1. God’s Assurance
Introduction
If you died today, how sure are you
that you have eternal life?
Put a tick on
the line below that reflects your answer.
Not Sure Maybe Quite Sure Very Sure
There are many people who have
attended church for years who are still not absolutely certain.
Being sure you have eternal life
involves being certain of your decision to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior! The
following four truths explain this important decision.
Four Truths
1. God, Our Creator, Loves Us!
"For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.” John 3:16
God’s Love
Love is translated from the Greek
word “Agape‟ which describes a love
that is spiritual more than emotional.
Where as emotional love is often self-centered, ‗Agape‘ love values the thing
loved, and seeks its best no matter the cost to the one loving it.
“The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to
the full.” John 10:10
2. Our Sin Has Separated Us From God!
“for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God,”Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Spiritual death
The penalty for our sin is death.
This death is more than just our bodies dying; it is spiritual separation from
God. At our physical death, this separation becomes eternal.
3. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Died On the Cross for Our Sins!
“Jesus answered, "I am the way
and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.” John
14:6
What does Jesus mean when He claims
to be ―the Way? ―the Truth? ―the Life?
“But God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“For what I received I passed on to you as of
first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that
he was buried ,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than
five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though
some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to
all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally
born.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
4. We Must Receive Jesus Christ As
Savior and Lord!
“Yet to all who received him,to
those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John
1:12
“For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works,
so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Receiving Christ
Have you personally received Jesus
Christ as your Savior and trusted in Him to forgive your sins?
If not, you would like to wouldn‘t
you? Pray the following prayer to make this all important decision right now!
“Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I
have sinned against You and need your forgiveness. Thank You for dying on the
cross in my place for my sins. I receive you into my life and trust in You
alone as my Savior and God. In Your name I pray. Amen!
The phrase ‗receive Christ‘ is used
to describe the act of believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and
trusting in all He has done on the cross to purchase our forgiveness.
Important
It is not the words that are
important but our faith. We must trust Christ to forgive our sins because He
promised He would.
Assurance of Eternal Life
Read the following Bible passage and
answer the questions below to learn how you can be certain you have eternal
life in Jesus Christ.
And this is the testimony: God has
given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has life;he who
does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have
eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13
Basis for Our Assurance
Eternal life is not based on how
good we are, or how we feel. It is based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Notice
that the teaching in 1 John 5:11-13 is written to those who ―believe in the
Name of the Son of God‖!
Romans 1:16-17
Application
We will close with the same question
we began. ―If you died today, are you sure you have eternal life?
If you are still not sure you have
eternal life, review 1 John 5:11-13. Discuss any questions you may have with
your Pastor, elder, small group leader or Christian friend. It is important
that you understand this lesson for it is the foundation of all the others!
Place your faith in the faithfulness
of God Himself and the trustworthiness of His Word.
The more you learn of His Word, the
more you will be able to answer any doubts with solid facts. Your feelings will
begin to respond to the truth of God's Word and not your circumstances.
A Prayer
Father, I praise You for You have
promised eternal life to all who believe in your Son Jesus Christ. And Your
promises are sure for You cannot lie, nor do You change Your mind. You are
faithful in all Your ways, and I thank you for the assurance I have in Christ!
Affirmation
1. Christ died on the cross for me.
2. God will receive me in heaven
when I die because He promised He would.
3. I have eternal life because I
have Christ! I am absolutely sure I have Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. If
I were to die today I KNOW I will be in Heaven with God.”
God’s Forgiveness
Introduction
How would you complete the following
statement?
When a person becomes a Christian, …
only those sins that he confesses are forgiven.
all of his sins in the past are forgiven, but not those in the
future.
he becomes perfect and unable to ever sin again.
all of our sins past, present & future are forgiven.
A problem facing all Christians is
sin. In the next two lessons, we will not only learn the correct answer to the
above statement, but also God‘s solution to help Christians overcome sin in
their lives!
Dealing with Sin
This study will answer four
questions that will teach us how to deal with sin in our lives.
1. What is sin?
2. Who sins?
3. What is God‘s solution for sin?
4. What should we do when we sin?
1. What is Sin?
The word sin translates a Greek word
which means ―missing the mark or ―to do wrong. It describes the distance between where an arrow lands and
the bull‘s eye of the intended target.
Notice how it is used in the
following Bible passage.
Romans 3:23 describes Sin as falling
―short of the glory of God‖. Sin
is
Man‘s failure to live up to the
perfect standard of God. We have all broken God‘s perfect moral law, either in
action or in thought. Even our failure to do what we know is right is sin! So
there is no one innocent or perfect among us!
Sin’s
Results
Circle the word that describes the
result of sin.
Do you believe people who are guilty
of violating the moral law (law of goodness or badness of human
action/character) should be punished? So does God! Sin brings God‘s judgment of
death on all who are guilty of breaking God‘s perfect moral law.
“for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
“The soul who sins is the one who
will die.” Ezekiel 18:209
2. Who Sins?
Circle the word that describes who
God considers a sinner.
Underline how 1 John 1:8 & 10
describes Christians who claim they are without sin or have not sinned.
Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20
3. What is God‟s
Solution for Sin?
Read the Bible passages below that
describe God‘s solution for ain.
In Colossians 2:13-14, the apostle
Paul uses an illustration from the legal profession. During his time, convicted
criminals were issued a ―written code‖ which listed all the crimes they had committed as well as their penalty sentenced by the
court. After fulfilling their sentence, the court took the ―written code‖ and stamped over it the Greek word
‗tetelestal‟, which means ‗Paid in Full‟. This
was the exact word Christ used in John 19-30 when He said, ―It is finished‖, just before
He died on the cross!
“When you were dead in your sins and
in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He
forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its
regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away,
nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
“When he had received the drink,
Jesus said, „It is finished.‟With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John
19:30
“God made him (Jesus) who had no sin
to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2
Corinthians 5:21
(By ―nailing it to the cross‘‖ God was in essence making His Son, Jesus,
pay for our sins by dying on the cross in our place. If
Jesus didn‘t pay for our sins, we would have to!)
Could God have forgiven us without
having to sacrifice His Son on the cross? Why or why not?
The death of Jesus Christ satisfies
two attributes of God. It satisfied His Holiness which required that sin be
punished, and it satisfied His love which desired man‘s salvation. Through the
sacrifice of Jesus, God is able to demonstrate His love for man while
maintaining His Holiness!
“If we claim to be without sin,we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us …if we claim we have not sinned, we
make (God) out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John
1:8,10
“for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God” Romans 3:2310
4. What Should We Do When We Sin?
1 John 1:9 has been called “The
Christian‟s bar of soap” because
it contains the key to dealing with sin in our lives. This
verse describes the action we must take whenever we sin.
The word ‗Confess‟ comes from a Greek word
which means to agree. To confess is to agree with God that we have sinned!
Notice also that the above verse is a conditional statement. If we confess our
sins, God will do two things for us.
Application
1. Pray and ask God to reveal any
sins which you have not confessed to Him.
2. Confess them to God by agreeing
that you have sinned. Don‘t make excuses for your sins.
3. Turn away from sin and ask God to
help you keep from committing them again.
4. Claim the two promises which God
makes to those who confess their sins according to 1 John 1:9.
5. Thank God for His forgiveness as
an expression of your faith!
6. Memorize 1 John 1:9
More Good News!
“Then He adds: “Their sins and
lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
“As far as the east is from the
west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12
“Come now, and let us reason
together, „Says the Lord, ‟Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as
snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
The Bible passages illustrate our
forgiveness in 3 different ways.
Recognizing that God knows all things, what do you think it
means when it says “He will remember our
sins no more”? (Hebrews 10:17)
How far is the east from the west? (Psalm 103:12)
“If we confess our sins, (God) is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:911
How white is snow? (Isaiah 1:18)
From these verses, how complete
is our forgiveness in Christ?
Suggestion for further exploration:
FAQ (frequently Asked Questions)
1. Q: Are all my sins forgiven by
God or just the past ones?
A: Christ died for all our sins:
past, present and future. Hebrews 10:8-18
2. Q: If God has already forgiven
all my sins, why then do I have to confess them to Him?
A: Confession, allows you to
experience the forgiveness that is already yours in Christ. Sin breaks your
fellowship with God, not your relationship with Him. Your relationship with God
as His child is based on His unconditional love for you, but your fellowship
with Him depends on your keeping an intimate walk with Him. Whereas sin
destroys this intimacy, confession restores it!
3. Q: What if I still feel guilty
even after confessing?
A: Any guilt remaining after genuine
confession is not from God. Satan, our accuser, delights in keeping us on a
guilt trip to keep us serving God! Job 1:1-11, Zechariah 3:1, Revelation
2:9-10
4. Q: Why should I confess my sins
regularly?
A: Regular confession of our sins
keeps our fellowship with God open and fresh. It also keeps our heart sensitive
to God‘s Spirit. Continual sin hardens the heart toward God. Psalm 66:18
5. Q: What about restitution?
A: If your sin has hurt others, you
should ask their forgiveness, and make restitution if necessary. Matthew
5:23-24
6. Q: How often should I confess my
sins?
A: As mentioned above, 1 John 1:9 is
the ―Christian‘s bar of soap‖. Just
as you wash yourself with real soap as often as
necessary, so should you confess as often as necessary? Confess your sins as
soon as God convicts you of them. Any delay allows Satan the opportunity to
gain a ―foothold‖ in our
lives. Ephesians 4:26-2712
God’s Power
Introduction
How would you complete the
following? The most essential ingredient to living the Christian life is to …
fill your heart and mind with Scripture.
pray as much as you are able.
attend Christian meetings for inspiration.
get involved in ministry.
choose to do what is right and Godly
none of the above.
Each of the above choices are
important to living the Christian life, but none of them qualifies as the ―most
essential‖
because all fail to adequately deal with the primary obstacle Christians must overcome. This obstacle not only makes the Christian
life difficult to live, but impossible to live! In this lesson, we will learn
about God‘s provision to overcome this problem!
Why We Can’t Live the Christian Life
The primary obstacle that hinders
Christians is the sin nature. Contrary to the belief that we are all born
innocent, Scripture teaches that we do not become sinners, but that we are
already born sinners. Consider the following written by King David, whom God
described as a ―man after my own heart‖.
From the moment we were conceived,
we were already damaged with a fatal flaw … an inherited condition which makes
sinning part of our very nature!
If we are sinful at birth, where
then do you think sin comes from? Psalm 58:3, Job 15:14, Romans 5:12
Read how the following Scriptures
describe the problem.
“There is no one righteous, not even
one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned
away, they have together become worthless; There is no one who does good, not
even one.” Romans 3:10-12
“(Jesus said) „For from within, out
of men‟s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice,
deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from
inside and make a man „unclean‟.” Mark 7:21-23
“the sinful mind is hostile to God.
It does not submit to God‟s law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature
cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-8
“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful
from the time my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:513
Because of our sinful nature, no
matter how many Scriptures we know, no matter how often we pray, no matter how
many inspirational meetings we attend, no matter how involved we are in ministry,
or no matter how strong our will to do right, our best efforts will fail
because they do not deal with the main problem! When done in our own strength,
these activities simply produce spiritual pride! But God has provided a
solution for us!
God’s
Solution
God‘s solution to our sin nature is
to give us a new nature! He did this by putting His Holy Spirit in us at the
moment we received Jesus Christ!
Read the following Scriptures that
describe this miracle.
“Jesus answered, „I tell you the
truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You
should not be surprised at my saying, „You must be born again‟.” John 3:5-7
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“to be made new in the attitude of
your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:23-24
Religion vs Christianity
Many religions teach that we must
conform ourselves to a standard of spiritual principles or laws in order to
reach perfection. Christianity teaches that man is incapable of transforming
himself.
What is needed is a totally new life!
Acts 1:8. (The word ―power here
means ―the ability to carry out a task.‖) God‘s Spirit gives us
the desire (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and the power (Acts 1:8) to do His will!
What is significant about the
phrases ‖heart
of stone‖ and
―heart of flesh Colossians 3:10
“I will give you a new heart and put
a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my
decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
“But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world.” Acts 1:814
God’s
Spirit in Us
The desire in you to please God is
the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. It is evidence of the new nature you
inherited when you were born again by God‘s Spirit.
Read Philippians 2:13 from The
Living Bible.
Applying God’s Solution
The above diagram illustrates our
situation as Christians. We are born into this world with a „sin nature‟. But the moment we trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, we
are ―born again‖ with a
„new nature‟, which is not only the new me, but the real me! The sin nature or old me, can never please God and does
not even want to, but our new nature not only desires to please God, but is
able to by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 7:22, Philippians 2:13
Notice that the Christian‘s sin
nature will cease at the moment of death, while our new nature will continue
for eternity! The challenge we face in this life is the battle between these
two natures to rule in our minds, our hearts and our bodies. They are at war
within us! The good news is that this struggle is temporary (shaded area)! Once
we are free of the sin nature, our New Nature will be unhindered to do all that
God desires! Galatians 5:16-17
Can you recall incidents in your
life when your new nature and sin nature battled within you?
It is important to understand that
the key to victory is God‟s Spirit within us. Only
by allowing His Spirit to live through us will we
experience God‘s will and power in us! (see Philippians 2:13)
Be Filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 teaches us how to
apply God‘s provision to overcome sin.
The word ―filled‖ means to be filled to the full! A person ―filled with the Spirit‖ leaves no room for the sin nature to control his life! The following properties of the verb
―filled help us to understand and apply it.
“For God is at work within you,
helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.” Philippians
2:13 (TLB)
“Do not get drunk on wine, which
leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:1815
Command: This verb teaches that we
are ―filled with the Spirit‖ by an
act of our will! God is not asking us to
be filled with his Spirit if we feel like it. God is commanding us to be
filled. No matter how we feel … no matter what our circumstances, we can choose
to be filled and allow God to rule in our lives!
God’s Work: This verb also
indicates that it is God who fills us. We simply make ourselves available to Him! As we yield our lives to God, His
Spirit empowers us with His desire and ability!
Present Tense: Finally, this verb
commands us to continually allow God‘s Holy Spirit to fill us –moment by
moment, hour by hour, day by day. No breaks and no allowance for the sin nature
to reign!
How can we be sure God will fill us
with His Holy Spirit?
Because He said He would, and God
does not lie! Titus 1:2
Read His Promise below.
Praying for God’s Will
1 John 5:14 can be applied whenever
we pray for anything according to God‟s will.
We can be confident God will answer that
prayer because He promised He would!
Application
The following steps can help us
experience God‘s power continually:
1. Confess – Not being filled to the
full with God‘s Spirit is sin. Confess this to God and claim His forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9)
2. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit –
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit! Allow Him to reign in your mind, your
heart and your body!
―Dear God, forgive me for allowing
sin to rule in my life. I now yield my heart, my mind and my body to You, and
ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want YOU to reign in my life! Thank
you, LORD, for hearing and answering my prayer! In Jesus‘ name. Amen.‖
“This is the confidence we have in approaching
God:that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know
that he hears – whatever we ask –we know that we have what we asked of Him.” 1
John 5:14-1516
Fellowship
Introduction
A baby is born. Ten years later,
they are still the same size and maturity when they were born!
Your immediate reaction is:
“Wow! He‟s still so cute!”
“Well … I guess some babies grow slower than others.”
“Get this kid to a doctor … NOW!”
It doesn‘t take a doctor to figure
out that the baby in our story is not normal. Normal babies grow and mature. It
is abnormal not to!
When God placed His Holy Spirit in
you at the moment you trusted Christ for forgiveness, you were ―born again‖ spiritually. Instantly you became a member of God‘s eternal family, a
―new creation‖ in
Christ, created to grow to maturity and destined to glorify Christ through your
life.
1 Peter 1:23, John 1:12, 2
Corinthians 6:18, 1 Peter 2:2
“But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever!
Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
The next four lessons will teach you
principles that will help you establish a lifestyle that will promote spiritual
growth in your Christian life. As in the physical world, growth takes time, and
attaining spiritual maturity requires patience. But if you will discipline your
life and apply these principles, spiritual growth will be the inevitable
supernatural outcome!
“Strength in numbers!”
The first principle to ensure
spiritual growth is to establish strong relationships with other growing
Christians.
On fire for Jesus!
Even as coals burn hotter longer
when piled together, in the same way Christians who join together in spiritual
fellowship will stoke one another‘s faith in God, and inflame each other‘s love
for Him! Here are a few reasons why we should join ourselves together in
Christian fellowship.
Encouragement the words ―give up‖. The words mean to ―completely abandon‖ or ―utterly forsake‖.
Christians are forbidden to forsake
meeting together. Giving up‖ is not
an option!
The word ‗encourage‘ is the
translation of a Greek word that means ―to call alongside‖, and presents the beautiful picture of a
person encouraging another while walking side by side
together. We often find it easier to criticize, or shame, or judge
“Let us not give up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:2517
another person who does not measure
up to our standards, but God asks us to encourage, to stand alongside, those
who are wavering.
“Never give up!” Sir Winston
Churchill
Shortly after the end of world war
II, Sir Winston Churchill, who had just led England as Prime Minister through
its finest hour during the war, was invited to speak to a gathering eager to
hear his words of wisdom. Known for his eloquence and wit, the audience was prepared
to be treated to a feast of words. They sat in rapt attention as the great
orator strolled to the podium and, like a drum beat, repeatedly exhorted the
crowd, ―Never give up, never give up, Never give up!‖ After several
minutes and the final cadence, he turned and took his seat before a stunned
crowd.
Inspiration
Circle the word that describes
what we should not be.
Circle the word that describes the
effect of ―bad
company‖ on ―good character‖.
The word “corrupt” means to defile
or destroy.
The word “misled” means to be led
astray from
the truth! We find this admonition
throughout the Bible, perhaps because we have a habit of thinking we know the
way, even after God has told us the correct way!
Life is full of examples of
Christians who chose to remain with bad company only to find their faith
corrupted. Matthew 24:4, Proverbs 13:20, 2 Peter 2:17-22
In what specific ways does bad
company corrupt good character?
In what ways can good company
inspire good character?
―Do not be misled!‖ We will become like the company we keep!
If our goal is to grow spiritually and become a mature
Christian, then we must spend time with Christians who are growing spiritually
to maturity!
Restoration
Have you ever found yourself in
trouble and needing help, but unable to find someone to call?
Nothing is more frustrating and
dangerous! Like getting caught in a strong ocean current, Christians can find
themselves being swept away by sin‘s temptations. Fortunate is the Christian
who has a spiritual friend who will not hesitate to jump in and rescue him from
danger!
“Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthian 15:3318
Circle what can happen to the unsuspecting
Christian. The word ―caught means to be trapped by surprise.
Underline what ―spiritual‘
Christians (those filled with the Holy Spirit) are to do with their fellow
Christians caught by sin.
Circle the word that describes how
they are to restore their fellow Christians. Too often we can be harsh and
judgmental with other Christians caught in sin, but here we are exhorted to be
gentle.
Gentle: The word ―gentle‖ is a translation of the same Greek word
from which ―meek‖ is translated. A person who is ―meek‖ is one who is humble toward God. This
humility comes from the realization that God is the
creator and we are simply the creation! This keeps us from the pride that would
hinder us from helping other Christians caught in sin!
Satan Our Adversary
When you became a Christian, Satan
became your enemy. He continually schemes to entrap you in sin. Corinthians
2:11, Ephesians 6:11-12, 1 Peter 5:8
Think back on sins you regularly
commit. Can you see how Satan may have entrapped you into committing them?
What can you do to avoid being
caught in habitual sins?
Application
1. Meet regularly with other
Christians who desire to grow in their faith. (Acts 2:44-47)
(Small groups)
2. Join a church that honours God
and teaches His Word, and attend faithfully. (Hebrews 10:25)
3. Become involved in your church‟s ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
4. Support your church‟s ministry financially through regular giving. (Galatians 6:6; Timothy 5:17; 2 Corinthians 9:7)
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a
sin,you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” Galatians 6:1a19
Suggestion for further exploration:
WHAT IS TITHING?
Money is necessary to accomplish
God‘s work in this world. The leaders of BICF seek God‘s direction for ministry
every year. A budget is then prepared to achieve these goals. We as the BICF
family look to God to support this budget so we can accomplish the ministry the
Lord has given us. Every member needs to give their time, talents, and
treasures for the Lord‘s work to advance.
The Bible says everything belongs to
God. ―The earth is the LORD's and everything in it, the world, and all who live
in it‖ (Psalm
24.1). Whatever we have is ‗on loan‘ from Him. We are
stewards of His gifts and will one day give an accounting of our faithfulness.
Tithing ("a tenth part) is clearly taught in both Old and New Testaments.
It was paid by Abraham (Genesis 14.20) and affirmed by Jesus (Matthew 23.23).
Giving our tithe to God is the starting point.
The Bible teaches our giving to God
should be:
Sacrificial — Paul says the
Macedonians, ―gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability‖ (2 Cor. 8:3). They gave even when it meant
a sacrifice in their lifestyle.
Biblical giving involves great cost (2 Sam. 24:24).
Responsible — Christians are to give
―according to their ability‖ (Acts
11:29).
There are seasons to economic life.
There are responsibilities to our families and to our debts. Over time we hope
the amount we can give will steadily grow.
Joyful - Paul asked for money in
this way: ―I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your
love... for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.‖ (2 Cor. 8:8-9). The difference between moralists (those who think God accepts them for their
good works) and Christians (those who know they are sinners saved purely
through God‘s grace) is that Christians give freely and generously as they have
received from God.
Systematic - Paul directed the
Corinthians to set aside a portion of their wealth each week (1 Cor. 16:2).
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TITHES AND OFFERINGS
While tithes are the basics of
Christian Stewardship, offerings are gifts made above and beyond the scriptural
tithe. Throughout the year, you may learn of financial needs (disaster relief,
scholarship, missions etc) to which you feel led by God to contribute toward
such additional offerings. Different churches in different settings use
different methods of collection - bags passed, boxes placed on tables, members
walking up in front and dropping gifts in plates, offering bags, direct bank
credit, credit cards donations etc.
What is the importance of the Lord's
supper / Christian Communion?
http://www.gotquestions.org/communion-Christian.html
Sermons on tithing or giving by John
Piper (MP3)
http://www.desiringgod.org/Search/?search=Giving+Tithing&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
Are you in a small group yet?
It‘s your home away from home. Go to
our small groups website for more info
http://www.bicf.org/component/content/article/8520
The Word
Introduction
How long do you think we can survive
without eating?
1 days 10 days 20 days 40 days 60 days 100 days
If you ticked ‗1 day‘, I can see
you‘ve never missed a meal in your life! No, it‘s not even 10 or 20 days. We
can survive 40 days without food, but after that, our bodies begin to starve
and death is not far off. Just as our physical bodies need food to grow and
survive, even so, our spirits need to be fed as well. Notice how the
metaphor(image) of ―milk‖ and
―solid food‖ are
used in Scripture.
Underline what Hebrews 5:12 means
by the metaphor milk.
Circle how we are to ―crave pure
spiritual milk‖ in 1 Peter 2:2.
In this lesson, you will learn:
1. The source of the Word
2. The purpose of the Word
3. The power of the Word
4. The application of the Word
1) The Source of the Word
Circle the source of Scripture
Circle how much of Scripture is
from God.
The Greek word translated
God-breathed is used no where else in the New Testament. Though the word does
not explain how Scripture was given to us, it does indicate the supernatural
and divine origin of it!
This verse teaches that every
Scripture in the Bible originates from God!
“In fact, though by this time you
ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Hebrews 5:12
“Like newborn babies, crave pure
spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”
1 Peter 2:2
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching,rebuking,correcting and training in righteousness,so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy
3:16-1721
2) The Purpose of the Word
“All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so
that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy
3:16-17
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and write
the four ways Scripture is useful to us in the blanks below :
__________________
instructing us in the truth God
__________________
convicting us of the truth of God
__________________
restoring us to the truth of God
__________________
teaching us how to live the truth of God.
Underline the result of these four
activities of the Word in our lives.
Circle how many good works we will
be equipped for.
3) The Power of the Word
“Take the helmet of salvation and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17
Underline how the ―word of God‖ is described in Ephesians 6:17. The ―word
of God‖ is the
only offensive weapon listed in Ephesians
6:10-17 which describes the Armour of God. The Christian who learns how to
wield it can defeat his spiritual enemies. Unfortunately, many Christians,
ignorant of God‘s Word, wield something more like a pocket knife than a sword!
Why do you think the Word of God is
described as the sword of the Spirit? Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:1-11
4) The Application of the Word
Memorization
is simple if done in steps. Read the
verse 3 times.
Write the verse 3 times.
Recite the verse from memory 3
times.
Review every day regularly for the
next 10 days.22
Psalm 119 is the great anthem to the
Word of God, containing exhortations every Christian should read!
“I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11
Underline what we should do with
God‘s Word.
The word ―hidden‖ means ―to hide or to treasure‖. God‘s Word should be hidden in our hearts
because it is something treasured!
The word ―heart‖ refers
to our ―mind, soul, conscience, emotions,
passions, will and desires‖. In
other words, memorizing the Word is not
just an intellectual exercise, but one that includes the entire person!
How does hiding God‟s Word in our hearts keep us from sinning?
Meditation
“Blessed is the man who does not
walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the
seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the
LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams
of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3
Circle the one word in Psalm 1
that describes the person who keeps himself from the wicked, sinners and
mockers.
Underline where this person finds
his ―delight‖?
Underline what he does with God‘s
Word.
Underline what this person is
compared to.
Circle the result of this person‘s
lifestyle.
Why is the tree a good illustration
of someone who delights in God‘s Word?
Meditating on God‘s Word involves
deliberately contemplating a passage over and over again, absorbing all the
spiritual nutrients in it! One way is to:
Recite a verse over and over in your mind. Then ...
Emphasize a different word each time to absorb the
contribution of that word‘s meaning to the
meaning of the verse as a whole.23
Application
Underline what people who ―merely
listen to the Word‖ do to
themselves.
Underline what we should do with
the Word instead.
How do we deceive ourselves if we
merely listen to the Word?
Below are Five Applications from
God‘s Word expressed in the acronym -
When you read, memorize or meditate
on God‘s Word, see if there are any ...
Sins to Confess
Promises to Claim
Attitudes or Actions to Adopt or
Avoid
Commands to Obey
Examples to Follow
Without looking at this sheet,
recite the 5 principles from the acronym SPACE.
We began this lesson thinking about
how often we needed to eat to survive. Just as we need daily nourishment for a
healthy body, even so, we need a daily intake of God‘s Word to ensure a healthy
spiritual life. Too many Christians only hear God‘s Word once a week on
Sundays. Make it a habit to read, memorize, meditate and apply God‘s Word ...
EVERY DAY!
Matthew 12:50, Luke 6:46, James
1:22-25
Suggestion for further exploration:
Daily Bible Verse -
Sign up to receive a Bible verse
daily in your mailbox
http://www.christnotes.org/email.php
Daily Devotionals –
Listen to Saddleback Church Drive
Time (MP3) -
http://www.saddleback.com/MediaCenter/DriveTime/Default.aspx
The Discipleship Ministry – more
fantastic lessons to continue your growth.
All free from
http://www.biblestudycd.com/
Daily Devotionals –
Subscribe to RBC Ministries -
http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/today/
“Do not merely listen to the Word, and
so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.” James 1:2224
Prayer
Introduction
Let‟s
perform a test. Take three deep breaths and hold the
last one. Now how long can you go without breathing? A few days? Of course not!
Not even a few hours! The longest humans can last without air is a few minutes
at best.
Prayer is like that. Prayer is to
our spiritual lives as air is to our physical. It is what energizes our new
nature and refreshes our soul. Without it, our Christian lives become
spiritually stagnant.
Why? Because ...
“Prayer is the one activity that
brings us into an encounter with the Living God!”
You can be involved in every kind of
Christian activity without being empowered by the Holy Spirit, except prayer.
Someone shares that prayer alone requires you be right with God because it is a
―man to God encounter‖!
Four aspects of prayer - expressed
in the acronym .
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Adoration
The word Adoration means to worship
or to praise.
Worship
The Hebrew word translated ‗worship‘
in Psalm 29:2 means to ‗bow down‘ or ‗to prostrate oneself‘. It describes the
attitude of worship. In Psalm 100:2, the word worship is a translation of
another Hebrew word. Here it means to ‗serve‘ or to ‗work‘. This verse
describes the action of worship.
Jesus brings both attitude and
action together in Luke 4:8! (Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only)
Praise
The psalmist in Psalm 106:2 uses a
common literary tool by expressing the same idea in two different ways.
Underline the equivalent thought
to ―show forth all his praise‖. To
praise God then is to proclaim His ―mighty acts‖.
1.“Who can utter the mighty acts of
the LORD?
2.Who can show forth all his
praise?” Psalm 106:225
3.List some ―mighty acts‖ God has done in your life.
Read David‘s prayer of praise below.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and
the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in
heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as
head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all
things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles
29:11-13
Circle each characteristic David
attributes to God.
Underline David‘s response to God.
Application
Praise God for each item in YOUR
list of God‘s mighty acts. Give Him thanks and praise His glorious Name!
Confession
Another important aspect of prayer
is the confession of our sins. Read the following Scriptures on confession.
“If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened; Psalm 66:18
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, „I will confess my
transgressions to the LORD‟
-and you forgave the guilt of my
sin. Psalm 32:5
(*Iniquity = sin, transgression =
wrongdoing)
Underline what happens if we
cherish sin in our hearts. This verse teaches that there is a relationship between
sin and prayer. Sin short circuits our fellowship with God, and keeps Him from
hearing our prayers.
Underline what the psalmist
acknowledges before God in Psalm 32:5?
Underline God‘s response.26
Read the confession of David after
he committed adultery with Bathsheba found in Psalm 51 below.
“Wash away all my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always
before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your
sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you
judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived
me.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:2-5, 10 & 12
Underline the four things David
asks God to do for him at the end of the passage.
Genuine confession results in a
desire to obey God. Notice that after acknowledging his sins to God, David
prays that God would give him an obedient heart.
Thanksgiving
A third aspect to prayer is giving
thanks.
Circle in which circumstances we
are to give thanks (Thessalonians 5:18)
Underline why we must give thanks.
What are some benefits to being a
thankful person?
The verb ‗give thanks‘ is a command.
God requires that, as an act of our wills, we give thanks in all circumstances.
Romans 8:28 below explains why we can do this.
Underline the reason we can give
thanks in all circumstances.
Circle how many things God is able
to work for our good. This verse teaches that no matter what happens in our
lives, God is able to use all things, good or bad, for our good!
Knowing this, can we genuinely give
thanks in all things? Yes No
How does God use ―bad‖ experiences for our benefit?
The Sovereignty of God
―The sovereignty of God may be
defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the
highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to
none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only
as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him.‖ Attributes of God by Arthur Pink Isaiah 46:10, Daniel 4:35, Ephesians 1:11
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.” Romans 8:2827
Application
Spend time in prayer right now
thanking God for all the things He is allowing in your life, good or bad,
knowing that He is absolutely able to use everything for your benefit. Giving
thanks to God demonstrates our faith!
Supplication
Supplication is the bringing of our
requests to God. Too often, we become worried and forget the one person who can
help!
Underline what it teaches about
being anxious.
Circle the word that describes
what things we can ask God for.
Underline the result of bringing
our requests to God.
What are the two opposite emotions
mentioned?
Have you ever wondered why some of
our prayer requests are not answered?
The Scriptures below explains why.
“When you ask, you do not receive,
because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your
pleasures.” James 4:3
“This is the confidence we have in
approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us And
if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we
asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
“If you remain in me and my words remain
in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7
“If you believe, you will receive
whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22
Underline why we sometimes don‘t
receive what we ask for in James 4:3.
Circle what James means by ‗wrong
motives‘.
Underline the condition for
answered prayers in 1 John 5:14-15.
Underline the condition for
answered prayers in John 15:7.
Underline the condition for
answered prayers in Matthew 21:22.
Why does God establish conditions
for answered prayers?
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:628
For Whom Should We Pray
“I urge, then, first of all, that
requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for
kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1
“Therefore confess your sins to each
other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
“And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert
and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18
Circle all the people we are to
pray for in the verses above.
When the apostle Paul wrote 1Timothy
2:1, the governing authority was the Roman Emperor Caesar. How do you pray for
governing authorities that you may not agree with?
What is the value of confessing our
sins to each other?
Application
Spend a few minutes praying for all
the people the LORD brings to your mind.
Suggestion for further exploration:
Title: Sacred Pathways
Author: Gary Thomas
Everyone has their own unique way of
approaching God. Learn how to
improve your devotional, quiet-time,
and personal-worship life with God.
I Lift My Eyes Ministry –
Learn how to develop an effective
personal prayer life and move into Christian intercession.
http://psalm121.ca/prayer.html29
Witnessing
Introduction
What would you say is the greatest
threat to Christianity?
Ungodly people.
Our culture.
Antagonistic governments.
Indifference (lack of concern)
Someone has perceptively suggested
that ...
“The greatest threat to Christianity
is Christians trying to sneak into heaven without ever
sharing their faith.”
Why do you think many Christians do
not share their faith?
One of the great privileges we have
as God‘s children is the authority and privilege to invite others to be
reconciled with God! There is no greater decision people can make than trusting
Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. In this lesson, we will learn
five ways to share our faith in Christ with others.
Sharing our faith, or witnessing, is
one of the most important factors in growing as a Christian. It keeps our faith
fresh and exciting as we watch others being transformed by a miracle from God!
But we need to remember the
following to be effective witnesses for Christ:
1. Be Available: Yield your life to
God. God uses available servants.
2. Be Prayerful: Ask God to lead you
to people to share with. Pray that God will make them open to His Word!
3. Be Filled with the Spirit: Only
God can bring others to Himself. Our part is simply to be filled with His Holy
Spirit and allow Him to share His love with others through us!
John 6:44
1) Sharing Christ With Your
Testimony
We may not know much about the Bible
or theology, but all of us are experts in our own lives.
Although people may not be
interested in hearing what we have done for God, they are interested in hearing
what God has done for us! Our testimony is the story of what Christ has done in
our lives! Use the following outline to prepare your testimony.
Acts 26:1-29 (Paul‘s testimony to
King Agrippa) 30
Preparing Your Testimony
Pray before you develop your
testimony and ask God to give you His story to tell.
Write out your testimony and look
for a theme that will tie it together.
Develop your testimony along that
theme following the outline at left.
1. Your life Before Christ: Share
specifically about an area of your life in which Christ changed you. Resist the
temptation to dwell on how bad you were
2. How You Came to Know Christ:
Explain clearly how you heard about Christ, and how you made the decision to
trust in Him for forgiveness. This will help the person you are sharing with
hear a clear presentation of how to know Christ in your testimony!
3. Your Life After Receiving Christ:
Share how Christ changed you in the area of your life mentioned above.
2) Sharing Our Faith with Pictures
Draw just one picture and simply add
to it as you share. (You do not have to draw three separate pictures.)
The gospel can be quickly and easily
drawn using simple stick pictures. After completing the pictures, use the final
one to illustrate how we must choose to come to God through faith in Jesus
Christ who is the bridge. This is an excellent way to share Christ with
children!
God our creator loves us and offers
us eternal life
Our sin has separated us from God
and his life.
Man is unable to bridge this gap on
his own
Jesus Christ died on the cross for
our sins.
Through Him alone, can we experience
God’s love and life31
3) Sharing Our Faith After a
Presentation (video, drama, movie)
After reading, seeing or hearing a
gospel presentation through a booklet, video, drama, movie, tape, etc., use the
following four questions to introduce the Gospel.
1. What did you think about the
(booklet, video, concert, etc.)?
2. Did it make sense to you?
3. Have you ever trusted Christ to
forgive your sins as presented by the (booklet, video, drama, concert, etc.)?
4. You would like to wouldn‘t you?
(note - positive leading question)
Recite these four questions without
looking at them.
Romans 1:16
4) Sharing Our Faith With a Booklet
There are a wide variety of booklets
available, but each contains the same message ~ How to find eternal Life in
Jesus Christ. Described below is a method developed by Campus Crusade for
Christ. or use BICF‘s evangelism booklet.
Benefits
1. Easy: Booklets make witnessing
easier by including the essential truths of the gospel, as well as a prayer to
help a person trust in Christ.
2. Clear: Booklets present the
gospel in a logical manner, usually in four statements supported by Scripture.
3. Small: Booklets are easy to carry
wherever we go.
4. Concise: Booklets usually take
only 10 - 15 minutes to read.
5. Givable: Booklets can be left
with people we share with, so that they can read them later. Many people have
come to Christ this way
6. Transferable: Booklets can be
passed from one person to another several times.
Introducing the Booklet
The biggest obstacle to overcome is
introducing the subject of Christ to others. It is always best to relate the
gospel to a need in the person‘s life. Here are some ways you can introduce a
booklet in order to share it with them:
1. ―The message contained in this
booklet has helped me more than anything else. May I share it with you?‖
2. ―Has anyone ever shared with you
how you can know God in a personal way? This booklet explains how. May I share
it with you?‖
3. ―If you died right now, would you
be absolutely sure you will be in heaven? This booklet shares how you can be.
May I share it with you?‖ (Note:
not so suitable for Asians)32
Presenting the Booklet
1. Hold the booklet steady between
both of you. Make sure the person you are sharing with is able to see the pages
easily.
2. Maintain the person‟s attention by pointing to relevant words or illustrations as
you read. Sometimes it helps to fold the
pages back to ensure you are both on the same page.
3. Simply read through the booklet!
Resist the temptation to add to the message of the booklet. This often only
confuses the person you are sharing with, and can lengthen the time needed
considerably.
5) Sharing Our Faith With Prayer
Although many people are hesitant to
talk about God, most people are happy to have you pray for them. This opens up
a great opportunity to share Christ with others.
Offer to pray for the needs of
friends, co-workers, acquaintances, neighbors, etc. Pray that God draws them to
Himself and look for opportunities to share Christ with them as God provides.
Keep a journal of prayer requests
and answers. Record the dates the requests were received and answered.
Pray diligently for each request
expecting God to work in people‘s lives!
Find out if God is answering your
prayers and look for opportunities to share His love!
Application
1. Review each of the above ways to
share your faith and practice each one. 1 Peter 3:15
2. Pray and ask God to show you
people who need to hear about God‘s forgiveness in Jesus
Christ, then make a list of the
names God brings to mind.
3. Pray for each person daily asking
God to draw them to Himself.
4. Take advantage of every
opportunity God gives you and share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 4:5
5. Be available to share with people
you meet through the day. You never know when God has set up a divine
appointment for you to share with someone!
6. Always remember that it is God
who brings people to Himself ~ not our techniques or charm.
Be continually filled with God‘s
Spirit and expect God to use you!33
Spiritual Multiplication
How would you answer the following?
Why am I here Instead of in heaven?
Because my home in heaven is not finished yet.
Because I must not be good enough yet.
Because God is having second thoughts about me.
None of the above.
The reason we are here instead of in
Heaven is to fulfill Jesus‘ final command to all Christians.
John 4:34, John 17:4, Acts 20:24
Read Jesus‘ final command below.
“Then Jesus came to them and
said,„All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age." Matthew 28:18-20
The Great Commission
Christ‘s final instructions to His
disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 above is commonly called ―The Great Commission‖ because in it, Jesus commissions them to take the Gospel to the world. The main verb in
this command is ―make disciples‖.
Three other verbs that connect to
the main verb explain how this is to be accomplished. See if you can find them.
Circle each one on the scripture verses above (Matt 28:18-20).
Go you can‘t reach people for Christ
unless you go to them.
This verb implies that God assumes
we will go.
Circle where we are to go according
to Christ‘s commission.
Baptising the word ‗baptize‘
symbolizes the cleansing and new identity Christians have in Christ when they
place their faith in Him.
Underline into what new identity
are Christians to be baptized in
Teaching making disciples involves
teaching.
Underline what we are to teach new
disciples.
Why does Jesus begin the Great
Commission with the declaration ‗all authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me? John 17:234
The Plan
Where do you start when you‘re
trying to ―make disciples of all nations‖? Acts 1:8 gives us the plan
to follow.
Underline three geographic areas
where we are to be Christ‘s witnesses.
Jerusalem ~ the city of Jerusalem
represents the disciples‘ home. (ie. their family, friends, home town/city)
Judea & Samaria ~ these two
provinces represent the surrounding area. (ie. State, Province or Country.)
Ends of the Earth ~ this includes
everyone else to be reached with the Gospel ~ to the farthest reaches of the
earth. (all nations)
We can all witness to people in our
Jerusalem, as well as work with other Christians to reach everyone in our Judea
& Samaria. But to reach the ends of the earth requires Christians to go and
live among the people in other nations. Every Christian should be willing to go,
but even if we do not, we must all support those who do go, with our prayers
and finances!
Where is your Jerusalem?
Where is your Judea & Samaria?
How do you plan to reach the ends of
the earth‘?
The Strategy ~ Discipleship
Now that we know our mission is to
make disciples of all nations, the question is ‗How?‘. The Discipleship
Process, developed by Campus Crusade for Christ, is outlined in Matthew
28:18-20 and diagramed below.
1. WIN People to
Christ “go & baptize”
2. BUILD People in Christ “teaching”
3. SEND People for Christ
“obey everything I have commanded
you”
“But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:835
How does teaching disciples to obey
everything Christ has commanded us result in them winning and building others
for Christ?
The Discipleship Process results in
growing numbers of Christians becoming involved in discipleship as they are
built up and sent out for Christ. This results in “Spiritual Multiplication”.
Spiritual Multiplication
The principle of Spiritual
Multiplication is found in 2 Timothy 2:2.
“And the things you have heard me
say in the presence of many witnesses entrust(hand over) to reliable men who
will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Underline what we are to do with
the things we are taught.
Underline what ‗reliable men‘ are
supposed to do with what they have learned.
Spiritual Multiplication is
diagramed at right.
Notice that each succeeding
generation grows as those who have learned now teach others. This is the magic
of Spiritual Multiplication.
Spiritual Addition
Winning people to Christ but never
building them up or sending them out to Win and Build others.
Spiritual Multiplication
Continually winning, building and
sending others to Win,
Build and Send still others
If we are to reach the world, we
must move from Spiritual Addition to Spiritual Multiplication!36
The Chart
The chart represents how many people
are reached for Christ by the end of a year. Notice that by continually
discipling 1 person every six months, who will then continue discipling others,
it is possible to reach the entire world in only 16 years! Through Spiritual
Multiplication, one person can reach the entire World!
Compare the numerical results
Spiritual Addition Year Spiritual
Multiplication
(Reach 100 people for Christ each
day) (Win, build & send one person every 6 months)
(thousand) 36,000 1 4
72,000 2 16
108,000 3 64
144,000 4 256
180,000 5 1,024 (thousand)
216,000 6 4,069
252,000 7 16,384
288,000 8 65,536
324,000 9 262,144
360,000 10 1,048,576 (million)
One Person CAN Make a Difference!
God Wants YOU To Be That Person!
A Significant Life
If you have ever wanted to do
something significant with your life, you will not find a more significant work
than winning, building and sending people for Christ. Your efforts will not
only result in abundant lives, but eternal lives!
Commit yourself to be part of God‘s
movement to reach the world for Christ by completing the discipleship covenant
on the following page.
Suggestion for further exploration:
The Global network –
Free online resources (books &
video)in many languages for reaching the world - http://www.globalreach.org/
Reaching Internationals -
Movement to reach international
student, provide a lot of good tools and helps that will empower you in your
ministry
http://www.reachinginternationals.com/
Bible questions answered
Frequently asked faith questions and
answers
http://www.gotquestions.org/37
