Setting Up the Study

1.      Approach to setting up a study
        
        A. Set up a time to talk. Make sure the atmosphere of the meeting
        place is conducive to good conversation. Have the gift bible ready to
        present to them if they choose to study.
        
        B.Share about yourself. Tell them about your conversion, what you
        were generally like before you became a Christian, and why you became a
        Christian.
        
        C. Ask them where they think they are spiritually. Ask them what
        some of the most important times in shaping their beliefs about God and
        religion were. Work questions like the following into the conversation.
        

             Do you believe in the God of the bible?
             Do you believe that Jesus is the son of God? God in the flesh?
             Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead?
             Do you believe the Bible is the word of God? And that we are judged 
             by it?
             Have you read the bible? How much? When?
             Do you consider yourself a Christian?
             Do you believe in heaven and hell?
             Do you believe that you woul go to heaven if you died right now?
             Do you want to become a Christian?
             

        
        D. Read Matthew 7:7-8
        
        1)These are promises with condiditions

        2)Everyone must take the initiative and put forth effore. God
        gurantees these promises:
                a) Ask-given to you
                b) Seek-will find
                c) Knock-door will be opened
                
        3) To find God, to learn the truth, to get answers, and to learn
        what life is all about, effort is needed. 
        Examples: Learning a sport, playing the piano, a language, etc...

        4) It will take time. It will be worth it. I look forward to our        
        friendship deepening as we share our lives and explore the scriptures
        together.

        5) It will take an attitude of "teach me; I want to learn."
        
        E. Invitation
        
        1) I would like to study the bible with you as often as possible.
        
        2) Studying will help you make a decision about following Jesus
        
        3) Let me explain the studies to you in general
           (Do a verbal overview of the First Principles study series and
           explain specifically the topics you will study together:
           discipleship, sin, repentance, cross, baptism).
        
        4) Let's set a date for the first study.


2.      Helpful notes about studying the bible
        A. Buy the friend with whom you are studying with a bible as a
        gift.
        
        B. Build a good friendship, and help the person with whom you are
        studying to have other great friends in the church. Have a Christian
        friend or two join in on the studies.
        
        C. Take concise notes for your non-Christian friend, so they can
        go back and review what they have learned. Or come prepared with notes for
        the study that you can give to them afterwards.
        
        D. Be sure that you move their heart and not just transfer
        information  with each study. The individual must make their own 
        decisions about what was studied; you must specifically call for these.
        Before moving to the next study,a heart-to-heart talk may be necessary.
        
        E. Close out the studies with a short prayer. When the person
        feels comfortable with it, have them say a short prayer also.
        
        F. For those who do not believe in Jesus use one of two
        approaches: 1) Study through the gospel of John, or 2) Study through the
        Jesus studies.
        
        G. Use follow-up studies (at least one per week) with new
        Christians 


 

Contact: Daniel de Sailles
Email: hbeng151@csun.edu
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