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Group Answers Podcast

Group Answers Episode 75: Power Ranking Disciple-Makers in the Bible

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On today’s episode, Chris, Brian, and Brandon power rank disciple-makers in the Bible.

Criteria:

A. Degree of Difficulty (How challenging was their discipleship situation?)

B. Disciples’ Impact (How world-changing were their direct discipleship descendents?)

C. Paradigm Development (How much did their discipleship example shape future disciple-making ministry?)

Chris’ Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Paul – 25
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 9
  3. Peter – 23
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 7
  4. John the Baptist – 19
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 6
    Paradigm Development — 5
  5. Elijah – 16
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 5
    Paradigm Development – 3

Brandon’s Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Barnabas – 26
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 8
  3. Paul – 24
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 7
    Paradigm Development – 9
  4. Jethro – 18
    Degree of Difficulty – 4
    Disciples’ Impact – 4
    Paradigm Development – 10
  5. Elijah – 15
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 4
    Paradigm Development – 1

Brian’s Top 5

  1. Jesus – 30
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 10
  2. Paul – 27
    Degree of Difficulty – 8
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 10
  3. Moses – 26
    Degree of Difficulty – 10
    Disciples’ Impact – 10
    Paradigm Development – 6
  4. Peter – 25
    Degree of Difficulty – 9
    Disciples’ Impact – 8
    Paradigm Development – 8
  5. Aquilla and Priscilla – 18
    Degree of Difficulty – 4
    Disciples’ Impact – 9
    Paradigm Development – 5

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.

Church Leadership

3 Ways to use Multiple Bible Translations

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Today we are blessed to have dozens of Bible translations from which to pick. There is no shortage of good translations of Scripture. Every translation will have its pros and cons, and people often become very passionate about which one they believe is the “right” one. Truth be told, I believe it is a blessing to have multiple translations from which to choose. Some people might make a Bible translation preference a “hill to die on,” but that would be unfortunate. While some translations may be closer to the wording of the original languages of the Bible (and therefore a little harder to read and understand), other good translations translate thought-for-thought so that the Scripture is still highly accurate, but more accessible to the average reader. At the end of the day, most modern translations are going to be great translations with only minor differences.

That being said, is it a good idea to use multiple translations personally? What about using multiple translations in your Bible study group? I believe it’s a good thing to read from different versions, so here is my advice and reasoning for this practice:

  1. Memorize from one primary version. It is really hard to memorize Scripture from multiple versions! It is best if you find a version of Scripture that makes God’s Word accessible and understandable to you. When you find that version, stick with it for the long haul. Let this be the one from which you memorize Scripture.
  2. Study from multiple versions as a group leader. Sometimes the way one translation phrases a sentence can add clarity or help you understand the intended meaning of the biblical author. As you do your personal study in preparation to teach, study from different translations and note the ways translators phrase key words—the ones that are different may need further investigation on your part to uncover the original meaning of the Hebrew or Greek words that have been translated differently.
  3. Use multiple versions in your group. As you lead your group, encourage the use of multiple versions – don’t enforce your preferences on your people. If they ask which translation you prefer, tell them. But don’t be dogmatic about them all using the same one! The differences in translations will become apparent as people read verses during your Bible study. This can spur discussion. “Why does my Bible have the word X, and Bill’s version has the word Y?” Some rich theological discussions can come from this.

If you need or want a new Bible, I encourage you to take a look at the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) produced by LifeWay. It has won awards for its accuracy to the original languages of the Bible, while being the most readable version of Scripture on the market today. Click here to jump to the CSB’s landing page where you can read all about it, including FAQs that will be helpful to you.

Ken Braddy manages LifeWay’s Ongoing Bible studies, leads his church’s groups ministry, and blogs daily on Sunday School and small groups at kenbraddy.com.
Group Leadership

Two Reasons to Keep Reading Your Bible This Summer

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It’s nearly the end of summer, which means that our routines are getting ready to get back into gear for the fall, including our Bible reading. Already this summer we have found ourselves several chapters “behind” where our plans tell us we should be, and no amount of alerts, notifications, or dated pages can inspire us to “catch up.” Throw in the melee of fitting in every activity possible for the remaining days of summer, and we may not read God’s Word until September.

So, rather than pile on the guilt you may already feel, can I spread a little liberty your way? Take a look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and be inspired to read your Bible for at least two reasons.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

First, notice that the Bible must be read and trusted because of its origin. The Bible is inspired by God (that is, God-breathed). It is where God has spoken, and it is from where he continues to speak. As John Piper puts it, “It is a great wonder that God still speaks today through the Bible with greater force and greater glory and greater assurance and greater sweetness and greater hope and greater guidance and greater transforming power and greater Christ-exalting truth than can be heard through any voice in any human soul on the planet from outside the Bible.” Because of this, I must fight fiercely to read and trust it.

Second, the Bible must be read and trusted because of the purposes it aims to accomplish in us. The Bible equips us with what to believe and how to live by it (vv. 16-17). Teaching and rebuking are about doctrine (what we must believe and what we must not believe). Correcting and training are about our lives (what we must not do and what we must do). In doing these four things, the Bible equips us to live out our salvation, which is its ultimate aim.

Our lives are fueled by the glorious truths of the Bible. In it we hear from God, and everything He says matters more than anything else. So finish this summer strong—pick up your Bible, Christian. It can be read and trusted because God wrote it and accomplishes his work in us through it.

Rob Tims has been married to Holly for nearly 15 years. They have four children: Trey, Jonathan, Abby, and Luke. He has served in the local church for 20 years as a children’s pastor, student pastor, and senior pastor. He currently serves on a team at LifeWay Christian Resources that develops customized Bible studies for groups and teaches two classes for Liberty University School of Divinity Online. He is the author of the book Southern Fried Faith: Confusing Christ and Culture in the Bible Belt.

Online Bible Study

Announcing Our Summer Online Bible Study – The Power of God’s Names

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We are so excited to announce our first online Bible study experience happening this summer!

In just five short weeks, we will begin studying The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans right here on our blog. If you are unfamiliar with what an online Bible study is, then please allow us to explain…

An online Bible study is the perfect experience for three reasons:

  1. Summer is typically a time when churches take a break from small groups, discipleship groups, family groups, etc. An online Bible study experience allows you to work through a hearty and trustworthy Bible study with experts right at your fingertips, even if your small group has taken a few months off.
  2. If you are a Bible study leader looking for a new Bible study, then our online Bible study is the perfect place to walk through a study before taking your group through it in the fall. You’ll definitely have all the knowledge you will need to successfully lead a group and look like a Bible study pro.
  3. The online Bible study experience can be the perfect way to get your small group together, as well as provide you with some flexibility and individual study time. With our online study, group members can participate in our blog posts and take their insights to your group meetings.

Now that we’ve sold you on signing up for our online Bible study, I bet you’re looking for some information on the chosen study, The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans.

Click on the session to see that week’s lesson on our Online Bible Study.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5

Session 6

About The Power of God’s Names Bible Study

To fully grasp the significance and power of knowing God’s names, you first need to understand the context of names within biblical culture. In Old Testament times, a name was more than simply nomenclature. Rather, it was a replica and revelation of the individual or thing itself.

Words translated as a name show up over one thousand times in Scripture and routinely carry with them power, responsibility, purpose, and authority. A name not only expresses the essence and significance of what is being named, but also—when duly authorized—accesses the capacity intrinsic within it.

Because of God’s depth of character, He has a variety of names to reflect His different capacities of relating to humanity. For example, God is called Elohim when referenced as the all-powerful Creator. When you need provision, get to know the name Jehovah-jireh, which means God the Provider. God has a name for any and every situation you can find yourself in. Get to know the names of God, because it is in knowing His character and capacity that you will discover both peace and power in His covenant care.

The study examines 11 names of God.

To sign up and learn more about our online Bible study process, go to this blog post.