Take the “Who Am
I?” quiz
MEMORY VERSE
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love
them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)
REFLECTION
Based on these brief descriptions, see how
many of these amazing followers of Christ you can identify:
Answers: a.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer b. Blaise
Pascal c. Thomas à Kempis d. Richard Foster e. Elisabeth Elliot f. Soren Kierkegaard
____ I was a
French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and philosopher. When I was
18 I invented the mechanical calculator. I devoted much of my life to the study
of theology.
____My spouse
was killed in 1956 in Ecuador while trying to make missionary contact with the Waodani
(Auca) Indians. I went back with my 3 year old daughter and spent two years as
a missionary to the tribe members who killed my spouse. Over the years God has
brought many of them to salvation.
____I was a
German Lutheran pastor and theologian. I learned about God’s heart for justice
from the African American church in Harlem, New York. My convictions led me to
participate in plans to assassinate Adolf Hitler. I wrote the book The Cost of Discipleship. I was arrested by the Gestapo and executed by
hanging in 1945.
____I was a Danish
philosopher,
theologian
and religious author. Some have called me the “most profound thinker of the 19th
century.” The purpose of my writing was
to encourage people to renew their faith in Christ and show that the Bible is
relevant to all areas of life.
____I am the author of the book Celebration of Discipline which has been
called one of the top 10 books of the 20th century. The goal of my
life is to call people to utter dependence upon Jesus
Christ as everliving Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend.
____I was a monk
in the 14th century and hand copied the Bible at least four times. I wrote a book called The Imitation of Christ which is a simple devotional on loving God
and it became the most translated book in Christian literature.
What lessons on obedience speak to you
from the words of these Christ followers?
In the spiritual life only one thing
produces genuine joy and that is obedience. --Richard Foster
Holiness has never been the driving force
of the majority. It is, however, mandatory for anyone who wants to enter the
kingdom. --Elisabeth
Elliot
Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy
prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and
with entire simplicity follow Jesus only. --Thomas à Kempis
The strength of a man's virtue should not
be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.--Blaise Pascal
..Christ did not appoint professors, but
followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person
expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message
about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's lives. --Soren Kierkegaard
Sometimes we don't need another chance to
express how we feel or to ask someone to understand our situation. Sometimes we
just need a firm kick in the pants. An unsmiling expectation that if we mean
all these wonderful things we talk about and sing about, then let’s see
something to prove it.
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer
QUESTIONS TO
CONSIDER
Which is your
favorite quote? Why do you think these Christ followers were able to struggle
for the justice for the oppressed, take the gospel to dangerous places and
create great inventions? John 14:23 says God will come and make His home with
us. How do you think your life will be
different as you grow in your desire and commitment to obey all of Christ’s
commands?
ACTION STEPS FOR
THE WEEK
Try to summarize
your thoughts on obedience in one or two sentences. If you’d like, post it on
this blog so that others can be challenged and encouraged. Start a list of Jesus
commands that you struggle to, yet desire to, obey.
