The first study

Beyond the Label

A 52-week study of the twelve disciples for young adults and adults. People are given labels; Jesus gives them a name and a calling. Each disciple is met in the Gospels as they were, and each session asks what Jesus made of them.

Open the studyLead a group
Draft illustration: the Jordan near Bethany.

Ready now

Sessions 1 to 4: Andrew

Andrew is known as Simon Peter’s brother. These four sessions follow him from the Jordan to the feeding of the five thousand, to the Greeks who asked to see Jesus, and to the day Jesus named the Twelve.

  • Session 1 · Andrew

    The First Ripple

    John 1:35–42 (with 1:29)

    Andrew hears who Jesus is, stays with him and brings his brother to him; then Jesus does what only Jesus can do.

  • Session 2 · Andrew

    The Kingdom Microscope

    John 6:1–14 (with 6:35)

    Andrew names the little there is and brings it to Jesus, who already knows what he will do and is himself the bread of life.

  • Session 3 · Andrew

    The Spiritual Diplomat

    John 12:20–26 (with 12:19 and 12:32–33)

    When outsiders ask to see Jesus, Andrew and Philip carry the request to him, and Jesus answers with the cross that draws all people.

  • Session 4 · Andrew

    The Conductor's Metronome

    Matthew 10:1–4; Mark 3:13–19 (with Mark 10:41–45)

    Jesus chose Andrew to be with him and to be sent; steady, shared service flows from being with the Servant who gave his life.

Sessions 5 to 52 follow, one disciple at a time.

Inside each session

The same shape every week

Every session moves from the scene to the text, from the text to the talk, and from talk to life, so a group always knows where it is.

  1. Setting the Scene
  2. Preview Question
  3. Key Reading and Key Verse
  4. The Talk
  5. Cultural Context, Word Study and Historical Note boxes
  6. Discussion Questions at Levels 1, 2 and 3
  7. Modern Connection
  8. Take-Away Challenge
  9. Prayer Focus
  10. Character Gallery
Session 1 open in the app, at Setting the Scene.

Who it is for

One message, shaped for who is in the room

Beyond the Label is written first for young adults (16 to 25) and adults. Every Altitude adapts each study for these audiences:

  • Children
  • Youth
  • Young adults (16 to 25)
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • Older adults
  • Families

The highlighted audiences are ready now.

Scripture

Every quotation from the ESV

Key verses and short readings are quoted in full from the English Standard Version. Longer passages are given as references with a link to read them at esv.org, so the group always reads the text itself.