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PSALM Philippine Student Alliance Lay Movement, Inc. CARING CIRCLE LESSONS Introduction The CARING CIRCLE LESSONS is a set of lessons which provides you with the basic steps to Christianity that will guide you to grow in your relationship with Christ and to become effective witness for the lost. The same lessons will transform your life as you allow Christ to work wonderfully in you. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and over flowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 My Personal Commitment I, ___John Rhey E. Licudo_____, enrolled in the Caring Circle Lessons, do hereby commit myself for a weekly Bible Study and for compliance of all the assignments before coming to the session. Signed on this ___12th ___ day of ____March____ 2022_____, at Malamote Wesleyan Church_______.. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 1 A New Life Jesus explained very clearly to Nicodemus about a new life. He explained what it means to be “born again” and how we can have new spiritual life. As you study John 3:1-8 you will learn the meaning of the new spiritual life Jesus was talking about. 1. What two kinds of birth were Nicodemus and Jesus talking about? (John 3:5) Spiritual birth and Physical birth. 2. Did Nicodemus understand what Jesus was saying? (John 3:4) No. 3. What did Jesus mean when He spoke of being born again? Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. In the Greek language, “born again” can also mean “born from above.” 4. Whose power brings about this spiritual birth? John 1:13, John 3:6 & I Peter 1:23,24 Lord. 5. Is it possible to get to heaven without being born again? John 3:5 No. 6. Is it possible to be very religious and still not be born spiritually? No. (Nicodemus was a religious leader, yet note what Jesus told him) 7. Is it possible for us to be born again by our own strength and abilities? Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 1:13,14 No. 8. Is it possible to know for sure that we have been born again and have eternal life? I John 5:10-12; John 3:16; John 6:47 Yes. (If God has promised, would he lie?) Summarize this lesson in your own words on a separate sheet of paper. If you want to know further how you can have this new life, ask your leader to explain it to you right now. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 2 How To Receive New Life 1. What are the three parts of man that God has created? (I Thessalonians 5:23) Body, soul, and spirit. 2. What is the condition of man’s spirit before he experiences being born again? (Rom. 3:23; 5:12; I Cor 2:14; Eph 2:2,3) Sinner. 3. Can we be born again by the good works we do? (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5) No. 4. How, then, can we be born spiritually, having the Spirit of God come into our spirit, making us spiritually alive? List the three steps below: Luke 13:5 Repent John 3:16 and 36 Believe John 1:12,13 Receive 5. Will God respond to all who call on Him? (Romans 10:13) Yes. 6. When we received Christ, what new relationship do we have with Him? John 1:12 Become children of God. Colossians 1:13,14 Conveyed us into the kingdom of God. Romans 3:24; 5:1 Justified or forgive for our sins. I John 5:12 Eternal life. If you have not accepted Christ you have to pay for your own sins. But you can accept the payment that God has already made for you by simply asking Him to come into your life. Perhaps you would like to pray the following prayer: “Lord Jesus, I need you. I am sinful and have rebelled against You. I now turn away from my sins and I open the door of my life to receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for your forgiveness. Take control of my life, and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.” CARING CIRCLE LESSON 3 Assurance of Your New Life 1. Where can you find eternal life? (I John 5:11) Jesus Christ. 2. What has God given to those who have received the Son? (I John 5:12) Everlasting life. 3. Can you know for sure, now that you have eternal life? How? (John 1:12; I John 5:13) Yes, because I believe in the name of Son of God.. 4. What happen the moment you believe and receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? (John 5:24; John 6:47) Assurance of having everlasting life. 5. Who gives you inner assurance that you are really His child? (Romans 8:14-16) Spirit of God. 6. When you have doubts about your salvation, where can you look to find the answer to those doubts? Why? (I Peter 1:25; and 2:2) Bible. 7. When you sin again, what should you do immediately to be forgiven? (I John 1:9) Repent/ confess my sin to the Lord. (Once you have been made a child of God and have the Holy Spirit in you, He makes you aware of sin in your life. You will lose the joy of your salvation if you do not confess your sin immediately to Him.) 8. Once you have Christ in your life, what promises does He give you? (Hebrews 13:5) He will never leave me nor forsake me. 9. Does the Bible teach that you are to tell others about your new-found life? (Romans 10:9,10) Yes. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 4 Your Prayer Life One of the most important areas of our walk with God is learning the art of prayer. And what is prayer? Basically, it is entering into the presence of God for the purpose of communicating our love to Him, and allowing him to talk with us. God’s word tell us more about this. 1. What attitude should you have when meeting with God? Hebrews 4:16 Confident, without doubt. 2. When Jesus prayed, how did He express His love toward the Father? Matthew 6:9-13 ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgivng, and Supplication) 3. What are some guidelines given for prayer? Psalm 66:18 Do not let sin in your heart. Psalm 139:23,24 Allow God to search your heart. John 14:13 Always pray in Jesus Name. Luke 6:27,28 Pray for your enemies. 4. What are some benefits of prayer? John 16:23,24 Joy will be completely. I John 5:14,15 Assurace of the answer prayer. James 1:5 Wisdom. Remember: God has the option to respond to your prayer with a “Yes,” “No” or “Wait.” 5. What does God give to those who in faith, pray to Him? Philippians 4:6,7 Peace that comes from God, that surpasses understanding. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 5 Your Bible 1. What is the central message of the Bible? John 3:16 God loves us. 2. Why was the bible written and given to us? Romans 15:4; John 20:30,31 Give us hope and salvation. 3. How was the bible given, and how will it help you in your life? II Timothy 3:15-17 For reproof, correction, training, and teaching. 4. Who guided the writers of the Bible? How did he guide them? II Peter 1:20-21 Holy Spirit. 5. Who teaches you the truths about God? I Corinthians 2:10-13 Holy Spririt. 6. Can a person who does not have the Spirit of God understand the things about God? Why? I Corinthians 2:14 No, a foolishness to Him. 7. According to Romans 10:17, where does faith come from? Faith upon hearing the word of God. 8. What is God’s Word compared to in Psalm 119:105? What does it do for you? The word of God compare to a lamp, a light to my path. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 6 Your Walk in the Spirit The biggest problem most of God’s children face is they often find themselves doing things they know are wrong while failing to do the thing they know are right. Thus, they do not please God and that leads to frustration. We have all had this experience. It is almost as though we have a split personality. We are at war inside- one part loves to rebel and yet there is the new nature that wants to obey God. Do not be discouraged: God has a wonderful solution to this problem and it is found in His Word. Paul also had this experience (Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8: 12). 1. What is the command given in Ephesians 5:18? Be filled with the spirit (to be controlled and empowered) 2. What are some characteristics of the Spirit-filled person? (Galatians 5:22,23) Gentleness and Self-control. 3. Through the Apostle Paul, what does God call His children who are weak, not Spirit-filled? (I Corinthians 3:1-3) Carnal/ Wordly. 4. What are some possible characteristics of a person not led by God’s Spirit? (Galatians 5:16-21) Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies. 5. Before you can experience the Spirit-controlled life, what must you do? (I John 1:9) Confess and repent. “Confess” means to “agree with.” You must agree with God about the sinfulness of your sins. Make a list of your sins and write I John 1:9 over it. Then, destroy the list, believing that God has removed those sins from you. Confession of sin does not fill you with the Holy Spirit: it simply cleanses your heart, so you may be filled. 6. How can you receive the Holy Spirit’s control and empowering in your life? (Luke 11:13) Ask God. 7. What has God promised He would do? (I John 5:14,15) He hears everything we ask and give what we ask according to His will. 8. How do you know being filled with the Holy Spirit is God’s will for your life? (Galatians 5:16) Walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. “Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life, that as a result I have sinned against You. I thank You that you have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross. I now invite Christ to again take control of the throne of my life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for taking control of my life and for filling me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.” CARING CIRCLE LESSON 7 Your Use of God’s Gift 1. In the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:1430, Jesus taught an important principle about stewardship, or the proper use of what God has given us. On what basis were the two men judged and rewarded?(Verses 21,26,30). Faithfulness: each one will give account to God, on how they harvest, utilize their talents. 2. To be a good steward, how are you to use your time and opportunities? (Ephesians 5:15-17) Spend it wisely. 3. What is the most important thing you can give to God? (II Corinthians 8:1-5) Ourselves. 4. What is the proper motive in giving to God’s work? (I Corinthians 13:3) Give with love. 5. How are you to give? II Corinthians 9:7 Cheerful giver I Corinthians 16:1,2 Give your best to God. 6. How much are you to give? (I Corinthians 16:1,2) Give proportion to the blessing you received with love. 7. What is God’s promise for the person who gives his money generously? II Corinthians 9:6-14 He blessed us more. Luke 6:38 Give and it will be given to you. The Biblical philosophy for using God’s gift, whether it be our time, talents, or possessions, is well stated in these two verses: 1. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 2. “Give and it shall be given to you… for with the same measure that you give it shall be given to you again.” Luke 6:38 CARING CIRCLE LESSON 8 Your Special Participation in the Body of Believers Jesus gave two ordinances for His disciples to follow in their fellowship together. These special ordinances or sacraments symbolizes that which is invisible truth. Baptism in water symbolizes the invisible baptism already accomplished by the Holy Spirit in our lives at the time we receive our new life in Christ. Communion, the second ordinance, symbolizes Christ’s suffering, His shed blood and broken body, the basis of the actual communion and relationship we have with God. BAPTISM 1. Christ as the Head of the Church, is our example. What was one event that preceded His earthly ministry? (Matthew 3:13-17) Baptism. The word “baptism” used in the scripture means to “dip into” or “immerse”. 2. What command did Christ leave with His disciples? (Matthew 28:19,20) Go and make disciples. 3. Is it water baptism or something else that takes away sin and gives salvation? Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18, 19) Blood. 4. What should precede anyone’s baptism?(Acts 8:36,37) Water. 5. When you are baptized, with what two events are you identifying yourself? (Romans 6:1-5) Dead to sin, Alive to God. Summary: For what reasons should you be baptized? ______________________________ COMMUNION 6. What are you remembering when you take holy communion? (1 Corinthians 11:26) Remembrance of the Lord. Because the Lord instituted communion following the meal the night of His betrayal, it is referred to also as the “Lord’s Supper.” 7. What are the symbols used in the Lord’s Supper or communion? (1 Corinthians 10:16,17) Bread and wine (we are one body of Christ). 8. What do the bread and the cup symbolize? (1 Corinthians 11:24,25; Luke 22:19,20) Bread- body of Christ, Cup/Wine- covenant of God’s blood. 9. What should you do before taking the communion and why? (1 Corinthians 11: 28-30) Examine ourselves because anyone eats and drinks without discerning will be judged. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 9 Your Fellowship in the Body of Believers One of the most exciting things about receiving new life in Christ is that you have joined to a “family.” Your new family includes all those who have received new life in Jesus Christ. (John 1:12) 1. What is this “family” called in God’s Word (Colossians 1:18) Preeminence/ Preeminent. 2. What is Christ’s relation to His Church? 1 Corinthians 3:11 Foundation. Ephesians 2:18-22 Access by one Spirit to the Father. Colossians 1:18 Preeminence/ Preeminent. 3. What is Christ’s goal for His Church? (Ephesians 5:25-27) Holy. 4. Why should you attend a local organized church? (Hebrews 10:25) Encouraging one another. 5. How can you participate in and benefit from attending church? (Acts 2:41,42) Received his word were baptized. 6. For what reason are different spiritual gifts given to the members of the church? (Ephesians 4:11-13) Unity of the faith and of the knowledge. 7. What commission did Christ give to the Church for fulfillment until He returns? (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 8:4) Go and make disciples. Remember, church membership does not save you. However, since you became a member of the invisible Church when you accepted Christ, you should belong to a local, visible church that teaches from the Bible and proclaims salvation only in Christ. CARING CIRCLE LESSON 10 Christ’s Commission for Your Life Someone cared enough about you to share God’s wonderful gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you have the same opportunity to be used by God to help others. 1. In Matthew 5:14-16, to what is the believer compared? Lamp/ light. For what purpose is his life to be a witness? Salt and Light. 2. What should you always be ready to do?(1 Peter 3:15) Be ready to give a defense to everyone. 3. Who is it that commissions you to share your faith? (John 20:21) Jesus. 4. From whom do you receive the strength to be a witness? (Acts 1:8) Power of the Holy Spirit. 5. What was Isaiah’s response to the call of the Lord? (Isaiah 6:8) Here am I! Send me. 6. Why was Paul not ashamed to tell others about Jesus Christ? (Romans 1:16 Because of His righteous shall live by faith. 7. How are you to develop your skills in helping others find new life in Christ? (Matthew 4:19) Fishers of men (disciples of Christ). 8. Where are you to go and make disciples? (Matthew 28:19,20) Of all nations. What is Christ’s promise to you? He will always with us. 9. According to Matthew 9:37,38, for what are you to pray? Send out laborers into His harvest. You and the Holy Spirit are a witnessing team. But effective witnessing are made, not born. To be an effective witness, you must be taught, trained, and motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit. CONGRATULATIONS! You have just finished the Caring Circle Lessons and will now receive a certificate of completion! Be sure to sign up for the next course: Training People to Become Effective In Evangelism, an important step in your walk with Christ.