屬靈的父親 Spiritual Father
一個靈性健康的信徒通常會從「小子」成長為「屬靈的父母」。本週，張國強牧師鼓勵我們成為年輕信徒的屬靈父母，並分享我們該如何朝著這個目標成長。
A spiritually healthy believer will start as a “child” and grow in maturity to become a “spiritual parent.” This week, Rev. Jeremiah Cheung urges us to aspire to become spiritual fathers (or mothers) to young believers and shares how we can grow toward this goal.
Read Today’s Scripture Passage
林前 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
Life Group Discussion Guide
1. Start with a prayer
2. Engage one another (15-30 mins)
• Share about someone you view as a spiritual parent. How are they imitators of Christ in how they do life and discipleship? How do they exercise their authority in love?
3. Engage the mind (15-20 mins)
• Read the passage. In the context of discipleship, what does it look like to be a spiritual parent?
• How does Paul emphasize the balance between authority and love in his approach to spiritual leadership? Give examples of present circumstances where you can exercise authority in love.
4. Engage the heart (15-20 mins)
• Identify instances where you’ve relied more on your own abilities rather than the power of the Holy Spirit when it comes to evangelism and discipleship. What encourages or hinders you from relying fully on the Holy Spirit?
• Examine yourself: How do you respond when your spiritual parent addresses your arrogance or resistance? What do you think is the root cause for this response?
5. Engage the hands (15-20 mins)
• In what specific ways can you model spiritual growth and maturity in your disciple-making relationships? (Note to leaders: Even if your members aren’t discipling yet, this can apply to any relationship wherein they can be of influence such as family or co-workers or classmates. You can also take this as an opportunity to challenge them to start and minister or disciple someone.)
• What concrete steps can you take to cultivate a deeper reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit in your words and actions as you influence/disciple others?
6. Engage with God in prayer (20-30 mins)
• Praise God for being our Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us. Thank Him for the model of spiritual parenthood exemplified by Paul, who nurtured disciples with love and humility. Whether you’re a current discipler or not, thank God that you are given the privilege of being called into this role, guiding others in the footsteps of Christ. Praise Him for the power of His Spirit that equips us to speak with authority and love, transforming hearts through His Word. Pray that you may continually reflect on His goodness and faithfulness as you embrace your identity as a spiritual parent.
• Ask for forgiveness for the times when arrogance has tainted your words and actions in your role as a spiritual parent. Repent for relying on your own strength rather than leaning on the power of His Spirit to bring about transformation in the lives of those you disciple. Ask God to help you to humbly submit to His authority, balancing righteousness with compassionate love in our interactions. Pray that He would grant you the grace to model repentance and growth, acknowledging your imperfections and relying solely on His grace.
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