What is the Sign?

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, ask participants, “What is your response when someone asks, ‘What are God’s signs’” [i.e, message from the Bible, listening to God in prayer, some words through friends/family]

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Exodus 12:1-14 and Matthew 18:15-20.

What is the Passover of the LORD? “For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD” (Exodus 12:12).

What is the sign of the blood on the doorposts? [“The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13)]

What is the famous Passover meal in the New Testament? [The Last Supper, Matthew 26:17–29; Mark 14:12–25; Luke 22:7–38; for the Israelites, “The blood on the doorframes acting as a sign so that God's judgment would "pass over" those houses and spare their firstborns” (September 10 Preaching Notes).] For Christians, what/who was used as a sacrifice? [Jesus, Lamb of God]

Jesus sacrificed himself to save us and give us new life. Yet, sometimes, Christians do not get along. What are some of Jesus' suggestions if another church member sins against us? [“Go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone” (Matthew 18:15b). Take one or two others along with you so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:16b).]

• The September 10 Preaching Notes says, “It is in our reconciling that we worship God. It is in our worship of God that we are healing brokenness, we are putting people back together with God and with one another.” What might it mean to reconcile with other Christians?

“We are the sign that God is God and God is still at work in the world. We are the sign that what we say about God shapes how we live in the world and how we treat those around us. We are the sign.” (September 10 Preaching Notes). What might it look like to live as God’s sign for others? What might be one thing you may do this week?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Gracious and Loving God, teach us to approach conflicts with love and humility. Guide us to address issues directly and privately, seeking reconciliation and restoration. May we listen and speak compassionately, aiming to restore relationships within our community. In your name, we gather, trusting that where two or three are gathered, you are present, and our prayers for healing and unity will be heard.

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We at Discipleship Ministries invite each congregation and worshiping community to develop an intentional discipleship plan in their local context. There are resources and mentors that you can access on our website to help you develop and implement your plan. Please call upon us to help you if you have not already begun such a journey (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/discipleship-system-example).

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Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor, Director of Adult Discipleship, served in local churches for twenty years. She is passionate about moving churches toward a more missional and spiritual focus so that they can make more disciples of Jesus Christ. She has a wealth of experience at various organizational levels of The United Methodist Church and in ecumenical organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC). She also enjoys serving as a coach to help people grow as disciples.