I. The Goal of Class 201.
(Modified from Saddleback/Purpose Driven Materials)
Condensed and presented by D.Colburn at First Baptist Spring Hill, FL in 2006

A. That our Members become mature Biblical Christians (Col. 4:12b)
no longer remaining children but grown up in Christ. (Eph. 4:14-15)

II. The Focus of Class 201.

A. Knowing the Four Basic Habits necessary to spiritual maturity.
B. Becoming equipped with the skills required.
C. Understanding the tools needed.

III. The Key Definition of Class 201.

A. What is Spiritual Maturity? (Eph. 4:13) Being Like Christ. (Rom. 8:29)

IV. Facts about Spiritual Maturity

A. It is not automatic, someone needs to teach us. (Heb. 5:12-13)
B. It is a process of
1. learning to be mature (Prov. 8:5) and
2. to continue to grow. (2 Pet. 3:18)
C. It takes discipline
1. Time and trouble (1 Tim. 4:7b)
2. Disciplined pursuit of God's-likeness (1 Tim. 4:7b)

V. Understanding Discipleship

A. Only mature/maturing believers are called disciples.
B. I cannot be a disciple without engaging in the process of being discipled.
C. The further along the process of discipleship the more God can use me.
D. The mark of a disciple is cross bearing
E. What does cross bearing mean? Whatever it takes to make God first in my life.

VI. Four Habits of a Disciple

A. Commit to put off the old, take on the new, (Col. 3:9-10)
B. this is the principle called Whole-Life Stewardship.
1. Time with God's Word (John 8:31-32)
2. Prayer (John 15:7-8)
3. Gifts, Offerings, & Tithing (Luke 14:33, Deut. 14:23)
4. Fellowship (John 13: 34-35)

***INSERT CROSS GRAPHIC HERE***

(From Page 4 as I printed the original Class 201 document)

DISCIPLE'S HABIT 1 -- TIME WITH GOD'S WORD (John 8:31-32)

WHY DO WE NEED TO MAKE TIME FOR GOD'S WORD?

He wrote the Bible for us.
He will meet us there.
His Holy Spirit will help us to understand it.
His Holy Spirit will use it to minister to us daily. (Ps. 119:49)
His Holy Spirit will use it to minister through us to others. (1 Pet. 3:15)

HOW TO HEAR GOD'S WORD

Ask Him in prayer to clear our hearts and minds of distractions. (Ps. 46:10)
Choose a practical place and time (15min) for Daily Bible study.
Ask Him to prepare us to be teachable in heart and mind. (Ps. 119:18)
Confess any sin that the Enemy may use to cloud our time. (James 1:21)
Be prepared to practice what He teaches us through His Word. (James 1:22, 25)

HOW TO READ GOD'S WORD

Choose a translation whose phraseology you find comfortable.
Read through the Bible completely from Genesis to Revelation.
Get the big picture, note major concerns, don't sweat details.
Remember, it is His Story, let Him tell and reveal it to you His way.

HOW TO STUDY GOD'S WORD

Have access to multiple translations for those times that the translation
team's choice of English phrase doesn't work for you in your
primary translation. The Amplified Bible is a good choice.

Take notes in a ring binder that matches the size of your Bible so that
you may add pages where a section generates more notes than
another over time.

Utilize Bible study tools like concordances, Bible word dictionaries,
Bible history and maps that explain the cultures and geography,
Bible commentaries that help to explain the text (be very careful
here because most commentaries come with a theological spin).

Consult with men and women in whom you have observed the fruits of
the Spirit, who are humble but deep in their Biblical knowledge,
and to whom God draws you for counsel in the Word.

HOW TO MEMORIZE GOD'S WORD

There will be a test. Daily, sometimes hourly. (Ps. 119:11)
Any time of brief quiet is a good time to work on memorization.
Choose verses that strike your heart in a powerful way.
Write them down or make them your screen saver or ??
Recite the reference before and after the verse.
Associate the verse with something that has emotional power for you.

HOW TO MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

1. Picture it as the word picture forms in your mind
2. Pronounce it out loud
3. Paraphrase it in words you find comfortable
4. Personalize it with you name and other familiar things
5. Pray it as a celebration to God for His sharing it with you
6. Probe it by asking questions

Allow God to shape your thinking. (Proverbs 4:23, Rom. 12:2)
Allow God to shape your being. (1 Cor. 3:18)
Allow God to show you where and how He is moving. (John 15:7)
Allow God to show you examples of whole life stewardship. (Joshua 1:8)

HOW TO APPLY GOD'S WORD

What did it mean in the original context?
What has it meant in times since then?
What does it mean right now?
What does it mean into the future?

1. Application is personal
2. Application is practical
3. Application is possible
4. Application is provable

Just Do It!

DISCIPLE'S HABIT 2 -- PRAYER (John 15:7-8, Romans 12:12)

Be Real - Do not round the edges of your prayers. (Matthew 6:5)

Be Relaxed - God loves you, come to Him in peace. (Matthew 6:6)

Be Revealing - Tell Him everything. He knows but He wants you to say the
words to Him and to reflect on them with Him. (Matthew 6:7-8)

Six Parts of Biblical Prayer (Matthew 6:9a)

1. Express your love for God in adoration and thanksgiving. (Matthew 6:9b)

2. Commit to do God's will no matter what. (Matthew 6:10)

3. Ask God to provide every need and to show you He has. (Matthew 6:11)

4. Ask God to reveal and forgive my specific sins, show me how to make
restitution as is appropriate, and to accept His forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12a)

5. Pray for other people, including at least one hard to pray for. (Matthew 6:12b)

6. Ask for and assert Biblically promised spiritual protection. (Matthew 6:13)

DISCIPLE'S HABIT 3 -- GIFTS, OFFERINGS, TITHING (Deut. 14:23, Luke 14:33, 1 Cor. 16:2)

Remember that everything we have discussed, and will be discussing falls under the
concept of "whole life stewardship". Stewardship is not just about money.

Giving from our resources reveals our spiritual maturity. (2 Cor. 8:7)

Why does God ask us to give?

1. It allows us to copy the sacrificial giving trait of God. (John 3:16)
2. It draws us closer to God. (Matthew 6:21)
3. It is an antidote to selfishness and materialism and fear. (1 Tim. 6:17-19)
4. It strengthens my faith. (Prov. 3:5 & 9, Luke 6:38)
5. It is an investment in eternity. (1 Tim. 6:18-19)
6. It reaps for me seen and unseen blessings. (Prov. 22:9, 11:25, Psalms 112:5)
7. It enhances my happiness (circumstantial) and joy (eternal). (Acts 20:35)

Tithe = The 1st 10th of usual income. The first and best! (Prov. 3:9-10)
Offering = Additional sums one feels led by God to give.
Gifts = Special sums from special income or for special reasons.

8 Biblical Reasons for the Tithe

1. God commands it. (Lev. 27:30)
2. Jesus commended it. (Matt. 23:23)
3. Demonstrates God is in 1st place. (Deut. 14:23)
4. Reminder that everything belongs to Him. (Deut. 8:18)
5. Shows my loving response to God. (Ps. 116:12)
6. Rebukes Satan's temptation to rebell and to steal from God. (Mal. 3:8-10)
7. Provides God a clear opportunity to demonstrate His presence. (Mal. 3:10)
8. Proves that I love and trust God. (John 14:15, 2 Cor. 8:7b-8)

Attitude in Giving

1. Willing
2. Worshipful
3. Weekly
4. Cheerful
5. Sacrificial
6. Expectant

DISCIPLE'S HABIT 4 -- FELLOWSHIP (John 13: 34-35, Heb. 10:25)

1. Rehearsing for eternity in Heaven. We are family! (Gal. 6:10, Eph. 2:19, Rom. 12:5)

2. Encouraging one another to grow and to go. (Heb. 10:24, Eccl. 4:9-10, 12)

3. Accountability to stand firm and to serve well. (Prov. 27:17, Heb: 3:13, Gal. 6:1-2)

4. God is present when we fellowship. (Matt. 18:20)

5. There is power in shared prayers in agreement. (Matt. 18:19)

6. Our love-filled fellowship is a witness to a dying and lonely world. (John 17:21)

7. We are obligated to and dependent upon one another. (1 Peter 4:10, 1 Cor. 122:5, 27)

Where in the church do we discover, build, and maintain close friendships?

Small Groups (Acts 2:42-47)

Bible Study
Fellowship
Communion
Prayer
Support
Social
Praise
Outreach

TAKING THIS TO THE "STREETS" OF OUR LIVES

How do we Start & How do we Maintain the Four Good Habits?

Step One: Desire (God-inspired desires fulfilled)
Step Two: Decide (step out in faith and act)
Step Three: Declaration (state your intentions clearly)
Step Four: Determination (no turning back from the goal)
Step Five: Just Do It! (no excuses)
Step Six: Double Up (team with others for encouragement)
Step Seven: Depend on God (pray, listen, trust, and obey)

Sign a Spiritual Growth Covenant

I Commit To

* a daily time with God (personal Bible reading and prayer),
* a weekly tithe to God (first 10% of my income), and
* a committed team for God (fellowship via a small group).

"Take the time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit. Bodily fitness has a
limited value bit spiritual fitness is of unlimited value both for this present life
and the life to come."

Signature ________________________________ Date __________________

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