

5. The Spirit leads us into truth that is lived, not just intellectually understood. How have you

experienced the difference between knowing about God and sensing God’s active presence in

your life?

6. When have you recently felt the Spirit nudging, guiding, or encouraging you? What helped

you recognize that movement?

7. In your daily decisions, what helps you stay open to the Spirit’s guidance? What tends to

make that openness more difficult?

8. Where might the Spirit be inviting you to offer your gifts, not just for personal satisfaction, but

to build up others and to bear witness to God’s love in action?

Grace for the Journey/Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, You have stirred our hearts and opened our eyes. Send us forth now, not as passive

observers, but as bold disciples. May we live your vision with joy, serve with humility, and lead

with courage. Empower us to be the church the world needs, for the glory of Christ and the

healing of creation. Amen.

Call to Action

Choose one intentional practice that helps you stay open to the Holy Spirit’s work of renewal and

fullness. It might be:

• setting aside a few minutes each day for prayer or scripture,

• pausing regularly to notice God’s presence and give thanks, and

• paying attention to where the Spirit is nudging you toward trust, joy, or deeper faith.

Commit to these practices as a way of receiving the abundant life Jesus promises, trusting that

the Spirit is already at work guiding, sustaining, and forming you in God’s love.

SESSION 3

Love Boldly

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

Primary Scriptures:

• Leviticus 19:9–18

• John 13:34–35

• Mark 12:28-34

Framing/Big Idea

Loving boldly means responding to God’s love with courage, compassion, and intentional

action—embracing neighbor and stranger alike with the generous love of Christ.

Gathering Grace/Opening Prayer

Take a moment to open your heart(s) to God through prayer.

Gracious and loving God, You have called us to love boldly, just as You have loved us. As we

gather to reflect on Your Word, open our hearts to Your transformative presence. Help us to deepen

our relationship with Jesus Christ, so that our love may overflow to those around us. Guide us to

embrace and uplift every person, regardless of background or circumstance, as a reflection of Your

unconditional love.

May Your Spirit lead us in this time of study, filling us with wisdom, compassion, and a renewed

sense of purpose. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Opening Questions/Conversation Starters

Before diving into the study, take a moment to reflect and share.

• When have you received bold love (Christ-like love that loves God fully and loves neighbor

as Jesus loves us) from someone, and how did it shape you?

• Can you recall a moment when loving someone required patience, compassion, or

courage? How did your faith support you in that experience?

John Wesley Quote

“May we all move beyond being merely Almost Christians. We can become Altogether Christians.

Then, we will be justified through faith by the redemption that is in Jesus, knowing that we have

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing in anticipation of the glory of God, we

experience God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.”

–John Wesley, “The Almost Christian” 3

Whispers of Grace/Reflection Questions

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s gentle guidance. Use the prompts

below for personal journaling, small-group conversation, or both. Follow whichever questions draw

you deeper into God’s love.

1. Leviticus 19 describes practical ways of loving our neighbors with justice and compassion.

Which action or attitude from this passage stands out to you today?

2. In Mark 12, Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. What part

of that wholehearted love feels most challenging—or most hopeful—for you right now?

3. Jesus commands us to love one another “as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Where do you

sense Christ inviting you to offer that kind of bold love?

3 John Wesley, Sermon 2, “The Almost Christian,” cited in Kenneth Cain Kinghorn, John Wesley on Christian Beliefs: The Standard Sermons in Modern

English (Abingdon Press, 2002), 57.

4. What barriers—personal, cultural, or spiritual—make bold love difficult in your daily life? How

might Christ be helping you move through them?

5. Recall a moment when you experienced God’s bold love toward you. How did that

experience shape your understanding of what it means to love others?

6. Bold love often involves risk or vulnerability. Where might the Spirit be nudging you to take a

step of courageous love this week?

7. What helps you remain rooted in Christ’s love when loving others feels costly or uncertain?

8. Identify one relationship or situation where you sense Christ calling you to extend bold love

in a tangible way.

What might that look like in practice?

Grace for the Journey/Closing Prayer

Loving God, thank You for Your renewing love. By Your Spirit, shape us to embody Christ’s bold

love and witness to Your hope. Send us forth as disciples who form disciples, sharing faith and

serving others. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.

Call to Action

Choose one concrete expression of bold love this week.

• Notice someone on the margins—at work, in your neighborhood, or in your church—and

take a step to listen, include, or affirm them.

• Risk reconciliation by reaching out to someone with whom a relationship feels strained or

distant.

• Act with compassion by offering time, resources, or advocacy on behalf of someone in

need.

Commit to this act as a response to Christ’s command to love as God has loved us, and if

possible, share your intention with someone in your group so you can reflect together on how

God is shaping you to love boldly.

SESSION 4

Serve Joyfully

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

Primary Scriptures:

• Psalm 100

• Mark 10:42–45

• John 13:14-15

• 1 Peter 4:8-11

Framing/Big Idea

Serving joyfully reflects Christ’s mission—offering our gifts, time, and presence with gladness,

humility, and compassion for the sake of others.

Gathering Grace/Opening Prayer

Take a moment to open your heart(s) to God through prayer.

Gracious and loving God, we come before You with gratitude for the gift of service. You call us to

serve joyfully, reflecting Your love in our actions and attitudes. May we be strengthened by Your

presence and find joy in giving, helping, and sharing. Teach us to serve not out of obligation, but

from a heart full of love. As we reflect on Your Word, shape our hearts to be more like Yours.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Opening Questions/Conversation Starters

Before diving into the study, take a moment to reflect and share.

• What have you done for someone that brought unexpected joy?

• When have you experienced joy while serving someone?

• Who has modeled joyful, Christlike service for you? How has that inspired you?

• How do you understand the difference between happiness and joy?

John Wesley Quote

“One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And since He is

invisible to our eyes, we are to serve Him in our neighbour, which He receives as if done to

Himself, in person standing visibly before us.”

–John Wesley 4

Whispers of Grace/Reflection Questions

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s gentle guidance. Use the prompts

below for personal journaling, small-group conversation, or both. Follow whichever questions draw

you deeper into God’s love.

1. What words or images in Psalm 100 describe the spirit of joyful service?

2. What does Jesus teach about servanthood in Mark 10:42–45?

3. What attitudes or fears sometimes limit our joy in serving?

4. Where might God be inviting you to serve with renewed joy and humility?

5. Write down three ways God has blessed you through the service of others. How can you

extend that same kindness?

6. Think about a time when you served joyfully. What made it special? How did it affect your

heart?

7. What is the cost of serving, but without joy? How could you check in with yourself the next

time you feel called to serve, but don't experience joy in that invitation?

8. What gifts has God entrusted to you for serving others?

9. What gift—big or small—do you feel called to offer others right now, and how might you do it

with joy and compassion?

4 John Wesley, Journal, August 21, 1740, in The Works of John Wesley, vol. 19.

10. Identify one small act of joyful service you can commit to doing in the coming days—at

home, in church, or in your community.

Grace for the Journey/Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the joy of serving and the blessings that come from giving with a heart of

love. May we always reflect Your kindness in our actions, serving not for recognition, but to glorify

You. Fill us with Your joy so that our service may be a light to those in need. Strengthen us to

embrace every opportunity to serve with humility, gratitude, and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Call to Action

Choose one simple expression of joyful service this week.

• Offer a gift God has entrusted to you—time, listening, encouragement, skill, or care—for

the sake of someone else.

• Serve quietly and humbly, without seeking recognition, trusting that God is at work through

your offering.

• Pay attention to joy—not as a feeling you must create, but as the love of God that meets

you as you serve.

If possible, share your experience with someone in your group and reflect together on how God

uses joyful service to shape both the giver and the receiver.

SESSION 5

Lead Courageously

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

Primary Scriptures:

• Joshua 1:5-9

• Psalm 27:1–3, 14

• Isaiah 58:6-10

• Ephesians 6:10-18

Framing/Big Idea

Courageous leadership follows Jesus’ example—grounded in God’s presence, committed to

justice, and expressed through humble, faithful action.

Gathering Grace/Opening Prayer

Take a moment to open your heart(s) to God through prayer.

Gracious and mighty God, we come before You in awe of Your strength and wisdom. You have

called us to lead courageously, not through power, but through humility, justice, and unwavering

faith. As we reflect on Your Word today, open our hearts to Your guidance. Help us to stand firm

in our convictions, to act with compassion, and to follow Jesus' example of bold obedience to

Your call. May Your Spirit empower us to be leaders who bring light and hope to the world. In

Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Opening Questions/Conversation Starters

Before diving into the study, take a moment to reflect and share.

• Who in your life has shown courageous leadership in their life? What did you learn from

them?

• Can you recall a time when you had to stand up for what was right, even when it was

difficult? How did God guide you?

John Wesley Quote

Whoever will reign with Christ in heaven must have Christ reigning in him [or her] on earth.

–John Wesley, “A Blow at the Root” 5

Whispers of Grace/Reflection Questions

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s gentle guidance. Use the prompts

below for personal journaling, small-group conversation, or both. Follow whichever questions draw

you deeper into God’s love.

1. Joshua 1:9 and Ephesians 6:10 remind us that courage is a Spirit-given gift. What helps

you stay grounded in God’s strength when leadership feels risky, lonely, or unclear?

2. What does Psalm 27 suggest about the source of courage?

3. Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. Which of these feels most

urgent in your leadership right now? Which one stretches you the most?

4. Where do you see the Spirit calling you or your community to proclaim good news and set

the oppressed free, as Jesus did in Luke 4:18-19?

5. What helps you remain grounded in God’s strength when leadership feels difficult?

6. Which part of Ephesians 6:10-18 speaks most to your current season?

7. Identify one area where God may be calling you to lead with greater courage.

Grace for the Journey/Closing Prayer

Lord, You have called us to lead with faith, strength, and humility. As we leave this time of study,

may we carry Your wisdom into our daily lives. Grant us the courage to stand firm in our

convictions, the compassion to lead with love, and the humility to always seek Your guidance. Fill

5 John Wesley, " A Blow at the Root," Wesleyan Heritage Library, https:// media.sabda.org/alkitab-6/wh2-hdm/hdm0306.pdf#:~:text=A%20BLOW%20

AT%20THE%20ROOT,John%20Wesley&text=Who%20ever%20would%20 reign%20with,reigning%20in%20him%20on%20earth.

our hearts with Your Spirit so that our leadership reflects Your justice and mercy. In all that we do,

may we glorify You and bring light into the world. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Call to Action

Prayerfully identify one place this week where courage is needed—at home, in your church,

workplace, or community. Take one faithful step:

• speak a truth that needs to be spoken with love,

• stand alongside someone who is vulnerable or overlooked,

• or act in a way that advances justice and compassion.

Trust that God’s presence goes with you as you lead.

SESSION 6

Disciples Transform the World

The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ, who, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide

connections.

Primary Scriptures:

• Psalm 96

• Romans 12:1-8

• Matthew 28:16-20

Framing/Big Idea

Transformed by God’s mercy, disciples join Christ in transforming the world, offering their gifts,

witness, and service for God’s mission to all nations.

Gathering Grace/Opening Prayer

Take a moment to open your heart(s) to God through prayer.

Gracious God, You call us to follow Jesus and be formed in his likeness. Open our hearts to Your

Word, renew our minds, and strengthen our spirits. Empower us by Your Spirit to love boldly, serve

joyfully, and lead courageously. May this time of study deepen our discipleship and prepare us to

transform lives and communities. In Christ's name, Amen.

Opening Questions/Conversation Starters

Before diving into the study, take a moment to reflect and share.

• How has following Jesus changed the way you see yourself and the world around you?

Talk about someone who has been influential in your journey of discipleship in Jesus Christ and

how their witness, encouragement, and mentorship shaped your faith and made a meaningful

difference in your life.

John Wesley Quote

“The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.”

–John Wesley 6

Whispers of Grace/Reflection Questions

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s gentle guidance. Use the prompts

below for personal journaling, small-group conversation, or both. Follow whichever questions draw

you deeper into God’s love.

1. John Wesley spoke of prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace. Which of these rhythms

of grace do you most recognize in your journey of discipleship, and how has it shaped your daily

life?

2. Psalm 96 calls God’s people to sing, tell, and declare God’s glory among the nations. Where

do you see worship and witness coming together in your life or in the life of your congregation?

3. In Romans 12:1-8, Paul reminds us that transformed lives are offered in service through

diverse gifts. What gifts has God entrusted to you, and how might they be used to help transform

lives or strengthen the church’s witness locally or globally?

4. Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. What practices or

choices help you stay open to the Spirit’s renewing work in your everyday routines?

5. Matthew 28:19-20 reminds us that disciples are not only formed but also sent to form others.

How can you live out this commission in your congregation and community today?

6. Write about how you have experienced God’s grace in your life and how this has shaped

your journey as a disciple.

7. Reflect on a recent moment when you sensed the Holy Spirit reshaping your thoughts,

attitudes, or actions.

8. Jesus commissions his followers to “make disciples of all nations.” Reflect on how you are

being called to witness to your faith story, welcome others into God’s love, and empower them

for service and leadership.

Grace for the Journey/Closing Prayer

Loving God, thank You for Your renewing grace. By Your Spirit, shape us to embody Christ’s love

and witness to Your hope. Send us forth as disciples who form disciples, sharing faith and serving

others. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.

Call to Action

6 John Wesley, Preface to Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), The Works of John Wesley, vol. 14 (Jackson ed.)

As a disciple sent by Christ, prayerfully choose one way this week to participate in God’s

transforming work. Offer your gifts, voice, or resources in service to others—locally or globally.

This may include:

• sharing your faith story,

• encouraging someone in their calling,

• committing to a spiritual practice that renews your mind, or

• participating in Miracle Sunday as an expression of our shared mission to form disciples

around the world.

Take one faithful step, trusting that God’s grace is already at work.