EVERS ROAD CHRISTIAN CHURCH
DISCIPLESHIP COURSE
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Lessons:
1. Who am I now?
2. The Bible.
3. How to Study the Bible.
4. Who is Jesus Christ?
5. The Holy Spirit and the Trinity.
6. What is God Like?
7. Prayer, Confession, and Forgiveness.
8. The Church
9. The Christian Life, Part I
10. The Christian Life, Part II
WRITE A DEFINITION OF A DISCIPLE:
”WHOEVER DOES NOT CARRY HIS OWN CROSS AND COME AFTER ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.” Luke 14:27
LESSON ONE
WHO AM I NOW THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN?
Everything we study in this course is affected by our understanding of who we are in Jesus Christ and who Jesus Christ is. The purpose of this part of this series is to grasp your new identity as a Child of God. You are no longer an ordinary person; you belong to Jesus Christ.
1. Why should God let you into His heaven? What would you say to Him if He asked you that question right now?
2. How long have you been a Christian?
3. Are you sure of your salvation?
4. How important is it to you that you become a follower of Jesus in every way you can?
5. What did Jesus command His followers to do in Matthew 28:19,20?
What does the word “disciple” mean? (Look it up in a dictionary.)
Are you a disciple?
Have you been baptized?
What were the followers of Jesus to do in verse 20?
Do you want to commit yourself to doing all that Jesus commands? Why?
Notice what Jesus said: Make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey what I have commanded. You have become a disciple and been baptized; now begin the lifelong process of obedience.
6. What do these scriptures say about who you are now that you are a Christian?
I John 3:1
Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:19
I Peter 2:4,5
7. What do these scriptures say about who you used to be?
Ephesians 2:1-3
Ephesians 2:12
Romans 5:6,8,10 (three things)
8. From Colossians 1:13:
In what kingdom did we live before salvation?
What kingdom are we in now that we are saved?
9. Into whom were you baptized? Romans 6:3
10. If you are “in Christ” what are you now? II Corinthians 5:17
11. What else have we become “in Him”? II Corinthians 5:21
What problem is overcome when we “become the righteousness of God in Him”? Romans 3:23
12. Write a definition of “righteousness.” (Use a dictionary.)
13. Who is “for us” now that you are a Christian? Romans 8:31
14. Why is He so good to you? Did you earn His favor? What does Ephesians 2:4,5 say about the reason for God’s goodness towards you?
15. To what extreme did God go to save us? Romans 8:32
16. Who is interceding for you at the right hand of God? Romans 8:34
What does “intercede” mean? (Write a definition.)
17. What will stop the love of Jesus Christ (or separate you from it)? Where is this love? (roman 8:39)
18. From what were we saved by the blood of Christ? Romans 5:9
19. What had you earned by your sin? Romans 6:23
20. Are you still under the condemnation of sin? Romans 8:1
According to Romans 8:1, there is no condemnation for ___________________
_________________________________________________________________.
21. What does it mean to you personally to not be under the condemnation of God any longer? (Write it in your own words.) If you don’t know what “condemnation” means, look it up in a dictionary.
22. If you have been made right with God (justified) what do you then have?
Romans 5:1
23. List what and who and where you are now that you are saved. (Look at the answers to the above questions.)
a. d.
b. e.
c. f.
LESSON TWO
THE BIBLE
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16
The Bible is the most widely circulated and translated book in the world. More copies of the Bible have been printed than any other book. There have been more books written about the Bible than about any other book in the world. The Bible was written by 40 men over a period of about 1500 years. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, except for a very small portion which was written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. The theme of the Bible is God’s redemption of men, and the central person of the Bible is Jesus Christ.
The word “testament” is derived from the Latin word used for “covenant.” The two words are interchangeable; as such, one could call the two parts of the Bible “The Old Covenant” and “The New Covenant.” This could be a better way to view the divisions.
I. The Old Testament contains 39 books. It is called the “Old Testament” because it has been displaced by the “New Testament.”
A. The first five books of the Bible were written by Moses about the year 1450 B.C. These five books are called “the Law,” “the Books of Moses,” and “the Pentateuch.”
Fill in the blanks with the names of the books. (They are in order.)
1. ________________ Creation; the fall of man; the flood; beginning of God’s family; beginning of redemption.
2. ________________ The delivery of God’s people (the Hebrews) from Egypt; the Ten Commandments.
3. ________________ Laws for the priests of the tribe of Levi: sacrifices; purification; holy feasts.
4. ________________ Wandering of the Hebrews in the wilderness for forty years; their disobedience.
5. ________________ Moses reminding people of Israel (the Hebrews) what God required & preparation to enter promised land.
B. The Old Testament books of history tell of the life of the nation of Israel from about 1400 B.C. to about 600 B.C. They describe:
1. The entrance of Israel into the promised land. (Joshua)
2. The leadership of certain men called “judges.” (Judges)
3. The beautiful story of one of Jesus’ ancestors. (Ruth)
4. The History of the nation of Israel from the rise of the first king to its destruction. (David the great king and his son Solomon are in this section.) [I Samuel-II Chronicles]
5. The return of some of the people of Judah from captivity and events in the lands where they were captive. (Ezra-Esther)
C. The books of Poetry tell of the way God deals with men, the wisdom of God’s way.
1. _________________ A man who trusts God undergoes suffering and still trusts God.
2. _________________ Songs of praise from the hearts of several men, also, men crying out to God.
3. _________________ The wisdom of God for practical, righteous living.
4. _________________ A rich and powerful king writes about the emptiness of life without God.
5. _________________ A series of songs expressing Solomon’s love for a Shulamite woman.
D. The Major Prophets are recorded messages from God to His people. A prophet is a man that receives a special message directly from God with instructions to deliver it to men. Since these are the longest of the prophetic books they are called “Major Prophets.” They were written from about 740-540 B.C.
1. _____________________________ 4. _______________________________
2. _____________________________ 5. _______________________________
3. _____________________________
E. The Minor Prophets are the shorter books of prophecy. They make up the last 12 books of the Old Testament. They were written from about 790-400 B.C.
1. _____________________________ 7. _____________________________
2. _____________________________ 8. _____________________________
3. _____________________________ 9. _____________________________
4. _____________________________ 10. _____________________________
5. _____________________________ 11. _____________________________
6. _____________________________ 12. _____________________________
There are 39 books in the Old Testament. Memorize them.
II. The New Testament contains 27 books. It is called the “New Testament” (God’s new agreement with man) because it displaced the “Old” Testament (the Law given to Moses).
A. The first four books of the New Testament are called the “Gospels.” They tell who Jesus Christ was, what He taught, and what He did. Their purpose for being written is found in John 20:31. Write this purpose in your own words and insert your name in the verse (make it personal). Put the name of the book beside the description of the book. (They are in order.)
1. __________________ Written especially for Jews, it reveals that Jesus Christ was their long hoped-for Promised One (Messiah).
2. __________________ The life of Jesus as the one who lived a life of obedience. Jesus was a man of action.
3. __________________ The human side of Jesus is revealed while showing His perfection.
4. __________________ Emphasis on the deity of Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus teaches about Himself.
B. The beginning of the church and the spreading of the gospel in the Roman world are contained in this book of history. _________________________
C. The letters to believers are called “Epistles” (letters). These letters tell Christians what to believe, how to apply their faith to daily living, and what God expects of them.
1. The letters of Paul. (List them in order.)
a. __________________ f. __________________ j. __________________
b. __________________ g. _________________ k. __________________
c. __________________ h. _________________ l. ___________________
d. __________________ i. _________________ m. __________________
e. __________________
2. General Letters
a. __________________ d. _________________ g. __________________
b. __________________ e. _________________ h. __________________
c. __________________ f. __________________
D. The New Testament ends with God’s plan for the end of the present earth judgment of all men who ever lived, and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the book of ___________________. Read verses 18 & 19 of chapter 22.
There are 27 books in the New Testament. Memorize them.
THE BIBLE DIVISIONS AT A GLANCE
Old Testament:
• Books of Moses (Law): 5 books — Creation, flood, beginning of Hebrew nation.
• Books of History: 12 books — Exodus from Egypt, conquest of Canaan, rise and fall of Israel as a nation.
• Books of Poetry: 5 books — literature of Israel.
• Books of Prophecy: 17 books — God’s message to Israel and the nations.
New Testament:
• Gospels: 4 books — Birth, teachings, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Acts: 1 book — Beginning of the Church, history of the early church, ministry of Paul.
• Letters: 21 books — Instructions to Christians.
• Revelation: 1 book — The glory and triumph of Christ.
God’s redemption of men through Jesus Christ is the theme of the Bible. In the Old Testament the sacrifices and prophecies point to One who was coming. In the Gospels we see that the Coming One had arrived and that He died so men could be saved from sin through faith in Him. The Epistles (another name for “Letters”) have the theme “Someone has come; live for Him.” Revelation tells us that Jesus Christ is the One who is coming again.
Read the following scriptures and write the main ideas.
1. II Timothy 3:16
2. Luke 24:25-27
3. John 5:39
LESSON THREE
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:14,15
You may know a lot of things. But until you know “the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation,” you don’t know the most important book in the world.
I. Why We Should Study the Bible.
A. What can knowledge of the Scriptures give? II Tim.3:15
B. How should we handle the word of truth? II Tim. 2:15
C. From II Timothy 3:16 answer the following questions:
1. What is “God-breathed” (inspired)?
2. Scripture is useful for:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Now go back and write a definition of each from the dictionary.
D. If we hear and practice the the words of Jesus we can be compared to a man who _________________________________. (Matthew 7:24,25) If we do not know the words of Jesus, how can we act upon them?
E. By what will we be judged on the last day? John 12:48
II. Correctly Handling the Word of God
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:20,21
Since Scripture is a communication from God, we need to understand what He was saying. It is not sufficient to say, “Well, this is what I feel about this scripture!” The only accurate message is the message God intended.
STEPS FOR UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE
Apply these rules to any passage that you wish to understand. (Beside some of the following questions there are sample verses given to illustrate the rule.)
1. Which covenant (old or new) is the passage in? Exodus 20:8
2. Who is speaking or writing, and in what capacity? That is, is someone speaking on his own authority or God’s? John 4:20
3. What is the context? (What is the subject of the surrounding text? It is not likely that the author made an abrupt change in topic without some hint of doing so.) In John 6:35-40, what event took place that the subject would be bread? John 6:9-11
4. To whom is the author speaking? (To the apostles, Moses, God, all Christians, some other individual, or to the Israelite nation?) Is John 14:26 directed to all Christians or just the apostles?
5. What is the purpose of the written or spoken message? (Sometimes this is plainly stated and sometimes it is not.)
6. What cultural, geographic and historical gaps need to be bridged? Was there anything different in that culture that would affect my understanding of the text? Where were these cities? Where did these events take place? What was the political climate at that time? In Luke 23:1,2 what tension was created by Jesus claiming to be a king?
7. What is actually said?
Problems:
a. What was the meaning of the words at the time of writing? (“Lord” for instance.)
b. What or who is the subject of the sentence? In Acts 1:17, is the “he” Jesus or Judas?
8. Is the language literal or figurative or both? (Use the context and other passages to compare. Take literally if possible.) Luke 21:20, literal armies or figurative ones?
9. What is said on the subject elsewhere in scripture? Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17 help in understanding the “sword of the Spirit.” What is the sword of the Spirit?
10. What is the original meaning? This can be done only in light of the foregoing investigations. Only when we seek and find this can we say we understand the passage and apply it. Matthew 7:6 combines this rule with several rules.
11. What does this passage mean to me?
Does it contain one or more of the following: (Obtain your anwers from the verses below.)
a. Principle for conduct? Matthew 7:12
b. Knowledge of God Himself (His character or attributes)? Exodus 34:14
c. Direct command for us? Colossians 3:12,13
d. Warning against sin? Hebrews 2:2,3
EXCELLENT BOOKS TO HELP YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE
• Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Moody Press)
• Halley’s Bible Handbook (Zondervan)
• Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Holman)
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words (Revell)
Learn to use the many helps available to you, especially the ones in your Bible. Remember that helps are just that–HELPS; they are not the Word of God, and they are not infallible.
The purpose in studying God’s Word is to learn the will of God for our lives. “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17
SOME MAJOR HINDRANCES TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
1. Reading with a desire to prove a point instead of with a desire to find the truth.
2. Failure to seek the original meaning, i.e. what the author meant when he wrote these words.
3. Assigning words incorrect meanings. Which kind of love was Paul writing of in
I Corinthians 13?
4. Failure to correctly identify the speaker or listeners. Who said, “Curse God and die”: Job, God, or Job’s wife?
5. Failure to understand the separation of the Old and New Covenants. Are we bound by the Law of Moses or has a new covenant been instituted? Hebrews 9:15,
II Corinthians 3:6
6. Lack of understanding of the context. Was Paul writing about body odor in
II Corinthians 2:16?
7. Failure to properly understand usage of simile, metaphor, or parable. See John 6:55-63. Were they to eat his flesh and drink the blood from his veins?
LESSON FOUR
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
Since we believe that Jesus Christ died for us, it is of the utmost importance that we know who He is. We call ourselves Christians, we call ourselves followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, and we call ourselves believers; so it is critical that we know the “Christ” in Christian, the One we follow, our Teacher, and the One in whom we believe.
I. The Person We Call Jesus Christ Has Always Existed.
A. Matthew 2:6 is a statement of the place of birth of the Messiah and is quoted from Micah 5:2 (in the Old Testament). Read Micah 5:2. How does the end of the verse describe the one born in Bethlehem?
B. John 17:5 is part of the prayer Jesus made shortly before He was crucified. How does Jesus describe the glory that He had with the Father?
C. In John 8:56-58 Jesus is ending His discussion with the Jews about Himself. Who did Jesus say rejoiced to see His day? _________________. (Abraham lived about 1900 years before Jesus was born.) When the Jews questioned Jesus about this, what was His answer (verse 58) _______________________________________
(“I AM” is the name God gave for Himself in Exodus 3:13,14).
II. Jesus Christ was God in Human Form.
A. John 1:1 tells us that the “Word” was _________________.
John 1:3 What things were created by Him (the Word)?
John 1:4 tells us that ________________ was in Him.
B. What did the “Word” become? John 1:14 _______________.
According to this verse, where did the Word made flesh dwell? ___________________________________.
C. Jesus demonstrated He was God by doing the following:
1. Matthew 4:23 _____________________________________________.
2. Matthew 4:24 _____________________________________________
3. Matthew 8:23-27 __________________________________________
4. Luke 5:18-24 ____________________________________________
Who alone can forgive sins? _________________________.
Then who is Jesus Christ? __________________________.
5. Luke 7:11-15 ________________________________________.
D. According to Colossians 2:9, what dwells in Jesus?
E. Who was the Father of Jesus? Matthew 1:18-20
III. Jesus Christ Was Human as Well as God.
A. Who was the mother of Jesus? Matthew 1:20
B. After a long journey, what was Jesus’ response? John 4:6
C. What did Jesus want from the woman at the well? John 4:7
D. When Jesus was grieved what was His response? John 11:35
E. What happened when Jesus went without food? Matthew 4:2
F. What other two things did Jesus have in common with us? Hebrews 2:18
IV. What Did the Following People Think About Jesus Christ?
A. The disciples. Matthew 14:33
B. Peter. Matthew 16:16
C. The centurion. Matthew 27:54
D. The blind man. John 9:38
E. Thomas. John 20:28
1. What new things have you learned about Jesus Christ?
2. Whom do you believe Jesus Christ to be?
3. What does Jesus promise His followers? John 5:24
DO YOU WANT THAT?
LESSON FIVE
THE HOLY SPIRIT
“And I will ask the father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever.” John 14:16
I. Who is the Holy Spirit?
A. He is a person, not an “it.” In John 14:16, and in the rest of the scripture, the Holy Spirit is called “He.” He is God, He is the third person of the Trinity, and He has a distinct ministry, different than that of the Father and the Son.
B. Was the Holy Spirit present at creation? Genesis 1:2
C. What quality does the Spirit possess? Psalms 139:7
D. In whose name are converts to be baptized? Matthew 28:19
II. The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation
The Holy Spirit plays an important role in salvation. If you are a saved person, the Spirit worked on your spirit to lead you to salvation.
A. When a person is renewed (born again), by whom does the renewal come?
Titus 3:5,6
B. According to John 16:7,8 of what three things will the Holy Spirit convict the world?
III. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Believer.
A. Into what are we baptized by the Spirit? I Corinthians12:12,13
B. What are we to be after we are born of the the Spirit? Ephesians 5:18.
When a person is “drunk on wine,” he is under the influence of wine, and that often leads him to do things he would not normally do. When a person is filled with the Spirit, he is under the control of the Spirit and will do things that he would not have done before he was saved.
C. These three things are what it means to be Spirit-filled:
1. The Spirit-filled Christian is _______________by the Spirit. Romans 8:14
2. The Spirit-filled Christian will not _________________. Galatians 5:16
3. The Spirit-led Christian does not _________________ the Spirit. Ephesians 4:30
D. List what the Spirit produces in the lives of believers: From Galatians 5:22,23.
1. 4. 7.
2. 5. 8.
3. 6. 9.
E. How is the Holy Spirit received? Galatians 3:2
F. Who receives the “gift of the Holy Spirit”? Acts 2:38
G. According to Acts 2:38, how long after salvation does a person receive the Holy Spirit?
H. What does the Holy Spirit do for the saints (believers)? Romans 8:26,27
I. What is the “sword” of the Spirit? Ephesians 6:17
J. What is the “sword” of the Spirit able to do? Hebrews 4:12 (If you want your thoughts and intentions right, you need the Word of God in your heart.)
The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to believers. The Spirit Himself is the gift; this is different than “the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” which are the gifts that the Spirit gives for the benefit of the Church.
Nowhere in the Scripture is the Holy Spirit said to be received by feeling, nor is His presence said to be a matter of feeling. We receive Him by believing in Jesus and claiming His promises.
LIST THE THINGS THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DONE AND IS DOING FOR YOU.
USE YOUR ANSWERS FROM THIS LESSON.
LESSON SIX
WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not a wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23,24
Knowing God is of vital importance to our lives as Christians. If we do not know God as He really is, we will be guilty of worshipping and serving a God of our imagination. We cannot really be disciples of the Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, unless we know God as He really is.
Fill in the missing words from John 17:3 (New International Version): “Now this is eternal life; that they may _____ you, the only _____ _____ , and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Based on John 17:3, how important is it to know God?________________________
SECTION ONE: THE UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
I. God is Unchanging.
A. Psalm 102:25-27
1. Verse 26. What will perish? Who will remain?
2. Verse 27. Who will remain the same?
B. James 1:17 says God does not ___________________________.
C. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is the same ______________________________ ______________________________________________________________.
WHY ARE YOU GLAD GOD IS UNCHANGING?
II. God is Great. List the things that show the greatness of God.
A. Genesis 1:1
B. Genesis 6:13
C. Genesis 11:7
D. Genesis 14:19 Melchizedek calls God __________________________
_______________________________________.
E. Genesis 18:25 Abraham calls God the ____________________.
F. Genesis 19:24,25
G. What does Psalm 139 tell us about God?
1. Verses 1-4
2. Verses 7-10
3. Verses 11,12
4. Verses 13-15
5. Verse 16
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU PERSONALLY FOR YOUR GOD TO BE GREAT?
III. God is Wise.
A. According to Daniel 2:20, to whom does wisdom belong?
B. Who alone is wise? Romans 16:27
C. Define “wisdom.” (Use a dictionary.)
WHY ARE YOU GLAD GOD IS WISE?
IV. God Knows all Things.
A. What things are hidden from God? Hebrews 4:13
B. What does God know? Psalm 139:1-4
C. In John 21:17, what two things does Peter confess that Jesus knows?
D. Luke 12:6,7 How detailed is God’s knowledge? (What is not forgotten and what is numbered?)
E. From Isaiah 46:10. “I make known the _____ from the _________________, from ancient times what is ________ ___________________________. . . . ”
WHY ARE YOU GLAD THAT GOD’S KNOWLEDGE IS COMPLETE?
V. God is Sovereign. He does what He wishes to do without asking anyone’s permission or opinion or seeking the approval of any man. Our God does not need help or counsel from man. He is the ultimate ruler of the universe. Read Isaiah 40:13,14
A. Isaiah 46:10. “I say: My ______________will stand, and I will do _______ that I please.”
B. Surely the nations are are like ______________________; they are regarded as _________________________; He weighs the islands as though they were _______________________. …Before Him the nations are______________. Isaiah 40:15,17
C. In what things does God work for the good of His people? Romans 8:28
D. Daniel 4:34,35.
1. His dominion is ___________________________.
2. His kingdom endures _____________________________.
3. He does as He ____________ with the powers of ________ and the _____________ of the earth.
4. ___ ______ can hold back His hand.
5. ___ ______ can say to Him: “What have you done?”
HOW CAN GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY GIVE PEACE TO OUR HEARTS?
VI. God is All Powerful.
A. God has the power to do what? II Chronicles 25:8
B. How is God’s power described in Job 37:23?
C. By what does God rule? Psalm 66:7
D. From Jeremiah 10:12, list what God did and by what attribute He did each.
1. _______________________________ by His ___________.
2. _______________________________ by His ___________.
3. _______________________________ by His ___________.
E. From whose power have Christians been removed and into whose power have Christians been placed? Acts 26:18
WHY ARE YOU GLAD GOD’S POWER WAS USED FOR YOU?
SECTION TWO: THE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
While we cannot imitate the unique attributes of God, we are called to imitate the personal moral attributes of God.
I. God is Holy and Righteous. He is morally excellent, He is without moral flaw, there is not even the hint or shadow of sin in Him. He is absolute purity; nothing He says or does is anything other than sinless. He is completely righteous.
A. Why are God’s people to be holy? I Peter 1:15
B. Why will people fear God and bring glory to His name? Revelation 15:4
C. Psalm 145:17. The Lord is _____________ in all His ways.
WHY ARE YOU GLAD GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS?
II. “God is Love.” (I John 4:16b) God is perfect love. His love is not based upon the loveliness of the one loved, but upon God’s own character. God does not just love; He IS love!
A. How much does God love the world (people)? John 3:16
B. How did God demonstrate His love for us? Romans 5:8
C. Did we have to love God first for Jesus to die for us? I John 4:10
WHY ARE YOU GLAD GOD IS LOVE?
III. God is Always Truthful. God knows all things, and when He speaks, He tells the truth of the matter. Whenever God communicates, he communicates the truth because He IS the Truth.
A. What did Jesus say would set you free from sin? John 8:32.
B. When will we know the truth? John 8:31
C. What did Jesus say He was? John 14:6
D. God is called the “God of _________ .” Psalm 31:5
E. What does David say of God & His word in II Samuel 7:28?
WHY ARE YOU GLAD THAT GOD IS A GOD OF TRUTH?
These are not all the attributes of God, just some of the major ones that reflect His other attributes. God is also a God of mercy, goodness, patience, grace and wrath. As you learn God’s word, you need to look for all the attributes of God and rejoice in them.
Name the attribute of God in each of the following and tell what that attribute means to you:
1. Acts 17:27
2. Matthew 12:25
3. Numbers 23:19
4. Isaiah 44:6
5. Psalm 62:11
6. Romans 5:8
7. Galatians 6:7
8. Psalm 11:7
LESSON SEVEN
PRAYER, CONFESSION, AND FORGIVENESS
Look up the word “prayer” in the dictionary and give the definition.
I. Prayer
A. The Parts of Prayer
1. Praise of God Himself. This is thinking about the greatness and goodness of God (and all the other attributes) and telling God how wonderful and mighty He is. Also praise Him for what He has done, especially His gift of Jesus Christ to save you.
2. Thanksgiving. This is telling God how grateful you are for all He has done for you. (Similar to praise, except that thanksgiving is directed at expressing your appreciation while praise is directed at the greatness of God.)
3. Requests. These are specific needs that you want God to meet. Pray for someone other than yourself first, and then pray for yourself last.
4. Confession. This is admitting your sins without offering any excuse. This requires honesty with God. Remember, He has seen what you have done, He knows your heart and thoughts, AND He loves you anyway! So why try to hide things from Him?
B. Why We Pray in Jesus’ Name. (Under His authority, based upon what He has done)
1. John 16:24-27 Jesus is speaking to the apostles.
a. Why will the Father accept our prayers?
b. In whose name are we to ask the Father?
c. What is the Father’s attitude towards the followers of Jesus?
d. What does this text say about our right to pray and be heard? Upon what is that right based?
C. How Often Should You Pray?
1. I Thessalonians 5:17
2. Luke 18:1
3. Hebrews 4:16
D. Conditions of Answered Prayer. (What condition does each verse speak of?) Answer in your own words.
1. Matthew 21:22
2. John 15:7
3. I John 3:22
4. I John 5:14
II. Confession
A. Answer these questions from I John 1:9
1. What do we need to do?
2. How is God described?
3. What will He do if we confess our sins?
B. What is sin? Write a definition.
C. What does it mean to confess?
D. To whom do we confess our sins?
III. Forgiveness
A. Write a definition of forgiveness.
B. Why do you want to be forgiven?
C. What has the power to cleanse us from our sins? I John 1:7
D. According to Hebrews 10:12, how many sacrifices are effective for removing sin? What was that sacrifice?
E. If we are not really forgiven, what does that say about the blood of Christ?
F. What does Hebrews 8:12 say about our sin when God forgives it?
G. Since you have been forgiven, what should you do for others? Ephesians 4:32
H. According to I John 1:9, what sins will God forgive?
THEN YOU OUGHT TO HAVE THE PEACE THAT BEING FORGIVEN GIVES.
PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT GOD WILL HELP YOU
BELIEVE HIS PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS.
READ AND MEDITATE ON PHILIPPIANS 4:6,7
LESSON EIGHT
THE CHURCH
The church of the New Testament was not a denomination; it was simply THE CHURCH. It needed no name to distinguish it from “other” churches; there were none.
I. General questions about the church.
A. Who built the church, and to whom does it belong? Matthew 16:18
B. Who adds people to the Church? Acts 2:47
C. Who is the head of the Church, and what is the Church? Ephesians 1:22,23
D. Through what is the wisdom of God made known? Ephesians 3:10
E. What is Christ’s relationship to the Church? Ephesians 5:23
F. How much does Christ love the Church? Ephesians 5:25
G. Of what are we (Christians) members? Ephesians 5:30
II. Church Leadership. In the New Testament Church, every local congregation has two groups of men selected from the congregation.
A. Elders (also called “overseers” [bishops] or “shepherds” [pastors])
1. Read Acts 20:17-38 and answer these questions:
a. For whom did Paul send in verse 17?
b. What did Paul tell them to be in verse 28?
c. What does verse 28 indicate about the responsibility of the elders?
2. What does Hebrews 13:17 say we are to do?
3. What are Peter’s instructions to the elders in I Peter 5:1-4? (List them.)
4. What words describe those given into the care of the elders in I Peter 5:2?
5. Whom are the shepherds to shepherd?
B. Deacons (The word means “servants.”) The qualifications for deacons are found in I Timothy 3 along with the qualifications for elders.
1. What was the purpose for choosing the seven? Acts 6:1-4
2. The deacons’ duties are to serve the people in whatever way is needed.
III. Church Membership
A. What were members of the early Church called?
1. Acts 2:44
2. Acts 6:7
3. Acts 11:26
4. Romans 1:7
B. On what day of the week did the Church meet? Acts 20:7
C. To what did the early Church devote itself? Acts 2:42
D. What are we not to give up? Hebrews 10:25
E. What rule is laid down for the purity of the Church in I Corinthians 5:9-13?
F. What procedure does Jesus give for dealing with gross sins among His followers? Matthew 18:15-17
WHY DO YOU COUNT IT AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH?
LESSON NINE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, PART I
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth)…” Ephesians 5:8,9
After writing of the coming destruction of all created things, Peter asks the question, “Since everything will be destroyed this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives….” II Peter 3:11
I. What do the following verses say about how we should live? (Some versions use the work “walk” instead of live.)
Galatians 5:14
Galatians 5:16
Ephesians 4:1,2
Romans 6:4
II. What do the following verses say about the practical areas of your life? Use your own words. If there are a number of instructions, list them.
Ephesians 4:25
Ephesians 4:28
Ephesians 4:32
Ephesians 5:1,2
Philippians 1:27
Colossians 3:1,2
I Thessalonians 5:15
III. What do the following scriptures warn us about or forbid Christians from doing? Put the answer in your own words.
Romans 8:12
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:14
Romans 12:17-21
Romans 13:13
I Corinthians 6:9-10
Galatians 5:19-21
Ephesians 4:29-31
Ephesians 5:3,4
Ephesians 5:18
I Thessalonians 5:22
Titus 3:1,2
I Peter 2:11
I Peter 4:1-3
IV. Please realize that being a Christian is not a matter of “things to do” and “things to not do,” but we live so as to please our Savior whom we love. Please use your own words to state the principles of Christian living found in each of the following verses.
John 15:10
Matthew 7:12
Galatians 6:7,8
Matthew 22:36-39
LESSON TEN
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, PART II
I. Communion. As a child of God, you now need to maintain your Christian Life and grow to maturity of faith and obedience in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper (communion) is an important part of keeping our minds on Christ and His sacrifice for us.
A. Answer these questions from Luke 22:19,20.
1. What does the bread of communion represent?
2. Why are we to eat the bread?
3. For whom was the body of Jesus given?
4. What did the contents of the cup represent?
5. The New Covenant is described as “in” what?
6. For whom was the blood of Christ poured out?
B. Answer these questions from I Corinthians 11:23-26.
1. What purpose is given for observing the Lord’s Supper?
2. When we eat the bread and drink the cup what are we proclaiming?
3. How long is the church going to observe this? (Until . . .
C. Answer these questions from I Corinthians 10:16,17.
1. In what two things do we participate when we eat the bread and drink from the cup?
2. What (or who) becomes “one” through sharing the bread?
D. From I Corinthians 11:17-20, when did the early church have the Lord’s Supper? (Really the Corinthian church was being corrected by Paul because of what they were NOT doing when they came together.)
E. From I Corinthians 11:29, if we partake of the Lord’s Supper carelessly (without understanding what it is or without recognizing the truth of what it represents), what are we bringing on ourselves?
LIST SEVERAL REASONS YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
II. Proper Use of Money. How you use your money tells a great deal about you. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
A. How are we to obtain money?
1. Proverbs 14:23
2. I Thessalonians 4:11
3. Ephesians 4:28
B. What does I Timothy 6:10 say about money?
1.
2.
C. How are we to use our money? I Timothy 5:8
D. What does I John 3:16,17 say about money?
E. Answer these questions from Matthew 6:19-21.
1. What can happen to earthly treasure?
2. What can never happen to heavenly treasure?
3. Where is your heart?
F. When it comes to giving, what does our Lord require of us? II Corinthians 9:6,7 And what kind of givers should we be? (List two reasons people should be cheerful givers.)
G. From Luke 12:15: “A man’s life does not consist in_______________________ ____________________________.”
H. Read Luke 12:16-21 and answer this question: What is a person who is satisfied by what he owns?
The church receives its financial backing from people who:
• Are committed to the spreading of God’s word in San Antonio and around the world.
• Demonstrate their gratefulness to God for what He has given to them.
• Believe that God has and will continue to meet their needs and enable them to give generously. II Corinthians 9:8
• Have been blessed by our congregation and its workers and who want others to have that same blessing.
DO YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING THE WORK OF GOD ON EARTH;
NO ONE CAN GIVE FOR YOU.
READ II CORINTHIANS 9:10-15.
III. Obedience. Though we are saved by the Lord Jesus, He requires obedience from His people. Use a dictionary to define the word “obedience.”
A. Answer these questions from I John 2:3,4.
1. How do we know we have come to know God?
2. What are we if we claim to love God and do not obey His commands?
B. After reading I Samuel 15, answer these questions:
1. What question did Samuel ask in verse 19a?
2. Had Saul really obeyed the command as he claimed in verses 20 and 21?
3. What does Samuel say delights the Lord in verse 22
4. To what does Samuel compare Saul’s disobedience in verse 23?
C. Read Genesis 22 and answer these questions:
1. What did God tell Abraham to do with his son?
2. Did Abraham intend to obey God?
3. What was God’s reaction to Abraham’s obedience?
D. How obedient was the Lord Jesus? Philippians 2:8
E. What two things are we told to be in I Peter 1:14,15?
F. From Matthew 7:24-27 answer these questions:
1. Who is wise?
2. Who is foolish?
3. Which do you want to be?
G. From where does our obedience come? Romans 1:5 What does obedience have to do with faith?
H. How can we tell whose slave we are? Romans 6:16 Why is it important for us to obey God?
I. According to Jesus’ words in Luke 11:28, who is blessed?
J. What is the last part of the great commission in Matthew 28:20?
IS IT ENOUGH TO BECOME A DISCIPLE AND BE BAPTIZED?