The book, “Spiritual Discipleship” by J. Oswald Sanders is a renowned text that is readable, dynamic, and most importantly full of sound wisdom. Sanders begins by expounding on the Sermon on the Mount and goes on from there to pave the way for foundational discipleship principles. The following track is based on its contents, which I do not own, but I hope my layout and supplemental details are profitable for your discipleship endeavors.
TWENTY-ONE WEEKS
Week 1
Introductory meeting:
See the need for growth as a disciple in Christ and mutually agree upon a meeting structure and schedule together. Encourage each other authentically as you begin this process together.
Homework:
- Order “Spiritual Discipleship” if you haven’t already
- Read the Introduction and Chapter 1
- Read Matthew 5:1-12
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I living like a disciple is to be according to the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)?
Week 2
Meeting:
Review Chapter 1 “The Ideal Disciple”
Homework:
- Read Luke 14:25-33
- Read Chapter 2
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Are my affections, actions, and possessions all given over to Christ or am I holding back?
Week 3
Meeting:
Review Chapter 2 “Conditions of Discipleship”
Homework:
- Read John 13:1-20
- Read Chapter 3
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Does the fruit of my life reflect an abiding inward, outward, and upward progress in following Jesus?
Week 4
Meeting:
Review Chapter 3 “Evidences of Discipleship”
Homework:
- Read Luke 9:57-62
- Read Chapter 4
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I willing to commit to being a deliberate disciple of Christ, or will I fall into impulsive, reluctant, or halfhearted Christianity?
Week 5
Meeting:
Review Chapter 4 “Tests of Discipleship”
Homework:
- Read Luke 6:46-49
- Read Chapter 5
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Is there any aspect of my life that I live as if Christ is not my Lord with the ultimate authority over all my life?
Week 6
Meeting:
Review Chapter 5 “The Disciple’s Master”
Homework:
- Read John 14:15-31
- Read Chapter 6
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
How do I see the Spirit at work in my life? (Look especially at spiritual disciplines: Bible study, prayer, service, etc.
Week 7
Meeting:
Review Chapter 6 “The Disciple’s Senior Partner”
Homework:
- Read Isaiah 42:1-9
- Read Chapter 7
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I embodying a life of God-honoring servanthood?
Week 8
Meeting:
Review Chapter 7 “The Disciple’s Servanthood”
Homework:
- Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-21
- Read Chapter 8
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I embodying a life of God-honoring ambition?
Week 9
Meeting:
Review Chapter 8 “The Disciple’s Ambition”
Homework:
- Read Mark 14:1-9
- Read Chapter 9 “The Disciple’s Love”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Are the habits of my life reflecting a progressing spiritual maturity or immaturity?
Week 10
Meeting:
Review Chapter 9 “The Disciple’s Love”
Homework:
- Read Daniel 3:16-29
- Read Chapter 10 “The Disciple’s Maturity”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Are the habits of my life reflecting a progressing spiritual maturity or immaturity?
Week 11
Meeting:
Review Chapter 10 “The Disciple’s Maturity”
Homework:
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:23-27
- Read Chapter 11 “The Disciple’s Olympics”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
What is the aim of my life? Am I running the race Christ laid out for me or am I running for some other prize?
Week 12
Meeting:
Review Chapter 11 “The Disciple’s Olympics”
Homework:
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:23-27
- Read Chapter 12 “The Disciple’s Compassion”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I embodying a life of God-honoring compassion?
Week 13
Meeting:
Review Chapter 12 “The Disciple’s Compassion”
Homework:
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:23-27
- Read Chapter 13 “The Disciple’s Prayer Life”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I embodying a life of God-honoring compassion?
Week 14
Meeting:
Review Chapter 13 “The Disciple’s Prayer Life”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 14 “The Disciple’s Rights”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
God give me victory in laying down my rights to pursue my own desires as well as victory over those unholy indulgences.
Week 15
Meeting:
Review Chapter 14 “The Disciple’s Rights”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 15 “The Disciple’s Example”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I living as a God-honoring example to look up to?
Week 16
Meeting:
Review Chapter 15 “The Disciple’s Example”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 16 “The Disciple’s Loneliness”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I lonely or alone? God, what must I do to cure it?
Week 17
Meeting:
Review Chapter 16 “The Disciple’s Loneliness”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 17 “The Disciple’s Second Chance”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
What is my purpose for life in the Potter’s hand? Am I resistant to that purpose or submissive to the Potter’s will?
Week 18
Meeting:
Review Chapter 17 “The Disciple’s Second Chance”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 18 “The Disciple’s Renewed Commission”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Have I lost touch with God, given into the Accuser’s lies? If not God keep me steadfast in this state of being with you.
Week 19
Meeting:
Review Chapter 18 “The Disciple’s Renewed Commission”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 19 “The Disciple’s Dynamic”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Spirit, fill me with wisdom, power, love, purity, patience, and discipline to follow Christ.
Week 20
Meeting:
Review Chapter 19 “The Disciple’s Dynamic”
Homework:
- Read
- Read Chapter 20 “The Disciple’s Hope”
- Answer the reflecting questions
Prayer Prompt:
Am I lonely or alone? God, what must I do to cure it?
Week 21
Meeting:
Review Chapter 20 “The Disciple’s Hope”
Assignment:
Consider the Great Commission and one way in which you will commit to live dedicated to the unfinished task.
Consider also your next steps in discipleship.
Homework:
Spend some time browsing www.joshuaproject.net
Prayer Prompt:
Rejoice and praise God for bringing you through!
God, what would you have me do next?