Book 6 - Clover Sites
IMPORTANT These materials are to be used only by qualified instructors who have participated in training clinics and learned how to use The ETS Series effectively. For LEADERSHIP TRAINING contact: Discipleship International (In Canada) Phone: 604-275-0850 Toll Free Phone: 1-866-383-8938 Email: [email protected] Website: www.discipleshipint.org
Recognition & Appreciation For their work in developing The Original 2:7 Series presently called The ETS Series, we are particularly grateful for the efforts of the Denver Navigator staff. Ron Oertli prayerfully and thoughtfully put together the concept and its original layout. Bob Wilbraham and Bob Lovelace participated in final field testing and in refining the material to its present form. We also want to express our thanks to the many local church lay people who were trained during the developmental stages of the series. They showed great patience and perseverance as various changes were incorporated. A special thanks goes to those in the first three churches where the materials were used. First Denver Friends Church, Valverde Presbyterian Church, and Bear Valley Baptist Church. Our prayer is that many local churches will find The ETS Series a useful tool for raising up trained lay leadership for the cause of Jesus Christ. For additional resources & training materials, please refer to: www.discipleshipint.org
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)
Discipleship International (D.I.) is an evangelical Christian organization. Jesus Christ gave His followers the Great Commission to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The aim of D.I. is to help fulfill that commission by multiplying labourers for Christ in every nation. NavPress is the publishing ministry of The Navigators. NavPress publications are tools to help Christians grow. Although publications alone cannot make disciples or change lives, they can help believers learn biblical discipleship and apply what they learn to their lives and ministries.
Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, © 1984 by the New York Bible Society. Other versions quoted are the Amplified New Testament (AMP), © 1954, 1958 by The Lockman Foundation; The New Berkeley Version in Modern English (BERK). © 1945, 1959, 1969 by the Zondervan Publishing House; The Living Bible (LB), © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers; and The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition by J.R. Phillips (PH), © 1958, 1960, 1972 by J.B. Phillips. This edition issued by special arrangement with NavPress, a ministry of The Navigators, USA. ©1974 by The Navigators. Revised 1978. All rights reserved. ISBN: 0-89109-800-3 18002 Based on Eighth printing, 1982 First Canadian printing Jan. 2007 This special limited edition is published for the use of Discipleship International. The ETS series is published under licence from The Navigators by Discipleship International.
Graphic Design: www.creativematters.ca December 8, 2008 BP
Contents
SESSION 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 A Review of the Goals of Book 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Topical Memory System in this Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Hand Illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 A Periodic Spiritual Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 SESSION 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 SESSION 3: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Scripture Memory Self-Checking Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SESSION 4: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 SESSION 5: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Five . . .20 Teachableness: The Virtue of the Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 SESSION 6: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 How to Use a Prayer List Effectively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 SESSION 7: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 SESSION 8: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Eight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Making Meditation a Habit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 SESSION 9: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 How to Review and Quote All 60 Verses of the Topical Memory System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 SESSION 10: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 How to Use Investigative Bible Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Leading an Investigative Bible Study Group: Five Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Suggested Material for Investigative Bible Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 An Excerpt from Who is Jesus Christ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
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Contents
An Excerpt from The Work of Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 An Excerpt from Eternal Life in Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Suggest Outline for an Investigative Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 SESSION 11: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Developing Good Memory Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 SESSION 12: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 After Book 6 – What Then? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 BIBLE STUDY HOMEWORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Growing in Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Section 1: What is a Disciple? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Section 2: The Responsible Steward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Section 3: Helping Others Find Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Section 4: Follow-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Section 5: World Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Helpful Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Bible Highlights Reading Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Check-up Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Answers-to-Prayer Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 The Birth of Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Verse Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Completion Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Leader Evalutation Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 Evangelism List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 IMPORTANT: These materials are to be used only by qualified instructors who have: (1) previously gone through the material as a student, or (2) have participated in training clinics and learned how to use the ETS Series effectively. Information on attending these clinics may be obtained from Discipleship International: Website: www.discipleshipint.org Email: [email protected]
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Session 1 OUTLINE OF THIS SESSION 1.
Open in prayer.
2.
Go over A Review of the Goals of Book 5.
3.
Preview Book 6 by looking over the Completion Record (pages 112-113).
4.
Read and discuss the Scripture Memory Instructions – Week One (page 7).
5.
Look over Growing in Discipleship, the Bible study you will be doing in this book (pages 61-97), and read the introduction to the study aloud (page 61).
6.
Briefly discuss The Hand Illustration (page 8).
7.
Discuss and complete A Periodic Spiritual Inventory (pages 9-10).
8.
Read the At Home Assignment for Session 2.
9.
Close the session in prayer and encouragement.
AT HOME ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION 2 ➣ Scripture Memory: a) Complete Week Two (page 12), memorizing John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:18. b) Come prepared to quote the five verses of Book 1: Beginning with Christ and the 12 verses of Book 5: Be Christ’s Disciple. c) IMPORTANT: To graduate from Book 6 you will be required to quote at one sitting all 60 verses of the Topical Memory System, with topics and references. So make Scripture memory review a high priority during this book.
➣ Quiet Time: Continue your Bible reading, marking, and recording. ➣ Bible Study: Complete questions 1-14 in Section 1 (pages 62-66). GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS MEMORY VERSES John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:18
5
Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
A Review of the Goals of Book 5 The goals of Book 5 were: 1. To continue experiencing a growing consistency in quiet times by… a. combining meaningful Bible reading and prayer. b. having 14 consecutive quiet times during the book, and recording your thoughts. 2. To retain the five memorized Scripture verses in Book 1: Beginning with Christ and the first 36 verses in the Topical Memory System. 3. To memorize Book 5: Be Christ’s Disciple in the Topical Memory System. 4. To complete and discuss Foundations for Faith as a participant in a Bible study group. (Each student had an opportunity to gain further experience in leading small group Bible study discussions.) 5. To give a personal testimony or the Bridge Illustration to a non-Christian, and to report the results to the class. 6. To begin using a Personal Journal, and Answers-to-Prayer pages. 7. To study the concept of weekly and daily planning, and to use a daily Do List for seven consecutive days. 8. To gain experience in writing understanding and application questions for Bible study discussion.
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
Scripture Memory Instructions - Week One Conformity to Christ Christlikeness is God’s goal for every believer. But many of us have yielded to the pressures to conform to this world by lowering ourselves to standards that are not scriptural. No wonder our influence for Christ is often limited! Only as others see Jesus in us will they be attracted to Him. Christlike character cannot, however, be tacked on the outside; it must spring from within. As we meditate on Scripture and allow it to permeate our minds, it remains there to influence our reactions and decisions – and to form Christian character. In Book 6, you will learn 12 passages to help you focus attention on this process.
Planning for Future Scripture Memory While reading the Bible or listening to sermons, your attention may be directed to verses you’ll want to memorize in the future. Jot down their references, plus a phrase expressing
the key thought in each verse. This list will form a reservoir from which to choose verses for memorizing after you finish Book 6. You will find it helpful in the future to review the Scripture memory principles you have studied in The ETS Series. These are summarized on pages 54-55 in this book.
Additional Scripture Memory Books Besides the Topical Memory System, The Navigators offer five shorter memory books, each with 36 selected verses. The five series are Getting to Know God, Growing in Love, Growing in Faith, Walking in Victory, and Sharing Christ with Others. These are available from Christian bookstores.
Self-Checking Quiz The Self-Checking Quiz in Session 3 is based on the Scripture memory instructions in Books 5 and 6.
The Topical Memory System in This Course In this book you will memorize the last 12 verses of the Topical Memory System: Book 6: Grow in Christlikeness Love John 13:34-35 1 John 3:18 Humility Philippians 2:3-4 1 Peter 5:5-6 Purity Ephesians 5:3 1 Peter 2:11 Honesty Leviticus 19:11 Acts 24:16 Faith Hebrews 11:6 Romans 4:20-21 Good Works Galatians 6:9-10 Matthew 5:16 “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed.” – John 8:31, KJV
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
The Hand Illustration shows us practically how to have a working grasp of the Scriptures. It has been estimated that we remember… ➣ 5 percent of what we HEAR ➣ 15 percent of what we READ ➣ 35 percent of what we STUDY ➣ 100 percent of what we MEMORIZE So, a balanced intake of the Bible comes through hearing, reading, studying, and memorizing. Then, as you meditate on the Scriptures during these four activities, they become more personal and specific in helping you grow in Christlikeness. Let us look in more detail at these five methods of learning from the Bible: 1. Hearing the Word of God from godly pastors and teachers provides us with insight from Bible study done by others. It also stimulates our own appetites for the Scriptures. (Taking notes will increase your ability to retain what you hear.) 2. Reading the Bible gives us an overall picture of Scripture, and is also the foundation of the daily quiet time. 3. Studying the Scriptures is more in-depth than reading. It includes writing down our discoveries to help us organize and remember them better. 4. Memorizing God’s Word enables us to use the Sword of the Spirit to overcome temptations, and to have verses readily available for sharing with others. Scripture memory stimulates meaningful meditation. 5. Meditation is the inward process that should accompany each of the other four methods of Scripture intake. As we meditate on God’s Word we discover its transforming power at work in us.
8
Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
A Periodic Spiritual Inventory In Book 1 and 2 you studied the Wheel Illustration, which represents the balanced Christian life. The first 12 verses in Book 2 focus on each of the six elements in the Wheel. One of these elements – God’s Word – is presented in more detail in the Hand Illustration. In this section you will do a personal inventory using both of these illustrations to see how well these elements are integrated into the fiber of your life. You should take this three-part spiritual inventory several times a year – perhaps even once a month. It is a method of evaluating yourself that you can use for years to come, and also pass on to other Christians for their use. Answer each of these questions: A. How would you currently rate yourself on these items, using a scale of one to ten? (One is poor, and ten is excellent.) THE WHEEL
THE HAND
_____ Christ as the center of my life
_____ Hearing the Word
_____ Obedience to Christ
_____ Reading the Word
_____ Taking in the Word (in general)
_____ Studying the Word
_____ Prayer
_____ Memorizing the Word
_____ Fellowship
_____ Meditating on the Word
_____ Witnessing B. Write out the ways in which you are currently experiencing success in some of these 11 areas:
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
C. Write out any adjustments you plan to make because of any areas of deficiency:
10
Recognition & Appreciation For their work in developing The Original 2:7 Series presently called The ETS Series, we are particularly grateful for the efforts of the Denver Navigator staff. Ron Oertli prayerfully and thoughtfully put together the concept and its original layout. Bob Wilbraham and Bob Lovelace participated in final field testing and in refining the material to its present form. We also want to express our thanks to the many local church lay people who were trained during the developmental stages of the series. They showed great patience and perseverance as various changes were incorporated. A special thanks goes to those in the first three churches where the materials were used. First Denver Friends Church, Valverde Presbyterian Church, and Bear Valley Baptist Church. Our prayer is that many local churches will find The ETS Series a useful tool for raising up trained lay leadership for the cause of Jesus Christ. For additional resources & training materials, please refer to: www.discipleshipint.org
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)
Discipleship International (D.I.) is an evangelical Christian organization. Jesus Christ gave His followers the Great Commission to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The aim of D.I. is to help fulfill that commission by multiplying labourers for Christ in every nation. NavPress is the publishing ministry of The Navigators. NavPress publications are tools to help Christians grow. Although publications alone cannot make disciples or change lives, they can help believers learn biblical discipleship and apply what they learn to their lives and ministries.
Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, © 1984 by the New York Bible Society. Other versions quoted are the Amplified New Testament (AMP), © 1954, 1958 by The Lockman Foundation; The New Berkeley Version in Modern English (BERK). © 1945, 1959, 1969 by the Zondervan Publishing House; The Living Bible (LB), © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers; and The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition by J.R. Phillips (PH), © 1958, 1960, 1972 by J.B. Phillips. This edition issued by special arrangement with NavPress, a ministry of The Navigators, USA. ©1974 by The Navigators. Revised 1978. All rights reserved. ISBN: 0-89109-800-3 18002 Based on Eighth printing, 1982 First Canadian printing Jan. 2007 This special limited edition is published for the use of Discipleship International. The ETS series is published under licence from The Navigators by Discipleship International.
Graphic Design: www.creativematters.ca December 8, 2008 BP
Contents
SESSION 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 A Review of the Goals of Book 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Topical Memory System in this Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Hand Illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 A Periodic Spiritual Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 SESSION 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 SESSION 3: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Scripture Memory Self-Checking Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SESSION 4: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 SESSION 5: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Five . . .20 Teachableness: The Virtue of the Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 SESSION 6: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Six . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 How to Use a Prayer List Effectively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 SESSION 7: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Seven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 SESSION 8: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Eight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Making Meditation a Habit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 SESSION 9: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 How to Review and Quote All 60 Verses of the Topical Memory System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 SESSION 10: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Scripture Memory Instructions – Week Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 How to Use Investigative Bible Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Leading an Investigative Bible Study Group: Five Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Suggested Material for Investigative Bible Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 An Excerpt from Who is Jesus Christ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
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Contents
An Excerpt from The Work of Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 An Excerpt from Eternal Life in Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Suggest Outline for an Investigative Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 SESSION 11: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Developing Good Memory Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 SESSION 12: Assigned Leader:_____________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 After Book 6 – What Then? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 BIBLE STUDY HOMEWORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Growing in Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Section 1: What is a Disciple? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Section 2: The Responsible Steward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Section 3: Helping Others Find Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Section 4: Follow-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Section 5: World Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 Helpful Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Bible Highlights Reading Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Check-up Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Answers-to-Prayer Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 The Birth of Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Verse Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Completion Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Leader Evalutation Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 Evangelism List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 IMPORTANT: These materials are to be used only by qualified instructors who have: (1) previously gone through the material as a student, or (2) have participated in training clinics and learned how to use the ETS Series effectively. Information on attending these clinics may be obtained from Discipleship International: Website: www.discipleshipint.org Email: [email protected]
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Session 1 OUTLINE OF THIS SESSION 1.
Open in prayer.
2.
Go over A Review of the Goals of Book 5.
3.
Preview Book 6 by looking over the Completion Record (pages 112-113).
4.
Read and discuss the Scripture Memory Instructions – Week One (page 7).
5.
Look over Growing in Discipleship, the Bible study you will be doing in this book (pages 61-97), and read the introduction to the study aloud (page 61).
6.
Briefly discuss The Hand Illustration (page 8).
7.
Discuss and complete A Periodic Spiritual Inventory (pages 9-10).
8.
Read the At Home Assignment for Session 2.
9.
Close the session in prayer and encouragement.
AT HOME ASSIGNMENT FOR SESSION 2 ➣ Scripture Memory: a) Complete Week Two (page 12), memorizing John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:18. b) Come prepared to quote the five verses of Book 1: Beginning with Christ and the 12 verses of Book 5: Be Christ’s Disciple. c) IMPORTANT: To graduate from Book 6 you will be required to quote at one sitting all 60 verses of the Topical Memory System, with topics and references. So make Scripture memory review a high priority during this book.
➣ Quiet Time: Continue your Bible reading, marking, and recording. ➣ Bible Study: Complete questions 1-14 in Section 1 (pages 62-66). GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS MEMORY VERSES John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:18
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
A Review of the Goals of Book 5 The goals of Book 5 were: 1. To continue experiencing a growing consistency in quiet times by… a. combining meaningful Bible reading and prayer. b. having 14 consecutive quiet times during the book, and recording your thoughts. 2. To retain the five memorized Scripture verses in Book 1: Beginning with Christ and the first 36 verses in the Topical Memory System. 3. To memorize Book 5: Be Christ’s Disciple in the Topical Memory System. 4. To complete and discuss Foundations for Faith as a participant in a Bible study group. (Each student had an opportunity to gain further experience in leading small group Bible study discussions.) 5. To give a personal testimony or the Bridge Illustration to a non-Christian, and to report the results to the class. 6. To begin using a Personal Journal, and Answers-to-Prayer pages. 7. To study the concept of weekly and daily planning, and to use a daily Do List for seven consecutive days. 8. To gain experience in writing understanding and application questions for Bible study discussion.
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
Scripture Memory Instructions - Week One Conformity to Christ Christlikeness is God’s goal for every believer. But many of us have yielded to the pressures to conform to this world by lowering ourselves to standards that are not scriptural. No wonder our influence for Christ is often limited! Only as others see Jesus in us will they be attracted to Him. Christlike character cannot, however, be tacked on the outside; it must spring from within. As we meditate on Scripture and allow it to permeate our minds, it remains there to influence our reactions and decisions – and to form Christian character. In Book 6, you will learn 12 passages to help you focus attention on this process.
Planning for Future Scripture Memory While reading the Bible or listening to sermons, your attention may be directed to verses you’ll want to memorize in the future. Jot down their references, plus a phrase expressing
the key thought in each verse. This list will form a reservoir from which to choose verses for memorizing after you finish Book 6. You will find it helpful in the future to review the Scripture memory principles you have studied in The ETS Series. These are summarized on pages 54-55 in this book.
Additional Scripture Memory Books Besides the Topical Memory System, The Navigators offer five shorter memory books, each with 36 selected verses. The five series are Getting to Know God, Growing in Love, Growing in Faith, Walking in Victory, and Sharing Christ with Others. These are available from Christian bookstores.
Self-Checking Quiz The Self-Checking Quiz in Session 3 is based on the Scripture memory instructions in Books 5 and 6.
The Topical Memory System in This Course In this book you will memorize the last 12 verses of the Topical Memory System: Book 6: Grow in Christlikeness Love John 13:34-35 1 John 3:18 Humility Philippians 2:3-4 1 Peter 5:5-6 Purity Ephesians 5:3 1 Peter 2:11 Honesty Leviticus 19:11 Acts 24:16 Faith Hebrews 11:6 Romans 4:20-21 Good Works Galatians 6:9-10 Matthew 5:16 “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed.” – John 8:31, KJV
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
The Hand Illustration shows us practically how to have a working grasp of the Scriptures. It has been estimated that we remember… ➣ 5 percent of what we HEAR ➣ 15 percent of what we READ ➣ 35 percent of what we STUDY ➣ 100 percent of what we MEMORIZE So, a balanced intake of the Bible comes through hearing, reading, studying, and memorizing. Then, as you meditate on the Scriptures during these four activities, they become more personal and specific in helping you grow in Christlikeness. Let us look in more detail at these five methods of learning from the Bible: 1. Hearing the Word of God from godly pastors and teachers provides us with insight from Bible study done by others. It also stimulates our own appetites for the Scriptures. (Taking notes will increase your ability to retain what you hear.) 2. Reading the Bible gives us an overall picture of Scripture, and is also the foundation of the daily quiet time. 3. Studying the Scriptures is more in-depth than reading. It includes writing down our discoveries to help us organize and remember them better. 4. Memorizing God’s Word enables us to use the Sword of the Spirit to overcome temptations, and to have verses readily available for sharing with others. Scripture memory stimulates meaningful meditation. 5. Meditation is the inward process that should accompany each of the other four methods of Scripture intake. As we meditate on God’s Word we discover its transforming power at work in us.
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
A Periodic Spiritual Inventory In Book 1 and 2 you studied the Wheel Illustration, which represents the balanced Christian life. The first 12 verses in Book 2 focus on each of the six elements in the Wheel. One of these elements – God’s Word – is presented in more detail in the Hand Illustration. In this section you will do a personal inventory using both of these illustrations to see how well these elements are integrated into the fiber of your life. You should take this three-part spiritual inventory several times a year – perhaps even once a month. It is a method of evaluating yourself that you can use for years to come, and also pass on to other Christians for their use. Answer each of these questions: A. How would you currently rate yourself on these items, using a scale of one to ten? (One is poor, and ten is excellent.) THE WHEEL
THE HAND
_____ Christ as the center of my life
_____ Hearing the Word
_____ Obedience to Christ
_____ Reading the Word
_____ Taking in the Word (in general)
_____ Studying the Word
_____ Prayer
_____ Memorizing the Word
_____ Fellowship
_____ Meditating on the Word
_____ Witnessing B. Write out the ways in which you are currently experiencing success in some of these 11 areas:
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Equip to Serve • Book 6 • Grow in Christlikeness
Session 1
C. Write out any adjustments you plan to make because of any areas of deficiency:
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