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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 12

 

A MIGHTY RESOURCE FOR YOUR PROTECTION
AND WELFARE

 

          This exercise is a look at the practical side of the church.  Later, in Phase 3, the church will be considered in greater detail.  The purpose here is to make the disciple aware of the benefits of being an active, participating member of a church.

          This is the second exercise dealing with the church.  The previous exercise focused on what the church is.  There is widespread misunderstanding of the true definition of the church and a prevailing belief that the church of Jesus Christ consists of all saved people.  The embracing of that concept has many heretical ramifications and makes it nearly impossible for a disciple to see the church as a resource.  Once the church is viewed correctly as one particular body of baptized believers, banded together to carry out The Great Commission, it is not difficult for a disciple to see the practical benefits available from it.  It is with these thoughts in mind that these two exercises on the church have been prepared.

          As always, the effort of these exercises is to get the disciple to discover truth for himself.  It is counter-productive to tell him too much.  He needs to see it for himself, right there in the Bible.  That is why so much of these exercises involve the disciple reading a passage in the Bible in order to be able to answer a question, fill in a blank or match the right answers or concepts.  Discipler, your role is ever to make sure he doesn’t come up with a misunderstanding.  Your best role is to monitor as the disciple does the work himself.  Just enough involvement by you to assure that he is on track is all that is needed.  Remember, before the end of this series, he must be weaned from you and be able to stand alone.

          This is the final exercise in Phase 2.  From your summary discipleship cycle graphic at the front of this manual, you know that we will move to Phase 3, which is Church Orientation and Edification.  It would be wise for you to spend a bit of summary time with your disciple to be sure that the messages of Phase 2 are clearly set in his mind.  The logical, systematic nature of these studies should be clear by this point and, hopefully, you are seeing stabilization and growth in your disciple.  Remember, your disciple should see where you are going with him.  A good progress report can be motivational to him

          Depending on your individual situation, you might choose to take a brief pause before moving into Phase 3.  It could be used for catching up, reinforcing or just as a break for a time of rest. Be sure to get BD#13 into the hands of your disciple.  Pray for him and with him.


          In the last exercise, you took a brief Bible tour of the church, looking at what it is and at some of its major characteristics.  According to the Bible, a church of Jesus Christ is an assembly of baptized believers, banded together to do three primary things, which are (1) win people to Christ, (2) baptize them as evidence of their salvation and (3) teach them the truths of the Bible.  The instructions to do this are given in Matthew 28:19-20 and are commonly referred to as The Great Commission.

          The Bible also records the fact that Jesus Christ personally founded His church during His earthly ministry. He is its one and only head.  The definition establishes a church to be a particular congregation capable of routine assembly, thus rejecting the concept that a church is made up of all saved people.  Remember that all of the saved constitute the family of God.  Because some misunderstand what the church is, they never utilize it as the great resource of God, which it is intended to be.  You can appropriate its merits best when you realize it to be one particular body of believers to which you become joined and, as a part of which, you begin to actively and militantly function.

          By completing this exercise, you will see more clearly how the church is a great source of provisions designed to help you.  Sometimes in life we find ourselves in need and stay there in spite of the fact that the provision for our need was right there all the time.  We just didn't realize it or see it.  It is said that once a king wished to select the wisest man in his kingdom to be his prime minister.  The search came down to three men.  The king put the three men in a specially built room, with the promise that the first man to open the mighty lock and exit the room would be his choice as prime minister.  Two of the wise men immediately embarked on great mathematical formulas as they studied the great lock.  The other just sat in deep contemplation.  After a while, as the others worked feverishly, he arose, went to the door, opened the lock and went before the king.  The door had been unlocked all that time.  Don't overlook your church.  It is one of God's mighty provisions for your spiritual welfare.  You need what it can provide and it can provide much of what you need.

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

 

Read I Corinthians 12:12-27, then consider the following questions.

 

1.       What is the analogy of this passage? The analogy between the body (church) of Christ and the human body. 

2.        Is the existence of a natural body or the body of Christ (church)  possible apart from many members? Yes:     No: X  .

 

3.        How important to the body are even the small, less glamorous members? Very important, and often essential.

 

4.        What happens when members of a body become divided and antagonistic against each other? Serious impairment occurs and even survival can be threatened.

 

5.        In both the body of Christ and in the natural body, there is one body with many members. Place a check mark by the true statements about the merits which individual natural body members receive from membership in the whole, then draw the spiritual parallel.

                 _____Individuals do not need other members, nor membership in a body.

 

                 X                  Effectiveness and survival of individual members is impossible apart from attachment to the body.

 

                                    Individuals gain nothing from membership in a body.

 

                                    An individual can be just as effective alone as he can be attached to other members in a body.

 

                X      The miraculous power of collective abilities or individual members bonded into a body is impossible apart from union.

 

                 X     Unattached members are useless.

 

                         In a body, submission of members to each other and mutual concern is not important.

 

                 X    In a body, unity and co-ordination of all members is extremely important to each member.

 


                 X    Each member receives tremendous support and benefits from all other members.

 

 

SUPPORT FROM THE BODY OF CHRIST, YOUR CHURCH

          You already know that your church is your spiritual support group.  Consider from the scriptures three categories of support available to you from your church.

 

1.        I Timothy 4:2 and Acts 20:28.  From your leaders and fellow-members the support of Bible answers to the questions of life is available.

 

2.     II Corinthians 1:3-7. In times of stress, “comfort” is also available.

 

3.        Ephesians 4:28 and I John 3:17. Sometimes people need financial assistance, which is another type of available support.

 

          PROVISIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM THE CHURCH

          Read the following verses and let them acquaint you with some of the provisions, which are available to you once you are a part of the Lord's church.  These are indeed resource materials which can greatly enhance you spiritually.  Match the correct verse to the concept.

 

  1.    Acts 20:28          (  3 )          Source of edification (building up)

 

  2.    Hebrews 13:17          ( 5 )          Source of inspiration & glory to God

 

  3.    Ephesians 4:16 (  7 )          Place of spiritual exercise & growth

 

  4.    II Timothy 4:2    (  1 )          Where you are fed spiritually

 

  5.    Ephesians 3:21 (  9 )          Where you are warned against dangers

 

  6.    Ephesians 4:15 ( 10 )          Source of admonishing

 

  7.    I Timothy 4:7    (  2 )          Mature people watch for your soul

 

  8.    I Thessalonians 5:12 ( 10 )          Fellowship and social bonding

 

  9.    Acts 20:31          (  4 )          Source of reproof and correction

 

10.    Acts 2:42          (  6 )          A source of truth and love

11.    Ephesians 2:20-22          ( 12)          Others available to share burdens

 

12.    Galatians 6:2    ( 11)          Confidence of a solid foundation

 

13.    I Timothy 5:17            ( 13)          A source of guidance and wise counsel.

 

  MULTIPLYING YOUR STRENGTH BEYOND YOURSELF

 

          The church provides you with the potential to multiply your strength far beyond what you could ever be alone.  What passage of scripture have you already examined in this exercise that communicates this concept?  I Corinthians 12:12-27.  In this passage, individual members, when a part of the whole body, become far more than they would ever be, unattached.

 

1.        Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. When you become an active part of the Lord's church, you are becoming a part  of something far bigger than you alone could ever be, thus multiplying your strength beyond yourself.

 

2.       Read II Cor. 8:1-4. Explain the phrase of verse 3 "beyond their power."  As a part of the church,  you become a part of its soul-winning and missions ministry, work far greater than you could ever accomplish alone.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"