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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 4                                                                                                               GROWTH TO MATURITY

SESSION 2

 

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE

 

                This session is a little longer than most of the others, yet it will be easy to complete. Much of it consists of matching and grouping concepts and ideas. Hopefully doing so will be most beneficial in causing your disciple to think on these matters that are not immediately apparent. Thoughts do have consequences and they all lead somewhere. Cause and Effect rule. Your disciple will be highly profited by realizing that all things are connected and that they all begin with what one thinks and believes. In every area of life, it does make a difference what you believe. Nowhere is that more dramatic than what you believe about Jesus Christ. The difference in this matter is eternal.

                Discipleship Minister, the material here in Phase 4 is more abstract and subtle than in the previous phases. The objective here is to force your disciple into thinking for himself. He will not make it very well in the army of God if all he can produce is conditioned responses. He must learn to reason and think for himself, not merely memorize and play back information that he may not even understand upon stimulation. If he fails here, he will become a Pharisee and be unable to deal with situations which require innovation and creativity. Remember, our objective from the start has been to see this disciple learn to stand alone and become a discipler by the time this course is completed. After this session, there are only 11 more.

                Thank you again for the good work you are doing. You are helping to mold and make a strong and sound disciple of Jesus Christ. Only God knows the need for this kind of work and the true, eternal value of it. It is my strong belief that in doing what you are doing, you are laying up "for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:20).

                Be sure to make yourself available to your disciple. Also see that he gets the next assignment.  

                You can believe whatever you want, but you cannot believe something without it making a difference in your life. Everybody has a belief system of one sort or another...about God, about rearing children, about morality, about work, about government. One may be for, against or neutral but he is always somewhere in the equation. What one believes flavors and guides everything in his life because thoughts, beliefs and decisions all have consequences. They lead somewhere.

                Be careful what you believe and of the decisions that you make. Beliefs create an inescapable bias. Your beliefs and choices will determine the direction of your life.

 

THE CONNECTION OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO YOUR ATTITUDES & BEHAVIOR

                For an idea of how God connects beliefs to conduct fill in the blanks in this brief exercise. 

1.  Proverbs 23:7,    "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." 

2.  Matthew 12:34-35,     "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." 

3.  Psalm 119:59,      "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." 

4.  Psalm 1:2-3,     "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

5.  Philippians 4:8,    "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

 

SOME WORLD VIEWS

                Consider contrasting views of origins. One's basic belief or view will flavor and make a difference in all other areas of his life.

Origins

                There are those who believe the universe, including earth and all that's in it, originated through spontaneous natural processes apart from any external involvement. This world view is often called evolution. Others believe that "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). This is the creationist view. Read the following Bible passages. After reading these verses, arrange this list of words and concepts under the proper heading. You will quickly see that what one believes about origins makes a tremendous difference in other areas of his life.

 

Hebrews 11:1-3.   Nehemiah 9:6.   Hebrews 1:10-12.   John 1:1-3.
Genesis 1.   Acts 14:15.   Job 38

 


Origins by divine creation   Origins by evolution
1.   Belief in God 1.     Denial of the existence of God
2.        Accountability 2.        No accountability
3.   Absolute truths 3.     All things are relevant
4.   Sanctity of individual human life  4.        Survival of human species
5.   Pro life, not abortion 5.     Pro choice & abortion
6.   Ultimate authority in the state 6.     Ultimate authority in God
7.   Life's purpose: Service to God   7.     Life has no real purpose
8.   Life by divine design 8.     Life is a cosmic accident
9.   The natural world created for man  9.        Man is just another animal
10.   Eternal existence beyond the grave 10.        Nothing beyond the grave

               

Economics

                Read these passages regarding economics, then match the opposing concepts under the proper world view.

 

Genesis 33:18-19.   Luke 14:18.   1 Kings 21:1-2.   
Numbers 26:53-54.   Genesis 42:34.   James 4:13-15.
Matthew 25:14-30.   2 Thessalonians 3:10

 

 

Free Enterprise System Socialistic System
1.     Private ownership of property 1.        Property owned by the state
2.     Capitalism 2.        Communism
3.     Individual responsibility  3.        Welfare mentality
4.     Rewards for personal initiative 4.        No rewards for personal initiative
5.     Personal initiative inherent to the system 5.        System destroys personal initiative  
6.     Individualism 6.        Collectivism
7.     Promotion based on merit 7.        Promotion at mercy of bureaucrats
8.     Individual liberties  8.        Central control

                 

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT CONNECTION 

                Cause and effect is law, not theory. Every effect becomes the cause of another effect. The progression is unending.

                The cause and effect connection between deeds is easy to see. The connection between words is harder to see. Many people never see the cause and effect connection between thoughts or beliefs and the consequences they produce. The fact is that beliefs and thoughts have consequences. They are not isolated, unattached and without ramifications. All of our words and deeds proceed from what we think and believe. Remember that Jesus said, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34). 

                Read these scriptures, then answer these multiple choice questions. They all deal with the cause and effect connection. Please mark the correct answer(s). 

1. Isaiah 14:24.         Every created thing that exists is the result of:

        A.    Spontaneous action apart from any external involvement.

        B.    A thought in the mind of God.

        C.    No thought by anyone.

        D.    No cause and effect.

 

2. Galatians 6:7. This verse teaches that:

        A.    "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

        B.    There is a direct connection between cause and effect.

        C.    There is no direct connection between cause and effect.

        D.    That the connection between cause and effect is inescapable.

 

3. Proverbs 22:8 .This verse teaches that:

        A.    Those who do evil need not fear any ill consequences.

        B.    There is no cause and effect relationship.

        C.    Those who do wrong can expect unpleasant consequences.

        D.    An event is not isolated and unattached from later resulting events.

 

4. Isaiah 17:11 This verse teaches that:

        A.    The effects caused by evil are very unpleasant.

        B.    The effects caused by evil may not materialize until late in the harvest cycle.

        C.    The only way to properly view any matter is to consider not only the cause, but also the effects that are certain to follow the cause.

        D.    The consideration of the effects of any cause are so depressing and restrictive that it's wise to never consider them.

 

5. Psalm 126:5-6.These verses teach that:

        A.    Cause and effect is not limited to evil only.

        B.    Cause and effect is limited to evil only.

        C.    The effect has the potential to be far greater than the cause that produces it.

        D.    The effects of doing right are far to be desired above those of doing wrong.

 

6. James 1:14-15.These verses teach that:

        A.    Sin is a progression, not an event.

        B.    The ultimate mortal consequence of sin is death.

        C.        Unaddressed sin can lead to a premature death.

        D.    When a sin is committed, it's over, done and not connected to anything future.

 

 

The Beginning, not the End 

                Many people erroneously think that an incident, particularly a sin, is an event instead of a progression. They tend to think of a sin as an isolated matter that is unattached to any future thing. That is a totally false view which runs incongruent to both natural law and the scriptures.

                On the left below is a list of causes. On the right is a list of effects. Each effect has a number. On the line under each cause, write the numbers of the effects that commonly associate with the cause. (Be aware that some effects may well associate with several different causes. Also remember that each effect becomes a cause that will produce more effects.)

  

A sinful sex act      1.   Drug addiction

                                2.   Guilt

2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 16, 18      3.     Bad credit

                                  4.   A wrecked marriage

                                  5.   Lung cancer

                                  6.   Venereal disease

A divorce                 7.    Wounded self esteem

                                  8.   Financial woes

2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15       9.  Emphysema

                                10.   Undermined future sexual satisfaction

16, 17, 19, 20          11.   Bankruptcy

                                12.   Inheritance disputes

Tobacco use           13.   Worry

                                14.    2nd marriage carryover

1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 16, 19      15.     Child support

                                16.    Regrets

                                17.    Step-child, step-parent woes

                                18.    Loss of purity

                                19.    Great financial costs

                                20.    Bitterness

 

                Think of other causes and build your own list of effects. Some areas for consideration are (1) credit card abuse, (2) greed, (3) alcohol abuse, (4) gossip, (5) laziness, (6) failure to get a good education or learn a functional skill, (7) a temper explosion, (8) irresponsibility, (9) carelessness and (10) a hard heart.

                Always bear in mind that what you believe will produce certain words and actions by you and those words and actions have far-reaching consequences for the better or the worse. Never forget that each cause by you is merely a beginning, never an end. Be careful what you believe. It does make a difference.

AREAS OF BELIEF THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

                Fill in the blanks to this most important scripture. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). It is quite clear that what one believes can make or break him. With this thought in mind, consider these specific areas where it does make a difference, a big difference, what you believe.

                In each case, place the words or phrases under the heading where they best fit. 

GOD

Read Romans 1:19-32 

1.   Becomes his own authority and god.

2.   Functions on the basis of accountability which acts as a restraint.

3.   Believes a higher authority determines what is right and what is wrong.

4.   Assumes there is no reason to restrain from anything he can succeed in doing. His only restraint is being caught by mortal law enforcement.

5.   Nothing is viewed as innately moral or immoral, good or evil. Everything is relevant.

6.   Approaches life as a subject, not a Lord.

7.   Views his earthly life as his entire existence and behaves accordingly.

8.   Views mortal life as a mere speck before eternity where he will consciously exist forever.

 

Believes in the God of the Bible                  Does not believe there is a God

            2, 3, 6, 8                                                            1, 4, 5, 7

 

 THE BIBLE
Read Psalm 119 

  1.           Governed by Christian principles.

  2.           No regard for Christian principles.

  3.           The Bible is just another book like any other book.

  4.           The Bible is not like any other book, but is far above all other books.

  5.           What the Bible says should have no serious impact on one's daily conduct.

  6.           What the Bible says should control how one dresses, his moral standards, how he treats others, how he governs his money and all other facets of his life.

  7.           The Bible is more authoritative than any person, including the Pope.

  8.           One should search the Bible to find which parts are reliable and which parts aren't.

  9.           The Bible is the only book without error.

10.           The Bible is good, but it is outdated and has long since passed its usefulness.

11.           Truth is relevant depending on your situation.

12.           The great truths of the Bible are changeless.

13.           One should obey the Bible only when it seems right to do so.

14.           One should always obey the Bible.

 

                Believes the Bible is the inspired word of God             Does not believe the Bible

                       1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14                                                            2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13

 

 

HELL

Read Luke 16:19-31

  1.           Hell is no more than the grave.

  2.           A literal, burning hell is a myth. It is non-existent.

  3.           No fear of eternal judgment.

  4.           Live as if there is nothing beyond the grave.

  5.           It matters not whether one believes in Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

  6.           Hell is a literal place of eternal punishment for all who reject Jesus Christ.

  7.           Realization that rejection of Jesus Christ means eternity in the lake of fire.

  8.           Mortal death for the lost is the beginning of eternity in eternal punishment.

  9.           Calls God a liar and says His Bible is untrue.

10.           All preaching about eternity in heaven or hell is mockery, empty and meaningless.

11.           Live soberly with realization that one will not cease to exist at mortal death.

12.           Those who believe in Jesus Christ will miss hell and go to heaven at mortal death.

 

Believes in a literal, burning hell                         Does not believe in a literal, burning hell

                    6, 7, 8, 11, 12                                                     1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10

HOW TO BE SAVED

Read John 3:36. John 14:6. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. 1 John 5:12

 

  1.           There are many ways to be saved even as there are many roads to the courthouse. Believing in Jesus Christ is one way, but people can be saved by other ways.

  2.           If one is sincere he will be saved regardless of what he believes.

  3.           There is no way to be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ alone.

  4.           What one believes about Jesus Christ makes no difference at all.

  5.           Those who believe you must be baptized to be saved will go to heaven too.

  6.           Just being close to God's plan of salvation is enough and will result in one's salvation.

  7.           The difference in what one believes about Jesus Christ is the eternal difference between heaven and hell.

  8.           If a person believes wrong on the plan of salvation, he will spend eternity in hell.

  9.           Even if one believes in a religion that teaches that salvation is not exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ, no one should ever suggest that he is lost and on his way to hell.

10.           What one believes about how to be saved has eternal consequences of the gravest possible connotations. The difference in what one believes on this issue is profound.

 

               True                                              False

           3, 7, 8, 10                                    1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"