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New Shepherds’ Discipling
Progress Chart For folks who’ve
found Jesus, to gather relatives and pals and share the Good News New follower of Jesus, these guidelines are to help you obey Jesus, and to help your family and
friends obey Him also. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commands.” John
14:15. Let
new believers in your group learn and heed these basic commands before
delving into detailed doctrine. Jesus’ last command after He rose from the
dead was for us to make disciples by
teaching them to obey His commands (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus said to do many things but they can be summed up in seven basic commands, listed below.
The 3,000 new believers of the first church in Write the date in the space provided after
each command when you and your friends are obeying it. a) The first command for a new follower of Jesus is to repent (turn from sin), believe in Jesus and
receive the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:15; John 3:16; 20:22). We can't do
one of these things without the other two. When we do them, we are “born
again” (John 3:3-8).” To
teach what it means to repent, tell your family and friends the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) or of Zacheus (Luke 19:1-10). Be sure that
your friends also know the accounts of Jesus’ death on the cross and His
resurrection (Luke chapters 22 – 24). Start with these historical events if
your friends do not already know them. Practice confirmed (date)
________________________ b) Confirm
repenting with baptism (Matthew
28:18-20). To teach your friends to be baptized, tell the account of Jesus’ baptism
(Matthew chapter 3, or of the Ethiopian’s baptism (Acts 8:26-39). You can
also explain its meaning from Romans 6:3-6. Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ c) From
its beginning, a group of believers must obey Jesus’ command to break bread in remembrance of His
death (Matthew 26:26-27). Some call this Communion
or the Lord’s Supper. By eating the
bread and drinking the cup, we take part in a mystical way in Jesus’ body and
blood (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). To instruct your friends about this,
recount its historical roots in the original Passover (Exodus 12:1-14). Also, tell how Jesus changed the
Passover feast to its current form for Christians, in the Upper Room the
night before His arrest (Luke 22:1-20). Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ d) Love God and neighbor (Matthew
22:36-40). Jesus’ command to love includes forgiving those who have hurt us
and caring for the needy. Stories might include Ruth’s love for Naomi (Ruth
1:1-17) and the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ e) Pray (John 16:24). This includes
personal and family prayers. Stories can include Abraham’s prayer for his
nephew Lot (Gen. 18:17-33) and Jesus’ ordeal in Gethsemani (Matt. 26:31-50). Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ e) Give (Luke 6:38). We are to give to
anyone in serious need, starting with fellow believers; we also help support
Christian workers. Instructive stories can include Abigail’s gift of food for
David’s soldiers (1 Samuel 25:2-38), and Jesus’ parable of the three
stewards (Matthew 25:14-30). Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ d) Make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to tell our friends about Jesus,
lead God’s people, train new leaders and that the Good News about Jesus to
people all over the world. Stories might include Jesus’ parable of the two
builders (Matt. 7:24-29), Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:1-48),
and what the first followers of Jesus in Jerusalem did from the beginning
(Acts 2:37-47). Practice
confirmed (date) ________________________ When the flock is obeying all these commands of Jesus, then continue mentoring the new leaders using the Paul-Timothy pastoral training studies, which will enable the new flock to do all the vital ministries that God requires of a church in the New Testament: For help to get started doing this, email or call mentor George Patterson: [email protected] - 863 382 1062. |