Category Archives: Tutorial

As noted in our tutorial on worship assemblies, any fellowship of believers which regularly gathers to worship is a church – even if that fellowship or congregation consists of only two or three people. When a congregation is small, not much organization is needed, or even possible. The congregation can function very well on an informal basis.

However, as more people join the congregation it is necessary to become more formal. Policies and procedures should be adopted so the church can function smoothly, with a minimum of misunderstanding and friction. The larger a church becomes, the more structure is needed.

Authority to Organize

The thought of formally organizing a church makes some people very uncomfortable. They question whether they have the right to do so. “How,” they ask, “can we do this, or even call ourselves a church since we have no priest or preacher over us?”

The truth is that, according to Scripture, every follower of Christ is a priest (1 Peter 2:4-9). All followers of Christ – not just a special few – are to minister to each other (1 Peter 4:10). Just as all should participate in the corporate worship, all should participate in building up and strengthening the church body.

Mutual Agreement

“But who will lead the church?” In short, you will. The question is not so much one of who has authority and control, as it is serving one another. When each member puts the interests of all the rest ahead of his own (Philippians 2:3-4) you can mutually agree on who should serve in what capacity. When you have men who meet the qualifications for the leadership roles mentioned in the New Testament you can appoint them to lead the congregation. In the meantime the church should make decisions by mutual agreement.

Training

“But how can we appoint people from our own number as leaders? Don’t church leaders require special training?” Actually, no. Most of the men Jesus selected as His Apostles did not have training from the theological schools (Acts 4:13). They were taught directly by Christ. You, too will be taught by Christ as you diligently study His word and apply it to your life. It is being with Jesus which qualifies someone to lead in the church, not a certificate or degree from a seminary.

Affiliation

Another question people have is whether a church must report to anyone. In other words, does some organization or headquarters have authority over you? The answer is, “No!” Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18) and you are accountable only to Him. No other church or institution has the right to exercise authority over you. Others may give you advice and counsel, but your responsibility is to Christ, alone.

What leaders should you appoint to lead and guide the church? The New Testament speaks of Evangelists, Elders, Deacons/Deaconesses and Teachers working in each congregation. While your church is small and young, you may not have enough qualified people to fill all of these roles. However, it should be your ambition to prepare and equip people for these roles.

Evangelists

The primary responsibility of an evangelist is to proclaim the gospel to those who are outside of Christ. It is his job to confront the unbeliever with the message of Christ. In addition to bringing people to faith in Christ, evangelists help establish and organize new congregations. They also help train and equip others to work in the church. The qualifications of evangelists are found in 1 Timothy 4:12, 5:22, 6:2-16 and 2 Timothy 2:24-25, 3:14-15, 4:1-5.

Elders

Elders constitute the governing board of the church. Other biblical names for the role of Elder are Pastor, Shepherd or Overseer. It is they who give direction to the church and determine policy. They are responsible for the spiritual health of the church. They are the main speakers and teachers in the church. If at all possible, there should always be more than one elder. Though the elders may divide the work among themselves according to their various abilities, all elders are equal in authority and responsibility. The qualifications of elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-4.

Deacons – Deaconesses

Deacons and deaconesses look after the physical well-being of the church members. Specifically, they administer the benevolence programs of the church. In addition, they handle the church’s finances. By concentrating their efforts on the physical needs of the church, deacons/deaconesses free the elders to concentrate on the church’s spiritual needs. The qualifications of deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

Teachers

Teachers assist the elders in their task of giving religious instruction. Teachers prepare curriculum and other teaching materials. In addition to classroom instruction, teachers explain spiritual principles through practical applications. The qualifications of teachers are found in James 3:1-18.

Please note that most of the qualifications for these leadership roles have nothing to do with formal education. A certificate or degree from a seminary is not required to serve in the church. However, a Christlike character is required.

Also note that appointing people to these positions does not guarantee that the church will be healthy and pleasing to the Lord. It is entirely possible to have the correct church structure and still be without love and the other fruit of the Spirit which Christ requires in His people. However, a church will not be as healthy as it ought without people functioning in these roles.

Registration – Incorporation

In addition to following the New Testament example for the church, there is another reason to consider formally organizing your fellowship: In some parts of the world the authorities require churches to register or incorporate. Without legal recognition, the authorities may forbid your worship assemblies. In some cases, they may even apply penalties or take legal action against you. In addition, it may be necessary to become a recognized organization before you can open a bank account or for the church to own property.

The danger of registering or obtaining formal legal status is that by doing so, you give the government a measure of control over you. In some cases, the authorities have gone so far as to appoint church leaders and censor what is taught in the church. As a result, some churches refuse to register as a matter of principle. You will have to decide for yourselves whether the advantages of registration outweigh the possible dangers of government interference in spiritual matters.

Regardless of whether you seek formal recognition or not, you should still strive to follow the New Testament example regarding church leadership.

Each place has its own requirements which must be satisfied before granting legal recognition to a church. Should you decide to register or incorporate, you will need to consult an attorney who can guide you through the process. In general, however, you will be required to submit a constitution and bylaws for your organization. For an example of these documents please refer to this Sample Constitution and Bylaws. Your attorney can help you modify it to meet your requirements.

Why should the followers of Christ be concerned about teaching others? One reason is that teaching someone else is one of the best ways to learn. Each one of us should be growing in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Peter 3:18.)

Another reason to teach is that Jesus told us to. We cannot claim to follow Him unless we do what He tells us. He said, “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

Who Should Teach?

Jesus’ command to teach applies to every one of His followers. Everyone has something which can help others to make progress in their spiritual life. For example, the Apostle Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God”. (Colossians 3:16 NIV)

The responsibility to teach falls on women also. Though women are not to hold authority over men in a teaching role in the church (1 Timothy 2:12), they are to teach other women and children. (For example, see Titus 2:3-4.)

The Goal Of Teaching

What is it we are trying to achieve when we teach others and receive teaching from them? In short, it is to help one another become like Christ and prepare one another to serve. This can be established from many places in the New Testament. One of them is Ephesians 4:11-13, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV)

Teaching By Example

On the basis of this passage perhaps you are thinking that since you are not a leader in the church you do not have the responsibility to teach. Further, you do not have the ability to teach. We have already seen that everyone has the responsibility to teach whether he is a leader or not. While it is true that some are more gifted in this area than others, there is one sense in which everyone can teach. It is through example. No matter who we are, we have the ability to model the character and behavior of Christ to others. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV) In another place he writes, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” (Philippians 3:17 NIV)

Formal Instruction

While demonstrating how to live for Christ by our example is essential and invaluable, there is also a place for more formal instruction. Classes are a good way to provide knowledge. However, when we teach in a class setting, we should attempt to do more than just provide answers. It is not our purpose for people to merely memorize facts or to repeat what we have told them. On the contrary, we want people to think for themselves. We want them to learn how to find answers on their own and to apply biblical principles to the problems and situations which come up in everyday life. In this way, they will not be at a loss when confronted by situations for which the Bible does not give specific instructions. They will be able to respond to new situations because they do not depend on rote answers.

How can we teach in such a way that it encourages people to think for themselves and to learn principles which apply to all situations? There are many ways to teach and there are many teaching styles. With experience you will find methods and styles which are effective for you. Generally speaking, however, an effective class will have the following elements in it:

1) Presentation

The teacher provides introductory or background information which enables the students to understand the context of the subject or Bible passage which is being taught.

2) Exploration

The teacher asks questions and leads discussion between the students. The purpose is for them to discover facts and the meaning of what they are studying. A wise teacher will allow the students to struggle to find things out on their own rather than just telling them the correct answers.

3) Application

There is not much use in teaching knowledge if it does not also help people to grow and mature in their relationship to Christ. A teacher should be constantly asking the students how the things they are studying apply to their daily lives. For example, Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (1 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

Another extremely important part of teaching is replication. This refers to enabling others to teach and pass on the same truths and principles they, themselves, have learned. Paul writes, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)

It may not be possible to include elements of replication in every single lesson. However, something you can do is give opportunities to your students to teach. You can assign them topics or portions of Scripture and have them present a lesson to the class. You can have them teach the material they learn from you to a class of their own.

An Actual Example

The following is a portion of the teaching notes from an actual lesson organized on the guidelines given above. In practice you would let the students answer the questions. Also, instead of merely reading the “Lesson” portions of the notes to them, you would ask them what principles we can learn from the incident under discussion. You would also ask them how we can apply these principles to our daily lives.

Covenant Broken and Renewed
(Exodus 32:1-35, Leviticus 10:1-20)

Introduction: The Israelites had entered into a covenant relationship with God. A covenant not only contains promises, it has terms. The covenant must be kept in order for the blessings to come about. The people had committed themselves to do everything that God required of them. But things don’t always go according to our expectations. Sometimes it takes longer than we would like before we reap the benefits we expected. The Israelites got tired of waiting.

I. This Fellow Moses (Exodus 32:1)

What were the causes of the Israelites’ frustration?

1) Moses was a long time coming down from the mountain. A lapse in leadership causes uncertainty. In Moses’ absence, Aaron should have taken charge and given the people reassurance. Apparently he did not and the people were confused about who would lead them in further travels.

2) They had a basic contempt for Moses and his leadership. This is evident from their calling him “this fellow.” They apparently cared more for the things Moses could do for them than they did for him as a person and the role which God had given him.

Lesson: God wants us to have a genuine respect for our spiritual leaders. “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work…” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV) Whenever we develop the attitude of “What’s in it for me?” we are setting ourselves up to fall.

II. These Are Your Gods (Exodus 32:2-6)

In what way did the people’s demand violate the covenant with God?

The very first of the Ten Commandments was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 NIV) The second was, “You shall not make for yourself an idol…”
(Exodus 20:4 NIV) By telling Aaron to make gods for them, they were breaking the most fundamental commands. It was these commands upon which the entire covenant was premised.

What was Aaron’s response to the people’s demand?

1) He temporized. Instead of taking a moral stand and calling the people back to obedience to the covenant, he tried to get off the hook by putting a high price tag on what they wanted. He told the people to provide the gold for the idol.

2) He tried to compromise. When the people called his bluff by giving him their gold earrings, Aaron made the idol, but he also built an altar and said that they were going to hold a festival to the Lord.

Application: There are still lots of people who try to do the same thing. They think that acknowledging God in some fashion gives them a license to live their lives any way they want. Go to church on Sunday and do what you want the rest of the week.

Lesson: Moral compromise never works. God is a jealous God in the sense that He does not tolerate any competition. He wants all or nothing. He will not share our hearts with anything else. Time after time in Scripture people are called upon to make a choice. Will they serve God, or will they not? “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15 NIV)

“Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.” (1 Kings 18:21 NIV)

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Another Example

Here is another portion of the teaching notes from an actual lesson:

Lessons In Faith
(Joshua 3:1-7:26)

Introduction: God faithfully fulfilled His promises to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land of Canaan. He had done it once before, only to have the people rebel and refuse to go in. Would this be a repeat of the past, or would the people have enough faith to do what God told them?

I. Crossing The Jordan (Joshua 3:9-17)

God promised that the Jordan River would be cut off and the Israelites would be able to cross on dry land. At what point did the water stop flowing?

The Jordan didn’t stop flowing until the priest’s feet touched the water. Imagine the scene. The priests, carrying the most holy and precious object the Israelites have (the Ark of the Covenant) are walking with steady gait toward the river which is at flood stage. Nothing happens. 5 feet away and nothing happens. 2 feet away and still nothing happens. The front-rank priests lift their feet to step over the bank. Nothing happens. It looks like they, and the Ark with them, are going to be swallowed by the river. The priest’s feet touch the water and, suddenly, the water is gone. The priests march to the center of the river on bare ground.

Sometimes it may not seem like God is going to do anything. Sometimes it doesn’t appear like God is going to fulfill His promises. Faith is going ahead and doing what He has asked us to do in spite of appearances.

Lesson: God may wait to do what only He can do until we have done what we can do.

Essential Caution! It is not faith to go ahead and do things in our own strength. Faith is doing what we are capable of doing when God has told us to do it. It is only when we are acting on His say-so that He will give us the ability and capability to complete the otherwise impossible. We need to make ourselves available to do what God wants us to do rather than expecting God to conform to our desires.

II. Renewing The Covenant (Joshua 5:2-9)

What was the significance of circumcision?

Circumcision was a sign of being included in the covenant God made with Abraham (see Genesis 17:10-14). It was carried over into the Law of Moses (see Leviticus 12:3). No one could participate in the Passover celebration unless he had been circumcised (Exodus 12:43-49). Circumcision is also used as a metaphor for removing evil from a person’s heart and choosing to serve God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 10:12-16).

Application: In the New Covenant, it is not parents who physically circumcise their children, but Christ who spiritually circumcises His followers by cutting away the “sinful nature” when they are baptized into Him. “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:11-14 NIV)

Lesson: It is not enough to have Christian parents. It’s not enough to hang out with God’s people. It’s not enough to go to church and be involved in the rituals. Just as each of the Israelites had to individually submit to circumcision after they crossed the Jordan, we have to personally and individually decide to follow Jesus. Just as a person was not in covenant relationship with God until he had been circumcised, no one is in covenant relationship with Christ until he has been baptized.

III. Produce Of The Land (Joshua 5:10-12)

When did the manna stop?

God stopped providing manna right after the Israelites had celebrated their first Passover in Canaan. The day they were able to obtain food from the land, the food from heaven stopped.

Lesson: We need to trust God to provide under all conditions and circumstances. God doesn’t work through miracles alone, but also through the ordinary and normal processes of life. Or, to put it another way, it takes just as much of a miracle for God to provide our needs through the normal process of planting and harvesting as it does for Him to provide manna and quail. The key point is that God has promised to take care of His people. We demonstrate faith when we rely on Him and give Him thanks and glory regardless of how He does it.

Baptism is an essential part of the salvation process. Our sins are forgiven and we become followers of Christ when we are baptized.

Baptism is performed by totally immersing a person in water who wishes to become a follower of Christ. The water itself has no special power. The act of baptism is not a work of merit which earns salvation. It is God who saves through the blood of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, God has made baptism the point at which a penitent believer is saved.

Who May Baptize?

Scripture does not restrict the right to baptize to any particular group. Therefore any follower of Christ may baptize someone else into Christ.

Where To Baptize

Baptism may be performed wherever there is enough water to totally immerse. It does not matter whether the water is flowing or not. It may be done in a stream or river, a lake or the ocean, a pool or even a watering trough. As long as there is enough water to cover a person entirely, the place does not matter. It does not have to be in any special place, such as a church building. It may be done even in the privacy or your home.

How To Baptize:

There are many ways to immerse someone. The particular method does not matter, but we suggest the following:

Both the one who is being baptized and the one doing the baptizing enter the water. If you are in flowing water it is important to face up-stream so that the feet of the one being baptized do not float up when he or she is laid down in the water. Similarly, if you are in a tank or pool, it is best to stand close to a wall for the same reason.

While standing in the water, the one doing the baptizing should say:

“Since you have confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and since you have repented of your sins and expressed the desire to follow Jesus, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Have the one being baptized hold his nose to prevent water from entering when he is immersed. Firmly grasp his hands and the back of his neck. Tell him to relax.

Then gently lower him backwards into the water. As you do, say:

“You are buried with Christ into death…”

Then, push the person completely under the water. After he is completely covered with water, pull him back up.

As you pull him up, say:

“…to rise to walk in a new life.”

Shortly before being taken up to heaven Jesus gave His disciple an important command: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

However, many followers of Christ find this command very intimidating. They do not know how to talk to others about Christ or how to make disciples. Many people also misunderstand what Jesus meant. When we read Jesus’ words, we tend to emphasize the word, “go.” To us the word “go” implies “somewhere else,” – usually, far away. To put it another way, we think that making disciples is something which happens in a distant location. We assume that when Jesus gave the command “to go,” He was talking about those who serve as missionaries. And if we have no desire to become missionary, we assume that we are excused from making disciples.

Our translations of what Jesus said also add to our misunderstandings. In our language it is hard to capture the sense of what Matthew recorded in the Greek language. When Jesus said “to go” it implies to us something which is to take place in the future. However, in the Greek language what Jesus said is not tied to any particular time. Perhaps Jesus’ command would be better expressed by the phrase, “As you go, make disciples.”

“As you go.” What does that mean? It means that making disciples is not confined or limited to preachers or missionaries. Making disciples is not something which we do only in foreign countries. Instead, ordinary folks like us are to make disciples as we go about the normal routines of life no matter where we are.

The good news is that Jesus doesn’t ask us to do something which is beyond our ability. No matter who we are, we have the ability to tell others about Christ. Many followers of Christ tend to think of evangelism in terms of formal campaigns and programs. For example, passing out literature in a public place or inviting people to a special meeting. However, many followers of Christ are ill suited for this type of approach. They do not have the personality for it. They feel very uncomfortable when they are the target of such a campaign and do not want to put others in the same position. Fortunately there is another way to make disciples “as we go.”

Something which is very intriguing about Jesus’ ministry is how many of the incidents which are recorded in the Gospels were unscripted and unplanned. Many times something unpredictable happened and Jesus used the incident as a teachable moment. He was a master of using the ordinary happenings of life to talk to people about spiritual things. Here are a few examples:

1) (John 4:1-42) Jesus was traveling and he became tired and thirsty. He sat down by a well while his disciples went into a nearby village to buy supper. While Jesus was relaxing, a woman came to draw some water. Jesus said, “Lady, could you give me a drink of water?” A very simple request, which led to a profound spiritual discussion and, eventually, many people from that village accepting Him as the Christ.

2) (Luke 7:36-50) Jesus was invited to dinner. While he was eating a woman came in and anointed him with perfume. I expect that most of us would be rather annoyed to have our meal interrupted, but Jesus used the incident to teach a lesson about forgiveness and love.

3) (Luke 19:1-10) Jesus was going through the town of Jericho and He saw someone who had climbed a tree to get a better view. Jesus stopped and said, “Hey, let’s do lunch!” As a result of Jesus inviting Himself to eat at the house of a social outcast, Zacchaeus was saved.

4) (Luke 21:1-4) Jesus was in the Temple in the area where gifts were collected. He happened to see a widow put her offering in the box. He used her example to teach a lesson on giving.

Like Jesus, we too, can use the things which happen to happen during the ordinary events of life as teachable moments. How? We just need to change our perspective a little. As we go about our normal routines, instead of thinking about the task, we should think about people. And when we start thinking like that, it’s amazing how many situations crop up where we can help someone or talk to them about Christ.

Sometimes we hesitate to use the opportunities which come our way to say something about Jesus or spiritual matters because we are afraid that others won’t listen to us. God doesn’t hold us responsible for the actions and decisions of other people. We may never see someone come to faith. But if we make ourselves available and take the time to talk to people or do little acts of kindness as we have opportunity, God will use those things. And, the little thing we say or the little thing we do might just be what’s needed to bring someone to faith.

It’s not just the people we meet as we’re out and about that we need to influence for Christ. We often forget that Jesus’ instruction to make disciples applies to our families as well. All too often we can become so busy serving the Lord that we neglect the people right under our nose. We need to remember that our children are people, too, and it’s our responsibility to disciple them as much as anybody else. In fact, we need to realize that our children are our primary mission field.

How can we disciple our children? There are both formal and informal ways to do it. Whether it is formal or informal, there are lots of ‘teachable moments.’ Learn to recognize and take advantage of them.

On the formal side of things, something which is very beneficial is to have devotions with your children every night. When they are small read a Bible story or sing a Bible song and pray with them. As they got older have them read from the Bible before you pray. Talk about how the Scripture you read together applies to your life.

As far as informal discipling, we should do what Moses instructed the Israelites to do. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NIV)

One of the best times to disciple your children is mealtimes. If you read through the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry, it’s amazing how many of the incidents involve food. Jesus did a lot of teaching over a meal. Meals are a good time to connect with other people.

There is no need to turn meals into a formal meeting with an agenda. No, allow conversation to flow naturally. It’s amazing how many times this allows you to insert scriptural principles or ideas into the conversation. And it can even be fun. There can a lot of laughter and joking around our table, even while talking about spiritual things.

Also, never make the mistake of thinking that your children are not watching and learning from you. Your example is one of the most powerful ways you have to make disciples of them. If they see that you not only talk about scriptural principles, but live by them, they will honor you. They will tend to adopt the principles you live by for themselves.

It’s also important to realize that the way we approach evangelism and making disciples is going to be different at various stages in our life. It’s also going to change according to our level of spiritual maturity. Just because somebody else does it a particular way does not mean that what they are doing is necessarily how you should go about it. Don’t feel guilty because you haven’t got the temperament or the experience to make disciples the way another person does it. You have to find what is the right fit for you at your particular stage of life and faith. You have to do what the Lord is calling you to do, rather than worry about what He’s called someone else to do.

There are at least four different stages of faith. Our approach to evangelism and making disciples will change depending on where we are in our journey.

1) New Faith – Evangelism By Invitation

When you are just awakening to faith, or when you are new in faith you are, quite frankly, still trying to figure things out. You have more questions than answers. You might be wondering how you can possibly disciple anyone since you are still so new and hardly know anything, yourself.

Even though you are new and still have a lot of questions, you can still bring others to Christ. This is ‘Evangelism by Invitation.’ It’s your enthusiasm about what you’ve found which will make others curious. Here are a couple of illustrations of this type of evangelism from Scripture.

The first one is in John chapter 1, verses 45 and 46. “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.” (NIV)

In this incident Philip had just encountered Jesus. Philip was pretty sure that Jesus was the person that the Jewish prophets prophesied would come. He was excited about Jesus, but notice that he didn’t know much. In fact, some of his information was wrong. He thought that Jesus was the son of Joseph. Not only that, the man Philip was talking to was skeptical or even hostile. “Can anything good come from there?” Philip’s response was simply, “Come and see.”

You can do the same thing. You might be thinking, “What if I make a mistake? What if I say something wrong? What if someone asks a question I can’t answer?” It doesn’t matter! Philip didn’t know everything and some of what he said was wrong. It didn’t stop him from telling Nathanael what he knew. If you don’t know how to answer, you can say, “I don’t know, but I know someone who does. Let’s go ask!”

There’s another example of ‘Evangelism By Invitation’ in John chapter 4. Jesus had been talking to a woman who came to get some water at the well. Verses 28 and 29 say, “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”” (NIV)

The woman still had some doubts. She certainly didn’t know a whole lot about Jesus. But on the basis of what she did know, she wondered whether Jesus was the Christ, and she invited her neighbors to see for themselves. Just like that woman, you may still have doubts and questions. That’s great! You can still ask others to join you as you look for those answers.

2) Young Faith – Evangelism By Testimony

The second category is those whose faith is still young. By now most of your basic questions have been answered. You are starting to develop the habits which will lead to further spiritual growth. Most importantly, your faith is starting to make a difference in your lifestyle. At first the changes you make might just because you’re trying to be obedient. But some of it is because you are changing on the inside. People who know you can see the difference in the things you do and how you react to situations.

When you’ve progressed to this stage of faith, ‘Evangelism by Testimony’ becomes possible. When people see changes in you, or that you respond differently to situations than they do, they are going to be curious. When they ask what’s going on, it’s a perfect opportunity to tell them why you’re different. Here are some examples of this kind of evangelism:

1) (Luke 8:38-39) “The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” (NIV)

In this case Jesus had healed a man who was demon possessed. The people of the region were so frightened that they asked Jesus to leave. But because of the testimony of the man who had been healed, when Jesus returned a few months later, the people welcomed Him.

2) (John 9:24-25) The context is that Jesus had healed a man who had been blind from birth. The religious leaders questioned the miracle and interrogated the man about who he thought Jesus was. “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”” (NIV)

Notice that this man didn’t have all the answers. The one thing he did know is how Jesus made a difference in his life. Like the former blind man, you may not have all the answers, but no one can challenge your experience. You know what a difference Jesus has made in your life. When you tell others about those changes, it will do one of two things. Either it will lead those who like the changes they see in you to see whether He can change them, too, or it will cause them to harden in their opposition to Jesus.

There’s another benefit to sharing with others what Jesus has done for you. It will increase your own faith. If you read the rest of John chapter 9, it’s really interesting to see the progression of faith in the former blind man and the progression of unbelief on the part of the religious leaders.

By the way, if you’ve been a follower of Christ for a while and there aren’t any changes in your life, then it is legitimate to question whether you have truly been converted. Scripture tells us that we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:13). If you can’t see that transformation taking place in your life, then something is drastically wrong.

3) Deepening Faith – Evangelism Through Service

Let’s say that you’ve moved beyond the basics. You can see the changes Christ is making in your life. Most of your doubts have been answered. Your faith is growing deeper as the spiritual disciplines become habits. How does this affect your approach to making disciples?

Many of us came to Christ for selfish reasons. Some of us were motivated by fear. We didn’t want to fry in hell. Others become Christians because they think that Jesus will help them overcome some of their problems. There’s nothing wrong with those motivations. However, as we mature in our faith, we become less self-centered and more focused on others. As a result, we will start helping or serving others. This is ‘Evangelism Through Service.’

There’s a rather dramatic example of this in Acts chapter three. Peter and John were on their way into the Temple in Jerusalem when they were accosted by a beggar. Peter’s reply was classic, “…Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6 NIV) Peter met the man’s real need instead of giving him money and, as a result, was able to preach to a whole crowd of people about Jesus.

Now, chances are that you won’t be able to cure anyone with a word. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other ways in which you can serve people. And when you serve in the name of Christ, it will create opportunities to make disciples. Paul describes his ministry to the people at Thessalonica in these words, “…we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-9 NIV) Paul didn’t just give these people information, he shared his own life with them. He served them, he says, like a mother. When we care for other people and sacrifice for them as much as a mother does for her children, we will have plenty of opportunities to tell them about Jesus.

4) Mature Faith – Evangelism By Replication

The next stage or level is the mature in faith. If you’re in this category the fruit of the Spirit is very evident in your life. Not only do you act in a Christlike way, the way you think is now very different than those who are outside of Christ. You see everything through the lens of Scripture. God’s Word is ingrained into your character. How does this change your approach to making disciples?

Though you will still practice ‘Evangelism By Invitation,’ ‘Evangelism By Testimony’ and ‘Evangelism Through Service,’ another method is available to you. You’ve reached the place where you can make disciples indirectly. You teach and mentor other Christians so they are more effective. We can call this ‘Evangelism Through Replication.’

To put it another way, your emphasis has shifted to the second part of Jesus’ command. You’re not just making disciples, you’re teaching those who are disciples to obey everything Jesus commanded.

This can be done in both informally and in a formal, intentional way. On the informal side, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV) As an example of an intentional mentoring relationship, we have Paul recruiting Timothy to go with him on his preaching tours (Acts 16:1-3). Later, Paul instructed Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)

It is tremendously fulfilling to see the spiritual growth in those whom we teach and mentor.

To summarize, Jesus expects all of us to be involved in making more disciples regardless of where we are in our spiritual journey. Evangelism and making disciples is not something which is confined to the church building, nor is it something that only preachers are supposed to do. Instead, Jesus expects us to take advantage of the teachable moments which occur as we go about our daily activities.

An author put it this way:

“In the primitive church the saints met to worship and scattered to preach. The bench of the cobbler, the plowhandles of the farmer, the desk of the tax collector; these were the only pulpits known. The Christians took the good news to the world; they did not build houses and tell the world to come. The kingdom was spread like leaven works in dough. Just as the yeast affects one particle of the mixture and it then permeates every other particle with which it comes in contact, so Christianity filled the hearts of men, and from them spread to other hearts as they came in contact in the pursuit of daily tasks. The slave girl whispered the story of freedom into the ear of her haughty mistress as she combed her tresses and applied the unguent; the bazaar keeper talked to the prospective purchasers as they examined his wares; the banker heard about the lowly Nazarene at the public bath; the clerk in his counting house; the farmer at the local inn. The Ethiopian treasurer learned of Christ as he rode along in his chariot; the jailer in his dungeon keep; Lydia out on the river bank. Everywhere men were persuaded by those who said, “We have found him of whom the prophets have spoken.”

“Those who were Christians did not speak of “entering the ministry.” They were already in it. Everyone entered the ministry at baptism. To be in Christ was to be in the ministry. No one went away to study for “the Ministry.” Each one began where he was and announced the Messiah who had come. People did not send for a preacher. They just began preaching. All who had been inducted into the kingdom could tell what they did and why they did it. Every Christian was a minister, everyone was a priest. The congregation was a priesthood – a royal priesthood composed of all believers.” (Ketcherside, W. Carl, The Royal Priesthood, Mission Messenger, 1956, pp.190-191)

May God bless you as you go and make disciples!

One of the things the first Christians did was devote themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42). As Christians we realize that we should pray. At least it is something which is expected of us. Yet, many of us are uncomfortable praying. Why is this so? It is probable that much of our discomfort stems from two areas: 1) We have a distorted view of God, and 2) we have a distorted view of prayer and how to pray.

What Prayer Is Not

Let’s take the second point first: We have a distorted view of prayer.

1) Prayer, in the sense the New Testament describes it, is not a ritual. Prayer does not consist of the repetition of certain set phrases. That is the concept of paganism. For example, some religions require people to recite the same formula several time per day. Another religion uses prayer wheels. Every spin of the wheel sends another prayer on the person’s behalf. However, Jesus said not to do this sort of thing. (See Matthew 6:7.) He called it “vain repetition” (KJV, ASV). Other translations say “empty phrases” (ESV) or “meaningless words” (ISV).

2) Another thing prayer is not is a work of merit. Prayer is not something which will earn us anything, or which will wipe out your sins. It is not penance. Saying a bunch of ‘Hail Marys’ and ‘Pater Nosters’ isn’t going to counterbalance any wrongdoing we’ve committed.

What Prayer Is

If prayer is neither a ritual nor a work of merit, then what is it? In its most basic sense, prayer is communication. It is a conversation between a child and his heavenly Father.

This brings up the first possibility suggested why we are uncomfortable praying: We often have a distorted view of God. Some people have the idea that God is like a harmless, semi-senile old gentleman with a long, white beard. He takes a vague interest in humanity but is really unaware of what’s going on. When He does remember us, He basically smiles and pats us on the head and lets us get on with our lives. Why would we pray to someone who really isn’t involved in our lives and either doesn’t have the power to, or won’t, grant our requests?

Other people have a radically different view of God. They consider Him to be an ogre in the sky who is gleefully waiting for us to make a mistake up so He can punish us. He’s someone to be avoided at all costs. We certainly wouldn’t want to confess our faults to someone who’s looking for an excuse to punish us!

Still other people have trouble with the concept of God as a Father. The word ‘father’ has a bad connotation because their earthly father was selfish and abusive. Confiding our hopes and dreams to someone like that would simply open us up to more disappointment and betrayal.

The fact is that God is neither indulgent, arbitrary or cruel and He is certainly not abusive. Instead, the characteristic we will emphasize is God’s incredible love. His love is so great that He took the penalty for our wrongdoing on Himself. His love for us is so great that He will not force His own will on us. He shows us what is right and gives us the free choice whether to do it or not.

Now when you really love someone, don’t you want to communicate with him or her? When you’re in love don’t you want to hear the voice of the one you love? Just look at the parents of a newborn. Aren’t they always talking to the baby even though the baby can’t understand or respond with words? Why do you think parents make such a huge deal of a baby’s first words? Why are parents so eager to hear from their children after they leave home?

God is the same way. He loves us and wants to hear from us. We call this communication from us to God, prayer.

To Whom We Pray

This brings up something which really shouldn’t need to be stated. However, listening to people pray discloses that they are often confused about who they are talking to. They address their prayer to God but then they start saying things in the third person. They act as if they were talking about God to someone else.

Consider the following illustration: Suppose you were talking to your wife about the grocery list. “Honey, the next time my wife goes to the store could she bring back a jar of jam?” Since you are already speaking to your wife, why do you act as if you are talking about someone else? Not only is it confusing – as if there are two people going to the store – your wife would probably find it rather insulting if you made a habit of talking to her like that.

Let’s be very clear. When we pray, we’re talking to God, our heavenly Father. Let’s not speak to Him as if He were out of the room.

Through Whom We Pray – Our Mediator

But how can we talk to God at all? The Bible tells us that He is holy, absolutely good and righteous. There is no evil or even a hint of darkness in Him. Unfortunately, we are sinful. There is no way we measure up to the standard of perfection God requires. Since God cannot tolerate sin and evil, how can we possibly approach Him, let alone talk to Him? On our own, we can’t.

This is not a lesson about how God reconciles us to Himself. However, very briefly, He does it through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God is doing at least two things: 1) He is transforming us so that we have a new nature, a new character which is like Himself. 2) He treats us as if Christ’s righteousness and sinlessness belonged to us. According to Galatians 3:27 when we are baptized, we clothe ourselves with Christ. One of the things this means is that when God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Speaking of Jesus, Paul writes, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:17-18 NIV)

Another way to put it is that Jesus is our go-between or the mediator between us and God. This is why we pray in Jesus’ name. If we are in Christ, that is if we are Christians, Jesus endorses whatever it is that we want to bring before God. Because God sees Jesus when He looks at us, Paul writes, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12 NIV)

It seems that many people try to speak to God without going through the mediator. Either they don’t invoke anyone’s name when they pray, or they’ll end their pray by saying, “In your name.” Since they are talking to God, presumably they are invoking God’s name. However, it is Jesus who is our mediator. It is only because of Him and through Him that we can approach God. We must remember to pray in Jesus’ name.

Our Interpreter

There are times when we don’t know what to say. There are times when we want to say something but don’t know how to say it. There are times when we can’t put our feelings into words. There are even times when we don’t even know what we’re feeling, but still need someone to listen and hear us out.

We can still pray even though we don’t know what to say or how to say it. One of the blessing of being in Christ is that God gives us His Spirit to act as our interpreter. The Spirit intercedes for us even when we can’t put a coherent thought together. Paul writes, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

When And Where To Pray

When and where should we pray? Many religions have set times during the day when people are supposed to stop everything and pray. One of the purposes for church bells was to remind people to pray at various times during the day.

Is there a required or recommended time and place for Christians to pray? Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

How can we do this? How can we possibly pray continually? After all, we have jobs to go to and lives to live. Paul gives us the clue about how this is possible in Ephesians 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…” (NIV) It is through the Spirit we can pray continually. We can communicate with God even when we don’t speak out loud or think words in our minds. Have you ever noticed that when you’re with someone you love that you can be in tune with them even when you aren’t talking or even doing anything together? You are in some kind of fellowship or communion just by being around each other. This is the kind of thing Paul is talking about. We are conscious of God’s presence; we commune with Him; we can speak to Him and are open to hear Him at all times.

A Template For Prayer

With that as a background, what should our prayers consist of? Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. In reply, Jesus gave them an outline or a template which we can use in our prayers.

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)

Before discussing a few of the details, two comments: 1) We call what Jesus said “The Lord’s Prayer” but it really isn’t. The real ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is in John chapter 17. 2) We can recite what Jesus said, word for word, and miss the whole point. For example, some Christians end all of their church assemblies or gatherings by reciting these words. It is possible that they do this because they think Jesus commanded His disciples to say the words. But Jesus never intended us to repeat the words like some sort of formula. He intended us to use what He said as an example or model for our own prayers.

How can we do this? We can break the prayer down into six, somewhat arbitrary sections. As we do we should think of ways we can make this prayer personal.

1) Adoration

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Think about a specific characteristic or quality of the Father and how it has impacted you personally. Then thank God for what He has done. Then, think of a specific way to lift up or honor God’s name and do so in your prayer.

2) Submission

a) your kingdom come,

Think of some area in your life which is not in full submission and ask the Father to help you let Him reign over it.

b) your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

It general terms we have a pretty good idea of what God’s will is. Pick something specific and ask God to help you do it. For example, we know it is God’s will that nobody perish (2 Peter 3:9). Pray specifically for someone you know who needs the Lord and ask what you can do to help that person come to Christ.

3) Requests

a) Give us today our daily bread. (Physical needs.)

Ask God to supply a specific physical need that you have.

b) Give us today our daily bread. (Spiritual needs.)

Ask God to supply a specific spiritual need.

4) Confession

a) Forgive us our debts,

Think of a specific sin or failure, confess it, and ask God’s forgiveness.

b) as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Has someone done something against you? Tell the Lord about it and, then, forgive the person. Be specific.

5) Intercession

a) And lead us not into temptation,

Think of specific temptations which you might encounter today and ask God to keep you out of those situations.

Ask God to spare you from unintended consequences of answered prayer.

b) but deliver us from the evil one.

Ask God to give you the tools you need to counter the devil’s attacks.

6) Praise and thanksgiving

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Thank God for allowing you to share in His glory. Thank Him for the things He’s done in your life.

Conclusion

In this lesson we have only been able to scratch the surface of the topic of prayer. However, it wouldn’t be right to have a message on prayer without closing with an example of how a prayer based on Jesus’ model might look.

Dear heavenly Father,

Thank you that you are my Father and that you treat me as your child. Thank you for including me in your family. Thank you that you are not like earthly fathers who discipline as they see fit but that everything you do is for my good. I want to lift up your name. Help me in this coming week to be a credit to the name you’ve given me. Help me not to do anything which would dishonor or cause anyone to disrespect your name.

Father, you know my tendency to think of myself and my interests instead of what is best for others. Help me in this coming week to be more kind and considerate toward those around me.

Just as I want you to reign in my life, I want your Kingdom to come throughout the world. I pray for our leaders and those in other countries that they would submit themselves fully to you. They face many perplexing problems. I pray that they would not rely on their own wisdom and strength, but would ask you for insight and wisdom. I pray that you would work even through those who do not acknowledge you, to accomplish your will.

Thank you, Father, for the material blessings you have given me. Yet, there are still many who are looking for work. I pray that you would provide for them. I know many who are sick, I pray that you will heal them. More importantly, some are going through sorrow; I pray that they will feel your comfort. May those who are in despair know that you love them.

Father, I am struggling for lack spiritual nourishment. Please give me of your living bread so I may grow and develop into the kind of person you want me to be. Help me to become more like Christ.

Father, you know the uncharitable thoughts I’ve had toward some of your people this last week. Please forgive me for those thoughts and help me to think the best of others.

These days we hear all sorts of reports about how your people are suffering persecution in many parts of the world. Just as I ask forgiveness for the wrong I have done, I also ask that you would forgive those who are attacking your church. May they turn from their evil ways and be converted. Like Paul may they spread the very gospel they once tried to destroy.

Father, you know my weaknesses. In this coming week please keep me out of situations which would tempt me to sin against you. I ask that you would guard me from discouragement when things don’t go as I think they ought. Also, guard me from consequences I cannot see. If the blessings I ask you for would tempt me away from you, then please do not grant them. Give me the will and desire to overcome my particular temptations.

Thank you for your unchanging character, that you are true and your promises will never fail. I look forward to receiving your promise of the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Until that time, may my life honor you. May my example draw others closer to you.

I ask this prayer in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Please note that it would be even better to pray the above prayer using specific names for those who need help, and those in power. Similarly, it would be best to name the specific temptations you are asking God to help you resist.

Acts 2:42 tells us that the early followers of Christ, “…devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (NIV) In another of these tutorials we suggested that “the breaking of bread” refers to the symbolic meal Christ commanded His followers to eat in His memory. We call this meal “The Lord’s Supper,” “Communion” or “The Eucharist.” We also suggested that before partaking of this meal there should be a short talk about some aspect of Jesus’ life or a teaching of the New Testament. The purpose of this talk is to remind us of what Jesus has done for us and to show how the death, burial and resurrection of Christ apply to our daily lives and all that we do.

The Importance of the Communion

Partaking of the Communion meal is not merely a matter of church tradition. The Apostle Paul writes, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV)

History tells us that the first Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week, that is, every Sunday.

Unfortunately, there are many churches which no longer do this. They celebrate the Lord’s Supper, perhaps one a year, once a quarter or once a month. Even among congregations which continue to keep it every week, for many it has become a ritual with little meaning. They rush through it so that they have more time for what they consider more important, that is, the sermon. This kind of thinking is not new. The prophet Malachi wrote, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you, O priests, who despise my name. But you ask, ‘How have we despised your name?’ “You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible.” (Malachi 1:6-7 NIV)

How much importance should we place upon the Lord’s Supper? In 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, the Apostle Paul writes that the teaching about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is of the first importance. This is appropriate because Jesus is, Himself, the cornerstone of our faith. (See Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:6)

If the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the most important teaching of Christianity, then it follows that we should put a high value on the thing which Jesus asked us to do in order to remember His death and resurrection. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is not an empty ritual. It speaks to the very core of our faith. If we were able to do only one thing in our Sunday assemblies, it should be to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

How can we make the Lord’s Supper more meaningful? We often treat the Lord’s Supper as something isolated from everything else we do in our assemblies. However, what many have discovered is that the Lord’s Supper not only has meaning within itself, but can also illuminate every other aspect of our faith and practice.

Many churches simply read 1st Corinthians 11:23-32, pray, and then partake of the bread and juice. This is good. There is nothing wrong in this practice. But there is something else you can do which will enhance what you are already doing. It is quite easy to do, yet can have a tremendous impact on the spiritual growth of your congregation.

What is it? It is to give a small talk before you partake of the bread and juice. The purpose of these talks is to remind us of what Jesus has done for us and to show how the death, burial and resurrection of Christ apply to various aspects of our faith and life. If the talks are also connected to the theme or subject of the sermon, the entire assembly will have a greater impact. Each Sunday the talk should be given by a different man in the congregation.

There are many benefits to implementing such talks.

1) As already stated, they will make the Lord’s Supper more meaningful.
2) You will be enriched by hearing the thoughts and perspectives of the different men.
3) If you are a church leader part of your responsibility is to equip others for ministry. This is an opportunity for you to see who is talented in speaking.
4) It gives men practice in Bible study.
5) It gives men practice in telling others about what Christ has done.
6) It provides practice in speaking. No one can become good at doing anything without practice.
7) It gives others an opportunity to share in the ministry of the church.

Preparing a Message

How do we go about preparing a message which is suitable for the Lord’s Supper? Let’s take a look at the process.

There are two schools of thought regarding Communion messages. Some say that they should be independent of, that is have no relation to, the theme of the rest of the assembly. In other words, the message should be based directly on one of the accounts of the Lord’s Supper in the Gospels, or on passages which discus it, such as 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 or 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. For example, messages could be prepared from the 1st Corinthians 11 passage on the subjects of Christ’s body, remembrance, covenant, proclaiming the Lord’s death and Christ’s return. This approach is good, but it does limit what may be said.

The second approach is to base the message on the same general theme or subject of the rest of the assembly. The idea is not to compete with the sermon. The idea is not to present an alternative sermon. Instead, the intent is to compliment the sermon with the message or, even better, have the sermon compliment what is said in the Communion message. The goal is to bring the Lord’s Supper into the center of the assembly by showing how Christ’s death, burial and resurrection relates to the subject of the assembly.

In this lesson we are going to look at how to prepare a message according to this second approach.

1) Dividing the text

For the purposes of this lesson we will assume that the sermon is based directly on a portion of scripture rather than on a subject.

The first step in this type of speaking, and therefore in preparing a Communion message which fits this type of sermon, is selecting the text which you will explain. If you are not the one giving both the sermon and the message (and in most cases you probably won’t give both) then you need to coordinate with the other person so you know upon which passage he is basing the sermon.

There are no fixed rules to select the text you will use. However, there are two general guidelines. a) The text should be small enough that you can explain it in one message. b) The text should be large enough so that it contains a complete thought.

For the purposes of this tutorial, we will prepare a Communion message which would be appropriate for a sermon based on 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, verses1 through 8.

2) Determining the theme of the text

Once we know the passage which will be considered during the assembly, the next step is to determine what the message or theme of that passage is.

There are several possible themes in this passage: a) Living to please God (4:1) b) Holiness (4:3, 7-8) c) Avoiding sexual impurity (4:3-6) d) Not wronging a brother (4:6) e) Punishment for sin (4:6) f) Rejecting God (4:8)

A message could be prepared on any of these themes. However, the over-all theme of the passage seems to be holiness. Therefore, for the purposes of this illustration, we will plan to write our message on holiness.

3) Relating the theme to the sacrifice of Christ – the core idea of the message

We now know the theme of our Communion message. But we must still ask a very important question. What is the connection between our theme and the Lord’s Supper? In other words, what does the instruction to live a holy life have to do with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ?

There may be several answers to this question. One answer certainly is that Christ died in order to make us holy. He took the penalty of our sin upon Himself when He died on the cross.

We will make this idea, that Jesus died to make us holy, the central idea or thought of our message.

4) Supporting the core idea with other Scripture

We have now determined, not only the theme, but the central or core idea of our message. We have stated it as a proposition or declaration. In this case, that Christ died in order to make us holy. But it is not enough to merely make a statement. The next step is to demonstrate that this statement is true from the Scriptures.

When preparing a message, always keep in mind that you are not in competition with the person who is going to bring the sermon. It is not your intent to deliver his message for him. On the contrary, the sermon and the message you prepare should compliment and enhance the over-all theme of the worship assembly. In view of this, it is best not to mention the passage which will be used in the sermon, at all. Always try to find other Scriptures to establish the point you are trying to make.

What Scriptures might we use to establish that Jesus died in order to make us holy? There are several passages which tie Christ’s sacrifice to holiness. You might want to consider the following:

Romans 12:1 – “…in view of God’s mercy… offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy…”

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – “…you were bought with a price. Therefore…” (Note that this passage also talks about sexual immorality as does the passage in 1st Thessalonians. Depending on the thrust of your message, this passage might be a good fit.)

Ephesians 5:25-27 – “…gave himself up for her to make her holy…”

Colossians 1:19-23 – “…he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy…”

2 Timothy 1:6-10 – “…who has saved us and called us to a holy life…”

1 Peter 1:14-21 – “…be holy… you were redeemed…”

No doubt there are other passages as well which express the connection between Christ’s death and our holiness.

Keep in mind that you do not need to use every passage that you find which is related to the theme of your message. It is best to use only one or two. If you try to use too many, it is likely that people will become confused.

For the purposes of this lesson, we will use Colossians 1:19-23.

5) Packaging – delivering the idea

At this point you know what the theme of your message is. You know the central thought that you want to present. You have selected the Scriptures you will use to make your point. But there is still something you need to do before you can write out your message. You have to decide how you are going to present it.

How can you take the thought which you wish to present and make it interesting? How can you make people want to listen to what you have to say? When you go to the store, if there are two identical items, one in a plain box and one in a pretty, box you will probably buy the one which comes in the pretty package. While the package should never detract from the content, we should make it as easy as possible for people to hear the message. The key is to touch on something which affects people in their every-day lives. People will listen to you if you talk about something about which they are concerned.

With this in mind, what can we say about holiness which will make people want to listen?

For example, one way to create interest would be to ask the question, “What do people do in the attempt to become holy?” Then, you can list several things and contrast them to what Christ has done for us on the cross.

6) Other details

Once you have decided how you are going to present your thought, you are ready to put everything together. As you write out your message, there are a few more things to keep in mind.

a) Always keep the theme and the main thought of your message firmly in mind. You will find that it is very easy to let one thought lead to another. If you allow it, you will soon be off topic, and your audience will become confused. Always remember what you want to talk about. You are trying to convey just one thing, not a whole library of ideas.

b) As you write out your message, you may find that you need another Scripture or two in order to develop or flesh out a particular point. Don’t hesitate to add additional Scriptures if you need them. However, do not use more than you need in order to make your point. You are trying to convey a thought, not demonstrate your knowledge of Scripture.

c) Remember the purpose for giving this talk. It is to draw the attention of the congregation to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is to prepare the people to remember Jesus by partaking of the bread and the juice.

You should make it a practice to always specifically mention the bread and juice. Many people present messages in which there does not seem to be any connection between the talk and the elements of the Lord’s Table. Unless you make the connection clear people, particularly those who are new to the faith, might not understand what you are doing.

d) The Lord’s Supper is only for those who are in the Lord. Those outside of Christ have no right to eat at His table (See Hebrews 13:10). Depending on the circumstances, you may include a statement in your message which points this out. Let people decide for themselves whether they wish to partake, but do let them know what partaking means.

e) This lesson has presented the method of preparing a message as a linear process. In reality, you may have to go through the steps several times in order to refine and develop what you are trying to say.

7) Putting it all together

Now that we have all of the pieces, it is time to put them together. What follows is an example of how this can be done.

Holiness

God is holy and in order to be pleasing to Him, we must be holy also. But how can we sinners become holy?

People do many things in the attempt to become holy. Some go on pilgrimages. Others perform what they believe are works of merit. Still others abuse their bodies, or fast or vow to do something. But all of our attempts to become holy through our own efforts are doomed to failure. Scripture says, “…There is no one righteous, not even one;” (Romans 3:10)

If our own efforts are insufficient to make us holy, then how can we attain to holiness? In speaking of Christ, the Apostle Paul writes, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel…” (Colossians 1:19-23)

In this passage we see that God, Himself, made a way for us to become holy. What we were unable to do for ourselves, God did through Jesus Christ. This holiness was not without cost. The price of being reconciled to God is the cross of Christ. Without His blood we cannot be holy and we cannot be at peace with God.

Each week we gather to eat a piece of bread which reminds us of Christ’s body which was hung on the cross and through which we are reconciled to God. We drink some juice which reminds us of Christ’s blood through which we are made holy.

But there is another condition as well. Not only does our holiness depend upon Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, Paul writes that it depends upon us continuing in our faith. If you are not in the faith, or if you have turned away from Christ, then you are not holy and you cannot have peace with God. These reminders of what God has done for us through Christ are not for you.

Today as we partake of the bread and juice, let us remember that it is only through the blood of Christ, and not our own efforts, that we are made holy. As we partake let us renew our commitment to remain firm in our faith.

Where can we find guidance in a dark world? Psalm 119, verse 105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”

The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In light of this, if you want to become complete and useful in God’s service; if you want to know how you should live your life, it is important to study the Holy Scriptures. In other words, you need to study the Bible and apply the lessons and principles which are found in it to your life.

What to study

The Bible is a large book. It contains enough material for a lifetime of study. Where should you begin – especially if you have only recently become a follower of of Christ? While the whole Bible is beneficial, Christ’s followers should give priority to studying the New Testament.

You might want to begin with one of the gospels which record the life and ministry of Christ. The first 3 gospel records are quite similar, while the 4th, which was revealed through the Apostle John, adds additional material and emphasizes the theological meaning of Christ’s ministry.

Of the other books in the New Testament, the inspired letters of Philippians, Colossians, James and 1st Peter will be of particular benefit to new followers of Christ. The letter to the Romans is more difficult but will give you a deeper understanding of the faith.

Revelation can be very difficult to understand. We suggest that you study it only after you have a good background in the entire Bible.

The main purpose of the Old Testament is to demonstrate our need for Christ. “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” (Galatians 3:23-25)

It is important to understand that Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. Therefore, followers of Christ are not bound by the rules and regulations given in the Law. Nevertheless, the Old Testament provides valuable background information which helps in understanding the New Testament. The book of Genesis is of particular benefit to the followers of Christ. Much encouragement can be received from the Psalms. Of the writings of the prophets, some of the most beneficial are the books of Isaiah and Malachi.

The proper attitude

The attitude you bring to the Bible will determine, to a large extent, what you learn from it.

1) Approach the Bible with the expectation that you will learn. If you think you already know everything, new treasures of insight will be closed to you. “…if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.” (1 Corinthians 8:2)

2) Come with a spirit of obedience. “…receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-25)

3) Ask the Spirit to reveal the truth to you. “Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The process of Bible study

Though the Bible is inspired by God, the process of studying it is much the same as studying any other book. If you are able to read and understand other books, you are capable of understanding the Bible as well.

1) Read the text in its entirety so you understand how the passage you are studying fits with what comes before and after.

2) Ask questions of the text.

Basic questions in the following 6 categories will help you discover the meaning of a text.

a. Who? For example: Who is speaking? To whom is the instruction given?
b. What? For example: What is the main or central theme of the passage?
c. When? For example: When was the passage written? Has Christ fulfilled it already? Does this promise apply now, or is it for a future time?
d. Where? For example: Where did this take place? Where were the people instructed to go?
e. Why? For example: Why did this happen? Or, does God give a reason for this command?
f. How? For example: How can I apply this principle to my life?

Questions from all 6 categories will not always apply to every passage you study. The more questions you ask, however, the more answers you will discover.

3) Progress from the simple to the harder. If there is something which you don’t understand, leave it and concentrate on what you can understand. The hard things will often become clear after you have put into practice the things you do understand. God may grant or withhold understanding in order to direct our attention to the things which are most important. Jesus said, “Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.” (Luke 8:18) For example, why should God allow me to understand the 70 weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) when I have made no effort to do as He asked in controlling my temper? (See Ephesians 4:26-27.)

4) Look for practical ways to apply the text to your life. God wishes to transform us so that we become like Christ. (See Romans 8:29, Ephesians 4:15.) How can the passage of Scripture you are studying help you become like Him?

Study aids

There are several tools which can help you in your studies. Some of the basic ones are:

1) A reference Bible. Some Bibles are published with a list of Scripture references in the margin. These references point to passages which may be similar to the one you are studying, or to other places where the same words are used. Comparing these passages can help you understand what you are reading. Keep in mind, however, that though these references are printed on the same page as God’s word, they are not inspired but have been compiled by men.

2) A concordance. A concordance is an alphabetical listing of the words in the Bible and the places where they are found. This tool is extremely useful in helping you find passages of Scripture. Note, that you need a concordance which has been prepared for the specific Bible translation you use. Otherwise, the words listed in the concordance will not always match the words which are used in the translation.

3) Bible software. Many electronic study aids exist. If you have a smart-phone or a computer, it is much easier to use an electronic concordance than one printed on paper. One advantage is that it allows you to search for more than one word at a time. Other advantages of Bible software include the ability to easily compare different translations. An excellent, and free, Bible computer program is e-Sword.

4) An Atlas. Unless you have a good grasp of geography, it can be difficult to understand the importance of the places which the Bible mentions. Maps can help you gain that understanding.

Example 1

To illustrate this method of Bible study, let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s inspired letter to the Philippians, chapter 1, verses 3 through 6.

“I thank my God whenever I remember you, always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy, for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

After you have read the entire letter in order to get a sense of the theme and the tone of what Paul wrote, it is time to start asking questions about the specific verses under consideration.

Question: How often did Paul give thanks?

Answer: Paul writes that he gives thanks every time he remembers the followers of Christ at Philippi.

Question: Why did Paul give thanks for these people?

Answer: Paul lists 2 reasons. 1) Because of their “ partnership in furtherance of the Good News.” 2) Because God would complete the good work He had begun in the people.

Question: What is meant by ‘the Good News’?

Answer: Since the letter to the Philippians is found in the New Testament, it is likely that the definition of the phrase ‘Good News’ will also be found in the New Testament. By searching you will discover that there are many verses which link the phrase ‘Good News’ with the Kingdom of God. In addition, you will find verses like Romans, chapter 1, verse 16, which says: “For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.” Going further, we learn from 1st Corinthians chapter 15, verses 1 through 4, that Paul defines the ‘Good News’ as the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. So, we see that Christ’s death, burial and rising from the dead is called ‘Good News’ because through His death we can receive salvation and be included in God’s Kingdom.

Question: What does Paul mean by “partnership in furtherance of the Good News?”

Answer: 1) Paul could mean that the people at Philippi had cooperated in the spread of the ‘Good News’ when they accepted it themselves. 2) From chapter 4, verse 3 we see that people at Philippi had been actively involved in helping Paul tell others about the good news. 3) From chapter 4, verses 15 through 16 we see that the people at Philippi had sent Paul gifts to help in spreading the good news.

Question: What work is God doing in the people at Philippi?

Answer: In chapter 2, verse 13 Paul says that one of the works God does is that He gives us both the will and the ability to fulfill His plan for us. If you look up the word ‘work’ in a concordance or a Bible software program, you will find many other descriptions of the work God does in and for His people. In short, God is working to make us like Christ (see Romans 8:29).

Question: When will God finish His work?

Answer: 1) When it is completed. 2) “Until the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, when Christ returns.

Whenever we read the Scripture, we should try to apply it to our own lives. Here are some examples of application questions you could ask yourself while studying this passage: When people think of me, do they remember me with thanksgiving or with sorrow and anger? How often do I give thanks? Do I consider Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection ‘good news?’ Have I accepted Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf? What am I doing to spread the good news? Do I believe that God will not quit the work He has begun in me until it is competed?

You can apply this same process to the rest of the letter to the Philippians – or to any passage of Scripture.

Example 2

As another, more complex example of the process of Bible study, let’s look at the first verse of the book of Ruth. First, you should read the entire first chapter so you have an idea of what happens in the story. Then, we will look at the first verse.

“It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.”

After reading the text, we ask a series of questions in order to understand the meaning.

Question: The story of Ruth takes place “ in the days when the judges judged.” Who were the judges and what were those days like?

Answer: The Bible contains another book called Judges. It is reasonable to expect that the answer to our question will be found in it. In 4 different places the book of Judges says that the Jewish nation had no king. Upon further reading, we discover that the period of the judges extends from the death of Joshua until the first king of Israel was appointed. Therefore, we know that the story of Ruth takes place after the death of Joshua and before the time of King Saul.

Judges chapter 2, verses 10 through 19 tell us what conditions were like during the time of the judges. They were days of great social, economic and spiritual unrest. The people would turn away from God, God would send an invader to punish them, they would call out to God, He would send a judge to rescue them, but when the judge died, the people would turn away from God again. This background helps us evaluate the characters and actions of the people who are mentioned in the book of Ruth.

Question: “There was a famine.” What does the Bible say about the causes of famine?

Answer: In order to answer this question, we will need to use a concordance or a Bible software program. It seems logical to search for verses which contain the word ‘famine.’ This will point to many places where famine is mentioned in the Bible, but will not give us much useful information about what causes famines. When a word-search does not provide the information you are looking for, try a different word. In this case, the word ‘rain’ leads us to Deuteronomy, chapters 11 and 28. There, God promises the Jewish people that if they are obedient to the Law of Moses, He will prosper them with abundant crops and herds. On the other hand, if the people do not obey Him, God will send famine and economic hardship. So, when we read in the book of Ruth that there was a famine, we know that it was a result of the people turning away from God’s Law.

Question: They “ went to live in the country of Moab.” What does the Bible say about relations between the Jewish people and the people of Moab?

Answer: Looking up the word ‘Moab’ in a concordance or Bible software program leads us to Genesis chapter 19, verse 27. There we learn that the Moabites were descended from Lot who was the nephew of Abraham. In other words, the Israelite people and the Moabites were blood relatives. Looking further, however, we find that the Moabites tried to prevent the Israelites from reaching the land God had promised them. They also tried to bring a curse on the Israelites, and when that failed, tried to turn them away from God by enticing them into idolatry. You can read the story in the book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 25.

Looking up the word ‘Moabite’ will lead you to more information about these people. In Deuteronomy chapter 23, verses 3 through 6, God instructs the Israelite’s not to let any Moabites join them nor to seek their peace. In other words, the Israelites were not to have friendly relations with these people. So, when we read in the book of Ruth that Elimelech and his family moved to Moab, we know that doing so was in violation of God’s will.

Whenever you study the Bible, you should look for ways in which you can apply what you read to your own life. For example, here are some application questions you could ask yourself as a result of your study of Ruth, verse 1: Is the hardship or difficulty I am experiencing a result of disobedience to God? How do I respond to God’s discipline – do I repent, or do I run away? With whom do I associate, and is God pleased with my choice of the people with whom I spend my time?

Here are some examples of questions you would want to ask while studying the rest of Ruth, chapter 1:

Verse 4. What are God’s laws concerning marriage? Were the marriages legal for an Israelite?
Verse 6. Does the end of the famine indicate a change in the hearts of the Israelite people?
Verse 15. What were the gods of the Moabites and what was involved in worshiping them?
Verses 16-17. What did Ruth give up in order to follow Naomi? What does her vow to follow God imply about her life before?
Verse 20. Why did Naomi change her name? What do the two names mean?

These are illustrations of application questions you might ask yourself as you study this chapter:

Does my marriage honor God? What am I willing to give up in order to follow God? Does adversity cause me to turn toward God, or do I become bitter?

In summary the process of Bible study is:

1) Read the text.
2) Ask questions about the text.
3) Answer the questions.
4) Apply what you learn to your life.

Now that you have become a follower of Christ, you need to grow in your knowledge of Him and try to become like Him. An important part of this is meeting regularly with other followers to worship together and to encourage one another.

A fellowship or congregation of believers is called a church. It may not be possible for you to join an existing church. If that is the case, do not be discouraged. Even if there are only 2 or 3 of you, you are the church in that place. You can still meet together to worship, study God’s Word and give one another support. Jesus said, “… For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

Even if you do not know anyone else who follows Christ, you can still set aside a regular time to study God’s Word and to worship.

When should the church meet?

From earliest times, the church has always met on the first day of the week, that is Sunday. The reason for choosing this time is that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. (See Mark 16:9.) It is also the day on which the church came into being. (You can read about this in Acts 2:1-41. Please note that the ‘day of Pentecost’ always falls on a Sunday.) Because of these events, Christ’s followers very soon began to call the first day of the week, “the Lord’s Day.” (For example, see Revelation 1:10.) Though we should live for Christ every day; though we should worship daily, the Lord’s Day is the day when we gather together as a church.

What to do in the church assembly.

From the accounts given in the New Testament we know what the followers of Christ did when they met together. We should follow their example. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

The Apostle’s teaching

A portion of the time should be used to read and discuss Scripture, particularly, the New Testament writings. It is through the inspired writings of the Apostles in the New Testament that we, not only learn more about Christ but also, receive instruction about how to live our lives.

Many have the idea that this instruction must be given in the form of a sermon or religious lecture given by someone who is designated as a teacher or preacher. But there are other ways to study God’s Word or give instruction. The Bible says that in the early church, many people spoke and took part in giving instruction. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26-31.) Instead of one long sermon, there can be several short talks given by different people. Instead of a lecture on a passage of Scripture, it may be even more beneficial to have a discussion about it.

The emphasis of studying the Scriptures should not be to display head-knowledge, but to learn practical application. In other words, how can we learn to put what the Scripture teaches into practice in our daily lives? How can we become more like Christ?

Also note that teaching and instruction does not always have to be done through the spoken word. There is a place for music as well. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)

The fellowship

We meet, not only to study God’s Word but, to encourage and help one another. As followers of Christ, we belong to God’s household. (See Ephesians 2:19.) We are family. In this spiritual family we should talk to each other and cooperate with one another just as the members of a physical family do. There should be opportunities in our assemblies where people can talk about their struggles, tell about how God is blessing them, ask advice, give counsel, encourage and pray for each other.

The breaking of bread

This refers to the symbolic meal Christ commanded His followers to eat in His memory. “For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

This memorial is the most important part of our meetings on the Lord’s Day. It should be the focal point of the entire assembly.

There is no fixed method by which to obey Jesus’ command. There are many ways in which the memorial meal can be observed. But, we suggest the following:

1) There should be a short talk which draws attention to some aspect of Jesus’ life or one of the teachings of the New Testament. The talk should show the connection to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. If you are unsure about how to prepare such a talk, please see our tutorial on the subject.

2) After the talk, a prayer should be given to thank God for what He has done for us through Christ and for the bread and grape-juice which remind us of Christ’s sacrifice.

3) The bread and juice are distributed to each follower of Christ. After a short time of individual reflection, meditation and prayer, the bread and juice are eaten.

4) When this is completed, there should be another prayer of thanksgiving, or a song.

Prayer

Another very important part of our weekly assemblies is prayer. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

If you need instruction on how to pray, please see our tutorial on prayer.

Always keep two things in mind: 1) It is God’s desire for us to become like Christ. (See Romans 8:28-29 and Ephesians 4:11-16.) 2) Everything in the assembly is to be done for the strengthening and building up of the church. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

If you follow these two principles and include the four things mentioned above in your assemblies (that is the Apostle’s teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer), then your meetings will not only be pleasing to God, but you will grow and become strong in Christ.

Studying the material on this website will help you know the truth about Christ. But knowing the truth about Him and following Him are different things. Knowledge merely engages our minds, following Christ is a choice we make with our wills. If you want to follow Him, please ask yourself these questions:

1) Do you believe that God exists and the He rewards those who earnestly seek Him? (Hebrews 11:6)

This is the most basic question of all. If you do not believe in God; if you do not believe that God will reward you for seeking to know Him, you are not ready to follow Christ. In fact, it is impossible for you to do so.

2) Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? (Matthew 16:17-18)

If you are not willing to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, and that He is God’s Son, you are not capable of following Him.

3) When we say that Jesus is God’s Son, we acknowledge that He is divine. Do you believe that Jesus is God in the flesh? (Colossians 1:15, 2:9, Hebrews 1:3)

4) When we confess that Jesus is the Christ, we accept Him as our prophet. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s spokesman? (John 14:24) Do you agree that you will not follow any message which does not agree with what Jesus taught?

5) As Christ, Jesus is also our High Priest. Do you accept the sacrifice of his own life which Jesus made on your behalf so that your sins may be forgiven? (Hebrews 10:11-12)

Do you believe that after Jesus died for our sins He rose from the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)

Jesus our High Priest also presents our requests to God. Are you willing to pray in His name and no other? (1 Timothy 2:5)

6) Jesus has also been anointed King. Are you willing to place your life under His control? Are you willing for Him to be your Lord? (Romans 10:9-10)

7) Do you repent of your sins? (Luke 13:1-5) Are you willing to turn away from wickedness and live a righteous life? (Hebrews 12:14)

8) Jesus told those who wished to follow Him to first count the cost (Luke 14:26-33). It may mean that your family turns against you. It may mean financial loss or the loss of your job or social status. It may mean you will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Are you willing to face hardship, difficulties and loss in order to follow Christ? (1 Peter 4:14-15)

If you can sincerely answer “Yes!” to all these questions, then you are ready to be baptized into Christ. It is upon your baptism that you will be counted as one of His followers. To be baptized means to be immersed completely in water. Just as Christ was buried in a tomb, you will be buried in water, so that just as Christ rose from the grave, you will rise from the water into a new life (Romans 6:3-4).

When you are baptized your sins will be forgiven (Acts2:38). You will receive the pledge of a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21). Your old sinful nature will be taken away (Colossians 2:11-12) and you will receive the presence of the Holy Spirit living in you (Acts 2:38-39). You will also be included in God’s household (Ephesians 2:19).

If you are ready to take this step, then ask someone who is already a follower to help you complete it. Any follower of Christ may baptize you. You do not need to go to a bishop or a priest, or even to a church building. As long as there is enough water to completely immerse you, you may be baptized anywhere – even in the privacy of your home.

As soon as you are baptized you may legitimately call yourself a follower of Christ. Welcome to the family of God!