For the New Believer

Connect

For this first session, the goal is to hear everyone’s story. Allow time for each member of the group to share.

Accountability

Explain what accountability will look like for the group.

Show up on time

Fully Participate

Submit to what God is teaching

Be open, honest, humble and vulnerable

Stay on topic

Strive for multiplication

 

Ground Rules:

Confidentiality- What is said in the group stays in the group, this includes not sharing any information about group members to your spouse without their permission.

Preparation- All members will come to each meeting prepared by finishing any plans or required readings before time.

Fixing- No one is here to fix another person, only Jesus can do that. Give encouragement, and speak the truth in love. When asked, give advice, but do not assume it is wanted.

Conflict- If a topic has multiple views , honor each other’s view points. Remember, the essentials of our faith are what unifies us. The non-essentials are what makes each of us unique. Give grace liberally.

 

 

Learning

Main Idea: The Gospel is the good news of Jesus.

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross and was resurrected three days later for one reason. To save you from your sin. He paid the penalty that you could not pay, making it possible for you to have a relationship with God.

Read the Scripture passages and watch the short video together.

Passages: 1 Cor. 15:1-8, Romans 5, Luke 4:16-21 and John 10:10

Video:

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/gospel-kingdom/?utm_source=web_social_share&medium=shared_video

 

Discussion

Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?

Questions

Do you believe in the message of the Good News of the Gospel

Have you placed yourself in the Gospel Message?

Plan

Schedule the next couple of meetings with your group.

Watch the video on Kairos moment

The Learning Circle

 

Read Acts 9

 

Conclude

Pray for your dgroup, pray for unity, transparency, and for the Holy Spirit to work in each of you individually and collectively as you go through this curriculum together.

Connect

• Ask how their week has been?
• Ask about relationships.

Accountability

• Teach them about Kairos moments to use in the future during this time
• Demonstrate it and allow for others to talk about their moments if they have any.

Learning

Main Idea

• Our Testimony is meant to be shared. God saves you from something for something. That is to be a witness to others about his Son.

Resources

Bible passages: Acts 9:1-9, Acts 22:3-21, Acts 26:12-23

 

Discussion

• What are your three takeaways from Acts 9
• We read about Paul’s conversion and how he includes his life before and after his confrontation with Christ. Each time he speaks of his personal testimony, he talks about Jesus and his resurrection.
• How does Paul’s testimony change depending on his audience. Do you notice a difference? Discuss your observations.

We can explain our walk with the Lord using a timeline to help communicate it with others.

• Your testimony should include the following timeline:

What was your life before you understood the gospel , how did you meet Jesus and how has your life been after you accepted Jesus as Lord over your life?

Talk about your testimonies using this timeline

 

Practice

Not only can you can use a simple timeline when telling your testimony, you can also use an evangelism tool to help you convey the Gospel.

• Watch this video on the 3 circles together

3 Circles Training – 3 Circles Example

 

• Teach the group how to use the three circles using your own testimony weaved in.
• Have them practice it with one another

 

Plan

• Make a plan to share their testimonies using the three circle guide with one other person this week.  Be prepared to share for next meeting.

 

Conclude with prayer

• Take a moment and sit with adoration for our Savior.
• Thank Jesus for providing a way for you to be reconciled with God for all eternity.
• Ask God to give you the courage to tell others about how you met him.

Connect

• Take turns and have each member talk about a high moment from the week and low moment.

Accountability

• What were your Kairos moments
• Who did you share your testimony and how did it go

 

Learning

Main Idea:

A disciple is someone who learns from another and then teaches others what they learned. We read in 1 Cor. 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” and in Matthew 28:19 ” Go and make disciples..” Showing a continuation of discipleship, always learning and always teaching. It is a life time journey with you and the Lord that doesn’t end at salvation, it begins there.

 

Ice Breaker: Write down your greatest role models. Go around and talk about your models and why they are of such importance to you. What about their life, work or success do you want to emulate and why?

 

Discussion

• To be a disciple of Christ is to have him be Lord of your life, and as you obey him, you become like Him.
• Lordship cost you

First consider the cost with becoming a disciple.

Take a look at the passage  Luke 14:25-35

• Do you find the words of Jesus, stark or difficult to content with?
• Why do you think the cost of being a disciple of Christ is overlooked?
• Selfless, radically obedient, and committed. Which of these characteristics are the most difficult for you to follow?

Next we need to look at what a disciple is to do.

• A Disciple follows Christ, is being changed by Christ and is committed to the mission of Christ.
• What does it mean to follow Christ?

To follow Christ means to submit to his Lordship, you do what he tells you to do. You can find his commandments, his precepts and his desires for you in the Bible

• How would you know that you were being changed by Christ?

With the help of the Holy Spirit, you will start to look like Christ in Gal. 5:22- 23. We read of the fruit of the spirit, these fruits are evidences of your life being transformed by Christ.

• What is the mission of Christ?

The mission of Christ is simple, sharing Hope, sharing the good news of gospel to others. Using your gifts and abilities to serve the body of Christ Mark 1:17.

Plan

• Write down three people in your life who you could potentially disciple. Commit to pray over their names and for opportunities to pour into them in the future.
• Watch for next session: Bible overview

 

Conclude with Prayer

Close your group time by praying in any of the following directions:

Thank God for specific people he has placed in your life who have helped you grow closer to Jesus.

Ask Jesus to help you grow deeper in faith and become more like him so that you can naturally join him on his mission of sharing his love and truth with others.

Invite God to lead people into your life whom you can disciple by helping  them grow in faith and walk more closely with the Savior.

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

Accountability

• Talk about each person’s Kairos moment
• Share with the group your list of names from the previous session of people you want to disciple.

 

Learning

Main Idea

In a culture where truth can be elusive and all truth is relative, it is vital for the Christian to determine his or her source of truth and ultimate knowledge. This is where Bible literacy matters. Knowing what is in the Bible, who wrote it and how the contents give life and meaning are the most crucial step towards Christ-likeness. Daily Bible intake is the most important spiritual discipline a believer can do but in order to view the Word properly, one must reconcile the facts concerning it’s contents.

Do you believe you are reading the very words of God?

The following are helpful truths to get started on your Bible journey

 

These important facts to know about the Bible that applies to the original autographs.

The Bible is truth and we can trust what it says.

The Bible is infallible. Infallible means that Scripture will not mislead or deceive.

The Bible is inerrant. Inerrancy is to be free from error.

The Bible is Inspired. Inspiration states that men wrote as they were carried by the Spirit, God breathed out the message through them.

The Bible is self authenticating. It states it is the word of God and verifies those claims throughout it’s pages.

 

Passages to read together

Psalm 19:7

Psalm 119:160

Psalm 33:4

Proverbs 30:5

John 17:17

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

Additional Resources:

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/unleash-the-lion-of-scripture

 

Discussion

What part of Bible literacy is the most challenging for you to grasp? Why

Have you seen examples of “truth is relative” played out in social media or main stream news outlets?

 

Practice

Search up a topic together and see how many different answers you each get. Examples could be “how to parent my child”, “Are there only two genders”, “Cures for depression”

What are the truth claims found within your searches?

How would someone choose which source is right?

How can the Bible be a guide to help answer the question?

 

 

Plan

Download a the Bible App and agree to a Bible reading plan as a group.

Suggestions: 90 days through the Gospels

BibleProject- Gospels

Bible Project- The Wisdom of Proverbs

Bible Project- Paul’s Letters

The One Year Bible

Chronological

 

 

Conclude with prayer

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

 

Accountability

• Talk about your Kairos moment
• Have you struggled with deciding that the Bible would be your source of ultimate truth?
• Are you still considering who you will disciple next?
• How is your gospel sharing going?

 

Learning

Main Idea

Bible engagement and knowledge of the Scriptures should lead to transformed lives

Learn how to know, love and follow the teaching of Scripture.

You can read the Scriptures with the expectation that you are hearing from the Father.

First, start with a translation.

The Bible is originally written in these languages, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic so unless you can read all three, you are going to have to rely on an English translation of the Bible. Thankfully there are several to choose from. The basic premise in choosing a translation

Is determining how you want to read it, do you want it to be formal or functional?

Fielder uses the English Standard Version.

Here is a helpful article to help you choose:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-bible-in-translation/

 

Second, find a Bible study method that works for you. A study method will help you understand what it is you are reading.

The Bible contains 66 books that cannot be read the same, meaning you cannot read a history book the same way you would a book of poetry. So in order to help facilitate good biblical literacy you will need help. Here are 6 method examples to choose from:

https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2023/03/6-bible-study-methods-you-need-to-know-and-try/

 

There is also a simple theme that you can weave throughout your Bible engagement. Ask yourself the following questions as you read a passage:

 

Know God- what does this passage tell me about the Character and person of God?

Loving God- How does this passage move me to worship and treasure God?

Obeying God- What is my response to God after reading this passage? What should I start or stop doing? What promises can I claim from the passage?

 

Practice

The three fold theme with the group using Philippians 4:4-9

 

Plan

Pick out a Bible study method you want to use and follow it with the Scriptures you are going through with your Bible reading plan

 

Conclude with prayer:

 

▪ Thank God for the staggering reality that he has revealed his truth to us in the  pages of the Bible and that he has preserved his message by the power of the  Holy Spirit.

▪ Ask for the strength and discipline to study the Scriptures so that you can believe them and speak them out in your spiritual battles.

▪ Pray for absolute confidence in the truthfulness of God’s Word, from beginning to end.

▪ Ask God for an ever-increasing love for his Word and for the courage and  strength to follow what it teaches.

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

 

 

 

Accountability

Any Kairos moments?

How is the Bible reading plan going using a Bible Study Method?

 

Learning

Main Idea

• Scripture informs and transforms us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 States “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”. Let’s look at this passage and dig into it.

• First we see that Scripture has four functions, to teach, reproof, correct and train in righteousness.

The Bible will teach you about life’s greatest questions, where did we come from? How was the earth made? What is a man or woman? What are we here for? What is our purpose? What does the future hold?

The Bible will reproof (challenge, rebuke, condemn) you. What is morality? Am I a good person? The Bible exposes the areas of your heart that are sinful. It shows the contrast between yourself and Jesus in order to humble you because a humble heart is an obedient heart and an obedient heart is a transformed one.

The Bible will correct you in response to what it exposed as sin in your life. It will help restore you. Sin is meant to separate you with your relationship with God, but the exposure of sin and repentance will remove that separation. The Bible shows you how.

The Bible will train you in what it looks like to be a Christ-follower. How does someone live a holy life? These practices can be learned from the Bible.

• Secondly, the purpose of Scripture is to prepare you for the calling  God places in your life. Every Christian is called to testify Christ and serve the Lord in building his kingdom. How does a Christian know what to do, or how to do it? How does a Christian receive divine strength needed to continue their walk with the Lord? Scripture.

 

Resources

 

Discussion

 

The text mentions that the Bible teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains in righteousness. Can you share a personal experience where Scripture has transformed your understanding or behavior? How did this encounter with the Bible help to reshape your perspective or actions in a specific area of your life?

 

Discuss the idea that Scripture prepares us for the calling God places in our lives. How can we discern our divine calling through Scripture? What are some practical ways the Bible has guided you or someone you know to serve and build God’s kingdom?

Plan

Get a journal and set aside 30 minutes every day to

Start journaling your Kairos moments and Scriptures that you find meaningful as you are going through your Bible reading plan.

 

 

Conclude with prayer

• Thank God for the staggering reality that he has revealed his truth to us in the pages of the Bible and that he has preserved his message by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Ask for the strength and discipline to study the Scriptures so that you can believe them and speak them out in your spiritual battles.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the good news that is revealed on page after page of the Bible, and pray for opportunities to share these messages of hope with people who are longing for something better and life-giving.

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

 

 

Accountability

What areas are you struggling with personally?

Do you feel like you are having a hard time hearing from God?

Is daily Bible reading becoming a chore of obligation rather than a joy of discovery?

 

 

Learning

Main Idea: Prayer is the most important conversation you will have each and every day.

Think about all the people you speak to on a daily bases. What conversations are the most significant? Which ones are purely informative? Are there people you long to speak to every single day? Consider the people you avoid speaking to. What are the contrast between the two, people you cannot wait to talk to and those you do not want to talk to? Does love play a factor in these contrast? It can be said that whom you love, you long to communicate with. You desire that connection.

Where does God stand in these contrast?

Do you say you love him and yet never speak to him? Do you avoid speaking to him?

 

There are several reasons why those proclaiming Christ as Lord never faithfully practice prayer. Two of the most common are time and training.

 

Time: How to find the time to pray

First one must recognize the importance of it; you prioritize what you declare is important. Treat this conversation like you would a loved one living in your home, you cannot ignore them. John 15:54-7 Tells us that we must “Remain” or “abide” in Jesus because without Him we can do nothing. This implies a willingness on our part to make God a priority.

Second one must steal time away from other non important things. Everyone has at least 10 minutes in the day to devote to prayer. Set your alarm, give yourself reminders, and carve out the time. Depending on the season of life you are in, creativity may be needed. Embrace it, it will get easier.

Third use the model Christ gave for reference in Matthew 6:5-13

 

Start the conversation by recognizing who it is you are actually talking to.

Our Father in heaven, your Name be honored as holy.

God. Holy, all powerful, all knowing, all loving, majestic God this is who you are talking to

Why does Jesus ask us to do this first? Because without an awareness of who God is, you will never come to him in prayer properly and that is with humility. The knowledge of who God is in relation to, who am I, helps me see myself, more clearly. I get to talk to the Creator.

Next he says to align your heart correctly.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

what do I mean by having your heart in the correct position?

To have your heart in line with God’s, is to desire his kingdom on earth. God’s will to be happen in your life, for the gospel to be made alive in you. Take some time a consider what it will look like to have God’s kingdom reigning on earth.

Remember the order of this model, it is purposeful. We want gospel shaped prayers.

You are speaking to the creator of the universe who sacrificed his son on your behalf.

Jesus then states” Give us today our daily bread”

Now we get to ask God what it is we desire. Whatever that may be, no request is too small or too big. they are simply request and opportunities to speak to our Lord candidly.

It is followed by “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors”

We sin everyday, some of us have obvious offenses we need to make right with God, other of us have subtle ones. Check your motivation, why did you do the things you did? what sort of refinement is God requiring of you? this is the time to speak about those.

He concludes with “do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

These are petitions to keep us safe, to keep our gospel light bright and testimonies pure. We all know how easy it is to leave a prayer session and jump right back into terrible character. We do exactly what we said we wouldn’t. We must keep ourselves holy by remembering the we are living representations of the gospel. Our behavior matters. Pray to keep the enemy away from your thoughts and acts.

 

Practice

Go through the passage in Matthew 6 together, highlight and note in your Bibles the prayer steps Jesus states in the passage.

 

 

Plan

Set a time every day to devote to prayer. Start with 10 minutes. Set a reminder on your phone. Use the “Lord’s Prayer” as a guideline. This can be in combination with your 30 Bible reading plan you have already started.

 

 

Conclude with prayer

 

Start with repentance if need, for those who have not considered praying as the most important conversation they have daily.

Thank God for giving us Jesus and providing a way to speak to Him freely.

Pray for obstacles of time, energy and desire to be removed as you make prayer a priority

Pray for a heart that desire to speak to God daily.

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

 

 

Accountability

How is your prayer time going?

What is burdening you right now that you would like the group to pray for?

 

 

Learning

Main Idea

We worship God because He is worthy.

The more that you encounter God in his word the more you will worship him.

 

Evidences of God’s glory are everywhere. In fact the Bible is full of them. There are countless scriptures, declaring how holy God Is, how marvelous, how wonderful, how majestic he is and most importantly how we should respond to it. (Psalm 150)

Every experience of life can be a place for worshiping in Spirit and in truth.

How do you worship in Spirit?

The Holy Spirit enables the believer to worship God fully. Without the spirit, one would just be singing another song, listening to another book or focusing on another performance.

How do you worship in Truth?

With the Bible. As God reveals Himself in the Word, you can know him more fully and worship him correctly. You learn to worship the God revealed verses the God of your own making.

The act of worship comes from both the head and the heart.

 

You can worship in public with other believers or you can worship in private.

Worship can be spontaneous or it can be planned.

Worship can involve singing or simple silence in amazement.

 

Most importantly the more you worship God, the more you become like Jesus. As God is drawing your focus to Him, He is also transforming you from the inside out.

 

Discussion:

Take the follow Scriptures and Discuss together the ways God reveals himself to evoke true worship:

John 1:1,14

Hebrews 1:1-2

Romans 1:20

2 Tim 3:16

2 Peter 1:20-21

 

Questions

What do you think it means to worship a God of your own making verses the God of the Bible?

 

What was a time you felt close to God in worship, what was going on during that particular time in your life that cause it?

 

When you do not have feelings of worship does that mean you should not participate in it? Why or why not

 

Practice

Find a song to play or if you have people in your group that can lead a song do so and worship together as a group.

 

 

Plan

Write in your journal moments throughout your day that have caused you to stop and worship; whether it be a Scripture you read or a part of creation you gazed at.

 

Conclude with Prayer

 

▪ Lift up prayers of worship, praise, and celebration for who God is and what he has done.

▪ Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything or anyone that is taking too high of a place in your heart, and replace that with the God of the Bible.

▪ Ask God to help you worship him from the moment you wake until you go to  sleep at night. Pray that worship becomes a regular practice and the normal condition of your heart.

Connect

• How was their week?
• How are their relationships going?
• Highs and lows

 

Accountability

• By now you should have a pretty good idea of who will disciple next, have you had any conversations with them?
• How is your prayer life going? Do you find yourself struggling with obstacles still?
• What are some moments of worship you were able to participate in the previous week?

 

 

Learning

Main Idea

Important truths:

• Loving God’s people and connecting with them regularly is important for personal faith and spiritual growth.
• Community is God’s design and the richest faith is forged in relationship with others.

God exists in eternal perfect trinitarian community. Jesus made relationships a priority when he walked on this earth, and he called his disciples to live in consistent  loving community. When we walk in loving fellowship with God and each other,  the world will see that we have what their hearts long for. This draws people toward  the only one who can heal their hearts, bind their wounds, and satisfy their hunger to belong.

 

What should a community do?

Read Acts 2:42

Three main components are shown

They taught the word

They participated in fellowship with one another

They prayed together

At Fielder a discipling community will be characterized by the same guideline.

They will have intentional biblical learning

They will pray together

They will hold one another accountable

 

Discussion

Why are people hesitant about joining a discipling community?

What are your personal experiences with community?

Do you think God cares about community? Why or why not

 

Plan

If you are not already, plan on visiting a community group.

If you are part of a group, invite someone new to join you next time you gather.

 

Conclude/prayer

▪ Thank God for the people in your life who have lived as an example of loving  Christian community.

▪ Thank Jesus for his example of seeking community with the outcast and abandoned of his day, and pray for the courage to do the same in the community where you live.

▪ Ask Jesus to help you notice nonbelievers who are longing for community, and  ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to invite them into your community.