- 1 -Developing Healthy Reproducing ChristiansLesson
1IntroductionIn some of His final instructions to the disciples in
Matthew28:19-20, Christ gae the !reatCommission" #hat commission
has one command" #hat command is to Make Disciples" He also gae
themthree participles which tell how to carr$ out that command%
going, baptizing and teaching" &s we are going,we are to share
the !ospel to people of eer$ ethnic group" &s some of those
respond '$ repentance and faith,we are to carr$ out the ne(t
participle which is baptizing" )aptism is identification with
Christ and His 'od$, thechurch"
#hisleadsustothethirdparticipleteaching" Christ
tellsustoteachthemtoo'e$all that Hecommanded"
Itisthatfinalparticiplethatwewill 'ediscussing in thismanual"*nce
apersonhaspu'licl$identified himself or herself as a Christian,How
do we teach that person how to obey all that Christ hascoanded! +e
will see that this inoles three things" 1, -irst, a person has to
.now what Christ has commanded /knowledge,"2, 0econd, that
personhasto'eshownhowtoappl$thosecommandstohisor her
ownlife/character," 1, #hird, the person has to 'e shown how to
pass on what he or she has learned to others /inistry,"2ust
aswee(perienceph$sical growthandgothroughariousleelsof ph$sical
maturit$,wealsoshould e(perience spiritual growth which will inole
arious leels of spiritual maturit$" In this manual we will
'etal.ing a'out the following leels of spiritual maturit$:new born
babe" toddler" child" young an #or
youngwoan$"spiritualparent"andspiritual%iothy"+ewill seethe
.e$areas of.nowledge, characterandministr$ that deelop at each leel
of spiritual maturit$" +e also see in !enesis 1:3-11 that original
sin changedman4s three 'asic relationships" 1, It changed his
relationship with !od /separation," 2, It changed his relationship
with himself /&ear, guilt and shae," 1, It changed his
relationship with others /blae," In order to help a person grow to
spiritualmaturit$, we help them learn how to 'egin to reerse
theeffects of these three changed relationships" #his will result
in a changed relationship with !od, self and others"#hefirst
sectionof thismanual will gieusthe'asicpresuppositions/the)i'lical
foundations,that will 'eimportant to understand to help a person
'ecome a health$ reproducing Christian" #hen we willdiscuss
howthose )i'licalprinciples are applied at each leelof
spiritualmaturit$ to help a person in his or her spiritualgrowth
and deelopment"'nderstanding the &oundations that will help us
develop healthy reproducing Christians!od has commanded us to ma.e
disciples" Howeer, man$ times we .now what we are supposed to do'ut
we do not .now how to do it" In this first section we will loo. at
the )i'lical foundations which are important tounderstand in order
to most effectiel$ deelop health$ reproducing Christians" +hen
&dam sinned, he wasseparated from !od '$ sin" #he results of
that separation from !od can onl$ 'e reersed '$ haing that
'arrierof sin remoed '$ repentance toward !od and faith in our 5ord
2esus Christ" &t the moment a person places histrust in Christ
that person is 'orn of the 0pirit" #hat means that the Hol$ 0pirit
comes into the human spirit #heHol$ 0pirit is now a'le to transform
that person 'ecause change can happen from within" If change is
happeningfrom within, the person will grow and mature spirituall$"
Howeer, man$ new Christians do not understand thatand tr$ to change
themseles '$ following a certain set of rules" (ust as we cannot be
saved by works, we donot ature by works)6omans 3:17-27 tells us
that when we tr$ to mature '$ our own efforts we hae 8I9trou'le" In
the first seen chapters of 6omans the Hol$ 0pirit is onl$ mentioned
once" #hen in 6omans 8 theHol$ 0pirit is mentioned nineteen
ties)6omans 8 concludes '$ reminding us that nothing can separate
usfrom the loe of Christ" +hen we mature '$ $ielding to the Hol$
0pirit, we will 'e deepl$ rooted in the loe ofChrist" Page | 1 - 2
-i) '*D+R,%-*DI*. %H+ L+/+L, 01,2IRI%'-L .R03%H4) %H+ *+3 50R* 5-5+
#I 2eter 464$&s new'orn 'a'es, desire the pure mil. of the
word, that $ou ma$ grow there'$,2hysical uses in the *ew %estaent 7
It tal.s a'out the time from conception to appro(imatel$ one $ear
old,piritual use in the *ew %estaent 7 It tal.s a'out the new
Christian during the first few months of his or herspiritual
life"#he word that is translated 8new'orn9 is used to spea. of
something that has happened :ust now at this er$moment" #he word
that is translated 8'a'es9 is used to refer to a child that has not
$et 'een 'orn - 2ohn the)aptist, 5u.e 1:;1, ;; - or a child er$
recentl$ 'orn - Christ, 5u.e 2:12, 1ew Christians need to learn how
to ta.e root in the loe of Christ as well as ta.ing root in Christ"
#hishappens as we help them 'egin to learn to understand the
greatness of the loe of Christ" +e need to help themunderstand that
Christ will alwa$s deal with Christians in loe 'ecause the 'arrier
of sin has 'een remoed" +eneed to help them understand the
difference 'etween worldl$ loe /satisf$ing self,, famil$ loe /great
care andconcern'ut sometimesconditional, and
Christ4sloe/demonstrated '$ Hisselfsacrificefor our sa.e, fromwhich
we can neer 'e separated- 6omans 8:11-19" 5) L+-R*I*. %0 -C% 0'% 01
L0/+3e learn to act out o& love as we grow in ChristBs
per&ect loveI (ohn =61:&here is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.But he
who fears has not been made perfect in love. )efore we 'ecame
Christians, our human spirit was separated from the Hol$ 0pirit so
our decisionsalwa$s went through the changed relationship that we
had with ourseles 'ecause of sin /fear, guilt and shame,"#hat meant
that 'ecause we could onl$ depend on ourseles we acted out of fear
rather than loe" >ow that theHol$ 0pirit has come into our human
spirit, we hae a choice" +e can depend on ourseles and act out of
fearor we can $ield to the Hol$ 0pirit and act out of loe" In fact
we hae to ma.e that choice two or three hundredtimes eer$ da$"
&s we learn to $ield to the Hol$ 0pirit more freBuentl$, we
will 'e moing from fear toward loe"Page | 1* - 11 -3e act out
o& love as we yield our spirit to the Holy ,piritRoans ?61;,
1?#nd do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness
to sin, but present yourselves to God asbeing alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to God... 'o you
not know that towhom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are
that one"s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leadingto death, or
of obedience leading to righteousness2 a) 3e will act out o&
&ear when we depend on our own strengthb) 3e will act out
o& love when we present ourselves to .odRoans 861=94> Roans
:619;@5odysatis&y sel& by sinning,oulturn things in #hurt$"
turn things out #anger$spiritDepend on ysel&" -ct out o&
&ear5odyserve one another in love,oulturn things over #eG2H,3e
con&ess our sinsChristIs &aith&ul 9 He will always
respond to usIs Gust 9 He is doing right since He paid &or our
sinsChrist1orgives 9 He lets our sins go and does not hold the
against usCleanses 9 He takes away the guilt so that our conscience
is clearMost new Christians need to hae it e(plained to them that
when the$ sin again the$will definitel$ feel guilt 'ecause their
conscience was renewed at the time the$ placedtheir trust in
Christ" Howeer, the$ need to hae it clearl$ e(plained that the
purposeof guilt is not to 'urden them down 'ut rather to remind
them to confess their sins sothat the$ can e(perience the cleansing
that Christ promises" +e need to help themunderstand that
confession of sin is li.e a spiritual 'ath" +e confess our sins and
!odcauses us to feel clean in our inner person"3e con&ess .od
cleanses22c) learning to &orgive others-orgiing others is not a
natural response for us" It is onl$ as we understand that weare
forgien that we desire to forgie others" #hen we see that we will
onl$ forgieothers as we depend on the strength of Christ to forgie
instead of our strength"Reasons why we are to &orgive+phesians
=6;4&nd 'e .ind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiing one
another, :ust as !od in Christforgae $ou" />G2H,Colossians
;61;)earing with one another, and forgiing one another, if an$one
has a complaint againstanother% een as Christ forgae $ou, so $ou
also must do. />G2H,.od &orgave us because we are in
ChristChrist &orgave us and we are to &ollow His e6>FI
am the ine, $ou are the 'ranches" He who a'ides in Me, and I in
him, 'ears muchfruit% for without Me $ou can do nothing"
/>G2H,Luke 4=6=@F)ehold, I send the =romise of M$ -ather upon
$ou% 'ut tarr$ in the cit$ of 2erusalemuntil $ou are endued with
power from on high"F />G2H,Roans ?61?Eo $ou not .now that to
whom $ou present $ourseles slaes to o'e$, $ou are thatoneAs slaes
whom $ou o'e$, whether of sin leading to death, or of o'edience
leadingto righteousnessD />G2H,2hilippians =61;I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me" />G2H,3e are powerless
to &orgive in our own strength3e have been given power by the
Holy ,pirit3e have that power as we yield to .od in obedience3e are
able to &orgive through ChristBs strength21=) reversing the
e&&ects o& shae #sel&9respect,
sel&9acceptance$a) learning to e618#herefore, if an$one is in
Christ, he is a new creation% old things hae passed awa$%'ehold,
all things hae 'ecome new" />G2H,&dam e(perienced shame
'ecause he was na.ed 'efore !od" Howeer, instead ofdealing with his
inward shame 'efore !od, &dam tried to deal with his
outwardappearance" =eople hae focused on their outward appearance
eer since in theirefforts to tr$ and deal with inadeBuac$ and
shame" =eople focus on their outwardappearance and sa$ that the$
are to short, to fat, to little hair on their head, their noseis
not perfect or a thousand other things a'out their appearance"
Howeer, the$ do notdeal with their appearance 'efore !od as sinners
and !od loo.s at the heart" !odma.es us a new creation at the
moment we place our trust in Christ"Christ akes us a new
creationChrist says the old has passed awayChrist says the new has
coe3e are ade su&&icient through ChristII Corinthians
;6>9?>ot that we are sufficient of ourseles to thin. of
an$thing as being from ourseles,'ut our sufficienc$ is from !od,
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the newcoenant, not of
the letter 'ut of the 0pirit% for the letter .ills, 'ut the 0pirit
gies life"/>G2H,3e do not need to &ocus on ourselves any
longer3e can realize that our su&&iciency is &ro .od3e
can realize that .od has ade us adeIuate3e can be e&&ective
inisters o& the new covenant3e have been given true li&e by
the ,pirit2;b) learning to change &ro the inside out%he reason
why people eG2H,2hilippians 461491?#herefore, m$ 'eloed, as $ou hae
alwa$s o'e$ed, not as in m$ presence onl$, 'utnow much more in m$
a'sence, wor. out $our own salation with fear and trem'ling%for it
is !od who wor.s in $ou 'oth to will and to do for !is good
pleasure" Eo allthings without complaining and disputing, that $ou
ma$ 'ecome 'lameless andharmless, children of !od without fault in
the midst of a croo.ed and perersegeneration, among whom $ou shine
as lights in the world, holding fast the word oflife, so that I ma$
re:oice in the da$ of Christ that I hae not run in ain or la'ored
inPage | 13 - 14 -ain" />G2H,3e renew the inward an daily3e work
out what is happening with us3e shine as lights in the world27>)
reversing the e&&ects o& blae #responsibility,
choices$a) learning to take responsibility &or our choices,in
has lost itBs doinion #power$ over usRoans ?6@Gnowing that Christ,
haing 'een raised from the dead, dies no more" Eeath no longerhas
dominion oer Him" />G2H,Roans ?61=-or sin shall not hae dominion
oer $ou, for $ou are not under law 'ut under grace"/>G2H,Christ
de&eated death when He rose &ro the deadChrist de&eated
the power o& sin over our lives and placed us under grace&t
the moment we placed our trust in Christ, sin lost it4s power oer
us 'ecause weare now in Christ" +e are now under grace instead of
sin and we are now free toma.e right choices" +hen a Christian
sins, it is due to the fact that he depends onhimself" &s a
result, we now hae to ma.e the choice whether to depend on
ourselesor to $ield to Christ" *nce we 'egin to full$ understand
this, we reali@e that we canno longer 'lame others for our choices
'ecause we now hae the power to ma.e rightchoices",in now happens
when we depend on our own strengthI Corinthians 1A61491;#herefore
let him who thin.s he stands ta.e heed lest he fall" >o
temptation hasoerta.en $ou e(cept such as is common to man% 'ut !od
is faithful, who will notallow $ou to 'e tempted 'e$ond what $ou
are a'le, 'ut with the temptation will alsoma.e the wa$ of escape,
that $ou ma$ 'e a'le to 'ear it. />G2H,3e depend on our own
strength 3e yield to a &aith&ul .od3e &all and coit sin
He akes a way o& escape2G2H,%he new an is renewed in
knowledge%he new an is able to show proper attitudes toward
others%he new an is able to act out o& love3e have the power to
carry out wise choices as we yield to .odLuke 4=6=@F)ehold, I send
the =romise of M$ -ather upon $ou% 'ut tarr$ in the cit$ of
2erusalemuntil $ou are endued with power from on high"F />G2H,3e
Cield 3e Have 2ower to 0bey23Huestions to ask ysel& about
original sin and how to changes its e&&ects1) Huestions
about y understanding o& the e&&ects o& original
sina" ?(plain how original sin changed the relationship of man to
!od"'" ?(plain how original sin changed the relationship of man to
himself"c" ?(plain how original sin changed the relationship of man
to others"4) Huestions about changing our relationship with .oda"
?(plain what ma.es it possi'le for us to deelop a relationship
with!od and with others"'" ?(plain how we help new Christians
deelop fellowship with !od andwith others";) Huestions about
changing our relationship with ourselvesa" ?(plain how we learn to
ta.e root in Christ and His loe"'" ?(plain how we learn to act out
of loe"c" ?(plain how we learn to e(perience forgieness"d" ?(plain
wh$ it is important to e(perience dail$ cleansing"e" ?(plain how we
can hae the power to forgie others"f" ?(plain how we learn to act
as new creations in Christ"g" ?(plain how the process of dail$
renewing happens in a Christian"=) Huestions about changing our
relationship with othersa" ?(plain what happens when we depend on
our own strength eenthough sin has lost its power oer the
Christian"'" ?(plain what ma.es it possi'le for a Christian to
carr$ out wise choices"28+) %he &our calls and coission o&
Christ to the disciples1) Call 0ne DCoe and ,eeE(ohn 16;@He said to
them, FCome and see"F #he$ came and saw where He was sta$ing,
andremained with Him that da$ /now it was a'out the tenth hour,"
/>G2H,Christ invited the disciples to spend tie with HiChrist
invited the disciples to get to know HiIf we are going to deelop
health$ reproducing disciples, we will need to follow thee(ample of
Christ as we see how He deeloped health$ reproducing disciples"
+ealread$ saw that spiritual growth happens 'est when people hae
spiritual parents" Inactual fact Christ 'ecame a spiritual parent
to the disciples to help them in theirspiritual growth" In each of
the four calls, we will see that Christ as.ed the disciplesto ma.e
a greater commitment" In e(change Christ also committed Himself to
spendmore time with the disciples as He as.ed for greater
commitment" #he goal of thisfirst call was:+vangelis and
1ollow9up#this period lasted &or about a year$During this
period6Christ invited the disciples to spend tie with Hi(ohn
16;>9>1Christ invited the disciples to travel soe with Hi(ohn
461914, (ohn =619=>Christ began to share His vision with the
disciples(ohn =6;>Page | 1% - 1& -DLi&e up your eyes and
look on the &ieldsEChrist wanted the to see the needs o&
relatives 9 (ohn 16=A9=4Christ wanted the to see the needs o&
&riends 9 (ohn 16=;9=?Christ wanted the to see the needs o&
co9workers 9 Mark 461;918Christ wanted the to see the needs o&
others 9 (ohn =6;49;>%oday we want to do these sae things with
those at this level o& coitentK294) Call %wo DCoe and .rowEMark
161?94A&nd as He wal.ed '$ the 0ea of !alilee, He saw 0imon and
&ndrew his 'rothercasting a net into the sea% for the$ were
fishermen" #hen 2esus said to them, F-ollowMe, and I will ma.e $ou
'ecome fishers of men"F #he$ immediatel$ left their nets
andfollowed Him" +hen He had gone a little farther from there, He
saw 2ames the son ofIe'edee, and 2ohn his 'rother, who also were in
the 'oat mending their nets" &ndimmediatel$ He called them, and
the$ left their father Ie'edee in the 'oat with thehired serants,
and went after Him" />G2H,Christ invited the disciples to
&ollow HiChrist proised to help the becoe &ishers o&
en+e see in these erses that Christ inited the disciples to ma.e a
greater commitmentto Him" &t the same time Christ also promised
to spend more time with them" Inthese erses Christ gae the
disciples an initation to come and grow and 'egin tolearn to sere"
Christ inited the disciples to go with Him so that the$ could
learnfrom Him" Howeer, he had a second reason which was eBuall$
important for ta.ingthe disciples with Him" Christ wanted them to
see from His e(ample that He loedthem" #he goal of this second call
was:+di&ication #growth$#this period lasted si< to nine
onths$During this period6Christ continued to eG2H,Christ chose
those He wantedChrist chose the twelve to be with HiChrist chose
the twelve to send the out to preachChrist chose the twelve to
inister to the needs o& people&t this point Christ inited
the twele to a greater leel of commitment" He initedthem to 'ecome
a part of a small leadership training group who would spend their
timewith Him" Christ also had two o':ecties during this period"
-irst, Christ wanted thedisciples to o'sere His e(ample een more
closel$ so that the$ would learn howmuch He loed them" 0econd, He
wanted them to 'egin to sere Him '$ sharing the!ospel and
ministering to the hurting" #he goal of this third call
was:+Iuipping &or inistry#this period lasted until a&ter
the resurrection$During this period6Page | 1& - 1' -Christ
continued to e9180o when the$ had eaten 'rea.fast, 2esus said to
0imon =eter, F0imon, son of 2onah,do $ou loe Me more than theseDF
He said to Him, FCes, 5ord% Cou .now that I loeCou"F He said to
him, F-eed M$ lam's"F He said to him again a second time,
F0imon,son of 2onah, do $ou loe MeDF He said to Him, FCes, 5ord%
Cou .now that I loeCou"F He said to him, F#end M$ sheep"F He said
to him the third time, F0imon, son of2onah, do $ou loe MeDF =eter
was grieed 'ecause He said to him the third time, FEo$ou loe MeDF
&nd he said to Him, F5ord, Cou .now all things% Cou .now that I
loeCou"F 2esus said to him, F-eed M$ sheep" />G2H,Christ said
the basic reIuireent &or shepherding was loving HiChrist said
that true shepherds &eed the new ChristiansChrist said that
true shepherds provide &or the care o& the sheepChrist said
that true shepherds continue to &eed aturing Christians#he
commitment that the disciples were as.ed to ma.e at this point was
to loe Christ"#hat is the 'asic reBuirement for all effectie
spiritual leaders" #he depth and the'readth of our ministr$ will 'e
directl$ related to our loe for Christ" Christ also toldthe
disciples that He would proide the power for ministr$ through the
Hol$ 0pirit in5u.e 2;:;9, 8)ehold, I send the =romise of M$ -ather
upon $ou% 'ut tarr$ in the cit$of 2erusalem until $ou are endued
with power from on high"9 />G2H, #he goal of thisfourth call
was:+Christ &ocused on the indwelling Holy ,pirit 9 (ohn
1=61?91:Christ &ocused on the guidance o& the Holy ,pirit 9
(ohn 1=64?Christ &ocused on sharing His plans 9 (ohn
1>61>91?Christ &ocused on praying &or the 9 (ohn
186=91@Christ &ocused on loving Hi 9 (ohn 4161>918%oday we
need to do these sae things with those at this level o&
coitentK12>) %he coission D-s you are going, Make
DisciplesEMatthew 4:61@94AF&s $ou are going therefore,Ma.e
Eisciples of all the nations, 'apti@ing them in thename of the
-ather and of the 0on and of the Hol$ 0pirit, Fteaching them to
o'sereall things that I hae commanded $ou% and lo, I am with $ou
alwa$s, even to the end ofthe age"F &men"0ne CoandMake
Disciples%hree participles to carry out that coandgoing 9 as we are
going we are to ake disciples aong all groupsbaptizing 9 all who
believe are to identi&y with Christ and His churchteaching the
to obey all things 9 all are to be shown how to obeyChrist gae the
disciples the commission to ma.e other disciples" #he$ were
toe(actl$ the same things that Christ did to help them 'ecome
disciples" #oda$ we arealso to do e(actl$ what Christ did as we
o'e$ this commission to ma.e disciples" #hegoal of this commission
was:+G2H,#hird, new Christians need food to help them in their
spiritual growth"Howeer, man$ new Christians find it er$ difficult
to understand the )i'le" -or thatreason the$ need a spiritual
parent who will e(plain the )i'le to them and answer
theirBuestions" &Buila and =riscilla gie us a 'eautiful e(ample
of this in &cts 18:2G2H,%hree needs o& new Christians and
spiritual toddlersLove+o, I amnot committing new sins 'ut things
that neer used to 'other me now 'other me"9 Iassure the new
Christian that his conscience is now wor.ing properl$ so that he
canconfess those sins and 'e forgien and cleansed - I 2ohn 1:9"%he
spiritual newborn has an attitude o& repentance toward .odPage
| 1( - 1) --cts 4A641#estif$ing to 2ews, and also to !ree.s,
repentance toward !od and faith toward our5ord 2esus Christ"
/>G2H,%he spiritual newborn has an attitude o& &aith in
our Lord (esus Christ-cts 4A641#estif$ing to 2ews, and also to
!ree.s, repentance toward !od and faith toward our5ord 2esus
Christ" />G2H,%he spiritual newborn gives evidence o&
possessing new li&eII Corinthians >618#herefore, if an$one
is in Christ, he is a new creation% old things hae passed
awa$%'ehold, all things hae 'ecome new" />G2H,,oe evidences
o& possessing new li&e#reversing the e&&ects o&
Roans 161@94;$- new view o& .odBs creation 9 1@94A- new
attitude o& thank&ulness 9 41a- renewed conscience 9 41b-
hunger &or godly wisdo 944- new sensitivity to the spiritual
needs o& others 94;174) the pro&ile o& a spiritual
toddler#he spiritual toddler also has certain characteristics"
Howeer, the characteristics of aspiritual toddler are negatie
rather than positie 'ecause a spiritual toddler is aChristian who
started to grow 'ut then stopped growing or een went 'ac.ward in
hisspiritual growth" Man$ of the following characteristics are
commonl$ found amongspiritual toddlers:1" He acts li.e one who is
not a Christian - I Corinthians 1:12" He is not a'le to understand
difficult teachings from the +ord of !od - I Cor"1:21" He
e(periences, en$ing, strife and diisions - I Corinthians 1:1;" His
tal., understanding and thin.ing of spiritual things is limited - I
Cor" 11:117" He is tossed to and fro '$ eer$ false teaching -
?phesians ;:1;G2H,1G2H,0ur spirit is being trans&ored as we
learn to live by &aith.alatians 464AFI hae 'een crucified with
Christ% it is no longer I who lie, 'ut Christ lies in me%and the
life which I now lie in the flesh I lie '$ faith in the 0on of !od,
who loedme and gae Himself for me" />G2H,0ur spirit is being
trans&ored as we learn to walk in the ,pirit.alatians
>61;91?-or $ou, 'rethren, hae 'een called to li'ert$% onl$ do
not use li'ert$ as anopportunit$ for the flesh, 'ut through loe
sere one another" -or all the law isfulfilled in one word, even in
this: FCou shall loe $our neigh'or as $ourself"F )ut if$ou 'ite and
deour one another, 'eware lest $ou 'e consumed '$ one anotherJ I
sa$then: +al. in the 0pirit, and $ou shall not fulfill the lust of
the flesh" />G2H,3e understand that we have been set &ree3e
realize that we are not to use our &reedo to sin3e realize that
we have been given power to walk in the ,pirit13b) growth in
knowledge0ur goal is a trans&ored ind, eotions and will0ur ind
is being trans&ored as we grow in our knowledge o& .odRoans
146194I 'eseech $ou therefore, 'rethren, '$ the mercies of !od,
that $ou present $our 'odiesa liing sacrifice, hol$, accepta'le to
!od, which is $our reasona'le serice" &nd donot 'e conformed to
this world, 'ut 'e transformed '$ the renewing of $our mind,
that$ou ma$ proe what is that good and accepta'le and perfect will
of !od" />G2H,3e grow in our knowledge o& the 3ord o&
.od by6Hearing the 3ord o& .od 9 Roans 1A618Reading the 3ord
o& .od 9 Revelation 16;,tudying the 3ord o& .od 9 -cts
18611, II %iothy 461>Meorizing the 3ord o& .od 9 2sal 11@6@,
2sal 11@611Meditating o& the 3ord o& .od 9 (oshua 16:, 2sal
1619;0ur eotions are trans&ored as we take root in the love
o& .od+phesians ;61891@#hat Christ ma$ dwell in $our hearts
through faith% that $ou, 'eing rooted andgrounded in loe, ma$ 'e
a'le to comprehend with all the saints what is the width andlength
and depth and height -- to .now the loe of Christ which passes
.nowledge%that $ou ma$ 'e filled with all the fullness of !od"
/>G2H,I (ohn =61A911In this is loe, not that we loed !od, 'ut
that He loed us and sent His 0on to be thepropitiation for our
sins" )eloed, if !od so loed us, we also ought to loe oneanother"
/>G2H,3e take root in the love o& .od3e grow in eG2H,*ot y
will %he will o& .od18c) growth in inistry0ur goal is a
trans&ored relationship with others- trans&ored
relationship with .od 9 %he great coand 9 Matt) 446;89;:-
trans&ored relationship with our neighbor9%he second
coand9Matt) 446;@- trans&ored relationship with Christians 9
%he new coand 9 (ohn 1;6;=9;>%rans&oring our relationship
with .od#%he great coandent 9 Love .od with our whole heart, soul
and ind$(ohn 1864A94;FI do not pra$ for these alone, 'ut also for
those who will 'eliee in Me through theirword% Fthat the$ all ma$
'e one, as Cou, -ather, are in Me, and I in Cou% that the$ alsoma$
'e one in Ks, that the world ma$ 'eliee that Cou sent Me" F&nd
the glor$ whichCou gae Me I hae gien them, that the$ ma$ 'e one
:ust as +e are one: FI in them,and Cou in Me% that the$ ma$ 'e made
perfect in one, and that the world ma$ .now thatCou hae sent Me,
and hae loed them as Cou hae loed Me" />G2H,%rans&oring our
relationship with .od involves6Love &or .od 9 I (ohn =61A911,
1@0bedience to .od 9 (ohn 1=61>, Matthew 864=948%rans&oring
our relationship with our neighbor #the world$#%he second coandent
9 Love our neighbor as we love sel&$Luke 1>6;980o He spo.e
this para'le to them, sa$ing: F+hat man of $ou, haing a hundred
sheep,if he loses one of them, does not leae the ninet$-nine in the
wilderness, and go after theone which is lost until he finds itD
F&nd when he has found it, he la$s it on hisshoulders,
re:oicing" F&nd when he comes home, he calls together his
friends andneigh'ors, sa$ing to them, A6e:oice with me, for I hae
found m$ sheep which was lostJAFI sa$ to $ou that li.ewise there
will 'e more :o$ in heaen oer one sinner who repentsthan oer
ninet$-nine :ust persons who need no repentance" />G2H,,eeking 9
Making contacts1inding 9 ,haring the .ospel and leading a person to
Christ5ringing 9 5asic &ollow9up19%rans&oring our
relationship with other Christians#%he new coandent 9 Love one
another as Christ loves us$(ohn 1;6;=9;>F& new commandment I
gie to $ou, that $ou loe one another% as I hae loed $ou,that $ou
also loe one another" F)$ this all will .now that $ou are M$
disciples, if $ouhae loe for one another"F />G2H,(ohn
1>614,18, Ro) 1;6:, I %hess) 16;, I %hess)=6@91A, II %hess) 16;,
I 2et) 1644, I 2et) =6:, I (ohn ;611,4;, =68, 11, 14, II (ohn
>3e show love to one another as we yield to the Holy ,pirit to
give us power topractice the positive 0ne -nothers #;1$ and avoid
the negative 0ne -nothers #14$-ccept 0ne -nother 9 Roans
1>68-donish 0ne -nother 9 Roans 1>61=, Colossians ;61?5ear
0ne -notherBs 5urdens 9 .alatians ?645ear with 0ne -nother 9
+phesians =64, Colossians ;61;5uild 'p 0ne -nother 9 Roans 1=61@, I
%hessalonians >611Care &or 0ne -nother 9 I Corinthians
1464>Co&ort 0ne -nother 9 I %hess) =61:, >611, Hebrews
;61;, 1A64>5e Co&orted %ogether through 1aith in 0ne -nother
9 Roans 1614Have Copassion 0ne o& -nother 9 I 2eter
;6:Con&ess your ,ins to 0ne -nother 9 (aes >61?5e Devoted to
0ne -nother 9 Roans 1461A1ellowship with 0ne -nother 9 I (ohn
1681orgive 0ne -nother 9 +phesians =6;4, Colossians ;61;Page | 21 -
22 -,eek what is .ood &or 0ne -nother and &or -ll Men 9 I
%hess) >61>.reet 0ne -nother 9 Ro) 1?61?, I Cor) 1?64A, II
Cor) 1;614, I 2et) >61=5e Hospitable to 0ne -nother 9 I 2eter
=6@Clothe Courselves with Huility toward 0ne -nother 9 I 2eter
>6>5e Find to 0ne -nother 9 +phesians =6;45e Mebers 0ne
o& -nother 9 Roans 146>, +phesians =64>5e o& the ,ae
Mind 0ne to -nother 9 Roans 1461?, 1>6>5e at 2eace with 0ne
-nother 9 Mark @6>A, I %hess) >61;2ray &or 0ne -nother 9
(aes >61?Regard 0ne -nother as More Iportant than sel& 9
2hilippians 46;,erve 0ne -nother as a ,lave 9 .alatians
>61;+ploy your gi&t in ,erving 0ne -nother 9 I 2eter
=61A,tiulate 0ne -nother to love and good deeds 9 Heb)
1A64=94>,ubit to 0ne -nother 9 +phesians >641%each 0ne
-nother 9 Colossians ;61?3ait &or 0ne -nother 9 I Corinthians
116;;3ash 0ne -notherBs 1eet 9 (ohn 1;61=;05) Helping spiritual new
borns and toddlers build their relationship with .od1) learning
about .od #5ible study$#he .e$ in helping spiritual new 'orns and
toddlers learn how to 'uild theirrelationship with !od is not to
tell them to stud$ their )i'le" Instead the .e$ is tohae )i'le
stud$ with them so that the$ can get their Buestions answered"
Christ too.the disciples with Him so that He could answer the
Buestions that were in their minds")efore people 'ecome Christians
the$ lac. spiritual understanding" /Man$ peoplealso lac. reading
comprehension," -or this reason, a new Christian will hae man$
ofthe same Buestions whether he has neer 'een to school or has
multiple doctor4sdegrees from one of the 'est uniersities in the
world"Learning about .od through the 5ible happens in &ive
ways63e learn by hearing the 3ord o& .odRoans 1A6183e learn by
reading the 3ord o& .odRevelation 16;3e learn by studying the
3ord o& .odII %iothy 461>3e learn by eorizing the 3ord
o& .od2sal 11@6113e learn by editating on the 3ord o&
.od(oshua 16:, 2sal 1619;Most people first get inoled in learning
a'out !od '$ hearing someone else read the)i'le" #hose who 'ecome
Christians and 'egin to grow usuall$ start to read, somestart to
stud$ and some 'egin to memori@e" Howeer, all four of these wa$s
oflearning a'out !od through the )i'le hae one common pro'lem"
=eople learn to.now a'out !od 'ut the$ do not reall$ get to .now
!od" +e usuall$ onl$ start to getto reall$ .now !od as the$ learn
to meditate on the +ord of !od along with thefollowing responses to
our meditation:Learn to practice daily cleansing &ro sin 9 (ohn
1;6@91ALearn to obey the coands o& Christ 9 (ohn 1;614918Learn
to love one another 9 (ohn 1;6;=9;>Learn to yield to the Holy
,pirit 9 (ohn 1=61;948Learn to abide in Christ 9 (ohn
1>619:Learn to take root in the love o& Christ 9 (ohn
1>6@918;14) learning to talk to .od #prayer$#he .e$ to helping
spiritual new 'orns and toddlers learn how to pra$ is not to teach
aclass on pra$er" Instead the .e$ is to pra$ for them and with
them" Man$ people haelearned how to sa$ pra$ers 'ut the$ haen4t the
slightest idea what it actuall$ means toPage | 22 - 23 -pra$" =aul
told people what he pra$ed for them man$ times" *ne of the
greate(amples of =aul4s pra$er for Christians is gien in +phesians
;61=941"-or this reason I 'ow m$ .nees to the -ather of our 5ord
2esus Christ, from whomthe whole famil$ in heaen and earth is
named, that He would grant $ou, according tothe riches of His
glor$, to 'e strengthened with might through His 0pirit in the
innerman, that Christ ma$ dwell in $our hearts through faith% that
$ou, 'eing rooted andgrounded in loe, ma$ 'e a'le to comprehend
with all the saints what is the width andlength and depth and
height -- to .now the loe of Christ which passes .nowledge%that $ou
ma$ 'e filled with all the fullness of !od" >ow to Him who is
a'le to doe(ceedingl$ a'undantl$ a'oe all that we as. or thin.,
according to the power thatwor.s in us, to Him be glor$ in the
church '$ Christ 2esus to all generations, foreerand eer" &men"
/>G2H,2aul included the &ollowing things in his prayer
&or the +phesians6%hat they would be strengthened with ight by
His ,pirit in the inner an%hat Christ would dwell in their hearts
by &aith%hat they would becoe rooted and grounded in love%hat
they would know the love o& Christ which passes knowledge%hat
they would be &illed with all the &ullness o& .od+e
need to help new Christians learn to pra$ that the Hol$ 0pirit
would gie strengthto their human spirit /this happens as the$ learn
to $ield to !od instead of dependingon their own strength," +e need
to help them learn to share their lies with Christ '$pra$ing in
faith" +e need to help them understand how to 'egin to ta.e root in
theloe of Christ /this happens as the$ as. Christ to gie them His
loe for others," +eneed to help them 'egin to .now the loe of
Christ which is greater than an$ humanloe /this happens as the$
pra$ for spiritual understanding of the loe of Christ ratherthan
human understanding," #hen the$ need to pra$ that !od will help
them tounderstand how He fills their lies as the$ $ield to Him
/this happens as the$ learn topra$ at an$ time a'out an$ thing so
that the$ hae Christ4s power flowing throughthem,";2;) learning to
know .od #&ellowship$#he .e$ to helping spiritual new 'orns and
spiritual toddlers learn to e(periencefellowship with !od is not to
teach a class on fellowship" Instead the .e$ is to initethem to
share fellowship with $ou so that the$ will 'e a'le to o'sere $our
fellowshipwith !od" &s $ou spend time together sharing how $ou
are appl$ing )i'licalprinciples to $our dail$ life, the$ will 'egin
to learn those principles and how to appl$them in their dail$ lies"
2ohn shared some .e$ principles for fellowship with !od in I(ohn
16;98)#hat which we hae seen and heard we declare to $ou, that $ou
also ma$ haefellowship with us% and trul$ our fellowship is with
the -ather and with His 0on 2esusChrist" &nd these things we
write to $ou that $our :o$ ma$ 'e full" #his is themessage which we
hae heard from Him and declare to $ou, that !od is light and inHim
is no dar.ness at all" If we sa$ that we hae fellowship with Him,
and wal. indar.ness, we lie and do not practice the truth" )ut if
we wal. in the light as He is inthe light, we hae fellowship with
one another, and the 'lood of 2esus Christ His 0oncleanses us from
all sin" />G2H,(ohn shared the &ollowing principles about
&ellowship3e can only share with others what we have
eG2H,*on9Christians Christians who Christians whodepend on sel&
yield to .od*o desire to change Desire to change Desire to change*o
power to change *o power to change 2ower to change#he sin that
dwells in us is the sin of depending on self /acting independent of
!od,instead of $ielding to !od and as.ing Him to gie us His
strength to change" Christtold the disciples in 2ohn 17:7 that the$
could do nothing without Him" He told themin 5u.e 2;:;9 to wait in
2erusalem until the$ were clothed with power from on high"#hen He
promised them in &cts 1:8 that the$ would hae power to 'e
witnesses toHim as the$ $ielded to the Hol$ 0pirit" +e are gien the
following promises in II%iothy 168)-or !od has not gien us a spirit
of fear, 'ut of power and of loe and of a soundmind" />G2H,3e
have been given the spirit o& power3e have been given the
spirit o& love3e have been given the spirit o& a sound ind
#sel& control$Depend on ysel& Cield y spirit to the Holy
,piritHave only huan will power Have the power o& the Holy
,piritPage | 24 - 2% --ct out o& &ear -ct out o&
love-ct out o& guilt and shae -ct out o&
sel&9discipline;7C) Helping spiritual new borns and toddlers
build their relationship with aspiritual parent1) developing trust
#love$+e want to help those who are spiritual new 'orns and
toddlers 'uild a relationship oftrust with spiritual parents"
6elationships 'etween parents and $oung children aredeeloped '$
what the parents sa$ and do" #he same is true for the 'uilding
ofrelationships 'etween spiritual parents and those who are
spiritual new 'orns andtoddlers" 0piritual parents are told how to
deelop these in I %hessalonians 4689@))ut we were gentle among $ou,
:ust as a nursing mother cherishes her own children"0o,
affectionatel$ longing for $ou, we were well pleased to impart to
$ou not onl$ thegospel of !od, 'ut also our own lies, 'ecause $ou
had 'ecome dear to us" -or $ouremem'er, 'rethren, our la'or and
toil% for la'oring night and da$, that we might not'e a 'urden to
an$ of $ou, we preached to $ou the gospel of !od"
/>G2H,Characteristics o& a spiritual parent who wants to
develop trust-n attitude o& gentleness%he tender love o& a
nursing other- strong desire to show that love- sharing o&
their li&e with the spiritual new born%reating the spiritual
new born as worthy o& love- willingness to sacri&ice
&or the spiritual new born- willingness to be available and
serve#rust is something that the spiritual parent chooses to deelop
or fail to deelop '$their own choice" #hose who are spiritual new
'orns and toddlers do not een .nowwhat the$ need in order to deelop
effectiel$ in their spiritual lies" &s a result, the$do not een
.now that the$ need someone who will show tender loe and care
tothem" #hat is wh$ it is the responsi'ilit$ of spirituall$ mature
Christians to ta.e theresponsi'ilit$ to 'ecome spiritual parents
and help new Christians in their growth andspiritual
deelopment";G2H,3alk in the ,pirit.alatians >61?91:I sa$ then:
+al. in the 0pirit, and $ou shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh" -or theflesh lusts against the 0pirit, and the 0pirit
against the flesh% and these are contrar$ toone another, so that
$ou do not do the things that $ou wish" )ut if $ou are led '$
the0pirit, $ou are not under the law" />G2H,5e led by the
,piritRoans :61491=#herefore, 'rethren, we are de'tors -- not to
the flesh, to lie according to the flesh"-or if $ou lie according
to the flesh $ou will die% 'ut if '$ the 0pirit $ou put to deaththe
deeds of the 'od$, $ou will lie" -or as man$ as are led '$ the
0pirit of !od, theseare sons of !od" />G2H,5e &illed with
the ,pirit+phesians >61:&nd do not 'e drun. with wine, in
which is dissipation% 'ut 'e filled with the
0pirit,/>G2H,72growth in character and attitude #continued$In
addition to 'ecoming strong in spirit '$ learning to su'mit to the
Hol$ 0pirit, thereare some other .e$ areas where we want to help a
spiritual child in his deelopment ashe grows to help him deelop and
'ecome a spiritual $oung man" &gain, the growingChristian needs
to 'e taught these things '$ e(ample as he o'seres the life of one
ormore spiritual parents" & spiritual child that is growing:Is
developing a good reputation-cts 1?64He was well spo.en of '$ the
'rethren who were at 5$stra and Iconium" />G2H,Page | 2( - 2)
-Is becoing an eG2H,Is developing the attitude o& a servantMark
1A6=49=>)ut 2esus called them to !imself and said to them, FCou
.now that those who areconsidered rulers oer the !entiles lord it
oer them, and their great ones e(erciseauthorit$ oer them" FCet it
shall not 'e so among $ou% 'ut whoeer desires to'ecome great among
$ou shall 'e $our serant" F&nd whoeer of $ou desires to 'efirst
shall 'e slae of all" F-or een the 0on of Man did not come to 'e
sered, 'ut tosere, and to gie His life a ransom for man$"F
/>G2H,71b) growth in knowledge*ur goal is to help each Christian
continue to grow 'oth in his or her .nowledge of the+ord of !od and
also the application of that +ord to their dail$ liing"
Man$Christians grow in .nowledge 'ut the$ do not .now how to put
into practice what the$are learning" #hat is wh$ we also want to
help Christians learn to put into practicewhat the$ are learning"
Euring this period of deelopment in the life of the
growingChristian, we want to help them focus on at least three
things" & spiritual child that isgrowing:Is becoing &ailiar
with the entire 3ord o& .odII %iothy ;61=918)ut $ou must
continue in the things which $ou hae learned and 'een assured
of,.nowing from whom $ou hae learned them, and that from childhood
$ou hae .nownthe Hol$ 0criptures, which are a'le to ma.e $ou wise
for salation through faith whichis in Christ 2esus" &ll
0cripture is gien '$ inspiration of !od, and is profita'le
fordoctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of!od ma$ 'e complete, thoroughl$
eBuipped for eer$ good wor." />G2H,Is having e&&ective
editation becoe a basic part o& li&e(oshua 16:F#his )oo. of
the 5aw shall not depart from $our mouth, 'ut $ou shall meditate in
itda$ and night, that $ou ma$ o'sere to do according to all that is
written in it" -or then$ou will ma.e $our wa$ prosperous, and then
$ou will hae good success" />G2H,2sal 1619;)lessed is the man
+ho wal.s not in the counsel of the ungodl$, >or stands in
thepath of sinners, >or sits in the seat of the scornful% )ut
his delight is in the law of the5*6E, &nd in His law he
meditates da$ and night" He shall 'e li.e a tree =lanted '$the
riers of water, #hat 'rings forth its fruit in its season, +hose
leaf also shall notwither% &nd whateer he does shall prosper"
/>G2H,Is developing a clear coitent to the doctrines o& the
3ord o& .odI %iothy =61?#a.e heed to $ourself and to the
doctrine" Continue in them, for in doing this $ou willsae 'oth
$ourself and those who hear $ou" />G2H,-re we growing in our own
knowledge and application o& the 3ord!7;Page | 2) - 3* -c)
growth in inistry*ur goal is to help each Christian grow and deelop
an effectie and 'alancedministr$" ?ffectie ministr$ is 'ased on
deeloping health$ relationships with others"& spiritual child
that is growing is deeloping a health$ ministr$:Is developing an
e&&ective inistry o& subission to spiritual
leaders%itus 46=9:, I 2eter >6>9?#hat the$ admonish the $oung
women to loe their hus'ands, to loe their children, to'e discreet,
chaste, homema.ers, good, o'edient to their own hus'ands, that the
wordof !od ma$ not 'e 'lasphemed" 5i.ewise e(hort the $oung men to
'e so'er-minded,in all things showing $ourself to be a pattern of
good wor.s% in doctrine showingintegrit$, reerence,
incorrupti'ilit$, sound speech that cannot 'e condemned, that
onewho is an opponent ma$ 'e ashamed, haing nothing eil to sa$ of
$ou""" 5i.ewise $ou$ounger people, su'mit $ourseles to your elders"
Ces, all of you 'e su'missie to oneanother, and 'e clothed with
humilit$, for F!od resists the proud, )ut gies grace tothe hum'le"F
#herefore hum'le $ourseles under the might$ hand of !od, that Hema$
e(alt $ou in due time, />G2H,Is developing an e&&ective
inistry in the hoeColossians ;618941&nd whatever $ou do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the 5ord 2esus, giingthan.s to !od
the -ather through Him" +ies, su'mit to $our own hus'ands, as
isfitting in the 5ord" Hus'ands, loe $our wies and do not 'e 'itter
toward them"Children, o'e$ $our parents in all things, for this is
well pleasing to the 5ord" -athers,do not proo.e $our children,
lest the$ 'ecome discouraged" />G2H,Is developing an
e&&ective inistry o& service to the body-cts 1?6194#hen
he came to Eer'e and 5$stra" &nd 'ehold, a certain disciple was
there, named#imoth$, the son of a certain 2ewish woman who 'elieed,
'ut his father was !ree."He was well spo.en of '$ the 'rethren who
were at 5$stra and Iconium" />G2H,Is developing an
e&&ective inistry o& evangelis to the lost-cts
:6=#herefore those who were scattered went eer$where preaching the
word" />G2H,-cts 1161@941775) Helping spiritual children develop
a godly relationship within their &aily#developing the one
anothers within the &aily$#he >ew #estament gies us ;1
different relationships that tal. a'out our relationshipand
ministr$ to one another" #hirt$ one of these are positie and twele
are negatie"#hese are 'est deeloped within the famil$ '$ those
mem'ers of the famil$ that areChristians" Man$ times when we reach
a person for Christ, part of their famil$ are notChristians" In
that case we need to help the new Christian learn to deelop
theserelationships within a spiritual famil$ so that the$ will 'e
shown '$ e(ample how todeelop a godl$ relationship with famil$
mem'ers whether those famil$ mem'ers areChristians or not" #his is
er$ important if we are going to reach their famil$ and
theire(tended famil$ for Christ"1) developing their relationship
with their parentsthe relationship to develop i& still in the
hoe+phesians >6410u'mitting to one another in the fear of !od"
/>G2H,+phesians ?619;Children, o'e$ $our parents in the 5ord,
for this is right" FHonor $our father andmother,F which is the
first commandment with promise: Fthat it ma$ 'e well with $ouand
$ou ma$ lie long on the earth"F />G2H,Children are to be taught
to subit to their parentsChildren are to be taught to obey their
parentsChildren are to be taught to honor their parentsthe
relationship i& an adult and arried.enesis 464=Page | 3* - 31
-#herefore a man shall leae his father and mother and 'e :oined to
his wife, and the$shall 'ecome one flesh" />G2H,+phesians
?649;FHonor $our father and mother,F which is the first commandment
with promise: Fthatit ma$ 'e well with $ou and $ou ma$ lie long on
the earth"F />G2H,Married children are to be taught how to leave
their parentsMarried children are to be taught to still honor their
parents7G2H,I& we are a younger relative, we are to inister to
our older relativesI %iothy =6145et no one despise $our $outh, 'ut
'e an e(ample to the 'elieers in word, in conduct,in loe, in
spirit, in faith, in purit$" />G2H,I %iothy >6=)ut if an$
widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show
piet$ athome and to repa$ their parents% for this is good and
accepta'le 'efore !od" />G2H,3e serve our eG2H2arents o&ten
have probles provoking their children2arents o&ten have probles
discouraging their children2arents need help learning to train
their children2arents need help learning to adonish their
children2aul gave us a odel o& things that parents need to
learnI %hessalonians 468914)ut we were gentle among $ou, :ust as a
nursing mother cherishes her own children"0o, affectionatel$
longing for $ou, we were well pleased to impart to $ou not onl$
thegospel of !od, 'ut also our own lies, 'ecause $ou had 'ecome
dear to us" -or $ouremem'er, 'rethren, our la'or and toil% for
la'oring night and da$, that we might not'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou,
we preached to $ou the gospel of !od" Cou are witnesses,and !od
also, how deoutl$ and :ustl$ and 'lamelessl$ we 'ehaed ourseles
among$ou who 'eliee% as $ou .now how we e(horted, and comforted,
and charged eer$one of $ou, as a father does his own children, that
$ou would wal. worth$ of !odwho calls $ou into His own .ingdom and
glor$" />G2H,2arents need to be taught how to be gentle with
their children2arents need to learn how to share their lives with
their children2arents need to learn how to sacri&ice &or
their children2arents need to learn how to be an eow when the$ had
gone through =hr$gia and theregion of !alatia, the$ were for'idden
'$ the Hol$ 0pirit to preach the word in &sia" &fter the$
hadcome to M$sia, the$ tried to go into )ith$nia, 'ut the 0pirit
did not permit them" 0o passing '$M$sia, the$ came down to #roas"
&nd a ision appeared to =aul in the night" & man of
Macedoniastood and pleaded with him, sa$ing, FCome oer to Macedonia
and help us"F 1>ow after he had seenthe ision, immediatel$ we
sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the 5ord had called us
topreach the gospel to them" />G2H,1aith&ul 9 well reported
o& 9 -cts 1?64-vailable 9 willing to go with 2aul 9 -cts
1?6;%eachable 9 learning to be led by the Holy ,pirit 9 -cts
1?6?91AG2H,2oshua 1:8 - #his )oo. of the 5aw shall not depart from
$our mouth, 'ut $ou shallmeditate in it da$ and night, that $ou ma$
o'sere to do according to all that is writtenin it" -or then $ou
will ma.e $our wa$ prosperous, and then $ou will hae goodsuccess"
/>G2H,=salm 1:1-1 - )lessed is the man +ho wal.s not in the
counsel of the ungodl$, >orstands in the path of sinners, >or
sits in the seat of the scornful% )ut his delight is inthe law of
the 5*6E, &nd in His law he meditates da$ and night" He shall
'e li.e atree =lanted '$ the riers of water, #hat 'rings forth its
fruit in its season, +hose leafalso shall not wither% &nd
whateer he does shall prosper" />G2H,9184$ he practices
separation &ro &alse teaching 9 I (ohn 461:94=1 2ohn
2:11-2; 11 I write to $ou, fathers, )ecause $ou hae .nown Him who
is fromthe 'eginning" I write to $ou, $oung men, )ecause $ou hae
oercome the wic.edone" I write to $ou, little children, )ecause $ou
hae .nown the -ather" 1; I haewritten to $ou, fathers, )ecause $ou
hae .nown Him who is from the 'eginning" Ihae written to $ou, $oung
men, )ecause $ou are strong, and the word of !od a'idesin $ou,
&nd $ou hae oercome the wic.ed one"17 Eo not loe the world or
the things in the world" If an$one loes the world,the loe of the
-ather is not in him" 1< -or all that is in the world -- the
lust of the flesh,the lust of the e$es, and the pride of life -- is
not of the -ather 'ut is of the world" 13&nd the world is
passing awa$, and the lust of it% 'ut he who does the will of
!oda'ides foreer"18 5ittle children, it is the last hour% and as
$ou hae heard that the &ntichrist iscoming, een now man$
antichrists hae come, '$ which we .now that it is the lasthour" 19
#he$ went out from us, 'ut the$ were not of us% for if the$ had
'een of us, the$would hae continued with us% 'ut they went out that
the$ might 'e made manifest,that none of them were of us" 20 )ut
$ou hae an anointing from the Hol$ *ne, and $ou.now all things" 21
I hae not written to $ou 'ecause $ou do not .now the truth,
'ut'ecause $ou .now it, and that no lie is of the truth" 22 +ho is
a liar 'ut he who deniesthat 2esus is the ChristD He is antichrist
who denies the -ather and the 0on" 21Page | 3% - 3& -+hoeer
denies the 0on does not hae the -ather either% he who ac.nowledges
the0on has the -ather also"2; #herefore let that a'ide in $ou which
$ou heard from the 'eginning" If what$ou heard from the 'eginning
a'ides in $ou, $ou also will a'ide in the 0on and in the-ather"
/>G2H,d) He is continuing to e4Christ gives us an eG2H,?) He has
an e&&ective inistry 9 -cts 1?6194#hen he came to Eer'e and
5$stra" &nd 'ehold, a certain disciple was there, named#imoth$,
the son of a certain 2ewish woman who 'elieed, 'ut his father was
!ree."He was well spo.en of '$ the 'rethren who were at 5$stra and
Iconium" />G2H,%he priorities o& a spiritual young an #or
woan$.rowth will happen best as he6Continues to6%alk to .od each
day 9 prayerLet .od talk to hi each day 9 though 5ible study,
eorization and editation0bey each day what he learns &ro the
3ord o& .od3alk in the ,pirit, be led by the ,pirit and be
&illed with the ,piritIs Learning to65e an eG2H,1 Corinthians
;:17-13 -or though $ou might hae ten thousand instructors in
Christ,$et you do not have man$ fathers% for in Christ 2esus I hae
'egotten $ou through thegospel" #herefore I urge $ou, imitate me"
-or this reason I hae sent #imoth$ to $ou,who is m$ 'eloed and
faithful son in the 5ord, who will remind $ou of m$ wa$s inChrist,
as I teach eer$where in eer$ church" />G2H,%his attitude
produces a concern to develop to one or ore spiritual %iothysII
#imoth$ 2:1-2 Cou therefore, m$ son, 'e strong in the grace that is
in Christ 2esus"&nd the things that $ou hae heard from me among
man$ witnesses, commit these tofaithful men who will 'e a'le to
teach others also" />G2H,#this is what produces godly
reproducing spiritual leadership$2aul %iothy 1aith&ul Men
0thers3ho is your %iothy or %iothys!ow this I do for thegospelAs
sa.e, that I ma$ 'e parta.er of it with you. Eo $ou not .now that
those whorun in a race all run, 'ut one receies the pri@eD 6un in
such a wa$ that $ou ma$o'tain it. &nd eer$one who competes for
the pri5e is temperate in all things" >owthe$ do it to o'tain a
perisha'le crown, 'ut we for an imperisha'le crown. #herefore Irun
thus: not with uncertaint$" #hus I fight: not as one who 'eats the
air" )ut Idiscipline m$ 'od$ and 'ring it into su':ection, lest,
when I hae preached to others, Im$self should 'ecome disBualified"
/>G2H,an attitude which develops a seriousness o& purpose in
li&e#itus 2:)ut sanctif$ the 5ord !od in $our hearts, and
alwa$s be read$ to give a defense toeer$one who as.s $ou a reason
for the hope that is in $ou, with mee.ness and fear%/>G2H,we
want to help hi learn to becoe an eG2H,we want to show hi how to
inister to other Christians-cts 4A649=>ow when he had gone oer
that region and encouraged them with man$ words, hecame to !reece
and sta$ed three months" &nd when the 2ews plotted against him
ashe was a'out to sail to 0$ria, he decided to return through
Macedonia" &nd 0opater of)erea accompanied him to &sia --
also &ristarchus and 0ecundus of the#hessalonians, and !aius of
Eer'e, and #imoth$, and #$chicus and #rophimus of&sia"
/>G2H,we want to show hi how to teach the 3ord o& .od-cts
4A64A#nd how I .ept 'ac. nothing that was profita'le unto you, 'ut
hae shown $ou, andhae taught $ou pu'licl$, and from house to
house"Here is an eow as we come to thePage | 3( - 3) -spiritual
$oung man we want to help him learn to 'uild relationships with the
entire'od$ /the church," #his is of .e$ importance 'ecause the
desire of the spiritual $oungman is to sere others" In order to 'e
a'le to effectiel$ sere others, the spiritual$oung man or woman
needs to .now how to 'uild health$ relationships with
allChristians"#he 5ord did not leae us in the dar. a'out how to
'uild health$ relationships" In the>ew #estament we see that
there are ;1 one anothers" #hese ;1 things tell us how we'uild
health$ relationships with others" #wele are things that we are
told to aoid"#hirt$-one are things that we are told to do to 'uild
health$ relationships 'etweenChristians"If we depend on our own
strength, we will act out of fear and do the things thatdestro$
relationships" +e will do the things we are told to aoid and fail
to do thethings that we are told to do" Howeer, each time that we
$ield to the Hol$ 0pirit anddepend on His power, the loe of Christ
will flow through us and we will 'uild health$relationships with
other Christians"%welve things we are to avoid to build healthy
relationships1) Let us not Gudge one another any ore 9 Roans
1=61;4) Do not go to law against one another 9 I Corinthians ?68;)
,top depriving one another /in marriage, 9 I Corinthians 86>=)
Do not bite one another /to wound the soul, 9 .alatians
>61>>) Do not devout one another /to ma.e it a ha'it, 9
.alatians >61>?) Do not consue one another /the last act of
swallowing,9 .alatians >61>8'ite-deour-consume9 spea.s of the
process which destro$s a relationship8) Do not challenge one
another /to call forth as a contest, 9 .alatians >64?:) Do not
envy one another 9 .alatians >64?@) Do not lie to one another 9
Colossians ;6@1A) ,ee that no one repays another with evil &or
evil 9 I %hess) >61>11) Do not speak against one another /to
slander, 9 (aes =61114) Do not coplain against one another 9 (aes
>6@31%hirty9one things we are to do to build healthy
relationships1) -ccept one another 9 Roans 1>684) -donish one
another 9 Roans 1>61=, Colossians ;61?;) 5ear one anotherBs
burdens 9 .alatians ?64=) 5ear with one another 9 +phesians =64,
Colossians ;61;>) 5uild up one another 9 Roans 1=61@, I %hess)
>611?) Care &or one another 9 I Corinthians 1464>8)
Co&ort one another 9 I %hess) =61:, >611, Hebrews ;61;,
1A64>:) 5e co&orted together through &aith in one
another 9 Roans 1614@) Have copassion one o& another 9 I 2eter
;6:1A) Con&ess your sins to one another 9 (aes >61?11) 5e
devoted to one another 9 Roans 1461A14) 1ellowship with one another
9 I (ohn 1681;) 1orgive one another 9 +phesians =6;4, Colossians
;61;1=) ,eek what is good &or one another and &or all 9 I
%hess) >61>1>) .reet one another 9 Ro) 1?61?, I Cor)
1?64A, II Cor) 1;614, I 2et) >61=1?) 5e hospitable to one
another 9 I 2eter =6@18) Clothe yourselves with huility toward one
another 9 I 2eter >6>1:) 5e kind to one another 9 +phesians
=6;41@) 5e ebers one o& another 9 Roans 146>, +phesians
=64>4A) 5e o& the sae ind one to another 9 Roans 1461?,
1>6>41) 5e at peace with one another 9 Mark @6>A, I %hess)
>61;44) 2ray &or one another 9 (aes >61?4;) Regard one
another as ore iportant than sel& 9 2hilippians 46;4=) ,erve
one another as a slave 9 .alatians >61;4>) +ploy your
gi&t in serving one another 9 I 2eter =61A4?) ,tiulate one
another to love and good deeds 9 Hebrews 1A64=94>Page | 3) - 4*
-48) ,ubit to one another 9 +phesians >6414:) %each one another
9 Colossians ;61?4@) 3ait &or one another 9 I Corinthians
116;;;A) 3ash one anotherBs &eet 9 (ohn 1;61=;1) Love one
another 9 (ohn 1;6;=9;>, (ohn 1>614, 18, Roans 1;6:,I %hess)
16;, I %hess) =6@91A, II %hess) 16;, I 2eter 1644, I 2eter =6:,I
(ohn ;611, 4;, I (ohn =68, 11, 14, II (ohn >(ohn
1;6;=9;>F& new commandment I gie to $ou, that $ou loe one
another% as I hae loed $ou,that $ou also loe one another" F)$ this
all will .now that $ou are M$ disciples, if $ouhae loe for one
another"F />G2H,324) becoing an eF-or I hae gien $ou an e(ample,
that $ou should do as I hae done to $ou" />G2H,I 2eter
464A941-or what credit is it if, when $ou are 'eaten for $our
faults, $ou ta.e it patientl$D )utwhen $ou do good and suffer, if
$ou ta.e it patientl$, this is commenda'le 'efore !od"-or to this
$ou were called, 'ecause Christ also suffered for us, leaing us an
e(ample,that $ou should follow His steps: />G2H,I Corinthians
1161Imitate me, :ust as I also imitate Christ" />G2H,31C)
Helping spiritual young en build their inistry1) developing a
inistry o& service to the body*ne of the characteristics of
$oung men is that the$ li.e to sere" +e see thisillustrated in a
er$ interesting wa$ in the earl$ church" & passage that tal.s
a'out theserice of ph$sical $oung men shows the desire of spiritual
$oung men" In &cts 7:94A- bilities 9 I 2eter =6112 ersonality 9
#2eter liked crowds 9 -cts 461=9=1, -ndrew 9 individuals$+
ew#estament" Howeer, most Christians toda$ tr$ to tell others how
to sere the 5ord/sermons, seminars, classes, etc", instead of
showing them how to sere the 5ord"0piritual $oung men will learn
'est how to sere the 5ord if we take the with usand show the"-cts
4A6=&nd 0opater of )erea accompanied him to &sia -- also
&ristarchus and 0ecundus ofthe #hessalonians, and !aius of
Eer'e, and #imoth$, and #$chicus and #rophimus of&sia"
/>G2H,37Huestions to ask ysel& about how to help spiritual
young en continue healthydevelopent and becoe spiritual parents1)
Huestions about y understanding o& how to recognize spiritual
youngPage | 41 - 42 -ena" Eescri'e the spiritual profile of a
spiritual $oung man"'" ?(plain how $ou can help a spiritual $oung
man continue to grow"4) Huestions about helping a spiritual young
an becoe a spiritual parenta" ?(plain wh$ deeloping a learner4s
attitude and a serant4s heart are.e$s to the deelopment of a
spiritual $oung man"'" ?(plain what areas of attitude and character
deelopment are importantfor a spiritual $oung man to continue to
mature"c" ?(plain what areas of growth in .nowledge are important
to help aspiritual $oung man continue to mature"d" ?(plain what
areas of growth in ministr$ are important to help aspiritual $oung
man continue to mature";) Huestions about helping a spiritual young
an develop a inistrya" ?(plain how we help a spiritual $oung man
deelop his relationship tothe entire church"'" ?(plain how we help
a spiritual $oung man 'ecome an e(ample toothers"c" ?(plain how we
help a spiritual $oung man understand the particular,H-2+ that !od
has gien him to help him learn to sere moreeffectiel$"d" ?(plain
how we help spiritual $oung men learn to 'ecome effectie inthe
ministr$ of eangelism"e" ?(plain wh$ it is er$ important to ta.e
spiritual $oung men with us aswe minister so that the$ can 'e shown
how to sere the 5ord"3G2H,Page | 42 - 43 -,piritual parents can be
iitated because they63alk the walk not Gust talk the talkK33-)
'nderstanding how we help a spiritual parent inister to spiritual
children1) the pro&ile o& a spiritual parent2ust li.e each
of the other leels of spiritual maturit$, 0cripture also gies us a
profileof a spiritual parent" *f course the er$ definition of the
word parent means that therehas to 'e one or more children" &
spiritual parent is one who has ta.en the personalresponsi'ilit$ to
help one or more children in their total spiritual deelopment not
:ustin their growth in .nowledge" #he following characteristics
will 'e seen in a spiritualparent:He is advanced in his knowledge
o& .odI (ohn 461;91=I write to $ou, fathers, )ecause $ou hae
.nown Him who is from the 'eginning" Iwrite to $ou, $oung men,
)ecause $ou hae oercome the wic.ed one" I write to $ou,little
children, )ecause $ou hae .nown the -ather" I hae written to $ou,
fathers,)ecause $ou hae .nown Him who is from the 'eginning" I hae
written to $ou, $oungmen, )ecause $ou are strong, and the word of
!od a'ides in $ou, &nd $ou haeoercome the wic.ed one"
/>G2H,He deonstrates true care &or his spiritual childrenI
%hessalonians 468914)ut we were gentle among $ou, :ust as a nursing
mother cherishes her own children"0o, affectionatel$ longing for
$ou, we were well pleased to impart to $ou not onl$ thegospel of
!od, 'ut also our own lies, 'ecause $ou had 'ecome dear to us" -or
$ouremem'er, 'rethren, our la'or and toil% for la'oring night and
da$, that we might not'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou, we preached to $ou
the gospel of !od" Cou are witnesses,and !od also, how deoutl$ and
:ustl$ and 'lamelessl$ we 'ehaed ourseles among$ou who 'eliee% as
$ou .now how we e(horted, and comforted, and charged eer$one of
$ou, as a father does his own children, that $ou would wal. worth$
of !odwho calls $ou into His own .ingdom and glor$" />G2H,He has
one or a &ew %iothys that he is bringing to spiritual aturityII
%iothy 46194Cou therefore, m$ son, 'e strong in the grace that is
in Christ 2esus" &nd the thingsthat $ou hae heard from me among
man$ witnesses, commit these to faithful menwho will 'e a'le to
teach others also" />G2H,38He has becoe a ature discipleMatthew
1;6>4#hen He said to them, F#herefore eer$ scri'e instructed
concerning the .ingdom ofheaen is li.e a householder who 'rings out
of his treasure things new andold"F />G2H,1ro this verse we see
that a ature disciple has the &ollowing characteristics61) He
is instructed concerning the kingdo o& .od4) He is the head
o& a spiritual household;) He has a treasure #the 3ord o&
.od$=) He shares &ro his treasure things that are new#he is
continuing to study the 3ord and grow$>) He shares &ro his
treasure things that are old#he is able to share basic teachings
&ro the 3ord o& .od$%he priorities o& a spiritual
parent%o know Christ=hilippians 1:10 #hat I ma$ .now Him and the
power of His resurrection, and thefellowship of His sufferings,
'eing conformed to His death, />G2H,%o be otivated by the love
o& ChristII Corinthians 7:1; -or the loe of Christ compels us,
'ecause we :udge thus: that if*ne died for all, then all died%
/>G2H,%o serve Christ as a bondservantPage | 43 - 44 -II #imoth$
2:2;-27 &nd a serant of the 5ord must not Buarrel 'ut 'e gentle
to all,a'le to teach, patient, in humilit$ correcting those who are
in opposition, if !odperhaps will grant them repentance, so that
the$ ma$ .now the truth, />G2H,%o &inish the race well by
keeping the &aithII #imoth$ ;:3-8 I hae fought the good fight,
I hae finished the race, I hae .ept thefaith" -inall$, there is
laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the 5ord,
therighteous 2udge, will gie to me on that Ea$, and not to me onl$
'ut also to all whohae loed His appearing" />G2H,394) the
obGectives o& a spiritual parent to develop a spiritual
&ailya) growth in character and attitudea spiritual parent
wants to be an eG2H,I %hessalonians 16?&nd $ou 'ecame followers
of us and of the 5ord, haing receied the word in muchaffliction,
with :o$ of the Hol$ 0pirit, />G2H,a spiritual parent wants to
provide loveI %hessalonians 4689@)ut we were gentle among $ou, :ust
as a nursing mother cherishes her own children"0o, affectionatel$
longing for $ou, we were well pleased to impart to $ou not onl$
thegospel of !od, 'ut also our own lies, 'ecause $ou had 'ecome
dear to us" -or $ouremem'er, 'rethren, our la'or and toil% for
la'oring night and da$, that we might not'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou,
we preached to $ou the gospel of !od" />G2H,a spiritual parent
wants to provide encourageentI %hessalonians 461A914Cou are
witnesses, and !od also, how deoutl$ and :ustl$ and 'lamelessl$
we'ehaed ourseles among $ou who 'eliee% as $ou .now how we
e(horted, andcomforted, and charged eer$ one of $ou, as a father
does his own children, that $ouwould wal. worth$ of !od who calls
$ou into His own .ingdom and glor$" />G2H,a spiritual parent
wants to provide instruction &ro the 3ord o& .od-cts
4A64AFHow I .ept 'ac. nothing that was helpful, 'ut proclaimed it
to $ou, and taught $oupu'licl$ and from house to house,
/>G2H,80b) growth in knowledgespiritual parents need to learn
what to teach those who are younger%itus 46=9:#hat the$ admonish
the $oung women to loe their hus'ands, to loe their children, to'e
discreet, chaste, homema.ers, good, o'edient to their own hus'ands,
that the wordof !od ma$ not 'e 'lasphemed" 5i.ewise e(hort the
$oung men to 'e so'er-minded,in all things showing $ourself to be a
pattern of good wor.s% in doctrine showingintegrit$, reerence,
incorrupti'ilit$, sound speech that cannot 'e condemned, that
onewho is an opponent ma$ 'e ashamed, haing nothing eil to sa$ of
$ou" />G2H,spiritual parents need to learn how to teach those
who are youngerMost parental teaching is done in informal
situations" #he same is true for much of theteaching done '$
spiritual parents" It happens 'ecause the spiritual parent and
thespiritual child are spending time together" &s a result, the
model for teaching spiritualchildren is the same as the model for
teaching ph$sical children"Deuteronoy ?6?9@Page | 44 - 4% -&nd
these words which I command $ou toda$ shall 'e in $our heart" FCou
shall teachthem diligentl$ to $our children, and shall tal. of them
when $ou sit in $our house,when $ou wal. '$ the wa$, when $ou lie
down, and when $ou rise up" FCou shall'ind them as a sign on $our
hand, and the$ shall 'e as frontlets 'etween $our e$es"FCou shall
write them on the doorposts of $our house and on $our gates"
>G2spiritual parents ust have the 3ord in their heartsspiritual
parents need to help people becoe sharp in the 3ordspiritual
parents need to share the 3ord in in&oral situationsspiritual
parents need to odel the 3ord by their actionsspiritual parents
need to have the 3ord in their thoughtsspiritual parents need to
share the 3ord in their hoesspiritual parents need to learn when to
teach those who are youngerI %hessalonians 46@-or $ou remem'er,
'rethren, our la'or and toil% for la'oring night and da$, that
wemight not 'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou, we preached to $ou the
gospel of !od" />G2H,-cts 1@6@)ut when some were hardened and
did not 'eliee, 'ut spo.e eil of the +a$ 'eforethe multitude, he
departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning dail$
in81c) growth in inistryinistry grows as we spend tie with
spiritual children(ohn 1;@He said to them, FCome and see"F #he$
came and saw where He was sta$ing, andremained with Him that da$
/now it was a'out the tenth hour," />G2H,Mark 161?94A&nd as
He wal.ed '$ the 0ea of !alilee, He saw 0imon and &ndrew his
'rothercasting a net into the sea% for the$ were fishermen" #hen
2esus said to them, F-ollowMe, and I will ma.e $ou 'ecome fishers
of men"F #he$ immediatel$ left their nets andfollowed Him" +hen He
had gone a little farther from there, He saw 2ames the son
ofIe'edee, and 2ohn his 'rother, who also were in the 'oat mending
their nets" &ndimmediatel$ He called them, and the$ left their
father Ie'edee in the 'oat with thehired serants, and went after
Him" />G2H,inistry grows as we help spiritual children develop
prioritiesMark 16;:9;@)ut He said to them, F5et us go into the ne(t
towns, that I ma$ preach there also,'ecause for this purpose I hae
come forth"F &nd He was preaching in theirs$nagogues throughout
all !alilee, and casting out demons" />G2H,inistry grows as we
show spiritual children how to inisterMark ;61;91>&nd He
went up on the mountain and called to !im those He Himself wanted"
&ndthe$ came to Him" #hen He appointed twele, that the$ might
'e with Him and thatHe might send them out to preach, and to hae
power to heal sic.nesses and to castout demons: />G2H,inistry
grows as we help spiritual children learn to inisterMark ?68&nd
He called the twele to !imself, and 'egan to send them out two by
two, andgae them power oer unclean spirits" />G2H,Mark
?6;A9;1#hen the apostles gathered to 2esus and told Him all things,
'oth what the$ had doneand what the$ had taught" &nd He said to
them, FCome aside '$ $ourseles to adeserted place and rest a
while"F -or there were man$ coming and going, and the$ didnot een
hae time to eat" />G2H,825) Helping spiritual parents develop
their relationship with a spiritual childI %hessalonians 4689@)ut
we were gentle among $ou, :ust as a nursing mother cherishes her
own children"0o, affectionatel$ longing for $ou, we were well
pleased to impart to $ou not onl$ thePage | 4% - 4& -gospel of
!od, 'ut also our own lies, 'ecause $ou had 'ecome dear to us" -or
$ouremem'er, 'rethren, our la'or and toil% for la'oring night and
da$, that we might not'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou, we preached to $ou
the gospel of !od" />G2H,1) deonstrating love to a spiritual
childChrist called the disciples to love only a&ter He had
shown the love(ohn 1;6;=9;>F& new commandment I gie to $ou,
that $ou loe one another% as I hae loed $ou,that $ou also loe one
another" F)$ this all will .now that $ou are M$ disciples, if
$ouhae loe for one another"F />G2H,2aul called the %hessalonians
to love only a&ter He had shown loveI %hessalonians 468)ut we
were gentle among $ou, :ust as a nursing mother cherishes her own
children"/>G2H,I %hessalonians =6@91A)ut concerning 'rotherl$
loe $ou hae no need that I should write to $ou, for $ou$ourseles
are taught '$ !od to loe one another% 10 and indeed $ou do so
toward allthe 'rethren who are in all Macedonia" )ut we urge $ou,
'rethren, that $ou increasemore and more% />G2H,(ohn called
people to love only a&ter he had shown loveII (ohn 1#H? ?5E?6,
#o the elect lad$ and her children, whom I loe in truth, and not
onl$ I,'ut also all those who hae .nown the truth, />G2H,II (ohn
>&nd now I plead with $ou, lad$, not as though I wrote a new
commandment to $ou,'ut that which we hae had from the 'eginning:
that we loe one another" />G2H,3e call people to love because
.od has loved usI (ohn =611)eloed, if !od so loed us, we also ought
to loe one another" />G2H,814) deonstrating sacri&ice to a
spiritual child*ne of the .e$s to effectie spiritual parenting is
helping spiritual parents learn toma.e sacrifices for their
spiritual children" #he arious .inds of sacrifice that wema.e will
'e determined '$ the needs of spiritual children as the$ grow"
&s a result,we want to help spiritual parents 'egin to
understand some of the areas where the$will learn to sacrifice in
order to 'e effectie spiritual parents",acri&ice our tie and
sleep when that is neededI %hessalonians 46@-or $ou remem'er,
'rethren, our la'or and toil% for la'oring night and da$, that
wemight not 'e a 'urden to an$ of $ou, we preached to $ou the
gospel of !od" />G2H,,acri&ice our plans to share ties
o& Goy or sorrowRoans 1461>6e:oice with those who re:oice,
and weep with those who weep" />G2H,,acri&ice our liberty to
serve others in love.alatians >61;91=-or $ou, 'rethren, hae 'een
called to li'ert$% onl$ do not use li'ert$ as anopportunit$ for the
flesh, 'ut through loe sere one another" -or all the law
isfulfilled in one word, even in this: FCou shall loe $our neigh'or
as $ourself"F />G2H,,acri&ice our &inances to share in
needsII Corinthians :6194Moreoer, 'rethren, we ma.e .nown to $ou
the grace of !od 'estowed on thechurches of Macedonia: that in a
great trial of affliction the a'undance of their :o$ andtheir deep
poert$ a'ounded in the riches of their li'eralit$"
/>G2H,,u&&er in order to provide an eG2H,spiritual
parents provide an eG2H,spiritual parents provide an eG2H,spiritual
parents encourage people by developing their inistryPage | 4' - 4(
--cts 1164>94?#hen )arna'as departed for #arsus to see. 0aul"
&nd when he had found him, he'rought him to &ntioch" 0o it
was that for a whole $ear the$ assem'led with thechurch and taught
a great man$ people" &nd the disciples were first called
Christiansin &ntioch" />G2H,8G2H,show spiritual children how
to develop their dependence on .od(ohn ?6>9?#hen 2esus lifted up
!is e$es, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, Hesaid to
=hilip, F+here shall we 'u$ 'read, that these ma$ eatDF )ut this He
said to testhim, for He Himself .new what He would do"
/>G2H,show spiritual children how they can serve and inister(ohn
?611&nd 2esus too. the loaes, and when He had gien than.s He
distri'uted them to thedisciples, and the disciples to those
sitting down% and li.ewise of the fish, as much asthe$ wanted"
/>G2H,show spiritual children how they can inister to the
grieving(ohn 1161?, ;=9;?#hen #homas, who is called the #win, said
to his fellow disciples, F5et us also go,that we ma$ die with
Him"F"""&nd He said, F+here hae $ou laid himDF #he$ said toHim,
F5ord, come and see"F 2esus wept" #hen the 2ews said, F0ee how He
loedhimJF />G2H,show spiritual children how to becoe partners in
inistry(ohn 1>61>918F>o longer do I call $ou serants, for
a serant does not .now what his master isdoing% 'ut I hae called
$ou friends, for all things that I heard from M$ -ather I haemade
.nown to $ou" FCou did not choose Me, 'ut I chose $ou and appointed
$ou that$ou should go and 'ear fruit, and that $our fruit should
remain, that whateer $ou as.the -ather in M$ name He ma$ gie $ou"
F#hese things I command $ou, that $ou loeone another"
/>G2H,83Huestions to ask ysel& about how to help spiritual
parents develop ane&&ective inistry to spiritual children1)
Huestions about y understanding o& how to help a spiritual
parentinister to spiritual childrena" Eescri'e some of the .e$
characteristics of spiritual parents"'" Eescri'e the spiritual
profile of a spiritual parent"c" ?(plain the )i'lical description
of a mature disciple in Matthew 11:72"d" ?(plain the .e$ priorities
of a spiritual parent"e" ?(plain the .e$ areas of attitude and
character where a spiritual parent iscontinuing to grow"f" ?(plain
some of the things a person needs to learn in order to 'e
aneffectie spiritual parent"g" ?(plain how spiritual parents
multipl$ their ministr$"4) Huestions about y understanding o&
how to help spiritual parentsdevelop their relationships with
spiritual childrena" ?(plain how we help spiritual parents learn
how to show loe tospiritual children"'" ?(plain how we help
spiritual parents learn how to ma.e sacrifices fortheir spiritual
children"Page | 4( - 4) -;) Huestions about y understanding o&
how to help spiritual parentsdevelop their relationships with
spiritual childrena" ?(plain wh$ it is er$ important that a
spiritual parent 'ecome ane(ample to a spiritual child"'" ?(plain
wh$ it is er$ important that a spiritual parent 'ecome anencourager
to a spiritual child"c" ?(plain wh$ 'ecoming a role model to a
spiritual child is er$important"88- Look at Mysel&&s we
come to the conclusion of this manual, this might 'e a good time to
loo. atourseles" It might 'e good to as. ourseles the Buestion,
8Eoes the )i'licaldefinition of a disciple in Matthew 11:72
descri'e m$ lifeDMatthew 1;6>4#hen He said to them, #herefore
eer$ scri'e instructed /who has become a disciple,concerning the
.ingdom of heaen is li.e a householder who 'rings out of his
treasurethings new and old"F />G2H,- I a disciple who has becoe
the head o& a spiritual household!#this eans that I have becoe
a spiritual parent to one or ore spiritualchildren that I a
spending tie with regularly to help the grow$- I a disciple who has
a treasure #the 3ord o& .od$!#this eans that the 3ord o&
.od guides y li&e$- I a disciple who brings out o& y
treasure things that are new!#this eans that I a continuing to
learn, grow and share$- I a disciple who brings out o& y
treasure things that are old!#this eans that I a teaching the
basics o& Christianity to others$0econd, am I 'eing o'edient to
the )i'lical command to Ma.e EisciplesDMatthew 4:61@94AF&s $ou
are going therefore, ake disciples of all the nations, 'apti@ing
them in thename of the -ather and of the 0on and of the Hol$
0pirit, Fteaching them to o'sere/obey, all things that I hae
commanded $ou% and lo, I am with $ou alwa$s, even tothe end of the
age"F &men"- I going to the lost to share the .ospel with the!-
I helping those who becoe Christians identi&y with Christand a
local church!- I showing those who becoe Christians how to obey all
thatChrist coanded by y own e
