Growing Disciples - A Bible Study Course for Followers of Jesus

By Keith Dorricott

If you are a new disciple of  Jesus, or one who wishes to learn the basic teaching of the Bible for disciples, then this course is for you. The Bible describes you as a "baby in Christ", someone who needs to be fed and nourished by someone else so that you may grow into full maturity: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2). Produced by the Churches of God (churchesofgod.info), the course consists of 23 sessions, split between theological and practical topics. With suggested study answers provided in a separate appendix, it's equally usable in a group situation with a facilitator, or as self-study.

 

The course covers the following topics: DISCIPLESHIP,  THE REALITY OF SALVATION, WATER BAPTISM, THE CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE, THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE, BIBLE READING AND STUDY, PRAYER, CHRISTLIKENESS, VICTORY OVER SIN, FAMILY LIFE, MAKING OTHER DISCIPLES, THE TRIUNE GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART 1), THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART 2), FUTURE EVENTS, THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCHES OF GOD, THE HOUSE OF GOD (PART 1), THE HOUSE OF GOD (PART 2), THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FELLOWSHIP AND SEPARATION, THE HISTORY OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES OF GOD.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hayes Press
• Release date: Jan 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215894859

Book preview

Hayes Press

GROWING DISCIPLES

A BIBLE STUDY COURSE FOR FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

Copyright © 2022 by Hayes Press

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scriptures marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked RV are taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Version (Public Domain 1885).

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Public Domain 1611).

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Contents

Preface

1. DISCIPLESHIP

2. THE REALITY OF SALVATION

3. WATER BAPTISM

4. CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE

5. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

6. BIBLE READING AND STUDY

7. PRAYER

8. CHRISTLIKENESS

9. VICTORY OVER SIN

10. FAMILY LIFE

11. MAKING OTHER DISCIPLES

12. THE TRIUNE GOD

13. THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART 1)

14. THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART 2)

15. FUTURE EVENTS

16. THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST

17. THE CHURCHES OF GOD

18. THE HOUSE OF GOD (PART 1)

19. THE HOUSE OF GOD (PART 2)

20. THE PEOPLE OF GOD

21. THE KINGDOM OF GOD

22. FELLOWSHIP AND SEPARATION

23. THE HISTORY OF THE FELLOWSHIP

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO STUDY QUESTIONS

APPENDIX A: THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD

APPENDIX B: CHRISTIANITY A LA CARTE (LES HORNE)

ABOUT HAYES PRESS

MORE STUDY BOOKS FROM HAYES PRESS

Preface

If you are a new disciple of the Lord Jesus, or one who wishes to learn the basic teaching of the Bible for disciples, then this course is for you. The Bible describes you as a baby in Christ, someone who needs to be fed and nourished by someone else so that you may grow into full maturity: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2). This course assumes that you are a born-again Christian (see John 3), although the assurance of that salvation is dealt with in Session 2. It also assumes you want to be a disciple who is continuously learning about Christ and being obedient to him.

The course consists of 23 sessions, split between doctrinal and practical topics. It is intended to be taught in either of two ways: in a group situation with a facilitator who will also lead the group through the material in the Topic Overview (each session is expected to take about 90 minutes), or by self-study at your own pace. In both cases, you will need your own Bible, preferably an NIV, NKJV, ESV or NASB translation. In the case of self-study, suggested answers to the Discussion Questions in each session are at the back of the book - no cheating! For facilitated sessions, the following 90-minute timeline is suggested:

Take up the Review Questions from the previous session (15 min.)

Discuss the Assignment from the previous session (10 min.)

Answer any questions about the Advance Reading (5 min.)

Go over the Topic Overview (with visual aids) (30 min.)

Learn the Memory Verse together (5 min.)

Discuss some or all of the Discussion Questions in one group or in small groups. (20 min.)

Give the Assignment and Advance Reading for the following session (5 min.)

Some of the material may possibly seem very elementary depending on your prior knowledge, and on your age and capacity. Others may find it more difficult and need extra help. It is impossible for each session to cover its topic in great depth - please see the back of the book for a list of additional study books and booklets available from Hayes Press (many are available for download at no charge at www.churchesofgod.info).

1

DISCIPLESHIP

OBJECTIVE

1. To understand that progressively learning about and applying the teaching of Christ from the Word of God should be the goal and life-work of every believer in Christ. 2. To stimulate the desire and willingness to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus.

ADVANCE READING

Read the following Scriptures and briefly summarize each one: 1. Matthew 28:18-20; 2. John 8:31,32; 3. Luke 6:40; 4. Luke 14:26-33.

TOPIC OVERVIEW

a) Who is a disciple of the Lord Jesus?

A disciple is a follower of someone else. We are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our leader. A prerequisite of being a disciple is to have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour through faith. A disciple is a student. He follows in order to learn and, in doing so, learns more about following. See Luke 6:40. Christ uses the Holy Spirit, who indwells us because we are believers in Christ, to teach us about Him. The goal of discipleship is to be well-pleasing to God. This involves an on-going process of constant renewal - of being changed to be more like Christ Himself (Colossians 3:10; Romans 8:29).

b) What did the Lord Jesus say a disciple was?

Jesus said ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples’ (John 8:31). What does this mean?

if you hold - means: learning, understanding and applying to my life; it is a condition which is my responsibility;

my teaching - Jesus’ teaching; not teachings (plural)- there are many elements but it is one unified teaching; it must be taken as a whole; there are no substitutes or options;

my disciples - Jesus’ own disciples; an identification with Jesus, based on a personal relationship with Him.

c) What are the characteristics of a disciple?

i) Luke 14:26-33:

verse 26 - hates (meaning loves less than) family and own life (see Matthew 10:37);

verse 27 - carries own cross (the sacrifices and reproach), and follows Jesus;

verse 33 - the Lord Jesus is given priority over everything else in my life.

ii) John 14:21 - knows Christ’s commands and obeys them.

iii) Luke 9:23 - denies oneself; takes up cross daily, follows Christ.

d) What are the actions of a disciple?

John 8:31 - holding to Jesus’ teaching; that is, doing it consistently;

John 13:34,35 - loving my brother and sister is evidence to others that we are disciples of Christ;

John 15:8 - bearing fruit (using the analogy of a vine), as evidence of discipleship.

e) What is the cost of being a disciple?

Read the story of Carla:

Haunting strains of flute music filtered out onto the city street. The melody was so beautiful that for the moment the roar of the traffic and sounds of kids on the corner ceased to register in Carla’s ears. All she could hear was the sweet music coming from Apartment 2B. That was where Mrs. Rosinee lived. She was the woman who was playing the haunting music. She was the woman Carla wanted to be like. As the music continued, Carla recalled the conversation she had with Mrs. Rosinee during Carla’s music lesson that morning. Carla had told her teacher that someday she wanted to be as good a flute player as she was.

Carla had expected Mrs. Rosinee to be glad that Carla wanted to play well, and that she would give her a few extra pieces to practise. Carla hadn’t expected the kind of response she had received. Instead of handing Carla extra music, Mrs. Rosinee had said, Carla, you have the potential to be a great flautist. But not everyone who has potential succeeds. If you truly want to become great, you must give up all activities except your schoolwork; you must spend time with me daily learning my techniques; you must practise diligently; and above all you must do exactly what I say. I do not want you to decide today whether you are willing to do all this. You must think seriously about what it will cost you to make this choice. Next week, at your lesson, you can tell me your decision.

A loud honk jarred Carla back to the activity of the city street. She looked at the groups of kids laughing on the corner. She knew if she accepted Mrs. Rosinee’s challenge, she would be spending no time with them. But as she looked longingly at the kids, the strains of the flute echoed in her mind. Carla Blanchard knew what her choice must be."

Discuss the costs involved in her being a musician. Compare these with the rewards (see Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:16-20; 10:21-23; 34-39; 16:24-28).

f) How does a disciple grow?

Read the story of Dennis: Techumseh, Ontario, Canada - 1960.

A shocking story begins to unfold. Fifteen year-old Dennis Donaldson knocks on his neighbour’s door. The neighbour calls the police. Why? Was Dennis a hoodlum trying to attack the neighbour? No, Dennis was no hoodlum. Though Dennis was 15, he was only three feet, eleven inches tall and weighed only 44 pounds. And the reason the neighbour called the police was, though the Donaldsons had lived near him a long time, the neighbour hadn’t known the boy existed.

Entering the Donaldson’s home, the police found not only Dennis but two sisters, Bonnie, 18, and Carrie, 13. Bonnie was four feet, two inches tall and weighed 55 pounds. Carrie was three feet, two inches and weighed 29 pounds. The children had spent 11 years shut in a playroom. Television had kept them in touch with what was going on in the world. And an older sister taught them to read. Why had they been shut away? Various reasons were suggested. One possibility was because the family had six children (three had been allowed to grow up normally) and they could not find a place to live. So the parents had hidden three of the children.

Another possibility was that the three children had something wrong with them and the mother was hiding them so that people would not laugh at them. In any case, the children had had far from a normal existence. Though they had been fed and clothed, they had become physically stunted and emotionally damaged. Tests showed that the teenagers were eight years behind children their own ages. What caused the stunting? It could have been a medical problem. Or, they could have become stunted because of their environment. In either case, the children had been seriously deprived. Though they had received some elements which had contributed to their growth, they had not received others. And this deprivation would affect them for the rest of their lives.

What elements of physical and emotional growth did the children miss out on? Compare these with elements of spiritual growth.

Dennis’s Problems

Physical Isolation, No Fresh Air, No schooling, No Social Interaction, No Vision

Spiritual Elements of Growth

Scripture Reading, Prayer, Fellowship, Witnessing, Obedience

g) Disciples are made (not born)!

Matthew 28:19,20: The Lord’s apostles were instructed to (a) go and make disciples, (b) baptize them, (c) teach them to obey all of Jesus’ teaching. Note the importance of