Discipleship Course
Introduction
The main aim of this course is to help you to connect with God. The following pages/downloads are designed to be used either in a group or as an individual.
The goal is not that you become a self contained island with no need for outside assistance but that you are trained in how to study the Bible, pray and spend time with God. The basis of your progress in Christ is not upon the person that may be leading you through this course, or the person that introduced you to the idea of having a relationship with Jesus, but is based on your own desire to learn and follow Jesus.
In the New Testament there is a book called Acts. This book was written by Luke, the author of the gospel of Luke (gospel means ‘good news’). Luke was not one of the original twelve disciples but he was one of Jesus’ early followers. Acts is a continuation of his gospel¹ about Jesus and it records the start of the church. Church then was very different from church now, for reasons that will be covered when we look into the church. The point that we need to grasp from Acts is this; they (the early followers of Jesus) devoted themselves to the apostles teaching², fellowship (or getting together), to communion and prayer (Acts 2:42).
My point is this; that as followers of Jesus we must devote ourselves to these basic things as set out in Acts, it cannot be done for us! Whilst we are on a journey together to find out more about God, encouraging and supporting each other along the way, the decision to continue along the journey can only be made by you! It is the team’s heart that you would make that decision to follow after God and join the journey of a life time with God. Your life will never be the same again, things will change for you.
Think on these words of Jesus: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” The devil is out to destroy life, and mess things up for us. But these words of Jesus show us that He came to give us life to the full right now, and even beyond what we could ever imagine! All you have to do is decide to follow Him with everything you are!
¹ Remember that gospel means good news! When the writers of the four gospels wrote their accounts they were recording the good news of Jesus Christ. The truth of Jesus Christ is good news for us here and now not just when we die!
² For us the apostles teaching are contained in the Bible. Nothing has been added since they wrote them. So by devoting (to dedicate time to) ourselves to the Bible, we will learn and experience God through the teaching in contained within it.
We hope you find the following sections helpful. They will come out in instalments so that you can take your time.
Things you will need
Bible
Note book and pen
Most importantly openness to learn and discuss.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or start a discussion, no matter how daft a question you think it is! I guarantee you; someone else will be thinking the same thing. Discussion and asking questions is how most of us learn best!
Prayer
Lord, help me as I devote my life to you. Help me to daily remember that you have come to give me life beyond anything that I could think of. As I begin to go through this ‘get connected’ course help me to grow in understanding of who you are, how you expect me to live, but to also experience your love and grace. Thank you that you will finish what you have begun in me!
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