Thirty Discipleship Exercises

1 THIRTYDISCIPLESHIPEXERCISESThe Pathway to Christian MaturityA bible Study for Small Groups and Personal MinistryThis study was originally prepared by Charlie Riggs, Director ofCounseling and Follow-Up for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Associationfrom 1957 to Discipleship ExercisesCopyright 1980, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1994 (revised 1998)Billy Graham Evangelistic Box 779 Minneapolis, MN 55440-0779 Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy bible , NewInternational Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International BibleSociety. Used by permission of Zondervan bible quotations marked NKJV are from the Holy bible , New KingJames 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.,Nashville, of ContentsPageIntroduction .. 1 Format For A Discovery Group.. 3 New Beginnings(Seven-Week Discovery Group)Salvation .. 10 Assurance .. 12 Lordship .. 13 The bible .. 16 Prayer.

2 18 The Holy Spirit s Indwelling .. 20 Witness .. 22 Continuing the WalkThe Holy Spirit His Works .. 26 Trusting in God .. 28 Discipleship .. 30 Obedience .. 32 The Church.. 34 Satan the Tempter .. 36 Victory .. 38 God s Forgiveness .. 40 Hindrances to Prayer .. 42 Praise and Thanksgiving .. 44 Guidance .. 46 Adversity .. 48 Discipline .. 50 Self-Denial .. 52 Generosity .. 54 God s Divine Care .. 56 Love .. 58 Humility .. 60 Honesty .. 62 Our Hearts.. 64 Our Tongues .. 66 Forgiving Others .. 68 Proper Perspective .. 70 Tips For Leaders .. 73 How to Memorize/Memory Verse Cards .. 771 IntroductionThirty Discipleship Exercisesis a study featuring 30 different topics withsix bible verses for each lesson. The Scriptures selected are basic to theChristian life and witness. This material can be used for personal devo-tions, one-on-one discipling of another, or for small group DevotionsTake one topic a day for a 30-day period.

3 Take at least 15 minutes eachday to .. Prayerfully read each verse. Circle key words or phrases. This will make you look more closely atthe content of each verse. Answer the questions at the bottom of each page. You may want touse a separate sheet of paper or a small notebook for your writtenwork. The verse study will give you a good look at some basic truth and spe-cific insight to apply to everyday life. Memorize the verse in each lesson that is marked with an you have finished the Exercises you can start all over again. Thesecond time, open your bible and look at each verse in its context read-ing the whole chapter from which the verse is DiscipleshipYou can use this material for meeting with an individual for personal-ized follow-up. Have the individual complete the Exercises on a you meet, compare key words and phrases as well as answers tothe questions. Discuss the application of these principles and have Group StudyThe primary intention of these lessons is for small group interaction.

4 Asmall group or Discovery Group is a group of 6 12 people meetingweekly in an informal setting to study and discuss the Word of God. Theleader asks questions to draw the group into a discussion of the bible studywhich each member of the group prepares in participant will be discovering biblical truth by: Circling key words or phrases Answering questions Defining key words Paraphrasing a verse Making application to daily lifeWhat is the purpose of a Discovery Group?The primary purpose is to follow up inquirers from an evangelisticevent or a special outreach ministry. Following the evangelistic ministrypeople who have made commitments, their friends and other churchmembers who are interested in bible study should be invited to attend theDiscovery and materialsChurches wishing to be in a Discovery Group ministry are responsiblefor training leaders. Copies of Thirty Discipleship Exercises , a part of theChristian Growth Series, can be purchased at your local bookstore orthrough Grason/World Wide Publications in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bycalling (612) 333-0725, (800) 487-0433, e-mail: page: for Leaders are in the back of the book, pages 81 84.

5 This sectionwill be helpful in leading and organizing a for a Discovery GroupThere is no perfect size for a small group nor a perfect number of weeksfor the group to meet. But experience has taught a helpful guideline avoid too many and too much! Six to twelve persons skillfully led forseven weeks can provide a wonderful learning experience a journey ofdiscovery!The first seven topics covered in this book are foundational to theChristian life .. SALVATION ASSURANCE LORDSHIP THEBIBLE PRAYER THE HOLY SPIRIT S INDWELLING each lesson the bible is the text and the Holy Spirit the teacher. Allmembers of the group, including the leader, learn together. Indeed, everyprogram of study must have a goal or objective. In each lesson in ThirtyDiscipleship Exercises we have three:DISCOVERY What does God say? UNDERSTANDING What does the Scripture mean? APPLICATION How can this affect my life?

6 Following is a suggested plan for Lesson One Salvation and abasic guide for Lessons Two to One SalvationA Suggested Plan for Week OneINTRODUCTIONS uggested TimeAn Opening Prayer The leader welcomes each member of thegroup and leads in an opening prayer. The leader then explains that the Biblestudy will cover seven lessons NewBeginnings with each lesson requiringabout 75 Acquainted Starting with the leader, have each groupmember give his or her name and specialinterest. EXAMPLE: Hobby, vacation , clubactivity, if a student, where? What programof study? etc. As each person shares, have each memberwrite out the name and special interest on My Group, page 13. Explain the importance of the six itemsunder As a member of the DiscoveryGroup I will. THE LESSON DISCUSSIONF irstThe leader reads aloud the introductory para-graph on SALVATION, page leader then reads aloud slowly and careful-ly the six verses printed on the page.

7 As youread, have group members circle words andphrases that seem to jump off the page, either as an insight into spiritual truth or as two or three minutes for the group tosilently reread the six questions in the shaded area one at a should follow after each 5 Minutes10 15 Minutes25 30 Minutes5 THE LESSON VERSE STUDYDo the verse study on page 19. This will alloweach group member to dig deeper into thesubject of SALVATION. Have each member define believe and eter-nal life. Ask if two or three members would like to sharetheir definitions and have a brief discussion. Next, have each member paraphrase that iswrite in their own words the verse John 3 two or three members read aloud theirparaphrases and have discussion. Next, have each member answer the question:How can you apply the truth of this verse to yourlife today? Note:This is usually more difficult inthe beginning; therefore, the leader should setthe pace by answering this question honestlyand ASSIGNMENTGive the following home assignment in prepa-ration for Lesson 2, ASSURANCE.

8 Have each group member read the introductionparagraph and verses prior to next week. Have each group member write out aquestion(s) they would like to ask the groupnext week. Encourage each member to memorize John3:16 salvation. Memory verse cards are in theback of the everyone for their participation and leadin a closing prayer. Be careful not to put anyone on the spot by ask-ing them to pray. Learning to pray out loud takestime. The leader should set a good =TimeA Suggested Plan for Leading Lessons 2 7 Opening Prayer5 10 Minutesand get acquainted Review Memory Verse3 5 Minutesfrom previous week(s) The Lesson Discussion40 50 Minutesand verse study Next week s home assignment3 5 Minutes Closing prayer time5 Minutes675 MinutesTotal =Time7My GroupMembers NamesSpecial Interests/PrayerNeeds_____As a member of the Discovery Group I will:1. Give priority to attending each week unless unavoidably Faithfully complete the weekly home study Participate in the group discussion as I am Find creative ways to communicate my faith in Christ to Pray by name for each member of my group during the weeks thegroup is Refrain from discussing needs expressed in the group with anyoneoutside the : _____Date: _____NewBeginningsA seven-week small group study in the basics of the Christian means deliverance from sin and its consequence.

9 Review andmeditate on these truths until you can say with confidence, I know I ama Christian.. I have been born into God s family as His child .. I nowhave eternal life. key words and phrases in the following will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their 1:21 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sin-ners, Christ died for 5:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not fromyourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can 2:8 9 Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be 10:13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave theright to become children of God children born not of natural descent, norof human decision or a husband s will, but born of 1:12 13* For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoev-er believes in him shall not perish but have eternal 3 the above Scriptures, what do we learn about (answer briefly):Salvation (Matthew 1.)

10 21; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8 9; Romans 10:13)Becoming God s Child(John 1:12 13)Eternal Life(John 3:16) a verse study using the form on the next John 3 the suggested memory verse marked with an asterisk from the opposite page, complete this verse study reference two key words and define Word _____Definition _____Key Word _____Definition does the verse say?(Paraphrase Rewrite the verse in your own words.) can you apply the truth of this verse to your life today?_____Closing (Prayer time and assignment for next week)Verse Study Form12twoAssuranceOne of Satan s tricks is to cause believers to doubt their salvation. Havingassurance means being certain with a freedom from doubt. Meditate onthe following Scriptures to enable you to have victory over your key words and phrases in the following him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, inaccordance with the riches of God s 1:7 Who through faith are shielded by God s power until the coming of the sal-vation that is ready to be revealed in the last PETER 1:5 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love ofGod that is in Christ Jesus our 8:38 39My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.