Know and Teach the Original Gospel

Luke 24.44-49; Acts 2.22-40; 3.13-26; 5.29-32; 10.34-48; 13.23-41; Acts 17:1-4; 17.22-31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

1.       The prophets predicted in their Scriptures that God would send a Saviour into the world.

2.       God proved that Jesus is the Saviour, by allowing him to do many miracles, freeing people from the power of Satan.

3.       Jealous religious leaders provoked governmental authorities to arrest Jesus, condemn him and kill him by nailing him to a wooden cross.

4.       Three days after he died, Jesus returned from death to life and came out of his grave.

5.       Jesus appeared to many witnesses who knew him. He talked with them, showed them that he is alive, and gave to them his commandments.

6.       Jesus promised that God will forgive all who turn away from their bad behaviour, and He will set them free.

7.       All who put their trust in Jesus and obey him receive the Holy Spirit who comes from God.

8.       Jesus went up into the sky where he has all authority over heaven and earth. He is Lord over all.

9.       Jesus’ followers should baptize new believers with water.

10.   Jesus will some day come back to earth to judge everybody, to raise his followers back to life, and to set up a world-wide kingdom.

 

Seven Basic Commandments of our Lord Jesus

1.       Repent, believe, and receive the Holy Spirit (conversion, regeneration),
Mark 1:15; John 3:16; John 20:22

2.       Be baptized and live the new life it initiates, leading to all that has to do with our transformation, Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:18-20

3.       Love God, neighbours, believers, the needy and enemies (forgive them),
Matt. 22:36-40; Jn 13:34-35, Luke 10:25-37; Matt. 5:43-48

4.       Break bread (Communion, Lord’s Table, related to all that we do to worship), Matthew 26:26-28; John 4:24

5.       Pray (using Jesus’ name, privately and as family devotions, do intercession and spiritual warfare), John 16:24

6.       Give (stewardship of our treasure, time and talents), Luke 6:38; Matt. 6:1-4

7.       Make disciples (witness for Christ, shepherd his flock, apply the Word, train leaders, send missionaries), Matthew 28:18-20

 

Required New Testament Ministries

Ministries that shepherd congregations

1.       Counsel people with personal or family problems (Example: Philemon).

2.       Watch over the flock’s spiritual life; correct the unruly; restore straying lambs (Acts 20:28-31).

3.       Organize and lead to help all believers to use their spiritual gifts in ministry (1 Corinthians 12).

4.       Strengthen marriage and family life (Ephesians 5:21–6:4).

5.       Evaluate regularly and keep improving all ministries (Titus 1:5).

… that instruct believers

6.       Learn, teach and obey God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

7.       Disciple children, converts and adults to equip them all for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16).

8.       Train pastors, evangelists, church planters and missionaries (2 Timothy 2:2).

… that build the Body and cultivate character

9.       Cultivate loving fellowship among brothers in Christ and among churches (1 Corinthians 13).

10.   Worship in spirit and in truth, as a family and as a church body (John 4:24).

11.   Develop prayer, devotional life (daily family devotions, spiritual warfare) (Ephesians 6:10-18).

12.   Give to church and mission work; be wise stewards of with that God has given us (Luke 6:38).

…that serve communities and extend God’s Kingdom

13.   Witness for Christ to those who do not know Him (Acts 1:8).

14.   Care for the sick, needy and mistreated (Luke 10:25-37).

15.   Reproduce new churches or cells locally (Acts chapters 10, 13-14).

16.   Send missionaries to neglected people groups in foreign fields (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

When you mentor novice leaders

1) Pray to begin

·         Participants normally pray to start and end the session, and whenever a problem arises.

·         Stop for a moment and pray with the elder, asking the Lord to use this demonstration to help him and the entire group to learn how to mentor.

2) Listen to reports

·         Listen to each trainee’s report on what his church is doing or lacking.

·         Have the elder tell what his work group is planning, and any problems they have, or questions. If he cannot think of something in the moment, ask anyone to suggest something.

3) Plan ministry

·         Plan together what trainees will do with their congregations during the next week or two. They may practice together a ministry skill, to prepare the student.

·         Plan with The elder what he will help his work group to do. You might ask if his church needs help to develop any of the ministries that he has learned about.

·         IMPORTANT: Make sure that plans include specific tasks, names of trainees and places.

4) Assign reading

·         The instructor assigns Bible reading and other studies that correspond to each trainee’s plans.

·         Show the trainees the studies that you have prepared. If anyone has mentioned a need that corresponds to one of the studies, say so and pretend to sell the study to the elder for a small price. If the studies do not apply to the needs mentioned, simply pretend that one does.

5) Review studies already done

·         The mentor listens to each apprentice leader tell what they learned from previously assigned studies. If an apprentice has not studied something well, the mentor asks him to study it again.

·         Ask the elder what has been the most helpful thing that he has learned so far in the workshop.

6) Intercede in prayer

·         Also pray for each other’s plans and for your flocks.

·         Pray for the elder’s plans, and that he will serve his work group well.