First Baptist Church Main Street
“Empowering Saints to Conquer Communities for Christ”
Faith Vision: Get Connected
Discipleship Study
Dr. D. L. Richardson, Senior Pastor
Reverend W.C. Mitchell, Discipleship Pastor
Dr. William R. Boone, Compiler
Tammy Richardson, Editor
Table of Contents
Pastor Richardson’s Message
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Ministry Mission
Introduction
Study Plan
Lesson 1: Conquering Communities Begins with a Christ Connection
Lesson 2: Conquering Communities Requires a “Personal” Commitment to Christ
Lesson 3: The Eternal Word Starts with Our Father
Lesson 4: The Eternal Word is Manifested in Jesus Christ
Lesson 5: The Eternal Word Works through the Holy Spirit
Pastor Richardson’s Message
Greetings in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
It is with great excitement and expectations that I welcome you to this power packed study that will catapult your walk, witness, and worship to the next level. Our curriculum team has worked tirelessly to compose this series of studies that will prayerfully move our fellowship to the next dimension in Christendom.
When we read the book of Acts carefully, we discover the early church came together often and studied the Word. They devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teachings and became a powerful force in the community. As we seek to conquer communities for Christ, it is imperative that we become equipped and empowered for the task. God’s Word is the key to making the vision a reality. We have assembled a team of qualified teaches that will aid in making this vision of conquering communities for Christ a reality, but we can’t do it without you. We need your support!
So let me thank you in advance for joining us as we take this voyage together in the Word. May God bless you with His peace and prosperity as you get connected with what God is doing at First Baptist.
Discipleship Pastor’s Message
Ministry Director’s Message
Ministry Mission
The Discipleship Ministry strives to improve Christendom by educating the membership to fulfill their responsibilities of witnessing, working, and worshiping God; andbeing a spiritual example for all members of their family; and to provide strong spiritual leadership and support in the church, their home, and their community.
These ministriesmeet the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Community service projects, fellowship outings, and special prayer gatherings take place during the year.
Introduction
“Get Connected!”“We seek to conquer communities for Christ by taking the Word of God to the communities that lives may be transformed by the power of God.”
Have you ever heard these comments before? What do they mean to you? They are the marching orders that have been given to our pastor by our Lord. Our Lord and our pastor have challenged us to prepare, participate,and “present our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable in His site, which is our reasonable service”(Romans 12: 2). We are called to reach out to others in the communities in which we live, work, play and rest.
We are going to join in as a family of believers during the next nine months to do as the church presented in Acts 2. This nine month course is designed to challenge and equip students to become more connected to Jesus Christ, each other, and the larger community by presenting, practicing, and performing Kingdom Biblical principles throughout the communities in which they live, work, and playso that lives may be transformed by the power of God.
This is a unique project that we are undertaking. It is unique in that we are taking our church’s vision statement and providing a study plan for the Esther Circle, King David, and Joshua Generation Ministries. It is perhaps different from anything that we have done before. The Lord gave our pastor the vision to produce our own material for this study. We joyfully commit ourselves to this enterprise for the cause of the Kingdom of Christ. We have done well as a faith community. There is, however, always room for improvement and expansion in the work that we have been called to undertake.
We are told in Proverbs 29:18 (a) (KJV): “Where there is no vision the people perish.” This project is not a legalistic undertaking. We stand in our Heavenly Father’s magnificent grace and mercy. We simply want to challenge each of us to reengage the Scriptures in a way that empower us to become more than conquerors through Jesus Christ - who loved us enough to die for us, be buried,and be resurrected for our eternal salvation.
We affirm that our Triune God has called our pastor to provide the biblical framework within which we do ministry and beyond the walls of our church. God has given him the vison and it is our responsibility to allow the Holy Spirit to give life to the vision through each of us. Let us come together (connect) in agreement and respond to the “calling” our Master has placed upon each of our lives!
We must constantly rememberthat it is not about “us”; it is all about “Christ” and “His Church”. Remember that James 1:22 encourages us to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Can we count on you?
The objectives of this course are outlined in Ephesians 4:
11 Listen to the Apostle Paul as he shares “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Study Plan
Winter Quarter: Connecting to Conquer Communities for Christ
This quarter presents a two-lesson study drawn from the Gospels of John and Matthew. The lessons are designed to increase the student’s awareness of the value of connections in the body of Christ; to stimulate self-examination; to cause growth in the body; and to equip saints for the work of ministry.
Lesson 1Jan. Conquering Communities begins with a Christ Connection
John 15:1-8
Lesson 2Feb. Conquering Communities Requires a Personal Commitment to Christ Matt 16:24-27
Spring Quarter: Connecting to Take the Word of God to Our Communities
This quarter presents a three-lesson study drawn from Timothy and the Gospel of John. The lessons highlight the importance of the Word of God in facilitating our efforts to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (a perfect man), and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ - so that we may take His Word to the street with love and boldness.
Lesson 3 Mar.The Eternal Word Starts with Our Father 2Tim 2: 15-17 2 Tim 3:10-17
Lesson 4Apr.The Eternal Word is Manifested in Jesus Christ John 1:1-14
Lesson 5May The Eternal Word Works through the Holy Spirit [TH1] John 16:7-15 Acts 1:8
Summer Quarter: Connecting for Personal Transformation
This quarter is comprised of one lesson. The focus of the lesson is the transformation of the Apostle Paul’s life from a critic and persecutor of his Jewish brothers and sistersto a person who sought to “conquer communities for Christ by taking the Word of God to the communities that lives may be transformed by the power of God.”
Lesson 6Aug.Transformed from the Old Life Acts 9:1-19
Fall Quarter: Connecting to Release the Power of God’s Word in Our Communities
We will engage in a four-lesson study drawn from the Gospel of John, Acts, 1stCorinthians, and Ephesians. The lesson highlights the power of God’s Word to change lives, relationships, and communities. It is about growing up in Christ and not being tossed to and fro by every wind and doctrine. It is about dying to ourselves so that Christ might minister triumphantly in and through us.
Lesson 7Sep.Transformed to a New Life John 3:1-14 John 19:39 2 Corinthians 5:1-17
Lesson 8Oct.Transformed to Grow with Each Other Eph. 4:3-6, 11-16 1 Cor.12:12-13:13
Lesson 9Nov.Transformed to Serve Together Acts 2:40-47 Acts 18:1-5, 25-28
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Lesson 1: Conquering Communities Begins with a Christ Connection
Devotional Reading: 2 Cor.5:14-17; 2Cor.11:2-4
Background Scripture: John 15
Printed Text: John 15:1-8
KeyVerse (John 15:5):
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV)
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bearsmuch fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (NKJV)
Lesson Background
Jesus utilizes an agricultural illustration from the history of Israel to talk about the importance of “connections.” Vineyards were found in abundance throughout the Mediterranean region.Most significant for our passage is their frequent use in the Old Testament and in Judaism to symbolize Israel (Barrett ibid.; Brown ibid.; Behm 1964:342). Isaiah has an extended use of this image in his "Song of the Vineyard" (Isa 5:1-7), and there are many other less developed uses (as in Jer 5:10). The image of the vineyard frequently shifted to the vine (John 15, Jeremiah 6:9). On the temple there was a "golden vine with grape clusters hanging from it, a marvel of size and artistry" (Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 15.395). The vine was also used to represent Jerusalem on coins made during the first Jewish revolt (A.D. 66-70); so the vine was clearly a symbol of Israel.
Furthermore, even the notion of a true vine shows up in the Old Testament: "I planted you as a fruitful vine, entirely true [alethinos]. How have you become a wild vine,turned to bitterness" (Jer 2:21 LXX). Here (as also in Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard) God, the gardener, cared for his vineyard but got sour grapes. Consequently, He will destroy the vineyard. This theme of judgment accompanies virtually every use of this imagery in the Old Testament and even in this lesson.
Chapters 14-17 of John have been identified as farewell discourses given by Jesus to his twelve disciples prior to His crucifixion and resurrection. Chapter 15 is considered to be one of the most powerful descriptions of the eternal life to which John is bearing witness. Jesus’ statement that He is the True Vine is the last of the “I Am” statements He made. He taught that God is the gardener; He is the true vine; and His followers are the branches. We are branches that have been grafted into the vine. We are further commanded to remain (abide) in the Vine (Him). Our remaining (abiding) will result in our Father producing fruit that we can bear.
Introduction
I would often marvel at the site of miles upon miles of vineyards in the country side of Missouri and the Republic of Germany. Each of those vineyards emerged as a result of the plants’ connection to the earth, each other, and the vinedresser. The vinedresserand his team worked extremely hard to ensure that the vinedresser would get maximum productivity from his plants. The plants were grown on elevated platforms where they could be pruned and cared for. In each field were tested vines and branches. And ultimately, fruit was produced to be sold in the market or given away to the poor among them.
Jesus’use of this parable was designed to encourage his disciples not to depart from the training that He had given them. He highlighted the importance of them abiding in (staying connected to)Him. He was fully aware of the turbulent times that would come. He commanded them toremain connected to Him.He knew that connection would facilitate fulfilment of their Kingdom purposes - individually and corporately.
The same is true for each of us. God has called us to Himself. He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. It is in Him that we live, move, and have our being. He is our sufficiency in every area of life.
Mahalia Jackson once sang these lyrics:
Without God, I could do nothing.
Without Him, I would fail.
Without Him, my life would be rugged.
Like a ship without a sail.
We can’t accomplish anything of eternal significance if we are not connected to Christ. Our abiding in Christ will result in us accomplishing the mission that our Father has called us to, as individuals and saints assigned to First Baptist Church Main Street. We are to “connect.” We are to seek to conquer communities for Christ by the Word of God that lives might be transformed by the power of God.
†Analysis of Biblical Text
Jesus the True Vine
1In the OT, the nation of Israel was depicted as a vine planted by Jehovah. But the nation proved unfaithful and unfruitful, so the Lord Jesus now presented Himself as the True Vine - the perfect fulfillment of all the other types and shadows. God the Father is the Vinedresser.
2 Opinions differ as to what is meant by the “branch in Him” that does not bear fruit. Some think that this refers to a false professor – one pretends to be a Christian but has never really been united to Christ by faith. Others think it is a true Christian who loses his salvation because of his failure to bear fruit. This is clearly impossible because it contradicts so many other passages which teach that the believer has an eternal salvation. Others think that it is a true Christian who becomes a backslider. He gets away from the Lord and becomes interested in the things of this world. He fails to manifest the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Exactly what the Lord does to the unfruitful branch depends on how the Greek verb airo is translated. It can mean "takes away", as in the King James tradition (also translated that way in John 1:29). Translated this way, it would refer to the discipline of physical death (1 Cor. 11:30). However, the same word may mean "lifts up" (as in John 8:59). Then it would be the positive ministry of encouraging the fruitless branch by making it easier to get light and air, and hopefully, to bear fruit. The branch that bears fruit is the Christian who is growing more like the Lord Jesus. Even such vines need to be pruned or cleansed. Just as a real vine must be cleaned from insects, mildew, and fungus, so must a Christian be cleansed from worldly things that cling to him.
3The cleansing agent is the Word of the Lord. The disciples had originally been cleansed by the Word at the time of their conversion. Just as the Savior had been talking to them, His Word had had a purifying effect on their lives. Thus, this verse may refer to justification and sanctification.
4 To abide means to stay where you are. The Christian has been placed in Christ; that is his position. In his daily walk, he should stay in intimate fellowship with the Lord. A branch abides in a vine by drawing all its life and nourishment from the vine. So we abide in Christ by spending time in prayer, reading and obeying His Word, fellowshipping with His people, and being continually conscious of our union with Him. As we thus maintain constant contact with Him, we are conscious of His abiding in us and supplying us with spiritual strength and resources.
The branch can only bear fruit as it abides in the vine. The only way believers can bear the fruit of a Christ-like character is by living in touch with Christ moment by moment.
Abiding in the True Vine
5 Christ is the vine; believers are vine branches. It is not a question of the branch living its life for the Vine, but simply of letting the life of the Vine flow out through the branches. Sometimes we pray, "Lord, help me to live my life for You." It would be better to pray, "Lord Jesus, live out Your life through me." Without Christ, we can do nothing. A vine branch has one great purpose - to bear fruit. It is useless for making furniture or for building homes. It does not even make good firewood. But it is good for fruit bearing - as long as it abides in the vine.
6This verse has caused much difference of opinion. Some believe that the person described is a believer who falls into sin and is subsequently lost. Such an interpretation is in direct contradiction to the many verses of Scripture which teach that no true child of God will ever perish. Others believe that this person is a professor - one who pretends to be a Christian but who was never born again. Judas is often used as an illustration.
We believe that this person is a true believer because it is with true Christians that this section is concerned. The subject is not salvation, but abiding and fruitbearing. Through carelessness and prayerlessness this believer gets out of touch with the Lord. As a result, he commits some sin and his testimony is ruined. Through failure to abide in Christ, he is thrown out as a branch - not by Christ, but by other people. The branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. It is not God who does it, but people. What does this mean? It means that people scoff at this backslidden Christian. They drag his name in the mud. They throw his testimony as a Christian into the fire. This is well illustrated in the life of David. He was a true believer, but he became careless toward the Lord and committed the sins of adultery and murder. He caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Even today, atheists ridicule the name of David (and of David's God). They cast him, as it were, into the fire.