1. THE FIRST 9 WEEKS OF A DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
When someone makes a commitment to Jesus how do you begin to disciple them? The obvious answer comes from the Great Commission where Jesus told the disciples to teach all nations to obey the commands he had already given them (Matthew 28:18-20). There are eight of his commands in scripture (with the ninth being not specific to his teachings but implied in the Lords Supper and then practiced immediately in Acts 2:42-47).
If discipling in a group, then these commands help new group begin the process of evolution into a simple church. These commands are the perfect place to start in this journey. Acts 2:42-47 is the original prototype of a fully functioning simple church. That is our goal but the 9 commands of Christ are where we start as they lay the foundation of obedience.
2. THE NINE COMMANDS OF CHRIST
| Command | Scripture Reference | Story |
| 1. Turn and believe
|
Mark 1:15
|
The sinful woman: Luke 7:36-50
|
| 2. Be Baptised | Matthew 28:19 | Phillip and the Ethiopian: Acts 8:26-29 |
| 3. Pray | Matthew 6:9-13 | Jesus’ prayer: Matthew 6:5-15 |
| 4. Go, make disciples | Matthew 28:19-20 | The Samaritan woman: John 4:4-42 |
| 5. Persevere | John 15:18-19 | The persecuted church: Acts 5:27-42 |
| 6. Love | Matthew 22:37-39 | The good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37 |
| 7. Lords Supper | Luke 22:19-20 | Jesus last supper: Luke 22:7-20 |
| 8. Giving | Luke 6:38 | The generous widow: Mark 12:41-44 |
| 9. Gather and meet | Hebrews 10:24-25 | The first church: Acts 2:41-47 |
3. WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM IN HOSTILE CULTURES?
Water baptism will be a huge challenge for a new disciple if they live in a hostile culture. So do not push baptism once it has been presented as a command of Christ. Let the disciple count the cost for a while and come back to the topic later. The more hostile the culture the more important it is to find a person of peace who can open doors to other people. Once a whole family have become disciples it is much safer to meet, baptise and grow. Pray for this.
Remember, baptism does not have to be an overtly public act. Sometimes completely isolated new believers who come to Jesus through the internet will baptise themselves in their own bath!
Also; any disciple of Jesus Christ automatically has the authority to baptise others. If we wait for a pastor or the whole family to be present it will slow the growth of the movement. Acts chapter eight tells us the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch being baptised immediately with one other present.
4. CELEBRATING THE LORDS SUPPER
This is just a few words on this topic to clear things up. The early church celebrated communion as a full meal in homes (1 Corinthians 11:17-26) Traditional Western church services leave little room for celebrating the Lords supper as it was celebrated in the New Testament era. Either way it doesn’t matters much how you do communion. It matters a lot more why you do communion, and your attitude to the Lords supper, is the guiding factor. In the scriptural reference above, Pauls spells out very clearly that attitude is the key.
5. FURTHER NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES FOR A DBS
Luke 1:26-38 The birth of Jesus
Matthew 3:11-16 The baptism of Jesus
Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus is tempted
Matthew 6:9-15 Jesus teaches us how to pray
Matthew 26:27-30 Jesus and His disciples – last supper
Mark 4: 35-41 Jesus calms the storm
Luke 5:17-26 Jesus heals a paralysed man
Luke 10:30-37 Parable of the good Samaritan
Luke 15:11-31 The story of the lost sons
Luke 18:35-42 Jesus heals a blind beggar
Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus meets Jesus
Luke 23:44-56 Jesus death and burial
John 1:1-14 Jesus coming to earth
John 3:1-8 Jesus and Nicodemus
John 3:16-21 God’s incredible love for us
John 5:1-9 Healing at the pool of Bethesda
John 6:5-13 Jesus feeds the 5000
John 18:1-11 Jesus arrested
John 19:16-24 Jesus is crucified
John 20:1-9 Jesus resurrection
John 20:10-18 Jesus appears to Mary after His death
John 20:24-30 Thomas sees Jesus
Acts 1:3-11 Jesus goes up to heaven
Acts 9:1-19 Saul’s dramatic conversion to Jesus
Acts 16:11-15 Lydia believes in Jesus
Romans 5:1-11 The impact of faith in God
Romans 8:31-39 Who we are because of Jesus
Ephesians 2:1-10 Made alive in Jesus
Colossians 2:6-15 Freedom in Christ
Colossians 3:1-14 Changed outlook on life
6. DBS PASSAGES FOR INTERESTED MUSLIMS
Genesis 1 The Creation Story: God Created the World
Genesis 2 The Creation Story: The Creation of Man
Genesis 3 The Fall: Disobedience of People
Genesis 6:1-9:17 The Fall: The Flood
Genesis 12:1-8, 15:1-6 Redemption: God’s Promise to Abram
Genesis 22:1-19 Redemption: Abraham offers Isaac as a Sacrifice
Exodus 12:1-28 Redemption: The Promise of Passover
Exodus 20:1-21 Redemption: The Ten Commandments
Leviticus 4:1-35 Redemption: The Sacrificial System
Isaiah 53 Redemption: Isaiah Foreshadows the Coming Promise
Matthew 3; John 1:29-34 Redemption: Jesus is Baptized
Matthew 4:1-11 – Redemption: The Temptation of Christ
Matthew 28:18-20 Commission: Make Disciples
Matthew 26:26-30 Redemption: The First Lord’s Supper
Mark 4:35-41 Redemption: Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 5:1-20 Redemption: Jesus Casts Out Evil Spirits
Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20 Redemption: The Birth of Jesus
Luke 5:17-26 Redemption: Jesus Forgives and Heals
Luke 23:32-56 Redemption: Jesus is Crucified
Luke 24:1-35 Redemption: Jesus Conquers Death
Luke 24:36-53 Redemption: Jesus Appears and Ascends
John 3:1-21 Redemption: Jesus and Nicodemus
John 4:1-26, 39-42 Redemption: Jesus and the Woman at the Well
John 11:1-44 Redemption: Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
John 18:1-19:16 Redemption: Jesus is Betrayed and Condemned
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Commission: Be Ambassadors
Revelation 21:1-8 Finished: All things New
7. ACTION
- Memorise these first nine scriptures that relate to the commands of Christ so that you are ready to start leading a DBS with your upcoming new disciple!
- If you have not been baptised yourself, get it done now.
- Are any of the 9 commands of Christ missing from your life. If so then fill that gap now.