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Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

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PHASE  2                INITIAL GROWTH

SESSION 2
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

          In this session, you want to focus the attention of your disciple on the Lord and what a precious thing it is to be God’s child.

          By the time you get together with your disciple, he should have worked through form BD#2.  If he has not done so, use this session to work through it with him.  (Encourage your disciple to work each assignment before your appointed meeting.  This will force the disciple to think through each exercise for himself and enable you to better evaluate his progress and help him in needed areas.)

          If the disciple has completed his assignment prior to your meeting, go through it with him.  Point him to the Lord.  Attempt to bond him to God, not you. A copy of BD#2, complete with correct answers is included in this chapter.

          Especially probe the challenges under item III of this lesson.  Ask your disciple to name for you some of the things for which he has thanked God.  Enjoin a discussion about the goodness of God and the things you admire and appreciate in Him.  Join your disciple in praising God.  Ask your disciple where he thinks he needs help and improvement in light of his evaluation of himself.  Going through the mental exercise of identifying needs is one of the first steps to their correction.

          Before you terminate this session, make arrangements to get Form BD#3 into the hand of your disciple and ask him to complete it prior to your next session.

          As a saved person, you are in a spiritual bloodline relationship with God.  He is your heavenly Father, (Matthew 6:9) and you are His child. (I John 3:2)  He wants the best for you in all things, (John 10:10) and He desires a warm and sweet fellowship with you. (I John 1:3)

I.            THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE WILL GREATLY IMPROVE THE MORE YOU COME TO “KNOW ” YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. (PHILIPPIANS 3:10)

      To help you know and appreciate your heavenly Father more, please read the following verses and fill in the blanks with His wonderful characteristics. 

A.          I John 4:8-10, God is love. 

B.          Psalm 25:8, God is good. 

C.          Psalm103:3, God is forgiving. 

D.          Psalm 103:10-12, God is merciful. 

E.          Psalm 103:19, God is supreme. 

F.          Psalm 93:1-5, God is eternal. 

G.          Psalm 102:26-27, God is unchangeable. 

H.          I Peter 5:7, God personally cares for you. 

I.           Romans 8:28, God causes providence to work for your good. 

J.           Hebrews 4:14-16, you can come to God for forgiveness (mercy) and help (grace). 

K.          II Peter 3:9, God is very patient (longsuffering). 

L.           John 3:36, God has saved you from eternal ruin.

M.          I Corinthians 10:13, in whatever you face, God will help you. 

N.          Proverbs 3:5-7, you can trust God.

II.      ABOVE ALL ELSE, GOD WANTS YOU TO LOVE HIM.

A. His first commandment.  Read Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 10:12 and Matthew 22:37-40.

B. Because God loves us so much, our love for Him should be spontaneous.  Read I John 4:19.

1. Because we are saved, God’s love is automatically shed abroad in our hearts.  Read Romans 5:5

2. God has saved us from sin’s penalty of eternal death.  Read John 5:24.

3. God daily saves us from sin’s power.  Read Psalm 34:6-8.

4. Ultimately, God will save us from sin’s presence.  Read Hebrews 9:28.

5. The saved should reach out in love and gratitude to God. Read Revelation 5:9-10,12-13.

III.     TO HELP YOU KNOW A DEEPER LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR GOD WHO SAVED YOU, PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES.

A. THANK GOD for what He has done and is doing for you.

1.                Three times each day (morning, noon, and night), stop and name three things God has done for you.  Include at least one thing that He has done for you since you last thanked Him.

2. On the spot, out loud, thank Him for what He has done.

B.          PRAISE GOD.

1. At morning, noon, and night, name three new things that you deeply admire and appreciate about God and about what He is doing.

2. On the spot, tell God what you see and appreciate in Him and in what He has done.

C.               EVALUATE yourself before God.

            1. As you move through each day of the following week, stop in your heart and ask how you think God feels about what you are saying and doing. Ask how He feels about your attitude.  Is He satisfied with where you are, with the TV program you are watching or with the thoughts in your heart?
Make Him a conscious part of your daily affairs and thoughts.

2. Ask Him, as the one you love most, to help you be more like what He wants you to be.  Actively cultivate your love affair with God.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"