SCROLL DOWN FOR BIBLE LESSONS

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1 > SCROLL DOWN FOR BIBLE LESSONS

2 L E S S O N 1 A BOLD DISCIPLE HAS SECURED A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS The first step in the lifelong process of becoming a bold and active disciple is simply becoming a disciple and recognizing the goodness of God s plan through salvation. All growth, all knowledge, and all of life stems from this. CAN YOU GUESS THESE EXTREME RECORDS? QUESTIONS 1. What are some roles that you have as an individual? (student, athlete, son, daughter, etc.) Why are they important to you? Time without sleep? Time without food? Fastest mile? Fastest marathon? Longest time holding breath underwater? Farthest arrow shot using feet? 2. Do you feel less thirsty (spiritually tired) after fulfilling these roles? Longest authenticated modern life? Fastest 100 meter run on all fours? Longest full-body direct contact with ice? SCRIPTURE READING Read John 4:1-42 THE SOURCE PROVIDES HOPE How might Koepcke have felt when she realized she couldn t fix her situation without guidance or aid (such as that from the river)?

3 DISCUSSION We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. (1 John 3:14) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12) And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:46) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10) SO WHAT? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS: Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Make no delay in quenching your life s thirst with the Living Water. Make no delay in being obedient and accepting the great mercy of the Savior. Be bold in newfound life, and be bold as your joy overflows into obedience. Use these weeks to nurture a desire to reach unbelievers, equip yourself for sharing, and ultimately grow God s Kingdom beyond YEC. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: Salvation is instantaneous, but obedience from victory is unending. Use these weeks to reinvigorate your faith and become bold for the Gospel. Develop your understanding of the Good News. Come out of this conference with a deeper understanding of the role of a disciple, and a broader knowledge of the implications of Jesus death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. FOR ALL: Be bold in Jesus. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7)

4 L E S S O N 2 A BOLD DISCIPLE IS STRENGTHENED BY THE POWER OF JESUS Desire for a life of boldness is useless without power. On our own, we are not powerful enough to follow and obey God. We need the power and peace our Savior provides through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to glorify God fully. In our weakness, there is a strength greater than our own that can carry us to victory. Do governments today use seals? How important are they? What does a seal say about the document being sealed? SCRIPTURE READING Read Ephesians 1:13-14 The Holy Spirit is the seal of King Jesus. The sovereign ruler of all time and creation seals each believer upon profession of faith in Jesus. QUESTIONS 1. How does it impact your personal relationship with Jesus to know that you were pursued by God, and that the King sealed you with the Holy Spirit for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory? 2. What does it mean to you that an all-powerful God capable of removing sin has called you to follow him?

5 DISCUSSION The Holy Spirit seals the inheritance of the believer. The inheritance spoken of here is not a common earthly inheritance. The inheritance of the believer is being in the presence of God eternally. We who are living have not yet experienced God s presence in its fullness yet, but the seal of the King, the indwelling Holy Spirit, serves as proof and promise of the coming face to face encounter with God we will have in heaven. The Holy Spirit equips us with Power for the mind 2. Power for the body 3. Peace for the Spirit SO WHAT? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS: Today is the day of salvation. Jesus is big enough to overcome your sin, and he has already done so. You can be forgiven at the foot of the cross, and you can be empowered by his Spirit to fulfill your purpose and glorify the Father. Choose Jesus, and choose the power that has already overcome the world you presently cling to. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: The same power that defeated death and resurrected Jesus is living inside of you. What is there to fear? Who is there to stand in the way of the almighty God of the universe? Boldly live and proclaim the name of Jesus. Live as though you are sealed for eternity by the Holy Spirit as God s possession and are empowered and equipped by the King. FOR ALL: Be bold in Jesus. When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

6 L E S S O N 3 A BOLD DISCIPLE IS SUSTAINED BY THE LOVE OF JESUS If we are called with an important call and are empowered by a sovereign caller, we are to boldly walk through spiritual warfare. Much pain is experienced in our bodily existence on this sin-fallen Earth. God is not only the God of power; he is also the God of love (1 John 4:8). Be confident that peace in the loving arms of our Savior is sure in times of suffering. Share an experience where you have been brokenhearted with the group. Where did you seek comfort in your time of pain? What was the result of seeking those things/people? SCRIPTURE READING Read Ruth 1-4 Naomi, for reasons we are not privy to in Scripture, was experiencing the consequences of displeasing God. QUESTIONS 1. Why might Naomi have been so adamant about her daughter-in-law leaving? 2. What would you have done if you were Ruth? What did Ruth actually do?

7 DISCUSSION Ruth 2-3 God doesn t direct us to the wrong places. It was no coincidence or accident that Ruth and Naomi went to Bethlehem, and it was no coincidence that Boaz s field was the field that Ruth went to collect grain in. Ruth 4 God comforts the broken, guides the wandering, and holds steady for the shaken. He is compassionate, sovereign, and unchanging, and his faithful love extends to generations of those who call on the name of Jesus. SO WHAT? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS: Today is the day of salvation. You are loved! God loved you enough to send Jesus in your place to die on the cross. He loved you enough to call you to himself. He loves you enough to sustain you beyond salvation. Accept Jesus and be emboldened by your new identity as a loved child of God. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: Boldness is not possible when our lives are filled with doubt of identity, self-worth, and direction. The love of God and the demonstrated love in Jesus sacrifice gives us a new identity and a new direction in life. Whether we are broken, wandering, or shaken, believers can be confident that the love of their Savior sustains them in all contexts of life. Be bold in the knowledge that you are sustained by perfect love, and be fearless in the knowledge that in his love God has laid out a plan for the life of each believer. FOR ALL: Be bold in Jesus. For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7)

8 L E S S O N 4 A BOLD DISCIPLE IS SENT OUT FOR THE GROWTH OF GOD S KINGDOM Whether it is a sport, a job, or an activity, there is always a goal and an end. Our Christian walk is no different. The goal of the life of the disciple is to grow the kingdom of God. Disciple-makers in a multiplying church effort epitomize the work of the gospel. Bold disciples are the necessary tools of an organized missional effort. Without boldness, effectiveness diminishes. SCRIPTURE READING Read Acts 3:1-26 First, we find that bold disciple-makers must recognize the message motivating them. Second, we find that bold disciple-makers must realize the need surrounding them. QUESTIONS 1. Why did Peter and John not offer the lame man any money? Why did Peter and John offer Jesus message of hope to one of society s fringe members? How could Peter and John be so confident that a miracle would transpire? 2. At what point did Peter start preaching? What does that convey to us about the preparation necessary for gospel interactions?

9 DISCUSSION Know the message (Seek God s Word, Psalm 119:105) Communicate with the Author (Pray, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Congregate with other believers (Church fellowship, Hebrews 10:25) Acts 4:1-31: The bold disciple-maker must respond to the call entrusted us. Passion for evangelism is simply this: an extreme stubbornness to pursue the lost where God has placed you. The prayer the disciples and believers prayed for boldness, culminating with a move of the Holy Spirit and an infusion of boldness in attitude. SO WHAT? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS: Today is the day of salvation. The entire goal of the progression of growth and change in believers lives is for God s glory and your salvation! See that the plan for your life is to fulfill your purpose. You have a grand purpose, the glory of God, and the plan for your redemption was established before time began. See why those around you are boldly proclaiming this gospel of hope, and secure a personal relationship with Jesus. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: Boldness is a requirement for disciples and disciple-makers. Understand the urgency evangelism calls for. Refuse to be mediocre in the pursuit of your purpose. Refuse to be complacent as people across the globe are meeting an eternity separated from God every single second. Resolve to have a heart for the nations. Resolve to pursue the lost. Resolve to be obedient, and boldly proclaim the message of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. FOR ALL: Be bold in Jesus. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29-30)

10 L E S S O N 5 A BOLD DISCIPLE IS SEEKING A HEART OF WORSHIP FOR HOLY LIVING Once established in Christ and equipped for service, it is clear from Jesus commands in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 that we are to go and boldly proclaim the message of the Gospel. What are we to do in the in-between, though? What does the personal life of the disciple look like? Small scale obedience and personal battles with sin often require as much boldness as stands for Jesus in the public sphere do. Boldness to lead pure lives requires an intense, intentional pursuit of holiness, and an intense pursuit of holiness can only arise from a heart of worship. SCRIPTURE READING Read Isaiah 29:13-24 DISCUSSION 1. The heart of worship is firstly anchored in the holiness of God. Throughout the book of Isaiah, God is referred to as the Holy One of Israel over two dozen times. The absolute and unmatched purity of the character of God is a theme for Isaiah s writings. The intent of this continual reminder of holiness is the inducement of conviction and building of perspective in regard to sin in the lives of Isaiah s contemporaries. The holiness of the people Isaiah is writing to is a mockery compared to the holiness of God. Our holiness is likewise infinitesimal compared to the Holy One of Israel. Having a pure, worshipful heart and serving God fully require an understanding of what holiness is and how we are to attain it.

11 DISCUSSION CONTINUED The heart of worship is secondly directed by the wisdom of God. People have been given tangible revelations of God s wisdom. Broadly, there is general revelation. The complexity and beauty of the world we live in points to no less than a creative and all-powerful being who formed it. Further, within all people resides the longing for purpose, meaning, and certainty of eternity. As a result, our very existence and experience points to a God greater than our circumstances and may lead to an understanding of who God is. Specifically, there is special revelation. Special revelation is the inspired direction of Godly men to write instructive and informative books on God and His commands. These works comprise what we know as the infallible and authoritative Word of God, the Bible. SO WHAT? FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW JESUS: Today is the day of salvation. If you do not know worship or the One worthy of being worshiped, the invitation to rest in the loving arms of Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation is extended to you. Submit to Jesus and his reign in your life. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: For those who have believed, by being anchored in the holiness of God and directed in his wisdom, we can achieve extravagant love and extreme submission to God s glory. If you do fall away, know that in his immense mercy God is willing and ready to pull you back in. Boldly evangelize. Boldly worship. FOR ALL: Be bold in Jesus. For when he (Jacob) sees his children, the work of My hands within his nation, they will honor My name, they will honor the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel. (Isaiah 29:23) For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7)