ABCD:
A Basic Course in Discipleship
By G.E. Mullings
Edited by Stephen Russell
This edition: December 1, 1998a.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture
quotations taken from the
Holy Bible, New International Version.
Copyright Ó 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission.
This material is not to be duplicated without the permission
of the SCFSU, 1 Gordon
Town Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica.
Introduction
"Follow-up",
a word borrowed from the world of commerce, is an unfortunate term. The very
sound of the word suggests: "afterthought". Nothing could be further
from the true value of taking time to consolidate one's Christian commitment
and to build up the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills which are vital
for successful Christian living.
It
is in this context that ABCD has been developed, primarily for use in small
groups. We suggest that you do the first session together, then agree on a
schedule for working through the rest of the course. There are nine scheduled
sessions in this course which have been selected to give a solid overview
of Christian Discipleship. Don't be afraid to go slower than suggested if
you need the time.
May
our Lord and Saviour bless and prosper you as you seek to serve him.
Gordon
Mullings
January
1990.
Suggested Schedule
For
each of the following meetings we suggest that you open with prayer and sharing.
This should take about fifteen minutes. Then spend the next half an hour on
the topic for the meeting. Finally take a few minutes to reflect, share, and
pray. (The first meeting will be somewhat exceptional to this pattern.)S
A
letter to the group leader
Dear
Fellow-worker,
Jesus
has given us a clear, powerful mandate: "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Clearly
no higher authority exists. Equally clearly, we are to work so that men will
commit themselves to Christ, be nurtured in obedience to him, and will in
turn go out as fellow workers with him in the world.
In
this course, our focus is on the process of consolidating commitment, and
upon nurture. But we must keep in mind the objective: the world. Equally,
we must bear in our hearts Jesus' reminder that discipleship largely works
by example: the blind can lead the blind - about as far as the nearest
ditch (see Luke 6:39, 40).
As
we go, therefore, let us all work together so that we can grow together as
disciples of Christ.
God
bless and keep you,
Gordon.
January
1990
A
letter to the new disciple
Dear
fellow disciple,
Perhaps
this greeting catches you by surprise. If so, it is to emphasize a point:
we are all disciples - followers, apprentices, students - of one Lord and
Master, Jesus the Christ. Even Paul of Tarsus could only say to those who
looked to him for spiritual leadership, "follow my example, as I follow
the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
The
example is Jesus. Your group leader or any other spiritual leader, at best,
is simply a more advanced student. As such we urge you to learn from our mistakes
as much as from our successes. Above all, look to Christ, the perfect example.
In
this course, our aim is mutual nurture, or building up. "Since we have
confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... and since
we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with
a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to
cleanse us from a guilty conscience ... let us consider how we may spur one
another on to love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all
the more as you see the Day approaching..." (Hebrews 10:19-25)
Amen,
Gordon.
January
1990
Consolidating
Commitment
Today, we will...
- Get
to know each other a bit better
- Take
a quick look at ABCD
- Decide
how to work through ABCD
- Focus
on how we can be sure that God has really really really accepted us
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"As we come together, please give us guidance and wisdom, Lord. Help
us to draw close to you and to one another in your Church. Especially help
us as we embark on this course."
- Chat
a little: get to know each other a little more and relax a bit.
Focus...
- Read
the two letters - the one to the group leader and the one to the new disciple.
- What
do you think about what was read?
- What
are the important points? Do they make sense?
- Do
you want to work through ABCD together?
- How
can you go about it?
Issue...
- Can
we ever be sure that God has accepted us?
- Read
John 3:14-18. Jesus was talking with a leader of the Jews. He compared himself
with what had happened when the Israelites were attacked by poisonous snakes
in the desert. God told Moses to put a bronze snake on a pole and everyone
who looked at it was saved from the poison (Numbers 21:4-9).
How
was Jesus "lifted up"? Why?
How
are we to "look up" to him? (v 15-16)
What
does it mean to "believe in" Jesus? (See Romans 4:4-8; 5:1-2. Focus
on "trusts God")
What
does God promise to "whoever believes in" Jesus? What does "eternal
life" mean? (See John 17:3. Note the difference between "knowing
about" and "knowing" a person - relationship.)
Have
you believed in Jesus? What do you have, then? Why can you be sure?
During
this week...
- Reflect
on God's promise - read the passage in John's gospel again and again.
- Thank
God, in prayer for his love and his gift.
- Share
about God's love and gift with a friend.
Quiet
Times
- Read
Joshua 1:1-9. Moses had died, and Joshua had to take over, just when major
battles were ahead. God took him aside and had a talk with him.
Note
the promises God makes. Why is it vital for God to be "with you wherever
you go"?
What
did God expect Joshua to do every day? Why?
If
Joshua did as God instructed what would happen?
How
can we apply this to our lives today? (Examine 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
How
does prayer (talking with God) fit in? (Skim Psalm 63)
Having
a quiet time...
The
Scripture Union has rather neatly summed this up:
Ask
God to help you understand the main point of what you read.
What
is the main point of the passage?
What
does it teach you about God?
Is
there a promise, example, warning or command you should note?
What
insights into yourself, your situation and your relationships do you receive?
With
your discoveries in mind, praise God for who he is and what he has done, confess
your shortcomings and receive his forgiveness, ask him to act in your life
and in our world.
Decide
and work on practical steps for living what you have learned.
During
the week...
- Develop
a daily quiet time habit.
Sharing
the Gospel
Today,
we will...
- Reflect
on progress so far
- Take
another look at the Gospel
- Learn
how to share the gospel with others (or at least make a start)
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Lord, help us to understand and value your Good News. Give us the
courage and wisdom to share it with others so that they too might come to
know you."
- Chat
a little: How was the week? How have your quiet times been? What have you
learned and done?
Focus...
- Read
John 4:1-30, 39-42. (It's a story.) On his way to Galilee, Jesus stopped
by a well at noon and waited. At noon, an outcast woman (only such a person
would draw water in the heat of the day) came by.
Jesus
asked her for a drink. She didn't expect that. Why? How did it get a conversation
going?
Soon
Jesus was talking about two kinds of water. When the woman asked for his magic
water he said, "Go, call your husband ..." Why did this trigger
a confrontation?
How
did Jesus handle the confrontation?
What
was the result?
Summing
up, what was his strategy?
- Today
we too seek to share the gospel.
Imagine
that you are talking with a friend. How could you bring the gospel into the
conversation?
When
the Gospel bites home many people lash out or try to avoid its teeth. How
could you respond?
What
key steps are needed to inform about the Gospel and lead one who responds
to Christ?
Activity...
- Try
some role-playing. Take turns and see how typical situations can work out.
Draw up an outline for sharing the Gospel and leading someone to Christ.
During
the week...
- Share
the Gospel with a few people.
Possible
extra reading...
- "How
to Give Away Your Faith", Paul Little, IVP
- "Out
of the Saltshaker", Becky Manley-Pippert, IVP
Body
Life
Today,
we will...
- Review
the last session
- Focus
on fellowship
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Lord, help us to appreciate your gift of fellowship. Let us never
get into the habit of isolating ourselves from your people. Rather, Let
us encourage and build one another up."
- Chat
a little: How has it been going? How are your quiet times progressing? How
have people responded when you shared with them about Jesus?
Focus...
- Read
Acts 2:36-47. Startling events had happened - tongues of fire from heaven
and rushing mighty winds. A crowd gathered and Peter preached. They now
wanted to know what to do.
What
did Peter tell the people to do? Why?
What
did "those who accepted his message" go on to do? (Note v 42, 44-47)
In
the light of Hebrews 10:23-25 how should we follow their example?
- Second,
examine Ephesians 4:11-13, 15-16.
Why
has God given leaders to the Church?
Who
are to do the works of Christian service so that the body may be built up?
How
does this relate to us today?
- Given
the above how should we be involved in the life and service of a local church?
During
the week...
- Make
a list of possible areas of service you can render to Christ.
- Investigate
how you can become a member of a vibrant local church.
- Investigate
ways you can get involved in para-church ministries at school or work.
Spiritual
Power, Spiritual Struggle
Today, we will...
- Review
the last session
- Examine
the nature of spiritual warfare
- Learn
some secrets of victory
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Lord, grant us the insight, power and courage to be victorious in
our conflict with the powers of darkness, in our own lives, in our schools,
in our Churches, in our nations and in the whole world."
- Chat
a little: How do your friends respond when you share with them about Jesus?
What are some areas in which we can do works of service to Christ? Have
you found a local church to become part of? Have you found out how to be
involved in other ministries at school or work?
Focus...
What
was our past condition?
What
three enemies had us in their power? In what ways were we enslaved?
How
did God rescue us? To what end?
Have
our enemies given up? If not, how can we defeat them? (Examine Ephesians 6:10-18
and reflect on the value of our "weapons" - prayer (especially for
one another), truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation and the Word
of God.)
- The
Bible also stresses focussing our minds on the things of God (Romans 8:5-6;
12:1-2; Colossians 3:16) and being filled with - empowered and controlled
by - the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18-21; Acts 1:4-8; 2:17-21,33,38-39).
What
are some ways we can focus our minds on the things of God? (Read 2 Timothy
3:14-17 and recall Joshua 1:1-9.)
How
can we be empowered and controlled by the Holy Spirit? (Note Romans 8:9-14
and Luke 11:9-13. Also note the individual and corporate stresses in Ephesians
5:18-21 - "Speak to one another".)
Some
important points ...
- Sometimes
Christians fall into sin. We need to confess it to God (1 John 1:9) and
sometimes to other believers who can pray with us (James 5:16).
- Struggling
to overcome sin is normal Christian experience. The apostle John, writing
to Christians, states "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
..." (Read 1 John 1:5 - 2:2 carefully.)
- On
the other hand, the Christian experience should be one of growth in truth,
faith, love, purity and power. If you find yourself to be stalled seek prayer,
encouragement and counsel from mature believers. (Note the promise in 1
Corinthians 10:13)
During
this week...
- Reflect
on God's promise to give us "everything we need for life and godliness".
(See 2 Peter 1:2-11.)
- Make
a prayer list and pray for other believers - ask them what they would like
you to pray for them about.
- Begin
to note down, memorize and reflect on key passages from the Bible.
- Confess
your sins to God and, where necessary, to other Christians who can counsel
and pray with you.
Family,
Relationships and Sex
Today,
we will...
- Review
progress to date
- Reflect
on God's design for family, society and sex
- Probe
how to handle some typical problems
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Thank you Father for your precious gifts, especially family, friends
and sexuality. Help us to use them well, building up ourselves and others."
- Chat
a little: Do your friends still say you are "just going through a phase"?
Are you visibly growing in love, faith, truth, purity and power?
Focus
on the family...
- The
Bible's account begins with the first human family. Thereafter it views
that family as the normal context for sex, childbirth, growth, moral education
and preparation for life. In short, the family is the centre and basis of
society. Read Genesis 18:19 and compare it with Proverbs 1:1-9 to see the
force of this point.
Dealing
with issues...
- Reciprocal
responsibilities: examine Ephesians 5:22-6:9.
What
are the duties of husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and slaves?
How
do they cut across our natural tendencies?
How
can we fulfill them?
- Conflicts:
Read Matthew 7:3-5 and 18:15-17. Compare the point of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
with the force of James 3:13-4:3.
What
attitudes should we cultivate?
What
action steps should we take to resolve conflicts?
- Sex:
Read Romans 1:18-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Note the force of Matthew
5:27-30 and 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Compare Genesis 2:18-24 with 1 Corinthians
6:15-20 to see how sexual immorality violates a life-uniting and family
building act of love.
Does
the Bible's view (the act of union being restricted to the context of union)
make sense?
Is
it true that attitudes and thoughts can be as sinful as physical acts?
How
can we cultivate pure, healthy sexuality?
- Unequal
yokes: Read 2 Corinthians 6:13-7:1
Are
there any relationships in your life, romantic or otherwise, which are forcing
you to compromise standards of truth and right?
What
should you do? How? When?
During
this week...
- Work
on these four points.
Handling
Questions
Today, we will...
- Review
our progress
- Examine
how we can handle doubts and challenges to the Christian faith
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Give us wisdom to understand the relationship between faith and reason,
Lord, and the courage to live by faith in you in an uncertain world."
- Chat
a bit: How was your week? How are your Christianity and your sexuality getting
on?
Focus...
Discuss
the following points:
- All
men live by faith. To see this, take any proof and ask at each stage, "why
should I accept this claim?" Sooner or later you will come to basic
assumptions accepted without further proof. This is the point of faith.
Even science and mathematics work in this way. In short, the question is
not whether to believe, but what to believe and why.
- Many
of the things Christians believe are hotly disputed or attacked. Sometimes,
the very fact that we admit to working by faith is held against us. At other
times, we are full of doubts or questions - a very normal experience in
the Christian life. The big question, of course, is what to do about these
things.
- Take
some time to discuss questions you may have about the Christian faith.
What
can we do...
- Clarify
the basics of our faith. As 1 Peter 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-20
stress, our faith is founded on facts: Jesus, his death, burial and resurrection.
- Be
honest about questions and doubts. They exist. And hard questions are hard
because they don't have easy answers. Every set of answers - every faith
- has difficulties, not just the Christian message.
- Research.
After two thousand years, chances are that someone else has asked and investigated
the question you have in mind. See how others have dealt with it.
- Think,
pray, discuss, seek the truth.
- Above
all, trust God. If he is real and cares for you, he will help.
Useful
books...
- "Mere
Christianity", C.S. Lewis
- "More
than a Carpenter", Josh McDowell
- "Evidence
that Demands a Verdict", Josh McDowell
- "World
on the Run",
Michael Green
- "Miracles",
C.S. Lewis
During
this week...
- Find
a good introduction to Apologetics (the branch of theology dealing with
this area) and read it.
Serving
God in Church and Society
Today, we will...
- Review
progress to date
- Explore
the fact that we are God's stewards called to serve him in the Church and
the community at large.
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Lord, help us as we seek to rejoice with the Psalmist who sings, 'the
earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in
it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters,'
(Psalm 24:1-2). And As we confess that we belong to you, help us to serve
you well."
- Chat
a bit: How have things been? How has your introduction to Apologetics been
going?
Focus...
- As
Psalm 24:1-2 emphasizes, we are God's people. As such he has called us to
serve him in the world. Read Ephesians 4:9-16.
Why
did Christ descend then ascend?
What
"gifts" has he given to us? Why?
Why
are God's people to be prepared "for works of service"?
What
will happen as we serve Christ?
What
are some ways that we can serve God in the Church? In the world?
How
can we view our family life, studies, career and community involvement from
this perspective?
- "Stewardship"
includes the idea of being a servant, being given a trust and being held
accountable for it. Read Luke 19:11-26 and 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Reflect
on the implications of being stewards of God in our world.
During
this week...
- Think
about the problems of our community - it's families, it's economic situation,
the state of education and so on. What does God want you to do?
Where
do we go from here?
Today,
we will...
- Reflect
on what our Lord has called us to be and do
- Put
forward some ideas to help us as we go
As
we begin...
- Pray:
"Father, help us to serve you and our fellow man well."
- Chat
a bit: How have you been?
Focus...
- We
have covered a lot of ground, but this is just a beginning. There is much
to learn and to do. A world of need beckons. There are vital books to be
read, issues to be thought through, skills we need, attitudes to change
or develop. But these must not be an end in themselves. Service implies
action.
- Review
what we have been through. How has it helped you? What more do you need?
What can you do about it?
- How
can you best serve Jesus in the Church and the world? What are you doing
about it?
As
you go...