disciple = mathetes = learner = apprentice  

Big Idea: Following Jesus doesn't just change what you do. It changes what you're made of.  

1. The man who took a seat in the shadows. Nicodemus (John 3:1-3).   

2. The Woman who Took a Seat at the feet of Jesus: Mary (Luke 10:38-42) 

3. Fans Confuse Behavior Modification for True Transformation.  

Micro-Skill #1: Start with Five Minutes. 
Micro-Skill #2: Find Your Chair.
Micro-Skill #3: PRAY to Encounter Jesus.  

• P = Praise. Start by telling God who he is. Before you ask for anything, remember who you're talking to. What's true about his character?  
• R = Repent. Come honest. Where have you been running on your own power? Where have you shut him out? You don't clean up before you sit down.  
• A = Ask. Bring your needs. Physical, relational, spiritual. But notice where this comes in the order. You're not leading with your wish list.  
• Y = Yield. Stop talking. Start listening. Open your hands and say, God, I've told you what I want. Now I want to hear what you want. And then sit in the silence.  

Next Step: practice taking a seat with Jesus. Pick one of the 3 micro-skills and actually do it. 

Find more series information at whoisgrace.com/read  

The 4 ways one word wrecks every excuse.  

Excuse #1 - “I’m not good enough.” 

1. ANYONE is Welcome.  

Excuse #2 - "I'd never fit in here.”  

2. ANYONE means Everyone.  

Excuse #3 - "I need to get my life together first."  

3. ANYONE means No Excuse.  

Excuse #4 - "I'm already good with the man upstairs."  

4. It’s ANYONE but it’s Everything.  

Next Steps: 

• Spend some time this week to DTR - honestly define the relationship between you and God 
• Join us for the next 2 weeks as we explore what it means when Jesus says Follow Me.  

For more series information visit whoisgrace.com/read   

“My God, why have you forsaken me?" 

Big Idea: Jesus was forsaken so you would never have to be.  

3 things Jesus’ question exposes in us. 

1. We've all known darkness.  

2. We fear the temporary silence of God means He’s abandoned us forever.   

      - Deus absconditus = The hidden God.  

3. We want a faith that always feels good.  

      - Psalm 22  

Next Step  

Pray Psalm 22 slowly and out loud.  

Holy Week details at: whoisgrace.com/easter  

Get other series resources at whoisgtace.com/read  

Jesus is here for you. 

Jesus wants you to remember your history. (John 21:1-14; Romans 7:24) 

Jesus wants to restore you relationship with Him. (John 21:15-19; Romans 8:1-2) 

“Do you love Me?” 

Jesus wants to commission you for your calling. (John 21:15-19; John 14:15) 

“Feed my lambs… Follow Me.” 

Next Step: Find your chair and honestly answer Jesus: “Do you love Me?” 

• If your answer is “Yes!” then meditate on obeying His command: “Follow Me.” 
• If you’re not ready to answer, spend time with Jesus. Read one chapter a day in John’s gospel. 

“Why don’t you do what I say?”  

Big Idea: Agreement with Jesus is not the same as allegiance to Jesus.  

• Agreement is most often intellectual or emotional. 
• Allegiance, is relational and action-oriented.  

“Comes to Me”  - “Hears My Words”  - “Follows Me” 

How To Move from Agreement to Allegiance: 

1. Get to Know His Voice  
2. Identify the Competing Voice 

• Voice of the Flesh 
• Voice of the World 
• Voice of the Enemy 
• Voice of Wounds 

3. Name the “But” 

Next step.  

• Write your answer to Jesus' question, “Why don’t you do what I say?”  

Big Idea: Your soul is precious. 

Jesus reveals 2 truths about himself (Matt 16:24) 

1. He is serious about dying.  
2. He is dying for the sake of your soul 

Soul = the essence of your life 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  

Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”  

Jesus exposes a truth in you (Matt 16:26) 

1. How you prioritize the soul is a big deal. 
2. Success 
3. Self 

Next Step: Find your chair and honestly answer Jesus’ questions: 

• What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  
• Is anything worth more than your soul? 

“Who do you say that I am?” 

1. The Poll question: “Who do people say that I am? (:13-14)  
2. The Personal Question: “Who do YOU say that I am?” (vv. 15-16) 

Big idea: Your answer to the question of Jesus determines your approach to everything else.  

3. Jesus’ three incredible declarations (vv. 17-19) 

• The revelation of faith comes from the Father. 
• Jesus is building his church.  
• Jesus entrusts his mission to his people.  

Next step. 

• Commit to being here all 5 weeks of this series.  
• Write your answer to Jesus' question, “Who do you say that I am?”  

For more series information visit whoisgrace.com/read  

Our vision: By 2035, 30,000 people from Cleveland to Buffalo have been mobilized to step into their kingdom calling to bring gospel influence into the everyday places of life.  

Big Idea: When ordinary people take steps of ordinary obedience, God can awaken entire regions.  

Three Small Steps Toward Our Big Dream 

1. Multiplying everyday disciples. 
2. Multiplyingeverydayinfluencers.

whoisgrace.com/handcrafted  

1. Multiplying everywhere churches.

whoisgrace.com/awakethelake  

Pray: "God, stir a spiritual awakening in our time, and let it begin with me."  

Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/read  

Big Idea: God has a disciple-making journey for you to walk, will you take the next step? 

1. Compassionate Storyteller: I know God’s story, my place in it, and am motivated to tell the people in my life.  

2. Savvy Follower: I will discern God’s voice and follow his lead at the right time in the right way.  

3. Intentional Friend: I will build healthy relationships and help God restore broken ones,  

4. Embedded Influencer: I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned me to multiply His work in the world  

Four Roles: Role Models 

1. Compassionate Storyteller: The Samaritan Woman (John 4) 
2. Savvy Follower: Daniel (Daniel 1, 6)  
3. Intentional Friend: Barnabas (Acts 9, 11, 15)  
4. Embedded Influencer: Esther (Esther 4)  

Next Step:  

Decide to Own your Spiritual Growth (find information at whoisgrace.com/awakethelake ) 

• Join a LAUNCH Class in February/ March  
• Try a Training Lab Sampler  
• Savvy Follower – March 2 
• Intentional Friend – March 3 
• Familiarize yourself with the Dream Disciple roles and tools 

Find more series information at whoisgrace.com/read 

3 Plans for Financial Freedom 

Make the decision to plan.  

Plan #1 - Make a BUDGET plan  

3 Easy Steps to Budgeting  

• Determine your income for the NEXT month.  
• Enter all of your expenses for NEXT month.  
• Make your income and expenses equal EXACTLY ZERO.  

Plan #2 - Make a DEBT plan.  

Plan #3 - Make a GENEROSITY plan.  

Generosity Motivation Scale.  

• Tips.  
• Cause or Crisis.  
• Systematic Obedience.  
• Spirit-Directed Generosity.  

Next steps.  

• Access tools, forms and resources over at our read page at whoisgrace.com/read.  
• Sign up for Financial Peace University classes starting on February 15 and February 17 –Go to whoisgrace.com/give