1. CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

2. The Church; What is it? Before the Church (Old Testament Times), Men Came to God to Worship and Ask for Forgiveness through a Priest. A Curtain Separated Men from God in the Temple. When Jesus was Crucified the Curtain was torn from Top to Bottom by God. The Church was formed so that Man could come directly to God rather than continue approaching Him through a Priest. Matt 27: 45, 50 - 51

3. Matthew 27: 45, 50 - 51 From the sixth hour to the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried our in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach- thani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This is what is so significant about Jesus’ execution. Holy God could not continue His close fellowship with His son due to our sins being on him at that time. The Old Testament practice was for a separating curtain to remain between God and the Hebrew people. Only the High Priest could go behind the temple curtain once a year to offer prayers on behalf of the people and hear from God to instruct the people. With the removal of the curtain, we can all now approach God without a priest.

4. Jesus Started The Church He Is The Head of the Church Jesus Started The Church He Is The Head of the Church Matt 16: 18 Col 1: 18

5. Matthew 16: 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Peter had spoken from heavenly inspiration and it was from this inspiration or foundation rock that Christ built the Church – not the man Peter. The Church shall prevail against the forces of evil (Hades). Christ is the Head of the Church which is His body on Earth. Colossians 1: 18 And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy.

6. Crucifixion 3 Ascension 40 Passover 10 Pentecost 50 Festival of First Harvest Holy Spirit 3 The Church Was Born All Numbers are in Days Resurrection

7. The Church Is a Group of Baptized Believers They Have Agreed To Serve Together in Faith and Fellowship

8. Jesus Is The Head of the Church The Church is the Body of Christ Jesus Is the Great Shepherd A Pastor/Elder/Bishop is the Shepherd Or Overseer Deacons are Servant Undershepherds

9. The Greek Word For Church Is EKKLESIA “Called Out Ones” Separated From the World System

10. The True Church Is The Body of Jesus Christ on Earth Through Which He Continues His Work Jesus is Depending Upon The Church to Continue the Ministry He Started. We Are His Ambassadors On Earth Eph 3: 10 – 11 II Cor 5: 20

11. Ephesians 3: 10 – 11 His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. II Corinthians 5: 20 We are therefore Christ’s Ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

12. The Church Is To:  Make Disciples; that make Disciples  Pray; Teach others to Pray  Teach the Bible, and Study the Bible  Tell Lost People About Jesus  Provide Fellowship  Take Jesus’ Message (Gospel) Around the World  Practice Stewardship  Perform Baptisms  Observe The Lord’s Supper  Care for the Poor  Worship and Praise God

13. Ordinances: 1. Baptism - To Be Performed Before Partaking of the Lord’s Supper 2. Lord’s Supper- Act of Obedience Through Bread and Grape Juice [Fruit of the Vine]  The Supper uses the “Fruit of the Vine” and unleavened bread  The bread represents Christ’s Body (Free of Sin)  The fruit of the vine represents Christ’s Blood (Life)  The Christian need be baptized once  The Lord’s Supper can be taken often in remembrance of Him

14. BAPTISM Baptizo: To Dip, Plunge, or Immerse. To Be Engulfed. Baptism is symbolic of Death to the old way of living and Arising to a New Life In Christ.

15. BAPTISM Baptized Into His Death. Death to the Life of Adam Raised Into A New Life The Life Provided By Christ. Romans 6: 1 - 11 Baptism does not wash away sins nor Saves a Person!

17. The Lord’s Supper The Supper is an act of obedience expressed by taking Christ’s symbolic body (Unleavened Bread) and Christ’s Blood (Life represented by Grape Juice) Jesus told His disciples that as often as they take the Supper, always remember Him. Only Christians should take the Supper, one should examine his/her heart and confess/repent of any sin. Jesus never said when or how often believers should observe The Lord’s Supper.

18. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. Only Christians should take the Lord’s supper. It is a very serious and solemn practice. The Christian should first search his heart, confess his sin, and meditate on what Christ has done for him. 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. I Corinthians 11: 23 – 29

19. Stewardship: Luke 16: 10 - 13 We are to be Custodians or Managers of All That We Have: Time Talents / Skills Gifts Everything

20. Luke 16: 10 – 13 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (or worldly riches).”

21. Gifts of the Spirit Or Spiritual Gifts

22. The New Testament tells us about Spiritual Gifts in four passages: Now these are gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Ephesians 4: 11 These gifts to the church are specially gifted people.

23. All Spiritual Gifts are for the single purpose of building and sustaining the Church Apostles do not stay at a local church. They are much like our modern missionaries and church planters Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers do stay with local churches Church evangelists are sent out locally or regionally by the local church and may help other members to evangelize.

24. Spiritual Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit at the time of Salvation to All Christians Spiritual Gifts are Different from Natural Talents We do not Choose our Spiritual Gift(s), The Holy Spirit Determines Who Gets Which Gift(s) I Corinthians 12: 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit (Spiritual Gift) is given for the common good. I Corinthians 12: 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.

25. Prophesying Serving Teaching Giving or Contributing Providing Leadership Showing Mercy Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12: 3 – 8) These are separate service gifts to be performed for the church. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

26. You Are the Body of Christ Now You Are the Body of Christ and Each One of You Is A Part (Member) of It. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Romans 12: 3 - 13 Arm Eye Ear Nose Foot Christ is the Head I Am God is a God of diversity. No two humans are exactly alike. No two Churches are alike. He has purposely given a variety of Spiritual Gifts so that we will perform different functions through the Church.

27. I Corinthians 12: 28 – 30 And in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Spiritual Gifts are distributed throughout the Church to build up the Church as the Body of Christ. The gifts should work together just like the members of the body (hands, eyes, ears, etc.) work together. I Corinthians 12: 8 – 12 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that same Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

28. How to Effectively Use Spiritual Gifts: With an Attitude of (Agape) Love I Corinthians 13 Agape Love is an all giving love with no expectation of anything in return. God agape loves YOU.

29. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13: 1 - 12 The way to properly exercise Spiritual Gifts is always in Love. During this life, we will never attain full knowledge but when we face Christ face-to- face, we will know fully. If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not Love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not Love, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor an surrender my body to the flames, but have not Love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

30. There Are No Small Ministries – All Are Important

31. How to Know your Gift: 1. Believe you are gifted. Spiritual Gifts are for every Christian 2. Pray for Discernment About Your Gift(s) 3. Study the Bible to Learn More About the Gifts 4. Accept Responsibility: All are Commanded to evangelize, show mercy, encourage, give and help 5. Consider Your Desires; What do you Enjoy Doing? 6. Accept the Confirmation of Others 7. At What are you Successful? What Bears Much Fruit?

32. ASSIGNMENT: Continue daily Bible reading and prayer. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will reveal your spiritual gift and point out how you can use your gift in your church (this is a prayer of petition.) Perform a kind deed for someone in your neighborhood.