Purpose: To reveal from God's Word what He says concerning each of us as His children. To
show how each person is unique and thereby very special in the sight of their Creator.
Teaching: Explain that the title of this study is: Foundations of Christian Discipleship. As the title
implies, we will be discussing the essentials of being a disciple of Christ in the twentieth
century. Today we will discuss the wonderful grace of God toward each of us in Christ.
* What does this verse tell us about Jeremiah's creation?
We see in these passages that God is intimately involved in the development of Jeremiah as he was
in the womb of his mother.
* What does this say to us concerning our own conception and growth?
This shows us God's concern for the life of all people, so much so that He personally directs our
development. [This also speaks to us concerning God's view of the unborn and the value He places
on them.]
* What does this passage tell us about God's involvement in Jeremiah's life?
God determined what Jeremiah's carrier was to be. God called Him to be His prophet and He had
planned this from his conception.
* How might we see this in our own life?
We are assured of God's direction and involvement in our life on a day to day basis.
* What does this verse say concerning our day to day life?
God not only took part in forming us in the womb of our mother, but He also tells us that He is
personally involved with our entire life. Just as the Scriptures declare that God knows the end of
a thing before its beginning, so also God knew our entire life as He molded and shaped us.
Illustration: Fingerprints
[Have an ink pad and paper ready to allow people to take their fingerprints and them compare
them with other people's. Make sure to have some type of cleaning solution for people to use to
remove the ink from their fingers. Use this to show our uniqueness.]
* What does this passage say about the preservation of the universe?
Our God is a creator God who out of His love created the universe and all that is in it. He is
concerned about the well-being of all His creation. Jesus tells us that even the sparrows are loved
by God, so much so that one cannot fall to the ground without His knowing it.
* What does this say to us about God's love for us?
We are so precious to God that He even knows how many hairs are on our head. This shows us
just how intimately concerned God is with each one of us.
We have seen from the previous passages that God is intimately involved with the creation and
preservation of each of us. The following verses show us how all this began in the beginning when God
first created man.
* What pattern did God use for the creation of man?
God created man and woman in His own image using it as a pattern.
* What is the image of God?
Mankind was holy and righteous. Man was totally without sin.
* Why did God created man?
Man was created to have fellowship with God. [God walked with Adam in the garden in the cool
of the day. Gen. 2:15 & 3:8]
* In what way was the creation of woman different than that of man?
God created man in His image and then from the man woman was created.
* In what way did woman share the image of God?
The woman shared in this aspect of the image of God, in that she too was sinless, holy, and
righteous. She, like man, was able to have fellowship with God, until sin entered the world.
* What was God's view toward all He had created including man and woman?
All that God created was good, including man and woman.
* What was the act which Adam and Eve did?
They ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
* Why was this wrong?
God had declared to them that they should not eat of the tree. By doing so they disobeyed God.
* What then is sin?
Sin is the breaking of God's law or "lawlessness."
* What was the result of Adam's sin?
We are all sinful when we came into this world and as a result we will die.
* What death is spoken about?
Both physical death and spiritual death. Before the fall there was no sin or disease. There was no natural cause for death. After the fall man became subject to physical death. Spiritual death
is also a result of sin. We are no longer able to have fellowship with God. Sin has severed the
relationship which was at one time a reality.
* What had God done for us according to these verses?
He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance.
* What is the inheritance?
Eternal life spent in heaven in the presence of God.
* How did God do this for us?
This gap of sin which separated us from God was unable to be bridged from man to God. The
only way it could be bridged was from God to us. God chose to do this by sending Jesus to die
on the Cross and therefore bridge the gap with His blood. The blood which brings to us once
again peace with God, vs. 20.
* From what have we been redeemed according to this verse?
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law. The law said be perfect, Matthew 5:48. The curse
of the Law was that if we were not perfect that we deserved death--physical and eternal death,
Romans 3:23.
* What does it mean to be redeemed?
To be redeemed means to be bought back. Christ bought us by paying His own life.
* Where does the power of this new life come from?
God has given us new birth through the resurrection of His Son. For it is in the power of the
resurrection that we have new life.
* When did this new life begin for each of us?
When God worked faith in our heart. Faith which clings to the promise of forgiveness of sin in
Christ.
* How does God create faith in our heart?
Through His means of grace. Be it at baptism when we were reborn with the water and the word,
or when we heard the Gospel message and the Holy Spirit worked through that message to created
faith.
* What does this verse say to us?
In Christ we are a new creation.
* What does this mean?
After the fall this ability to have fellowship with God was lost. There was and is now a gap
between us which is called sin. The image of God (holiness, righteousness, fellowship) was lost.
In Christ God has bridged the gap of sin which has separated us from Him. This was done
through the Cross of Christ. In Christ we are reborn and as a result of this rebirth we have
restored to us the Image of God.
(It should be correctly understood that the image is only partly restored. From God's perspective we are
once again holy and righteous. God sees us through the blood of Christ. From our perspective we are
still sinners in need of Christ's forgiveness. This is what we call being a saint and sinner at the same
time.)
* What does verse 10 say about the purpose for our life?
We are to live our lives doing good works for Christ and His kingdom.
* Do these good works contribute to our standing before God?
In no way. See verses 8-9. These teach clearly we are saved by God's working in our life. Good
works flow from our faith.
* According to this verse what is our motivation for doing good works?
Our motivation is our love for Jesus as our Savior.
* Is this the same type of love that all people share for each other?
No! The love we have for Jesus is a special love which only Christians can have. It is called
AGAPE love. This is the love which God has for us in Christ. It is this self-sacrificing love
which God had for us which moved Him to send Jesus to be our Savior. Only after having
experiences AGAPE love from God can we have it for Him.
* Where do our gifts come from?
The giving of gifts to the Christian is governed by the Holy Spirit.
* Do all Christians have gifts which have been given to them by the Holy Spirit?
Yes! I Corinthians 12:12-27; We together comprise the Body of Christ. We are all blessed by
God with special gifts and abilities with are able to minister the entire body. Paul says if one
member is missing the entire body is lacking. As we come together with the desire to serve one
another (All Christians) we use the gifts God has blessed us with. If we refuse to serve others we
hurt the body, for without us the body is lacking.
* According to this passage, what has Christ made us?
A kingdom of priests.
* As priests, what are we to be doing?
We are called to serve as priests which means to proclaim the praises of God, praises for our
salvation. [This is a fundamental passage for the doctrine of the Priesthood of all Believers. It
should be noted that this passage is not dealing with the Public Ministry, but with the ministry that
all Christians have as virtue of their relationship with God in Christ.]
* As God's priests He builds us together into what?
His Church! There is no such thing as a building which is the Church of God. The Church is not
a building but people who have been redeemed through Christ. As living stones individually we
are knit together to form the church.
* What do we offer up to God?
Spiritual sacrifices.
* What are some of the functions we do as the Church or priests of God?
There are many individual things which we can point to and say are spiritual sacrifices, such as;
1. Sharing the Gospel.
2. Ministering to the sick and elderly.
3. Training our children.
4. Loving your husband or wife.
5. Serving our church (local congregation).
6. Others
[Ultimately spiritual sacrifices are nothing more and nothing less than an entire life lived in
Christian service to our God.]
* According to this passage, what are we to be?
We are to be a living sacrifice. Living for God totally.
* How are we to accomplish this in our daily life?
First, by the mercies of God.
Second, by being transformed by the renewing of our minds.
* What is the will of God for our lives?
That we live a life pleasing to Him in word and deed, continually looking to His Word for
guidance.
Conclude the study by reading Isaiah 6:1-8 and have the group imagine what it must be like to see God in all of His glory and majesty, and how wonderful it is to be able to be forgiven by this loving God and equipped to live for Him as a servant.
1. Prior to today I was conscious of the fact that God was directly involved with my creation and birth? True or False.
2. Before this study how did you understand the statement that Adam was made in the image of God?
3. Do you believe in your heart that you are a sinner in need of God's grace? True or False?
4. What do you think you deserve because of your sin?
5. Do you truly believe in your heart that Jesus Christ loves you and gave His life on the cross to save you from your sin?
6. When did God give you "new life" in Christ?
_____ At Baptism.
_____ As a young child when I heard the Gospel.
_____ As an adult when I heard the Gospel.
_____ He hasn't given me new life yet.
7. Having been given new life in Christ, what should our response toward God be?
8. What is the motivation for this response?
It is best if the assignments are done with someone rather than individually. They are good exercises for the family. If you have no immediate family with whom you might complete the assignments, why not ask a close Christian friend to share this part of the study with you? We need other people to help us in our objectivity and to hold us accountable for the completion of the assignments. Also, it is important to establish a specific time when the assignments will be done. Remember, failure to apply the teachings of the study to ones life renders your participation in the study null and void.
* Review lesson 1 and pick one Bible verse which speaks to you in a special way and memorize it.
* Look at yourself in the mirror and think about how wonderful you are. Realize that you are
exactly how God wanted you to be.
* Review lesson 1 and your memory verse quickly. Tell your study partner what you like about
them. Realize God made them and they are special in every way just as you are.
* Read Genesis 1 and mark in your bibles what God created on each of the six days of creation.
* Read Isaiah 43:1-13. As you study this section of Scripture make note of the passages which
speak concerning God's hand in our creation, both physical and spiritual.
* Read Mark 15:21-41 and spend a few minutes meditating on what Jesus suffered on your behalf
so you could have forgiveness of sins.
* Share with your study partner that they are so special and loved by God that if it had been
necessary Jesus would have died on the cross if they were the only person who needed the
forgiveness of sins.
* Read Romans 6:1-4 & Colossians 2:11-13. Note that it is at your baptism that your sin was nailed
to the cross and forgiven. Also note that you have new life given to you by virtue of your
baptism.
* Read Colossians 3:12-17 several times and mark all the ways the new life which has been given
to us in baptism manifests itself in our actions.
* Read Isaiah 6:1-8 and note the way in which the story progresses. There is realization of sin and
with that despair. Then there is forgiveness given by God. Then there is loving, obedient
response.
* Make an outline of the story with sin, forgiveness, response as a model.
* Read Revelation 22:1-5 and meditate on how wonderful it will be to be in the presence of God for
all eternity.
* Make Revelation 22:20 your prayer for the day.