Walking His Way

Discipleship in Action for the Modern World

Walking His Word – Discipleship Practice week 1 study

Discipleship Is Lived, Not Legislated

Purpose of This Study

This study introduces the foundational practice of reading Scripture through Christ, rather than treating the Bible as a fixed legal code.

Our goal is not to weaken Scripture—but to strengthen our faithfulness by understanding how Jesus Himself engaged Scripture.

Opening Prayer

God of wisdom and truth,
guide us as we open Your Word.
Help us to see Christ clearly,
to hear His voice above all others,
and to walk faithfully in love, humility, and truth.
Amen.

Core Scripture Readings

James 1:22–25

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says…”

Reflection Prompt

  • What does it mean to “do the word” rather than just believe it?
  • Can someone follow Scripture faithfully while still misapplying it?

Matthew 7:24–27

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…”

Reflection Prompt

  • Why does Jesus emphasize His words specifically?
  • What happens when belief is not accompanied by practice?

Christ as the Interpretive Lens

Read Together: Matthew 22:36–40

“‘Love the Lord your God…’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean that all Scripture “hangs” on love?
  • How does this change the way we read difficult or controversial passages?
  • Can a reading of Scripture be technically “biblical” but unfaithful to Christ?

Jesus Reinterprets Scripture

Read Together: Matthew 5:21–48

Jesus repeatedly says:

“You have heard it said… but I say to you…”

Discussion Questions

  • What authority does Jesus claim here?
  • Does He reject Scripture—or reveal its deeper purpose?
  • What does this teach us about rigid vs. discerning faith?

The Problem With Face-Value Reading

Read Together: Mark 2:23–28

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Discussion Questions

  • Why did religious leaders believe they were correct?
  • How did their certainty cause harm?
  • Where might modern Christians repeat this mistake?

Then and Now: Context Matters

Group Reflection

  • Scripture was written in societies with slavery, patriarchy, and monarchy.
  • Jesus did not endorse these systems—He transformed how people lived within them.

Questions

  • Why might applying ancient social rules directly to modern society be dangerous?
  • How does Christ’s treatment of women, foreigners, and the poor reshape Scripture’s meaning?

Practice: Reading Through Christ

As Walking His Way, we do not seek uniform answers.
We seek faithful discernment shaped by Christ’s life, words, and way.

Choose a difficult or debated topic (leader may select one):

  • Immigration
  • Wealth and poverty
  • LGBTQ+ inclusion
  • Women’s roles
  • Criminal punishment

Ask Together

  1. What does Scripture say in context?
  2. How did Jesus treat the people affected by this issue?
  3. What response aligns most clearly with Christ’s love, justice, and humility?

Quiet Implication

(Read Aloud)
Scripture without Christ becomes law.
Christ without Scripture becomes sentiment.
Faithfulness lives where the two meet.

Scripture was written within real societies—shaped by the cultural norms, power structures, fears, and assumptions of their time. Its language reflects ancient worlds ordered by patriarchy, slavery, empire, and survival. When Scripture is read without Christ as its interpretive center, these historically bound norms can be mistaken for timeless moral commands. What was contextual becomes universal. What was descriptive becomes prescriptive. In this way, Scripture—meant to guide people toward life—can harden into law.

Jesus consistently resisted this kind of reading. He did not discard Scripture, but He refused to allow it to be used as a tool of control, exclusion, or harm. He re-centered the law on its purpose: love of God and love of neighbor. He showed that obedience without compassion distorts God’s intent, and that faithfulness cannot be reduced to rule-following detached from human dignity.

At the same time, Christ without Scripture becomes sentiment. When Jesus is separated from the grounding witness of Scripture, He can be reshaped into whatever feels comforting, affirming, or convenient. His teachings risk becoming vague moral inspiration rather than a demanding call to transformation. Love becomes niceness. Grace becomes avoidance. Faith becomes personal feeling rather than disciplined discipleship.

Scripture anchors Christ’s teachings in history, community, and accountability. It preserves the tension, challenge, and depth of His message. Without Scripture, Christ can be reduced to an idea instead of a Lord who calls us to costly love, repentance, and faithful action.

Faithfulness lives where the two meet.

To read Scripture through Christ is to allow His life, teachings, and example to guide how Scripture is understood and applied—especially across time and changing social realities. To follow Christ through Scripture is to remain rooted in a shared tradition that resists distortion, individualism, and convenience.

Walking His Way holds these together. We refuse to apply Scripture without Christ’s compassion, humility, and justice. And we refuse to follow a Christ detached from the disciplined witness of Scripture. Faithful discipleship lives in the tension between the two—where discernment replaces certainty, love guides obedience, and Scripture becomes a living call rather than a weapon or a slogan.

Personal Reflection
(Journaling or Silent Prayer)

  • Where have I relied on certainty instead of discernment?
  • Where has Scripture shaped my identity more than my actions?
  • What would it look like to walk His Word more faithfully this year?

Closing Prayer

Christ our teacher,
help us read Your Word with wisdom,
live it with humility,
and practice it with love.

Shape our faith not by fear or power,
but by Your example.

Teach us to walk Your Word.
Amen.

Practical Notes

If tension arises, remind the group:

  • This study does not ask anyone to abandon Scripture.
    We approach the Bible with reverence, humility, and seriousness. Our commitment is not to diminish Scripture, but to engage it more faithfully.
  • This study asks us to take Christ seriously as our guide.
    Jesus is not an add-on to Scripture—He is its fulfillment and interpretive center. When questions arise, we return first to His life, teachings, and example.

Additional Guidance:

  • Do not rush to resolve disagreement.
    Faithful discernment often requires sitting with discomfort. The goal is not consensus, but deeper understanding shaped by Christlike love.
  • Encourage curiosity over certainty.
    Remind participants that questions are not a sign of weak faith. In Scripture, Jesus consistently invites people to rethink what they believe they already know.
  • Gently redirect harmful interpretations.
    If Scripture is used to justify exclusion, fear, or dehumanization, bring the conversation back to Christ’s treatment of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the outsider.
  • Model humility.
    Leaders are not arbiters of truth but fellow disciples. It is appropriate to say, “I’m still discerning,” or “Let’s sit with that question.”
  • Protect the dignity of all participants.
    Personal experiences, doubts, and convictions should be treated with care. Disagreement never justifies dismissal or harm.
  • Keep the focus on practice, not winning arguments.
    Ask often: How does this shape how we live? Who does this call us to love more faithfully?

Closing Reminder:

Walking His Way is not about replacing one rigid framework with another. It is about forming disciples who read Scripture with wisdom, live with integrity, and follow Christ with courage and compassion.

Let the Spirit do the work you cannot.