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Student Manual
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, … Hebrews 6:1 ESV
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Session 1 - Assurance of Salvation/Eternal Security
Session 2 - Baptism, Communion
Session 3 - Holy Spirit
Session 4 - Prayer
Session 5 - The Bible
Session 6 - My Purpose/Discerning the Will of God
Session 7 - Spiritual Warfare/Temptation
Session 8 - Church Membership/Spiritual Gifts
Session 9 - Sharing Your Faith with Others
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Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................5
Session One – Assurance of Salvation/Eternal Security ....................................................6
What is a Christian?...........................................................................................................6
I. Getting Saved or Receiving Salvation................................................................................7
II. Eternal Life...................................................................................................................8
III. Disciples of Christ ........................................................................................................8
IV. Born Again ..................................................................................................................9
V. Can We Really Be Sure? .................................................................................................9
VI. What if I Still Sin? ......................................................................................................10
VII. Can I Lose My Salvation? ...........................................................................................11
Session Two – Baptism & Communion.............................................................................14
I. What Precedes Baptism? ...............................................................................................15
II. What is the Mode and Meaning of Baptism?....................................................................16
III. Who Are the Subjects of Baptism? ...............................................................................17
IV. Is Baptism Necessary? ................................................................................................17
V. What Should Follow Baptism? .......................................................................................18
Communion ....................................................................................................................19
Session Three – The Holy Spirit.......................................................................................21
The Characteristics of the Holy Spirit .................................................................................21
The Work of the Spirit in Salvation ....................................................................................21
What does the Holy Spirit do? ...........................................................................................22
The Filling of the Spirit .....................................................................................................22
Session Four - Prayer ......................................................................................................24
I. What is prayer? Why should I pray? ..............................................................................24
II. How do I pray? ...........................................................................................................25
III. How do I pray? (Continued) ........................................................................................26
IV. How NOT to pray........................................................................................................27
V. Praying with Others .....................................................................................................28
Session Five - The Bible...................................................................................................30
I. Hear ...........................................................................................................................31
II. Read .........................................................................................................................31
III. Study .......................................................................................................................32
IV. Memorize ..................................................................................................................32
V. Meditate.....................................................................................................................34
Session Six - My Purpose/Discenring the Will of God ......................................................36
I. Created for God ...........................................................................................................36
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II. A Lifestyle of Worship ..................................................................................................38
III. Achieving My Purpose.................................................................................................40
Session Seven - Spiritual Warfare/Temptation ...............................................................42
I. Acknowledging the Conflict............................................................................................42
II. Identifying the Many Faces of the Enemy .......................................................................42
III. Preparing for the Struggle...........................................................................................43
IV. Understanding our Resources (part 1)...........................................................................43
V. Understanding our Resources (part 2)............................................................................44
Temptation.....................................................................................................................46
The Cycle of Temptation...................................................................................................47
Session Eight - Church Membership/Spiritual Gifts .........................................................48
I. The Privilege of Feeling at Home ....................................................................................48
II. The Privilege of Investment ..........................................................................................48
III. The Privilege of a Heritage ..........................................................................................49
IV. The Privilege of Ministry ..............................................................................................49
V. The Privilege of Discipleship..........................................................................................49
Session Nine - Sharing Our Faith with Others .................................................................51
Introduction....................................................................................................................51
I. Be Involved .................................................................................................................52
II. Be Interested .............................................................................................................53
III. Be Intentional............................................................................................................54
IV. Be Interceding ...........................................................................................................56
Twelve Tips for Effective Witnessing ..................................................................................58
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Introduction
The reason for this document is simple. Over the many years of my life I have seen many
professing Christians come and go. I often wonder what happened to those who went? Another
question that I have pondered is why doesn't everyone who says they are a Christian live like a
Christian?
I believe one of the reasons is that mature believers have failed to disciple new believers. Many of
these new believers have fallen into the trap of just being “saved and satisfied”. They are happy
with what little they know about the Christian faith.
The Christian life is more than a one-time event. Philippians 2:12 says:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
This book is a basic training manual for the new believer.
Nehemiah 8:8 says: They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the
sense, so that the people understood the reading. (ESV)
My prayer for this document is to make the basics of the Christian faith more understandable to the
believer.
I want to especially thank those who have written the different chapters.
Rev. Michael Gunter - Assurance of Salvation/ Eternal Security
Rev. Doug Mulkey - Baptism
Mrs. Stephanie Jones - Prayer
Rev. Jason Roberts - My Purpose/Discerning the Will of God
Rev. Verlin Tucker * - Spiritual Warfare
Dr. Jay McCluskey - Church Membership
Mr. Tony Hewatt - Sharing Your Faith with Others
The chapter on “The Bible” was adapted from Timothy 2 – A Discipleship Study.
* Deceased
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Session One – Assurance of Salvation/Eternal Security
Sarah was an attractive twenty-something; interesting, friendly, and little flirtatious. I was young
(early twenties), single, somewhat naïve, and quite intrigued that someone so good looking would
pay attention to me. I was also a fairly new believer and eager to share my new found faith. I
knew it was risky, but I took a chance and told her I had recently become a Christian. Much to my
delight, she spoke openly about God and her involvement in a local church. She had my interest.
After all, I knew very few Christians my own age, and none of them looked like Sarah.
I must confess, my initial attraction may have clouded my judgment. Had there been any hint as
to what I was about to learn, I did not see it. Suddenly, without warning, Sarah announced,
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?” I asked dumbly. I had dealt with the “there’s something I need to tell you” line
before. Knowing it would not be good, I braced myself to learn about her boyfriend or something
equally disheartening. Nothing could have prepared me for her confession.
“I’m not a Christian anymore,” she said with about as much emotion as if she were talking about
the weather.
I was stunned. A boyfriend, I could have accepted. But how does a new Christian deal with this?
The only thing I could think to say was, “Why?”
She went on to explain how she had been a Christian all her life, but that she had decided she
could have more fun without Jesus. So, to put it bluntly, she decided she was no longer a
Christian. Things changed after that and we never saw each other again.
Getting over Sarah was easy, but the words she spoke that evening haunted me for years. They
called into question the very center of my faith. What did it really mean to be a Christian? If a
person could simply decide not to be a Christian any longer, does that mean salvation is not a
certainty? Could I somehow lose my salvation? If so, could I get saved again? And what about
sin? What if I died before I had the chance to confess and ask for forgiveness? Could I be kept out
of heaven on a technicality? Questions such as these swirled through my mind. At first, I was
tempted to brush them all aside and fall back on the standard “Once saved, always saved” slogan I
had heard in church. But something inside would not allow it. There had to be more to faith in
Jesus Christ than a simple verbal confession. Salvation had to mean more than being in or out of
some religious club.
Looking back now, after all these years, I recognize how such frightening questions actually worked
out for my own good. Driven by a need to know the answers, I studied the Scriptures and asked
other Christians how they had dealt with these issues. After years of searching, I finally arrived at
a place of resolution.
Now, nearly twenty years later, I regret not knowing whether Sarah found her way back. But I am
thankful that the questions she raised have resulted in a greater understanding of my own
Christian faith and a stronger conviction about what it means to be a child of God.
What is a Christian?
Various terms are used to describe what it is to become a Christian. Believers describe it as
getting saved or receiving salvation or inheriting eternal life. Christians are often referred to
as followers of Jesus or disciples of Christ. And many believers proclaim that they have been born
again. All of these terms and phrases are legitimate ways to describe the change that occurs when
one becomes a Christian. However, none of them make much sense until a person has actually
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experienced the change that occurs when he or she has made a decision to stop living to please
self and start living to honor God. In fact, it may be several years before a new believer learns
what these terms actually mean. And then they might be surprised to discover that their original
understanding of them does not quite match up with what the Bible teaches.
Let’s take them one at a time and discover what the Bible says it means to be a Christian.
I. Getting Saved or Receiving Salvation
The question that comes to mind is an honest one: “Saved from what?” Most people assume it
means being saved from hell. This is true, but it is only part of the answer. Jesus described His
own mission as coming to earth to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The word
lost implies a condition of something that was at one time not lost. What is it that was at one time
not lost, but then became lost so that it must be sought and found (or saved)?
The first pages of the Bible (Genesis 1-2) describe the first man and woman living in perfect
company with God. There was nothing between them. They spoke to God as plainly as you would
speak to a friend. But then something terrible happened. They chose to disobey God’s command
concerning the fruit of a certain tree. This disobedience severely damaged the relationship
between them and God.
How so? In order to understand this, we need to back up a bit. Genesis 1:27 says God created
man and woman in His own image. His desire was for the human race to reflect His greatness –
His glory. He did not create us to be little gods, but to represent the one true God; much like a
piece of art reflects the talent of the artist. When the man and woman disobeyed God, their choice
to do so was contrary to the will of God. Thus, they failed to represent Him. Their actions
reflected their own interests rather than the glory of God. That one act of disobedience drove
a wedge between them and the perfect will of God. And since all humans are descended
from them, the entire human race became lost to the purpose for which God had created them.
But that is not all. That first sin did more than damage the nature of humankind. It was an insult
to God. Today, many people have a very light view of sin. They refer to it as a mistake or just
poor behavior. But God sees sin as a great offense to His holiness; a rebellion that must be
punished. Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death.” God told the man and woman that
they would surely die if they ate the fruit of the tree, which He commanded them not to eat. We
learn from the Bible that their bodies did not immediately die, but death did enter into the world
and they did eventually die. Romans 6:23 teaches, and the human experience affirms, that
physical death is the natural consequence of sin. Since every one of us has sinned, we all must
face physical death. But those who remain in a state of rebellion against God will experience
eternal spiritual death. This is the wrath of God poured out upon those who refuse to accept the
salvation offered to them through Jesus Christ.
That is the bad news. We all sin, we all fail to adequately reflect the glory of God, and we all
deserve the wrath of God as the penalty for our sin. But the good news is God has provided a way
out of this dilemma. Romans 6:23 starts out be saying “the wages of sin is death,” but it
concludes with the promise: “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus
came to save us from death – not physical death, but a spiritual death that would separate us from
God forever. And Romans 5:9 states, “having now been justified by His (Jesus’) blood, we shall be
saved from the wrath of God through Him.” As Christians, we are saved from hell. But much more
than that, Jesus saves us from missing the purpose for which God created us and He saves us from
the holy wrath of God.
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II. Eternal Life
Most people think eternal life means living forever. While this is true, just like salvation, there is
much more to it than that. We are fortunate in that our Lord Jesus actually gave us His definition
of eternal life. Consider these words from Jesus’ prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples:
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”
(John 17:3).
According to Jesus, eternal life is not a measure of time, but a relationship with God. Living
forever is simply the condition necessary for us to have the kind of relationship He desires with us.
When we say we have been given eternal life, really what we are saying is that we have entered
into a loving relationship with the one true God and His Son Jesus – a relationship that will never
end.
Understanding eternal life this way has a real effect on our lives. We do not have to wait around to
receive eternal life. Those who truly know Jesus already have it. And if you want to press the
living forever part of it, we can say that we are already living forever right now. Our future
physical death will not be the end of us, but rather the continuation of what we already have, but
in a new, even better way. Death for the Christian can be thought of as stepping through a door
from this life into the next. Therefore, we have no need to fear death if Jesus is indeed our Savior.
III. Disciples of Christ
Jesus called those who followed Him disciples, but these men did more than just follow Jesus
around. They learned from Him as He taught, they watched Him apply His teaching to real life,
and they obeyed Him. The term disciple actually means one who has learned certain life principles
from another and continues to live by them under that person’s authority.
The three years Jesus spent with those first disciples was a training period for them. We can say
they had enrolled in the school of Jesus Christ. As Jesus neared the end of His time with them, He
gave them an important lesson. During His last meal with them before His death, He washed their
dirty feet. This was a lowly job of a servant and it illustrated the attitude Jesus wanted His
disciples to have.
He said them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are
right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash
one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (John
13:12-15).
This was just one of many lessons Jesus taught His disciples by word and by action.
In another instance, Jesus told His disciples,
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that
he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master” (Matthew 10:24-25a).
Becoming a disciple (or a follower) of Jesus means that we are to strive to live as He lived. The
only difference between those first disciples and us is we do not have Jesus physically with us. But
we do have reliable accounts of His life and we have His Spirit living within us. As we enter this
school of Jesus Christ, we will get to know Jesus and learn from Him. By reading the gospels and
spending time with Him in prayer, He will enable us to adopt the same beliefs, attitude, and
lifestyle we see in Him.
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IV. Born Again
This way of describing the new life of a Christian comes to us directly from Jesus Himself. Jesus
once told a man named Nicodemus that in order for him to see the kingdom of God, he must be
born again (John 3:1-21). Nicodemus answered by pointing out the impossibility of entering a
second time into the womb of his mother. You can imagine how ridiculous this must have
sounded. He was thinking in terms of a physical birth, but Jesus was speaking of a spiritual rebirth.
The idea of birth illustrates several points of our Christianity.
First, physical birth is the process through which a person becomes part of a human family.
Likewise, spiritual rebirth brings the new believer into the family of God. As a member of God’s
family, every believer inherits all the privileges and responsibilities of being a child of God.
Secondly, great changes occur when a baby is born. Entering into a world of light and air, the
baby begins to see and breath in his new earthly environment. Spiritually, great changes occur
when a person is born again. She begins to see the world from a completely different perspective.
The Bible even makes reference to spiritual eyes and ears that enable us to see God’s involvement
in the world and hear the gentle voice of His Spirit.
Thirdly, physical birth is the beginning of physical growth. Babies do not stay babies for long. Their
growth may seem slow in the beginning, but soon they learn to walk and talk. In time, a healthy
baby will mature into an adult. Spiritually, the same thing happens to a new Christian. When a
person is born again, he or she begins the lifelong process of spiritual growth. Much like babies,
they start out by learning the elementary aspects of the Christian life, but soon they will grow into
the deeper aspects of Christ.
Spiritual maturity must be the goal of every Christian.
So you see, being Christian means so much more than avoiding hell and one day going to heaven.
It means being found by God – becoming what He intended us to be and being delivered from His
holy wrath.
It means a growing, intimate relationship with God that will never end.
It means learning to think and live like Jesus so we can please our Father in Heaven.
It means being a child of God – finding our place in His family, experiencing the joy of new life in
Him, and growing toward spiritual maturity.
V. Can We Really Be Sure?
Many people wonder if they can ever really be sure they are saved. Is there any concrete evidence
that this wonderful change has really taken place in a person’s life? The book of 1 John seems to
have this as its aim. 1 John 5:13 states,
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that
you have eternal life.”
Notice John did not say hope, guess, think, or improve your chances. He said you may know that
you have eternal life. But what are the things he has written? If you study the entire book of 1
John, you will notice John emphasized three essential things – three things that describe those who
have eternal life.
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1. Belief that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son. (1 John 3:23; 4:15) 2. Obedience to His commandments. (1 John 2:3-6; 3:4-10)
3. Love for one another. (1 John 4:7-21)
These three things are summed up in 1 John 5:1-3. This does not challenge the teaching that
salvation is a free gift of God and not of our own efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, it does
describe the evidence that a person has received eternal life.
If you believe Jesus is the Son of God, keep His commandments, and love others, you may know
for certain that you have eternal life.
If, on the other hand, you do not believe Jesus is God’s Son, you are not a Christian. Jesus said,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John
14:6).
And the Apostle Peter spoke of Jesus when he declared,
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Belief and trust in Jesus Christ is absolutely the only way a person may become a Christian, receive
salvation, and inherit eternal life with God.
Also, if you are in the habit of deliberately breaking His commandments, you are not a Christian.
Jesus told His disciples, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Again,
this does not mean you can earn salvation by keeping a list of rules, but it does describe the life of
one who truly loves Jesus.
Finally, if you harbor hatred for others, you are not a Christian. Jesus said to His disciples,
“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you
also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another” (John 13:34-35).
An unloving Christian is a contradiction in terms. There is just no such thing. Those who have
truly experienced the saving love of God, will respond by sharing that same love with other people.
VI. What if I Still Sin?
Someone may say, “I am a Christian, but still sin sometimes.” Another might say, “I love Jesus,
but I still have a problem loving others.” Does this mean those who still struggle with the flesh are
no longer Christians? A first glance at the statements made in 1 John, it does appear to be so.
However, in the first chapter of the same book we find a very comforting passage.
“If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
What are we to make of this? The same writer who so strongly declares belief, obedience, and love
as requirements for salvation also admits that we all sin. Does John contradict himself?
Not at all. Together, these two biblical truths protect us from two gross errors.
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The first error is to emphasize the grace and forgiveness of God so much that it really does not
matter what we belief, how we behave, or how we treat one another. There are some who think
the forgiveness of God gives them a license to sin. It is human nature to seek the minimum
requirements (in this case for salvation) and live just within the accepted limits. Jesus calls His
disciples to a much higher standard. Right belief, proper conduct, and love for others are so
important, we need the strong words of 1 John to keep us from straying.
The other error is to focus on God’s holiness and righteousness so much that one little mistake will
condemn us to hell. It is interesting that while human nature seeks the minimum requirements, it
also wants to appear perfect. We want others to think we are smarter, more disciplined, and more
loving than we really are. Interestingly, we hold others to a much higher standard than we hold
ourselves. We need John’s firm reminder that we all sin, and we need John’s assurance that God
will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God is the perfect combination of holiness and grace, righteousness and forgiveness, law and love.
As Christians, we must put forth our best effort to believe, behave, and love as perfectly as our
Lord Jesus. We must strive to be holy and righteous and obey the Law of God. At the same time,
we must recognize that this standard is too high for us to achieve on our own. We will make
mistakes and we will still sin. And as we confess our imperfection to God, we can count on His
grace to forgive us and love us in spite of our faults. Sin in the life of a Christian is a serious
matter, but it is not the end of our salvation. We will not be completely free from the presence of
sin until we leave this world and go to heaven. We are, however, free from the penalty of sin. And
by the power of the Holy Spirit, we should find the sin in our lives greatly diminished.
VII. Can I Lose My Salvation?
Many Christians want to know the answer to this question at the beginning. But I have saved it for
the end for a very good reason. As noted above, humans tend to want to know the minimum
requirements.
In other words, they want to know what they must do in order to be saved, and what they can get
away with and still make it into heaven.
I have observed that most of the curiosity about the security of salvation comes from the common
idea that Christianity is all about avoiding hell and getting into heaven. Now we really cannot focus
too hard on those who hold this narrow view of Christianity because this is what they have been
taught. Still, we cannot let them go through life thinking this is the extent of their Christianity.
Please, do not misunderstand – heaven is a wonderful promise, but I hope I have made a
convincing case that Christianity is so much more than that.
Now back to the question: Can we lose our salvation? Some Christians want to answer the
question quickly and simply. They like to repeat the saying, “Once saved, always saved.”
However, encounters with “ex-Christians” like Sarah, who seem to have rejected Jesus, cannot be
ignored. It seems to me we have three options:
The first option is they were never really saved in the first place. There are those who are
attracted to Jesus for any number of reasons, but never really make a life commitment to Him.
These, while they may look and sound like Christians, have never really embraced Jesus as their
Lord and Savior. After awhile, they get bored or the commitment seems too much or they are
attracted to something else, and Jesus loses His appeal. Jesus spoke of these people in His parable
of the Seeds and Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23).
The second option is they have not really rejected Christ. They’re some genuine Christians who, in
an extreme situation, make a bold statement of rejection. Maybe, in the face of a tragedy, they
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become angry with God. Or maybe someone in the church hurts them. In a fit of anger or pain
they say something based upon the emotion of the moment. In time, they get past the experience
and realize they did not really mean what they said.
The third option is they really do lose their salvation.
In my twenty years of dealing with this issue, I have concluded that those who seem to have
become unsaved fall into either the first or second options. They either did not know Jesus to
begin with, or they responded to an emotional experience and later recovered. Careful study has
lead me to reject the possibility of the third option – genuine loss of salvation. Here are my
reasons:
1. I will ask the reader to review what we have already discussed concerning the meaning of
Christianity. A person who has truly been found by God, been delivered from His holy
wrath, and become what God intended him or her to be will not desire to become lost again.
A person who has entered into an intimate, personal relationship with God will not choose to
reject Him. A person who has enrolled in the school of Jesus Christ and has begun to think
and live like Jesus will not decide to go back to their old life. A person who becomes a child
of God, finds his or her place in His family, and grows toward spiritual maturity will not
choose to once again become a spiritual orphan.
2. We must accept the power of God’s sustaining love upon those who have become His. The
Apostle Paul wrote in a letter to the church in Rome:
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword…For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 38-39).
Absolutely nothing can rob, cheat, or steal the salvation the Lord has lovingly given to us.
Once we are the Lords, His hold upon us is permanent.
John 10:28-29 NASB and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one
will snatch them out of My hand. (29) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater
than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
3. We must also consider the unlimited knowledge of God. He knew before the beginning of
time who would accept His gift of salvation and who would not. The Apostle Paul wrote to
the church in Ephesus,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He
predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind
intention of His will” (Ephesians 1:3-5).
Since He has known the end from the beginning, nothing will happen outside of His
knowledge. And since God cannot make a mistake, He does not save anyone who will not
remain eternally saved. No sin may be committed and no rejection may be uttered that He
is not already aware of. Therefore, those who are truly saved will not and cannot ever
become unsaved.
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Conclusion
As a new Christian, you have begun the most incredible journey. It is a journey that will never
end, but will lead you further and deeper into the wonders of God, the Creator of all there is. It is
my sincere prayer and desire that this study guide will help you get started. Please do not settle
for a shallow religion that offers quick and easy answers to the many questions that will arise.
Know that your God is alive and active, ever pursuing a loving relationship with you. Study His
Word, get to know Him, ask Him to show you His ways, and offer your life to Him as an expression
of your love to the One who has saved you. God bless you.
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Session Two – Baptism & Communion
As you study the beginnings of the early church in the New Testament, there is one word that is
repeated quite frequently: baptize. Baptize, baptism, or baptized (depending upon the form that is
used) is clearly a significant word in the Scriptures. Much of this significance is derived from the
Great Commission found in Matthew 28: 18 - 20, where Jesus commanded His disciples to
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit (vs. 18).”
Even though the heart of the Great Commission is on making disciples, it is clear from Scripture
that a crucial part of this “disciple-making” process involves the act of baptism.
In fact, in the book of Acts, as the early church experienced its’ Spirit-wrought beginning, one of
the principal symbols of communicating a convert’s new life in Christ was the act of baptism. Thus,
when a person came into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, baptism quickly followed. Baptism
was that outward act, whereby the new convert publicly set himself apart from his former life and
identified himself wholly with the Lord Jesus Christ. Ever since this time, all New Testament
churches have observed at least two ordinances:
(1) The Lord’s Supper.
(2) Baptism.
Baptism truly is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling experiences of the Christian faith.
However, even though baptism is one of the most meaningful experiences of our faith, it is also
one of the most debated. Some of the questions that have been raised are:
Is there something that must happen before a person is baptized?
What is the meaning of baptism?
What is the proper mode of baptism?
Who is to be baptized?
Why is baptism necessary or is it?
Does baptism save an individual?
These questions and many more surround the ordinance of baptism.
What questions do you have about baptism?
The purpose of this study is not only to answer some of these questions, but also to help you grow
into a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
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I. What Precedes Baptism?
Just as summer precedes winter and sowing precedes harvest, there is something that precedes
baptism.
A. Before a person is baptized, that person must be convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts 2: 37. What happened to the men who heard Peter’s message?
As Peter preached, the Bible says that the men were “cut to the heart.” The word “cut” means
“pierced or stabbed.” It’s a word that conveys intense spiritual conviction - a conviction that comes
about through the preaching of the Word of God. Every believer who has experienced God’s saving
grace is convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of God’s Word.
Read Romans 10: 17. How does faith come to a person?
Exposure to God’s Word is absolutely essential for conviction to come upon a person’s life.
Read Hebrews 4: 12. What does this verse say to you about the importance of God’s
Word?
B. Before a person is baptized, that person must repent of his sin and trust Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior.
Read Acts 2: 37 - 38. What was Peter’s response to the men’s question in vs. 37?
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Notice the pattern that is found in these verses.
First - there is conviction of sin.
Second - there is repentance and faith in Christ.
Third - there is baptism.
This is always the New Testament pattern. Baptism always follows repentance from sin and faith in
Jesus Christ.
II. What is the Mode and Meaning of Baptism?
Several modes of baptism have been practiced through the years and many still exist today.
Among them are immersion, sprinkling, pouring and dipping. But what is the proper mode
according to Scripture?
The practice of baptism in the New Testament was carried out in one way: the person being
baptized was immersed or put completely under the water and then brought back up again.
Baptism by immersion is therefore the “mode” of baptism or the way in which baptism was carried
out in the New Testament. This is evident for the following reasons:
1. The Greek word baptizo means “to plunge, dip or immerse.” This is the common meaning of the
term both inside and outside the Bible.
2. This meaning is also required in several New Testament passages.
In Mark 1: 5, people were baptized by John “in the Jordan River.” Mark 1: 10, records Jesus’
baptism as Him “coming up from the water.”
The language specifies that Jesus came “out of” the water, not that He came away from it.
John 3:23 tells us that John the Baptist “was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there
was much water there.” It would not take “much water” to baptize people by sprinkling, but it
would take much water to baptize by immersion.
3. The symbolism of union with Christ seems to require baptism by immersion.
In his book, Christian Doctrine, the late W. T. Conner wrote:
We maintain that the fundamental facts of the gospel are the death and
resurrection of Jesus as the ground of our salvation and that baptism is meant to
set forth these facts.
Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Read Romans 6: 3–5.
According to Scripture, when a person comes to faith in Christ, that person’s life is mysteriously
united with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As vs. 3 says, you were baptized
(immersed) into Christ. His death becomes your death, His burial becomes your burial, His life
becomes your life.
This truth is clearly symbolized in baptism by immersion. When the candidate for baptism goes
down into the water it is a picture of going down into the grave and being buried. Coming up out of
the water is then a picture of being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. Baptism, thus,
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very clearly picture’s one’s old way of life rising to a new kind of life in Christ. Baptism by sprinkling
or pouring cannot possibly symbolize these truths.
III. Who Are the Subjects of Baptism?
The clear teaching of the New Testament is that only those who give a credible profession of faith
in Jesus Christ should be baptized. This is why baptism is often referred to as “believer’s baptism.”
Read Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10:44–48. Who was baptized?
Scripture is clear: the outward symbol of beginning the Christian life should only be given to those
who show evidence of having begun the Christian life.
Thus, infant baptism is rejected.
IV. Is Baptism Necessary?
Since baptism is symbolic of the new life we have in Christ, it is important, as a matter of
obedience that every believer follow in “believer’s baptism.” Jesus commanded baptism; therefore,
baptism becomes one of the first steps of obedience in the life of a believer.
However, while we recognize the importance of baptism, we should not say that baptism is
necessary for salvation.
To say that baptism is necessary for salvation is to say that we are not justified by faith alone, but
by faith plus a certain “work,” the work of baptism.
What did Jesus say to the thief on the cross? Read Luke 23: 43.
The thief could not be baptized before he died on the cross, but he was certainly saved that day.
Why? Because his faith was in Christ alone.
Another reason why baptism is not necessary for salvation is that our justification from sins takes
place at the point of saving faith, not at the point of water baptism, which usually occurs later.
Thus, if a person is already justified and forgiven of his sins at the point of saving faith, baptism is
not necessary for the forgiveness of sins or for the bestowal of new spiritual life.
Baptism, then, is not necessary for salvation. But it is necessary if we are to be obedient to Christ
who commanded all who believe in Him to follow Him in baptism.
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V. What Should Follow Baptism?
By examining Acts 2, it becomes rather obvious that certain things followed baptism:
1. Growth in grace. (Acts 2:42)
A vital part of the first church’s ministry was discipleship. Those who were baptized “continued
steadfastly” in the study of God’s Word and prayer.
2. Fellowship. (Acts 2:44–46)
It is totally foreign to Scripture to be saved and yet not have a desire to fellowship with our
brothers and sisters in Christ. Meeting needs, sharing goods and partnering with fellow Christians
was clearly evident in the early church.
3. Worship. (Acts 2:47)
These early believers were characterized by a spirit of worship and praise to God that influenced all
the people.
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Communion
Other words used to describe Communion are: The Lord’s Supper, The Eucharist, the Breaking of
Bread, The Last Supper.
What is Communion?
It is a holy time of worship when believers in Jesus Christ corporately come together as one body
to remember and celebrate what Christ did for us.
The Elements
There are two elements to Communion:
The Bread – is a representation of Christ’s body that was given as a living sacrifice in order to
provide reconciliation between man and God.
Bread during the time of Christ was considered the source of life. You had to have bread to eat in
order to live. The Bread element signifies that we understand that “TRUE” life rests upon our
acceptance and commitment to Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.
Read John 6:51
The Wine – is a representation of the blood in which Christ shed for the purchase of believers.
When Jesus prayed to His Father - Read Mark 14:36
The cup was the suffering and shame that He would endure in order to provide salvation for you
and me. When we drink the cup we are committing to follow Jesus no matter what the cost may
be.
Please note that the bread and the wine are unchanged elements, used as symbols, representing
Christ's body and blood, in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice.
Why do Christians practice Communion?
• To Remember - We are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in His life, death
and resurrection.
• It is a Command – Read 1 Corinthians 11:24
• Personal Examination – Before we take of the bread and wine it would be good to ask
ourselves: Am I living in a way that is pleasing to the Lord?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:28
How often should Christians participate in Communion?
The Bible says to do this until the return of Christ to this earth:
Read 1 Corinthians 11:26
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Communion should hold a deep significance for a believer and should not be underestimated. It is
more than just a memorial to remember Jesus' death and resurrection; Communion is also a
declaration of one's continual dependence upon Christ and a regular reminder of His soon return.
Who should take part in Communion?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:27-32
The Scriptures tell us that only true believers in Jesus Christ should take part in Communion.
Scripture also tells us to examine ourselves. What does that mean? It means to look within yourself
and ask the question: Is there anything in my life that would hinder me from being all that God
wants me to be? Is there any sin in my life that I need to confess before Him? We are not perfect
and we never will be, we are just forgiven.
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Session Three – The Holy Spirit
The Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
1. He is God
According to Acts 5:3-4 lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God:
Read Acts 5:3-4
2. He is a Person.
Personal pronouns such as He or Him are used to refer to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.
Read John 14:17
3. He is intelligent.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Romans 8:27
4. He has feelings.
Read Ephesians 4:30
5. He has will.
Read I Corinthians 12:11
The Work of the Spirit in Salvation
1. Convicting
Definition – To convict (John 16:8) means to place the truth of the gospel in a clear light before
the unsaved so that it is acknowledged as truth, whether or not Christ is received as Savior.
Read John 16:8
2. Regenerating
Definition – The act of begetting by God, which imparts eternal life.
Means – It is a work of God, particularly of the Spirit (John 3:3-7); Titus 3:5). Faith is the
human requirement that enables the Spirit to regenerate, and the Word of God provides the
content for faith.
Read John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5
Characteristics – It is instantaneous, not a process. It is nonexperiential (not derived from or
based on experience, though the experiences of the Christian life will follow).
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Consequences
A New Nature
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17
A New Life
Read 1 John 2:29
3. Indwelling
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19
The persons indwelt – All true believers.
A. Sinning Christians are said to be indwelt (1 Corinthians 6:19) B. The Spirit is a gift (Romans 5:5)
C. The absence of the Spirit is a proof of being unsaved (Romans 8:9b)
The permanence of the indwelling – Believers may lose the filling but not the indwelling
Read John 14:16, John 10:28-29
What does the Holy Spirit do?
1. He teaches 2. He guides 3. He commissions
4. He commands men
5. He restrains 6. He intercedes 7. He speaks
The Filling of the Spirit
A. Definition - Being filled means being controlled by the Spirit
B. Characteristics – Filling is commanded (Ephesians 5:18), Filling is repeated (Acts 2:4, 4:31),
Filling produces Christ-likeness (Galatians 5:22-23)
C. Conditions for being filled:
1. A Dedicated Life – Yielding to the Spirit’s control, though commanded, is voluntary and
necessitates an act of dedication. This includes two aspects: initial dedication (Romans
12:1-2) and continual dedication of one’s life (Romans 8:14)
2. An Undefeated Life – Victory of sin in daily experience is necessary in being controlled by the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). This means responding to the light of the Word as it is
continually revealed (1 John 1:7)
3. A Dependant Life – Galatians 5:16
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D. Consequences – Being filled or controlled by the Spirit means:
1. A Christ-like character (Galatians 5:22-23) 2. Worship and Praise (Ephesians 5:18-20)
3. Submissiveness (Ephesians 5:21)
4. Service (John 7:37-39)
Here is a great illustration of the Filling of the Holy Spirit written as a devotion called: Under the
Spirit's Control – Greg Laurie, January 16, 2007
Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine,
because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. — Ephesians 5:17–18
When we hear the term "filled with the Spirit," it can sometimes frighten us. We might have seen
bizarre things take place in the name of the Holy Spirit. So we think, If that is being filled with the
Holy Spirit, then I don't know if I want it.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't necessarily involve an emotional experience. It can, but it
doesn't have to. The word "filled" as used in the Bible, and specifically in Ephesians 5:18, is a word
that has many shades of meaning. Not one of them, however, describes an emotional experience.
One translation of the word "filled" is the idea of wind filling the sail of a ship. The wind carries that
vessel along. So to be filled with the Spirit means that God fills your sails, so to speak, and guides
you through life. The Holy Spirit leads you through life.
But the idea of being filled with the Spirit also carries the meaning of being permeated. In the
original language, the word was also used to describe salt permeating meat to flavor and preserve
it. God wants His Holy Spirit to permeate the lives of His children in what they say, think, and do.
In other words, being filled with the Spirit is not limited to one, isolated instance.
To be filled with the Spirit means that God's Spirit infuses every aspect of our lives. He saturates
our prayer life, our worship life, and our business life too. He influences the way we treat others.
To be filled with the Spirit is walking thought-by-thought, decision-by-decision, and act-by-act,
under the Spirit's control.
Here is great analogy in regards to the Filling of The Spirit given by Adrian Rogers in his book,
“What Every Christian Should Know” Ephesians 5:18 NASB And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Contrast – Being drunk is the devil’s substitute for being filled with the Spirit.
Comparison – When a person is drunk, he/she is under the control of another influence; and
therefore his/her speech, his/her thoughts patterns, his/her walk, everything is changed. A man
who is typically timid thinks he can whip everybody in the bar when he is drunk. See pages 170-
180 in “What Every Christian should know” by Adrian Rogers.
How does a person stay drunk? He has to keep drinking. Likewise you have to keep being filled
with the Spirit of God.
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Session Four - Prayer
I. What is prayer? Why should I pray?
In every relationship, communication is essential. When two people are getting to know one
another, there is much conversation. As relationships continue and deepen, success is dependent
upon effective communication.
Prayer is communication with God. Throughout time, men have called upon God and sought His
guidance. Scripture provides countless examples of prayer, including many prayers of our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the practice of prayer and Bible study, we get to know God and
strengthen our relationship with Him.
There are many books available to instruct us about prayer, but the best way to learn is to pray.
God promises that when we seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-
8).
So, let’s begin!
Read the following verses and record their application to your prayer life.
Psalm 145:18, Acts 17:24-28, Ephesians 1:3-5
Psalm 4:3, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 34:4
Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:13
Romans 8:26-27, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12
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In our Bible study we learned that God loves us and desires our fellowship. Scripture instructs us
to pray, and when we do, we know that God hears our prayers. When we don’t know how to pray,
we can rely on the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to guide us.
In your own words, tell God that you love Him and are grateful that you are His child. Express how
much you want to know Him and grow in your relationship with Him. Ask God to teach you, by His
Spirit and through His Word how to pray.
II. How do I pray?
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we desire to become like Him.
Read Philippians 2:5 and I Peter 2:21.
Jesus was a man of prayer.
Scripture records numerous examples: Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12
As we model ourselves after Christ, we will look at some of His teaching on prayer.
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus showed His disciples how to pray. As we focus on Jesus’ actual words,
we will consider what they mean and their purpose in our prayer.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our
daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen. (KJV)
Please use the table on the next page as you study Matthew 6:9-10, and read each supplemental
verse listed.
The Model Prayer
When we say We are... In order to..
Our Father (verse 9) Acknowledging His love and our
trust. Read Romans 8:14-17
and Luke 11:11-13
Glorify God. Read Isaiah 43:7
and I Peter 2:9
In Heaven (verse 9) Acknowledging His sovereignty.
Read Nehemiah9:6
Acknowledging His Dwelling
Place. Read Isaiah 66:1-2.
Recognizing Our Inheritance.
Read Ephesians 2:6
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When we say We are... In order to..
Hallowed (verse 9) Honoring God. Read Psalm 8,
47, 66, 99, 148, 150 and Psalm
33:1, Isaiah 25:1
Your Name (verse 9) Acknowledging His character –
thinking about who He is.
Your Kingdom Come (verse 10) Inviting His Presence. Read
Matthew 13 and Matthew 9:37.
Participate in the Kingdom
work. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
and Hebrews 13:20-21
Your Will Be Done (verse 10) Praying for His purpose. Read
Psalm 40:8 and Psalm 143:10
Other observations and thoughts from your study:
Today, Jesus has shown us that we have a special, intimate relationship with God and that we are
to pray on behalf of who God is, desiring His will to be accomplished on earth.
As you pray today, thank God that He is your Father. Thank Him for your glorious inheritance. Tell
Him that you want to honor Him in all you say and do. Ask God to make you open to doing His will
and to reveal His will to you. Offer yourself in service and continue to seek His guidance in your
prayer life.
III. How do I pray? (Continued)
In yesterday’s study, we learned that we are to pray on the basis of God’s nature and holiness,
seeking His will in all things. Today, we will look at the second part of the Model Prayer which
includes both physical and spiritual petitions we bring to God.
Using the following chart, research the scriptures listed to gain an understanding of what we are
asking from God based on the promises He’s given.
When we say... We are admitting that.. Because God Promises...
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When we say... We are admitting that.. Because God Promises...
Give us this day our daily
bread. (verse 11)
We are hungry and we can't
make it on our own.
Read Luke 12:22-31 and
Philippians 4:12-13 for God's
promises.
Forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our debtors.
(verse 12)
We are dirty, and we can't
cleanse ourselves. We don't
know how to forgive.
Read Psalm 103:12 and
Colossians 1:13-14
And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from
the evil one. (verse 13)
We will fall without God's help. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13,
Hebrews 4:15-16, John 16:13,
and Galatians 5:16, 25
By studying God’s promises, we learn that He will provide for our physical needs in the way that He
knows is best. He also meets our spiritual needs, freely offering forgiveness through His Son,
Jesus Christ. Through God’s help, we can forgive others and withstand the temptations that come
our way.
In your prayer time today, praise God for His promises to you. Thank Him for His great care for
you. Tell Him your physical and spiritual needs and ask for His help, acknowledging that His will
and way are what you desire.
IV. How NOT to pray
As we have studied, Scripture provides instruction for how to pray. The Bible also includes
instructions on how not to pray, and we will look at two of these passages today.
Read Matthew 6:5-8. What instructions on prayer does Jesus give in these verses?
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Read James 4:1-3. Record what you learn from these verses:
When we pray, God does not require fancy words or lengthy explanations. He is not impressed by
the form of our prayer but looks at our hearts. Remember, prayer is not an opportunity to tell God
everything we want for ourselves but to seek what He wants.
As you pray today, take time to confess any selfishness or desire to perform that may have found
its way into your prayer life. Offer your prayers as worship to the Lord, continuing to ask for His
guidance.
V. Praying with Others
Deepening a relationship with God through prayer is a great blessing that is available to each child
of God. Since God is so faithful to answer our prayers as individuals, imagine what can happen
when we being to pray together! When we pray with other believers, our hearts become united in
seeking God’s will. We add power to our prayer and strengthen our faith by watching God work.
We can also provide accountability to one another as we develop our prayer life.
Read the following scriptures and record what each teaches you about praying with others:
Matthew 18:19-20
Acts 2:42-47
Acts 12:5-12
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Acts 16:23-36
Our Bible study shows us the importance of praying together. Begin praying that the Lord will join
you with another person or group for a regular time of prayer. Continue praying until you have a
partner(s). Commit to a set time/day to pray and guard that commitment. Don’t allow other
events to take priority over your prayer time.
Conclusion
If you wanted to become a great swimmer, you could read some books about swimming. You
could also watch people swim and talk to them about their technique. You could learn many things
this way, but until you got into the water and applied the knowledge, you wouldn’t be a swimmer.
In this way, prayer is much like swimming. You can read and study and talk to other people about
praying, but you won’t truly learn until you begin praying yourself. So, dear brother/sister, I am
praying that you will be so drawn to prayer that you can’t resist!
There is much more that we could study about prayer, but I know that the Lord will teach you
Himself as you begin this great journey!
Prayer – James 5:14-15, Prayers of faith are answered not simply because they are prayed in faith
but only if they are prayed in the will of God (I John 5:14). Charles Ryrie
The Life Changing Power of Prayer – T.W. Hunt
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Session Five - The Bible
“Sin will keep you from this book and this book will keep you from sin”. Unknown
“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will”. Billy Graham
Each time I read my Bible I must be prepare to do what it says.
Psalms 119:11 NASB Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
The Word of God is the foundation of the Christ-directed life. It is from the Bible that you learn all
of the basics for the Christian life. As God speaks to you through the Scriptures, you can come to
know Him and to understand and obey His principles for life and ministry.
When you have a vital, personal intake of the Word of God, you will grow.
2 Timothy 3:16 says: The “how” of learning and applying Scriptures to life is something every
Christian should know. This chapter covers the five ways to make the Bible yours.
Compare the five methods of learning from the Bible to the five fingers of your hand. If you hold
the Bible with only one or two fingers, it is easy to lose you grip. But as you use more fingers, your
grasp of the Bible becomes stronger.
This is also true spiritually. If a person hears, reads, studies, and memorizes the Word – and
meditates on it, his grasp of Scripture becomes firm and part of his life. As the thumb is needed in
any combination with any finger to complete your hold, so meditation combined with hearing,
readings, studying, and memorizing is essential for a full grasp of God's Word.
The Hand Method
1. Hear
2. Read
3. Study
4. Memorize
5. Meditate
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I. Hear Read Romans 10:17
What kind of heart will best hear and use the Word?
Read Luke 8:15
A. An honest heart
B. An alert and cautious heart
C. An open, but indifferent heart
D. A well-trained, scholarly heart
Most Christians hear the Word of God preached. But only a few learn the profit of putting the Word
into practice.
Whom did Jesus say would be blessed?
Read Luke 11:28
In what other ways can we hear the Word?
To help you retain, what you hear, take notes on the Scriptures used and on the main points of the
sermon.
Hearing the Word and not putting it into practice is like listening to someone talk about the benefits
of exercising. Until you actual exercise you will never reap the benefits.
II. Read
Read Revelation 1:3
List Reasons for daily reading of the Bible:
Read Deuteronomy 17:19-20
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A daily reading program, which will take you systematically through the Bible, is something many
Christians use as a regular part of their daily devotional time.
A friend of mine has suggested reading one chapter of a book of the Bible every day for a week.
Then meet with someone to discuss the following:
Who does the action?
What is the action done?
Where is the action done?
When is the action done?
Why is the action done?
How is the action done?
What is the most significant verse to you? Why?
What specifically do you need to do in response to this?
III. Study
Read Acts 17:11
Read Proverbs 2:4. How does this verse indicate we should study the Word?
Read 1 Timothy 2:15. What should be our goal in studying the Bible?
IV. Memorize
Read Deuteronomy 11:18. In your own words state what God wants us to do about His Word.
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Read Proverbs 7:3
Read Matthew 4:4-11 and record how Jesus overcame Satan's temptations:
Read Colossians 3:16
What do you think, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” means?
“I know of no form of intake of the Word which pays greater divide for the time invested than
Scripture memorization” Dawson Trotman
After 24 hours you may accurately remember:
5% of what you hear,
15% of what you read,
35% of what you study,
57% of what you see and hear
But you can remember 100% of what you memorize.
Ideas that can be helpful: Scripture cards that you can carry with you, tape verses around your
house next to places you go by frequently, record them on tape and listen to the tape while you
are relaxing.
The key to memorization is not to get frustrated. For some people it is easier than others. To start
out work on one verse a month. Ask God to help you to go at a pace that best suits you.
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V. Meditate
Read Psalm 1:2
Meditation is prayerful reflection with a view to understanding and putting it into action – giving
prayerful thought to God's Word and your life, with the goal of conforming your life to God's will.
KNOW GOD'S WORD and OBEY IT!
Asking these two questions will help you meditate:
1. What is the meaning of this verse based upon its context? There is only one true interpretation.
2. How should this verse affect my life?
There are many applications.
This kind of meditation in God's Word can be done.
As you hear the Word preached;
As you read the Bible in your daily devotional time;
As you pray and reflect on what you are studying;
As you go over verses you have memorized.
What promises are made to the person who continually meditates on the Word of God?
Read Psalm 1:2-3, Joshua 1:8
Read Luke 6:45. Do you think meditating on God's Word can affect your speech and actions? Is
so, How?
Quotes on the importance of knowing your Bible:
“The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.”
Dwight L. Moody
“Ignorance of the Bible means ignorance of Christ”
Jerome
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“I cannot too greatly emphasize the importance and value of Bible Study... In these days of
uncertainties, when men and women are apt to decide questions from the standpoint of expediency
rather than on the eternal principles laid down by God Himself.”
John Wanamaker
All the Bible knowledge in the world is pretty much useless if you are spiritually diseased by sin in
your heart. If you have lost your heart for God, all your understanding and knowledge and even
religious habits won’t help you. Greg Laurie
Tools for Bible Study
• Study Bibles – NASB, NIV, NLT, NKJV, KJV, ESV
o MacArthur Study Bible, Ryrie Study Bible, Wiersbe NLT Study Bible
o Translation vs. Paraphrase (We will discuss this in class)
• Concordance
o Every word in the Bible in alphabetical order
• Computer Software
o ESword
o Bible Explorer - WordSearch
o Logos
o QuickVerse
o PC Study Bible
• Word Study Books – Strongs
• Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
• Atlases
• Commentaries – Warren Wiersbe, John MacArthur, James Vernon McGee, John Phillips
• Good Authors & Teachers – John MacArthur, Greg Laurie, Chip Ingram, James MacDonald,
Jon Courson, Adrian Rogers, Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, R.C. Sproul, Albert Mohler, Skip
Heitzig, Chuck Smith
• Training Center – The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center)
o http://www.thecove.org/
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Session Six - My Purpose/Discenring the Will of God
Character is doing what is right when nobody’s looking. J.C. Watts, Jr.
The Pinocchio Syndrome
I was a young child when I first heard the story about a young boy whose chief purpose in life was
to become human. You probably know the story well. Although this child knew his creator
intimately, he often questioned his very state of existence. You know his name as Pinocchio, the
wooden boy who just would not accept life in the manner it was handed to him.
I mention this story to you because it seems that many Christians have something in common with
Pinocchio. Upon accepting Christ as Savior they soon realize that there is something more to life
than what they have experienced in the past. Where Pinocchio had a strong desire to become
human, we have an equally strong desire to understand our purpose in life. Although we have an
intimate relationship with our Creator, we desire for Him to reveal His purpose for our existence to
us individually.
One of the best selling Christian books of recent years is The Purpose Drive Life by Rick Warren.
While Warren’s book is very helpful and recommended, we are going to look at a much broader
understanding of purpose in this chapter. Our goal for the next few moments is to gain a better
understanding of the purpose of all believers.
In other words, we will seek to understand that there is one singular purpose for all believers even
though there are a variety of ways in which that purpose is demonstrated in life’s circumstances.
In your own words, what do you believe is the overall purpose of your life?
I. Created for God
As you began to think about the question above, you may have experienced difficulty expressing
an answer. You may have listed things that related to your occupation, your family relationships,
your church, or your future plans. On the other hand, you may have found it very easy to answer
this question in simple terms. Whatever the case may be, our consideration of the above question
drives us to God’s word to seek understanding.
What 2 things do these passages tell us about the creation of humanity?
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 and Colossians 1:15-16
Colossians 1:16b (NIV) “we were created _____ him and _____ him.”
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The answers to the blanks above come in the form of two small prepositions: by and for. We were
created by him and for him. As a follower of Christ you have already understood that you were
created by Him. But to understand your purpose you must focus on this last, yet very important,
prepositional phrase “for him”. In other words, the purpose of your life can be realized in very
simple terms:
You were created for God.
If we exist for God, then the logical application of this in our lives is that we give Him glory. So
what is the overall purpose of your life and the lives of all other followers of Christ?
To bring God glory.
This overarching purpose can be realized in all aspects of your life. It is the very thing that you
have been created to do. Regardless of your circumstances or position in life, your purpose is to
bring glory to God.
Louie Giglio puts it this way, “You’ve been created by God. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ve also
been created for Him. As a result, there’s an internal homing device riveted deep with your soul
that perpetually longs for your Maker. An internal, God-ward magnet, pulling your being toward
Him.”1 We have in us this desire to worship God, but sometimes we have replaced God with other
things that have distorted our understanding of our purpose.
For many, the ability to live out this purpose comes in the form of following God’s commands. This
was the key way of life for the Pharisees of the New Testament. This group of religious leaders
sought to follow God by focusing on the commandments of the Old Testament.
Unfortunately, the Pharisees became so focused on God’s Law that their religion led them to
legalism. Their relationship to God was defined by how well they followed each individual
command of Scripture. In the gospel of Mark these religious leaders even questioned Jesus
concerning which commandment was the most important.
Read Mark 12:28-30. In your own words, write what Christ said was the greatest
commandment.
Why do you think Christ said that this was the greatest commandment?
The implications of living out this commandment are huge. Jesus understood that when we love
God with everything we are, then a natural outgrowth of that love will drive us to be obedient to
God’s word. It will drive us to seek God in all our decisions. It will drive us to love others as God
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loves them. It will drive us to seek community with a family of faith. It will drive us to daily
worship.
In other words, we will live a lifestyle that brings glory to God . . . a lifestyle of purpose! Christ has
made it clear in the New Testament that He is not pleased with a lifestyle of legalism. He desires
our commitment to Him and not just a commitment to follow a list of commands located
throughout scripture.
Take a moment to consider three areas of your life (i.e. work, family, school, church,
etc.). How will these areas of your life be influenced by following the commandment
that Jesus gave us in Mark 12:30?
1.
2.
3.
II. A Lifestyle of Worship
Most of us would have to admit that our lives would change if we began following this
commandment with urgency. Some of our relationships would be strengthened, while others may
come to an end. We would begin to see our occupation as an avenue to love others and share the
good news with them. We would begin to allow our prayer life to determine the direction we seek
in our education, our occupation, our daily decisions and our future decisions. We would see the
hurt in people’s lives as opportunities for ministry. We would see the hurt in our lives as
opportunities for reliance upon Christ. Ultimately, we would bring glory to God through a lifestyle
of worship.
We can restate the purpose of our lives in terms of worship. Worship is much more than what
occurs on Sunday mornings in churches across the world. In the simplest of terms, worship is
bringing glory to God in the way we live our lives moment by moment. Glorifying God is
synonymous with worshiping Him. We have often put worship in this small box which we have
labeled “music/singing” because of what occurs on any given Sunday in local churches. But
worship is much more.
Worship is our daily response to our Creator.
Read Romans 12:1-2 and rewrite these verses in your own words.
What do you think it means to become a living sacrifice?
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Isn’t worship just one of many purposes in our lives? Shouldn’t it be balanced with other areas
such as service, evangelism, devotional life, and fellowship with other Christians? The answer to
both of these questions is yes and no. There are other areas of our lives, such as service/ministry,
evangelism, etc., that need our attention. These areas are all a natural outgrowth or our desire to
bring glory to God through a lifestyle of worship. When we become a living sacrifice we begin to
lay all things aside in order to bring glory to Christ.
As we lay aside our desires in pursuit of bringing glory to Him these other purposes become
evident in our lives. We could go into much detail concerning the various purposes of our lives but
in an effort to keep things concise, we will focus on only two areas previously mentioned; service
and evangelism.
Read Luke 10:38-42. What point was Jesus trying to make in this passage?
Martha had been caught up in service to the extent that she missed the opportunity to spend time
sitting at the Savior’s feet. Mary had chosen to spend time with Christ. This passage does not
suggest that service is bad, but does give us an understanding that what is most important is our
intimacy with the Savior. Our relationship with Christ will lead us to service.
What about evangelism? Shouldn’t it be our greatest desire to see the lost come to know Christ?
Evangelism is of great importance and is commanded by Scripture. What could give God greater
glory than someone turning from sin and placing their trust in Christ for salvation? As we seek to
bring glory to God, we will desire to see the lost come to know Christ. Our desire should then lead
us to action.
Read Revelation 5:11-14. What does this passage suggest about worship in heaven?
Our worship will last forever! One day the need for evangelism will cease because Christ will have
returned to bring his children to their home in heaven. The pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church
says the following:
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.
Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is the ultimate,
not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When the age is
over, and countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before
the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary
necessity. But worship abides forever.2
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By no means does this suggest that missions/evangelism is of little importance. It just clarifies
that missions is in outgrowth of our desire to bring God glory through our worship of Him. As we
see the lost come to know Christ, we see new worshipers who will gather with us in eternity. There
will come a day when Christ will return and missions/evangelism will no longer be necessary.
Worship will continue forever.
Above all other areas of our lives, our chief purpose or highest calling is to bring glory to God by
living a lifestyle of worship. These areas of service, evangelism, discipleship, and church fellowship
are fueled by this desire to glorify Him.
III. Achieving My Purpose
It is one thing to know what your purpose is (to bring glory to God), but how do you accomplish
this? The first step to accomplishing this purpose occurred on the day of your salvation. It is only
through a growing relationship with Christ that you will see God’s purpose realized in your life.
That relationship will involve a dedication to Scripture, prayer, a local body of believers, and
obedience to His leading. All of these areas are covered in greater detail throughout this study.
Take note of how these areas are intertwined throughout your life in such as way as to draw you
closer to the Savior.
When most people ask themselves “What is my purpose?” they are really asking, “What do I do
now that I’m a Christian?”
We have now discovered that the general answer is “bring glory to God”, but what about the
specific details of one’s life. Other questions emerge including “where do I work?”, “how do I serve
at my church?”, and “who do I choose to develop lasting relationships with?” The answers to these
questions are not cut and dry. It takes a constant seeking after God’s heart in order to come to
conclusions. If often requires patience and sometimes-even failure in order to gain clear
understanding.
God has gifted each person in a unique way. It is important to ask yourself the following
questions:
What are my talents and interests?
What are my strengths?
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What do I know to be areas of weakness in my life?
God has built you with specific strengths, ambitions, interests, and abilities. As you seek to glorify
Him through the study of His word, prayer, church attendance and fellowship with other believers,
ask Him to reveal to you your place of service in life. God is not limited to demonstrating His love
and power in the church. God uses people everyday in their school, their workplace, on the street
corner, in the shopping mall, and anywhere else He chooses. We should strive to bring Him glory
in every circumstance of life.
Read Psalm 37:4 and rewrite it in your own words.
We serve an amazing God who wants us to delight ourselves in Him. As we delight ourselves in
Him, our desires fall under His leadership and He seeks to fulfill them in our lives. Your goal is to
delight yourself in Him. As you do so, you will begin to bring glory to Him on a daily basis. It is at
this point that you will begin to see your life being lived with purpose.
References
1 Louie Giglio, The Air I Breath: Worship as a way of life (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.,
2003), p. 14.
2 John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Book House, 1993), p. 11.
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Session Seven - Spiritual Warfare/Temptation
I. Acknowledging the Conflict
We all make choices and those choices, in turn, define who we are: our perspectives, priorities, and
most importantly where we will spend eternity. One of the significant choices that we make is how
we view the world that we live in. By world I do not mean a specific location but rather our
surroundings and situations, that which we are a part of and the influences that shape our choices.
Modern man, too often, limits the workings of creation to only those things that he can understand.
When we look at our world this way, we see seemingly random acts with no connection or apparent
eternal meaning. With this view it is easy to adopt the "get all you can" and "take care of yourself"
philosophy. This inevitably results in emptiness, frustration, and even depression. Why? Because
we never recognized the reality that we are in a battle, whether we choose to be in it or not. What
is at stake? The quality of our existence here on earth, that which Christ referred to in John 14:6
when He said "I am the way the truth and the life”. This life is far more than existence. It embodies
purpose, peace, strength, and courage. It causes us to live above our earthly surroundings. I
believe that, for many, there is a refusal to admit that the battle exists at all and for them this life
is unattainable.
This, then, is the first step- recognize the foe, the battle, and the tactics that you will encounter.
Read 1 Peter 5:8 and record your thoughts below:
If you desire a victorious Christian life you must recognize that there is no time when you are safe,
immune from the devil's assaults.
II. Identifying the Many Faces of the Enemy
Read Ephesians 6:12
As a basic step toward Christian maturity, we would do well to stop and assess the way that
spiritual warfare is waged. Overcoming a person physically or legally is not the same thing as
overcoming the influence that caused them to act in an evil way. But, we must recognize that it is
the influence, the spirit, that is set against God's guidance, and many times this influence comes in
very attractive and logical packages.
….. for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14
Many of those who oppose the teachings and methods modeled by Christ are those who have been
deluded by these influences and are so persuaded that they see their line of thought as logical and
acceptable. We must be quick to see these evil influences and just as quick to separate the hate
that we must have for these forces of Satan from the love that Christ requires that we have for
those who have been overcome by its power.
We must also acknowledge that we as Christians will also struggle with these forces: pride, envy,
anger, prejudice, and greed are all wrapped up in easily accepted packages waiting to destroy our
witness and steal our victories.
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III. Preparing for the Struggle
Read Ephesians 6:10-11 and record your thoughts below:
As humans, we like to think that we are independent and fully capable of providing for ourselves.
Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to spiritual warfare. We are engaged in a
battle that we have absolutely no possibility of winning in our own power. Our adversary must be
understood as the powerful, deceitful, and crafty force that he is. Satan is described in Scripture as
the prince of this world and as long as we are "of the world" we are under his power. As Christians
we are "in the world" but not "of the world" and are therefore in conflict "with the world" and will
be opposed by tremendous power. Though our eternity is secure in-Christ, our witness and our
effectiveness can be ruined by underestimating the strength of the devil. Some perspective can be
gained on this in the book of Jude as we see a confrontation between Michael the archangel and
the devil.
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses,
did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." Jude 1:9
(NAS)
We would do well to understand how little power that we have and the tremendous power arrayed
against us. If we accept that we cannot win this war on our own and are therefore dependent upon
God to provide for us, we have the mindset that is needed to be victorious.
IV. Understanding our Resources (part 1)
Read Ephesians 6:13
God has the resources that we need to successfully wage spiritual warfare and we must consciously
apply these resources in order to be victorious. What is this armor, what can shield us from the
power of darkness? First is obedience. We must not attempt to rationalize for ourselves but rather
subject our lives voluntarily to the leadership of God. We don't know what is best- He does. If we
stray from God's prescribed battle plan by interjecting our will over His we have no chance of
victory.
Read Ephesians 6:14-15
Our lives must first be characterized by truth. Though the world is very often confused by what
truth is we can never be.
Christ said " I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father but by me.
John 14:6.
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In short, the litmus test must always be "does it agree with the life Christ modeled for us"? If the
answer is no then it is not truth. There are many influences that would attempt to get us to vary
from that by suggesting such things as: "everyone else does it", "its too hard", "you have a right
to", or any of thousands of other things. But as a popular Christian motto says "What Would Jesus
Do"?
Secondly our lives must embody righteousness. There is a tremendous difference between that
which is legal and that which is right. As Christians we are called to do what is right even if it is
hurtful and even if we are not required to by man's law.
The third resource that we have is the Gospel of Peace. This does not mean that we will never have
conflict but rather that we have peace in the Lord regardless of the external difficulties that we
must face. Peace when the world is falling apart around us. Peace when there is no way that we
can see a positive result from our situation.
How is this peace attained?
It is attained by giving over control to God and recognizing that He can use bad things for good
that He can supernaturally intervene, and finally that He has an eternity of bliss awaiting us. If He
chooses to use difficulties in our live to bring glory to Himself and a light to those around us we
may find the way hard but nothing in comparison to the rewards that He has prepared for us.
V. Understanding our Resources (part 2)
Read Ephesians 6:16-17
The apostle Paul goes on the list other parts of the armor that God wants us to have.
Faith is listed as our shield. In contrast to the ways of the world, God wants us to live as if His
promises were already fulfilled in us not waiting for the completion of some kind of test to devote
ourselves to His work. "God said it- that settles it" is a popular phase that we would do well to take
to heart. When his word promises something to us we do not have to go back to Him again and
again to be sure He hasn't changed His mind. God is the same now and forever. We can commit
our lives to Him depending upon His provisions even when we are unable to see them.
The helmet of salvation is a resource that we do not need to underestimate. For many in this world
there is a constant need to be good enough, trying to reach some mythically level that will be
acceptable to God. Once we recognize that we never will and that the only thing that we can do is
accept what God has already done for us this unreachable demand is removed from us. This is
important for Christians as well because we do fail and will fail again and it is easy to get caught up
in the same mentality of being good enough. The helmet of salvation is a figurative description of
the ultimate security that we have in God. Though we may be injured in battle, may suffer defeat,
may find the struggle ever more difficult we are secure- not in our own ability but in God and the
salvation that He has provided through the sacrifice of Christ. The helmet of salvation insures that
we will not suffer an eternally fatal injury in our spiritual war.
The last resource that Paul lists is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. God's word
provides an offensive rather than just a defensive capability. In order for us to wage war we must
have knowledge of God's word and an ability to apply it in our life situations. This, of course,
requires that we spend time in study and reflection.
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This is not an option for Christians but rather a requirement.
Failure to do so would be equivalent to a soldier going into battle with no weapon. It does not take
much searching to find biblical figures who used scripture as authority during difficult life
situations. Especially noteworthy are the references that Christ used during His temptation in the
wilderness. Each time Satan used a scheme to try to lure Christ into sin He quoted scripture to
refute the error. Paul quoted Scripture in instructing new churches and correcting error. We can be
sure that scripture has the answer for whatever difficulty that we are facing.
A Soldier’s Equipment Armor of God
Purpose in Spiritual Battle
Girdle – A leather apron cinched at the waist. Gives
protection and mobility. Also used as a sheath for
the soldier’s sword.
Truth
Breastplate – Body armor that covers a soldier’s
front and back, protecting vital organs.
Righteousness
Shoes – Leather sandals with nails in the soles for
firm footing; enabling a soldier to travel over rocky
or uneven terrain without falling.
Gospel of Peace
Shield – Large enough for a soldier to hide behind.
Made of wood and leather; often dipped in water so
fire arrows could not damage it.
Faith
Helmet – Because the head is a vulnerable target, a
soldier never goes into battle without his helmet.
Salvation
Sword – Offensive weapon used to defend the
soldier and attack his enemy.
Word of God
Prayer – Paul made it clear that prayer is a partner
to the Word of God. You might say that prayer gives
us power to hold up the sword of God’s Word in a
spiritual battle.
Prayer
Tools of Satan – Deception
• Questioning God’s Word
o Genesis 3:1 – “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree in the garden’?
• Denying God’s Word
o Genesis 3:4 – “You will surely not die.”
• Making Substitutions for God’s Word
o Genesis 3:5 – “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
First, he questioned God’s Word.
Second, he denied God’s Word.
Third, he substituted his own lie.
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Temptation
Temptation – Being urged or enticed to do something wrong in the eyes of God. Billy Graham.
Temptation usually starts in the realm of our minds. It has been said, “You cannot stop a bird from
flying over your head, but you can stop him from building a nest in your hair.” That means I cannot
prevent an impure thought from passing by, but I can keep it from becoming the center of my
thoughts. It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to give in to temptation.
We have all been assaulted by impure thoughts. They often come at the worst times. You may be
in church, reading the Bible, or singing a praise song when some devious, bizarre, sinful thought
comes into your mind. Then the devil says, “How could you think such a thing? You call yourself a
Christian?” Temptation is one of the oldest tricks in the book. That is why we should bring every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. The next time Satan brings up that sinful thought,
remind yourself, “I didn’t come up with that, and I am not going to think about it. It is evil and
impure, and I don’t want anything to do with it.”
Read 1 John 2:16
John’s words here basically break down the three categories of temptation.
1. The Lust of the Flesh
2. The Lust of the Eyes 3. The Pride of Life
A person who has fallen into the lust of desires of the flesh is basically a person who gives into his
or her impulses. I have a dog that does pretty much whatever he wants to do. When he feels like
taking a nap, he collapses. When he gets hungry, he goes and rustles up something. If he feels the
urge to do something else, he does it. He just gives in to whatever his impulses are. There are
people like that. They just live to gratify their cravings and desires. They serve the lust of the flesh.
The lust of the eyes is mental temptation: what we see, contemplate, think about, and fantasize
over. Sin often begins here.
The pride of life is more subtle. You might be a person who does not indulge in other sinful
activities. You live a moral life. You have a fine family. You work hard, with honesty, and enjoy a
good career. You are pursuing excellence and knowledge. You might even be a religious person.
You might be patting yourself on the back saying, “I am so wonderful. I am so moral. I am so
good. I am so intelligent. Best of all, I am so humble.” You can be deceived by the pride of life.
Egotism and pride are as much a deception as the lust of the flesh or the lust of the eyes.
Bearing in mind these three ideas – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life –
let’s see if we can find them in Eve’s temptation in the garden. Genesis 3:6 tells us that Eve “saw
that the tree … was good for food.” There it is – the lust of the flesh. Then the Bible tells us that
she saw that it “was pleasant to the eyes.” There it is – the lust of the eyes. Then she saw that it
was “desirable to make one wise.” Finally, we have the pride of life. There you have it: Eve gave in
to the temptation. The enemy will hit you in those areas over and over again.
This section on Temptation was taken from, What the Devil doesn’t want You to Know, by Greg
Laurie
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The Cycle of Temptation
1. Thought – a thought enters our mind.
2. Fantasy – we fantasize about the thought.
3. Desire – Begin to plan and manipulate circumstances in order to accomplish the fantasy.
4. Choice – A choice has to be made to go through with it or not.
5. Yield – Do we yield to the temptation or do we say no.
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Session Eight - Church Membership/Spiritual Gifts
Read Hebrews 10:19-25
The American Express credit card once used this theme in its marketing campaign: Membership
Has Its Privileges. They wanted to convince you that membership in their organization had
worthwhile benefits. Today, I want to affirm that active membership in a local church has
worthwhile benefits. These words are meant to encourage those who do not attend church to seek
out a local congregation. They may also be useful to those people who “attend” a church but have
yet to offer themselves to the church as members.
I. The Privilege of Feeling at Home
Living in someone else’s house feels different than being in your own home with your own family.
Yet many folks are content to simply be “guests” in someone else’s church than become an active
member. Some of these are people who have never joined a church. Others may still be members
of a church they have not attended in many years.
Guests in my home will not have the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and upkeep. But they
neither will know the comfort and reward of being in a place of your own. The only way this is
possible is for it to become their home too.
II. The Privilege of Investment
There are lots of cars on the road and several of them look similar to mine. But there is something
special about the one that I own. I put a lot of investment into that vehicle. Church membership
requires that we invest in the health of the congregation.
This investment may take the form of time, money, hard work, prayer, and emotional resources.
In some cultures, people even risk their life and safety when they become part of a church.
For the person who is serious about Christian living, investing in the church is not an option. God
calls upon His people to invest in His church by tithing, ministering, praying, attending, and sharing
other methods of support. As we make these investments our concern for the welfare of the
church increases and our joy multiplies when God blesses the work of our congregation. The
financial news resources report on the status of many companies. But if I have an investment in a
particular company, I will give it special attention. There are many congregations, but I give
special interest in the one in which I invest myself.
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III. The Privilege of a Heritage
Remember that most of the New Testament books were written to churches, NOT individuals. Did
you notice from the passage in Hebrews 10 that the writer referred to “us”? From the beginning,
God established that His people would minister as a community and share in a common heritage.
Over the centuries, millions have died so that we may gather together as a church. This is a
privilege we have inherited from our spiritual forefathers.
When we join a church, we receive the inheritance of someone else’s sacrifice and investment.
IV. The Privilege of Ministry
The church has the crucial role in bringing God’s will to our world. If the church were to suddenly
disappear, very few people will be saved. Did you know that geese fly with fifty-one percent less
effort and get seventy-three more distance by forming a “V” and flying together rather than flying
solo? Christians are also more effective when we work together. The church is to salvation what
grocery stores are to hungry people, what schools are to education, or banks to business. No
church is perfect because it is made up of imperfect people. However, the world will not find
salvation without it.
There was once a school football team who had a player who was not very athletic. He came to
every practice and attended every game, but he was never good enough for the coach to put him
into a actual game. Finally it got to the final game of the season and someone suggested to the
coach that it would be considerate to put this boy into the game for just a little while. But when
the coach went to look for the young man, he could not find him. The boy was hiding from the
coach. He did not want to go into the game. He just wanted to be on the team.
Some people do not want to “go into the game” of Christian ministry. They just want to be on the
team. But they miss the privilege of service to the Lord. I was saddened to read that only about
one half of Southern Baptists in the United States attend or financially support their local church
even once in years time.
V. The Privilege of Discipleship
Church involvement brings a deeper faith by setting the environment for discipleship to occur.
When I was a young man I enrolled in college. Now merely enrolling in that school did not make
me more intelligent. However, it did enhance the possibility that I would learn. While enrolled I
was challenged academically and held accountable for assignments. It kept me focused and
disciplined. As a result, I graduated a wiser and more intelligent person.
The role of the church is to challenge and hold people accountable in their Christian lives. Allow it
to do that for you, and you will find your discipleship move to a deeper level. If you want to see
your faith grow commit yourself to a church family.
The most devoted, mature Christians I have ever known are people who invested themselves into
the life of a local church.
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Howard Rutledge, A United States Air Force pilot, was shot down over North Viet Nam during the
early stages of the Viet Nam War. He spent many miserable years in the hands of his captors
before being released at the war’s conclusion. In his book, In the Presence of Mine Enemies, he
reflects upon the resources from which he drew in those arduous days when life seemed so
intolerable:
During those long periods of enforced reflection it became so much easier to separate the important from
the trivial, the worthwhile from the waste. For example, in the past, I usually worked or played hard on
Sundays and had no time for church. For years my wife had encouraged me to join the family at church.
She never nagged or scolded – she just kept hoping. But I was too busy, too preoccupied, to spend one or
two short hours a week thinking about the really important things.
Now the sights and sounds and smells of death were all around me. My hunger for spiritual food soon
outdid my hunger for a steak. Now I wanted to know about that part of me that will never die. Now I
wanted to talk about God and Christ and the church. But in prison camp, there was no pastor, no Sunday
School teacher, no Bible, no hymnbook, no community of believers to guide and sustain me. I had
completely neglected the spiritual dimension of my life. It took prison to show me how empty life is
without God.
Don’t make the same mistake. Take a step to bring great benefits to your life. God has a church
for you and your family. Pray and seek his leadership about this decision. Do not be concerned
with a church that will meet your needs. Look instead for a congregation that where you can
invest yourself in service and ministry. Then join, attend, and support the ministry of the church
where God leads.
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Session Nine - Sharing Our Faith with Others He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot, Missionary to
the Auca Indians.
"The thing that really kills our outreach is our lack of real conviction that when someone steps into
eternity, he either goes to Heaven or Hell." - Quoted by Anne Graham Lotz in the March/April
edition of Outreach magazine
Introduction
The purpose of these lessons is to give the student some basic study material so you can become
an effective witness for Christ. Witnessing is a discipline of the Christian faith, just as prayer, Bible
study, worship, giving, etc. It is my aim that after you study this material, you will become an
intentional witness and have the mindset of a “witness who wins”.
I often use the analogy of a person who has imperfect vision and comparing this to a witness. I
call this the “Four Eyes of an Effective Witness”. Someone who has less than 20/20 vision needs
corrected lens in order to see clearly. In other words, they need glasses to see clearly and an
effective witness needs spiritual eyes in order to share their faith with those that they come in
contact. The “Four I’s” that a witness needs are:
Be Involved
Be Interested
Be Intentional
Be Interceding
I will discuss each of the above in these lessons and how it relates to our duty and responsibility as
a Christian to share our faith.
Jesus gave us the Great Commission just prior to His return to heaven after He fulfilled His mission
here on earth. It is found in Matthew 28:19-20 where Jesus told His disciples
“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.”
In this Great Commission, Christ laid out the Disciple-Making process where He was “sending” out
trained disciples to “evangelize” new believers who then in return would become “established” and
“equipped” to become “laborers” who would be sent out into the world to start the process all over
again by “evangelizing” new believers and so on with the cycle of Disciple-Making.
This was Christ’s strategy to reach the world and it began with a handful of believers and now
today we who have become believers must carry on this Disciple-Making process. We do not have
a choice, sharing Christ is a mandate, it is our responsibility and the rewards are absolutely
incredible!
Study note: As you read and study these lessons, the student should take time to look up each
referenced scripture passage under each topic and study it thoroughly.
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It is recommended that the student memorize the “key scripture verse” for each topic.
God Bless you in your quest to become a “Witness Who Wins”.
I. Be Involved
Key Scripture Verse: Read Luke 19:10
None of us will ever become the witnesses God desires for us to be without our being constantly
“involved” in the life of lost people. Here is where we have to be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit
since we are to be “involved” in the world but not to the point of being “in” the world.
In other words, we need to associate and be around lost people, yet not to the point of letting
ourselves be involved in the activities of lost people that are clearly not in line with what scripture
teaches and this is where being alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit is so important.
Obviously, it is absolutely imperative that we keep our “hands” and “hearts” clean (see James 4:8)
so that we will clearly know when our involvement with lost people steps over the line.
Read James 4:8
In order for us to be continually “involved” in the life of non-believers, we need to not forget that
our mission is to seek and to save that which is lost. We must not forget that Jesus came for that
purpose and if that was His mission, then it must be ours. Jesus was the greatest fisherman of all
time. He didn’t just call us to be fishers of men, be He fished for men Himself.
Here, Christ made an important statement of strategy or mission statement. If Jesus came to seek
and to save the lost, then that same characteristic should be true about our lives. And the key to it
is to be “involved” as much as possible with lost people.
Jesus’ entire life show us that being a mature and multiplying disciple mean being a disciple that
shares the message of God’s love with those who need to know it (lost people). As you read
through Christ’s life in the gospels you see him consistently mixing it up with lost people. Jesus
modeled for his disciples the priority of sharing the Good News. One look at the life of Christ and it
become quite obvious that Jesus modeled a lifestyle of sharing the message of salvation and that
same lifestyle should be true of all who call themselves Christians.
Read John 1:40-42 what was the first thing Andrew did after he met Jesus?
Read Acts 4:20 to see how Peter felt about sharing Christ.
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Read Acts 22:15 to see what we are to share (our testimony).
II. Be Interested
Key Scripture verse: Read Romans 1:16
Section 1 deals with the necessity to continually be involved in the life of lost people and this
lesson is similar yet it focuses on the need for Christians to maintain an awareness (interest) for
reaching our world for Christ and keep this as priority one in our busy lives. It is so easy to
become so active with our families, occupation, recreation and church activities and lose sight of
reaching the lost. In fact, I really feel this is a one of Satan’s tools to keep Christians from
witnessing. If Satan can keep us bogged down with all kinds of “stuff”, then we will soon grow
disinterested in trying to reach those that God is continually sending our way. I know of churches
who are so busy doing “church activities” yet they neglect the one task that Christ commissioned
for us to do….that is….reaching the lost and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
There is nothing wrong with all kinds of church activities, yet if the main focus of reaching the lost
is not the planned objective, then the church is guilty of making the “Great Commission” the “Great
Omission”.
To maintain a vibrate, energetic interest in reaching the lost world takes discipline. If we do not
work on it, our interest level will drop. This is true for other things, not just as it relates to
witnessing. Take the game of golf as an example. If someone who truly loves to play golf all of
the sudden quits playing regularly and plays only once or twice a year, never watches it on TV and
never goes to the driving range to practice. It would be just a matter of time and this once avid
golfer would lose interest and golf would not have any priority in his life or schedule. The same
way with witnessing. If you never share your faith, quit studying scripture that relate to witnessing
and never give it any thought, then your interest in sharing your faith would slip away. When this
happens, Satan is pleased and we are being disobedient to the scriptures.
I love the story about the guy who bought his mom a very rare and expensive parrot for her
birthday. He sent the bird so it would arrive on her birthday and then followed up the gift with a
phone call a day later. When he asked his mom how she liked the parrot her response was, “Son,
it sure was good.” The son said, “Mom, how could you eat that bird? It is a very rare and
expensive bird. It even speaks three languages.” His mom said, “Well then son, he should have
said something!”
“Saying something” is what sharing your faith always comes down to and keeping this always in
our hearts and mind as a priority will help keep our interest in lost person at a high level. We just
need to share Christ on a regular basis and the interest will stay strong. Jesus articulated the
message of God’s love by sharing a verbal witness. Jesus knew what Romans 10:17 says is true.
Look up this verse to see what Paul had to say about our verbal witness.
Let me share with you three other thoughts on being an effective witness:
Have a Personal Testimony. The most powerful witnessing tool in the world is an eyewitness
account. No one can argue with a personal testimony. If you do not know how to share anything
else concerning the gospel, at least be able to share your own story of how you met Christ.
Practice it and keep it fresh on your mind and you will be able to better keep the interest of
witnessing in your heart. Look at John 9:25 and read what the blind man whom Jesus had healed
said when questioned about who Jesus was. It was the blind man’s personal testimony and it is a
powerful tool.
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Know the Good News Essentials. As you try to keep your interest in witnessing fresh, you will want
to let spiritual things enter into your conversations with lost persons. As you talk about spiritual
things, you will eventually have the chance to discuss the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you share
Jesus with others, you might want to be sure and discuss a few essentials of the gospel. Look at
Acts 2, the account of Peter giving a sermon.
Look at the basics he shared: Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, repentance and forgiveness.
Just a few essentials, but boy what power these basic essentials have in reaching a lost person.
God uses three things to reach a lost person for Christ:
• The Word of God
• The Work of the Holy Spirit
• The Witness of the Believer
As you share these basics essentials taken from the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will begin to
transform the lost person……..to see this take place is the greatest joy you will ever experience !!!
Use an Evangelistic Event to keep the interest of reaching the lost high. Jesus was the master of
attracting a crowd of people. In Luke 5:27-30 there is a perfect example of how Jesus used
evangelistic events to share the Good News.
Read Luke 5:27-30
Invite your lost friends to evangelistic events in your church where they will be exposed to the
gospel. If they become a believer then you will have had a part in reaching them thus fulfilling the
Great Commission.
Communicating the Good News is a critical ingredient in developing a lifestyle of sharing. With a
personal testimony, a gospel presentation, and an evangelistic event, you are well on your way to
growing in your witness for Christ and keeping the interest of witnessing high in your life.
III. Be Intentional
Key Scripture: Read Acts 1:8, Luke 19:10
If we are to model our life after Christ (which is what being a “Christian” means) then we shall not
lose sight of this mission as well. Christ was our perfect model and He had a clearly defined
mission. Christ was intentional in this mission and never missed an opportunity to reach the lost.
The lost did not always respond, but His gospel message was intentionally proclaimed. It is the
same today, we are to be intentional on reaching the lost, knowing that not all will respond, but
never deterred, just determined to share the Good News!
We must remember witnessing is presenting a Person---not a plan or program. The power is in the
gospel of Christ (Read Romans 1:16)
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Some Christians are constantly being used of God to introduce others to Jesus, because they have
been trained to talk about Christ in the power of the Spirit. Discussing nonessential matters does
not distract them.
There are many excellent tracts, which present the gospel to the lost in systematic way. There
are many witnessing training programs and tools one can use to share Christ. The tool you use to
share is simply that…..a tool. The important thing is to share in the power of the Holy Spirit and
leave the results to God. I would highly recommend that you take advantage of every witnessing
training tool you can get your hands on always remembering that it is the convicting power of the
Holy Spirit that draws a person to God. You and I are only instruments in the hand of God, but
without the witness of the believer, the message of Christ will go untold.
Whenever you are alone with a person for a few minutes, you can assume that God has placed you
there to reflect the good news of His love and forgiveness. Since Christ lives within us, we can
simply ask Him to give us the courage to speak for Him.
Psalms 107:2 tells us that the “redeemed” are the ones who should openly speak of their salvation.
Read John 9:25 to see how the blind man shared the Good News.
Read I Peter 3:15,16 to see how we are to share and how we are to prepare ourselves to be able
to witness.
In this passage, we are told to be “gentle” and have “respect” for the ones we are sharing with.
Being argumentative or harsh is not the way to share the love of Christ. This passage also tells us
to be prepared and using evangelism training methods and tools is a good way to always be
prepared.
We are to be intentional in our witness to reach the lost world where God has placed you and I. In
our own particular world. There are people that only you and I can reach and unless we are
intentional on doing this, they may never hear the Good News that Jesus loves them and has a
purpose for their lives. What a tragedy this would be !!
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells us to “Go and make disciples.” That phrase literally means to make
disciples “as we are going.” If Jesus were talking to us today, he would say,
“Make Disciples as you are going to work, to school, to the gym, to the ball field, to the park, and
to the neighborhood.”
Jesus would tell us to intentionally meet people every chance we get so we can build a bridge to
them for God.
Read Mark 2:15 to see what Jesus was doing.
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IV. Be Interceding
Key Scripture verse: Read Acts 1:14
Lesson four on witnessing is the one discipline of interceding (praying) for those that are lost.
None of us will ever know this side of heaven the importance and the effect of prayer and as it
relates in bring a lost person to Christ. No doubt, you and I are believers today because someone
prayed.
Read John 17:20.
In this verse it tells us that Christ prayed for the lost people who would believe in the message of
the gospel. This is a very touching and mind-blowing thought to know that nearly 2000 years ago,
Christ prayed for my salvation!
A big part of the sharing process that Jesus modeled was the practice of prayer. We know that
Jesus was very committed to spending time in prayer and we also know that part of this prayer
time was spent praying for non-believers.
Read again John 17:20-26.
As you move from the life of Christ to the New Testament church, you quickly discover that Jesus’
pattern of praying for the lost was also a priority among New Testament believers. I guess Jesus
made a pretty good model.
In Acts 1:14, what were the disciples doing?
Look also at Acts 2:42, Acts 2:47, Acts 4:29
Now that we have covered the importance of praying for the lost, let’s take a quick look at how to
pray for them:
Pray that God will convict them of their sin and disobedience.
Look at John 16:8 to see what role the Holy Spirit plays in this.
It is God’s job to convict people of sin, not ours. Pray and ask him to reveal sin to those who do
not know his forgiveness.
Pray that God will open their eyes and ears to the truth.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
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Pray for receptive and repentant hearts in unbelievers.
Read Luke 8:8
As you can see, becoming a sharing disciple of Christ begins with being a praying disciple of Christ.
You cannot be one or the other, they go hand in hand. We pray because we know that salvation is
a spiritual process.
No one can come to Christ unless Christ draws him.
We may preach and teach until we are blue in the face, but we must never forget----“much
preaching may move men, but much praying moves God.”
Read Jeremiah 32:17
We are responsible to share the Gospel, but only Jesus can save a person. Jesus said, “No one can
come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” John 6:44
Depend on the Holy Spirit for courage and wisdom in what to say. Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 1
Thessalonians 1:5
Make sure your conversation stays centered on God’s Word. 2 Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 6:17,
Hebrews 4:12
Pray! Pray while you prepare and pray while you share. Colossians 4:2-3
Every Christian has a testimony of how Christ changed his or her life. You can use your testimony
to reach out to an unsaved individual, letting them know you’re someone they can relate to. Make
your testimony brief and simple enough to be shared in a casual conversation that may only last a
few minutes. The ability to do this takes some practice, so prepare your own “One-Minute
Message” using the guidelines below.
• My Life before Christ. Don’t glamorize your past, but mention what you life was like before
Christ. Use simple words to describe how you felt, e.g. empty, hopeless, unhappy, self-
centered.
• My Life Changed by Christ. Summarize how you met Christ. Be sure to mention key
elements of the Gospel, even if you don’t quote the verses. For example:
o I realized God loves me – John 3:16
o I knew I was a sinner – Romans 3:23
o I learned that Jesus died for me – Romans 5:8
o I wanted to turn my life around – Acts 3:19
• My New Life in Christ. Tell how your life has changed. Use simple phrases that any person
would understand, e.g., “I now have peace”, “I’ve found a purpose in life”, or “I’ve learned
where to go for help with life’s problems.”
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Twelve Tips for Effective Witnessing
1. Remember, your part is to share your faith, and it is God’s part to convert the person (John
6:44, John 16:7-11).
2. You may feel nervous about witnessing, but you can be sure the Holy Spirit will help you (Acts
1:8). Depend on the Holy Spirit to work supernaturally. Pray! Before you talk to a person about
God, talk to God about that person.
3. Don’t look at people as projects. Don’t just “zap” people with the Gospel! These are precious
individuals for whom Jesus Christ died. Ask God to give you a genuine concern for those you speak
with.
4. As you witness, be friendly, pleasant, and positive (Proverbs 12:18).
5. Avoid debating or arguing (2 Timothy 2:16, 23-26)
6. Avoid getting off the subject. If an individual gets off track with questions, even legitimate ones,
assure them you will research the questions and give answer later. Then get back to the matter at
hand, which is sharing the Gospel.
7. Be sensitive. Do not shove the Gospel into someone’s face. Rather than trying to kick open a
door, knock gently and rely on God to open the door of opportunity.
8. Use Scripture. God’s Word will not return void, but your clever arguments won’t be of lasting
value (Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
9. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to say, “I don’t know,” when you are asked a question that you
can’t answer. Simply tell the person, “I don’t know the answer, but I will try to find out for you.”
10. Don’t preach at people. Have a conversation with the other person. Ask questions, ;et them
talk, listen to what they say, and respond appropriately.
11. Be yourself. Don’t put on airs or try to come across in a way that makes you look super-
spiritual.
12. If at all possible, bring the discussion to a point of decision. Ask the person if he or she would
like to pray and receive Jesus Christ as Savior. We are sometimes afraid of being “pushy” while, in
reality, the individual is wishing we would off that opportunity.
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Good Stuff!
Mercy is God withholding from you what you deserve.
Grace is God is giving you what you don’t deserve.
Justice is getting what you deserve.
Other Study Sources
Jon Courson - Searchlight www.joncourson.com
Answers in Genesis www.answersingenesis.org
Francis Chan www.francischan.org
Greg Laurie – A New Beginning www.harvest.org
John MacArthur www.gty.org
Chip Ingram – Living on the Edge www.lote.org
Just Stop & Think www.juststopandthink.com
James MacDonald www.walkintheword.com
Adrian Rogers www.lwf.org
Albert Mohler www.albertmohler.com
Christian Books www.christianbook.com
Scripture Truth www.scripturetruth.com
American Bible Sales www.abs.gospelcom.net
Christian Computing Magazine www.ccmag.com
Bible Gateway www.biblegateway.com
E-Sword www.e-sword.net
