T4T: Training For Trainers

Transcription

1 T4T: Training For Trainers INTRO (pp 1-4) T4T or Training For Trainers is made up of three parts Sharing Jesus, Following Jesus, and Obeying Jesus. Each part contains several lessons. Each lesson contains a story, and a way to apply the main truth of the lesson. Below is a summary of each lesson. Scripture for each lesson is included in the T4T Summary, as well as in the detailed script for each lesson. Sharing Jesus (pp 5-15) Share the gospel with people Lesson 1: Vision for Multiplying Trainers o Story: Barnabas Paul Timothy Ephesian faithful men others o Application: Every Christian should be a trainer of others; those you win to Christ will repeat the process. o Acts 4:36-37; 8:1-3; 9:1-30; 16:1-5; 2Timothy 2:2 Lesson 2: Cornelius Story Reaching Your Circle of Influence o Story: Peter Visits Cornelius o Application: It starts with you being a good witness; identify those you will begin witnessing to. o Acts 10 Lesson 3: Personal Salvation Testimony o Story: Paul s Testimony o Application: Learn to tell your own story to the lost. o Acts 26 Lesson 4: Creation to Christ Gospel Presentation o Story: Creation to Christ o Application: Present the gospel story beginning with creation and moving all the way to the death and resurrection of Christ. Include an invitation to believe. o Numerous scriptures included in lesson Following Jesus (pp 16-23) Help them to become firm in their decision to follow Jesus. Begin singing together at this point. Lesson 1: Ethiopian Eunuch Baptism o Story: The Ethiopian Eunuch o Application: Firm up their decision to break away from idols and be baptized in allegiance to Christ. o Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 8:26-40 Lesson 2: The Good Shepherd Assurance and prayer o Story: The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep o Application: Assurance of salvation; personal devotional prayer life o John 10:1-29; 1John 5:13 Lesson 3: Called to Follow and Fish o Story: Jesus Calls His First Disciples

2 o Application: God expects you to be a follower who obeys His word and a fisher of men. o Mark 1:14-20 o Begin two weekly meetings continue with the entire group through the Obeying Jesus material, and start a Training Group with the new believers restudy Sharing Jesus, and Following Jesus, but this time, train them to take what they are learning to their own relationship network family, friends, neighbors, coworkers/fellow students, fun friends. Obeying Jesus (pp 24-52) Give them a pattern of discipleship Lesson 1: The Gospel o Story Summary story of Creation to Christ gospel message o Application: daily quiet time. Put Him first. o Luke 9:23 Lesson 2: New Birth o Story Prodigal Son o Application: you are a new creation; deliverance from sinful habits. o Luke 15:11-32; 2Corinthians 5:17 Lesson 3: Faith, Hope, Love o Story The Last Supper o Application Put your hope in Christ to take care of you and remember Him regularly through the Lord s Supper. o Matthew 26:20-30; John 13:21-35; 14:1-3, 16-21; 15:12-14 o Celebrate the Lord s Supper. Lesson 4: One Head, One Body o Story The Early Church o Application become a church and exercise healthy body life. o Acts 2:37-48; Hebrews 10:24-25 o Lead them to agree to become church. Lesson 5: Walk o Story The Early Disciples Big Catch; They Follow Jesus and Look Like Him o Application Imitate Jesus by obeying His word; how to study and obey the word. o Luke 5:1-11; Mark 3:14-15; Acts 4:13 Lesson 6: Put Off, Put On o Story: Saul becomes Paul o Application: Put off old habits and instead be filled with the Spirit. o Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-22; Ephesians 4:22-24 Lesson 7: Submit o Story: Disciples Wanting to be First; Jesus Washes Their Feet o Application: Serve others; healthy relationships. o Matthew 20:20-28; John 13:3-20; Ephesians 5:21 Lesson 8: Stand o Story: The Temptation of Jesus o Application: Spiritual warfare and resisting temptation. o Matthew 4:1-11; James 4:7 2

3 Lesson 9: Cooperate o Story: Jesus Last Words (to the ends of the earth), Paul supported by the church at Philippi o Application: When we can t go far away, we can support those who do. o Acts 1:1-10; 2:1-4; 18:1-4; Philippians 4:10-20 Believers continue to meet using different Scripture stories as the basis of their study. Use the Gospels, Acts, or stories from the letters. Some choose to repeat some or all of these lessons, to be certain they understand and are applying the truths learned. 3 Training For Trainers, or T4T, is designed specifically for story telling to convey biblical truths. This is obviously required for non-readers, but also works well with the educated. Less than 10% of Americans learn best by study from a book. By using T4T you should be able to successfully share your testimony, share the gospel, follow-up new believers, start a church, disciple believers, and lead the church and all believers to initiate a church planting movement in the areas that surround them and beyond. The major components of T4T are: 1. Sharing Jesus 2. Following Jesus 3. Obeying Jesus Sharing Jesus Sharing Jesus contains four lessons. The first lesson gives a vision for multiplying trainers. The second lesson will help give vision for reaching your friends and family. The third lesson teaches how to share your testimony with these relationships. Finally you will learn to share the gospel through using a method called Creation to Christ. Following Jesus These three lessons are taught immediately after a person becomes a Christian. You will want to be prepared to teach lesson one (baptism) immediately after a person places their faith in Jesus (same day, if possible). Each lesson is taught using a Bible story, questions, and an opportunity to respond in obedience. The second lesson is on assurance of salvation. The third lesson is on following Jesus. This lesson concludes by asking two points of obedience. The first is whether they are willing to obey God by studying His Word and worshipping Him. The second point of obedience is if they are willing to become a fisher of men (share the gospel). If they are willing a training group is started. This training group meets at a separate time from the worship group and its purpose is to begin training new believers in how to share the gospel and train others. Obeying Jesus The following eight areas are the most important things taught in the Bible. All that we will learn about following Jesus and being connected to God can fit into these eight

4 areas. Each one is a major theme of the New Testament found by Philip Carrington and detailed in his 1940 work The Primitive Christian Catechism published by Cambridge University Press. The lessons represent eight areas that God speaks to your heart. They also tell us how we should respond to Him. It is hoped that after you learn each of the 8 Obeying Jesus lessons, you will be able to easily understand how each new thing you learn fits into one of the 8 lessons. The more you learn and apply, the more fruit you will have in your life. Staying connected to Jesus is the most important. In staying connected to Him and applying what you learn, you will begin to produce fruit in your life. The 8 areas, plus one added by Seltmann are: 1. The Gospel 2. New Birth 3. Faith, Hope and Love 4. One Head, One Body 5. Walk 6. Put off the Old, Put on the New 7. Submit 8. Stand 9. Cooperate (added by Seltmann In each lesson you will learn: 1) a Bible story; 2) a name for the lesson 3) a picture to draw to remember it; 4) a verse to memorize; 5) a specific way to obey. You will be expected to learn all five of these and obey them immediately. You will train others in the same way in a few weeks, so learn them well. 4

5 5 Sharing Jesus Lesson 1: Vision for Multiplying Trainers Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: Acts 4:36-37 Acts 8:1-3 Acts 9:1-30 Acts 16:1-5 2 Tim 2:2 (memory verse) Introduction to Story: Listen to the following story and try to find out how many generations of believers you can find. Story: One of the first followers of Jesus after he rose from the dead was a man named Barnabas. We don t know how he first believed. Most likely he heard the gospel from Jesus or from one of Jesus 12 followers and was eventually trained by them. He was called by them The Encourager because he encouraged many people. While Barnabas and the other Christians were growing in their faith a great persecution broke out against the believers. Many Christians had to flee from Jerusalem. However, wherever they went they preached the gospel to others. One of the fiercest persecutors was named Paul. For a long time he persecuted the church. One day as he was traveling on a road to persecute some Christians, Jesus appeared to him in a vision. Paul began to follow Jesus and was very excited about his new faith. But other Christians were afraid of him. However, Barnabas found Paul and encouraged him. He believed God could change his life. He trained Paul to become a great apostle in the church. Several years later, Paul was preaching the gospel in another country. He found a young man named Timothy who believed in Jesus. Paul believed that Timothy could be a useful servant in God s kingdom even though he was a young Christian. Paul took Timothy with him in his travels and trained him to be a preacher of the gospel. Later, Paul left Timothy in city (Ephesus) where the gospel was spreading rapidly. Timothy began to look around and draw to himself faithful men who were newer believers than himself. He trained them to begin lead God s people in His kingdom. Paul wrote to Timothy and told him that he should train these faithful men to find other younger Christians to train. In this way the gospel spreads rapidly! [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 1. What is this story saying? 2. What do you not understand? 3. What does it teach you about God? 4. What should you obey? Memory Verse:

6 6 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 1. What does this verse say? 2. What do you not understand? 3. How should you obey? At this point, you will want to explain what training of trainers is (even if no one asks). The book of Acts is an exciting story. It shows how the gospel spread rapidly throughout the ancient world. Many thousands of people believed. They were not won to Christ through just a few people. Rather, most were believed in Jesus through the witness of ordinary Christians. This is the way the kingdom spreads. Human methods of evangelism ask this question: How many people can I win to Jesus? This is not bad. It s just not enough. God s method of evangelism asks this question: How can I train the people I have led to faith to lead others to faith who will lead others to faith? In this way, every Christian should become a witness and trainer of others. He trains those he leads to be a witness and a trainer of others. The method we share here hopes to use God s method. You will learn to share your faith and help people follow Jesus. You will also learn how to disciple so that they grow in their faith. But if you do not encourage these new disciples to repeat the process, you will only be using human methods, not God s method. The key is that each new Christian shares that lesson with several other friends. As they accept the Lord, he must help them do the same thing. The same is true for each church. Every church must start new churches and expect them to do the same thing. This is the power of kingdom multiplication. Like a small mustard seed it grow larger and larger. Or like a seed that bears more seeds that bear more seeds. Exercise: There are 5000 people in your little market town. Only two of you are Christians, but you want to help everyone believe. You have two choices on how to do this: 1. You and your friend try believe you can help lead 50 people to faith each year. [Answer: takes 100 years] 2. You and your friend can win two people to faith in the next six months and train them. In the next six months the four of you can win four and train them. In the next six months those eight can become sixteen. And so on. [Answer: 5½ years!] Which way will reach your market town faster? How long will it take to reach the whole town? You can probably help more than two people believe each year, but whether it is 2 or 20 it is very important that you help each new Christian to be a witness and trainer of others. Any Christian can be a trainer of others! This is normal! Trainer Testimony:

7 Share a testimony of how you have seen this happen before. How maybe someone you led to faith led others to faith. How to Obey: Commit yourself to be a trainer of others Make a list of all the people you can train Decide who you will train this week (at least 5) Help each person you lead to follow Jesus to be an obedient Christian Train them to share the stories and lessons with others around them Pray: Pray right now and commit yourself to these things. 7

8 8 Sharing Jesus Lesson 2: Reaching Your Circle of Influence Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: Acts 10:1-48 Acts 11:14 (memory verse) Introduction to Story: Everyone who comes to Christ comes through someone else helping him know and reconnect to God. This story is about how God s kingdom expanded through connections. This lesson is designed to share the vision of reaching friends and family with the gospel, and how to do this in a church planting method. Through the story of Cornelius (from Acts chapter 10), you will learn how God gave him a vision to gather together his friends and family so that Peter could tell them good news. Story: At a town called Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter, a follower of Jesus, went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he had a vision. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where the tanner s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the Christians from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. "We are witnesses of

9 everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 5. What is this story saying? 6. What do you not understand? 7. What does it teach you about God? 8. What should you obey? Memory Verse: He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved. Acts 11:14 4. What does this verse say? 5. What do you not understand? 6. How should you obey? Trainer Testimony: Share a testimony of how you recently shared with someone from your circle of influence. How to Obey: 1. Think about the people you know who don t know Jesus (use circle of influence if it helps). 2. Write down the people you need to tell about Jesus Christ. 3. Pick a partner to help you share and keep you accountable. 4. Pray for each person on your list and your partner s list together. 5. Order your mental list by fives (divide list into groups of five in the order you plan to share with them). 6. Learn to share your testimony (Sharing Jesus Lesson 3). Pray: Pray right now and commit yourself to share with each person on your list. 9

10 10 Sharing Jesus Lesson 3: Personal Salvation Testimony Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: Acts 26: Peter 3:15 (memory verse) Introduction to Story: An easy way to begin to share with your friends and family is to tell them your testimony. Your testimony is simply your story about how God has worked in your life. In this lesson, you ll tell the story of how Paul shared his testimony. Story: This story is about a man named Paul. He was a follower of Jesus. On one occasion, he had been arrested and was sent before the king and many government officials. Paul told all who were there about his life before he believed in Jesus. He said, "I was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus. And that is just what I did in the city of Jerusalem. On the authority of the religious leaders I put many of the Christians in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to deny Jesus. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. On one of these journeys I was going to a city called Damascus. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Then I asked, Who are you, Lord? I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, the Lord replied. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are made holy by faith in me. So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me and tried to kill me. But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what God said would happen-- that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to all other peoples. Then Agrippa said to Paul, Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Paul replied, Short time or long--i pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains. [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 9. What is this story saying? 10. What do you not understand? 11. What does it teach you about God?

11 What should you obey? Memory Verse: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 7. What does this verse say? 8. What do you not understand? 9. How should you obey? Trainer Testimony: Share how you recently shared your testimony with someone from your circle of influence. How to Obey: 1. Trainer tells his/her own testimony, telling trainees to listen for the three parts of a testimony. Paul s testimony had three parts. 1. My life before I knew Jesus 2. How I came to know Jesus 3. My life after I knew Jesus 2. Train how to share Testimony a) Give minutes to prepare b) Say out loud altogether 5 times c) Pair up and share with each other d) Repeat this process until each person has shared their testimony at least 3 times e) Get feedback and remove bible and religious words 3. Select a partner for accountability and support. 4. Share testimony with first 5 people from Circle of Influence list. Pray: Pray right now and commit yourself to share with each person on your list.

12 12 Sharing Jesus Lesson 4: Creation to Christ Introduction to Story: In addition to sharing your personal salvation testimony, you will also want to share the gospel with your lost family and friends. The gospel is the story of how God has worked from the beginning of time to bring salvation to man. This story begins with the creation of the world and goes through the resurrection of Christ. Though the story is long, you can learn it in parts. The story is meant to be shared as one complete story which should take about 15 minutes to share. However, if time is limited you can also share the story in parts. Sections in [brackets] are recommended options. Story: PART 1 (2Tim 3:16; Ps 115:3-8; 1Chron 16:25-28) I want to tell you a story. This story is from a book called the Bible. Men did not make up the Bible. It is the word of the Most High God. These stories are true and reliable because they are the words of the Most High God. There is only one God, and He is the Most High God. The Most High God is more powerful than men and kingdoms. The Most High God is more powerful than other gods such as the fire god, sun god, or dragon god. He is also more powerful than idols made by men. The Most High God is the most powerful. PART 2 (Neh 9:6; Gen 1:1-2:3; Gen 1:26-27) In the beginning the Most High God existed. The Most High God is the Creator. He created everything on earth and in heaven and is all powerful over everything. His name is God (Shangdi). When God began to create things, He just used His words. He spoke and everything came to being. He created angels to worship and serve Him. They were very beautiful. God created everything in 6 days. [He created the sky, land, water, mountains, oceans, sun, moon, stars, all plant and animals. He created everything.] Finally, He created man according to His image. God created man to enjoy all that He has created. God created everything and saw that it was good. PART 3 (Gen 2:4-25; Ez 28:12b-17; Is 14:12-15; Gen 2:8-9, 16-17; 3:1-24; Is 59:2; Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23a) God placed the man and woman in a beautiful garden to live. They had a very good relationship. He told them to take care of the garden and enjoy everything. He gave them a special command: they could eat from every tree in the garden except one. If they ate from that one tree, they would die. Man and woman listened to God and had a wonderful relationship with Him in the garden. However, do you remember the angels God created? One of the angels was very smart and beautiful. This angel became very proud. He wanted to be like God and to have the other angels to worship him instead of God. Only God deserves all the worship and service. Therefore God cast the bad angel, Satan, and the other angels who listened to him out of heaven. These bad angels are known as demons. One day, Satan tempted woman, named Eve, to eat the food from the tree that was forbidden. [Satan lied to the woman. He told Ever that if she ate of the tree, she would be just like the Most High God.] Eve listened to Satan and ate the fruit. Then she gave it to her husband, Adam, to eat. Both of them disobeyed God s command. Disobeying God s command is sin. God is righteous and holy. He must punish sin. God cast the

13 man and the woman out of the garden, and their relationship with God was broken. Man and God were now separated forever. Like Adam and Eve, all people since then have sinned by not listening to God s commands and are separated from God. The result of sin is eternal death. We cannot live with God forever. PART 4 (Ex 20:1-17; Heb 9:22b; Lev 1:1-3; 4:13-21; Is 1:11) Over time, the number of people on earth multiplied. God loved them very much and wanted them to have a relationship with Him. He gave them 10 commandments to follow. Remember God is perfect and holy, so we must be perfect and holy to live with him. [The 10 commandments teach man how to relate to God and how to relate to people. Some of the commands were: do not worship other gods or make idols; honor your parents; do not lie, steal, murder or commit adultery.] However, no one was able to obey all of these commands. So, each time they sinned, God allowed them to repent of their sins and offer a blood sacrifice to take the place of their punishment. This sacrifice was shedding the blood of a perfect animal. If they would repent and offer the blood sacrifice, God would forgive them. Only by the shedding of blood can man s sin be forgiven. However, man kept sinning and the sin sacrifice became a ritual rather than something from their heart. God became tired of the blood of animals. The shedding of animal s blood was never sufficient to bring men back to God. PART 5 (Jn 3:16; Lk 1:31-37; Mt 5:1-7:29; Jn 10:7-15; Ps 23:1-3; 1Pt 2:22) Remember that God loves man whom He created very much. He is angry that they disobey Him, and is sad that they cannot come back to Him. Therefore He gave man a perfect way to reconnect to Him. God sent Jesus to show us the way back to Himself. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God s son, His one and only son. Jesus was a wise teacher. [Many people would come to hear Him teach about how they could return to God.] Jesus was a powerful miracle worker. Jesus calms the storm. [On one occasion, He was with some of His students crossing a large lake on a boat. It was late at night. While Jesus was sleeping, a powerful storm arose on the lake. Jesus students were very afraid. They awakened Jesus and said, We are about to die! Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Immediately the wind and rained stopped.] Jesus power is greater than natural powers. Jesus fed over 5,000 people. [On another occasion over 5,000 people came to listen to Jesus teach about God. When evening came they had not eaten and were hungry. Altogether they only had five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus used the five loaves of bread and two fish to feed over 5,000 people.] Jesus power is able to satisfy man s needs. Jesus cures a demon processed man. [Another time, Jesus saw a man with many demons inside him. The man was very powerful and dangerous. Jesus loved the man and cast the demons out of him.] Jesus is more powerful than demons. Jesus raised the dead. [Jesus good friend became sick and died. Jesus was not with him. Four days later Jesus arrived at His friend s house. Jesus felt very sad. His friend was already in the tomb. Jesus went to the front of the tomb and said, Friend, come out. His friend was resurrected. He walked out of the tomb alive!] Jesus power is greater than death. Jesus was the good shepherd. He loves and cares for people. 13

14 Jesus was perfect. He never sinned. PART 6 (Heb 9:14; Jn 1:29; Lk 23:20-25, 32-48; Rev 5:9; 1Pt 1:19; Rom 5:8; Lk 24:1-50) Jesus was the Lamb of God. People loved Jesus. However, there some leaders were jealous of Jesus. These men grabbed Jesus and decided to kill Him. They placed Jesus on a cross. A cross is made from two large pieces of wood formed together in the shape of a large cross. They took His hands and His feet and nailed them to the cross. His precious blood flowed from His hands, feet and body. Jesus suffered much pain on the cross. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. Jesus was perfect and did not deserve to die. Instead, Jesus died for all mankind. God loves us and allowed Jesus to die on the cross in our place. Only through the shedding of Jesus precious blood was God able to forgive our sin. Jesus death demonstrates God s love towards us. However this story doesn t end here. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead! PART 7 (Is 53:6; Lk 15:11-24, 32; Jn 14:6; Rom 10:9-10) [Before His crucifixion, Jesus told a story to his followers about a father and his sons. The father had two sons. The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the inheritance. So he divided his property between them. The younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. We are all like the younger son.] We all have left God and are forever separated from Him. We all must repent and return to God. Jesus can lead us back to God s side. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. We must go through Jesus to return to God. How can we go through Jesus? You must believe in your heart and with your mouth confess that Jesus is Lord. Do you want to go through Jesus and return to God s side? PART 8 (Jn 3:16) The Most High God wants you and your whole family to return to Him. To do this, you must go through Jesus. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. Only through Jesus can your relationship with God be restored. Do you want to go through Jesus to return to God s side? 14

15 If you want to, you must believe in your heart and confess, I have sinned. I have left God. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for my sin. I believe and trust in Jesus. I want to repent and allow Jesus to lead me back to God. In the same way I just talked with God, now you talk to God with me. I ll say each part and you repeat after me. Great! Now your relationship with God is restored. I know you care about your family. God is waiting for your whole family to believe in Him. Go home and tell your family and friends this good news. God loves them too! [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 13. What is this story saying? 14. What do you not understand? 15. What does it teach you about God? 16. What should you obey? Memory Verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: What does this verse say? 11. What do you not understand? 12. How should you obey? Trainer Testimony: Share how you recently shared Creation to Christ with someone from your circle of influence. How to Obey: 5. Learn to Share the Gospel a) Train how to share the Creation to Christ (Most High God Gospel) b) Each trainee should be able to share the entire Creation to Christ story non-stop, start to finish in minutes. c) Select a partner for accountability and support. d) Share Creation to Christ with those who you have shared your testimony with. Pray: Pray right now and commit yourself to share the gospel with each person on your Circle of Influence list. 15

16 16 Following Jesus Lesson 1: Baptism As a trainer, you want to move through the next three follow up lessons as quickly as possible to help firm up their decision to follow Christ. This can be done in a couple of days to one week. Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 8:26-40 Acts 2:38 (memory verse) Additional scriptures: Romans 6:3-4 Colossians 2:12 John 3:23 Worship: [From the time people come to Christ and after, worship will begin every meeting.] The Bible tells us that God loves to live among us when we praise Him. Let s take a few minutes to sing to God and praise Him for how wonderful He is. I have some songs I can teach you. However, our group may also try to put some of the verses or stories we are learning to song. [Teach the group one or two new songs of worship. Or, try to make up a new song based on the verses memorized or stories learned or what God has done in your lives.] Introduction to Story: This week we want to spend time making your connection to God firm. We want you to be sure that you are following Christ and know that your connection to God is strong. This lesson centers around baptism: what it represents, and who should do it. Baptism does not save us. However it is one way we show that we are putting our faith in Christ. It is also the way we show our family and friends that we are following Christ. It is a picture on the outside of what God has done on the inside. It is also a way of helping us to be sure that we are following Christ. In the Bible, people were baptized as soon as they were sure they wanted to follow Christ. Usually, until a person is baptized, they are not sure they are following Christ and are afraid to let other people know they are Christians. That is why Acts 2:38 ties baptism so closely with being re-connected with God. Baptism is by immersion because it is a picture of us being buried in the ground and being raised up to live a new life. When you put your faith in Christ, your old sinful life died, and you have begun to live a new life as a child of God. Story: After Jesus resurrection, He gave his disciples a very important command. He told them to go and make disciples and baptize all people. After Jesus returned to heaven, the good news about Him began spreading to many people. One day, Jesus followers were sharing the good news with a large crowd. Their hearts were moved and they asked, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) About 3000 people believed and were baptized! One day there was a government official traveling on a road in the desert. He was an important man in charge of the treasury in his country. He was on his way home from

17 Jerusalem, the city where Jesus was crucified, after worshipping in the temple. While he was traveling, he was reading parts from the Bible. As he was traveling along and reading, God sent Philip, one of Jesus followers, to meet him on the road. Philip heard the official reading from the scriptures and asked, Do you understand what you are reading? The official replied, Well, how could I, unless someone instructs me? He invited Philip to come up into his chariot to explain the scriptures to him. The passage he was reading was written several hundred years before Jesus came to earth. It foretold that Jesus would die. It said: He was lead as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth. The official asked Philip, Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else? Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the official said, Look, here is water. Why shouldn t I be baptized? And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the official went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the official did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing." Questions: 17. What is this story saying? 18. What do you not understand? 19. What does it teach you about God? 20. What should you obey? At this point, you will want to explain what baptism is (even if no one asks). What is baptism? A Sign of our love commitment to Christ. You have just made commitment to love and follow Jesus. This is like a marriage. In many cultures, husbands and wives take on a sign of their commitment to each other (a ring, a headdress, etc.). Baptism is our public sign to let others know we belong to Jesus. A Testimony: our first profession of faith. It is a witness to our community that we are now identified with Christ. We want others to know that we are not ashamed to follow Jesus. A Picture of our inward change. It is a picture of what has happened to us on the inside. What has happened? (Rom 6:3-4) Death: your old life has been buried with Christ. You are no longer enslaved to your sins. You are free Life: you have a new life with Christ you have been raised up to live with Him. You are a new person who is a child of God! When you die physically one day, you will continue to live with Christ in heaven. 17

18 18 Why be baptized? Jesus commands us to. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16) Jesus was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17) Why immersion? It is what the New Testament word means. It is what pictures death, burial and resurrection John 3:23 much water Memory Verse: Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 1. What does this verse say? 2. What do you not understand? 3. How should you obey? Trainer Testimony: Share what your baptism was like. Pray: Pray with each person in the training group about being baptized. Help them to commit to being baptized this week. How to Obey: Today, how do you need to obey God? [Let the group members share.] I would like to discuss with you an important way to obey. Baptism Before a person is baptized, as a sign of their repentance, ask if they have any idols or idol worship items in their house. If so, or if they have practiced idolatry in any fashion, lead them through a time of destroying their idols and renouncing idol worship. Explain to them that this is because they are taking on the sign of a love commitment to Jesus. To continue to worship idols is like committing idolatry. God will not tolerate this! Idol Worship: Idols represent demons We are told to flee from idolatry. Why? Because God is a jealous God (1 Cor 10:22) and will not tolerate you having any lovers besides Himself o Demon worship represents adultery cheating on our commitment to God. (See Ezekiel 23:37) o Example: what if your spouse told you, I m going to sleep with someone else, but it will only be one night a month. How would you feel? You would not tolerate any adultery (not 1 night a month or 1 night a year!)

19 In the same way, we cannot even dabble in a little idolatry, because God is jealous. When you become a Christian, tear down all that is associated with idols in and around your house o Renounce your allegiance to them. o Ask God to bless your home as a place of worship of Him Choose to be baptized to signify that you will worship God only In the future, do not go back into old ways, or God s presence will not dwell with you fully. Do not fear what the devil may do, God will protect you. o 1 John 5:18-21 promises God s protection if we guard ourselves from idols. Use complete study on idol worship if needed. 19 Set a time to be baptized, and then baptize the person Set a time as soon as possible (today or within a few days) Ask them the 4 baptism questions (see below) privately. Resolve any questions prior to going into the water. Ask 4 questions publicly before the witnesses. Verbally pray for them in the presence of the witnesses. Ask for an assistant if the person being baptized is large (larger than you). Baptize them in the name of Jesus placing their entire body under the water. o Say: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. You have been buried with Christ in death and raised with a new life. Celebrate with them when they come out of the water! Baptism Questions: 1. Have you decided to follow Jesus? 2. Do you know Jesus has forgiven all your sins? 3. Are you telling everyone here that you will follow Jesus and never turn back? 4. Will you keep following Jesus even when they curse you, hit you, arrest and imprison you and threaten to kill you?

20 20 Following Jesus Lesson 2: Assurance of Salvation Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: John 10:1-18, John 5:13 (memory verse) Story: Jesus told a story about some shepherds and their sheep. There were several shepherds who all grazed their flocks of sheep on the same mountainside. The shepherds gave each sheep a name by which they called them. Each evening, they brought all the sheep together to one place to keep them safe. During the late hours of the night, each shepherd took a turn being the watchman whose job it was to keep an eye out for robbers and wild animals. Each morning, the shepherds came to get their sheep out of the pen. Each shepherd entered through the gate and called his sheep by name. The sheep heard his voice and came to him. As they went out, the shepherd walked ahead of the sheep and they followed him because they recognized his voice. One night, a thief came to steal the sheep. The thief did not enter through the gate of the pen where the watchman would see him. Instead, like a robber, he climbed into the pen by another way. Because he was a stranger, the sheep did not recognize his voice and would not follow him. He was a thief and the sheep ran away from him. Another time a wolf came to kill the sheep and eat them. Unfortunately a hired man was watching the sheep. He was not willing to risk his own life to protect them. He ran away because he did not really love the sheep. The wolf attacked and the sheep were scattered and some were killed. However, the good shepherd was not like the hired man. When a thief or wolf came to attack and steal the sheep, he sacrificed his own life to save the sheep. Jesus told his followers this story to teach them about his love and protection. Jesus also said, I am the good shepherd. Because he is the good shepherd, he knows each of us by name. Like a father knows his own children, so Jesus knows us. He has sacrificed his life to save us. Jesus said, I give you eternal life, and you will never perish. No one can snatch you away from me. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 21. What is this story saying? 22. What do you not understand? 23. What does it teach you about God? 24. What should you obey? Memory Verse: I have written these things (the Bible) to you who believe in the Son of God in order that you may know for sure that you have life forever with Him. 1 John 5:13 1. What does this verse say? 2. What do you not understand? 3. How should you obey? How To Obey:

21 Today, how do you need to obey God? [Let the group members share.] I would like to discuss with you two important ways to obey. Be assured of your salvation Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus? If you are not sure, then make it sure right now. If you have repented and trusted Jesus, then do you belong to God? Can anyone ever take away this relationship you have with Him? Take time now to thank God that you belong to Him forever. How do we thank God? We can talk to God anytime through prayer. Do you remember from the story that Jesus said the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd? Just like the shepherd and the sheep can communicate, so we too can communicate with God. We talk to God through prayer. God is the Good Shepherd and loves to have us talk with Him. He is ready to hear and answer our prayers. 21 Trainer Testimony: Share a testimony of answered prayer in your life here. Pray to Him each day in this manner. You should do five things when you pray. You can remember them on the fingers of your hand. o Praise God for the great God that He is. Tell Him how wonderful He is. o Confess sin that you have committed since the last time you prayed. Ask God to forgive you and make a commitment to change. o Thank God for how He is working in your life and for answering your prayers. o Ask God to meet the needs of other people o Ask God to meet any needs in your life Every time this week and after it, when the devil lies to your mind to tell you that he has power over you, speak out in the name of Jesus that you belong to God and pray to God to protect you. Trainer Follow-up: Make sure each person leaves this meeting being SURE of his salvation and knows how the basics of prayer. Tell: Whom will you share this story and lesson with this week? Pray: Spend time praying with the group members. Pray for any needs in the group.

22 22 Following Jesus Lesson 3: Called to Follow and Fish Scriptures to read to prepare for the story: Mark 1:14-20 Mark 1:17 (memory verse) Story: At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus went into the land of Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news! As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you become fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. [Don t forget to have 2-3 people re-tell the story.] Questions: 25. What is this story saying? 26. What do you not understand? 27. What does it teach you about God? 28. What should you obey? Memory Verse: Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:17 What does this verse say? What do you not understand? How should you obey? How To Obey: Today, how do you need to obey God? [Let the group members share.] I would like to discuss with you two important ways to obey. 1. Follow Christ Following Christ means that you will love, serve and obey Him no matter what. He will be your Lord and you will be His servant. Every day, you will choose to obey whatever He tells you to do. Have you decided to follow Christ in this way? [At this point you want all of the believers to join a worship group. In this group they will become a church and begin studying the Obeying Jesus.] 2. Fish for men Remember that God s plan for this world is to re-connect to every person. He wants a relationship with every person and every tribe. How does God show people how to re-connect to Him? He uses Christians to share the good news with people who do not know Him yet. You are called to fish for men to share the good news with them and help them into God s kingdom as they believe in Jesus. One reason God has left you on earth rather than just take you straight to heaven is so that you can help other people believe in Jesus. If you fail to share the good news, many people may never re-connect with God. Will you choose to be a faithful witness for Jesus?