Foundations One Year Discipleship Program 1Pet 2:1-5 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. 4Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking The Laying aside of the old life implies the taking up of the new. The reading of the Word, the Hearing of the word and new diligence in the Word is vital to the laying down of the old habits and sinful nature of the old man. That is the purpose behind the daily Bible reading,, the Chuck Smith through the Bible MP3 messages, and the Chuck Tracts material. The establishment of a daily habit in the Word is vital to a growing and vibrant relationship with Christ. *Bible Reading- 1 Year Through the Bible Reading Plan 52 Weeks *Pastor Chuck Smith- Through the Bible MP3 s 52 Weekss Chuck Tracks 52 Weeks Description The C2000 Series MP3s are recordings of Pastor Chuck Smith s Through the Bible messages delivered at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. As you take these courses, you will study the Bible verse by verse from Genesis through Revelation by listening to the expository messages, answering the study questions in the course guide and writing down personal notes from the teachings. You should listen to these messages with your Bible open and with your heart prepared to hear from God and respond to His Word. These courses should give you a broad and deep understanding of God s Word, which will strengthen your faith in God and help you understand His will for the world and for your life. Requirements 1. You must listen to each message completely, from the beginning through the end. 2. In the course guide, you must answer all the study questions for each message. 3. You must complete the study questions and notes for at least 7 messages each week to stay on schedule. A scheduled checklist is available to help you track your progress. *Service -52 Weeks You will be required to serve weekly in the ministry of the church, and you must attend at least one service per week under the teaching of the Word. Service will include children s, ushers, greeters, prayer, outreach/evangelism and others.
(v1)the New Life (as newborn babes) Akin to the laying down of the old habits, there must be new foundations as we are growing in the Word. This is the back to basics area of the curriculum. This is a quick overview of the essentials of the Christian faith. These lessons give the basis for our continuance and growing relationship with Christ. *Growing in Christ (Nav Press) 71pg. 4 weeks Chapter 1-3 o Ch 1 Assurance of Salvation o Ch 2 Assurance of Answered Prayer o Ch 3 Assurance of Victory Chapters 4-6 o Ch4 Assurance of Forgiveness o Ch5 Assurance of Guidance o Ch 6 Putting Christ First Chapters 7-9 o Ch 7 His strength o Ch 8 God s Word o Ch 9 Love Chapters 10-13 o Ch10 Giving o Ch 11 The Church o Ch12 Good Works o Ch 13 Witnessing
(v2)growing in the Word of God (pure milk) As we are getting down the essentials, we must be learning how to mine out the Word of God for ourselves. It is vital to a growing relationship with Christ to be able to study the Word, not just read it, for yourself. Our world view and our view of Christ is determined by how we interpret the Word. Bible interpretation is not in the eye of the beholder but there is a systematic way in which we can inductively study the scriptures in order to obtain for ourselves the correct interpretation by the power of the Holy Spirit. This inductive Bible study method is a very practical way to learn to interpret the scriptures for yourself. *Inductive Bible Study 7 weeks Living by the Book: Hendricks Chapters 1-4 o Ch1 Why people don t study the Bible. o Ch 2 Why study the Bible? o Ch 3 How this book can help o Ch 4 An Overview of the Process Chapters 5-7 o Ch 5 The value of Observation o Ch 6 Let s Start with a Verse o Ch 7 You must learn to read Chapters 8-18 o Ch 8 Read Thoughtfully o Ch9 Read Repeatedly o Ch 10 Read Patiently o Ch 11 Read Selectively o Ch12 Read Prayerfully o Ch 13 Read Imaginatively o Ch 14 Read Meditatively o Ch 15 Read Purposefully o Ch 16 Read Acquisitively o Ch 17 Read Telescopically Chapters 19-26 o Ch 19 Things that are Emphasized o Ch 20 Things that are repeated o Ch 21 Things that are related o Ch 22 Things that are alike, and unlike o Ch 23 Things that are true to life o Ch 24 Get the big picture o Ch 25 Summarize your observations o Ch 26 Facts are stupid things until Chapters 27-29 o Ch 27 The Value of Interpretation o Ch 28 Handel with care o Ch 29 What Type of Literature is this? Chapters 30-38 o Ch 30 Content o Ch 31 Context o Ch 32 Comparison o Ch 33 Culture o Ch 34 Consultation o Ch 35 Coming to terms o Ch 36 Figuring out the figurative o Ch 37 Putting it all together o Ch 38 Don t stop now! Chapters 39-45 o Ch 39 The value of Application o Ch 40 Four steps in Application o Ch 41 Nine Questions to Ask o Ch 42 Now and Then o Ch 43 The principle of a thing o Ch 44 A process of Life Change o Ch 45 Three suggestions to get started
After learning how to inductively study the Bible ourselves, we are then encouraged in the Word to share what we have learned. In this section of Growing in the Word of God, you are encouraged to prepare to teach a section of scripture using your inductive Bible study method to then prepare 15 Bible studies as though you would be teaching them. Every student will be presenting their study for the rest of the class, and every student will be preparing as though they were weekly. *Expositional Teaching 1 Timothy - 15 weeks 1 Timothy 1:1-11 1 Timothy 1:12-17 1 Timothy 1:18-20 1 Timothy 2:1-7 1 Timothy 2:8-15 1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 3:8-13 1 Timothy 3:14-16 1 Timothy 4:1-5 1 Timothy 4:6-11 1 Timothy 4:12-16 1 Timothy 5:1-16 1 Timothy 5:17-25 1 Timothy 6:1-5 1 Timothy 6:6--21 Expository teaching is invaluable to the body of Christ, as there is such a lack of simply teaching the word simply. In this next area of Growing in the Word of God we will touch on some topics of Theology. The study of God. It is important to know the basics of what the Bible has to say about the fundamentals of our faith in a more academic way. I have selected some topics from the book that I have found to be foundational to our understanding of the scriptures *Theology 5 Weeks Systematic Theology- Dr. Norman Geisler o Doctrine of God o Doctrine of Humanity and Sin o Church Government- Calvary Chapel Distinctives o Last Things (Eschatology) o Salvation (Soteriology) o The Church (Ecclesiology)
(v3)having tasted the grace of God Certainly not to be outdone by any other topic is the topic of prayer in the life of the believers. While the daily habit of reading the Word, hearing the Word, studying the Word and application of the Word cannot be over emphasized all of those things without a vibrant prayer life, can lead to spiritual headiness and pride, without communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many who can quote, memorize, and give facts and figures about the Bible, there are many who will do works in the name of Jesus and for Him. But without knowing Him, communing with Him in a devoted and purposeful way daily, you will never find the joy, peace, and exceeding grace of Christ and closeness in relationship until we enter in. The disciples were unlearned and untrained, but the Pharisees remembered that they had been with Jesus! (Acts 4:13) Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In this section of the class we will be learning to develop a prayer life with the Lord and I am confident that we will see the Lord move in your life like never before, as we learn to pray together. *Prayer 4 Weeks My House shall be called a house of Prayer: Jim Cymbala Video With Christ in the School of Prayer- Andrew Murray- -31 readings on the deeper Christian life. o Development of a prayer life o Journaling
(v4)chosen by God, rejected by men Jesus said, you did not choose me, but I chose you. What a privilege it is to know that the Lord has chosen us for eternal life.how did it happen? You were introduced in some way to the gospel of Jesus Christ and you accepted His invitation for eternal life. Jesus has called us to share His name with the world. The Great Commission was not called the great suggestion. In other words, there is a misconception that one must be an Evangelist to share the gospel with another person. Certainly there are gifting specifically for the proclamation of the Gospel. However as believers we are all commissioned to share the gospel as disciples. We all need to know how to articulate the gospel, to be ready to give a defense, to bear witness of the good news of Jesus Christ accurately and with the power of the Holy Spirit. God has given us spiritual tools in the scriptures to share our faith in the power of the Spirit, that will be effective, not only in the life of those you share with, but also in your own. You cannot remain the same when you begin to witness the good news of Jesus Christ on a consistent basis with those that the Lord places in front of. The object of these 4 weeks is to give you some tools for evangelism that coupled with the Holy Spirit; you will be equipped to share your faith with anybody. You will be able with the Lord s help to overcome the fear of rejection, realizing that you are not selling something, but chosen by Him, and chosen for Him to share His great news of salvation! *Evangelism/Apologetics 4 weeks Way of the Master Video Series: Ray Comfort
(v5)being built up a spiritual house There is little doubt that the most misunderstood topics in all of the scriptures is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a force, but He is a Person. He is God s agent on this earth and in the believer. He was given to us by Christ to be our Divine Helper. He is referred to as the Comforter, He is one that was spoken of by Christ as being the Promise of the Father (Acts 1) He told the disciples that He [the Holy Spirit] would come upon them and they would be witnesses to Him. These 7 weeks will take us though the Bible and we will study the person of the Holy Spirit in the book Living Waters, by Pastor Chuck Smith, we will learn of the Holy Spirit. Who He is, What He does and does not do, and how we can be dependent upon Him and how He can empower us to do anything for Christ. The study goes in depth on the gifts of the Spirit given by the Spirit to the church. Holy Spirit 7 weeks Living Water: Chuck Smith Who is the Holy Spirit? o Personality Plus o The Mystery of the Three in One What does the Holy Spirit do? o At work in the world o Keeping the Lid on o The Church s Divine Helper o The manifold grace of God What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? o Unity in diversity o The Word of Wisdom o How did he know that? o How to plant a mulberry tree in the ocean o Hope for the sick o The hardest gift to possess o Speaking forth the Word of God o Unmasking the evil one o An affront to the intellect, a blessing to the soul o What did He say? o Helps..the quiet ministry o Enough Milk, already! o Just do it! o Keep it simple o An awesome responsibility o A ready help in time of need How should we respond to the Spirit? o The real baptism of fire o Ask and you shall receive o A torrent of love
(v5) A holy priesthood The priest s job was to minister. A minister contrary to popular opinion is a servant, one who serves tables, one who reports to a commander. The priesthood in the OT was to serve the people in the worship of God. If we are seeking to minister for the Lord, we must first learn how to serve. Jesus gave us the greatest example as He washed the disciple s feet and said you do likewise. The ministry is not about accolades and name recognition, it is about Servanthood. There is not a greater lesson for the church today than to learn how to serve it seems to me that everybody is wanting to lead, leader training, leadership this and that Jesus said Luke 22:27 For who [is] greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? [Is] it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Mark 10:42-45 But Jesus called them to [Himself] and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Servanthood 4 weeks On Being a Servant of God: Warren Wiersbe o Ch. 1-7 o Ch. 8-16 o Ch.17-24 o Ch. 25-30 Ministry 1 Week There is many shapes ministry can take, but there is only one way to do it the Lord s way. This last week will be devoted to looking at ministry and how it is to be done these lessons are vitally important to a healthy ministry that the Lord will bless! The Lords Work Done in the Lord s Way- K.P. Yohannan o Ch.1 God speaks to us o Ch.2 Founded by God o Ch 3. Foundations of Ministry o Ch 4 Purified in His presence o Ch 5. No Sweat o Ch 6 Jesus our Model o Ch 7 Seven Marks of Service
(5)to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. This is the last verse in our passage and I believe sums up the purpose in a nutshell. The purpose of being equipped, the purpose of learning about prayer, the person of the Holy Spirit, learning how to study the Word, developing diligence in study habits, learning what a servant is and what His ministry should look like in the end. is to be able to offer it all up to the Lord, and it would be acceptable. There are not spiritual sacrifices accomplished by the flesh in my flesh, no good thing dwells said the apostle Paul. Our lives should be a sweet aroma as we lay our lives down a living sacrifice (Rom 12) to offer our service and life a spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to Him. That is the heart and purpose of this material. May the Lord bless you as you pursue all that Christ has for you in Him -- for His Glory! Pastor Jeff 1Pet 2:1-5 1Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. 4Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.