Lesson 8 Baptism?
Be Baptized
Key Objective: To understand the importance of baptism.
Additional Study on the 1st Century Church
God has a very specific plan for reaching out to a world of lost people
His plan is the multiplication of disciples through disciple-making local churches that only teach and preach the Word of God. Notice God’s plan in action:
Jesus had finished three and a half years of teaching and training His disciples in 33 A.D.
33 A.D.
Matthew 28:18-20
We call this the Great Commission. Jesus had finished three and a half years of teaching and training His disciples. He died on the cross and rose from the grave. Then Jesus again gives His disciples clear instructions: go and make disciples.
Acts 1:1,8
Jesus told us to be witnesses to the farthest places in the world. Christ is the One working, and He has a plan: first, Jerusalem; then Judea and Samaria; then to the uttermost parts of the world. Notice the mathematical words in the following verses.
Acts 2:41
After Peter preaches a message we have an addition of 3,000 souls.
Acts 2:42-47
They obey the command of Christ to teach them to observe all things.
Acts 4:4
In chapter 3, Peter preaches again and the result was 5,000 men.
Acts 4:12
We see the message they are preaching.
Acts 4:32-35
We see the sacrifice for the thousands of new disciples. We believe they sold their possessions to disciple full-time.
Acts 5:1-2,10
Here we see subtraction due to sin in the life of the believers.
Acts 5:14
We see more addition because we never stop witnessing. In Jerusalem multitudes believed after hearing the Word of God from Christ’s first disciples. Notice the action is addition.
Acts 5:42
We see what they did with these new believers - they discipled them.
Acts 6:1
In less than two years after the resurrection, we see the result of preaching, soul winning and discipleship: disciples multiply.
Acts 6:7
The first disciples of Jesus Christ obeyed the commands in John 13 and Matthew 28 to “...love one another as He had loved them…” and to “teach them to observe all things…” They sacrificed to meet with all these new believers and disciple them. The result: the disciples multiply greatly. When disciples multiply, the Word of God increases.
Acts 7:59
After Stephen preaches a message, he is killed for his faith (subtraction) at the command of Saul. When disciples multiply, Satan attacks.
34 A.D.
Acts 8:1
Persecution scatters the disciples (division) from Jerusalem except for the Apostles. Why is this important that we know the Apostles did not leave?
Acts 8:4
The disciples were scattered everywhere preaching the Word. They could proclaim the Word of God because they had been discipled.
Acts 9:4
Saul receives Christ and one disciple is instructed by God to contact him.
38 A.D.
JUDEA, GALILEE AND SAMARIA
Acts 9:31
Groups of disciples multiply, and churches start in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and multiply. This means that people became believers and they began to be discipled under the leadership of mature disciples, forming a church in that location: a local church. This is God’s plan in action.
41 A.D.
Churches are multiplying everywhere by multiplying disciples. We are able to look closely at one: the church at Antioch.
Acts 11:19-20
Seven years after the disciples are scattered from Jerusalem starting Bible-believing local churches, a local church starts in Antioch. This church is our pattern to follow. The Word of God now focuses on this church and not the Jerusalem church.
Acts 11:21-23
A great number believes upon Christ in Antioch with Barnabas as Pastor.
Acts 11:24-26
More people receive the Lord in Antioch. Addition begins again. The believers are taught (disciples) and first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 11:29
They take an offering for the first Jerusalem disciples. Jerusalem disciples are reaping rewards from discipleship.
Acts 12:1-2
We have subtraction again because of spiritual warfare.
Acts 12:24
Multiplication of the Word of God is the same as multiplying disciples.
44 A.D.
TO THE UTTERMOST
Acts 13:2, 14:23, 16:5,
Three years later, the church at Antioch sends missionaries (division) who go and start churches. Those churches start other churches and so on.
Acts 13:38-39, 48-49
Their message, the response, and the result: the Word is through disciples.
Acts 14:21-26
They start more churches and return home to report.
Acts 15:35-39
They start adding multipliers and we have division again.
Acts 15:41
God’s Plan works because there are churches established.
Acts 16:5, 30-31
More are sent to start churches that in turn start churches. They are adding more multipliers. Their message is seen.
Acts 16:7,10 17:16
It is the Spirit of Christ in charge of all evangelism, discipleship, and ministry.
Acts 18:22-23, 28
They are adding more multipliers.
Acts 18:24-26
We see a well known preacher influenced by faithful from disciplers.
56 A.D.
Acts 19:10
In about 23 years, all of Asia heard the Gospel (we call this area Asia Minor today; the central city was Ephesus) from leading people to Christ, multiplying disciples, and starting local churches that make disciples.
Acts 19:20
The Word of God grows through disciples multiplying and churches multiplying.
Acts 20:7
The disciples met the first day of the week.
Acts 20:28-30
Warnings are given about those who hurt and steal disciples.
Acts 20:32
The Word of God is what builds us up.
Acts 21:16
This is the last verse in the Bible that uses the word disciple. It refers to disciples as an “old” disciple or one who had been faithful for many years.
64 A.D.
Colossians 1:23
In about 35 years after the resurrection, everyone in the known world heard the Gospel through leading people to Christ, multiplying disciples, and starting local churches that made disciples. The plan of God is the same today for you and me.
The Lord’s Supper is only for people who have trusted Christ as Savior.
You are to examine yourself, judge yourself, and purify yourself before taking part in the Lord’s Supper in your local church. Jesus wants you to examine your motives and your following of Him. He wants you to be truthful with yourself as to what is really in your heart for Him.
He wants you to cleanse yourself by confession of sin and repentance of sin. This is not for salvation, but for communing and staying close to Him. The consequences are severe to disobey this.
As a disciple you must live a life worthy of following. Your disciples will follow your example. It is vital that we are saved and walking in obedience to God’s Word as we participate in the Lord’s Table. God wants your heart to be for Him. He wants you to keep Him on the throne of your life.
There are those who will teach unbiblical doctrines about this special ordinance. Some will teach that you actually “receive” Christ during (what they would call) this sacrament as the cup and the bread literally changes into the body and blood of Christ.
These people do not understand the phrase, “In remembrance of Me…” There were no cameras to take snapshots for future keepsakes. Jesus did not choose to be remembered by a miracle, but rather by a meal, because people eat often. The Lord’s Supper is one of remembrance. It is symbolic; there is no saving power in either the juice or the bread.
Have a good thought or idea for this section? Send them to journeydiscipleship@mac.com. Thank you.
Key Objective: To understand the importance of baptism.
Additional Study on the 1st Century Church
God has a very specific plan for reaching out to a world of lost people
His plan is the multiplication of disciples through disciple-making local churches that only teach and preach the Word of God. Notice God’s plan in action:
Jesus had finished three and a half years of teaching and training His disciples in 33 A.D.
33 A.D.
Matthew 28:18-20
We call this the Great Commission. Jesus had finished three and a half years of teaching and training His disciples. He died on the cross and rose from the grave. Then Jesus again gives His disciples clear instructions: go and make disciples.
Acts 1:1,8
Jesus told us to be witnesses to the farthest places in the world. Christ is the One working, and He has a plan: first, Jerusalem; then Judea and Samaria; then to the uttermost parts of the world. Notice the mathematical words in the following verses.
Acts 2:41
After Peter preaches a message we have an addition of 3,000 souls.
Acts 2:42-47
They obey the command of Christ to teach them to observe all things.
Acts 4:4
In chapter 3, Peter preaches again and the result was 5,000 men.
Acts 4:12
We see the message they are preaching.
Acts 4:32-35
We see the sacrifice for the thousands of new disciples. We believe they sold their possessions to disciple full-time.
Acts 5:1-2,10
Here we see subtraction due to sin in the life of the believers.
Acts 5:14
We see more addition because we never stop witnessing. In Jerusalem multitudes believed after hearing the Word of God from Christ’s first disciples. Notice the action is addition.
Acts 5:42
We see what they did with these new believers - they discipled them.
Acts 6:1
In less than two years after the resurrection, we see the result of preaching, soul winning and discipleship: disciples multiply.
Acts 6:7
The first disciples of Jesus Christ obeyed the commands in John 13 and Matthew 28 to “...love one another as He had loved them…” and to “teach them to observe all things…” They sacrificed to meet with all these new believers and disciple them. The result: the disciples multiply greatly. When disciples multiply, the Word of God increases.
Acts 7:59
After Stephen preaches a message, he is killed for his faith (subtraction) at the command of Saul. When disciples multiply, Satan attacks.
34 A.D.
Acts 8:1
Persecution scatters the disciples (division) from Jerusalem except for the Apostles. Why is this important that we know the Apostles did not leave?
Acts 8:4
The disciples were scattered everywhere preaching the Word. They could proclaim the Word of God because they had been discipled.
Acts 9:4
Saul receives Christ and one disciple is instructed by God to contact him.
38 A.D.
JUDEA, GALILEE AND SAMARIA
Acts 9:31
Groups of disciples multiply, and churches start in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and multiply. This means that people became believers and they began to be discipled under the leadership of mature disciples, forming a church in that location: a local church. This is God’s plan in action.
41 A.D.
Churches are multiplying everywhere by multiplying disciples. We are able to look closely at one: the church at Antioch.
Acts 11:19-20
Seven years after the disciples are scattered from Jerusalem starting Bible-believing local churches, a local church starts in Antioch. This church is our pattern to follow. The Word of God now focuses on this church and not the Jerusalem church.
Acts 11:21-23
A great number believes upon Christ in Antioch with Barnabas as Pastor.
Acts 11:24-26
More people receive the Lord in Antioch. Addition begins again. The believers are taught (disciples) and first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 11:29
They take an offering for the first Jerusalem disciples. Jerusalem disciples are reaping rewards from discipleship.
Acts 12:1-2
We have subtraction again because of spiritual warfare.
Acts 12:24
Multiplication of the Word of God is the same as multiplying disciples.
44 A.D.
TO THE UTTERMOST
Acts 13:2, 14:23, 16:5,
Three years later, the church at Antioch sends missionaries (division) who go and start churches. Those churches start other churches and so on.
Acts 13:38-39, 48-49
Their message, the response, and the result: the Word is through disciples.
Acts 14:21-26
They start more churches and return home to report.
Acts 15:35-39
They start adding multipliers and we have division again.
Acts 15:41
God’s Plan works because there are churches established.
Acts 16:5, 30-31
More are sent to start churches that in turn start churches. They are adding more multipliers. Their message is seen.
Acts 16:7,10 17:16
It is the Spirit of Christ in charge of all evangelism, discipleship, and ministry.
Acts 18:22-23, 28
They are adding more multipliers.
Acts 18:24-26
We see a well known preacher influenced by faithful from disciplers.
56 A.D.
Acts 19:10
In about 23 years, all of Asia heard the Gospel (we call this area Asia Minor today; the central city was Ephesus) from leading people to Christ, multiplying disciples, and starting local churches that make disciples.
Acts 19:20
The Word of God grows through disciples multiplying and churches multiplying.
Acts 20:7
The disciples met the first day of the week.
Acts 20:28-30
Warnings are given about those who hurt and steal disciples.
Acts 20:32
The Word of God is what builds us up.
Acts 21:16
This is the last verse in the Bible that uses the word disciple. It refers to disciples as an “old” disciple or one who had been faithful for many years.
64 A.D.
Colossians 1:23
In about 35 years after the resurrection, everyone in the known world heard the Gospel through leading people to Christ, multiplying disciples, and starting local churches that made disciples. The plan of God is the same today for you and me.
The Lord’s Supper is only for people who have trusted Christ as Savior.
You are to examine yourself, judge yourself, and purify yourself before taking part in the Lord’s Supper in your local church. Jesus wants you to examine your motives and your following of Him. He wants you to be truthful with yourself as to what is really in your heart for Him.
He wants you to cleanse yourself by confession of sin and repentance of sin. This is not for salvation, but for communing and staying close to Him. The consequences are severe to disobey this.
As a disciple you must live a life worthy of following. Your disciples will follow your example. It is vital that we are saved and walking in obedience to God’s Word as we participate in the Lord’s Table. God wants your heart to be for Him. He wants you to keep Him on the throne of your life.
There are those who will teach unbiblical doctrines about this special ordinance. Some will teach that you actually “receive” Christ during (what they would call) this sacrament as the cup and the bread literally changes into the body and blood of Christ.
These people do not understand the phrase, “In remembrance of Me…” There were no cameras to take snapshots for future keepsakes. Jesus did not choose to be remembered by a miracle, but rather by a meal, because people eat often. The Lord’s Supper is one of remembrance. It is symbolic; there is no saving power in either the juice or the bread.
Have a good thought or idea for this section? Send them to journeydiscipleship@mac.com. Thank you.
