Baptist Training Course BTC TEACHER For BTC Teachers of Preschool, Beginner, Primary and Junior Classes Prepared by LENA CASE EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@bogardpress.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@bogardpress.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Carolyn Burks Deby Turrentine Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley Copyright 2014 Vol. 53, No. 3 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.bogardpress.org 1-800-264-2482 Jesus Builds His Church June 1 Upon This Rock... 3 8 Jesus Is the Rock... 9 15 A Church Does Things... 13 22 Open the Door and See the People... 17 29 Become One of the People... 21 July 6 The Keys of the Kingdom... 24 13 A Beautiful Picture... 29 20 Remember Jesus... 33 27 Leaders of Our Church... 38 August 3 Jesus In Dirt Out!... 42 10 I Will Never Leave... 46 17 Be Strong!... 49 24 Make Your Mark!... 55 31 Forever!... 59
Jesus Builds His Church Doctrinal truths about the New Testament churches are vital to the Bible education that students need for building a strong faith. When they truly understand the value Jesus placed on His first church, it should make them appreciate their church more. The focus of this study is not on the deep doctrinal issues and concepts beyond the understanding of a young child. Instead, it is on basic truths that explain the things he sees in the normal operations of the church his family attends. The course will help answer questions he may have about why we have church, where it started, who can join a church, what baptism means, what the pastor does and other related ideas. The church is so important to Jesus that He died for it (Acts 20:28). He identifies the church as the Bride of Christ. It was to His churches that He gave the assignment of carrying the message of His love throughout the world. Children need to know these facts and cherish their spiritual legacy. The privilege of being a part of one of His churches is precious. For personal growth in knowledge, read reliable resource books that give further background material. Every teacher needs to be a growing teacher. When you know well the subject you teach, presenting it with enthusiasm is easy. Standing for Bible doctrines requires conviction about what is truth. Boys and girls need spiritual stamina for living in a culture that ridicules adherence to God s principles. They are encouraged to think of one worldism, of global unity and of people united for one cause. You have the privilege of stimulating their thinking to form personal convictions about God s Word and what it says about His churches. What they believe is important too important to neglect. Prayer and preparation are key processes for effective teachers. As you depend on the Holy Spirit to work through you, He will not disappoint you. You will sense renewed joy in teaching when you surrender your body, soul and spirit to His control. Anticipate His success as you pray daily for class members and begin early in the week to study and get teaching materials ready to make learning happen. The students in your class will enjoy the study when you make the class sessions interesting with active learning. Involve them in instructional activities that make learning about the Lord s churches the highlight of the week. Motivational teaching prompts increased attendance, better attention and a more rewarding classroom experience for all. Then direct praise and glory to Jesus for the victories that will come. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth s sake (Psalm 115:1). In Lesson 3 you will need tracts for a class project. Get them early to make sure you have them on hand. Page 62 has an idea for a bulletin board for this study. It makes an effective teaching tool that you can leave up for the quarter. An attractive bulletin board display increases attention and interest. 2
LESSON 1 June 1, 2014 Upon This Rock LESSON TEXT: Matthew 16:18; Mark 3:13-21. MEMORY VERSE: TEACHING AIM: Preschool: Mark 3:13, They came unto him. Beginner Junior: Mark 3:13, And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. I will tell how Jesus started His first church while He lived on the earth. LESSON PREPARATION What is a church? When did the church begin? Who started the first church? Why? Who needs a church? Will the churches always be here? Is it really all that important what children believe about the churches? The basis for strong spiritual faith is a firm belief that the Lord s churches are not optional organizations in our world. Not every group with the label church is indeed a church. Children need to learn the doctrinal truths God s Word teaches about the origin and function of the first church Jesus began during His personal ministry on earth. That Jesus Christ personally organized a visible church on earth during His ministry is a fundamental truth of New Testament Scriptures. He did not depend on someone else to establish that great work after His ascension into Heaven. He started the first church to do His work on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. The word church refers to a local assembly of scripturally baptized believers covenanted together to carry out the commission Jesus gave. Each church is an independent, self-governing body without a su perior organization exerting authority over it. Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to His first church before He returned to His heavenly home. He promised a continued existence of His churches until He returns. The calling of baptized believers began on the shores of Galilee. John the Baptist s ministry prepared people for the coming of Jesus. Those who accepted the way of which John preached, received baptism to identify themselves with a new way of life. Then when Jesus began His public work of God s church on earth, He called to follow Him those whom John had baptized. He personally taught them during the three short years of His ministry. One day, Jesus chose twelve of His followers as apostles. They were responsible for guiding His first church after Jesus ascension, but they were also special helpers during His ministry. They traveled with Him, saw His miracles and learned from God s truths for the world. The apostles were not the foundation of the first church, for Jesus built the church on His own power and authority (1 Cor. 3:11). Peter, in Acts 1:21, affirms the beginning of the company of baptized believers as being during Jesus life on earth. The church conducted a business meeting in which it selected a successor for Judas Iscariot. They chose one who 3
had companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John (Acts 1:21, 22). Then came Pentecost the day the power of the Holy Spirit came from Heaven to enable Jesus church to do what He had commanded. It was not the beginning of the church but the fulfilling of Jesus promise that God s power would be with His church to accomplish the work which He commissioned His church to do. After that day, the church which Jesus established grew mightily. Through the years, Satan has tried to stamp out the churches in various ways, but he will never successfully eradicate the Lord s churches from existence. We can depend on Jesus promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church. LESSON ILLUSTRATION Students who can write will benefit from keeping a journal of notes about the church Jesus built. Provide folders with paper inserted and pockets for extra materials you may give them. Students may write an essay each week after you teach the lesson. It should explain their understanding of the lesson focus. Younger children may write only a paragraph or a few sentences. Older ones may write a full page. For this lesson, ask the students to follow this outline: 1. Write a definition of a New Tes tament church. 2. Tell who established or started the first church and when. 3. Include information about who were members of the church Jesus started. 4. Explain what happened at Pentecost. Use the church building pattern on page 7 to make a lacing card for younger children. Enlarge the pattern to fit on 8½" 11" paper. Make one copy for each child on index weight paper. Laminate the cards and punch holes at the dots. Wrap one end of yarn with tape to make a stiff point. Show the children how to thread the yarn through the holes to outline the church building shape. Tape the loose end to the back of the card so it does not pull through. A sword drill will help students become familiar with the Scriptures teaching about the church. References to use: Matthew 16:18, 19; 18:17-19; Acts 2:41, 42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 7:17; 9:13, 14; Ephesians 2:20; 3:21; 5:23-27; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 5:1-4. LESSON PRESENTATION PRESCHOOL Beginning with Lesson 2, establish continuity weekly by briefly reviewing the central truth in the previous lesson. Suggestions will be given weekly to help you reach this goal. Always begin class with prayer fitted for the lesson. Page 1. Help the children know that Jesus called the twelve disciples, named them apostles and set them in the first church. Page 2. Let the older children assist the younger ones with tracing the numbers. Read the words and let the children read the numbers. Page 3. When the children have properly identified Jesus as the One who started the first church, tell them why the others pictured could not have started the church. 4
Page 4. Let the children color the picture and role-play the scene on the hillside if time permits. BEGINNER The Bible story presentation suggested in the visual aids instructions will guide you in teaching the beginning of the church. After sharing the story, have children use the quarterly for further emphasis of the lesson aim. Page 2. Help the children understand that Jesus began His church before He died on the cross, not after He went back to Heaven. Page 3. Read the story aloud. It will give children an understanding of why rules are needed. Games would be in chaos without rules to guide actions. Jesus knew His church needed guidelines for how to do His work on earth. Page 4 lists some of the rules Jesus gave His church. Page 4. Read aloud the first paragraph and instructions for the activity. Then invite volunteers to read a rule and tell whether or not it is something Jesus told His church to do. Have everyone draw a star at the beginning of sentences 1 8. Number 9 is an optional ministry for evangelism and teaching but was not commanded by Jesus. Mark through number 10. Tithes and offerings are scriptural ways to give financial support to the church. PRIMARY Throughout this quarterly the lessons will be about the churches. The quarterly aim is that the student will learn the importance of the New Testament church. It is very important to stress that Jesus started the church while He was here on earth. Have the students read Mark 3:13-21. Third-and fourth-graders love to take turns reading Scriptures. Ask the students to discuss the twelve who were chosen as apostles. The Bible words to learn are not difficult. Most children of this age already know the meaning of some of the words. It is good to go over them as it helps them understand the lesson better. Print the Memory Verse on a card and cut around the words to make a puzzle. The students can scramble the words and put them back in order. This will help them to memorize. Ask the students to read the Bible story. Children may think of the church as a building instead of people. God does His work today through the people in His churches. Working the crossword puzzle will help the students to remember the Bible story. Ask the students to read aloud the story Joey and the Solid Rock. Invite them to discuss what makes up a church (preachers, deacons, teachers, ushers, musicians and so forth). JUNIOR Read the quarterly introduction and Lesson Preparation section of this lesson for biblical doctrines for teaching the truths about the Lord s churches. Develop your own personal convictions based on God s Word about the importance of a church and be ing faithful to the doctrines taught in the Bible. Juniors are mature enough to appreciate the precious value of the churches. These lessons focus on why the churches are important and the need to honor and glorify Jesus Christ through membership in one of the churches. Help each child understand the great Christian heritage they have in being a part of one of the Lord s churches. Instill and develop a sense of respect and appreciation for what the church they attend does for the Lord. The material in this lesson gives juniors Bible answers to questions about a church. Encourage each child to equip himself to 5
have a ready answer when asked about his church. First Peter 3:15 is a good motto verse for the quarter. Letter it on a Bibleshaped poster to display in the classroom. Explain how the true churches today connect historically and doctrinally with the first church which Jesus started. Mark 1:1-4 and John 1:19-36 describe how John prepared the people whom Jesus called out to be His church. Jesus promised continual existence of His church in Matthew 16:18. We base the doctrine of church perpetuity on His assurance. Jesus never named His church. Denomin ational names came later as splinter groups organized and called themselves names reflective of their founders or beliefs. The thread of continuity, which Baptists trace back to Christ s time, is the churches which teach and practice Bible doctrines Jesus gave to His first church and which the apostles taught as precepts. Stress the value of being a church member, a part of the institution Jesus started of which the apostles were members and leaders. Encourage students to appreciate the fact that they are a continuation of what Jesus began nearly two thousand years ago. The churches are God s plan for doing His kingdom work on earth. Teach the Bible lesson as suggested in the visual aids instructions. Invite volunteers to read aloud the story on the first page of the lesson in the junior book. Emphasize the Bible verse, 1 Peter 3:15, at the beginning of Reasons To Believe activity on the next pages. Have students work individually to respond to each set of questions and responses. After a few seconds, ask them to share their answers. Let students read aloud the paragraphs between the sets of choices. Mark your copy of the pupil book to serve as a guide when students share their answers. 6
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