BASIC.TEACHING PERSONAL REFLECTION GUIDE Copyright 2011 by Flannel P.O. Box 3228 Grand Rapids, MI 49501-3228 U.S.A.

. Published by David C Cook 4050 Lee Vance View Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A. David C Cook Distribution Canada 55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5 David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England David C Cook and the graphic circle C logo are registered trademarks of Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher. All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, IncTM. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. ISBN 978-1-4347-0097-1 Series Packaging Design: Jim Elliston, The Regime Printed in the United States of America First Edition 2011

BASIC.TEACHING
FRANCIS CHAN

Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:1820
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When I started attending church gatherings, I still remember people would encourage me and say, Okay, you need to read the Bible. You gotta read this thing, and you should read it every day, read it in the morning I still remember trying that. I would just force myself, and discipline myself, and get up early and start reading this book.

Has reading the Bible ever seemed like a chore to you? How do you typically approach reading the Bible? How often do you read the Bible? Do you ever? Do you read it more or less than you did when you first decided to follow Jesus? Why?
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But as I would read it, I would notice that there was something different about the way they studied the Scriptures and the way I was doing it.

Do you see a difference in the way you approach Scripture and the way the early believers did? What would it take for you to approach Scripture the way the early believers did?

They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. Acts 2:42 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

How does a newborn crave milk? Do you crave Gods Word like a newborn craves milk? If not, what do you think is lacking?

What the Bible says is, there ought to be this natural craving when it comes to the Bible not just a discipline, not just a forced thing, but to want it.

Is it natural for you to read the Bible? When in your life has it felt like a discipline or something you had to force? Do you want to read the Bible?

When you think about it, its really no different for us today. Why? Because its the mission. Im supposed to teach other people what Jesus taught, so I need to go to those who were actually eyewitnesses.

How does an eyewitness have authority that others dont have? Do you see the Bible as a book written in part by those who witnessed what Jesus said and did? How would such a view of the Bible change the way you approach reading and understanding it?

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three sheltersone for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! Matthew 17:15

See, when I first started reading the Bible, I just read it for information almost, just to know more stuff, rather than treating it as the words of God, like coming off of that mountain, coming out of that cloud, trembling at His Word. Its so important to understand what we mean when we say the Word of God.

What does the Word of God mean to you? In what ways have you trivialized Gods Word in your mind and life?

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Unfortunately, we live in a time when so many in the church are running after opinions. They want to know, What does this person think? What does that person think? Forget about it. Look at this book. What does God say? It doesnt matter what people think. Gods Word is so much the authority of the church. And it has to be, or were going to ruin this.

Have you found yourself putting more stock in peoples opinions than you have in the Bible itself? What is the danger in that? What can a misguided view of the authority of Scripture ruin? How?
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What about today? Who do you and I listen to?

Who do you listen to? Why do you listen to them? What do you see in them that would make you want to listen to them?

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But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under Gods curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under Gods curse! Galatians 1:89

Have you witnessed teaching that is contradictory to what the Bible says? Have you witnessed it within a church setting? Was anything done about it? What did you do about it?

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The Bible says that the Spirit will gift people in certain ways, to where some will have this gift of teaching. And so youll naturally start to follow them. Have you ever come across someone who has truly been gifted by the Holy Spirit with the gift of teaching? What was unique about this persons teaching? Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:2728 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:48

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Were all called to teach. So if you read something in the Bible, what youre called to do is pass that on to someone else.

When was the last time you passed something you read in the Bible on to someone else? Do you see this as part of your calling? What holds you back from sharing what God is teaching you in His Word with others?

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The Bible says, and it warns over and over again, it warns against false teachers. And sometimes, it was because they were teaching things that were false, but other times, its because of their lifestyles.

Have you listened to and accepted false teaching? Have you unintentionally passed it on to others? Do you listen to whomever comes along claiming to represent Jesus, or do you test what they say against Gods Word?
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Watch their lives. Do they look like Jesus? Do they act like Jesus?

Do you ask these questions about the teachers you listen to? What is the danger in not looking at the lifestyles of our teachers?

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If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 1 Timothy 6:35 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encouragewith great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:24 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought thembringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:13

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Its not just about knowing the words of Jesus. Its about actually becoming like Him. And so as we seek teachers, its not just those who have the knowledge, but those who live it out.

Have you ever spent time with anyone whose life gave you a glimpse of what Jesus life looked like? Who was that person? What was it about that person that made you feel you were seeing Jesus in his or her life?

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Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:16

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We all have a responsibility to study, and we also all have a responsibility to teach.

Have you relied on others too much to teach you the Scriptures? Have you become lazy with reading the Word of God? What do you need to change in order to live out your responsibility to study Gods Word and to teach it to others?

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Its a beautiful thing that God has entrusted to all of us.

Do you see the Bible as a beautiful gift entrusted to you by God? Do you approach the Word of God as something sacred that needs to be absorbed and passed on? What would it take for you to get back to seeing the Word of God for what it is?

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Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in Gods household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:1415 Were called to hold these sacred writings, and to pass them on, and too many people are gathering over opinions and thoughts and feelings. Weve got to get back to teaching the Bible and holding it sacred. As we fellowship, lets center everything on Gods words. Stop. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a new passion for Gods Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a craving for Gods Word that resembles a newborn babys craving for milk. Pray that God would silence all voices but His own and that you would be able to discern false teachers from those who speak His truth. Pray that you would become a faithful student of Gods Word, and pray that you would become a faithful teacher of Gods Word to others.

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He said to them, Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. Matthew 13:52 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Acts 4:2 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 5:42 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:1115
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So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:1314 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:1417 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 2 John 1:910

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