Deserter or Disciple

Being a disciple of Jesus means staying committed to him even when it's not popular or easy — in your school, your friendship group, and your everyday choices.

1. Have you ever felt pressure to hide that you're a Christian or to act differently around certain people? What happened?
2. In John 6, lots of people who followed Jesus walked away when things got hard. Why do you think they left — and what made Peter stay?
3. What does it look like to 'take up your cross daily' (Luke 9:23) as a teenager? What might that actually cost you?
4. Is there any area of your life right now where you've been drifting from Jesus? What would it look like to take a step back toward him?
5. What's one thing that makes following Jesus feel worth it, even when it's hard?

In a season of life full of big decisions and shifting priorities, discipleship is the anchor that keeps your identity and direction clear — even when everything else feels uncertain.

1. Adulting is busy. How do you make sure following Jesus stays a genuine priority rather than just something you intend to get back to?
2. 2 Timothy 4:10 mentions Demas deserting Paul because 'he loved this world.' What are the things in your world right now that most compete for your devotion to Jesus?
3. Luke 14:28 talks about counting the cost before committing. Have you ever genuinely sat down and thought about what following Jesus is going to cost you long-term? What came up?
4. What does bearing fruit (John 15:8) look like in a practical, everyday sense for someone in your stage of life — in your work, relationships, or community?
5. Who in your life right now is helping you stay accountable as a disciple? If you can't name someone, what's one step you could take to change that?

The faith we model at home shapes the faith our kids develop. Discipleship isn't just a personal journey — it's something that happens in the rhythms and relationships of family life.

1. How do you talk about faith and following Jesus in your home — is it something that comes up naturally, or does it mostly stay in the 'Sunday' box?
2. Peter chose to stay with Jesus even when he didn't fully understand (John 6:68-69). Are there things about faith that are hard to explain to your kids? How do you handle that honestly?
3. What are the biggest 'desertion' risks for families — the things that slowly crowd Jesus out of home life without anyone really deciding to leave?
4. Luke 9:23 says to 'take up your cross daily.' As a parent or partner, what does that kind of daily sacrifice actually look like in your household?
5. What's one rhythm or habit your family could build — or get back to — that would help everyone grow as disciples together?

Whether you're in a season of waiting, transition, or contentment, discipleship is the foundation that makes sense of everything else — your identity, your community, and your purpose.

1. When you're navigating life largely on your own, what helps you stay connected to Jesus and to community? What makes it hard?
2. Hebrews 10:25 urges us not to give up meeting together. Have you ever been tempted to pull back from community? What triggered it and what brought you back?
3. What does it look like for you personally to 'deny yourself and follow Jesus' (Luke 9:23) in this specific season of your life?
4. Is there anywhere in your life where you've been functioning more as a deserter than a disciple — maybe not intentionally, but gradually? What would it take to shift that?
5. What does it mean to you that Peter said 'to whom shall we go?' — and how does that kind of settled trust in Jesus shape how you approach your own uncertainties?

A disciple who is a man leads from commitment, not convenience — and that faithfulness shapes everything from his character to the people he influences.

1. Be honest — in what areas of your faith life are you most tempted to take the easy road or quietly check out?
2. Demas deserted Paul because he loved this world (2 Timothy 4:10). What does 'loving the world' look like for men today, and where do you feel that pull most strongly?
3. Jesus calls us to count the cost (Luke 14:28). As a man, what has following Jesus actually cost you — and has it been worth it?
4. What does it look like to be a disciple in your workplace, your friendships, or your home — not just on Sunday, but in the day-to-day?
5. Who are you journeying with in faith? Are you in any relationship where you're helping another man stay on track as a disciple?

Discipleship is not about being perfect — it's about staying. And as women, the faithfulness we cultivate in our own walk with Jesus overflows into every relationship and space we inhabit.

1. When life gets overwhelming, what is your honest default — do you lean into Jesus more, or do you tend to pull back? Why do you think that is?
2. John 6:68 shows Peter choosing to stay even in uncertainty. Is there an area of your faith right now where you're choosing to stay even though it's hard or doesn't make complete sense?
3. How do your friendships and community help or hinder your discipleship? What kind of relationships do you need around you to keep growing?
4. John 15:8 says bearing fruit is how we show ourselves to be disciples. What fruit are you seeing in your life right now — and where might God be inviting you to grow?
5. What's one practical way you could deepen your commitment to Jesus this week — not out of guilt, but out of genuine love for him?

A lifetime of faithfulness is its own kind of testimony. The wisdom, perseverance, and deep-rooted trust you carry have been shaped by choosing — over and over — to stay.

1. Looking back over your walk with Jesus, when was a moment you were most tempted to walk away — and what kept you? What would you say to someone facing that same moment today?
2. Peter's answer in John 6:68-69 — 'to whom shall we go?' — reflects a deep, settled conviction. How has that kind of conviction been formed in you over the years, and what has it cost?
3. The Bible names Demas as someone who deserted (2 Timothy 4:10). Have you known people who drifted from faith over time? What do you think made the difference between those who stayed and those who didn't?
4. What does 'bearing fruit' (John 15:8) look like in this chapter of your life? How has your understanding of what it means to be fruitful changed over the decades?
5. What is the most important thing you want to pass on — to your family, your church, or the next generation — about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?