The Journey

What is our process in discipleship?  What does it mean at Arbor Pointe to be a disciple/follower of Jesus Christ?”  The Journey is that process at APC@West Jackson!  

It has become even more clear that God is moving us here at Arbor Pointe – He is taking us to a place we don’t yet see – in other words, He has us on a journey.  But it’s not just a “life is a journey” thing because He has us on The Journey, the most important journey any of us will ever go on – the journey into mathetes.  This is the Greek word for student, pupil, or learner.  It’s translated most often into disciple.

The Journey is about being a disciple/follower of Jesus Christ and what that looks like at Arbor Pointe UMC.  We will tackle different topics as we go on thejourney and the sermon will correspond with each week’s session.  Most of the Grow Groups will be following THE Journey.  There is a Study Guide for the  group which all will use.  Some of the series will have a book connected with them and we’ll have them available here.  Please don’t let cost keep you from getting a book.  If you would like to donate toward that cost or assist in paying for others, just make a note on your donation that it’s for The Journey.  This series is one that we would like everyone to participate in.  The great news is that this will not be a ‘one and done’ series.  The Journey will become a part of our Grow Group curriculum for the long term.

The first session is called The Journey: Always Be Prepared.  This is four weeks.  The first week examines the power that flows from our personal testimony in Jesus Christ.  The second week will focus on the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  Third week is 1 Peter 3, that we should always be prepared to tell everyone about the hope we have in Christ.  The fourth week will review Paul’s conversion story, looking at what we can learn from him.  In the fourth and final week Grow Group members share their stories with one another in a safe, small group setting.Click Here for Study Guide Click Here for PowerPoint

The second session is The Journey: You Have Heard It Said.  In this 8-week series, we will spend time in Matthew 5-7, exploring what the character of a Christian is according to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  This session will use the book, “The Sermon on the Mount” by John Stott.Click Here for Study GuideClick Here for PowerPoint

The third session, The Journey: The Path to Spiritual Growth will focus on maintaining the character of a Christian and we are looking at utilizing “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster, a classic teaching on spiritual growth.Click Here for Study GuideClick Here for PowerPoint

The fourth session, The Journey: Gifts of the Holy Spirit will focus on the fact that each of us has spiritual gifts given for the glory of God and furtherance of God’s Kingdom.  Click Below for Study Guide – Facilitator

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Spiritual Gifts TableClick Here for Study Guide – ParticipantWeek OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four

Week FiveSpiritual Gifts Table

The fifth session, The Journey: Coram Deo will focus on living in the presence of God – the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God..

At the end of The Journey, each of us will understand clearly what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ – to be a mathetes – a disciple.

I encourage you to participate – no, I challenge you to participate!  
We will be at our best if we all take The Journey together!