Monday 5 September 2016

Back to the basics

Lifestyle Discipleship is the theme of this group of studies. This is Book B: Tools For Christian Growth, which is the 2nd book in the four-book series. It is the author’s goal that you might catch the vision of an old principle taught in Scripture (Discipleship), and utilized in the early church, that you might integrate it into your life for ministry until the day you go to be with the Lord. We hope that with these helps you will be able to use the materials with maximum effectiveness. They have been prepared sacrificially and with great care over approximately thirty years. They certainly are not perfect, but we feel with adequate commitment on the part of disciple and discipler, you will find that they meet your particular need for growth in your development.
The central teaching device as far as the materials are concerned are the worksheets. These have been put together in a way that becomes self-instructional and you can learn from them on your own. Absolutely correct answers to every question, or filling in blanks with exact wording is not crucial. Because of this, there is no answer manual. The discipler and disciple can adequately work out the responses that will be appropriate. The sessions as outlined in the module of material, if followed weekly as assigned, will take a person about a eighteen months to finish. It is unlikely, however, that it will proceed with no interruptions.
**You can download the entire book in PDF and work through each session.
Book A in this series may be found here.
Book C in this series may be found here.
Book D in this series may be found here.
Series ID: 
249
/assets/worddocs/lifestyle_bookb.pdf
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General
14. The Wheel: A General Presentation
Purpose: This session begins a new part of the Lifestyle Discipleship material that will provide a metaphor of the Spirit-filled Christian life. The Wheel, with its six parts, will help you remember the critical areas of focus in your walk with God.
Objectives
1. The disciple will be able to draw the Wheel and label the six parts.
2. The disciple will understand the relationship of the parts of the Wheel and how they relate to his or her walk with God.
3. The disciple will understand the four means of demonstrating obedience, with Christ being central in the entire process.
Scripture Memory
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20
Agenda
1. Interact on personal issues and prayer time.
2. Review Scripture memory.
3. Discuss the Wheel.
4. Discuss the worksheet.
5. Review the questions.
 
The Wheel illustration is a helpful way to remember basic truths about the Spirit-filled life. It is a Christ-centered life. The Holy Spirit focuses your attention on Christ and empowers you to live a life of obedience to Him. God’s word and prayer build you up in a relationship with Christ so He can live through you and reach others through fellowship and witnessing. Without drawing attention to Himself, the Holy Spirit shapes each activity into an avenue of spiritual blessing.
Copyright ©1968 The Navigators, re-printed with permission from The Navigators, all rights reserved.
Worksheet
1. There are six parts of the Wheel. Look up the following verses and write in your own words the meaning of each of the parts.
A. Christ the center — 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20
B. The Obedient Christian — Romans 12:1; John 14:21
C. The Word — Joshua 1:8; 2 Timothy 3:16
D. Prayer — Philippians 4:6-7; John 15:7
E. Fellowship — Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 18:20
F. Witnessing — Matthew 4:19; Romans 1:16
I. The Wheel has been used as an illustration of the Christian life for more than 50 years. It illustrates the functions necessary to produce a life of obedience and faithfulness which are important if I am to practice spirituality (walk in the Spirit) efficiently.
A. The Word is the basic spoke upon which the Wheel is resting. The Word makes the difference between mediocrity and productivity in life. It is as basic as eating is to physical life, 1 Peter 2:2.
B. Prayer is the second vertical spoke. It is the means of communication with the Father that which together with the Word makes our fellowship with Him complete. Prayer for the Christian is as basic as breathing is to our physical life, and it should be just as natural.
C. Fellowship is the third spoke and the first horizontal spoke considered. Fellowship is restorative. It is refreshing to get together with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 says I am not to give up meeting together with other believers. Fellowship is as basic to my Christian life as sleep is to my physical life.
D. Witnessing is the final spoke, and one that is horizontal. It is one of the ways we share the Gospel and ourselves with others. Witnessing is as basic to the Christian as exercise is to our physical life. Without it we will become listless, and very self-centered, Philemon 6.
II. The Wheel is an illustration of the life of obedience for the Christian. It is endless and it illustrates the dynamics of the life.
A. Christ is the hub—the very center.
B. The weight of a wheel is borne at the hub.
C. The driving power comes from the hub.
D. The spokes are the instruments through which the driving power is conveyed from the hub to the outer rim. Only with spokes properly balanced can one be an obedient Christian in action, experiencing spirituality and the abundant life. John 10:10
E. A wheel is a circle—an endless line. Our life in Jesus is eternal and endless life, John 3:36a. When a wheel is moving, the spokes fade away and only the hub is seen. Do people see our spokes (our activities for Christ)? Or do they see Christ?
Project: Analyze the Wheel and then draw a picture of the Wheel which illustrates how your life looks in terms of its balance concerning the four spokes. Study it for a while.
What are you going to do about what you see?
Questions for Review and Discussion
1. How do you make Christ the center of your life?
2. Being an obedient Christian is a reflection of what?
3. What can cause us to lose our focus on Christ? What does this result in?
Summary and Key Concepts
In the following sessions you will study in more depth the four spokes, and you will learn that as we keep our focus on Christ, we can grow in the areas of prayer, God’s Word, witnessing, and fellowship.
Christ must always be in the center of our lives. He is our North Star. When we stray off our course, He guides us back on track, but only if we focus on Him. As we learn to walk in the Spirit more efficiently, we will enjoy God’s peace in all that we do.
Biblical Topics: 
Discipleship
15. The Value of the Scriptures: The Word
Purpose: To understand the uniqueness of the scriptures as compared to all other writings.
Objectives
1. The disciple will analyze various portions of scripture which speaks of itself and the roll it plays in the life God has given us. 
2. The disciple will be able to see the importance of the Word as set forth in the Wheel.
Scripture Memory
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Agenda
1. Interact on personal issues and prayer time.
2. Review Scripture Memory.
3. Discuss worksheet.
4. Discuss Scripture analysis.
The Importance of the Word of God in the Life of a Christian
These are only a few of the statements in Scripture that speak of the direct results of the Word of God in my life.
1. In Salvation, Romans 10:17
2. For my Growth, 1 Peter 2:2-3
3. It gives me Boldness, Psalm 119:42 (confidence)
4. It provides Guidance, Psalm 119:105
5. It gives Power, Jeremiah 23:29
6. It brings Conviction, Hebrews 4:12
7. The Word enables or facilitates Fellowship, John 15:7
8. The Word Cleanses, John 15:3
9. The Word brings Victory, Matthew 4:3-4
10. The Word brings Success, Joshua 1:8
11. The Word brings Satisfaction, Psalm 119:20
12. Joy comes from the Word, Jeremiah 15:16
13. Life is given through the Word, John 6:63
14. Wisdom is found in the Word, Psalm 19:7
15. The Word brings about Conversion, Psalm 19:7
16. The Word gives us Warning and Great Reward, Psalm 19:11
Add to the list of the above number of verses any new ones you find that speak definitely of the value of the Scriptures in practical ways. Keep this as an open assignment in which you will constantly build additional verses to your list.
Worksheet
The following verses each give a different perspective on the value of the Word in the life of the individual Christian. Look up each verse and elaborate on why the Word is of value according to what the verse says.

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