Bible Studies
This study guide is provided with the humble understanding that it serves as one of many tools for disciples of Jesus to use in helping others come to Christ. Please feel free to use other materials you are comfortable with as well. Any attempt to select and organize scriptures to lead someone to Christ is of necessity a matter of opinion, and so we determined to limit this material to what was considered to be the heart and core of the gospel message of Jesus and the conditions the Lord makes upon us for its acceptance: Jesus and the Word of God, the Gospel message, biblical conversion and how to make Jesus Lord of your life. The commentary contained in these studies is intentionally simple and sparse in order to let the scriptures speak for themselves, as well as give you maximum freedom and flexibility to use this tool as you see fit – personally applying God's Word to each unique and precious soul that God entrusts to your care.
Introduction
As disciples of Jesus we are fishers of men (Mark 1:17);
so here are a few fishing tips:
• Build a genuine friendship with the person you are studying with, spending time together outside of your studies (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
• Pray for and with your friend regularly; rely on God, not yourself (Matthew 7:7-8; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; Ephesians 1:15-23).
• Keep in mind that we are all lifetime learners, so don’t feel like you need to have all the answers; just open the scriptures together, have great discussion, and let the Holy Spirit speak through you (Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 4:23-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6).
• Encourage everyone in the study to share from their hearts and lives (1 Corinthians 12:21-26; Philemon 1:6).
• Have faith in God and his Word to work powerfully in every study (Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12-13).
• Believe in each person you study with (1 Corinthians 13:7).
• Give your heart (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20).
• Be sure that your primary motivation is love (Matthew 22:34-40).
• Continue to teach, train and disciple them after their baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:28-29).
May God be with us as we “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus & the Word
Introductory discussion
• Tell us about yourself:
Q: What’s your religious background?
Q: Where would you like to be spiritually, and where do you feel like you are now?
• Spiritual growth comes primarily from Jesus and the Word of God. Let’s do some Bible study on these two subjects.
Jesus
• (Read each scripture and search for what it teaches about Jesus. Have a great discussion, with everyone sharing their insights.)
John 1:1-18
John 8:1-11
John 8:31-32
The Word of God
• (How should we view and use the Bible?)
John 12:47-50 (God’s Word is our standard.)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (God’s Word is inspired and useful.)
Acts 17:10-11 (God commended the Bereans for examining the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.)
Closing discussion
• The Berean Challenge: read the Bible every day. (And pray daily as well; explain Quiet Times – Refer: Mark 1:35)
• Recommendation: read through the book of John to continue strengthening your faith and learning more about Jesus.
• Set up the next study. (Suggest: pray together)
The Gospel Message
Colossians 1:21-23
“Gospel” means “good news”.
Q: What’s “the good news” from this passage? (Discuss)
• (Note: “reconciled” means “made friends again; forgiven”)
• Matthew 27:27-54 (crucifixion account)
Q: What impacts you from this passage? (Discuss)
• Resurrection: Q: How do we know that Jesus really rose from the dead?
John 20:1-31
The many eyewitness accounts are proof of his resurrection:
• Peter and John find an empty tomb (verses 1-9).
• Mary Magdalene sees and speaks with the risen Lord (vs. 10-18).
• The Apostles see and speak with Jesus (verses 19-20).
Thomas sees, speaks with, and touches Jesus (verses 24-28).
• Jesus appears to 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
• 40 days of convincing proofs to the Apostles (Acts 1:1-3).
Q: So what does the resurrection prove?
John 2:18-22
• Jesus has supreme authority
• Refer: Matthew 28:18 = “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…”
• Everything Jesus taught was true.
Romans 1:1-4
• Jesus really is the Son of God.
Acts 17:29-31
• Jesus will judge us on Judgment Day.
• The power of the gospel is in understanding:
who Jesus really is (our God, our supreme authority, our judge)
who we really are apart from him (alienated from God, enemies of God because of our evil behavior – refer: Colossians 1:21)
and what Jesus did for us (Read 1 John 4:9-10).
Q: How does the cross show God’s love for us?
Q: How does that affect you, personally?
• Set up the next study. (Suggest: pray together)
Christian Conversion
Introduction (Acts 2:36-41)
• Christian conversion requires faith, repentance and baptism.
1. Faith (Acts 2:36-37)
• The people’s response shows that they had come to faith in Jesus.
• This faith in Jesus was more than an acceptance of the facts, but a trust in Jesus that moved them to action (verse 37).
• Saving faith must lead to action in our lives as well (James 2:14-26).
2. Repentance (Acts 2:38-39)
• A change of mind leading to a change of action (refer: Eph 4:20-24).
• Galatians 5:19-26 = Need to “crucify the sinful nature (verse 24)”.
Q: What sins on this list do you need to crucify? (Suggest: share with each other) (Q: Any other sins not on this list? James 5:16)
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 = Godly sorrow leads to repentance.
Q: Do you have godly sorrow about your sins?
Q: If not, what elements (vs. 11) do you still lack? (Offer help.)
3. Baptism (Acts 2:38-41)
Romans 6:1-4 = Baptism into Christ is how we participate in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John 3:3-5 = Baptism is more than just a symbol, more than just a sacrament (a religious ceremony); it is how we are born again.
1 Peter 3:20-21 = Baptism is essential for salvation.
Added to the family of God (Acts 2:41-47)
• When we’re baptized into Christ we’re baptized into the body of Christ, the church (refer: 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27).
• The Holy Spirit and our church family help us live the Christian life.
• Let’s look carefully at this passage and see what the church family is supposed to look like:
Q: What were they devoted to? (vs. 42)
Q: How did they view their possessions/finances? (vs. 44-45)
Q: How did the Lord add to their number daily? (vs. 47)
Closing discussion
Q: Which of these three elements of conversion (faith, repentance, and baptism) do you still need to do?
Q: Are you ready to make this response to Jesus? (Why or why not?)
Q: Are you ready to be devoted to God’s family, the church?
Making Jesus Lord
Romans 10:9
Q: What does it mean to “confess Jesus as Lord”?
• The Greek word for “Lord” used here means “master”. It was most commonly used to refer to the lordship of slave masters over slaves. Those who accept that Jesus is their Lord are accepting that he is the ruler over their lives—that he has ultimate and complete control over their time, possessions, decisions and so forth.
• Another way to say this: we are becoming “disciples of Jesus”.
Practical aspects of making Jesus Lord of your life and becoming a disciple of Jesus
Luke 9:23-26
• We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus on a daily basis (vs. 23).
• Discussion: What does this mean in a practical way?
Luke 14:25-35
• Jesus must have first priority in our lives. (Application?)
• We must count the cost of following Jesus before we begin. “What will this mean in my life, personally?” (Discuss)
Mark 1:16-20
• We must become fishers of men, like Jesus. (Application?)
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
• We must be motivated by God’s love to no longer live for ourselves, but for God. (Application?)
Closing discussion
Matthew 28:18-20
• Q: What does Jesus call us to be and do?
• Q: Are you ready to be a disciple of Jesus?
Discuss specifics as appropriate; plan a time and place for baptism if ready and eager.