Program and Assignments for Lay Training for Church Growth

The laity can be considered an army of soldiers; their participation is essential to the advance of the Church against a world controlled by Satan. This course examines the definition of a layman, various biblical principles behind lay involvement in the Church, and their commitment to the Church. The student will reflect on what is necessary to deepen and strengthen the Christian faith of the laity in his local church so that they become enthused and zealous for the work of the Master. He will learn how he can motivate, develop, and use the gifts of his laity to so that each one contributes to the growth of the Church of our Lord. The goal of the course is to teach the student how to improve the lay participation in his denomination. This course is complementary to that of pastoral training for church growth.

#	Unit	Lesson	Assignment
1.	Introduction	Program and Assignments	1) Read and meditate
2.		Introduction	upon the book of Acts.
3.	Modern perceptions	Problem in the Church
4.		Definitions of the word, “laity”	2) Read two books from
5.		Definition of the Church	the library.
6.		Role of the laity in the early Church
7.	Secrets of success	1^st & 2^ndsecrets	3) Summarize a book
8.		3^rd & 4^th secrets	you have read on laity.
9.		5^th & 6^th secrets
10.		7^th & 8^th secrets	4) Present the sumary
11.		9^th secret	orally in class, if
12.	Mobilization of laity	Differences between the Early and Modern churches	possible.
13.		Importance of Lay Training
14.		Advantages of Lay Training	5) A seminar to
15.		Doing God’s Will in Your Job	inform pastors to the
16.		Relationship between Lay people and Pastors	problem and propose
17.		How to Equip the Laity	solutions.
18.		How to Train the Laity
19.		Ministry of a Professional Laity	6) A seminar to
20.		Realization of Lay Potential	inform laity to the
21.		Some Lay Movements Throughout History 1	problem and propose
22.		Some Lay Movements Throughout History 2	solutions.
23.		Conditions for Effective Testimony 1
24.		Conditions for Effective Testimony 2	7) Attend classes
25.		Contents of the Gospel	regularly
26.		Discipleship 1
27.		Discipleship 2
28.		Incorporation of New Believers into the Church
29.		Effective Results
30.		Conclusion 1
31.		Conclusion 2

Introduction

The laity represent today a great force in the world. In some churches, their contribution toward the progress of the Gospel is very important. In other cases, it is neglected, almost even non-existent.

The Church has a mission to evangelize all the peoples of the world by making them disciples of Jesus Christ. Its most important task is to announce the good news of the Messiah to everyone.

When Christ left the earth, he left his church with the specific mission of witnessing for him to “Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

This divine mission continues throughout the Church. The Church must go everywhere in the world to preach the good news of salvation. Christianity was presented to Africans as a gift for the clergy. African Churches continued the idea of separation between laity and clergy. Missions gave a solid education to those Africans who wanted to become pastors or priests, then dressing them in a certain way and giving them titles, all this to the detriment of the laity.

This manner of behavior was one of the greatest obstacles to effective Church Growth for centuries. It consisted of preferential treatment and the creation of two classes within God’s Church. But Christ’s death tore away the temple veil from top to bottom to give everyone free access to the universal priesthood.

Perhaps the greatest weakness in the current Church is that of the millions of so called members who are not really committed, and what is worse, they do not even find the situation strange. The earlier we recognize Christ’s intention of making the Church an army, the earlier we will understand that the current situation cannot continue. There is no chance of victory in a military campaign when 90% of the soldiers are not trained or mobilized, but that is precisely the situation in our churches today.

Most of the so-called Christians do not really understand what trusting in Christ means or how to take a part in His ministry in whatever situation they find themselves.

Laity are members of the people of God, just as the clergy, and they can take part in the heavenly inheritance. Their participation is essential for the advance of the Church.

I. Bibliography

Robert Coleman	Master Plan of Evangelism
Cahiers du Christ seul	Evangelizing is Disciple-Making
Aril	Now Make Disciples
Keith Philipps	Training Disciples
W. Henrichsen	Training Disciples
Makanzu Mavumilusa	My heart is aflame for evangelism
Leighton Ford	The Urgent Mission
Michael Griffith	Rise up for the Mission
Bill Bright	The Love Revolution
Oswald Smith	The Passion for Souls
T.l. Osborn	Come close to my chariot
R.A. Torrey	How to Lead Souls to Christ
Mac Donald	The True Disciple
Melvin Hodges	A Guide to Church Planting
Charles Finney	Religious Revivals
R.W.Stott	Understanding the Bible
Carlo et Michel Brugnoli	Making Progress with God
Carlo et Michel Brugnoli	Bearers of Life
Juan Orthiz	Disciples.
Charles Marsh	Moving on to Action
Ch. M. Sheldon	What would Jesus do in my place?

Problem in the Church

The Church of Jesus Christ has lost its power, zeal, enthusiasm, and even its authority for Christian witness. The Church is totally confused because of its poor understanding of the commandments Jesus left with us.

We grieve over the spiritual poverty in our churches, even in the most evangelical ones. We would like them to be more alive, enthusiastic, and conquering. The reason for their spiritual poverty is, more than anything else, the lack of putting into practice the Word of God.

Although Christ’s message is powerful, the Church is often weak and powerless. It has not succeeded in changing the world because the church itself is divided and in pieces.

So many people have been disappointed by the church and have lost their confidence in it because it has not lived up to its calling as salt and light.

Today the call is being heard everywhere: the crisis is within the church itself. The Church is too dependent on artificial means to simulate and stimulate true spiritual power. The Institution has lost its impact.

Our error lies in the way we measure our progress and status. We have based our success on this question: “How many people are present?” We should be asking another question: “How are the people doing and what is their impact in the world?”

Far from being pessimist concerning our changing world, the Church can rediscover its mission if the Christians return to the source, God’s Word, to discover the true meaning of being Christian according to Christ’s example.

Reflecting and studying the role of the laity will help us to understand the unique calling of the Christian: to be Christ’s witness.

Let’s be aware that every time period calls Christians out in a particular way to renewal by the Holy Spirit so that they become witnesses to a world which is burning up. If Christians refuse to fulfill their obligations, who will do it instead? No one. Experience proves so more than once. If Christians refuse to accept their responsibility, they are not worthy of His trust. They no longer have a reason for being.

The only way the Church can mobilize its members is to offer them solid biblical teachings on the subject. Permanent training of the Christian must be the priority of each church.

A Good Understanding of Jesus’ Command: Luke 6:40; 5:10, Matthew 28:19-20

The mission which Jesus entrusted to us is to make disciples. The Bible says that a disciple will be like his Master; that means that the Church has a mission to make people like Christ. Christ Himself trained disciples, and He orders us to do as He did: “As the Father sent me, so I send you."

1. Deepen the Christian faith of laity so that they are aware and convinced that they are fulfilling God’s task which Christ left with the Church.

2. Feed the laity spiritually so that they become true witnesses in their families, in their neighborhoods, and anywhere God has placed them.

3. Equip the laity so that they become committed and zealous about fulfilling the work of the Lord, because they are trained for a specific task in relationship to their abilities.

4. Give the laity opportunity to perfect their knowledge about God so that they truly serve Him as priests everywhere they go.

I. Biblical definition

In the Old Testament, LAOS means the people of God; in the New Testament, it is applied to the Christian community.

In the Old Testament, the children of Israel, the prophets and other Jews, were described as one group, God’s people.

This idea remains intact in the New Testament. The Church is not a building, or a denomination, or clergy, but God’s people. The New Testament Church means God’s people, a community, a group of Christians who meet anywhere in what is essentially an assembly of saints, that is, people separated from the world. That is the true meaning of the Greek word, "LAOS," from where we get the word, laity. It is in the Syriac versions written by Aquilas Theodotian that we find it used.

II. Slipping into a deformed meaning

The first use of the word, LAITY, in opposition to the meaning given by the apostles, is found in a Roman document, a letter to the Corinthian community, written by Clement in 95 AD when he was addressing the ordinary members of the local church. He was contrasting the service at the altar and the religious service of Christian people in the Roman language. The separation between clergy and laity was made; the notion is not a biblical one, but a man-made one.

III. Basic Questions

These definitions are essential: in defining the laity and clergy wrongly, the Church committed its most serious error, that of putting on stage “Mr. Everything,” a clergyman who seeks to do it all or is entrusted with all the Church ministries, and the laity is relegated to being second-class citizens.

The clergyman is certainly chosen by God to assume important responsibilities. He was ordained in one way or another, but both the clergy and laity have the responsibility to feed, equip, and support other laity in the ministry. 99% of the Church is made up of non-professional laity who must become experts in their respective areas.

The basic question needing an answer is: “What is the place of ordinary Christians in the activities of the Church?” Should the laity remain those who simply attend church meetings, put their offerings in the plate to support the clergy’s program, and do nothing to change the way the church operates? Don’t the laity want to belong to something that counts? The laity live in the world from Monday to Saturday.

The Church today is looking for better methods, but God is looking for better men. Men are God’s methods.

If each Christian were trained and motivated to win one person to Christ, then to train a convert to repeat that process, the world would be won in less than 40 years.

Our greatest interest is therefore that of knowing how the laity can be witnesses for Jesus Christ in the context of their work, expertise, and spiritual gift, since all those who make up God’s people have been chosen. They have received the same grace and the same direction from the Holy Spirit in order to assume various responsibilities in the Church. Consequently, lay training must be a priority in the Church.

In most people’s minds, evangelism is a matter for professionals, trained to do that task: “After all, they say, I am only a baker or a carpenter; I know nothing about theology; I have never been to seminary. Let pastors do the work; they were trained for it.” This attitude represents the greatest tragedy the Church has ever known. The damage it has done is so bad it cannot be fully expressed here.

IV. The early Church

It was not so in the early Church. Everyone was evangelizing. That is why, after 300 years of continual growth, the Church of Jesus Christ experienced surprising results. The Roman Empire, totally pagan at its base, was deeply shaken and conquered by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; Jesus’ disciples crossed seas and deserts, went into the darkest jungles, entered into every Roman city, to witness, even to the senate and in the emperor’s palace, until there was a Christian emperor on the throne. How was it possible? Everyone was evangelizing.

Satan managed to infiltrate the Church, and today it is estimated that 95% of Christians have never led a soul to Christ. The army of our Lord Jesus Christ was decimated, its power undermined.

Satan has not only deceived the laity, but also pastors, about the goal of their ministry. In Ephesians 4:11-16, we read that Christ “gave some to be apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.” If we really grasped that concept, we would see a revolutionary upheaval in many ministries. What determines the basic criterion for the pastorate can be expressed in a question: “How many saints have I prepared for the ministry of the Church?”

Definition of the Church

I. What the Church is not:

· A social club	· An orphanage
· An insurance company	· A denomination
· A building	· The ecumenical movement

II. What the Church is:

A. The Church is Christ’s body Ephesians 5:23; 1 Cor 12:27

B. Christ is the head of the body which is the Church Colossians 1:8

C. Christ is the head of the Church Colossians 1:8

D. The Church is the people of God 1 Peter 2:9-10

E. The Church is one 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:3-6

F. The Body is unity in diversity 1 Corinthians 12:14-17

G. Each member makes up part of the Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:13

III. Interdependence of the members of the Church

A. The Church is the community of all those who believe in Jesus Christ and who live according to the Scripture by faith and action given by the Holy Spirit..

B. They meet together for Holy Communion and baptism, to worship, pray, praise God, enjoy fellowship, witness, participate in the ministry of the Word, follow biblical teachings, and participate in the progress of the Gospel.

C. If the word, “laity,” has meant “God’s people” since the beginning of the Church, separation of laity and clergy should not exist because all play an important role in the functioning of the body.

IV. Important role of laity in the Church: “You are part of ...” 1 Peter 2:7-10

· A chosen race	· A holy nation
· A royal priesthood Revelation 1:5-6	· A people belonging to God

V. Inheritance of the Laity

A. All believers, laity and clergy, take part in the inheritance of the saints.

B. All Church members are part of the mystical body of Christ, thanks to the baptism they have received once they were joined together with Jesus.

C. The laity have the obligation and the right to become apostles, by the power of the Holy Spirit who strengthens and confirms them.

D. He sanctifies God’s people to do the work of the ministry; he grants special gifts to the faithful. 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:16

VI. Mission of the Laity

A. The Lord Himself sends laity to fulfill His mission in the world: They are ordained into the ministry. 1 Peter 2:4-10

B. The laity lift up their actions as spiritual offerings and testify of Christ to all.

C. It is by faith, hope, and love that we live out this calling.

D. Love is the key element in the greatest commandment given by our Lord and compels Church members to work for God’s glory, the coming of His kingdom, and the communication of eternal life to all men.

E. All Christians in the world must take on this task, that of working so that all men know and accept the salvation message.

Role of the Laity in the early Church

Introduction

1. In the early Church, everyone worked and participated actively.

2. The members were not passive, but active.

3. Let’s analyze how they contributed to the work of the Lord.

I. Jesus’ general order Mat 28:19-20

· Make disciples of all nations.

II. Jesus’ specific order Acts 1:8

A. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem ... to the ends of the earth.

III. Who carries out Jesus’ order?

A. The Church was born and grew in Jerusalem. Acts 1-7

1. It was the laity who took the Gospel out of Jerusalem, and not the apostles; that is, the laity went into Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1,4

2. The deacon Philip preached in Samaria and was successful. Acts 8:5

3. The Church sent Peter and John to continue the lay work. Acts 8:14

B. The Gospel spread to the ends of the earth.

1. The Gospel penetrated into Ethiopia, Africa. Acts 8:26-39

2. Laymen went into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Acts 11:19-24

3. The Church of Jerusalem sent Barnabas to build up the work. Acts 11:22-23

IV. Mobilization of the laity

A. Thanks to the laity, Jesus’ mission was carried out.

B. The laity played a great role in the Church the day of Pentecost. Acts 1:8

C. During Peter’s sermon, 3.000 were converted. Acts 2

D. Because of the persecution, the laity left Jerusalem and scattered into the countryside around Judea and Samaria, witnessing of Christ and His resurrection., The apostles had remained in Jerusalem. Acts 8:1,4

E. After having hear that Judea and Samaria had been evangelized, the apostles sent Peter and John to disciple the new converts.

F. The laity had gone as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch with the Gospel.

G. Some of the laity from Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch evangelized the Greeks.

Conclusion

1. There were no pastors in the modern sense of the word.

2. The apostles visited churches founded by lay people.

3. In our day, we must admit that some churches neglect or underestimate the laity.

4. Evangelism and sanctification are the first goals in the lay mission.

5. Through their positions, the laity had numerous opportunities to evangelize.

6. The witness of the personal life of the laity and the proclamation of the Good News bore much fruit and helped non-believers in their walk of faith; what they were taught strengthened them and led the saints on to a more vibrant life.

Secrets to the Success of the early Church 1

Introduction

1. We just saw in the last lesson that it was the laity who carried out the Great Commission, for the most part. We should ask some questions to discover secrets of their success. How and why were they different than the laity today?

2. Let’s look at some of the secrets which motivated the laity to work effectively for the King of glory. Acts 2:37-47

I. First secret: Hearing God’s Word Acts 2:37

A. After having heard Peter’s sermon, their heart was pierced. We see here that the believers listened to God’s Word and that Word brought faith to them for the Bible says that faith comes from what we hear, and what we hear comes from the Word of God. Romans 10:17

B. Hearing God’s Word is the first step in becoming a Christian. Today people are invited to join the church without first hearing the Good News. Perhaps they are invited because they are from our ethnic group. Consequently, these pagans enter the church and contribute to its confusion. The Church must be built on the foundation of the Word because it is the only source of authentic faith.

II. Second secret: Repentance before God and Faith in Jesus Christ

A. "Peter told them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38

B. Peter’s declaration is clear, precise, and deep, thus summarizing salvation: God’s work and man’s response.

C. He asked them:

1. To repent, a word which means both a profound regret for sin and the desire for complete moral renewal.

2. To receive baptism based on the foundation of Jesus, that is, in believing in Him as Savior, Messiah; baptism is the seal of their faith.

D. Repentance is the entry gate into the Christian life.

E. It is the only condition for salvation and for entry into God’s family. The first Christians were repentant people, men and women who had put their trust in Jesus. False repentance was easily detected, as in the cases of Simon the magician, Ananias and Saphira, etc.

F. So what gave strength to these lay people from the early church was that they were not nominal Christians, or Christians bound by an organization, but people who had had a personal encounter with Christ.

G. When the members of a church are not truly converted, it resembles a business, an orphanage, or a social gathering because the church is always and only the assembly of true believers.

Secrets to the Success of the early Church 2

III. Third secret: obedience to Christ’s commandments. Acts 2:42

A. Those who accepted Christ’s Word were baptized. Acts2:42

B. The key to the success that God gave the first Christians was their obedience. God developed the spiritual gifts of those who obeyed. The first Christians obeyed the Lord’s commandments.

C. Today, Christians want to bargain with God’s Word. They want to obey it halfway, which makes their commitment superficial. The Church must teach the need to fully obey the Word as opposed to partial obedience to Christ’s commands. Saul obeyed God partially and was corrected by God’s judge. “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22

D. The faith of the early Christians was honored by God because they were obedient to the Lord. The Church today is lukewarm, backslidden, because there are more disobedient Christians than obedient ones.

IV. Fourth secret: Perseverance in the teachings of the apostles. Ac 2:42

A. "They devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles." Acts 2:42

B. The most important activity is that of teaching. God said: “My people are dying due to lack of knowledge;” truth comes from the teaching of the Word.

C. We have much to do to return the Bible to the rightful place it occupied in the early Church. We must return to a child-like faith, to the complete revelation of God, and to an assurance based only on what is written. There are still so many so-called Christians who neglect a daily reading of the holy book.

D. Let’s understand that if we neglect the Scriptures, a revival is impossible, and we will be lost. Let’s be like the Christians of Berea and those of the reformation. Let’s read the Bible ardently and strive to put it into practice.

E. Today, the Church is losing a lot of time in songs and announcements, but the time for preaching and teaching is limited. The apostles were true masters of the Word of Jesus. Their teachings aimed undoubtedly at new converts to help them to learn Jesus’ words by heart. The teaching times were coupled with fellowship and joy in the Lord..

F. Preaching or exhortation is different than teaching. The Church must restore the authority of the Bible. Jesus was the supreme Master of the Word, and he exhorted his disciples to teach his commandments to the nations; The 20^th-century Church must also make teaching their priority.

G. Unfortunately, some churches today are theologically illiterate and lack in systematic teaching of the Word. They are fed on crumbs, apparently pious and hastily prepared, put together haphazardly, the result of professional fear at not having something to say rather than the desire to develop a teaching program which is well-defined. Such churches suffer from doctrinal malnutrition and spiritual famine.

Secrets to the Success of the early Church 3

V. Fifth secret: Fellowship

A. By fellowship, we do not mean holy communion, which will be discussed later. We mean intimate unity in love for the same Savior who is the head of the Church. The first Christians practiced it, even outside, by meeting together each day.

B. The first Christians fully understood Jesus’ words on love.

C. “Love one another, as I have also loved you. Love one another, for by this, all will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

D. They also understood the importance of Psalm 133 where the psalmist exhorts the brothers to remain in the fellowship because it is in such meetings that God sends his blessings on life.

E. Fellowship is the fundamental characteristic of the New Testament spirit., that is, a most intimate union of thought, will, and feelings within believers.

F. The same faith and the same love for the same Savior, such was the bond that united them; these are the essential ingredients of any church.

G. The Spirit alone creates that precious fellowship of the believers, separated in the flesh by selfishness. Today, the church resembles a stadium where we are not living out that fellowship sincerely, but meeting together in a rally-type atmosphere. Many so-called Christians are still attached to their customs, race, sex, etc.

VI. Sixth Secret: Holy Communion Acts 2:42

A. "...They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread ..." Acts 2:42

B. Christians broke bread, that is, they shared in the Lord’s supper and a meal together, where joy reigned with simplicity of heart. That intimate joy in the Holy Spirit was expressed in songs of praise offered up to God. Luke 24:53

C. A beautiful and holy life pleasing to God was the result. For Christians, the breaking of bread was another opportunity to remember the work of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha, and each time the early Church Christians remembered Jesus with a fellowship dinner, they discovered that Christ was present with them, as He promised; that motivated them to spread His work. Breaking bread was therefore a powerful stimulant for mobilizing Christians to do Christ’s work.

Secrets to the Success of the early Church 4

VII.Seventh Secret: Perseverance in prayer Acts 2:42

A. “They devoted themselves to prayers.” Acts 2:42

B. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone ... “ 1 Timothy 2:1

C. The first Christians understood the importance of prayer in the personal and community life.

D. The Holy Spirit gives to us, we who make up God’s people, “access to the Father by one Spirit.” Ephesians 2:18

E. We must use this privilege by constantly praying in the Holy Spirit.

F. Negligence is one of the greatest sins among Christians.

G. Community prayers were common, practiced in all the assemblies, especially before and after the Lord’s supper.

H. Prayers were considered a part of grace, a discipline to be developed by the Spirit in the life of the members of the Church.

I. For Christians today, prayers remain an essential element of holiness and progress in the spiritual life.

J. God gives this grace called prayer, but the Church often neglects to appropriate it, which leads to spiritual misery for the individual and for the church. Praying assemblies are rare. In principle, we all agree that it must be done, but in practice, we neglect to do it.

VIII.Eighth secret: Sharing of Possessions Acts 2:44-45

A. “All the believers were together and had everything in common, selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need.” Acts 2:44-45

B. Joy of the new life in Christ motivated the Christians to share their goods spontaneously. The detachment from earthly possessions led to spontaneous expressions of love.

C. There is no equal sharing when some people have advantages over the masses. The key to sharing possessions and mutual help is the new birth.

D. Modern communism used these verses, confusing ardent charity with a servant heart. Members of the early Church who shared their possessions founded their actions on love, not force or imposition.

E. We can thus summarize two of the numerous factors which contributed to sharing among Christians:

1. The reality of God’s presence and the joy of walking in the power of the kingdom led to a happiness which replaced that of being attached to material possessions.

2. Love and interest motivated Christians to provide for the needs of the misfortunate among them.

Secrets to the Success of the early Church 5

F. Biblical communism says: “What is mine is yours; modern communism says, “What is yours is mine.” The first says, “What I have, I give to you.” The second says, “Give me what you have.”

G. This aspect of the Christian life implies that the early Church condemned the greed of the rich who claimed to bear the name of Christian.

H. The Church must recognize today that we are only stewards of our possessions, and consequently, we should put them at the disposal of others.

IX. Ninth secret: Regular meetings of the assembly Acts 2:46

A. “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” Acts 2:46

B. The first Christians were faithful in gathering together, and that reinforced their fellowship. They understood the habit of going to assembly meetings during the week and on the Sabbath; it was an important act of worship to the Lord.

C. Worship services, prayer meetings, and Bible studies were the main activities of the Church. These meetings were important events in the life of the Church.

D. Today, faithful attendance in meetings is a serious problem because people are busy and work hard to earn their living. Consequently, most fall into the category of Sunday Christians.

E. The task of the Church, according to Henry H. Halley, is to exalt Christ before an onlooking world. The Church was not invented by man, but man has not always served it well. The Church was founded by Christ, and He must dictate how it will be used. Christ is the heart, indeed the Lord, of the Church, and it exists only to bear witness of Him, thus glorifying the Father.

F. Christ, not the Church, is the power that transforms men. The Church has the mission to lift up Christ so that He can do His transforming work in the hearts of men.

G. The method the Church uses is to meet in the name of Christ. Church meetings need regular attendants. This implies that the laity must follow the example of the early Christians in their habit of regular attendance at worship services, prayer meetings, and Bible studies.

H. The Church must organize many and diverse meetings for the different groups and their various needs and goals so that all Christians will participate. Organizing varied and interesting activities will make our churches strong.

The Difference Between the Early and Modern Churches

Introduction

1. We have seen that laity in the early Church stimulated Church Growth because of their obedience to the commandment Jesus left them to make disciples.

2. We still pray to the same God, so why is there such a difference between the laity of that time and those of today?

I. The early Church understood ...

A. The mission to be witnesses Acts 1:8

B. The message to be preached Luke 24:46-48

1. Repentance

2. Forgiveness of Sins

3. Inheritance of the Saints 1 Peter 2:4-10

C. The missionary’s method

· Proclamation and behavior Acts 2:41-47

D. The practice of evangelism Acts 8:1-8; 14:1-4

E. The preparation for the mission. Acts 13:1-3

1. It depended entirely on the Holy Spirit.

2. They were strong in spiritual things, strong with an inner strength.

3. There was perfect agreement among the leaders as to the mission. Without pride or jealously, the task was divided up according to the aptitudes of each one.

II. The Church today has a fuzzy view of the mission.

A. The Church today is more than a material or political organization with a certain hierarchy. It is a living, united, and harmonious organism.

B. Although important, the Church concerns itself with external matters too much: construction, salaries, rituals, etc.

Conclusion

1. We must disciple our laity to be men and women who will turn the world upside down.

2. We must help our laity understand that they are part of the royal priesthood, and all have the privileges and responsibilities of the priesthood.

3. We must help our laity understand that the spectator does not have a place in God’s kingdom; only those who are active will have places in God’s kingdom.

4. We must help our laity understand that revival is the normal state of the Church; sleep is the abnormal state of the Church.

5. We must help our laity understand that the disciple is disciplined and laziness will be severely punished by God.

6. We must help our laity understand that there is a big difference between the organization of the Church and the organism of the Church. The first is simply a temporal institution; the second is an eternal edifice.

The Importance of Lay Training

I. The desire of the laity

A. Many Christians today desire to be true witnesses of Jesus Christ, and at the bottom of their hearts, they want to bear much fruit; nevertheless, they are not capable of doing it because they are not trained.

B. God said: “My people are dying for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

C. One role of the Church is to give its members knowledge of God’s Word. Leaders must discern the gift of each believer so that they can be oriented and trained according to the ability and gift they have received from the Lord.

D. If the laity are trained, they will be invited to collaborate in the work. as ordinary Christians without having had special theological training or a beautiful diploma. Yet they will know what must be done and will infect their surroundings with that burning fire of evangelism in all its contagious practicality.

II. The need for spiritual renewal

A. It is necessary to avoid heaping too much on too few. Some claim to be willing and able to do anything you ask, anywhere at anytime, but their quality of service, the value of their testimony, even the intensity of their spiritual life, all these things demand they constantly deepen their spiritual commitment. The person who wants to accomplish the most in the best way possible must train the laity as disciples to do the work he does.

B. It is important that the laity be trained to obey the Great Commission by becoming qualified instruments for Christ’s work.

C. All we have to do is study the early Church to realize just how much we need spiritual renewal. Lay training in our churches will revive them so that they resemble the model church we find in Acts: “a radiant church without stain or wrinkle, or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Eph 5:27

III. Illustration: What Jesus did when he trained the laity

A man from the local church illustrated the importance of lay ministry by the following story. In India, for many years, elephant hunters were to only capture the adult animals. It was one of the most dangerous jobs for a man to do. Those in that trade had to run, climb onto the animal, tie the rope around its foot, climb down, and attach the other end of the rope to a tree. Many lost their lives in their attempts; others were made invalids when they tried to capture the elephants.

Then one day, a worker thought of a better method. He instructed his friends: “Let’s go about it another way. Let’s catch a young elephant, raise it with a lot of affection, and feed it well. When it understands what we expect of it, it will obey us, and we will take it back to the jungle to be with its own.” They did so, and when they saw that the young elephant became obedient to their training, they soaked it with the scent of other elephants so that it would not be rejected in the wild. They led it to the jungle. The herd was made up of many animals which surrounded the newcomer to smell it; the young elephant was accepted into the herd. The Indian hunters hid among the trees and waited until nightfall. At that time, they gave out a signal which their elephant had learned to recognize, and it meant, “return to the house.” The young animal began to walk on the return path. All the other elephants followed it to the fenced-in area. When they were all inside, the hunters closed the door. They had just learned that the best way to catch adult elephants was to collaborate with a trained one.

Doing God’s Will in Your Job

I. There are a thousand and one useful and precious jobs to do for the Lord.

A. Let’s take the example of an engineer at the water company: Our planet will need in this decade, three times the drinkable water that is now available. Who will come forward to help people have enough to drink? We can close our eyes and ears to the problem and allow people to die from thirst or sickness, consoling ourselves with the theological argument: “This must come about, the world is beset by problems; we can’t do anything...” Yet we can dedicate our time and our talent to helping other people see the problem and come up with solutions before there is a crisis.

B. Suppose that one day, the area hospital is looking for a surgeon and that the best one available is a Spirit-filled Christian. Imagine that it is the same for journalists of three area newspapers, for the corner mechanic, the refrigerator repairman, even the workers doing the lowest, dirtiest work around. Wouldn’t that be surprising? Yet isn’t that the way many people have been convinced of the truth for hundreds of years. Wasn’t Joseph the best minister Pharaoh ever found? Wasn’t Daniel the best advisor Babylon ever had? Wasn’t Nehemiah an exceptionally good governor in Jerusalem. Wasn’t Esther an excellent advocate for her people in time of crisis?

C. In the mind of too many Christians, giving a drink of water has nothing to do with evangelism, nor does repairing a vehicle, raising a child, managing finances, or inventing; people don’t see the relationship between their occupations and witness, but in reality, it is essential that the Christian witness about Jesus Christ in any place at any time, without taking on values which contradict those approved by God.

D. Laity must live in the world without being part of the world.

E. The question God is asking us today is not: “What work do you do?” It is rather why and for what reason do you do the work you do? It is written: “Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 3 :17

F. Separation, or more precisely, divorce, is what Satan tries to impose on our activities: we separate our “spiritual” activities from our “social”/“lay” activities, and this amputates our life, severing certain aspects of it from their fullest dimension. We come to the basic question, then: “What is the motivation of my life?”

G. If we are to do “everything in the name of the Lord,” the activity is less important than the motivation behind it.

H. Therefore, it is not the activity which defines the Christian; it is his or her position in Christ. Motivations come from the position en Him, which results in us doing activities which are worthy of the Lord, no matter what the work.

I. In other words, we must ...

1. Be Christian before we ...

2. Have a Christian inheritance before we ...

3. Do Christian works.

Relationship between Lay people and Pastors

Introduction

1. In God’s work, no one can afford to work in isolation. When He created man, God did not want him to live a solitary life. People can live together in harmony for many years because of interdependence.

2. This implies there must be a good understanding of our clergy / laity relationship so that all the differences can be factored in. Collaboration in the ministry can be a source of great success and blessing.

I. It is characterized by the relationship between the coordinator and his team.

A. The pastor knows the vision of his church and of its members.

B. He knows the gift of each member.

C. He can help each Christian to offer his or her gift for the benefit of the whole Christian community.

II. It is characterized by trust, love, collaboration, and dialog.

A. The pastor is not a domineering chief, but a servant leader, a conductor: Jesus said” “I am in your midst as a servant.”

B. Church ministries can be compared to an orchestra in which there are many instruments or many musicians.

1. Different musicians are found for guitar, trumpet, etc....

2. Each instrument is different than another, but when the differences are combined, there is great harmony; it is likewise in the church. The pastor and the laity must collaborate.

3. The orchestra leader is the Holy Spirit; He puts warmth, power, and organization into the assembly for the edification and the progress of the Church.

4. The ministries of the pastor and the laity complement each other: Luke 22:2:45-27, 1 Peter 5:2-4; Ephesians 4:4-15; Acts 20:26-28,35; Colossians 4:17; 1 Timothy 3:13.

III. It is characterized by fundamental rules.

A. We must pray each day for one another, making specific requests to concerning our relationships.

B. We must have respect for each other and toward the church hierarchy.

C. We must know how to resolve our conflicts peaceably and forgive each other, building a new relational base of love and truth.

D. We must tolerate the hard-hearted and the weak without favoring others over them.

E. We must consider the interests of others as important as our own.

F. We must accept and use profitably the gift of each one, no matter what his or her position is in the work chain.

G. We must banish the vain “me” and think only of the cause of Christ.

H. We must cultivate friendship by inviting others to fellowship dinners.

I. We must accept being under the authority of another and understand that their advice can contribute to our edification.

How to Train the Laity

I. Value the laity at the beginning of their training.

A. Teach new converts that they are important in the congregation’s eyes. They need to know they count for something.

1. The bigger the congregation, the more each member may be overlooked.

2. In a big congregation, a member may feel unimportant; nevertheless, as in a physical body, each cell is important. It is the same in the church.

3. New members must know that God gave them a gift which the church needs.

B. Motivate saints to do what they are in the habit of doing.

1. One of the most important things that a pastor can do is to motivate his members.

2. To motivate others, you must be motivated yourself.

3. Sermons must have a goal; don’t preach on subjects which are not going anywhere for the listeners.

C. Give the saints a certain consideration.

1. We give certificates to all those who finish the training program.

2. When new members see the importance given to others for their hard work, they will also want to receive the same consideration.

D. Give praise.

1. In daily life, we are stingy with our praises for the average individual.

2. We all want others to think we are doing something valid; this helps our image of ourselves.

3. We can all find something to criticize in those we know; likewise, we can find things to praise.

4. We must pay more compliments, whether it is to a servant in a restaurant or a member of our congregation.

5. In giving praise, your logic should be the following: “If I compliment all the new members who have begun this training, many will want to be trained. If members want to receive this training, I have a program adapted to their needs.”

II. Change the lay notion that it is up to the pastor to do it (D. James Kennedy)

Satan has succeeded so well that it is estimated that 95% of American members of churches have never led anyone to Christ. This is how much the Lord’s army has been weakened, and the members continue to assert: “It’s up to the pastor to do it!” I can happily state today that we are seeing a reversal of that tendency and that a growing number of churches and laity are becoming aware of their responsibility to witness and doing something about it.

III. Assume the responsibility of training lay people yourself. (D James Kennedy)

The greatest responsibility that pastors have is to train the laity for evangelism. The church is made up of 99% of non-mobilized laity, and if they desert us, it is certain that the battle will be lost.

IV. Accept your role as pastor, according to the biblical description. (Kennedy)

Satan has not only deceived the laity, but pastors also, concerning the goal of ministry. In Ephesians 4, we read that “Christ gave (to the church) some to be apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to prepare some for works of service.” This passage shows us that it is imperative that pastors exercise all of their Church duties, notably that of equipping the saints for church ministries.

Some Lay Movements Throughout History 1

I. Quakers or the Friends Society

A. After the reformation, Christians returned to things they had rejected, notably some Catholic practices.

B. Afterwards, there was also immorality among Christians, even pastors. Consequently, the sense of morality was lost, and Christians became confused with those who have worldly values.

1. Return to Catholicism

2. Sinfulness of Christians

3. Sinfulness of pastors

4. Morality disappeared

C. While that was going on, God raised up a man named George Fox who denounced abuse and immorality among Christians and pastors; he was not a pastor, but a layman.

D. He was persecuted: arrested, persecuted, and put into prison.

E. During it all, he responded with evangelical exhortations.

F. His preaching was strong because it made his audience tremble; that is why they were called Quakers, that is, tremblers.

G. There were no pastors; each congregation was autonomous.

H. The people who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ during the messages preached by Quakers maintained a good testimony in England.

I. Politically and socially, the Quakers were influential. They were against slavery and war, for example. They refused to take oaths, and they would not join the military service because, for them, that did not represent a peaceful lifestyle in the Lord.

II. The Moravians

A. John Huss was an archbishop (1369-1415), a popular preacher at Prague.

B. He was influenced by Wycliff’s writings and began to proclaim the unique authority of the Scriptures, protesting at the same time against the worship of images, the sale of indulgences, and the corruption of the clergy.

C. He preached the Gospel in the whole area; many people were converted.

D. He was arrested and burned alive; his disciple, Jerome of Prague, was also burned.

E. The latter death caused the revolt of the Hussites, which became a political war.

F. Persecuted in Germany, they took refuge in England, and they found asylum at the home of Count Louis Zinzendorf.

G. He granted the land where they built a village which was named “Huvinhut” in German, meaning “Protection from the Lord.”

H. Those who had joined the movement read and meditated on God’s Word every day, after their program of family visits.

I. They were known as “the Brotherhood.”

Some Lay Movements Throughout History 2

III. Methodists

A. John Wesley was an Anglican preacher who spread revival in England.

B. Pastors were against his preaching, but he mobilized the laity.

C. He did not plan to create a denomination, but people came to listen to him because he preached against the abuses in the church.

D. Faith spread thanks to the evangelism done by the laity.

E. The laity had greatly participated in the social affairs, construction, financing, and management of the Methodist Church.

IV. Kimbanguists (a good lay movement turned sect)

A. Simon Kimbangu was a Baptist lay preacher.

B. He received the call of Christ at Kamba, his native village.

C. One night, he heard a voice saying, “I am Christ, my servants are unfaithful. I have chosen you to give testimony to your brothers and to convert them. Feed my sheep.”

D. Simon Kimbangu responded, “I am not learned. There are pastors and deacons who can do this work.”

E. Night after night, Simon Kimbangu heard the same voice calling out; his wife heard the voice one night and answered.

F. He maintained his refusal to respond to the call.

G. He finally tried to run away from Christ’s voice by going to Kinshasa to work, but when he arrived in the capital, the voice also spoke to him.

H. His work in an oil company was honest and conscientious, but Kimbangu did not do well.

I. He was soon obligated to return to Kamba and to farm the land as before.

J. Upon his return in Kamba, he heard the same voice and accepted the call.

K. Next, he went to preach the Gospel, doing miracles at the same time.

L. Many people from all over came to listen to his preaching.

M. The established church did not recognize him.

N. He was arrested, chained, and led to prison in Lubumbashi.

O. He died in prison.

P. Kimbanguism became a sect after his death because his sons taught that their father was the Holy Spirit incarnate.

Q. Kimbanguists did not have any missionaries or trained pastors.

R. They did not baptize, but welcomed those baptized by established churches.

V. Small groups

A. For the most part, these are groups funded and lead by lay people.

B. They organize evangelistic campaigns, seminars, retreats, Bible studies, prayer cells, etc. They are divided into three groups here.

1. Bible studies which emphasize Bible reading and studies.

2. Prayer groups which emphasize prayer

3. Charismatic groups which emphasize worship and the spiritual gifts

Conditions for Effective Testimony

Introduction:

1. One who has lived, experienced, and told what has happened to him

2. The true witness is someone who has actually experienced the event.

I. Know Jesus Christ personally

A. It is a personal encounter with the Lord.

B. Such a person is a first-hand witness.

C. An effective testimony consists of telling what God has done in your life.

D. To give a good testimony, the Christian must talk of his meeting the Lord, not meeting someone else or someone else’s meeting with Him.

E. The true spirit of Christianity is the sharing of what one has seen and hear. (John 1:3). See, for example, the man blind from birth. John 9

II. Link your testimony to that of a group of believers

A. You should be a member of a specific local church which has a good testimony, preaches Jesus Christ, and uses the Bible as the basis of its faith.

B. As Billy Graham said, "every Christian should choose a local church.”

C. It is in a particular structure that we find the greatest possibility for spiritual growth, the greatest satisfaction for our personal needs, and the greatest opening to be useful to those around us."

III. Be tactful in our relationships with people.

A. Live up Christ in your life and the world will be attracted to Him.

B. Be humble Philippians 2:3

1. The witness shows humility by considering his listener as superior to him.

2. If you lower yourself voluntarily, Christ will exalt you.

C. Be ready to listen

1. Philip’s example with the Ethiopian eunuch shows its importance.

2. We should be attentive and respectful of the listener.

IV. Adapt the Gospel to the needs of the listener.

A. We must protect the contents of the Gospel.

B. We must attract the curiosity of our listeners.

1. Example of Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7

2. Example of Paul’s speech to the Athenians. Acts 22

C. We should arouse the interest of our listeners.

1. Example of Zacheus and Jesus

2. Example of Paul’s writings to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1

V. Know the psychology of your listener.

A. His spiritual or material mentality

B. His needs (Is h hungry, sick, etc....)

C. His situation (Is it a child? A young person? An adult? A Man? A Woman...)

Conditions for Effective Testimony 2

VI. Invite the person to follow Jesus and not to follow only rules.

· There are many rules in our churches which are neither related nor in keeping with the Gospel.

VII.Emphasize personal meetings with the Lord. John 1:12-13

A. When Jesus enters the heart, that is called the new birth; it does not come from the will of man, but it is given by God.

B. The Good News is very important; it is powerful in and of itself.

C. He who receives ... Jesus, he is forgiven, changed, adopted into God’s family, can pray to God directly, and will live eternally.

D. There are two aspects to note: Believe in Christ and receiving Christ.

1. The two conditions for salvation are that you believe in Christ, then receive Him.

2. It is therefore necessary that all of God’s children proclaim the Gospel.

E. Note how Philip shared with the eunuch. Acts 8

1. We are born again by the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

2. It is imperative that we use the Word of God, look for appropriate verses, and respond to the needs of seekers.

3. The Word is the only truth, the sure standard for all doctrine and all life. It is never found lacking nor is it misleading; the one who builds on its foundation will stand against the powers of hell.

4. Many people are like the Ethiopian eunuch.

a) They read the Bible like a history book; they do not understand it.

b) The answer the eunuch gave Philip remains current: “How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?”

c) We must lead people toward the Word which is Jesus Christ Himself.

5. Philip presented Jesus as the Bible presented Him. Acts 8:35

6. Philip led the eunuch to entrusting his life to Jesus, that’s what matters.

F. The disciples proclaimed Jesus Christ, his life, his death, his resurrection, his justification of all our sin for those who believe in Him.

G. God asked Paul and his companions to make known God’s “yes”: Jesus Christ came to save the world. 2 Corinthians 1:12-22

1. Jesus is the proof that God does not want to leave men to their own destruction because of their ignorance.

2. God wants all men to be saved, people who obey him by giving their lives to Him an renounce serving any other masters.

H. Every Christian should know how to lead people to Christ personally.

1. Our ministry must be above anything else: Lead Christians to share the Good News with others.

2. P. Little adds: “It is the Holy Spirit, not you, who converts an individual. We are privileged ambassadors for Jesus Christ; we communicate a verbal message, and we can show by our personality what Jesus’ grace can accomplish. But e must never be so naive as to believe we have converted a soul or that we have led it to Jesus Christ. No one can call Jesus Lord unless it is by the Holy Spirit."

Contents of the Gospel

Introduction

1. The Apostle Paul summarizes the Gospel this way: “Christ died for our sin, as the Scriptures say, He was buried, and He arose from the dead on the third day.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

I. God’s love John 3:16

A. We must how people the immensity of God’s love for His creatures.

B. God continues to love each one and has a wonderful plan for our lives.

II. Man’s sin Romans 3:23

A. Man must know that he lives in sin.

B. Because of his ins, he will die eternally.. Romans 6:23

III. Jesus’ sacrifice Romans 5:8

A. The proof of His love is that Jesus died on the cross, He just for us, the unjust.; thanks to His death on the cross, we can have eternal life.

B. We must show that we are incapable of saving ourselves. Titus 3:5

IV. Man’s faith and receiving of Jesus Romans 10:9

A. We must show the need to believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Melvin L. Hodges proposes some decisive steps which men must take to receive new life in Jesus Christ.

1. Fixing attention on the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 16:31

2. Confessing sins to receive forgiveness 1John 1:9

3. Repenting of sins and going toward God Acts 2:36

4. Receiving Christ by an act of faith John 1:12-13

5. Speaking of Christ to others Luke 12:8

V. Man’s Invitation

A. Help the person to open his heart to Christ after the presentation of the Gospel.

B. Ask him a question such as: “Would you like to receive the Lord Jesus Christ now as your personal Lord and Savior?

C. Invite him to pray and ask Christ to come into his life if he says yes.

D. Tell him that it is not enough to understand, that he must believe in Christ and receive Him.

E. Ask him if he wants to follow Jesus’ way.

F. Help him to decide personally in a prayer of acceptance.

Conclusion

1. Be careful: A doctor knows how to do his work, but many who call themselves Christians do not know how to speak about their faith. Isn’t that shameful? Aren’t we children of the King of kings? Aren’t we born for a glorious destiny?

2. Don’t look back, and don’t allow doubt to interfere with your efforts.

3. Let’s rise up to witness and lead people toward the true spring of living water, the true way, and the one who said: I have come so that my sheep have live, and that they have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Discipleship 1

Introduction

1. New converts make their entry into God’s family as spiritual babies. They can be compared to infants completely dependent on their parents for survival.

2. They are called to grow, destined to become spiritually mature, which should be the goal of every believer. It is therefore important to teach them to help them mature.

3. The local church must establish contact with the new converts immediately after conversion.

4. Melvin A. Hodges proposes that each church have a special class to give instruction to new believers so that they can prepare for baptism and membership into the church.

I. Make disciples, not just converts. Matthew 28:19-20

A. New converts need supplementary information to continue in their relationship with Christ and to follow Christ step by step.

B. It is a voyage they have just begun, a trip which will last all their lives.

C. We noticed that there are people who are committed to following the Lord, but many do not go very far.

D. Backsliders fall because they lack the will and the good teaching.

E. There are some churches where the preachers only speak of sins and repentance, but they do not show the repentant sinners how to walk toward spiritual progress in newness of life.

F. The goal of evangelism is to make disciples of all nations.

G. Philip Keith shares his experience: He had led many to Christ who, afterwards, turned away from the faith; discouraged, he examined himself in the light of God’s Word, and he received a revelation when he read Matthew 28:19-20 where Jesus asks us to make disciples, not converts.

II. Leading disciples from growth to maturity

A. The Church is compared to a maternity ward.

1. The evangelist is considered as a midwife.

2. The spiritual mother is the one who leads soul to Christ and new birth; he must care for feeding the baby; milk for the baby is God’s Word.

3. The Church must think of the milk the spiritual baby needs.

B. The Church is compared to a hostel.

1. The pastor, the elders, and the deacons run the hostel.

2. Melvin Hodges recommends that we build schools to train new converts within the hostel so that they grow.

C. The Church is compared to an athletic team.

1. The pastor is one of the coaches; he plays sometimes, but mostly coordinates.

2. The members are the players, not spectators who watch the match.

Discipleship 2

III. Give disciples models.

A. Soul winners must be exemplary when with converts. 1 Cor 11:1

B. Paul said: “Be imitators of me as I am of Jesus Christ.”

IV. Teach disciples that they must reproduce themselves.

A. As soon as a new convert becomes a disciple, he must learn to communicate the Good News to others.

B. When each Christian assumes his or her role, the Church grows as it should.

V. Create a training school for disciples in your church

A. The Church should create a school to strengthen believers in their Christian walk.

B. A Christian cannot say that he has learned enough because he will always be an apprentice.

C. New converts must be integrated into courses on their level.

VI. Insure the good health of the local church which houses disciples

A. A healthy church is one with a good leader (shepherd) who formulates a strategy to increase the number of members, who preaches salvation by faith and not works, and who does not depend on any other book but the Bible.

B. It is a church which has the ability to lead itself and encourage its members to discover their gifts and put them together for the building of the body.

C. It is a church which understands itself, which evangelizes, and which is constantly thinking of unreached places to evangelize.

D. It is a church which serves the people and has projects to help them.

E. Finally, it is a church which only depends on the Lord as its head and on the Bible as its only source of authority.

VII.Look closely at how Jesus made His disciples.

A. The art of making disciples was developed by Jesus.

B. Our churches are full of inactive Christians because the laity are not disciples in the biblical sense.

C. The instruction received before baptism cannot replace biblical teachings which are necessary to lay the foundation of faith for disciples.

D. Jesus desires to train up an army of disciples for the spreading of His Word.

E. Jesus gave particular attention to new believers.

F. The Church must adopt a method of following up on converts.

G. Each convert must be entrusted to a mature Christian (parenting).

VIII.Deepen in Christians the idea of salvation by talking about sanctification.

A. Disciples must learn that they must die to themselves. Luke 9:23

B. They must learn what it will cost to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

C. They must obey the Word and apply it in every area of their lives.

D. They must be capable of teaching others how to lead a holy life.

E. They must be equipped to train others in the way of the cross.

Conclusion 1

I. Multiplication is superior to addition.

A. God’s will for His Church is that it grow in quantity and quality.

B. If each Christian is mobilized for witness, the Church will grow rapidly.

C. If each Christian reaches one person per year, we will reach the whole world in a generation, and God will be glorified.

II. We need a strategy to regain lost ground.

A. We don’t want to lead people to our imperfect denominations; let’s lead them to the perfect Christ instead.

B. If we sow the Word, we must persevere in our witnessing.

C. The Christian population is only one fourth of the globe, but God wants the whole world to be won for His glory.

D. Let us rise up and conquer the world for Christ.

E. We are sent here to save souls; know that the most pleasing thing you can do for God is to win souls.

III. The main task is not evangelism; it is discipleship.

· Evangelism is an important task for all church members, but the commandment given by Christ to His Church is to make disciples.

IV. Every believer’s witness is essential to discipleship.

A. God has given us His power to witness.

B. Jesus is the goal of our testimony; our testimony for Christ must therefore reflect a commitment of our whole life.

C. As God is interested in us, He is also interested in all of humanity.

D. The Bible says: “Don’t you say that there are still four months until the harvest: Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields already ripe for the harvest.” John 4:35

V. Without vision, the people perish.

A. The Christian must be a visionary; the Bible says that if there is no vision, the people go on unchecked. Proverbs 29:18

B. We who believe have the vision and the goal to save souls, without exception.

C. Therefore, we must all have a vision for our lives, our families, our church, our city, and our world.

D. To accomplish God’s work, we need to target those to whom we should bear witness.

Conclusion 2

VI. Application

A. We must proclaim our faith and affirm that Jesus is the only legitimate head for all humanity.

B. Because of His forgiveness, His sacrifice, His yielding of His own position, we proclaim that He alone is capable of preventing men from going to hell.

C. Obedience must be the trait which distinguishes us from simple listeners. We must be known for putting the Word of God into practice.

D. How will non-Christians here God’s Word if we do not obey the Lord’s Great Commission?

E. Rise up, dear brothers and sisters, to plant the Lord’s cross in people’s hearts, from village to village.

VII.We must radically change the way we train and use our laity.

A. The objective of our lay training is to help members show their faith in Jesus Christ by a life and behavior which is clearly moral and different from that of non-Christians.

B. The laity must participate in the teaching of the Word and in the discipleship of the new converts.

C. Some among them will discover, develop, and exercise their spiritual gifts in all areas of live.

D. To complete their equipping for the ministry, they need an ongoing training: courses, seminars, retreats, conferences, debates, Bible studies and clinics ...

I. Bibliography

I. Biblical definition

II. Slipping into a deformed meaning

III. Basic Questions

IV. The early Church

I. What the Church is not:

II. What the Church is:

A. The Church is Christ’s body Ephesians 5:23; 1 Cor 12:27

B. Christ is the head of the body which is the Church Colossians 1:8

C. Christ is the head of the Church Colossians 1:8

D. The Church is the people of God 1 Peter 2:9-10

E. The Church is one 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:3-6

F. The Body is unity in diversity 1 Corinthians 12:14-17

G. Each member makes up part of the Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:13

III. Interdependence of the members of the Church

A. The Church is the community of all those who believe in Jesus Christ and who live according to the Scripture by faith and action given by the Holy Spirit..

B. They meet together for Holy Communion and baptism, to worship, pray, praise God, enjoy fellowship, witness, participate in the ministry of the Word, follow biblical teachings, and participate in the progress of the Gospel.

C. If the word, “laity,” has meant “God’s people” since the beginning of the Church, separation of laity and clergy should not exist because all play an important role in the functioning of the body.

IV. Important role of laity in the Church: “You are part of ...” 1 Peter 2:7-10

V. Inheritance of the Laity

A. All believers, laity and clergy, take part in the inheritance of the saints.

B. All Church members are part of the mystical body of Christ, thanks to the baptism they have received once they were joined together with Jesus.

C. The laity have the obligation and the right to become apostles, by the power of the Holy Spirit who strengthens and confirms them.

D. He sanctifies God’s people to do the work of the ministry; he grants special gifts to the faithful. 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:16

VI. Mission of the Laity

A. The Lord Himself sends laity to fulfill His mission in the world: They are ordained into the ministry. 1 Peter 2:4-10

B. The laity lift up their actions as spiritual offerings and testify of Christ to all.

C. It is by faith, hope, and love that we live out this calling.

D. Love is the key element in the greatest commandment given by our Lord and compels Church members to work for God’s glory, the coming of His kingdom, and the communication of eternal life to all men.

E. All Christians in the world must take on this task, that of working so that all men know and accept the salvation message.

I. Jesus’ general order Mat 28:19-20

II. Jesus’ specific order Acts 1:8

A. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem ... to the ends of the earth.

III. Who carries out Jesus’ order?

A. The Church was born and grew in Jerusalem. Acts 1-7

1. It was the laity who took the Gospel out of Jerusalem, and not the apostles; that is, the laity went into Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1,4

2. The deacon Philip preached in Samaria and was successful. Acts 8:5

3. The Church sent Peter and John to continue the lay work. Acts 8:14

B. The Gospel spread to the ends of the earth.

1. The Gospel penetrated into Ethiopia, Africa. Acts 8:26-39

2. Laymen went into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Acts 11:19-24

3. The Church of Jerusalem sent Barnabas to build up the work. Acts 11:22-23

IV. Mobilization of the laity

A. Thanks to the laity, Jesus’ mission was carried out.

B. The laity played a great role in the Church the day of Pentecost. Acts 1:8

C. During Peter’s sermon, 3.000 were converted. Acts 2

D. Because of the persecution, the laity left Jerusalem and scattered into the countryside around Judea and Samaria, witnessing of Christ and His resurrection., The apostles had remained in Jerusalem. Acts 8:1,4

E. After having hear that Judea and Samaria had been evangelized, the apostles sent Peter and John to disciple the new converts.

F. The laity had gone as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch with the Gospel.

G. Some of the laity from Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch evangelized the Greeks.

I. First secret: Hearing God’s Word Acts 2:37

A. After having heard Peter’s sermon, their heart was pierced. We see here that the believers listened to God’s Word and that Word brought faith to them for the Bible says that faith comes from what we hear, and what we hear comes from the Word of God. Romans 10:17

II. Second secret: Repentance before God and Faith in Jesus Christ

A. "Peter told them: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

B. Peter’s declaration is clear, precise, and deep, thus summarizing salvation: God’s work and man’s response.

C. He asked them:

1. To repent, a word which means both a profound regret for sin and the desire for complete moral renewal.

2. To receive baptism based on the foundation of Jesus, that is, in believing in Him as Savior, Messiah; baptism is the seal of their faith.

D. Repentance is the entry gate into the Christian life.

E. It is the only condition for salvation and for entry into God’s family. The first Christians were repentant people, men and women who had put their trust in Jesus. False repentance was easily detected, as in the cases of Simon the magician, Ananias and Saphira, etc.

F. So what gave strength to these lay people from the early church was that they were not nominal Christians, or Christians bound by an organization, but people who had had a personal encounter with Christ.

G. When the members of a church are not truly converted, it resembles a business, an orphanage, or a social gathering because the church is always and only the assembly of true believers.

III. Third secret: obedience to Christ’s commandments. Acts 2:42

A. Those who accepted Christ’s Word were baptized. Acts2:42

B. The key to the success that God gave the first Christians was their obedience. God developed the spiritual gifts of those who obeyed. The first Christians obeyed the Lord’s commandments.

D. The faith of the early Christians was honored by God because they were obedient to the Lord. The Church today is lukewarm, backslidden, because there are more disobedient Christians than obedient ones.

IV. Fourth secret: Perseverance in the teachings of the apostles. Ac 2:42

A. "They devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles." Acts 2:42

B. The most important activity is that of teaching. God said: “My people are dying due to lack of knowledge;” truth comes from the teaching of the Word.

D. Let’s understand that if we neglect the Scriptures, a revival is impossible, and we will be lost. Let’s be like the Christians of Berea and those of the reformation. Let’s read the Bible ardently and strive to put it into practice.

F. Preaching or exhortation is different than teaching. The Church must restore the authority of the Bible. Jesus was the supreme Master of the Word, and he exhorted his disciples to teach his commandments to the nations; The 20th-century Church must also make teaching their priority.

V. Fifth secret: Fellowship

A. By fellowship, we do not mean holy communion, which will be discussed later. We mean intimate unity in love for the same Savior who is the head of the Church. The first Christians practiced it, even outside, by meeting together each day.

B. The first Christians fully understood Jesus’ words on love.

C. “Love one another, as I have also loved you. Love one another, for by this, all will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

D. They also understood the importance of Psalm 133 where the psalmist exhorts the brothers to remain in the fellowship because it is in such meetings that God sends his blessings on life.

E. Fellowship is the fundamental characteristic of the New Testament spirit., that is, a most intimate union of thought, will, and feelings within believers.

F. The same faith and the same love for the same Savior, such was the bond that united them; these are the essential ingredients of any church.

VI. Sixth Secret: Holy Communion Acts 2:42

A. "...They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread ..." Acts 2:42

F. Preaching or exhortation is different than teaching. The Church must restore the authority of the Bible. Jesus was the supreme Master of the Word, and he exhorted his disciples to teach his commandments to the nations; The 20^th-century Church must also make teaching their priority.