Disciple Fast Track Into the Word Into the World Leader Guide

By Richard B. Wilke, Susan Wilke Fuquay, Elaine Friedrich and Julia Kitchens Wilke Trust

Minimal additional preparation is needed for the Leader—just follow the Guide. Use the guide in class only. What could be easier?

Disciple Fast Track Into the Word Into the World is an adaptation of the original, bestselling Disciple Bible Study Into the Word Into the World. The study is ideal for busy people who want to fit an in-depth Bible study into their schedule. The study retains the familiar Disciple format with its theme word, theme verse, statement of the human condition, daily and weekly assignments, and prayer.

Into the Word helps readers deepen their understanding of Scripture and make connections between what they already know and what they are reading. Each week you will encounter three spiritual disciplines, learn what they are, and how you can engage those disciplines. The first discipline varies from week to week, then moves into Sabbath and prayer. In every session, you commit to how you will respond to Scripture in terms of ministry in the world.

Into the World identifies some needs in the world for which ministry is needed and suggests possible responses, then invites participants to summarize the scripture message that will shape their ministry and to decide what response and commitment to make to that message. Each week you will be guided in experiencing the gift of Sabbath rest and renewal. Classes meet for a total of 24 weeks, studying Genesis–Exodus and Luke–Acts for 12 sessions each. Daily preparation is manageable, with 3–5 chapters of the Bible to read each day.

Weekly sessions last 75 minutes. Four hosts will provide 3–5 minute video insights related to the week's session. Flexible for use with small groups of 8–14, or for large groups of 15–100.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Jul 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781501845949

Richard B. Wilke

Richard B. Wilke is author of And Are We Yet Alive? and Signs and Wonders, and co-author of DISCIPLE Bible Study, all published by Abingdon Press. He is a popular keynote speaker and preacher who stresses evangelism and the vitality of the local church. Bishop Wilke lives with his wife, Julia, in Winfield, Kansas, where he is Bishop-in-Residence at Southwestern College.

Book preview

1GOD SPEAKS

PREPARE FOR THE SESSION

Prior to Session 1, ensure all participants have a Genesis-Exodus Study Manual and a study Bible. Communicate with participants two weeks before the class begins that they will need to have completed reading Session 1 in the Study Manual and all the Bible assignments before the first session.

Prepare enough copies of the group roster (include names and contact information) to hand out to each participant at the beginning of this session. Make enough copies of the Small Group Discussion Guide (page 12) to distribute to groups of 4–6 participants in your class.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION (10 MINUTES)

Offer a personal welcome.

Hand out copies of the group roster.

Ask participants to share their names and explain briefly what they hope to gain from participating in this study.

Ask the group how they did with the daily Bible reading. Clarify as needed.

Ask participants to open their Study Manuals to Session 1. Direct the group to read aloud together the following:

Theme Word: Respect

Theme Verse: God said, ‘Let there be light.’ And so light appeared. God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:3-4).

Title: God Speaks

Our Human Condition:

Remind the group that Our Human Condition reflects the condition of the people in this session’s Scriptures, and, as we will see, also reflects conditions of humankind today.

Read aloud together: The world and all that is in it was created for human beings. So I make the most of it, enjoy life, and use everything available to me, even when I may be wasting resources or harming the earth.

Ask participants to underline parts of Our Human Condition they relate to most easily.

Spiritual Disciplines:

Explain to the group that in each session three spiritual disciplines are emphasized. The first one changes each session. The second one is always the Sabbath. The third one is always prayer.

The first spiritual discipline is described in the Study Manual along with two questions to answer. Be sure to answer the questions and practice the discipline before coming to our group meeting each week.

The second spiritual discipline highlighted each session is Sabbath. Sabbath-keeping is a way of sorting out priorities and trusting God. We will grow in our understanding of Sabbath-keeping.

NOTES

The third spiritual discipline is always prayer. Each week a psalm is highlighted as your prayer for each day along with prayer requests for the group and your own praises and supplications.

Let’s look at this session’s spiritual disciplines.

Celebration

Read the description aloud together from the Study Manual. Quickly divide into pairs and briefly share your responses to the questions listed under this session’s spiritual discipline in your Study Manual.

Sabbath

Read aloud the paragraph under Sabbath. How did you celebrate the grandeur and mystery of creation this week? Share a few brief comments as time allows.

Opening Prayer

Pray the prayer aloud together from the Study Manual:

"I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart;

I will talk about all your wonderful acts.

I will celebrate and rejoice in you;

I will sing praises to your name, Most High" (Psalm 9:1-2).

VIEW THE DVD (5 MINUTES)

EXPLORE GOD SPEAKS (15 MINUTES TOTAL)

Share the Following:

Let’s begin with a discussion of the two Creation stories from Genesis. Consider what you read in your Bible, Study Bible notes, and Study Manual as we discuss these questions.

In the first story, Genesis 1:1–2:3, what examples do you see that help reveal the character and behavior of God? Let’s find 5-6 examples. (Answers could be: God creates; God speaks to create; God creates a good creation; God is good, all-powerful, creative, kind; God values rest.)

What about in the second story, Genesis 2:4-25? What examples do you see that help reveal the character and behavior of God? Let’s find 5-6 examples. (Answers could be: God creates from the dust; God has the power to give life; God cares about relationship; God gives authority to others.)

Turn in your Study Manual to the Genesis: Creation section under Into the Word (pages 8–11). When considering the information about surrounding cultures, philosophies, and religions, what are some possible reasons the Bible begins with the Creation stories?

Turn in your Study Manual to The Testimony of the Universe section under Into the Word (page 11). It states, Creation is a witness to God. Share with a partner your answer to the question from the section that asks, What aspects of creation draw you especially near to God and cause you to praise the Creator?

NOTES

ENCOURAGE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (20 MINUTES)

Divide the class into groups of 4–6. Hand out the Small Group Discussion Guide and ask the group to spend the next twenty minutes on this activity. (The leader joins one of the small group discussions. There is no need to have groups report on their discussions with other groups or for the leader to monitor discussions.)

CONSIDER INTO THE WORLD (15 MINUTES)

Share the Following:

As we study the Bible together, keep in mind that what we learn in each session needs to be taken into our world today. The main purpose of DISCIPLE FAST TRACK: INTO THE WORD, INTO THE WORLD is to help us integrate the Scripture into our lives to transform us. We are being transformed from the person described in Our Human Condition to a more Christlike person.

Be sure and respond to all the questions in this section before you come to our group session.

Turn to Our Human Condition in your Study Manual (page 6) and read it aloud together.

The world and all that is in it was created for human beings. So I make the most of it, enjoy life, and use everything available to me, even when I may be wasting resources or harming the earth.

As a group answer the questions under the Into the World section (stopping before God’s Word in My World). Ask a few people to share their responses to each question.

God’s Word in My World

Share the Following:

Near the end of each group session, we will work on the most transformational part of this study. It is called God’s Word in My World. Each week before we come to class we will write responses to the following prompts under God’s Word in My World. The prompts