Assignments
Get a notebook and write out your testimony.
Everyone has a story. Everyone has a path that they have taken that has led them to this point of accepting Jesus. I want you to write out your story. This will be your notebook. You won’t be asked to share it with anyone else unless you want to. If you are sitting here and you are still searching and haven’t made the decision yet, then write out where you are spiritually.
You can also use this notebook to take notes in class or in church. Most of us forget the Sunday sermons by Monday but if you take notes at least you will have a reminder and help. Also, use the notebook for your time alone with God and for things that He is speaking to you about. Or you can also use it as a prayer journal. Your specific prayers and then the dates and ways that God answered those prayers. Then later on you will have a recor4, a history of your times with God.
Get note cards or spiral bound note cards
This is for your memory verses that I will give you each week. Also, for any verse that speaks into your life or that you want to know. I write them out and then carry them with me. As you recite them eventually they will get into your mind and into your heart and you will then always have the Word with you.
Begin reading the book of John
Get to know Jesus by reading the gospels…Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell about the life of Jesus. The Bible is a big book and it has a lot in it. Trust me if you try to start reading in Genesis and make your way through chances are you will give up and won’t be able to understand it. It is a very rare person that can do that.
But if you start with the life of Jesus it will make sense to you and you will get to know who Jesus is. His birth, his ministry, miracles, how he dealt with people, things he said and things he felt, his death, his resurrection and where he is today. I’m not going to tell you how much of it to read every day but starting right now I want you to begin to take time each day to read the Word. This is God’s word for you.
You can listen to sermons, tapes and read other Christian books but when you read the Word you will begin to know the heart of God for yourself and God will speak to you through it. Believe it or not this Word will tell you how to live. It is your road map or manual, your life and in it you will discover your purpose and through it you will grow.
Go over Memory Verse – John 3:16
If there is time you could read the excerpt from Rick Warren’s book, "Purpose Driven Life," reminding them that God’s purpose for each of us is firstly to know Him better and that you are trusting that this class will help them do that.
Praise Reports/Prayer
Lesson 2 - The Bible
THE BIBLE, "The Greatest Love Story"
Praise Reports/Prayer
A seven year old took the Bible one day from the table in the living room at home and asked, "Mom, is this God’s book?" "Yes, it is, son", the mother replied. "Well", the boy added, "don’t you think we might as well send it back to God? We don’t use it here, do we?"
That is the point of this lesson. The Bible is God’s Word, and we are going to see how it can be life to us. But if we just leave it on a shelf or table collecting dust and never touch it then what good is to us. Because this Bible is our manual for living, there is truth in here and principles to live by, help for every day. Yes, it is sacred and yes it is Holy and yes it is dear to our hearts. But I want you to get in the habit of underlining, circling and highlighting things and writing notes in the margins. Use it as a tool to grow in God.
Bible Study – John 1:1-14
Read passage. Author: John, the Disciple
The reason I chose to use the Gospel of John for each week’s study is because I feel that as the students read through this gospel they will be able to see how Jesus interacted with different people and get to know His heart for them. Of course, it is also just packed full of wonderful teachings and lessons for all believers. On thing that always stands out to me is that John referred to himself three times as the disciple Jesus loved. (John 13:23, 19:26; 20:2) It wasn’t that Jesus loved him more than the others, but because John recognized the love that Jesus had for him.
Word and truth were there from the beginning (This is an important concept to grasp)
Q: How does the Bible begin? Genesis 1:1 In the beginning...
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Jesus and the Word are ONE!!!
What was John the Baptist’s role?
Came as a witness to testify and prepare the way for the Light.
I usually explain here that John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin, the son of Elizabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1:36)
What is the role of Jesus?
John 1:12 – "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His man."
What surprises you about Jesus coming to earth as a human being?
(No right/wrong answers) Jesus left his home in heaven and chose to become a man in order to bring salvation to us.
What is comforting and encouraging about God taking on a human form?
He can totally relate to us, our feelings, sufferings and joys.
Before I go over the rest of the lesson, I usually read an excerpt from "Power for Living" by James Buckingham. It is the story of how the Bible affected Susan Atkin’s life.
How to we study the Word?
Look in the front of your Bibles. You will find the Table of Contents which lists all the books and the page they start on.
Find John 3:16 and II Timothy 3:16-17 Have the students underline these.
Use a reference sheet, "The Bible At a Glance". Go over the breakdown or sections of the OT and NT, and talk about the dividing moment being the CROSS.
The rest of the lesson is self-explanatory. Go over the sections "How do we study the Word?" and "Why should YOU read the Bible?" If there is time you can look up the scripture references.
BIBLE HELPS:
Concordance: A book that lists all the words of the Bible and the places they are found
Dictionary: Explains the meaning of words, places and subjects of the Bible
Commentary: An explanation of the Bible chapter by chapter
Study Groups: It is good to have personal devotion but Bible study groups can really help you understand and grow
Memory Verse: II Timothy 3:16-17 - "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."
Lesson 3 – Prayer
Praise Reports/Prayer
John 15:1-17
John chapters 14-17 are almost all in red, which means that they are the Words of Jesus. Jesus is speaking here to his disciples. He is comforting them, praying for them and teaching them about His kingdom and the Holy Spirit. These are all things that He is sharing with them just before He is betrayed and crucified. (Similar to what a person who is dying would do…gather their loved ones around them and speak into their lives.
- Who is speaking? Jesus
- Who is the gardener? God
- Who are we? The Branches
- What does bear fruit mean?
There is no right answer...class discussion on different aspects of bearing fruit. Witnessing and making disciples, being obedient, living right, loving others, treating those around you as Jesus would want you to, etc.
What does "remain in me" mean?
Again, no right answer. Staying connected to a body of believers, reading the Word and praying, not giving up, etc.
What command is given to us?
Love each other
What is prayer?
The main purpose of prayer is "to develop a relationship with God."
John Bunyan wrote, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." God is looking at your heart, what motivates you, and is more interested in a pure and repentant heart than he is in sacrifice or empty words. (Psalm 51)
God says:
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Chronicles 7:14
Luke 11:9-10
Peter 3:12
We pray to God - Matthew 6:6
In the name of Jesus - John 14:14
Through the power of Holy Spirit - Ephesians 6:18
How and what to pray - A.C.T.S.
Adoration – Praise God for His love, power and majesty, and his wonderful gift of salvation.
Confession – Admit your sins to God. Be honest and humble. He loves you.
Thanksgiving – Tell God how grateful you are for everything He has given you & done for you.
Supplication – Make specific requests, both for yourself and for others
PRAYER ESSENTIALS
Pray the Word – Suggested Reading: "Prayers that Avail Much" by Germaine Copeland
Keep a Prayer Journal
Memory Verse
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.”
Lesson 4 – Ordinances of the Church
WATER BAPTISM & COMMUNION
Praise Reports/Prayer
John 12:20-36
What was Jesus teaching through his picture of a kernel? The kernel has to die in order to produce more seeds. We need to be willing to die to "self" in order for Christ’s life to live within us.
What does he mean in verse 25? If you cling to the things of this world and live for today in the end you will lose your life. But if you "hate" this present life in this world in the end you will gain eternal life. The word hate is also found in Luke 14:26. It is the Greek word miseo which really means to love less. So we need to love the things of this world less than we love God.
What emotions did he portray in verse 27? Troubled heart. He was not looking forward to what He had to do but was willing to let his will die so that the Father could be glorified and we could be saved.
How can Jesus be both the Christ that remains forever and the Son of man lifted up? Jesus remains here with us through the Holy Spirit, but is also in heaven interceding and watching over us.
What does it mean to you to lose your life? Answers will vary but should include not living just for temporal things of this world but living to please Jesus.
In what ways is it similar to Jesus’ death and resurrection? Jesus was willing to give up his earthly life and go through suffering on the cross because He was looking beyond the suffering to resurrection not just for Himself but resurrection for all.
To what area of your life is God calling you to die? Answers will vary
What is hardest about being obedient?
Water Baptism (Baptize means to dip or to immerse)
Why should I be baptized by immersion (dunking)?
- Matthew 3:16 – example of Jesus
- Romans 6:1-7 Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
Burial and Resurrection – Old life is buried, new life is resurrected
Outward Testimony – Declaring to the world that you have decided to follow Jesus
Identifies us with Jesus – We too can live a new life as we are baptized into Christ
Helps seal our commitment – Does not mean we will never sin again, but we should no longer be slaves to sin. If we die to the old self and its ways, we are freed from the bondages of sin.
When should I be baptized? Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:35-38
The Lord’s Supper (Communion)
Go over the following scriptures and then receive communion together. (Also read Matthew 26:26-29)
I Corinthians 11:23-25
Bread (symbol of the body of Christ)
Wine (symbol of the blood shed for the remission of our sins)
- Communion is a command of Christ
- Communion is a time of remembrance
- Communion is a time of celebration
- Communion is a time of healing (body, spirit, and soul) Psalm 103:3 and Isaiah 53:1-6
- Communion is a time of anticipation
WARNING - I Corinthians 11:28 - Need to examine ourselves before participating
Memory Verse
John 12:26 “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Lesson 5 – Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Praise Reports/Prayer
I normally spend two weeks on this lesson and save time at the end to pray for those who want to receive the baptism. We have had many that have been filled and re-filled.
At the end of this lesson I give them the AG booklet, "Our Distinctive Doctrine, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit."
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
(The Power of Pentecost)
John 4:1-14 (Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman)
Why was that so unusual?
There was a long standing hatred (dating back to I Kings) between the Samaritans and the Jerusalem Jews. Huge history there but the "pure" Jews felt that since the Samaritans had intermarried they were not "pure" and therefore treated them like outcasts and with hatred. That is why the parable of the "Good Samaritan" was an oxymoron to the Jews because how could a person be good and a Samaritan.
In the physical sense it is not true when it says that Jesus had to pass through Samaria. But in the spiritual realm Jesus had a divine appointment with a woman. In the time of Jesus when the Jews who wanted to travel from Judea to Galilee instead of taking a 70 mile direct route they would travel an extra 70 miles around Samaria just to avoid them. This was on foot or donkey or camel. So when Jesus traveled through Samaria and actually stopped at a well there, this was an unusual event. Speaking to a woman is bad enough but speaking to a woman who had been married and divorced five times and the man she is living with now is not her husband is totally wrong. So in the eyes of his disciples and others Jesus was definitely stepping out of the ordinary boundaries and was on "thin ice."
- What is Jesus offering her? Living water or salvation.
- John 7:37-39 What is different about this water? Who is it for? Believers…those who have already gone to the well of John 4 and received salvation.
- Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third person of the Godhead, Matthew 28:19
- When do we receive the Holy Spirit? At Salvation, John 3:3-7
- Who is the Baptizer? Jesus, Matthew 3:11; Matthew 3:13-17
(Salvation and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit are separate events. Salvation comes first.)
Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples
Counselor (Spirit of Truth) – John 14:15-18
Teacher – John 14:26-27
Conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment – John 16:5-11
Jesus last words before ascending into heaven – Luke 24:45-53
Receive power to be witnesses – receive a personal boldness and power. - Acts 1:1-11
Pentecost - Acts 2:1-4
Holy Spirit comes……sound like the blowing of a mighty wind
………tongues of fire
……….filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues
Other places where believers were filled: Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-8
Memory Verse: Acts 1:8 "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."
TOP 10 REASONS WHY BELIEVERS SHOULD SPEAK IN TONGUES
(BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT)
- Tongues is the initial sign of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4)
- Tongues gives us the power to be witnesses (Acts 1:8)
- Tongues gives us the power to preach the Word (witness) boldly (Acts 4:31)
- Tongues is for spiritual edification and spiritual refreshing (I Corinthians 14:4, Isaiah 28:11,12
- Tongues remind us of the Spirit’s indwelling or presence (John 14:16,17)
- Praying in tongues keeps our prayers in line with God’s will (Romans 8:26)
- Praying in tongues enables us to pray for the unknown (Romans 8:26)
- Praying in tongues stimulates faith (Jude 20)
- Speaking in tongues brings the tongue under subjection (James 3:8)
- Singing and praying in tongues brings thanks and praise to God (I Corinthians 14:14-19)
WHAT TONGUES WON'T DO FOR YOU:
- Will not keep your life pure
- Will not keep Satan from coming into your camp
- Will not do for you what you can do for yourself
- Will not free you from addictions
- Will not keep the river within you flowing freely
Book Recommendation: Tim Enloe, "Want More?"
Lesson 6 – The Church
Praise Reports/Prayer
At the end of this lesson I give them the AG booklet, "Our 16 Doctrines".
John 10:1-18 (The Shepherd and His Flock)
- Who does the Shepherd represent? Jesus
- Who do the sheep represent? Believers
- What does this passage tell you about the relationship of Jesus to His sheep? The sheep know His voice and follow Him.
- What do you think is the main point of the passage? Answers may vary. Jesus is our shepherd, loves us and has laid down his life for us.
- What do you think it means that Jesus’ sheep know His voice and follow Him? Jesus wants to have a relationship with us. He desires for us to know Him better and has direction for our lives.
- What does this mean to you personally? Answers will vary. Hopefully, some will share how God has drawn them and led them thus far.
THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION (Purpose)
The word church is mentioned 91 times in the New Testament (Body of Christ, Bride of Christ, Living Stones, Temple of God)
WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
John 4:23-24 – God is Spirit and is everywhere. It isn’t so much where we worship but that our worship is genuine and true.
Revelation 4:11 – God is the creator of everything and is worthy of our praise.
Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord with all of your being...heart, soul, mind and strength.
Romans 12:1-2 – We are to lay aside our desires daily and live to honor and obey Him.
EVANGELISM TO THE WORLD
Matthew 28:19-20 – We are all to go and make disciples teaching others to obey all of God’s commands.
Mark 16:15 – Go into the world and preach the Good News of the Gospel to all.
Acts 1:8 – You will receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be witnesses in your "world".
BUILD UP THE BODY (I Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:1-21)
Corinthians 14:12 – Ask God for gifts that will benefit the whole church.
Philippians 2:1-4 – Love each other, work together with one heart and one purpose.
Ephesians 4:11-16 – The gifts that God has given to the church all for the building up and equipping of the saints so that we will all work together in unity.
FUTURE OF THE CHURCH – Spending Eternity with Jesus in Heaven…. Hallelujah!!!!!!
I Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 14:1-4
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God---this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Lesson 7 – Growing in God
Praise Reports/Prayer
GROWING IN GOD
John 13:1-17
- Who would normally wash the feet of a guest? The servants
- Why do you think Peter reacted as he did? Felt humbled and that he should be the one serving Jesus.
- What were the other disciples thinking? Probably the same thing…very humbled.
- What does this act symbolize about Jesus? That He is the servant of all and that we should be serving one another. Some churches practice "foot" washing. It is a good reminder of how we should treat one another and it certainly is a very humbling experience.
- How important do you think it is to model our lives after Jesus? Vital that we follow the example of Christ.
GROWTH: ”You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.” (Rick Warren, “The Purpose Driven Life”)
GROW THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP – Discipleship is a Process
Created to Be Like God – Ephesians 4:22-24
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Put off
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Be Renewed
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Put on
Overcome Temptation – James 1:2-27
This is the progression of sin and the deception of the gradual.
- Desire
- Doubt
- Deception
- Disobedience
Think Differently – James 1:21; Colossians 3:1-2
Become Doers of the Word – James 1:22; James 4:7-8
GROW THROUGH SERVICE – God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not by how many people serve you. I Peter 4:8-11; Matthew 20:25-28
GROW THROUGH SHARING – You need the “body” and the “body” needs you. Ephesians 4:2-3 and 11-16; I Thessalonians 5:11
GROW THROUGH WITNESSING – Our Message – Christ in You….Hope of Glory. Colossians 1:21-22 7 27; Matthew 28:19
GROW THROUGH GIVING - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse….Test me in this! Malachi 3:8-10; Philippians 4:19; Luke 6:38
MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
This Guide Provided by: First Assembly Ministries, Fort Myers, Florida
Basic Christianity Class Taught by Pastor Phyllis Lefort
