DISCIPLESHIP: Small Group Bible Study

Discipleship and

Scripture

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Lesson One

Sharing Studying Praying Witnessing

Intro...

1. Welcome God's presence. 2. Share the BEST and WORST thing that happened to you this week. If a need for prayer is expressed take time to pray for that individual and need on the spot.

Key text...

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39 KJV)

Scripture Passages...

Isaiah 43:1-2; Matthew 4:19; 5:17; 15:3, 8-9; 28:1820; Luke 4:4; 9:2327; John 5:39; 16:12; 17:14-19; Acts 3; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:5-18; Ephesians 6:10-11, 13; Philippians 4:13, 19.

Todays World...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived during one of his countrys most dangerous erasWorld War II. The Nazis, under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler, intentionally murdered millions of innocent men, women, and children. While many of Bonhoeffers Christian

fellow citizens compromised with the Nazi regime, he did not. He was prepared to die for Christ and stand up for what Scripture taught. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer wrote, Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. On April 9, 1945, right before the end of the war, Bonhoeffer was hanged by the Nazi government. What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer find in the Scriptures that made him unwilling to compromise, even though it cost his life? What does this statement mean to you: Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ? Read carefully Matthew 4:19. Based on this passage, how seriously did Dietrich Bonhoeffer take following Christ? What can you take away from this testimony and apply practically to your life? Read carefully John 17:14-19 and take a moment to reflect on what God is saying to you through this passage.

Without the Word...

Read and assess carefully Isaiah 43:1-2; Luke 4:4;

Ephesians 6:10-11, 13; and, Philippians 4:13, 19. Based on these passages and others that come to mind, what would your life be without the Bible? C. S. Lewis in his book, The Problem of Pain wrote: A man can no more diminish Gods glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, darkness on the walls of his cell. That is what life as a disciple would be without the Bibleimpossible. Without having the armor of the Word of God, how can we expect to live victoriously and win souls for Jesus?

Reflections...
Take a moment to think about whether or not you fully accept what the Word of God is and what it means for you? What verses or stories in the Bible have influenced you the most and why?

In love...

Read again John 5:39 and then the following statements: In the Word the Saviour is revealed in all His beauty and loveliness. Every soul will find comfort and consolation in the Bible, which is full of promises

concerning what God will do for the one who comes into right relation to Him. Especially will the sick be comforted by hearing the Word; for in giving the Scriptures God has given to mankind a leaf from the tree of life, which is for the healing of the nations. How can anyone who reads the Scriptures or who has heard them read, lose his interest in heavenly things, and find pleasure in amusements and enchantments of the world?
Ellen G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, 2nd ed., vol. 5, pp. 1134-1135.

There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the ScripturesChrist and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. It is only in the light of the cross that we can discern the exalted character of the law of God. The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation.
Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 208.

Based on the Bible verse and the two statements above, what should be our motivation and goal in searching the scriptures, and why? Read carefully John 16:12 and the following statement: Many souls are hungering for the bread of life. Their cry is, Give me bread; do not give me a stone. It is bread that I want. Feed these perishing, starving souls. Let our ministers bear in mind that the

strongest meat is not to be given to babes who know not the first principles of the truth as we believe it. In every age the Lord has had a special message for the people of that time; so we have a message for the people in this age. But while we have many things to say, we may be compelled to withhold some of them for a time, because the people are not prepared to receive them now.
Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 200.

Based on the Bible and the statement above. How should we approach others in sharing the Scriptures?

A Key Point...

If you divorce Jesus Christ from the context there is no life, the Scriptures have no life of their own. They cannot give us eternal life. Read Matthew 5:17 and 15:3, 8-9. How can we ensure we don't fall into the trap of overlooking the deep, everlasting meanings etched into the Scriptures and overwrite them with our own interpretations?

Three Practical Steps...

Based on Acts 3 here are three practical steps to sharing Jesus:

Step 1: Be proactive Many Christians are apathetic. They go to church, but thats about it. Peter and John show us what happens when we take our religion seriously. At the beginning of Acts 3, they are going to the temple to pray. They had personally spent time with Jesus, but they continued to study Scripture and commune with God. Before we can disciple others, we must be proactive disciples ourselves by daily spending time with God in His Word. Step 2: Change lives As proactive Christians, we have the opportunity to change lives. When the beggar asked for help, Peter and John didnt ignore him. Instead, they impacted his life forever. Be alert to people in need. Pray for God to bring people into your life whom you can help. Sometimes its as simple as cheering someone up. Other times it involves more work, but your actions can impact those individuals forever. When opportunities arise, make a difference. Step 3: Share Jesus When lives are changed, people ask questions. After healing the lame man, Peter and John shared the story of Jesuswho He was and how He fulfilled Scripture. This reflects back to being proactive. If we dont study the Bible, we cant share it with others. When people see the difference you make in their lives and the lives of others, they will ask why. Youve already shared Jesus by your actions. Now share Him as revealed in Scripture.

Read carefully 1 Peter 3:15. What keeps you from studying daily the Bible? What can you do this week to prepare yourself to share Jesus?

Disciples are made...

Carefully read 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. What does this text mean to you? What are the three requirements for discipleship found in Luke 9:23? Take some time to reflect on what these requirements entail for you personally.

Recommended Reading...

Matthew 28:1820; Luke 9:2327; and, 2 Corinthians 4:5-18. Gods Amazing Grace, p. 292, Ellen G. White. https://egwwritings.org/

Break into twos or threes and pray for one anothers needs, as well as for your friends and family...