The Story of the Bible is the hope of humanity.

Transcription

1 Three Big Things

2 The world is not as it should be! We all know that. Every time something hurtful happens, something inside of us tells us that it s wrong. Evil is wrong. But how do we know that and what can be done about it? Inside every human soul there is a spiritual awareness that we were made for harmony, but the world is broken. Something has gone wrong. We need a rescue. Our longing is for a happily ever after life. How can we get it? The Bible teaches a single STORY that has four parts: Part 1: God made the world to be in harmony at CREATION. Part 2: because of the FALL the world is now in desperate need. Part 3: the Good News is that God has come to RESCUE people from the brokenness caused by sin. Part 4: one day God will provide a RESTORATION of all things to God s design. The Story of the Bible is the hope of humanity. God will RESCUE anyone who is willing to repent and believe. Here is a way to understand what it means to be free to recover and pursue God s design. 2

3 It all starts with God s Design. God is whole and perfect. God is love and the Maker of all things good and right. Because we have all sinned, there is brokenness. Our relationship with God is broken. Our relationship within is broken. Our relationship with other people is broken. The only relief from this brokenness comes, when we repent and believe the Gospel. The Gospel is the fact that Jesus is God and He became a man to forgive sin by paying the penalty for it and has conquered death through His resurrection. Because Jesus is alive, we can trust and follow Him. The Gospel frees us to pursue and recover God s design for our lives and experience peace with God, peace within, and make peace with others. This Bible Study will show us the 3 Steps we can take in order to be free to pursue and recover God s design. 3

4 1. BELIEVE: Turn from sin and anchor your life and hope in Jesus. Story to know: John 3:1-18 Support Scripture: Mark 1:15 / Romans 10:9 2. BE BAPTIZED: Obey God and symbolically testify to what the Gospel has done in you. Story to know: Acts 8:26-39 Support Scripture: Acts 8:12 / Romans 6: BELONG: Become an active member of the church. WORSHIP: Celebrate Jesus and His grace with the church family. Story to know: Isaiah 6:1-8 Support Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25 / Psalm 95:6 CONNECT: Go through life with a group of people who love Jesus. Story to know: Acts 2:42-47 Support Scripture: John 13:35 / Acts 4:32-27 SERVE: Impact people s lives with the love of Jesus. Story to know: John 13:3-15 Support Scripture: Mark 10:45 / Romans 14:18 EQUIP: Learn how to live for Jesus and lead others. Story to know: Acts 18:24-28 Support Scripture: Ephesians 4:12 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17 MULTIPLY: Lead more people to anchor their life and hope in Jesus. Story to know: Acts 1:6-11 Support Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 / Matthew 28:

5 How to best utilize this Bible study: 1. Participate with others one on one. 2. Learn the terms. 3. Share your answer to each question. 4. Anticipate God changing your life and giving you a greater purpose. 5. Pray as you read and talk with others about what you learn. 6. Meet at least once a week and in between meetings: Read the story once a day. Share the story in your own words with one other person that week. Be praying and preparing to start the Bible study with others (anticipate having this Bible study with multiple people, but keep it one on one). 5

6 BELIEVE Turn from sin and anchor your life and hope in Jesus. Story to know: John 3:1-18 Support Scripture: Mark 1:15 / Romans 10:9 Discuss these terms: Gospel: the Good News that Jesus is God and became a man to live a holy life, died on a cross to pay the penalty of sin, and has been resurrected and will give eternal life to those who believe in Him. Born again: when a person receives new life through the Gospel and freedom from the punishment and power of sin. Sin: disobeying God in any way with a thought, attitude, or action. Repent: turning away from sin and believing Jesus is your God and Savior. Believe: trusting in what God says in His Bible and what Jesus has done to save sinners. 2. What does the story tell us about God? 3. What does the story tell us we need in order to be able to pursue and recover God s Design? 4. Have you repented and believed the Gospel? If so, when? If not, why not now? 5. What will happen and what won t happen to those who believe the Gospel? 6

7 BE BAPTIZED Obey God and show symbolically what the Gospel does. Story to know: Acts 8:26-39 Support Scripture: Acts 8:12 / Romans 6:3-4 Discuss these terms: Believer s Baptism: when someone believes the Gospel and then is immersed in water by another believer of the Gospel. Baptism: a symbolic act of obedience a person who has believed in the Gospel experiences to testify that their old life is over, their sin is washed away, and they are raised up to walk in a new life. Baptize: to take someone completely under water and bring them back up to celebrate new life in Jesus. 2. What does the story tell believers of the Gospel to do? 3. What is believer s baptism? 4. Who should be baptized and why? 7

8 BELONG Become an active member of God s family. WORSHIP: Celebrate Jesus and His graced with the church family. Story to know: Isaiah 6:1-8 Support Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25 / Psalm 95:6 Discuss these terms: Holy: completely pure, righteous, and good. Worship: to honor, praise, and claim the superior worth of God. Seraphim: a group of angels with six wings who reside in the presence of God and worship Him. Church: God s gathered people who worship Jesus in unity of spirit and faith. 2. What happens to Isaiah when he senses the holiness of God? 3. How is the Gospel like the touch of the seraphim? 4. According to Hebrews 10:24-25 what are we to do, when we come to worship with the Church? 5. How is gathering for worship both a responsibility and a gift? 8

9 BELONG Become an active member of God s family. CONNECT: Go through life with a group of people who love Jesus. Story to know: Acts 2:42-47 Support Scripture: John 13:35 / Acts 4:32-27 Discuss this term: Apostles: a unique group of men called and authorized by Jesus to write and confirm God s Word. 2. Why do we need to connect with other believers? 3. How can other believers encourage us in our faith? 4. How can we help others have greater faith in Jesus? 5. What role does love play in the lives of believers? 9

10 BELONG Become an active member of God s family. SERVE: Impact people s lives with the love of Jesus. Story to know: John 13:3-15 Support Scripture: Mark 10:45 / Romans 14:18 Discuss these terms: Foot-washing: an example Jesus gave to teach His disciples to be servants. Serve: a loving act where a disciple of Jesus chooses to use their gifts, strength, and ability to help another person in the love and power of Jesus. 2. Where did Jesus confidence come from to perform such a lowly act? 3. What does this story teach us about how we are to treat other people? 4. According to Mark 10:45, why did Jesus leave heaven and come to earth? 5. What are ways we can follow Jesus example? 6. Who are the people in your life you can serve and share the love and the story of Jesus with? 10

11 BELONG Become an active member of God s family. EQUIP: Learn how to live for Jesus and lead others. Story to know: Acts 18:24-28 Support Scripture: Ephesians 4:12 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Discuss these terms: The Bible: God s Holy Word given to instruct, prepare, and challenge God s people. Disciple (verb): to help someone grow in their personal faith in Jesus. 2. How did Priscilla and Aquila disciple Apollos? 3. What did Apollos do with the information he received? 4. Why is it important for believers to be equipped in the faith? 5. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what is the Bible, where does it come from, and what does it do for believers? 11

12 BELONG Become an active member of God s family. MULTIPLY: Lead more people to anchor their life and hope in Jesus. Story to know: Acts 1:6-11 Support Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 / Matthew 28:19-20 Discuss these terms: Make Disciples: lead people to anchor their life and hope in Jesus by teaching them of their need to repent of sin and believe the Gospel and then encouraging them to pursue and recover God s design for their life. Witness: a person who gives a faithful and honest explanation of what they know. Holy Spirit: God the Spirit, who convicts, empowers, seals, and guides the disciples of Jesus with power. Disciple: a person who has repented of sin and believed the Gospel and is pursuing and recovering God s design and helping others do the same. 2. Why is the Holy Spirit given to the disciples? 3. With the power of the Spirit who can you lead to be a disciple of Jesus? 4. How can you pray for them? 5. If a person becomes a disciple of Jesus, should they keep it a secret? If you are now a disciple of Jesus, do not keep the truth found in this study a secret. Find at least one person you can talk with and walk through this Bible study. Always have at least one person you are leading to be a disciple of Jesus.