Disicipleship Bible Studies
"Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!"

Grow In Christian Character

Introduction:
As a new believer in Christ, you have made the most important life changing decision of your life. You now have an eternal relationship with God. You are a part of His eternal family.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

The Bible teaches that you need to grow in your spiritual life.

1 Peter 2:2,3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Bible also challenges you to bear fruit as a Christian.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

The Bible gives an incredible promise in II Peter 1.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That same passage goes on to say . . .
2 Peter 1:10 if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

What are the "these things" Peter is referring to?

The purpose of this discipleship study is to help you grow in your Christian life as you put on "these things." We are anxious and excited to grow in the Lord. Do not be afraid to ask any question, no matter how silly it may seem to you. Most of these things are completely new to you. You are asking questions that were once new to us too. The more questions you ask the better. They are a sure sign of growth in the Lord. Study faithfully. The Lord will give you grace and understanding as you obey the Spirit's promptings through the Scriptures you are about to read.

The changes in your life for the glory of God have just begun. Discipleship Week One

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:

Read: I John 1; Prayerfully answer the questions.

i. Why did John write this little letter? I John 1:4

2. What happens when we obey God? I John 1:7

3. What should we do if we sin? I John 1:9

What verse did you underline in this passage?

Day 2

Read I John 2

1. Whom does the Bible say is on your side? I John 2:1

2. Why should you not love the world? I John 2:15-17

3. What verse did you underline in this passage?

Day 3
Read I John 3
1. What will happen to you when you get to heaven? I John 3:2

2. What does I John 3:17 teach you?

3. What verse did you underline in this passage?

Day 4
Read I John 4

1. Why do you need to be discerning? I John 4:1

2. What do you think is the theme of this chapter?

3. What verse did you underline in this passage?

Day 5
Read I John 5

1. What has God given you the power to do? I John 5:4,5

2. What will you know if you truly believe in Jesus as the Son of God? I John 5:13

3. What verse did you underline in this passage?

Discipleship Discussion Week One:

*Topic: Assurance
Who gives you assurance that you are a child of God? Romans 8:16

Since feelings often change, upon what should you depend? I Peter 1:25

What does Jesus tell you in John 6:47?

What does Romans 10:13 teach you?

What is the best way to have assurance of your salvation? I John 2:3

What happens when you get a clean heart with God? I John 3:20,21

*Topic: Baptism
Read Acts 8:27-40

What do you think the word baptize means?

How was the Ethiopian baptized?

When was the Ethiopian baptized?

Do you have to be baptized in order to be saved? Romans 10:13 Ephesians 2:8,9

Can baptism wash away your sin? Ephesians 1:7

Is baptism really necessary? Matthew 28:19,20

*Topic: The Holy Spirit in You
Read Ephesians 1:13,14

What does it mean to be sealed with Holy Spirit?

Why do people give down payments, or earnest?

Read I Corinthians 6:19,20

Who is dwelling in you now?

Whom do you belong to?

Discipleship Week Two

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1
Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:

ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE
Virtue—Choosing what is best; moral excellence

Read: James 1
1. What do you think James 1:2 is teaching you?

2. What does James 1:5 say we need to do if we are in need of wisdom?

3. What will happen if you endure temptation? (James 1:12)

What verse did you underline in your Bible from James 1?

Day 2
Read James 2
1. What do you learn about favoritism in James 2:1-6

2. What is the royal law of the Scriptures? (James 2:8)

3. What does James 2:22 teach you?

What verse did you underline in James 2?

Day 3
Read James 3
1. How much damage can your tongue cause? (James 3:5-6)

2. What should we not tolerate? (James 3:10-12)

3. How do you think God given "meekness" will help us control our tongues? (James 3:13,17,18)
What verse did you underline in James 3?

Day 4
Read James 4

1. What does "friendship with the world" include?

2 What does God do to the proud? (James 4:6)

3 What will happen if we humble ourselves before God? (James 4:10)

What verse did you underline in James 4?

Day 5
Read James 5

1. What does James 5 teach you about money?

2. According to James 5:9, what do grudges result in?

3. What should we learn from Job? (James 5:11)

Discipleship Discussion Week Two:
ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE

Virtue—Learning to make excellent choices

*Topic: Choosing to turn from temptations
I Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1. What is true of every human being according to I Corinthians 10:13?

2. What does I Corinthians 10:13 teach you about God?

3. What do you suppose the "way of escape" is that God provides from temptation?

*Topic: Choosing to deal with temptations
Read Psalm 51

1. What will God do for you if you ask forgiveness? (Psalm 51:1,2)

2. When we sin, who do we sin against? (Psalm 51:4).

3. What will follow getting right with God? (Psalm 51:7,8,12)

*Topic: Choosing to make a Commitment
Read Romans 12:1,2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1. What should motivate us to be committed to God?

2. What does "transform" mean?

Read I Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

3. What does "whatsoever" include?

4. What do you think "do all to the glory of God" means?

*Topic: Choosing to Change
Read II Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

1. What does II Corinthians 9:8 teach you about God?

2. What does II Corinthians 9:8 teach you about what God can do in you?

Read II Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

3. What has God given you according to II Peter 1:3?

4. Through what will God show you "all things that pertain unto life and godliness?"

*Topic: Choosing to deal with doubts
Read Genesis 3:1-5
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan's tactics are the same today as they were with Eve. List several
observations about the way Satan gets God's people to doubt God.

Read I Peter 5:8,9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

An older male lion will use the tactic of walking toward the prey roaring at the top of his lungs. Thus the prey is frightened and runs the opposite direction . . . right into the waiting jaws of the female lion. The devil will use the same kind of method to cause you to doubt and turn from God.

What does I Peter 5:10 teach you about dealing with Satan's fearful attacks?
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Discipleship Week Three

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:

Read: I Peter 1
1. What is reserved for you and how is it kept? I Peter 1:4,5

2. What can God do through the trials we face? I Peter 1:6-8

3. What kind of change should come over a new believer? I Peter 1:14-15

4. What can you know according to I Peter 1:18,19?

What verse did you underline from I Peter 1?

Day 2
Read: I Peter 2

1. What can get in the way of your spiritual growth? I Peter 2:1

1. What will be the attitude of the unbeliever about Jesus? I Peter 2:7,8

1. According to I Peter 2:9 what are you?

2. Why is honesty so important? I Peter 2:12

3. What should be the Christian's attitude toward the rulers over us? I Peter 2:13-15

What verse did you underline?

Day 3
Read I Peter 3
1. How can a woman change her husband? I Peter 3:1-6

2. Why is it so important that a husband have the right attitude toward his wife?
I Peter 3:7

3. How is I Peter 3:9,10 differ from what the world teaches us?

4. What does I Peter 3:12,13 teach you?

What verse did you underline?

Day 4
Read I Peter 4
1. What does love do according to I Peter 4:8?

2. What should be our ultimate goal? I Peter 4:11

3. What should be our attitude when troubles come? I Peter 4:12,13

What verse did you underline?

Day 5
Read: I Peter 5

1. What should our attitude be toward each other? I Peter 5:5

2. What can you be assured of according to I Peter 5:7?

3. What can you be assured of that the devil will be up to? I Peter 5:8

4. What does God want to do for you according to I Peter 5:10?

What verse did you underline?
Discipleship Discussion Project Week Three:
ADD TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge—Your ability to understand and use the Bible

*Topic: Excuses

There are three common reasons for not studying the Bible:

1. I don't have enough time.

2. I don't know how to study the Bible.

3. The Bible doesn't seem relevant.

Which one of these reasons would seem most applicable to you?

Read the following passages. Find how they relate to each of the above excuses.

Philippians 3:7-10

II Timothy 3:16,17

I Peter 2:1,2

James 1:19-27

*Topic: Quiet Time Methods

Daily Quiet Time

A quiet time is a short time (i.e., 15 minutes) set aside daily to be alone with God. You seek to know Him and sense His leading through Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.

Establishing a quiet time:
1. Establish a specific time.
Mark 1:35

What is the best time for you?

2. Establish a private location.
Luke 22:39

Where can you get the most privacy?

3. Establish a pattern for recording your promptings from God's Word.
Psalm 119:16

Patterns:

Journal

Daily Verse Highlights

Discover God Forms

*Topic: Bible Study Methods

Read II Timothy 2:15

Bible Study

Bible Study is a time set aside each week (i.e., 30 minutes to an hour or more) of more in-depth examination of specific passages of Scripture. You discipline yourself to dig for more.

Key factors in Bible Study:

1. Learn to ask the right questions.

"What does it say?"

"What does it mean?"

"What difference does it make?"

2. Learn how to use the right kind of tools.
(To be demonstrated in your Bible study with your discipler)

Strong's Concordance

Vine's Expository Dictionary

Study Bible

Bible computer programs

Bible Handbook

3. Learn what to look for.

*Topic: What you learn at church
Read Acts 17:11 I Thessalonians 2:13

A major element of your spiritual growth will come through faithful attendance at church. You will only be able to grow to the extent that you understand and retain what you hear and are taught at church.

Suggestions regarding preparation for church:

Recommendations for note taking during church:

How to talk about what you've learned:

*Topic: Memorizing Scripture
Read Psalm 119:9-16 Joshua 1:8 John 14:26

The greatest tool for gaining the knowledge of God in your life is in the discipline of Scripture memory.

Keys to Memorizing Scripture:

1.

2.

3.

Discipleship Week Four

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:
Ephesians 1
1. According to Ephesians 1:12 what should be the purpose of our lives?

2. What kind of understanding will God give you as you grow in your knowledge about Him?
Eph. 1:18-19.

Day 2
Read:
Ephesians 2 &3

1. What does Ephesians 2:1 say was your condition prior to Christ's work in your life?

2. What did God do for you? Ephesians 2:4-6

3. Why are you created? Ephesians 2:10

4. What will God grant you? Ephesians 3:16

5. What verse did you underline today?

Day 3
Read:
Ephesians 4

1. What should characterize our "walk?" Ephesians 4:1,2,3

2. Who should do the "work of the ministry?" Ephesians 4:11,12

3. What should you put off and put on? Ephesians 4:22-24

Day 4
Read:
Ephesians 5

1. What should be our attitude toward "unfruitful works of darkness?" Ephesians 5:11,12

What are some things in our culture that would fit into "unfruitful works of darkness?"

2. Who should submit? Ephesians 5:21

3. What is the husband's responsibility? Ephesians 5:25

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 5
Read:
Ephesians 6

1. How should you conduct your work? Ephesians 6:5-8

2. List the pieces of the "armor" that God wants you to have.

3. Who should you pray for? Ephesians 6:18

Discipleship Discussion Project Week Four:

ADD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE

Temperance: Under control

*Topic: What is temperance?
Read I Corinthians 9:24-27

Why should you be temperate in all things?

How can you become temperate?

*Topic: Anger

Using a Strong's concordance find three verses that will help you deal with anger.
(Look up words like anger, malice, wrath)

Why do people get angry?

*Topic: Verses that will help you deal with anger
Discipleship Study

Look up the following verses and write down the right ways to handle anger.

Romans 12:19-21

Ephesians 4:26

Ephesians 4:32

Matthew 5:43,44

Proverbs 19:11

Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 29:11

Romans 8:28,29

*Topic: Fear
Discipleship Study

Study the following passages and list the causes you find of fear.

I John 4:18,19

Hebrews 13:5,6

Proverbs 29:25

Genesis 32:11

What solutions for fear can you find in these Scriptures?

Psalm 46

Psalm 23:4

Joshua 1:9

Hebrews 13:5,6

Psalm 27:1-3

I John 4:18,19

Discipleship Week Five

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:

Read I Thessalonians 1
1. What three characteristics does Paul say caused him to give thanks? (I Thessalonians 1:2,3)
How does each characteristic manifest itself?

2. What did the Thessalonians become? (I Thessalonians 1:6)
What was the result?

3. What do we wait for? (I Thessalonians 1:10)

4. What verse did you underline in this passage?

Day 2
Read I Thessalonians 2

Questions

1. Whom should we seek to please? ( I Thessalonians 2:4)

2. Why should we walk worthy of the Lord? (I Thessalonians 2:12)

3. What can the Christian count on? (I Thessalonians 2:14-18)

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 3
Read I Thessalonians 3

1. What was important for Timothy to accomplish with the new believers in Thessalonica?
(I Thessalonians 3:2,3)
Why should that be important to you?

2. What was Timothy's report about the people? (I Thessalonians 3:6,7)

3. What verse did you underline today?

Day 4
Read I Thessalonians 4

1. What is God's will for you? (I Thessalonians 4:3)
What is fornication?

2. What does defraud mean in verse six? What application of that verse can you make for yourself?

3. What is the comfort that you can have when a believer dies? (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 5
Read I Thessalonians 5
1. Why do you think the coming of the Lord is compared to the coming of a thief in the night? (I Thessalonians 5:2)

2. What should be your Biblical response to Spiritual leaders in your life?
(I Thessalonians 5:12,13)

3. What is God's will for your life? ( I Thessalonians 5:15-18)

Discipleship Discussion Project Five:
ADD TO YOUR TEMPERANCE PATIENCE
*Topic: What is patience?
PATIENCE
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

What is patience?
Write out the dictionary definition of the word patient.

What qualities combined would best illustrate patience?

Understand God's purposes in allowing trials
Read Philippians 1:12-18.
What do you think were some of the circumstances Paul was talking about?

What was Paul able to conclude?

So what do you do when everything goes wrong?

What will happen if you focus on the problem or on the people who cause the problem?

What will happen if you focus on what you know is true about God?

1 Pet 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Review the life of Joseph. List the things that were done to him that were obviously unfair.

According to Genesis 50:20 what was Joseph able to conclude about God?

"God can and does take the deliberately harmful acts of others and turn them into acts for good, both for us and others.

Discipleship Week Six

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time: ___________

Read Galatians 1
1. What causes believers to move away from the true Gospel? (Galatians 1:6,7)

2. What happens if we try to please men? (Galatians 1:10)

3. Write out the changes you can think of that came in Paul's life after he was saved.

What changes have you seen in your own life up to this point?

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 2
Read Galatians 2
1. If you know somebody who is not obeying the truth of teaching the truth, what should you do?
Galatians 2:10-14
Does the Bible give any other instruction about how this might be done?

1. What is the main point of verse 16?

2. Why is verse 20 such an important verse for you to comprehend?

3. What verse did you underline today?

Day 3
Read Galatians 3 and 4

1. What has Christ redeemed us from?
What do you think is the curse of the law? (Galatians 3:13)

2. What is the danger of legalism? (Galatians 4:9-11)

3. What questions do you have about these two chapters?

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 4
Read Galatians 5

1. Formulate your own question and answer from Galatians 5:13-15.

2. Make your own paraphrase of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3. What does verse 26 teach you?

Day 5
Read Galatians 6

List three questions, applying to your own life, that you observe in these verses.

1.

2.

3.
Discipleship Discussion Project Week Six:

*Topic: Godliness
ADD TO YOUR PATIENCE GODLINESS
Why do you think Godliness has to come after learning patience?

Read the following statement carefully:
"Godliness consists of two distinct but complementary traits, and the person who wants to train himself to be godly must pursue both with equal vigor. The first trait is God-centeredness, which we call devotion to God; the second is Godlikeness, which we call Christian character."(1)

*God-centered living

Name several individuals in Scripture that were God-centered in their living. How did they get that way?

*Godlikeness

"You can't win life's race in a moment. You can't build a character in a moment. You can be saved in a moment, but if you build a character that will stand the test of years and the storms of life you must give that character attention."(2)

Study Philippians 2:1-8
What character qualities do you see in this passage that Christ manifested.

"What would Jesus do?"

Discipleship Week Seven

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1

Confirm your next Discipleship Appointment:
Date: Time:

Read Philippians 1
2. Make three applications of Philippians 1:6 to your own life.

1.

2.

3.

2. How does God use bad things that happen to us? Philippians 1:12,13

3. What does Philippians 1:29 and 30 teach you?

4. What verse did you underline that was meaningful to you today?

Day 2
Read Philippians 2

1. How many commands can you find in verses 2-5. List them.

2. What do we know will eventually happen according to verses 10 and 11?

3. If you know that God is working in you, what must be your response to difficulties? Philippians 2:13-16

4. What verse did you underline that was meaningful to you today?

Day 3
Read Philippians 3

1. What can you count as "loss" that might compare to what Paul set aside as meaningless?

2. What are you commanded to do according to Philippians 3:13-14.

3. What should you constantly be looking forward to? Philippians 3:20,21

4. What verse did you underline today?

Day 4

1. Read Philippians 4:4. List several problem areas that you have difficulty rejoicing over. Will you choose to rejoice?

2. What steps are given to you in verses 5-9 that can help you deal with troubling events?

3. What has to happen before you can have "peace?" Philippians 4:9

4. What verse did you underline that was meaningful to you today?

Day 5

Read Philemon

Onesimus had done Philemon wrong in the past. List the truths you find in the book of Philemon that will help you put offenses behind you.
Discipleship Discussion Project Week Seven:
ADD TO YOUR GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS

*Topic: What is brotherly kindness?

Brotherly Kindness comes from the Greek word philadelphia
The city in Pennsylvania by that name is known as the city of brotherly love. It speaks of loyal friendships.

List verses you find in the Bible that instruct you about friendship.

Study I Samuel 18-20 and II Samuel 9. What aspects of David and Jonathan's friendship should we repeat?

Should a Christian have friendships with unbelievers? Why or why not?

Levels of friendships study:

1.

2.

3.

4.
Discipleship Week 8:

Daily Quiet Time Projects:
Day 1
This week you will read as much of the book of John as you can. Each day that you read list three significant truths about God that impress your heart.

1.

2.

3.

Day 2
Significant Statements from John

1.

2.

3.

Day 3
Significant Statements from John

1.

2.

3.

Day 4
Significant Statements from John

1.

2.

3.

Day 5
Significant Statements from John

1.

2.

3.

Discipleship Discussion Project:
ADD TO YOUR BROTHERLY KINDNESS LOVE
*Topic: What is genuine love?
Read 1 John 3 and 4 again.
Issue Number One
1. Do you deserve to be loved?
Choose which one of these statements you agree with:

"All children are created worthy and must be given the right of respect and dignity."

"Jesus did not come to save us because we were worth saving but because we were utterly worthless, ruined and undone!
He did not come to earth out of any reason that was in us, but solely and only because of reasons which he took out of divine love!"

Read Romans 5:8, Romans 5:12, John 3:16

Issue Number Two
2. Do you really comprehend the effect of God's love?

Christ did not die for me because I am valuable to him.

I am valuable because

Christ died for me because He loves me!

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Issue Number 3
3. Will you love what God loves?

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Love is a Command!
When you say yes to that you are saying that you will be:
Slow to suspect -- quick to trust.
Slow to condemn – quick to justify.

(1) Grow In Christian Character
(2) Bob Jones Sr., Things I Have Learned, (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press), 172.