Teatime Discipleship Book Club (Week #2)
Recently, I spent a few days with my grandchildren. Whatever Lilian, the three-year-old, did, Samuel, her little brother mimicked. Whatever she said, he said. Whatever she had, he wanted! They obviously are rubbing off on each other. So it is with Christ. And with friends. He rubs off on us, then we rub off on others from spending time with Him. We become like those we hang around with.
Jesus showed the world what God is really like. The more time we invest in our relationship with Him, the more we allow His presence, His stories, and His reality to become a part of our being. And the more we become like Christ, the more we mimic His reality to others, showing a needy world what love is like.
A disciple is, at her core, a dedicated learner who follows the teacher. She models the teacher in all she does; her actions flow not from mere obedience to laws or culture, but from the heart and her relationship with the teacher. Through witnessing her life, others will experience the teacher's message for themselves. A disciple wants to soak in everything she can about the message and the teacher!
So in the same way you learn from God by reading and studying His Word on your own, you also learn from others who feed on Scripture and then share what they learned in spoken messages and written books. Their insightful words can inspire, instruct, explain, explicate, and expand on the truths in God's Word in ways you might miss. When you listen to or read the words of others who study and think deeply about God's Word and the life of faith, you are nourished by the overflow of their maturity, wisdom, and insight; your mind is strengthened and sharpened by their words.
Let me invite you to feed on God's truth in the messages, books, and writings of other godly believers you respect. When you fellowship with other godly believers who are feeding on God's gracious, generous love, you are nourished by the overflow of their spirits, and your heart is spiritually encouraged and strengthened in their presence. And, even better, you can become that source of life and encouragement to someone else.
This week, we will be unpacking section two of Teatime Discipleship: The Heart of a Friend. Together, we will learn what it means to feast on God's grace, find hope when we feel discouraged, and press on with a decluttered soul.
Praying for you,
Sally
Step One: If you haven't yet purchased your copy of the book, you can click the link below to grab one!
Step Two: Read Section 2: The Heart of a Friend in Teatime Discipleship
Step Three: Read the questions for this week (at the bottom of this email) click over to the forum (the button to the post is in the email, as well!), and post your answers. I'll pick someone who posted in the forum for the book club to gift a new copy of the deluxe edition of Mom Heart Moments.
Step Four: To go deeper with what you're reading and discussing, you can download the Declutter Your Soul Journal to refresh your soul, listen to my exclusive podcast episode, or even participate in the all-new retreat! You can utilize all of the resources, or just what meets you where you are right now.
This Week's Reading: Section 2: The Heart of a Friend
After you read this week's reading assignment, hop over to the Life With Sally Forum (button below) to join the discussion for our book club! Here is what we will be thinking, discussing, and pondering over on the forum:
Question #1
God told His people to rest, to devote time each week to worship and soul-filling acitvities. Why do we, today, still need to set apart time for peace and rest during our daily work? What are the rhythms, habits, and routines that fill you with peace amid all your responsibilities? how could you cultivate those peaceful moments more intentionally? What do you need emotionally to build deep friendships into the rhythm of your life?
Question #2
In the same way you learn from God by reading and studying His Word on your own, you also learn from others who feed on Scripture and then share what they learned in spoken messages and written books. Their insightful words can inspire, instruct, explain, explicate, and expand on the truths in God's Word in ways you might miss.
When you listen to or read the words of others who study and think deeply about God's Word and the life of faith, you are nourished by the overflow of their maturity, wisdom, and insight; your mind is strengthened and sharpened by their words.
Who in your life is a source of wisdom, encouragement, and spiritual maturity? Who calls you to your best self, encourages you, and inspires you in your walk with God? If you would like to join a community of like-minded kindred spirits, check out the Mom Heart Facebook Group to find a local community of women who can be that for you. If you can't find one, pray about starting one with women from your church and your community.
Question #3
On page 111, I write that a wise woman takes care of a soul, and I list the small pleasure that help me flourish and press on with many demands, responsibilities, appointments, and deadlines. What small pleasures bring joy to your soul? What movies, magazines, books, shows, foods, hobbies, musics, sports, or pursuits makes you feel like you can run your race well? Let God use them to show you his beauty, comfort, and delight this week.
