Discipleship 101: Following Jesus With FriendsSample

How Was Your Weekend?

Before inviting His disciples into the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Jesus offered them space for quiet and to get away with Him.

“How was your weekend?” may be a typical question you ask a co-worker, neighbor, or friend when you see each other at the beginning of a new week. Weekends and resting will probably look different for everybody. What’s most important is if you’re ready and attentive to what God may have for you as you begin a new week. Following Jesus into a weekend may have meant you took a bike ride or took a long nap. You may have even enjoyed time outside in a hammock with a good book or around a fire pit with friends.

Consider the question, “How was your weekend?” as an opportunity to invite someone to follow Jesus with you into places of rest. Notice how someone responds to the question, “How was your weekend?” What do they mention about their weekend?

As they respond, be ready to share how you pursued rest during the weekend. Then ask a follow-up question about how they created rest during their weekend. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead and see if you can talk more about the rest that Jesus invites us into.

Here are a few ideas of how to invite someone to follow Jesus with you as you pursue rest together:

• Ask your friend what it looks like to recharge before starting a new week.

If there is an opportunity to join them in something recharging, then take that next step. If the question is reciprocated, invite them to join you for something recharging.

• Open the conversation by asking your friend how they know when to say “Yes” and when to say “No” to opportunities and how this impacts their rest.

Even Jesus knew His followers needed rest. Use this story from Mark 6 as an example of what could happen after taking time to rest.

• Introduce someone to a location where you find rest and recharge.

Maybe it’s a local park or a peaceful coffee shop. Invite your friend to meet you there twice a month and encourage each other to incorporate rest each week.

If Jesus encouraged rest before miracles for his disciples, imagine what He desires to do in our lives and those we’re around.