Author: Scott Chafee

WORSHIP:

Bringing glory to God in all you do – 1 Corinthians 10:31

What does Worship Mean?

1. Sunday morning gathering at church… worship happens here only
2. What we do between the announcements and the sermon… worship is music and songs
3. Happens during the singing together… worship is posture and emotion
4. Focusing on spiritual truth rather than the secular world… worship is a retreat from earthly realities
5. Worship is assigning value and worth to someone or something out of respect, gratitude, affection, devotion, or fear

Worship Defined and Described: Psalm 95:6, John 4:23-24

1. Hebrew: h7812, shâchâh; a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. (bow down, prostrate oneself)
2. Greek: g4352, proskynéō, pros-koo-neh’-o; from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship. (bowing in respect and devotion)
3. Everyone WILL worship, the question is WHAT or WHO will we worship. We all value something (relationships, sex, money, fame, possessions, accomplishments, approval, job, appearance, fitness…)
4. Why do we worship God?
   • It is fitting: Psalm 19:1, Revelation 4:8
   • It is fulfilling: we worship God for our own benefit, offering awe and wonder to our holy God

A Disciple Worships God Alone: Isaiah 43:7, Colossians 1:16

The Psalms Teach us to Worship:

1. Bowing down: Psalm 95:6
2. Seeking his face: Psalm 105:3-4
3. Waiting for the Lord: Psalm 33:20-21
4. Dwelling in his house: Psalm 27:4
5. Lifting hands: Psalm 134:2
6. Shouting to him: Psalm 47:1
7. Singing to him: Psalm 104:33

How do We Engage in the Practice of Worship? (Sacred Pathways, by Gary Thomas)

1. Sensates worship with their senses: sight, sound, smell
2. Ascetics worship in solitude and simplicity
3. Activists worship through confronting evil and battling injustice
4. Caregivers worship by loving others
5. Traditionalists worship through rituals, liturgy, symbols, and structures
6. Enthusiasts worship through expressive celebration
7. Contemplatives worship through peaceful adoration
8. Intellectuals worship by studying the Scripture

Worship Myths versus the Truth:

1. Gathering at a certain time in a certain place… all day, everyday, bowing to his purpose
2. We go to worship… we live worship and bring it with us
3. It’s about spiritual activities (singing, communion, sermons)… all of life can be worshipful and God-focused
4. It’s about externals (music, songs choices, posture, attire, band/choir)… it is about the heart expressing love and devotion to God
5. Having to leave with a certain feeling… approaching God in faith, spirit, and truth – John 4:24
6. I judge whether worship was worthwhile… I participate in worship and leave judgments to God
7. One kind of worship is better than others… our infinite God can be worship is a variety of ways (publicly, privately, corporately, silently, loudly)

SOLITUDE AND SILENCE:

Learning to Quiet Your Soul – Isaiah 30:15 (how can God get our attention?)

The Bible on Solitude: Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 9:18, John 6:15

1. Solitude is Preparatory: Matthew 4:2
2. Solitude is Revealing: allowing me to hear the voice of God
3. Solitude is restorative: 1 Kings 19:1-4, 9-13

The Bible on Silence: Ecclesiastes 3:7, Psalm 46:10, 131:2, Habakkuk 2:20, Lamentations 3:25-29

Cultivating Habits of Solitude and Silence:

1. Solitude and Silence leads to… to be with others for the purpose of loving and serving
   • Returning
   • Reentering
   • Reengaging
   • Reconnecting
2. Everyday life takes it’s toll… to be with God for restoration and renewal
   • Retreating
   • Withdrawing
   • Disengaging
   • Unplugging
   • Disconnecting

BIBLE READING AND STUDY:

Being Rooted in God’s Truth – Psalm 119:105

The Value of God’s Word: John 6:51, Psalm 12:6, 19:10, 19:10, 119:105, Jeremiah 20:9, 23:29, Luke 24:32, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2, James 1:23-25, Matthew 13:18-23, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 5:25-27

God’s Word Impacts Lives: James 1:21 (receive the Word) and James 1:22 (do what it says)

1. Receiving
   • Hearing
   • Reading
   • Studying
   • Memorizing
   • Meditating
   • Praying
2. Doing
   • Discipling
   • Teaching
   • Preaching
   • Obeying
   • Sending
   • Remonding

Reading the Bible: Deuteronomy 17:19, Nehemiah 9:3, 1 Timothy 4:13

Seven Ways to Read God’s Word: “Read it through, pray it in, live it out, pass it on” – George Gritter

1. Prayerfully: he who has ears to hear his Word
2. Expectantly: meeting a Person rather than getting through a passage
3. Devotionally: let God speak to you through his Word
4. Slowly: impact from each word, linger, and savor the Word
5. Comprehensively: read through in order and in context, intentionally
6. Regularly: consistency leads to building a habit
7. Obediently: do what God commands

Studying the Bible:

1. Observation: Psalm 119:18
   • Asking: what does it say?
   • Probing
   • Exploring
   • Discovering
   • Seeing
   • Investigative Questions
     • Who is mentioned?
     • Who is the primary character?
     • What is going on? What is being said?
     • What is the context?
     • What happens just before this passage?
     • What is the sequence of events?
     • What words did the Spirit the writer to use?
     • What descriptive details to you see?
     • What is the mood and setting?
     • When did this action happen?
     • Where did these events take place?
     • How does the author explain these unfolding events?
     • How does the author explain the motive for the person’s words or deeds?
     • How does the character respond?
     • How does the scene conclude?
2. Interpretation: Psalm 119:27
   • Asking: What does it mean?
   • Pondering
   • Explaining
   • Digesting
   • Understanding
   • Investigative Questions
     • Hermeneutic disciplines
     • What does God intend to communicate through this passage?
     • It’s not about how I feel about this passage
   • Avoiding wrong interpretations
     • Leave your presuppositions behind
     • Resist getting overly creative
     • Take into account historical, cultural, grammatical, and literary realities
       • Poetry
       • History
       • Wisdom
       • Epistolary
       • Narrative or didactic
       • Descriptive or prescriptive
3. Application: Psalm 119:60
   • Asking: What do I need to do? How is God speaking to me? What changes are necessary?
   • Practicing
   • Exercising
   • Doing
   • Obeying

D.L. Moody on Why and How to Study the Bible:

1. Admit, submit, commit, transmit
2. The Bible’s feast is prepared, are you venturing toward the banquet?
3. If Bible study is wearisome, you are out of communion with him
4. The more you love Scripture, the firmer will be your faith
5. The Scripture speaks into all areas of life
6. The best law of Bible study is perseverance
7. So few grow because so few study
8. What good in an army if they don’t know how to use their weapons?

Scripture Memory:

1. Why it matters: Psalm 119:11, Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-8, 1 Peter 3:15
2. The best time to memorize: morning, evening or mid-afternoon?
3. How much: maybe 1-2 verses each week
4. The trick?
   • Find a verse that speaks to you
   • Read the chapter and focus on the verse
   • Write out the quote, write the verse’s address
   • Read it out loud
   • Break it into chunks of phrases
   • Write it on a card to pull out during the day
   • Review often
5. God will help you: Deuteronomy 6:6, Colossians 3:16

PRAYER:

Communing With God – Ephesians 6:18

What is Prayer? Simply communing with God – Exodus 33:11, Acts 17:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Why Do We Pray? Colossians 4:2, James 5:16

1. Prayer is how we approach God: James 4:8, Proverbs 15:8, Romans 8:26
2. Prayer aligns us with God’s purposes: Matthew 6:10
3. Prayer is an expression of faith: Hebrews 11:6
4. Prayer give peace: Philippians 4:6-7
5. Prayer is powerful: Isaiah 38:5

How Should We Pray?

1. In faith: Mark 11:24
2. In Jesus’ name: John 14:13
3. According to God’s will: 1 John 5:14-15
4. Unceasingly: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
5. Confidently: Hebrews 4:16
6. Stubbornly: Luke 18:1
7. With the Spirit’s help: Romans 8:26

How NOT to Pray (snares to God-pleasing prayer): Luke 8:9-14, Psalm 66:18-20, James 4:2-3, 1 Peter 3:7, Matthew 6:5-8, James 1:5-7, Isaiah 29:13

Rules for Praying: Not really, but consider these passages

1. Prayers from all kinds of people: 1 Samuel 3:10, Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 139, Jonah 1:14, Joshua 7:6-9, Judges 16:28
2. People Praying (alone and groups): Matthew 14:23, Acts 1:14
3. People crying out to God: Psalm 63:6, Acts 21:5, Luke 6:12, Genesis 24:11-12, Luke 18:10
4. At different times: Psalm 55:17, Acts 16:25, Psalm 5:3
5. Posture for prayer: 2 Samuel 7:18, Mark 11:25, Acts 9:40, 1 Kings 8:22
6. Believers praying: 1 Samuel 1:13, Ezra 3:11-13, Philippians 1:4
7. Jesus prayed: Hebrews 5:7, John 11:41, Matthew 26:39
   • Morning: Mark 1:35
   • Evening: Mark 6:46-47
   • All night: Luke 6:12
   • In lonely places: Luke 5:16
   • In agony: Luke 22:39-46
   • While dying: Luke 23:46
   • Praising the Father: Matthew 11:25
   • He thanked the Father: John 11:41
   • Praying for God’s will: Matthew 26:39
   • Praying for followers: John 17:9
   • Praying for forgiveness for enemies: Luke 23:34
   • Praying for children: Matthew 19:13-15
   • Praying for himself: John 17:1

We Should Pray About What? Matthew 6:9-13

1. God’s nature
2. God’s glory
3. God’s kingdom
4. God’s will
5. God’s provision
6. God’s mercy
7. God’s protection

Application: Ephesians 6:18, 1:15-23, 3:14-21

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL:

Figuring Out What God Wants You to Do – Romans 12:2

What is Discernment? The ability of God’s Spirit to help us distinguish and ecide between what is true, wise, and good, and that which is false, foolish, and evil. – Colossians 1:9, Philippians 1:9-10

What is True, Wise, and Good?

1. God’s will is discernible: Romans 12:2, Psalm 143:10
2. God’s will is good: Psalm 84:11, 107:1, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:32, Matthew 26:42
3. Discerning God’s will requires God’s resources:
   • God’s Word: day by day following a path, not a full itinerary for life
   • God’s Spirit: John 16:13, 17:17, Psalm 119:105, 2 Corinthians 5:7
   • Other resources available to us:
     • Godly counsel: Proverbs 15:22
     • Sovereign circumstances: Ecclesiastes 7:13-14
     • Holy contentment: Colossians 3:15
     • Divine compulsions: Acts 20:22, Romans 8:14
     • Common sense: Proverbs 16:22
4. Discerning God’s will requires effort on our part:
   • You were created for: Isaiah 43:7, Mark 12:28-30
   • You were called to: Matthew 28:18-20
   • You were commanded to: John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:11
   • You were counseled to pray: James 1:5-7

When God’s will is not black and white:

1. Will this bring glory to God? 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. Am I trusting God or my own wisdom, or someone else? Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
3. Is this “too good to be true”? Proverbs 14:12
4. Could my faith be damaged or my character corrupted? 1 Corinthians 15:33
5. How does this square with me call to holiness? 1 Peter 1:14-15
6. Would this decision harm Christ’s reputation or my own integrity? Ephesians 5:3
7. Could this be the first step toward spiritual or moral danger? Proverbs 4:14-15
8. Would this action cause a weaker brother to stumble or violate my conscience? 1 Corinthians 8:9
9. Is it wise (even if not sinful)? 1 Corinthians 10:23
10. Do older and wiser believers agree with my chosen course of action? Proverbs 12:17

FASTING:

Cultivating an Appetite for the Things of God – Joel 2:12

What is Fasting? To abstain from food, to be empty.

Why is Fasting Important?

1. To show sorrow for sin, whether personal or national: 1 Samuel 7:6, Daniel 9:3-5, Ezra 10:6, Nehemiah 1:3-4
2. To attempt to hear from God and/or to seek his intervention: Esther 4:16, Ezra 8:21-23
3. To seek discernment for a looming decision or guidance for next steps: Acts 9:9, 13:1-3, 14:21-23
4. To practice self-control: 2 Peter 1:5-8

How Does Fasting Work? Leviticus 16:29, 31, 23:27-32, Esther 9:31, Zechariah 8:19, Matthew 4:2, 6:16-18, Luke 5:33-35

GIVING:

Understanding Generosity and. Stewardship – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (what we think about money speaks volumes about who we are and what we believe)

Three Encouraging Truths About Money:

1. God is generous with his children; he promises to provide for all our needs: Psalm 145:16, Matthew 7:11, Philippians 4:19
2. God gives generously to his people so we can give generously to others: Genesis 12:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Luke 6:38
3. God says he blesses the generous:
   • You have what you need to live: 2 Corinthians 9:8
   • You see increasing fruit from your sacrificial giving: 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11
   • You receive more in order to give more: 2 Corinthians 9:11
   • You give out of poverty or out of your excess? Mark 12:41-44
     • She gave two tiny coins, not a large amount
     • She gave out of poverty, not out of surplus
     • She made a sacrifice, not a contribution
     • Jesus invited others to “come see this” (but silent about the large donors)

Cultivating a Generous Attitude:

1. Recognize that your stuff is really not your stuff: Exodus 19:5, Job 41:11, Psalm 42:1, Haggai 2:8, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 6:20 (the Bible says money is…)
   • A blessing: Proverbs 10:22
   • A stewardship: Psalm 24:1, Romans 14:12
   • A test: Luke 12:48, 16:9-12
   • An indicator: Matthew 6:21
   • A false hope: Proverbs 11:4, 1 Timothy 6:17
   • A danger: Matthew 6:24, 13:22, 19:23, 1 Timothy 6:9-10
   • A tool for honoring and blessing others: Proverbs 3:9, Matthew 6:20
   • A testimony: Ephesians 5:3
2. Remember that giving is transformative: 1 Timothy 6:9-10
3. Regard giving as the safest and wisest investment of all: Matthew 6:19-24, James 5:3

Whom Shall I Support?

1. Family: 1 Timothy 5:8
2. Local church: Acts 5:1-4
3. The poor: Proverbs 19:17
4. Believers: Galatians 6:10
5. Neighbors: Luke 10:30-37
6. Para-church organizations:
7. Agencies devoted to relief work, helping those who are suffering

How to Honor God with Money:

1. Trust God not money: Revelation 3:17-21, Deuteronomy 8:18
2. Relying on God’s wisdom or pleasing someone else: Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
3. Focus on things most important: Matthew 22:37-39, Proverbs 15:16-17
4. Remember God enduring faithfulness: Romans 8:32, Jeremiah 29:11
5. Ask God to meet your financial needs: Proverbs 30:8-9, Matthew 6:11
6. Solicit divine wisdom in money matters: James 1:5
7. Act responsibly in your finances: Romans 13:7
8. Invest in eternal things: Luke 12:33, Matthew 6:33
9. Be generous and share: Deuteronomy 15:7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
10. Cultivate contentment: 1 Timothy 6:7-8, Acts 20:33-35
11. Praise God for generous blessings: Psalm 112:1-5

SERVICE:

Laying Down Your Life for Others – 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:11-12

Disciples Are Called to Serve: Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:5-7, Galatians 5:13

Disciples Are Gifted to Serve: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

1. Every believer has at least one: 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18, 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11
2. Every gift is meant to promote the body: 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:12-13

Disciples Are Obedient to Serve: 1 Peter 4:10

Disciples Have a Sweet Spot of Service: the overlapping of Needs-Passions-gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:7

More on Spiritual Gifts is found HERE.

EVANGELISM:

Sharing the Message of Your New Life in Christ – 1 Peter 3:15

Why Believers Don’t Share Their Faith?

1. Fear
2. Lack of training
3. Minimal contact with lost people
4. Shaky theology
5. Lack of concern
6. Losing sight of the power of the gospel
7. Disobedience
8. Forgetting what successful evangelism is

Bible Study on Evangelism: 1 Peter 3:13-18

1. Evangelism myths and truths:
   • Sharing is not dependent on having a slick presentation, but a surrendered heart
   • Sharing does not take a ton of theology, but to know Christ as Lord
   • Sharing is not just for the pastor, but every disciple
   • Sharing (witnessing) is not an activity, but everyday life
   • Sharing is not lifestyle alone, but adding words to your good deeds
   • Nobody is interested in the gospel, but they are interested in a life transformed by the gospel
   • Sharing is not inviting people to religious gathering, but to invite people into your life
   • Sharing is not confronting people/strangers, but loving people that God has placed in your life
   • A witness does not have it all together, but should be authentic and transparent
   • Sharing is not using whatever means to get the message out, but be honest and ethical and respectful
   • Success in witnessing does not mean someone prays the prayer, but that God has used you to bring someone closer to God and his love
2. What is a witness? 1 John 1:3
3. What is a testimony? Acts 26:1-31
   • How Paul met Christ: Acts 26:4-11
   • How encountered Jesus: Acts 26:12-20
   • How his life changed because of Jesus: Acts 26:21-23

Writing Your Testimony: write for clarity and flow, concise, without rambling churchy language

1. Describe you life before Christ
2. Describe your failed attempts to fix your own problems
3. Describe events that led to your trusting Jesus, the process
4. Describe clearly the steps you took to put your faith in Christ
   • Include being a sinner, separated from God
   • Include the penalty of being a sinner
   • Include how Jesus had paid the penalty for sin
   • Include that faith in Jesus alone brings salvation
5. Describe what difference Jesus makes in your life

Testimony Tips:

1. No two testimonies are alike, be real and authentic
2. If saved as an adult, you may have a before, how, and after story. If as a child, this is harder to report radical changes
3. Avoid Christian cliches and terminology
4. Avoid controversial statements, like rants on certain sins
5. Avoid criticizing specific churches or denominations
6. Avoid steaming details of your past life
7. Keep your story warm and personal, it is about I and ME
8. Practice sharing with a friend and tweak as necessary
9. Void boring people with tons of details, a brief summary is fine
10. Use a meaningful Bible verse, which will engage the power of God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 10:10, 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-9

Creating Opportunities to Share Your Faith:

1. Avoid spending all your time with church people: build relationships with people far from God
2. Avoid condemning unbelievers for living like unbelievers
3. Open you life: talk about real stuff you’re going through
4. Discuss personal struggles needs: how you and God handled them
5. Ask if anything you have said if relatable to their life, does it make sense?
6. Avoid arguments: no one is dragged into the kingdom
7. Avoid the dump truck: say less and allow them to ask for more
8. Piggyback off of contemporary situations and stories: asking provoking questions
9. Avoid continuing when you sense they are uncomfortable: allow the Spirit to set the pace

MISSIONS:

Embracing God’s Heart for the Nations – Acts 1:8

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20

The main point about our purpose is that Jesus gave us the Great Commission, and as it says in Evangelism Explosion, “His last command is my first concern.”

• The Purpose: The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20
• The Task: Make Disciples, 28:19, Imperative
• The Process: a Three-fold Process, with Participles

In dissecting the main parts of Matthew 28:19-20, the main verb is our command to “make disciples.” The other verbs in this sentence are participles, so the command is not to GO, BAPTIZE, and TEACH, but to make disciples. A participle supports the main verb, for instance “as you are going” make disciples; baptize those whom you are making into disciples; as you are making disciples, teach them. So, how and what are we to teach them?

1. ALL – let’s not pick and choose our favorite passages, or pet doctrines, ignoring the harder sayings, warnings, and difficult teachings.
2. I – remember who is doing the teaching, it’s not about me or some famous Bible teacher, it is all about Jesus.
3. COMMANDED – we are going to take a look at the imperative statements of Jesus throughout the gospels.
4. YOU – we are not supposed to teach that which we have not learned ourselves, so it is of vital importance to embrace the commands of Christ, wrestle with them, submit to them, apply them… I cannot impact others if God’s Word has not already impacted me.

God Has a Heart for the Nations: g1484, éthnos; probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):—Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

1. God creates the world: Genesis 1-2
2. People begin to multiply and spread out: Genesis 10-11
3. God chooses a person to be the founder of his people: Genesis 12:1-3

After the Fall, God Desired to rescue humanity and bless all peoples: Genesis 26:4, Psalm 67:2-3, 7, 86:9, 117:1, Matthew 24:14, Acts 22:21, Mark 11:17, Luke 2:27-32, Revelation 7:9-1

Our God is a Missionary God:

The Bible portrays God as a “missionary God”—one who actively initiates, seeks, sends, and extends salvation to all peoples and nations, not just one group. This theme runs from Genesis to Revelation: God pursues lost humanity, chooses Israel as a channel of blessing to the world, and commissions His people to proclaim His glory universally.

Old Testament Foundations: God’s Missionary Heart from the Beginning

God’s mission starts in creation and the fall, where He seeks out rebellious humanity rather than abandoning it – Genesis 3:9, 12:1-3, Exodus 9:16, Isaiah 49:6. Other key OT verses include: Psalm 67:1-2, Isaiah 56:6-7, Zechariah 2:11. These show God’s heart for His glory and salvation to fill the earth (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14).

New Testament Fulfillment: The Sending God in Christ and the Church

Jesus embodies God’s mission (“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” — John 1:14), and He sends His followers – John 3:16-17, Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Revelation 7:9. Additional NT support includes Mark 16:15 (“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”), 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (believers as ambassadors of reconciliation), and passages like Acts 28:28 and Galatians 3:8 affirming salvation for Gentiles.

Overall Theme

God is not passive or tribal; He is the sending, seeking, saving God who creates a missionary people in His image. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations (Exodus 19:6), fulfilled ultimately in Christ and the Church. This missionary nature flows from God’s character—loving, holy, and glorious—and culminates in the renewal of all things.

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]

Love:

This is the new command from Jesus – John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 16:14

Love in the Bible:

1. Parent-child relationship – Genesis 22:2
2. In-law relationship – Ruth 4:15
3. Servant for his master – Exodus 21:5
4. Between friends – 2 Samuel 1:26
5. God’s love for us – Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 7:13
6. Hebrew hesed, h2617 – from H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty:—favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing – Psalm 17:7, 63:3, Genesis 24:49, 2 Samuel 2:5
7. Greek phileo, g5368 – from G5384; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while G25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specially, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):—kiss, love – Revelation 3:19, 1 Corinthians 16:22

Biblical Truths About Love:

1. Love originates in God because he is love: 1 John 4:7-11
2. The spiritual life is down to one word, love: Mark 12:28-31 (613 laws down to these two)
3. Loving God and loving people are a package deal: 1 John 4:20-21
4. Love is more a verb than a noun: 1 John 3:18
5. Love is sacrificial and unconditional: John 3:16, Romans 8:31-39
6. Love extends even to enemies: Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:25-37
7. God’s love is astonishingly beautiful: 1 Corinthians 13
8. Love makes room for those who are different: Romans 14
9. Love can become displaced: 1 John 2:15
10. We can’t love rightly apart from God’s enabling Spirit: Galatians 5:19-21, 22

Love THIS:

1. Our neighbor: Leviticus 19:18
2. Strangers/foreigners: Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19
3. The Lord God: Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12
4. God’s salvation: Psalm 18:1-2
5. Justice: Psalm 99:4
6. Laws and commandments: Psalm 119:47, 97, 113, 127, 140, 167
7. God’s name: Psalm 119:132
8. Wisdom: Proverbs 4:5-6
9. Discipline: Proverbs 12:1
10. Those who reprove and correct: Proverbs 15:12
11. Good: Amos 5:15
12. Kindness/mercy: Micah 6:8
13. Our enemies: Matthew 5:44
14. Fellow disciples: John 13:34
15. All God’s people: Ephesians 1:15
16. Husbands love their wives: Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19
17. The Lord Jesus: Ephesians 6:24
18. Brothers and sisters in Christ: 1 Thessalonians 4:9, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22
19. The second coming: 2 Timothy 4:8
20. Wives/mothers love husbands/children: Titus 2:4

Don’t Love THAT:

1. Violence: Psalm 11:5
2. Cursing others: Psalm 109:17
3. Being simple-minded: Proverbs 1:22
4. Transgression: Proverbs 17:19
5. Sleep: Proverbs 20:13
6. Pleasure: Proverbs 21:17
7. Wine: Proverbs 21:17
8. Money: Ecclesiastes 5:10, 1 Timothy 3:3, 6:10, Hebrews 13:5
9. Evil: Amos 5:15
10. Perjury: Zechariah 8:17
11. approval of others: John 12:43
12. This present world: 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 2:15

JOY AND PEACE:

Life as God Meant for it to Be – Romans 15:13

What is Joy? Greek g5479 – chará, from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:—gladness, × greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous) – C.S. Lewis, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

Where Does Joy Come From? – Nehemiah 8:10, John 15:11, 17:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Luke 10:21, Zechariah 3:17, Psalm 16:11

How Do We Cultivate Joy? – 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Galatians 5:22, Psalm 32:11, 64:10, 104:34, 126:3

We Receive Joy When We:

1. Receive an invitation from Jesus: Luke 19:6
2. Hear the good news of salvation: Luke 2:10-11
3. Discover the kingdom of heaven: Matthew 13:44
4. Encounter the truth of the empty tomb: Matthew 28:8
5. Hear the teachings of Jesus: John 15:11
6. Experience answers to prayer: John 16:24
7. Spend time with God’s people: Acts 2:46
8. Understand and believe the gospel: Acts 8:39
9. Get to be a part of spreading the truth of God: Acts 13:38-42
10. Write about and remember our experience with Jesus: 1 John 1:4

Happiness or Joy? James 1:2

1. Worldly happiness is…
   • More an emotion
   • A fickle feeling of giddiness
   • Determined by happenings
   • Gathered from worldly events
   • Destroyed by difficulties
   • Found on the surface of life
   • Something people hope to find
2. Heavenly joy…
   • A virtue or character quality
   • A settle stance of gladness
   • Determined by God’s realities
   • Given ultimately by God
   • Shaken but not destroyed by difficulties
   • Stems from the depths of the heart
   • Resides in the hearts of disciples
   • Something people can cultivate

What Is Peace?

Greek g1515 eirḗnē; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again. – Galatians 5:22

Hebrew h7965, shalom; from H7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:—do, familiar, fare, favour, friend, great, (good) health, (perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, (all is, be) well, wholly. – Isaiah 26:3, John 10:10 (life to the full)

Eternal Peace: Luke 2:14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Interpersonal Peace: Romans 12:18

Internal Peace: Philippians 4:6-7

PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND GOODNESS:

Enjoying Radical Relationships: Galatians 5:22-23

Patience: g3115, makrothymía; from the same as G3116; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:—longsuffering, patience. – James 1:19, Nehemiah 9:17, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Timothy 1:16, 2 Peter 3:9, Colossians 3:12-13

Kindness: g5544, chrēstótēs; from G5543; usefulness, i.e. morally, excellence (in character or demeanor):—gentleness, good(-ness), kindness. – Acts 28:2, Romans 12:10, 2 Peter 1:7, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 2:7, Romans 3:12, Psalm 17:7, 63:3, Genesis 29:49, 2 Samuel 2:5, Romans 2:4, Ephesians 2:4-7, Colossians 3:12-13

Goodness: g19, agathōsunē; from G18; goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence:—goodness. – Psalm 145:9, Romans 15:14, Galatians 6:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Matthew 5:16

FAITHFULNESS AND GENTLENESS:

Becoming God’s Humble Servant: – Matthew 11:29 – We become like those we pal around with – 1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 13:20, Galatians 5:22-23

Faithfulness: g4102, pístis; from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. – Lamentations 3:22-23, Hebrews 3:6, 2 Timothy 2:13

When a person is faithful, it leads to a radically different life:

1. Made for God’s glory… I will not live like life is all about me
2. Called and sent by God… I will seek my place in God’s kingdom
3. Blessed and gifted by God… I will use all that I am and have to serve and bless others
4. My needs are met in Christ… I will seek to meet the needs of others
5. Called to be a disciple… I will pour my life into others
6. Jesus is Lord and will call to account for my life… I will live with that day in mind

Gentleness: g4240, prautēs; from G4239; mildness, i.e. (by implication) humility:—meekness (a tamed beast, power under control). – Proverbs 15:1, Galatians 5:23, Isaiah 42:3, John 17:4, Luke 22:42, 51

SELF-CONTROL:

Greek g1466, enkráteia; from G1468; self-control (especially continence):—temperance. Bridling ones appetites or passions, resisting temptation – 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Ephesians 5:16-18, Proverbs 25:28

Points to Ponder: Romans 8:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 1 John 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:21, John 7:38-39

Verbal Self-control: Proverbs 10:19, 32, 11:9, 12:18, 22, 13:3, 16:23, 24, 17:28, 21:23, 29:20

FORGIVENESS:

Being a Conduit of God’s Mercy and Grace: Colossians 3:13.

A follower of Jesus knows two things about forgiveness: he understands being forgiven, and he understands being forgiving.

Concepts of Forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-35

1. Meaning of Forgiveness: Luke 7:42-43, Ephesians 4:32
2. Mechanics of Forgiveness: Matthew 6:15, 18:21-35, Colossians 2:13-14, Matthew 18:34-35, James 2:13
3. Messiness of Forgiveness:
   • How can we forgive the unforgivable? Beware of resentment
   • What about vengeance? Is forgiveness unfair? – Hebrews 10:30, Romans 12:19
   • What about lingering negative feelings? – Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13, 3:12-16 – forgiveness may be a decision, an event, and an ongoing process
   • What about the person who continues to cause harm? – 1 Corinthians 5:11
   • What about reconciliation and restoration? – 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 12:10 – forgiveness pardons the offender while reconciliation restores the harmony. It is okay to not reengage in the relationship, but avoid bitterness and holding a grudge.

From Jesus’ Parable on Forgiveness:

1. To be unwilling to forgive… (lethal)
   • Disobey God’s command – Colossians 3:13
   • Ignore the infinite mercy God has shone us
   • Experience the torturous effects of bitterness
2. To forgive is to… (life-giving)
   • Learn what it means to trust deeply
   • Incarnate the gospel
   • Vanquish the power of evil – Romans 12:21
   • Experience freedom and peace

Stories of Forgiveness:

1. Jacob and Esau – Genesis 25, 27, 32, 33
2. Joseph and his brothers – Genesis 37-50
3. David and Mephibosheth – 1 Samuel 9
4. The Prodigal Son – Luke 15
5. Casting the First Stone – John 8

OVERCOMING:

The ongoing battle with sin and temptation: 1 Timothy 6:12

Spiritual Reality According to the Bible: Galatians 6:9, Romans 7:19, 5:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8, John 16:33, 1 Peter 2:11

The Bottom Line: life is hard. Perfection will get closer but not in this life time. No Christian gets a pass from suffering. If you’re not bumping into Satan as you pass through life, you may be walking in the same direction. The closer you are at following Jesus, the more the enemy wants to take you out of the game.

Tips for Success:

1. Walk this life with others – Ecclesiastes 4:12
2. Don’t give up – 2 Timothy 4:7
3. Perspective – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, 11:23-28

PERSEVERANCE:

Dealing with Doubts, Trials, and Fears: James 1:12

What Does it Mean?

Greek: g5281, hupŏmŏnē, hoop-om-on-ay’; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). – Romans 5:4, Luke 8:15, 21:19, Romans 2:7, 5:3, 5:4, 8:25, 15:4, 5, Colossians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Timothy 3:10, Hebrews 10:36, James 1:3, 4, 2 Peter 1:6Revelation 2:3. (endurance, patience, being steadfast, having to wait)

Greek: g4342, proskarteréō, pros-kar-ter-eh’-o; from G4314 and G2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):—attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually). – Mark 3:9 (be made ready), Acts 1:14, 2:42, 46, 6:4, 8:13, Romans 12:12, 13:6, Colossians 4:2 (endure, devoted, continually). (to adhere to, to cling to, be devoted to, to continue in something, be steadfast, be consistent).

Ways Disciples Persevere:

1. Patient in affliction: Romans 12:12
2. Reap a harvest if we don’t give up: Galatians 6:9
3. Remain faithful: 2 Timothy 3:14
4. Run with perseverance: Hebrews 12:1
5. Stand firm in faith: 1 Corinthians 16:13
6. Devote yourselves: Colossians 4:2
7. Be alert and keep praying: Ephesians 6:18
8. Stand firm and hold fast to teachings: 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Warnings About Falling Away: Hebrews 6:1-8, 10:26-31, Matthew 10:22, 2 Corinthians 6:1, Hebrews 3:12

How God Helps us Persevere: John 10:28-29, Romans 11:29, Philippians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:3-5

Encouraging Words to Suffering Christians: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5

How Can We Develop Perseverance? Four Great Resources…

1. God’s Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (His Word can be trust to strengthen faith)
2. God’s Spirit: John 14:26-27 (His Spirit can give us the power to hold on)
3. God’s People: Philippians 1:3-5 (His people gathered together give us strength to carry on)
4. God’s Mission: 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (His mission is an eternally worthwhile task, bringing meaning)

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]

THE BIBLE:

The Bible is more than just a book: Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is our sole source for faith and practice:

1. General revelation: Psalm 19, Romans 1:18-21, Psalm 107:9, Acts 14:17, Romans 2
2. Special revelation: John 1:1-18 (the foundation of the Christian faith, all we know about God is found in these pages)
3. The Bible: it’s influence, divine origin, and reliability leading to it being authoritative and transformational
   • Influence: billions of copies with billions of followers
   • Divine Origin: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jeremiah 1:9, 2 Peter 1:16-21
   • Reliability:
     • The trustworthiness of the biblical manuscripts (1000 copies close to the originals)
     • The unity of the Scriptures (40 authors, 3 languages, 1500 years, 3 continents)
     • The preservation of the Scriptures (all the attempts of burn, ban, and eliminate it)
     • The fulfilled prophecies of the Scriptures (1239 in the OT, 578 in the NT)
     • The archaeological record: Hittites were once imaginary, Tel Dan inscription confirms King David, Dead Sea Scrolls)
   • Authoritative: Psalm 119:162, Hebrews 4:12, John 8:31-32
   • Transformational:
     • Divine origin – we can listen to it
     • Reliable – we can trust it
     • Authoritative – we must submit to it
     • Transformative – we are blessed when we live it

From God to Us:

1. Revelation: it is a book of God’s self-revelation of himself and his dealings with mankind. We don’t know everything (Deuteronomy 29:29) but we know everything pertaining to life and godliness (1 Peter 1).
2. Inspiration: the process whereby the Holy Spirit wrote through supernaturally guided authors, using their own personalities and styles. They recorded the message God wanted us to know.
3. Inerrancy: that Scriptures are without error in matters of faith and theology, and that modern translations accurately represent the original text.
4. Canonicity: The OT and NT are written under divine inspiration and early church leaders agreed upon criteria to distinguish God-breathed writing from mere human writings, then collected this writing into the book we have as the Bible.
5. Illumination: The work of the Spirit to enable God’s people to understand and apply the written Word of God (Luke 24:44-45, 1 Corinthians 2:11-14). Illumination happens when our eyes read the text and we have this “aha” moment, seeing what we did not see before.

GOD:

One God in Three Persons: the Trinity

1. Why do Christians believe in the trinity?
   • Oneness of God – Deuteronomy 6:4
   • Three distinct Persons:
     • Father – 1 Corinthians 1:3
     • Son – Hebrews 1:6-8
     • Spirit – Acts 5:3-4
2. A vivid snapshot of God:
   • Forgiving: Psalm 103:3, 9, 10, 12 (pardon)
   • Abounding in Love: Psalm 103:4, 8, 11, 17 (loving-kindness)
   • Tender: Psalm 103: 4, 8, 13 (compassion)
   • Holy: Psalm 103:8-9, 11, 13, 17 (fear of the Lord)
   • Eternal: Psalm 103:14-17 (what lasts in this world)
   • Ruling the Universe: Psalm 103:19-21 (established his throne)

God’s Attributes:

1. Eternal: Genesis 21:33, Psalm 90:2, Revelation 1:8
2. Good: Exodus 33:19, Psalm 145:9
3. Holy: 1 Peter 1:16, 1 John 1:5
4. Immutable: Psalm 102:27, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17
5. Infinite: 1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 145:3, Acts 17:24
6. Just: Acts 10:34-35, 17:31, Romans 2:11
7. Loving and Forgiving: Psalm 103:17, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 4:8, 10
8. Omnipotent: Matthew 19:26, Revelation 19:6
9. Omnipresent: Psalm 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24
10. One: Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Corinthians 8:6
11. Sovereign: Ephesians 1:4-14, 21
12. Transcendent: Psalm 13:1, Isaiah 8:17
13. Triune: Ephesians 4:4-6, Hebrews 1:6-8, Acts 5:3-4
14. True: John 16:6, 17:3

JESUS – THE SON:

Jesus is the fullness of Deity in bodily form – Colossians 2:9

The Nature of Christ: both God and man

1. The Humanity of Jesus
   • Descendant of David: Matthew 1:1
   • Born of a woman: Matthew 1:18, Galatians 4:4
   • Felt hunger: Mark 11:12
   • Got tired: John 4:6
   • Experienced stress: Matthew 26:38
   • Had a human body: John 1:14, Luke 7:38, 1 John 1:1
   • Felt grief: John 11:35
   • Ate and drank: Luke 7:34
   • He slept: Mark 4:38
   • He sweat: Luke 22:44
   • He experienced thirst: John 19:28
   • He bled: John 19:34
   • He died: 1 Corinthians 15:3
   • Paul referred to Jesus as a man: 1 Timothy 2:5
   • He was fully human in every way: Hebrews 2:17
   • Face all common human temptations: Hebrews 4:15
2. The Deity of Jesus
   • This child would be mighty God: Isaiah 9:6
   • Claimed a unique relationship with the Father: Matthew 11:27
   • Claimed authority to forgive sins: Mark 2:5-7
   • John, his closest intimate friend, called him God: John 1:1
   • He claimed authority over death: John 2:19
   • He claimed to be from heaven and sent by God: John 3:13, 6:38, 13:3, 17:8
   • He called God his Father, making him equal with God: John 5:18
   • He called himself the name God revealed to Moses: John 8:58
   • He claimed his death was his choice, not a result of a plot: John 10:17
   • He claimed oneness with the Father, being declared a blasphemer: John 10:30
   • He claimed that if you had seen him you had seen the Father: John 14:9
   • He claimed ownership of all God owns: John 16:15
   • He accepted Thomas referring to him as, “my God”: John 20:28
   • Paul referred to him as the very nature, the image of the invisible God, and all deity in bodily form: Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-17, 19
   • He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of his being: Hebrews 1:3, 13:8

Conclusions About the Life of Jesus:

1. When a small group brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus: Mark 2:5-7, 10-12 (power over sins)
2. When he found himself in the middle of a sudden storm: Mark 4:37-39 (power over storms)
3. When he come upon a funeral procession: Luke 7:12-15 (power over death
4. Consider the statements by and about Jesus: John 8:46, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5 (Jesus lived a sinless life)
5. When he experienced passion week: Isaiah 53:5-6, Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 14:65, 15:29-30, Romans 4:25, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 3:16
6. The empty tomb: Luke 24:1-7, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Acts 9:2, 19:9, 23, 24:14, 22
7. The future: Matthew 24:44, John 14:3, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 22:12

Why Jesus Came to Earth:

1. To fulfill the law: Matthew 5:17
2. To call sinners to repentance: Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32
3. To seek the lost: Luke 19:10
4. To save the lost: Luke 19:10, 1 Timothy 1:15
5. To preach the gospel: Mark 1:38
6. To reveal and explain God: John 1:18, 14:9
7. To bring judgment: John 9:39
8. To serve: Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45
9. To give his life as a ransom for sin: Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45
10. To save the world, not judge it: John 3:17, 12:47
11. To bring light to the people: John 1:9, 12:46
12. To give abundant life: John 6:33, 50, 10:10
13. To do the will of the Father: John 6:38, Hebrews 10:9
14. Because he was sent by the Father: John 3:16, 6:39, 7:28, 8:42, 9:4, 16:28
15. To testify to the truth: John 18:37
16. To be a king: John 18:37
17. To suffer and die: John 12:27
18. To be a blessing to people and turn them to God: Acts 3:26
19. To bring power to new creations: Romans 8:3-4
20. To confirm the promises of God: Romans 15:8
21. To redeem sinners: Galatians 4:4-5
22. To be a merciful and faithful high priest: Hebrews 2:17
23. To atone for sin: Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 4:10
24. To give us an example to follow: 1 Peter 2:21
25. To destroy the works of the devil: 1 John 3:8
26. To break the power of the devil and cast him out: Hebrews 2:14, John 12:31
27. To proclaim good news to the poor: Luke 4:18
28. To set prisoners free: Luke 4:18
29. To give sight to the blind: Luke 4:18
30. To proclaim the year of the Lord;s favor: Luke 4:18

THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Your indwelling Counselor and Guide – John 14:26

The deity of the Spirit: Acts 5:3-4, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Corinthians 2:10

The Personality of the Spirit: John 16:13-14, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 12:11, Romans 8:26, Isaiah 11:2, Acts 10:38, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Romans 15:30

The Names of the Spirit: Hebrews 10:29, John 14:16, 26, Romans 8:15, 1 Peter 1:10-11

The Works of the Spirit: Genesis 1:1-3, 2 Peter 2:21, Luke 1:35, John 16:8, Titus 3:5, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:18, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13, Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27, 15:16, John 16:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Acts 13:4, Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23, Philippians 3:3

1. Brings life to those spiritually dead: John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5
2. Moves in the lives of believers, giving power: 1 Corinthians 6:19
3. Unites us permanently in the body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:13
4. Is an ever-present teacher and guide: John 16:13-14, Galatians 5:25

Divine Attributes for Each Person of the Trinity (Father-Son-Spirit):

1. Eternal: Romans 16:26-27, Revelation 1:12-17, Hebrews 9:14
2. Creator: Psalm 100:3, Colossians 1:15-16, Psalm 104:30
3. Omnipresent: Jeremiah 23:24, Ephesians 1:20-23, Psalm 139:7
4. Omniscient: 1 John 3:20, John 21:17, 1 Corinthians 2:10
5. Wills and Acts Supernaturally: Ephesians 1:3-5, Matthew 8:3, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
6. Give Life: Genesis 1:11-31 (John 5:21), John 1:4 (John 5:21), Romans 8:10-11
7. Strengthens Believers: Psalm 138:3, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 3:16
8. Savior/Salvation: Psalm 62:1, Acts 4:12, Titus 3:3-5

THE CHURCH:

Realizing your need for community: Matthew 16:18

Jesus suffered three great humiliations: the incarnation, the cross, and the church – Dorothy Sayers

What the Bible Says About the Church: Matthew 16:15-18, 1 Corinthians 3:11

Universal and Local:

1. Local: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Revelation 1:11
2. Universal: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 12:23

NT Metaphors for the Church:

1. An Inheritance: Ephesians 1:18
2. A New Humanity: Ephesians 2:15
3. God’s Household: Ephesians 2:19
4. A Building: Ephesians 2:20-21
5. A Body: Colossians 1:18
6. A living House: 1 Peter 2:5
7. A Chosen People: 1 Peter 2:9
8. A Royal Priesthood: 1 Peter 2:5, 9
9. A Nation Set Apart for God: 1 Peter 2:9
10. A Flock: 1 Peter 5:2
11. A Pure Bride: Revelation 21:9, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-33

Think Rightly About the Church:

1. The church is not a building
2. The church is not a man-made organization
3. The church is not a group of people who have it all together
4. The church is not a self-serving enterprise
5. The church is not a calendar of activities
6. The church is not a resort of club
7. The church is not meant to be internally focused
8. The church is not a place to get my needs met
9. The church is not a disposable option
10. The church is not a cruise ship, but a battleship

Commands to the Church:

1. Show sacrificial love to others: John 13:34
2. Honor brothers and sisters: Romans 12:10
3. Living in harmony: Romans 12:16
4. Refuse to judge others: Romans 14:13
5. Accepting others: Romans 15:7
6. Showing warmth: Romans 16:16
7. Be agreeable: 1 Corinthians 1:10
8. Encourage others: 2 Corinthians 13:11
9. Serve others: Galatians 5:13
10. Be patient and forgiving: Ephesians 4:2
11. Preserve unity: Ephesians 4:3
12. Do the work of God: Ephesians 2:10, 4:16
13. Be truthful: Ephesians 4:25
14. Build up others: Ephesians 4:29
15. Demonstrate kindness and compassion: Ephesians 4:32
16. Submit to others: Ephesians 5:21
17. Be humble and servant-hearted: Philippians 2:5-8
18. Forgive others: Colossians 3:13
19. Warn others about straying: Colossians 3:16
20. Inspire others: Hebrews 10:24
21. Meet regularly: Hebrews 10:25
22. Resist ill-talking about others: James 4:11
23. Refuse to grumble and complain: James 5:9
24. Practice hospitality: 1 Peter 4:9
25. Give to the needs of others: 2 Corinthians 9:7, 12
26. Grow up in maturity: 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18
27. Use your spiritual gifts: 1 Peter 4:10
28. Worship together: Acts 13:2
29. Follow your leaders/shepherds: Hebrews 13:17

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]

A DISCIPLE LEARNS:

Our goal is to become like Christ in character and conduct, so the Bible is our vital resource for our knowledge of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A definition: a disciple is one who 1) knows Jesus and his teachings, 2) grows to be more like Jesus, and 3) goes fr Jesus, serving others and making new disciples. Areas that are effected by Jesus…

1. Head – we can know without letting that knowledge penetrate our hearts. This is superficial knowledge or perhaps demonic faith (James 2:19).
2. Heart – Knowledge moved from the head into the heart. Here we allow for God to begin the transformation process.
3. Hands – we use out hands to serve God and others in Jesus’ name.
4. Heels – the obedient follower of Jesus will be lead into places that are outside of our comfort zones, for the sake of the gospel.

Jesus sought to help others gain valuable truths:

1. He saw the crowds: Matthew 5:1-2
2. His teaching was not his own: John 7:16
3. He was personal in his teaching: John 13-16, John 17:17

Jesus taught others God’s Word:

1. What God is like: Isaiah 46:8-10
2. Why the world is broken: Genesis 3
3. How we can know God personally: Acts 17:27, 1 John 4:10
4. How broken people can find wholeness, significance, and purpose: John 10:10, 1 Corinthians 5:17
5. How Jesus taught others:
   • Followers: Mark 1:21, 2:13, 4:2, 13:38, Matthew 11:29
   • Publicly: Luke 21:37
   • Privately: Luke 10:38-39
   • Lectures: Matthew 5-7
   • Stories: Luke 15
   • Teachable moments: Matthew 15:32-38, Luke 21:2-3, John 4
   • Object lessons: Matthew 18:2
   • Examples from history: Matthew 12:40, Luke 13:4

The Wisdom and Beauty of God’s Word in Psalm 119:

1. Names: laws, testimonies, judgments, commandments, statutes, precepts, words, sayings, way, path
2. God’s Word gives:
   • Power over sin – Psalm 119:2, 11, 101, 165
   • Freedom – Psalm 119:45
   • Direction and guidance – Psalm 119:105, 130
   • Stability – Psalm 119:89
   • Peace – Psalm 119:165
   • Hope – Psalm 119:114, 147
   • Delight – Psalm 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 77, 92, 174
3. How to use God’s Word – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
   • Teaching
   • Reproof
   • Correction
   • Training in righteousness

Getting God’s Word into us:

1. Hearing it read
2. Listening to others teach or preach
3. Reading the Bible on a regular basis
4. Discussing spiritual truth in the context of community
5. Studying: reflecting, learning, applying
6. Memorizing: right to the heart for better recall
7. Trusting: believe promises and claims
8. Pay attention how others live out spiritual truth
9. Teaching spiritual truth you have learned
10. Reflecting on God’s Word: meditating, pondering, praying over what God has revealed

A DISCIPLE GROWS:

Progress: Accept the gospel, follow Jesus, experience life change

God desires for us to grow: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 4:19, 5:22-23, Colossians 2:7, 1 Timothy 4:7 (we should be open to any regular activity that we intentionally practice, which can be a spiritual discipline).

Spiritual Disciplines:

1. Something for every believer
2. A way I can be with God
3. The goal is transformation
4. We get to practice discipline, not we have to
5. They are a means to an end, life change
6. The goal is spiritual maturity

Misconceptions about spiritual growth:

1. Growth must be pursued, it is not automatic
2. Maturity is a lifelong process, a journey, rather than a destination
3. Transformation depends on God but requires my participation
4. Information is one part:
   • Training – 1 Timothy 4:7
   • Working out – Philippians 2:12
   • Doing after hearing – James 1:22
5. Transformation is possible through consistent training with constant trusting
6. The goal is not activity but intimacy
7. Growth differs from person to person and season to season

From Unbelief to Christlikeness:

1. Skeptic (critical or combative) – Jesus says to “come to me”
2. Seeker (curios or cautious) – Jesus says to “repent and believe”
3. Saved (confused or childlike) – Jesus says to “follow after me”
4. Disciple (committed or concerned about the kingdom) – Jesus says to “become like me”
5. Disciple Maker (Christlike catalyst for impacting others) – Jesus says to “go for me”

A DISCIPLE SERVES:

This is about reaching out and serving like Jesus – Mark 10:45

We have a call to action: Matthew 5:16, Luke 10:2-3, Acts 1:8, 1 Peter 4:10

We will become like Jesus, living as he lived: 1 John 2:6, Matthew 10:40, Mark 12:6, Luke 4:18

Becoming a Disciple:

1. Trusting in Christ alone for salvation
2. Following Jesus to know him and his teachings
3. Growing into the likeness of Christ
4. Serving others in Jesus’ name
5. Making new disciples in the context of community

Making Disciples:

1. Rejecting: self-centeredness and embracing a self-less servant mindset – Philippians 2
2. Understanding: you have been saved for (wired for) good works – Ephesians 2:10
3. Letting: your light shine – Matthew 5:16
4. Discovering: and using your spiritual gifts – Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4
5. Getting: equipped to minister to to others – Ephesians 4:11-13
6. Taking: the truth, training, and blessings of God and investing in others – 2 Timothy 2:2
7. Learning: to give reason for the hope inside of us – 1 Peter 3:15

Jesus clearly saw he was on mission with God: John 3:34, 4:34, 5:23-24, 30, 37-38, 6:29, 38-39, 44, 57, 7:16, 18, 28-29, 33, 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42, 9:4, 10:36, 12:44-45, 49, 14:24, 15:21, 16:5, 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25, 20:21

1. To accomplish the will of the Father: John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38-39
2. Not to be served but to serve: Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10
3. To what end? Matthew 16:18

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]

This Jesus has changed the course of this world and even how we measure years, from the birth of Jesus, separating BC (before Christ) and AD (anno domini).

A RADICAL MESSAGE + COMING TO FAITH:

1. Defining the gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:16
   • Greek g2098 – euangélion; from the same as G2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel:—gospel.
   • The OT anticipated the time God would intervene to save his people – Isaiah 40:9, 61:1-4
   • The NT declares that the time is fulfilled – Luke 4:16-21, Isaiah 61:1-2
   • The gospel writers focused on the words and works of Jesus; the gospel of Christ – Romans 15:19, 1 Corinthians 9:12, Galatians 1:7
2. The acrostic GOSPEL
   • The gospel is about GOD – Psalm 103, John 1:18
   • The gospel is about OURSELVES – Romans 3:10-11, 23, 6:23 (we are not decent people in need of improvement, we are rebels who need to lay down our arms – C.S. Lewis)
   • The gospel is about a SAVIOR – Isaiah 53:1-6, John 19:30, Matthew 27:51 (the cross is the bridge between sinful people and holy God)
   • The gospel is POWERFUL – Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17
   • The gospel must be EMBRACED – John 1:12, James 2:19
   • The gospel is LIFE-ALTERING – 1 Peter 2:9-12, 3:15, Luke 17:5, Colossians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 10:15, Mark 1:15, 17

ALL THINGS NEW:

Not a One-off: Saved and baptize is only the beginning

1. Saved Past: from the penalty of sin – Justification
2. Saved Present: from the power of sin – Sanctification, Hebrews 2:3
   • New life – Ephesians 2:1-10
   • New standing with God – Romans 5:1-21
   • New identity – Romans 8:5-17
   • New nature (including desires and struggles) – 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Romans 7:21-23, Galatians 5:17, John 3:6, 6:63, Romans 7:18
   • New power – Ephesians 3:16, 2 Peter 1:3
3. Saved Future: from the presence of sin – Glorification, 1 John 3:2

Who I Am in Christ: Ephesians 1:3-8, Colossians 1:13-14, Romans 5:1, 8:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 1:12, 1 John 5:18, Romans 8:31-39, 1 Corinthians 6:17, John 15:15, Ephesians 2:6, Philippians 3:20, Colossians 2:9-10, 3:1-4, John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Hebrews 4:14-16, Ephesians 3:12, 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION:

Stats tell us that half of the people in churches are not sure they are saved. How can we know for certain? The Bible is clear.

1. Let’s start here:
   • 1 John 5:11-13
   • Romans 6:23
   • Ephesians 2:8-9
2. Let’s continue here:
   • John 14:6
   • John 17:3
   • Acts 4:12
   • 1 John 5:12
3. Finally:
   • 1 John 5:13
   • John 5:24

Truths About Eternal Life:

1. It is a Gift: 1 John 5:11, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16
2. It is in Relationship with Christ: 1 John 1:12, John 14:6, 17:3, Acts 4:12
3. It is a Certainty: 1 John 5:13, John 5:24

Why Do We Doubt?

1. Feelings: (place our faith in the facts, not feeling) Facts-Faith-Feelings (facts are the engine, feelings are the caboose) – Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 2:20
2. Struggles: (struggles don’t disappear when we get saved) C.S. Lewis wrote that if you want a religion to make you feel comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.
3. Backsliding: (falling back into old patterns) 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 1:6, Galatians 5:16
4. Attacks: (the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, John 10:10) and will lie about what we have done with Christ – John 8:44, Ephesians 6:16
5. Losing Sight of Grace: (we are saved, we don’t have to work to keep it) Galatians 3:2-3, Ephesians 2:8-9, however, how do we know we are saved if we don’t embrace Ephesians 2:10?

This is an outline of the Rose Guide to Discipleship, c. 2016, Rose Publishing LLC, with some of my own additional notes. There is way more information, teaching, and clarification, so please purchase the book [on Amazon]