Bible Study Series HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN DISCIPLESHIP & FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION IN A “CHURCH SKEPTICAL” WORLD? St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church 44 Hildebrand Street, Asheville, NC, 28801 Rev. Brent La Prince Edwards, Pastor, M. Div. www.stjames-Asheville.org Copyright 2019 © Copyright Laws apply

INTRODUCTORY LESSON I What is the Great Commission? What is a Disciple? What’s Happening with the 21st Century Church? A Scriptural Model of How to Do This? (Group Discussion) Group Discussion from Book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Tom S. Rainer Comments/Questions/Answers

Tools Needed: Your Bible! (NIV, KJV, others) Notebook, writing utensils or smart-phones, tech-tools to write notes Books: (All by Tom S. Rainer) Autopsy of a Deceased Church Becoming a Welcoming Church I Am a Church Member

Turn to: Matthew 28: 18-20 in NIV (All Read aloud together) What is the Great Commission? What is a Disciple? (All read aloud together) “The Great Commission is the command Christ gave to his disciples and all believers to bring souls to him through proclaiming the Gospel and baptism and bring them into spiritual maturity through “followship” of Him.” Notice: The verb, ”make” indicates this task is a “process” and not an overnight experience as we will see in our upcoming Biblical model. All of us are called to “make” disciples not just clergy. (All read aloud together) “ A “convert” is a new believer. But a “disciple” is a disciplined learner & follower of Christ who is growing.” Dr. Billy Hanks, Operation Multiplication Briefly discuss the difference between the two and why is it important for us as Christian workers to know the difference?

What’s Happening with the 21st Century Church? According to Cary Nieuwhof & the Barna Group Research: REASONS PEOPLE STOP ATTENDING CHURCH: The Church is irrelevant, the leaders are hypocritical and leaders have experienced too much moral failure GOD is missing in the church – people go to church looking for God and have difficulty finding him. God often gets lost in our polity & method of doing things Legitimate doubt is prohibited – meaning if one questions the theology - (beliefs), polity (how a church operates) or question why a church operates as it does, some feel the response is hostile or looked upon with skepticism. They’re not learning about God – people come to church seeking God only to not understand anything they’ve heard. They’re not finding community – (meaningful relationships among laity) The study points out that despite the growing epidemic of loneliness, only 10% report going to church to find community. People tend to stay in churches where they have “friends at church.”

How Do We Do This? A Biblical Model & Example All Read Aloud Together: Acts 2:37-47 The First Century (Model) Church Had: Preaching/Proclamation – which resulted in conversions & accessions -V. 37 -41 Fellowship & Prayed Together – they daily “mingled” with each other leaving no one alone. – V. 42 Community/Programs that Met the Needs of the Parishioners –V. 43 Daily Home Visits –They didn’t wait till Sundays only to check on members. They actually went to their homes! As a result the whole membership felt “favored!”- V. 46-47. Evangelism – to the point “the Lord himself” ‘daily’ increased the membership AREAS OF STRENGTH: Discuss & write down areas of strength you see in our congregation where we mirror the First Century Model Church in our Congregation. AREAS NEEDING TO BE STRENGTHENED: Discuss & write down areas you see in our congregation that can be strengthened that may either not reflect the model of the First Century Church or there can be room for improvement

Group Work/ Book: The Autopsy of a Deceased Church; 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive by Tom. S. Rainer (Break into 3 Groups) Have one volunteer from each group to read the following: GROUP QUESTIONS: Pg. 15 What was your church like twenty years ago versus today? Talk with others to get an honest assessment. Do you see any signs of gradual erosion? How is the neglect of building the temple described in Haggai 1 like gradual erosion today? What do you think God meant in Haggai 1:9 by the phrase “while each of you is busy with his own house?” CHAPTER 2: SLOW EROSION Volunteer #1: pages 11-12. Volunteer #2: The Slow Erosion of Churches, pages 12- 13. Volunteer #3: Decline Back in Time, pages 13-14. PRAYER OF COMMITMENT: (Pray aloud together:) “God, please let me be part of the solution and not the problem. Show me what I need to see. Open my eyes to Your reality. And give me the courage to move forward in the directions You desire.”

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