STEP ONE                                -1-

SALVATION and THE FOUR ASSURANCES

1.       If someone were to ask you what a Christian is, how would you respond?

2.       Salvation comes only through receiving Jesus Christ. Booklets such as "The Four Spiritual Laws" or "Steps to Peace with God" help us explain to others how to know and walk with Jesus. See http://www.ccci.org/wyltkgp/  or  http://billygraham.org/languages/spanish/stepsToPeace.asp.

2.1             Becoming a Christian in the book of Romans -- the Roman Road

A.                      The human problem:  sin - Rom 3:23

B.                      The result of sin and God's gift - Rom 6:23

C.                      God's costly provision for my sin - Rom 5:8

D.                      Faith and submission to Jesus' lordship - Rom 10:9

E.                      The call to a response of total commitment - Rom 12:1,2

2.2          Salvation is a free gift Eph 2:8-10

2.3         The Miniature Plan of Salvation.

Rev. 3:20, Jn. 1:12, & Rom. 10:9.   *

3.       The Four Assurances

Satan especially attacks new Christians in these four areas.  We defend ourselves with the Word of God even as Jesus did--Matt 4:4,7,10

3.1         The assurance of salvation

                      I John 5:11,12

3.2         The assurance of victory over temptation  

I Cor 10:13

3.3         The assurance of forgiveness             

I John 1:9

3.4         The assurance of God's  provision for our needs 

John 16:24, Mt 6:25-34

HOMEWORK: Memorize Rev 3:20 and John 1:12.  In the following weeks you will be memorizing other verses.

Romans 10:9 I John 1:9

I John 5:11,12 John 16:24

I Cor 10:13

*The    indicates homework.

STEP TWO                                -2-

THE BASIS OF DISCIPLESHIP

Romans 1:11,12 "For I want very much to see you, in order to share a spiritual blessing with you to make you strong.  What I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours."  Good News Bible

1.       Discipling--

1.1       A.                Four generations - a biblical model of multiplying disciples. The gospel and the Christian life are shared simply with others so that they can easily be passed on from the first       to the fourth generation. 2 Tim 2:2               

1st generation: Paul

2nd generation: Timothy

3rd generation: faithful people

4th generation: others

B.          Four generation principle in O. T. -- Ps 78:5,6; Joel 1:3

1.2       The illustration of the two seas:

A.                The Dead Sea--does not support life because it doesn't give, only takes in water. (Christians who just receive and don't share the gospel and the Christian life with others.)

B.                The Sea of Galilee--supports life because water comes in and goes out (Christians who share Christ with others.)

1.3                Examples:

A.                Andrew calls Simon Peter--John 1:40-42

B.                Philip and Nathanael--John 1:43-45

C.                Jesus and His disciples--Mark 3:14  He chose them to be with him first and then to send them out

information                 10% of the discipling effort

formation                 90% of the discipling effort

2.       What are the requirements of discipleship found in Luke 14:25-33?  (This is a familiar Hebraic form of teaching using extreme contrasts.)  Compare Matt 10:37-39; 15:3,4.

3.       Can you find at least ten privileges of discipleship John 15:7-16?

4.       We are setting down the basics in discipleship. Don't be discouraged if you don't see all of the characteristics of a disciple in the beginning. We're learning and growing.

4.1         Personal characteristics that develop in a disciple's life:

A.                Decisiveness:  1 Cor 16:13,14 "Be alert, stand firm, be brave, be strong. Do everything in love."

B.                Maturity. Grown up into Christ -- Eph 4:14,15

C.                Diligence. Have a great desire to LEARN and great diligence to PRACTICE what you have learned. 1 Tim 4:15, 16

D.                Faithfulness. Get to know one another. Establish trust. 1 Cor 4:2; Prov 20:6; Eccl 5:4-6a

E.                Modeling. Be a model for others to follow--1 Tim 4:12

F.                Encouraging. Encourage others to be successful in all areas of life--Phil 2:3,4; Lk 22:24-26; Rom 12:3

G.                Pace setting. Plan for the "long haul"--1 Cor 9:24-27

4.2                Relationships with others.

A.                Friendship requires effort.-- Prov 17:17; Jn 15:12-14.

B.                Leadership focuses on serving.--Mark 10:43-45. A Christian leader is a servant. This is not our cultural pattern, but is Christ's model given to us.

C.                Mutual submission is God's plan.--Eph 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5; and unity is the result of being joined together in one body --Eph 4:16

D.                Spiritual authority comes as a result of working with and voluntarily under others. Notice how Titus is commissioned by Paul--Titus 1:5-- to act with authority --Titus 2:15. Also observe how Paul is subject to the Apostles--Acts 15:1,2; 16:4.and Gal 2:9,10. We recognize and submit to spiritual authority. It is not imposed.

HOMEWORK: Memorize 2 Timothy 2:2               

Find some of the characteristics of a disciple:               

John 13:34,35______

John 8:31______

Ephesians 6:18______

I Peter 3:15______

John 15:8______

Mark 10:43-45______

Acts 1:8