Embedded Files
In the Exploration Phase, we will build upon what we learned in the Foundation Phase (2). We’ll grow in our understanding of God and who He has called us to be, as we discuss important theological topics and the implications they have for our lives.
Lesson 1:
Sexual Wholeness
Lesson 1:
Sexual Wholeness
In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus is speaking about every area of our life, including our sexuality. Unfortunately, many of us do not experience “life to the full” in our sexuality. The world around us says that sexual experiences are for our enjoyment any time and any way we want. We end up out of sync with God’s plan and full of guilt and shame. Thankfully, God offers something better.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
That we would have a shift in our heart posture regarding sexuality: a shift from the shame-based, behavior modification of purity culture towards the grace-based, loving wisdom of sexual wholeness.
That we would take active steps towards growth in wholeness (as opposed to: steps towards perfection) and active steps toward removal of shame
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What has your journey of sexuality been like?
Do you struggle with sexual wholeness?
How can we move away from being shamed into sexual purity and instead move toward being loved into sexual wholeness?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Walk your disciple through the intimacy chart. Talk with them about relationships they may have had in the past, currently have, or might hope to have in the future. If your disciple has never been in a relationship or perhaps doesn’t see themself ever getting married, you can still use this chart to talk about friendship (and otherwise platonic) relationships as well.
If your disciple is struggling with sexual wholeness, perhaps encourage them to share this struggle with peers of the same gender. Usually, there are men’s and women’s groups for sexual wholeness in Cru that you can direct them to.
Commit to checking in with your disciple once a month about how sexual wholeness is going and pray with them if that is a major need for them.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Bible Study Series
Men's Study Series: FLESH SERIES: Sex, Lust, Porn and The Christian
Women's Study Series: DESIRE SERIES
Four Corners of Sexual Wholeness → shorter article w/ some practical application
God's Design for Sex → longer article with guiding questions
“The Deeply Formed Life - Rich Villodas” (VIDEO) → 52 min video
LGBTQ+ Resources
As the topic of sexuality comes up, there is a chance your disciple will confide in you about being a sexual or gender minority. This is by no means the majority of cases, but it’s not necessarily uncommon either.
One of the best resources for LGBTQ+ people is community. If your disciple experiences same-sex attraction or any form of gender questioning, invite them to talk to Cru staff for help finding community.
The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender: This is an organization founded by Preston Sprinkle, who has generated excellent content, trainings, and books regarding the intersection of faith and LGBTQ+ people. The Center will host conferences, post research articles, and occasionally host seminars (some free, some paid) over Zoom about various specific topics in this area. There is also a podcast Preston Sprinkle has called "Theology in the Raw," where there are many episodes about LGBTQ+ related things.
Revoice: This is another non-profit that hosts a conference once a year, specifically for sexual and gender minorities, and secondarily for pastors and ministers who want to learn more about this topic. They also have a chapter that meets for a discussion once a month at Park Hill Church here in San Diego.
Your Other Brothers: This is an online community for men who experience same-sex attraction. Their tagline is, “Navigating faith, homosexuality, and masculinity, together.” They have blogs, podcasts, retreats, and a discord server, all aimed at having good discussions about faith, sexuality, and gender. They are currently forming a similar community for women. So stay tuned on that one :)
Lesson 2:
Ethnic Diversity
Lesson 2:
Ethnic Diversity
Ephesians 2:19-22 says: "You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
To understand that we are all one in Christ
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
Ephesians 2 Guiding Questions:
What were things that were dividing the Jews and Gentile believers?
How could such division hurt the spreading of the early church?
What was Paul's response to the ethnic separation?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
Go through Ephesians 2 together
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Try food from a culture you haven’t tried before!
Reach out to a friend who is a different ethnicity to you and ask them questions about their culture. Share what you learned next week!
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
It’s important to understand the unique culture and family we each come from. “I am From” cards are a great way to learn about each others’ backgrounds and how that impacts your life and relationship with God today.
Each leader should have a deck but if you don’t, check out this website and you can see the decks online.
“Deeply Formed Life” (book by Rich Villodas) Read Chapters 3-4
Video Sermon on Racial Reconciliation (by Rich Villodas- 50 min)
Lesson 3:
Sabbath/Rest
Lesson 3:
Sabbath/Rest
Then [Jesus] said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
Mark 2:27
Sabbath rest is a gift that God invites us into as we seek to know Him more deeply and dwell in His presence. Observing Sabbath rest invites us to trust God with our time, recognize our own limitations, and know that our ultimate rest is found in Him.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
To grow in our understanding of the Biblical principle of rest and Sabbath
To walk away with practical steps on how to implement a regular Sabbath rhythm into our faith walk
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
Do you currently have a rhythm of Sabbath/rest during your week? If so, what does it look like?
Ruth Haley Barton, in her book Sacred Rhythms, writes, “The heart of sabbath is that we cease our work so that we can rest and delight in God and God's good gifts.”
What are things that bring you rest/delight that you can incorporate into your week?
Why do you think we should take part in Sabbath rest?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
Video: "Explaining Where the Sabbath Day Came From in the Bible (and Why)" by the Bible Project. (5m 27s)
Watch this video
Discuss the 5 questions below in the "Reflect" section
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Write down some practical ways you can practice Sabbath.
For this, you might find it helpful to read the article, Six Ways to Practice Sabbath, by Tim Keller.
Though there is not one formulaic way to practice Sabbath rest, this provides some hopefully helpful ideas that will help us integrate rest and dwelling with God into our weeks
Commit to spending a month practicing Sabbath using The Sabbath Practice material by "Practicing the Way."
This is designed to be practiced over a one-month period. If you are in a discipleship pairing or group, it may be helpful to go through this material together throughout the month.
Consider taking a day to just be with the Lord.
Article/Template: Day with the Lord
It’s good to get away for an unhurried day with the Lord. Here is a helpful resource for thinking through how you might spend an extended period of time away with Him.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Article: What Is the Sabbath in the Bible and Should Christians Observe It? An Invitation to Holy Rest
Here is a good follow-up article from the Bible Project to discuss the idea of Sabbath further. While reading through it, consider the implications for your life as a follower of Jesus. Discuss what it looks like to “stop” and “dwell” with the Lord one day a week for you personally. What things might you stop doing, and what might you do?
Article: Rest
This is an article from Cru outlining some foundations for Sabbath as well as helpful tools for planning and support as you pursue a habit of rest.
Article/Template: Day with the Lord
It’s good to get away for an unhurried day with the Lord. Here is a helpful resource for thinking through how you might spend an extended period of time away with Him.
Book: The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan:
“Stillness as a virtue is a foreign concept in our society, but there is wisdom in God's own rhythm of work and rest. Jesus practiced sabbath among those who had turned it into a dismal thing, a day for murmuring and finger-wagging, and he reminded them of the day's true purpose: liberation - to heal, to feed, to rescue, to celebrate, to lavish and relish life abundant”
Lesson 4:
God's Heart for the Lost
Lesson 4:
God's Heart for the Lost
Part of the call to discipleship is to share our faith with others. Cru’s vision is that every student and faculty would know someone who truly follows Jesus. We have the privilege of participating in that vision by sharing with people we connect with every day!
Desired Outcomes:
Desired Outcomes:
To grow in our understanding of God’s heart for those who aren’t in a relationship with Him.
To grow in compassion toward our friends and family who don't yet know Christ and seek to share with them.
Guiding Questions:
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions:
What has stopped you from sharing your faith in the past?
Is it a lack of empathy for people who don’t know Jesus, a fear that you’re going to come on too strong, or maybe something else?
What gets you excited about sharing your faith?
Go through the following resources together.
Resources:
Resources:
Read and discuss the following Bible Passages:
Matthew 9:35-39
What do you notice about what Jesus did, said and felt in this passage?
In reading this, and seeing Jesus' response to the crowds, how would you describe the state of your own heart in this moment toward those apart from Christ?
Luke 15:1-10, 19:10
What do you think Jesus wanted to convey by telling these parables?
What does this teach us about God’s heart for the lost?
How should this impact the way we see non-believers and share our faith?
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps:
Practical Steps:
Come up with your “My 5” List
choose 5 non-believers (could be classmates, co-workers, family members) in your life, and pray for them this week.Pray that the Lord would lead them to Himself.
Pray for opportunities to share your personal testimony with them (from lesson 1.1).
Pray for them to be open to hearing what your life in Christ is like and how it’s different from a worldly life.
Ask one of the people from your “My 5” list if they would be open to hearing your story of faith and then give you feedback.
It’s always good to be upfront and honest, so you may say that you have been working with a spiritual mentor on communicating your testimony in a way that makes sense. You could ask them for their thoughts (i.e. things that could be communicated more clearly, or things they have questions about). This may open an ongoing conversation about faith!
Additional Resources:
Additional Resources:
Lesson 5:
Prayer
Lesson 5:
Prayer
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
That we would grow both in our desire to pray and our confidence in knowing how to pray.
Resources
Resources
God’s Wonderful Plan for prayer
(Short article that gives a cosmic picture of how prayer works, and how it allows us to participate in God’s will)
Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions
How did the article change your perspective on how prayer actually works?
What is the relationship between God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and us in the arena of prayer?
What mindset, habits, or unnecessary distractions could be holding you back from a richer prayer life?
What might be your first step in overcoming these? (Deleting a social media app? Making a standing appointment with God? etc)
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Choose 3 of the 7 Tips at the bottom of the Daily Prayer Guide to enrich your prayer life
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Daily Prayer Guide
Great resource to use in thinking through how and when to pray.Tim Keller Sermon on the Psalms as a guide for how to pray
Focusing on the idea that we can be friends with God, and friendship must be a two-way street of dialogue.
Lesson 6:
Prayer Life: Praying the Bible
Lesson 6:
Prayer Life: Praying the Bible
This session will help us form a deeper habit of prayer by weaving it into our daily and weekly rhythms. We’ll explore how to pray using Scripture—letting God speak first through His Word, and then responding by letting His truth guide and shape our prayers, both privately and in community.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
To form a habit of prayer in our daily and weekly rhythms
To incorporate God’s Word into our prayers, both privately and corporately, while also letting Scripture guide our prayers.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What keeps you from praying more?
How is prayer both speaking and listening?
What kinds of prayer come more naturally to you? What kinds are more uncomfortable? How could praying the Bible help you?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
This short blog offers a guide for how and why to pray the Bible.
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Use these Bible passages to guide your prayers this week - privately and corporately
Adoration
Psalm 139
Colossians 1:15-22
Confession
Psalm 32
1 John 1:9
Thanksgiving
Psalm 23
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Supplication
Psalm 86
John 15
Practice Lament:
When something sad happens personally or in the news, use a Psalm of Lament to pray your hurt, sorrow or even anger to the Lord, who wants you to come to Him honestly. (Psalm 6, 10, 38, 130)
30 day challenge:
Every day set an alarm to pray for 5 minutes. Do the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and let the Holy Spirit bring attention to one line (eg: “Your Kingdom come”) to focus your prayer time.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Tim Keller Sermon on the Psalms as a guide for how to pray, focusing on the idea that we can be friends with God, and friendship must be a two-way street of dialogue
Book: “Praying the Bible” – Donald Whitney
Lesson 7:
Prayer: A.C.T.S.
(Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication)
Lesson 7:
Prayer: A.C.T.S.
(Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication)
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
To grow in our understanding of what prayer is, and begin to “exercise the prayer muscle.”
To begin to interact with different aspects of prayer (more than just asking God for things or for God to do things for us), including praise, confession of sin, and giving thanks.
Resources
Resources
Cru Article: How to Pray and Worship
Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions
What has your experience with prayer been in the past? Good? Bad? Non-existent?
Why do we pray? What’s the point?
How do we pray?
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
- Pray together by using the A.C.T.S. prompts.
Challenge yourself to move beyond the point of discomfort by praying aloud together.Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication (asking for things for yourself or for others).
Consider how praying in the A.C.T.S. framework is for you. What felt good? What felt difficult?
Challenge yourself to do this A.C.T.S. prayer once a day until the next study. It might even be helpful to take out your phone and schedule it in your calendar, or set a daily alarm reminder. Whether you are new to praying or have been doing it for a long time, this is a good practice. Check-in with each other at the next meeting about how this went.
Lesson 8:
Missions // The Bible as a Missions Story
Lesson 8:
Missions // The Bible as a Missions Story
This session will help us see the Bible not just as a book that mentions missions—but as a story about God’s mission from beginning to end. We’ll explore how being part of that mission isn’t just for a few people—it’s central to following Jesus, and God is inviting each of us to play a role.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Come to see involvement in missions as an integral part of being a Christian. It’s a central theme of the Bible, and God invites us into it.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
After reviewing the resource, discuss the following:
The Traveling Team says, “Mission is not something the Bible merely speaks about—mission is what the Bible is about.” What arguments did they make about the Bible being a missions story? Did you find it convincing?
What new Bible stories, passages or characters did you learn about? How did these shape a new view of God’s Word and God’s heart for you?
The most common thing that holds us back from obedience is some kind of idolatry: worshiping something other than God. What is one thing that the Holy Spirit might be saying to you that you’re holding onto too tightly, that might keep you back from having fully open hands with God?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Pray with your discipler, a friend in Cru or another committed Christ follower. Ask God together how He might be inviting you to be involved in missions (sacrificially going or sacrificially sending)
What’s the next step of obedience for you?
If you’ve never shared your faith, look for an opportunity to do so.
If you’ve never given sacrificially to help send someone else on a mission trip, do so.
If you’ve never gone on a mission trip of any kind (even stateside), consider doing it.
If you’ve never gone on an overseas mission trip, pray about any invitations to do so.
Look at the Cru Summer Missions website and pray about your college summers. It’s OK if you don’t go on a summer mission - it’s just important to keep your hands open to the Lord with everything He puts in your life.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
History of Salvation (ESV.org: create an account to see this content)
Cru Summer Missions (info & application)
* Just remember, not all opportunities to give or go are created equal - all trips should involve some kind of gospel proclamation, even when service is involved.
Lesson 9:
Hearing the Music of the Gospel
Lesson 9:
Hearing the Music of the Gospel
The Christian life is like a ballerina dancing to beautiful music. Instead of relying on our own strength, we should move in response to the beauty of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, just as a ballerina moves in time with the rhythm.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
That we would live our lives in response to the beauty of the Gospel, not trying to “perform” the Christian life in our own strength.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What is the danger of merely imitating the “actions” of the Christian life? Do you see yourself doing this at times? If so, how?
How might your character, thoughts, and actions be different if you truly lived in the freedom of the Gospel?
Go through the following resource together.
Resource
Resource
Article (pdf): Hearing the Music of the Gospel
This article has several great things to say about the freedom of the Gospel and how our brokenness points us to Christ. Since it’s quite lengthy, you may choose specific sections to talk through together or cover it in its entirety in 3-4 discipleship appointments.
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
This week, during your time in the Word, answer these two questions from the article and discuss together:
How does the passage I am reading expose my brokenness and need for Christ?
How does it point my heart to the Savior?
At the end of each day for a week, take a moment to stop and reflect with the Lord on your day. Ask him to show you the ways in which you were trying to imitate the “dance steps” of the Christian life, versus truly living out of the freedom Christ offers?
Lesson 10:
Stewardship: Finances
Lesson 10:
Stewardship: Finances
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Recognizing our role as stewards, we seek God’s guidance as to how to use our finances.
To grow in generosity, using our financial resources to bless others and advance the Kingdom of God.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
When you were a child, how were financial matters discussed and managed within your household?
1 Timothy 6:10 says “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”. If money itself is neutral, why do you think God’s Word says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
It’s been said that someone can see what's important to us by how we spend our money. Take a moment to look over your purchases from the past two to three weeks, and reflect on what these say about your values. Is there anything you would do differently in terms of your spending after this lesson?
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Jesus calls us to be joyful givers, storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. This short book is a wonderful reminder that we “can’t take it with us”,, and that no matter our stage of life or how much we make, God calls us to be stewards of the finances we have.
This website offers practical financial guidance. It discusses topics like generosity, saving for retirement and how to live on a monthly budget.
Lesson 11:
Stewardship: Time
Lesson 11:
Stewardship: Time
This session reminds us that everything we are, and everything we have is a gift from God. He has called us to be good stewards of the lives He’s given us, and to live them in a way that brings Him glory.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Our life is a gift from God. Because of this, we seek to “number our days”, using them wisely for God’s Kingdom.
To think through what it looks like to manage our time in a way that honors the Lord.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What do you think it means to be a good steward (or manager) of the life and resources God has entrusted to us?
What does the world say about how we should use our time, and how might that differ from what God calls us to?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
Time management: Week 1:
Read this article together
Plan to use the Time Management Tool to take inventory of your time throughout the week
Time Management: Week 2:
Go over your findings from the Time Management Tool together the next time you meet.
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 12:
Stewardship: Resources
Lesson 12:
Stewardship: Resources
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 13:
Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 13:
Spiritual Gifts
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 14:
Conflict Resolution
Lesson 14:
Conflict Resolution
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Develop a Biblical understanding/view of conflict resolution.
Learn our tendencies in conflict and reflect on how conflict was handled in our family.
Gain tools to address and resolve conflict Biblically in our relationships.
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What is unconditional love? How do you show this kind of love to others?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
A huge part of being a follower of Christ is approaching conflict from a godly perspective. Take some time to read through this short article, look up the Scriptures with your disciple, and discuss the implications of addressing conflict in a Christ-like way.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Focus on the Family page (maybe too similar to Peacemaker’s Pledge)
Lesson 15:
Lament
Lesson 15:
Lament
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
What is the purpose of lamenting to God?
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
A handout that walks you through a time of lament
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
We are aware that life is not just joyful but also holds sorrow. God hears us in those moments of sorrow and wants to walk with us. A prayer of lament cries out to God but also reminds us of the hope we have in God and His promises. It might feel more uncomfortable to vocalize and process through sorrow. Linked is a practical way to help you practice lamenting.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 16:
Mental Health
Lesson 16:
Mental Health
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
Guiding Questions
Think through these briefly before going into the main resource (5 minutes or less).Guiding Questions
Go through the following resource together.
Resources
Resources
If you have time, go over some of these practical steps. If not, go over them on your own this week to chat about when you meet next.
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
We acknowledge that mental health is a bigger conversation than just one discipleship appointment. The resource above is not a catch all, but is a way to begin conversations about mental health and help us put words to our thoughts and see the way God loves us through our mental health. Discipleship is not designed to be therapy, but our mental health is a big part in following Jesus so we want it to be a part of your relationship with each other and God! If you are seeking further help and resources, below are some local resources we have found!
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Lesson 17:
Christ-Centered Community // Fellowship
Lesson 17:
Christ-Centered Community // Fellowship
Cru is a great way to experience community with other believers while in college, but it is also important to be connected to a local church body where you can hear God’s Word preached, serve, and fellowship with believers from different generations and ethnicities.
Desired Outcomes
Desired Outcomes
To be able to communicate differences between Christ-centered communities and communities that are not centered around God.
Resources
Resources
Cru Article: Christian Fellowship
Neighbors Church Podcast: A Community of Love: Intimate Community
Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions
What have you noticed to be different about Christ-centered communities from others?
What hesitations do you have about committing to the intentionality and vulnerability that these groups require?
Practical Steps
Practical Steps
Consider going along with a friend, your mentor, or disciple) disciple to check out a few different churches, if they have yet to choose a church home.
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