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PLANTED IN GOOD SOIL

Learning to
Be the
Church
By Heriberto and Elsa Hermosillo

Semilla
De Mostaza

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PLANTED IN GOOD SOIL

To all our semillosos that had the patience to wait

for God to define His project. We thank each and every one of you
from the bottom of our heart and hope that this material will
edify your lives and the lives of many others.
Heriberto and Elsa Hermosillo

Semilla
De Mostaza

SEMBRADOS
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PLANTED IN GOOD SOIL

How is Planted in Good Soil implemented?

Planted in Good Soil is a very versatile tool that is useful to people that have been in church for a long
time or to people who are new in the Lord, to pastors, and leaders, but also to the congregation, youth,
and children. It can be used in the privacy of your homes, or like study material for small groups and
Sunday school.
Planted in Good Soil is a transforming material that facilitates the believer to strengthen his or her
personal relationship with God, and that way become a blessing to the body of Christ. These series are
useful as an evangelism tool, and because this discipleship is very practical, it is a great gift for our
friends and loved relatives who do not know the Lord.
Planted in Good Soil is made up of 5 series that are each presented through DVD, audio-CD, and a
workbook that reinforces the main points. In order to have a more effective execution, we suggest
examining it, a class per week, in the following order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Learning to Be a Disciple
Learning to Pray
Building a Happy Home
The Secret to Healthy Finances
Learning to Be the Church

Each one of the 5 series contains 7 classes whose length varies from 15 to 30 minutes in either DVD or
audio.
Planted in Good Soil is useful to share in small groups, whether it is in your home or in Sunday school,
because a complete session can be given in an hour or less. This material is also available in its
childrens version. This provides an opportunity for youngsters and adults to take their class while
children are also being taught, creating and opportunity for everybody to grow unanimous like a family.
If this material is studied in small groups or in Sunday school, an instructor is needed to show the
DVD and at the end lead the groups discussion of the written material and any doubts that may arise.
To have success in the implementation of this course, we suggest that the leaders that guide the groups
session consider the following three aspects:

Integrity:
The Lord calls His followers to be an example of Christ to others (Titus 2:7-8, Proverbs 28:18).
We need to ask God to help us have personal lives that are coherent with what we are teaching
others.

Interest:
As subordinates of Christs Kingdom, we are members of the heavenly family. The Lord calls
us to love and take care of His Church by developing a genuine interest for those people that He
has left to our charge (John 21:15-17).

Focus:
The Word of God is so vast in its counsel that in order to apply it to our lives, we need to focus
in one section at a time and receive the promises God has for us (Acts 4:32, 20:32). For this
reason we recommend to study the same class throughout the week, in the group session and
individually, and apply the learned concepts presented in the series Learning to Be a Disciple
(Listen carefully, go over what you have learned, scrutinize it, meditate it, memorize it, etc.).

The most effective method for its execution consists of the following:

Start by watching the DVD

Go over the main concepts in the workbook
Listen to the classes in the CD throughout the rest of the week

After this, it is recommended that each person that goes to class have their material to review, so that
they may understand and treasure the Word of God in their minds and their hearts.

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Preparation for the instructors of small groups, cell groups, and Sunday school
1. Familiarize with the equipment that you will use to show the class (TV, DVD, remote, lighting,
etc.).
2. Study the class beforehand, meditate on it and carefully observe the workbook, answering the
questions and writing notes.
3. When preparing the class, use your imagination so that the students can physically visualize the
main idea. A visual aid will always stay in the minds of your disciples and may help them apply
the concept to their lives.
4. Have ready a formatted sheet where the people who are taking the course can write their
information so you can keep in contact with them.
5. Start the class with prayer.
6. If it is the first class from the unit, mention the names of the classes that will be studied, being
careful not to go into details so that the focus may be the theme of that day.
7. If it is not the first class, have a short review of the previous class and restate the verse to
memorize from the same.
8. Show the DVD
9. Once you have watched and heard the DVD, encourage the students to participate by
commenting on the most important aspects of the lesson.
10. Along with the group, answer the questions from the workbook.
11. Mention and repeat 3 to 4 times the verse to memorize along with the group so that it may stay in
their minds and so that you may encourage them to memorize it.
12. Have a time from 5 to 10 minutes open for comments or questions that the students may have,
being careful not to go into another topic.
13. End the class with prayer asking Jesus to help you put into practice what you have learned.
14. Give the students homework after each class; it does not have to be written, but at least have one
that is so that you may count it towards their final evaluation.
15. Students evaluation:

Prepare a written exam for the end of each series to evaluate the learning of the 7 lessons.
You can get an idea from the questions that each lesson has at the end or use the exams
that we have in our website: www.sembradosenbuenatierra.com.

It is important that the verses to memorize are included in the exam. You can leave
words out of a verse so that the students can write them or a blank space so the students
can write where the verse is located. At the end of the 7 classes, ask your students to tell
you individually the 7 verses by memory and add the results toward their evaluation.
Everybody can memorize the Word (children and adults); make a strong emphasis of how
important is to memorize the Word of God.

Consider assistance to the 7 lessons, punctuality, participation, and homework.

At the end of each series, give a certificate to the students who obtained an average of 90
or more. You can give a prize to the students that got the best grades and in that way
encourage all the students.

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Index
1. {A Dependent Church. God works when we are still}

2. {A Unanimous Church. God works in agreement}

11

3. {An Ordered Church. God works in unity}

14

4. {A Witnessing Church. God works in boldness}

19

5. {An Evangelizing Church. God works in His covenant}

22

6. {A Discipling Church. God works in knowledge}

24

7. {A Church with Authority. God works in obedience}

27

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Introduction
Welcome to the series:
Learning to be the church
In the next weeks we will discover the principles that the Lord has
left for us in His Word to establish us as the body of Christ and to
learn to be the church.

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1 A Dependent Church
God works when we are still
We live in a time when many people seek to carry out the great
commission (Mt. 28:18-10) and the great commandment (Jn.
13:34-35) through many innovative structures. We should not
forget that the Scripture, (especially the book of Acts) backed
up by the Holy Spirit and tested through centuries, is the best
source of information to teach us the unchangeable principles
of Gods plan and strategy to be His church. We need to
understand that the Church is not an organization, but a living
organism, which is made up of different members and whose
head is Christ (1 Cor. 12:12).

Objective:
To understand that the Church must depend on Gods power and
on His Word, for God works in stillness.

Mathew 28:18-20
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."
John 13:34-35
A new command I give you: Love
one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another. By
this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you love one
another."

Verse to memorize:

1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is
made up of many parts; and though
all its parts are many, they form
one body. So it is with Christ.

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which
can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those
who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

1 Corinthians 3:14
If what he has built survives, he
will receive his reward.

The Word of God teaches us in 1 Corinthians 3:14, that the

churchs success lies in its commitment to form disciples (Jn.
8:31-32), (Mt. 28:18-20).
The only effective way to be and make disciples is to persist in
Gods Word, permitting His Word to act in us and through us.
Before going to the cross, our Lord Jesus Christ prayed to the
Father for His disciples (Jn. 17:20-24), and asked: that all of
them maybe one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
That they may love each other in a mature spiritual manner; so that
the world may see the Glory of God through them and may have
faith in Me.
The desire of our Lord is that we may reflect Him, as He reflected
God (Jn. 1:12,18)(Col. 1:15)(Jn. 14:7-9) announcing Himself as
the doorway that leads to the Father.

John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him,
Jesus said, "If you hold to my
teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you
free."
John 17:20-24
My prayer is not for them alone. I
pray also for those who will believe
in me through their message, that
all of them may be one, Father, just
as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the
world may believe that you have
sent me. I have given them the
glory that you gave me, that they
may be one as we are one: I in
them and you in me. May they be
brought to complete unity to let the
world know that you sent me and
have loved them even as you have
loved me. "Father, I want those you
have given me to be with me

The task that the Lord has appointed to the Church is to reflect to
the world the image of the invisible God. Understanding that He is
NOT interested in us going to church, instead He wants us to be
the Church.

where I am, and to see my glory,

the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the
creation of the world.

The result of our dependence on Gods power and on the Word of

His Grace will be: fellowship with our brothers and sisters (1 John
1:6).

John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to
those who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children
of God

In order to live the wonderful life that our brothers and sisters of
the first church had, it is essential that those who have a leadership
position, as well as the most recent members, learn to depend on
Gods power and the Word of His Grace:

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but God
the One and Only, who is at the
Father's side, has made him known.

Like Leaders:

Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn over all creation.

We first have to learn to depend on God, and then teach our

disciples to do so.

As members:
We need to fix our eyes on Christ, avoid to worship the leaders
personality, learn to scrutinize the Word on our own, and have our
own personal time with the Lord to receive guidance.
The same way that our physical life needs three elements to
develop, our spiritual life in this new nature (Jn. 3:3-8) also needs
three elements:
1. The Word of his Grace (sperm) (Luke 8:11)
2. The Power of the Spirit of God (egg) (Jn. 14:17)(1
John 5:7-8)
3. The Fellowship with the Church (uterus) (Mt.
18:20)(Heb. 10:24-25)
The Church is the uterus and it is here where spiritual life is
created and developed with the objective of molding us to Christs
image and to prepare us to do good works, which God has
prepared for us in advance. Every member with an honest heart
and right motives, must seek that Jesus Kingdom is established in
their heart and in the hearts of the people who are under their care,
taking into account each element that the Lord asked of Peter in the
chapter of his rehabilitation (John 21:15-18):

1. Feed
To feed is to direct people to quench their needs in the green
pastures of the Scripture, building up their lives and aligning them
to Gods will through their personal relationship with God, so that
they may receive and transmit spiritual life (Acts 20:28).

John 14:7-9
If you really knew me, you would
know my Father as well. From now
on, you do know him and have seen
him." Philip said, "Lord, show us
the Father and that will be enough
for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you
know me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen
the Father. How can you say, 'Show
us the Father'?
1 John 1:6
If we claim to have fellowship with
him yet walk in the darkness, we lie
and do not live by the truth.
John 3:3-8
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you
the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born
again." "How can a man be born
when he is old?" Nicodemus asked.
"Surely he cannot enter a second
time into his mother's womb to be
born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you
the truth, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless he is born
of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives
birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives
birth to spirit. You should not be
surprised at my saying, 'You must
be born again.' The wind blows
wherever it pleases. You hear its
sound, but you cannot tell where it
comes from or where it is going. So
it is with everyone born of the
Spirit."

2. Take care
Every person that takes on a leadership role in the body of Christ
must serve and model a relationship of dependency in Gods
power and Word of grace with:
Integrity: A life coherent with what the Word of God says, and a
life sustained with a daily and permanent fellowship with God
(Titus 2:7-8) (Phil. 3:17).
Interest: To perform their function by building over Jesus
foundation the Kingdom of Christ in the lives of their brothers,
through a genuine service, through prayer, and through the
provision of the spiritual nourishment of the Word of God
(Jn 12:26).

A dependent church learns to:

1. Depend in God through a personal relationship with His Word
This will bring into our lives: guidance, rest, revelation of His will,
and fellowship with the body of Christ.
An example of a personal relationship is found in Mr. 14:3-9 in
the life of Mary of Bethany.
What was the difference between Mary of Bethany and the other
disciples?
In Luke 10:38-42 we find that instead of worrying and getting
upset like her sister Martha, Mary chose what was better, and that
which will be not taken away from her. Mary chose to sit at the
Lords feet and listen attentively to His words. This in turn
produced an understanding, which would later take her to prepare
Jesus body for His burial, honoring His sacrifice beforehand.
In contrast, Jacob and John were looking for a position (Mt. 20:2022); Thomas wanted to see and touch (Jn. 20:25). They forgot that
faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).
2. Depend in Gods power revealed through the Holy Spirit
When Jesus ascended to the Father, He left in His place the Holy
Spirit so that He would be able to be with us everyday until the end
of the world. Lets examine its wonderful functions:
Will help us to live in truth, living and being with us, encouraging
us at all times (John 14:17)
Function: Helper (Acts 18:9-10, 23:11)

Luke 8:11
This is the meaning of the parable:
The seed is the word of God.
John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it
neither sees him nor knows him.
But you know him, for he lives
with you and will be in you.
1 John 5:7-8
For there are three that testify: the
Spirit, the water and the blood; and
the three are in agreement.
Mathew 18:20
For where two or three come
together in my name, there am I
with them.

Will teach us by reminding us and helping us to discern Scripture

and Jesus teachings in order to understand them (John 14:17).
Function: Teacher (Acts 1:16)
Will testify to our heart of the presence and purpose of the Lord
Jesus in our lives, it will equip us to be witnesses. (Romans 8:16)
(John 15:26) (Luke 12:12)
Function: Witness (Acts 1:8)
Will show us our need to be forgiven for our sin through Jesus
sacrifice, in order to declare us innocent in the Day of Judgment
(John 16:28).
Function: to reprove (Acts 2:38)
Will guide us through every situation and will let us know of
every detail that it hears from the Son, with the purpose of
reflecting Jesus through our lives all the time (John 16:13).
Function: Guide (Acts 8:29, 9:11-15)
3. Depend on God through fellowship with the church.
The church will complete the work of the Word and the Holy Spirit
by allowing us to put into action what we have learned. It will also
give us the opportunity to let the invisible God be known (Mt.
18:20) (Heb. 10:24-25).
Our personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, and
through His Word, will take us to be added as members of the
body of Christ, where God will finish our identity rehabilitation as
children of God.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love
and good deeds. Let us not give up
meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one anotherand all the
more as you see the Day
approaching.
Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all
the flock of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers. Be
shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own
blood.
Titus 2:7-8
In everything set them an example
by doing what is good. In your
teaching show integrity,
seriousness and soundness of
speech that cannot be condemned,
so that those who oppose you may
be ashamed because they have
nothing bad to say about us.

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2 A Unanimous Church
God works in agreement
From the days of the tower of Babel until now, men have tried to
unite in different alliances, whether politic like the UN, economic
like globalization, or religious like ecumenicist. All these attempts
have failed because they have looked to venerate man as the center
of the universe, which in turn propitiates egoism (Rom. 1:21-23).
Nevertheless, there is a Godly sense of unanimity found in the
Scripture: May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as
you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you
may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Rom. 15:5-6).

Objective:
Discover, understand, and apply the principles that made the
Church from the book of Acts a unanimous and united Church;
indispensable factors that contributed to impact the world of that
time and to reach Gods purpose.

Verse to memorize:
All the believers were one in heart and in mind. No one
claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had. With great power the apostles
continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and
much grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:32-33).
People from different backgrounds like fishermen, tax collectors,
doctors, men, distinguished women, governors, and many more,
lived the powerful experience of being a unanimous church when
they were reached by the power of God and by the Word of His
grace.
Lets start our study by understanding what the word unanimous
means.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they
neither glorified him as God nor
gave thanks to him, but their
thinking became futile and their
foolish hearts were darkened.
Although they claimed to be wise,
they became fools and exchanged
the glory of the immortal God for
images made to look like mortal
man and birds and animals and
reptiles.
Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance
and encouragement give you a
spirit of unity among yourselves as
you follow Christ Jesus, so that
with one heart and mouth you may
glorify the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.

UNANIMOUS:

#3661 ohmodsumadn: in common

agreement.
#3674 jums: same
#2372 dsums: eagerness

A unanimous church is a church that develops the same way of

thinking; that has a defined objective; that plans a strategy with
which everybody is in agreement, in order to reach the same
purpose.
Acts 4:32 mentions two key concepts that influenced the first
Church to be a unanimous Church. The Word says that they were
one in heart and mind, meaning, of the same belief and of the
same thought.
This should be the desire of the Church because this unanimity, as
the great commandment says (Jn. 13:34-35), will allow us to reach
the objective of visibly revealing the glory of the invisible God,
and send out the effects of His love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace
to every person.
We should not confuse unanimity with uniformity.
God created each one of us different and unique, and the church, as
an organism made up by different members, reflects characteristics
designed by God to make His Word reach every person all the way
to the end of the world.
Unanimous means of a common agreement; not only by being
together, but by carrying out our roles in order to reach the same
goal, despite our individual differences.
God moves in agreement through a unanimous body that develops
a same way of thinking and of feeling (Mt. 18:19).
Lets observe the way unanimity was demonstrated in the first
Church in the book of Acts:

1. Being together in one place.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. Acts 2:1
To live a powerful Christianity, like in the first church, it is
necessary to have a relationship with our brothers and sisters, and a
sense of belonging that will take us to cling on one leadership and
one vision.

Acts 4:32-33
All the believers were one in heart
and mind. No one claimed that any
of his possessions was his own, but
they shared everything they had.
With great power the apostles
continued to testify to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and
much grace was upon them all.
John 13:34-35
"A new command I give you: Love
one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another. By
this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you love one
another."
Mathew 18:19
Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you
ask for, it will be done for you by
my Father in heaven.
Acts 2:1
When the day of Pentecost came,
they were all together in one place.

2. Persevering in prayer and supplication.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus and with his brethren. Acts 1:14

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly
in prayer, along with the women
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
with his brothers.

When we intercede in prayer, we need to be in agreement. The

Lord has given us the power to bind and loose; but this power
works only in agreement (Mt 18:18-20).

Mathew 18:18-20
"I tell you the truth, whatever you
bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.
"Again, I tell you that if two of you
on earth agree about anything you
ask for, it will be done for you by
my Father in heaven. For where
two or three come together in my
name, there am I with them."

3. Listen attentively to the Word of God

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous
signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
Acts 8:6
The Church is made up by members with different opinions
and different characteristics. Therefore, it is important that by
listening attentively to the Word of God, we unify our opinions
acknowledging the Bible as our only rule of faith, conduct, and
as the utmost authority over the body of Christ.

Acts 8:6
When the crowds heard Philip and
saw the miraculous signs he did,
they all paid close attention to what
he said.

4. Developing the same mind and the same heart.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one
claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but
they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32

Acts 4:32
All the believers were one in heart
and mind. No one claimed that any
of his possessions was his own, but
they shared everything they had.

It is important to understand that being together; praying in

agreement, and scrutinizing deeply the Scripture, God will
reveal to each church the specific strategy to follow; the
how, when, and where, that applies to that particular place
and to that moment in which the strategy has been given to
carry out what has been commended.
For example, in our church we discover, share, meditate,
and live the treasures of the Bible in an ordered way. Week
by week, from the Sunday service, the leadership
capacitating meeting, the cell groups or home groups, the
children ministry, the youth, to the family devotionals;
everybody meditates about the same passages with the
same focus each week. In this way, the Lord talks to us
about the same things, working in our hearts little by little
and developing a unified mind and heart.
5. Letting His Word be known with boldness
Acts 4:23-24, 29-30
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people
and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to
them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together
in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the
heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants

to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out our
hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders
through the name of your holy servant Jesus
When we are together, pray with one accord, scrutinize the Word
of God, and develop the same mind and heart; our lifes objective
will be centered around reflecting Gods image and with great
boldness let His Word be known. God, on the other hand, will
extend his hand backing up the good news that glorifies our Lord
Jesus.
The result of our dependency on the power of God and the Word
of His grace will be a unified heart and mind, and the desire to
look for and maintain the unity of the body of Christ. Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one
another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the
Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Lets reflect more about these concepts by scrutinizing Psalms
133:
When we are unanimous:

It is good and pleasant to be with our brothers

It is like medicine that reaches to all members
God sends blessings and eternal life

Agreement >>

Blessing >>

Eternal Life

Ephesians 4:2-3
Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another
in love. Make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace.

3 An Ordered Church
God works in unity

Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I
urge you to live a life worthy of the
calling you have received.

In order for an orchestra to be successful, indispensable expert

musicians are essential. These musicians must not only be
virtuoso performers, but they must fully understand what the word
concert means.

Ephesians 4:7-10
But to each one of us grace has
been given as Christ apportioned it.
This is why it says: "When he
ascended on high, he led captives
in his train and gave gifts to men."
(What does "he ascended" mean
except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions? He who
descended is the very one who
ascended higher than all the
heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.)

Each one of them must know to what section he belongs to:

strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Not only that, he must
know how to read his sheet music to know exactly when he must
play, when to be quiet, and specially know how to follow the
directors instruction who will tell him how, when, where, and in
what way he must participate in the concert.
In the same way, the body of Christ must work as if in a concert,
knowing the part they must play, following the directors
instruction in this worship concert to exalt the redeeming works, of
He, whose name is above all names: Jesus.

Objective:
Hand over our lives to glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by
carrying out our purpose, joined and united as members of His
body.

Verse to memorize:
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each
part does its work. Ephesians 4:16
The body of Christ needs to work jointly, or concerted. What does
the word concerted mean?
CONCERTED: Sunarmologeo (Strong # 4883)
To render close-jointed together, organize compactly, be
fitly framed (joined) together.
As a church, our purpose is to reflect the invisible God. In order to
do this, we need to learn to unite closely by working in a
coordinated and organized manner, backed up by the principles
that the Word of God shows us.
One of these principles is grace.

Ephesians 4:11-16
It was he who gave some to be
apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to
be pastors and teachers, to prepare
God's 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 men in
their deceitful scheming. Instead,
speaking the truth in love, we will
in all things grow up into him who
is the Head, that is, Christ. From
him the whole body, joined and
held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up
in love, as each part does its work.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go!
This man is my chosen instrument
to carry my name before the
Gentiles and their kings and before
the people of Israel.
Acts 13:28
Though they found no proper
ground for a death sentence, they
asked Pilate to have him executed.

What does the word grace mean?

GRACE: Charis (Strong #5485) of the merciful kindness by
which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them
to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith,
knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the
Christian virtues.
Grace is not only the undeserved and unreachable gift of eternal
life that one can receive, but the element that works in us so Christ
can be manifested in our lives.
Through grace we receive our role in the body of Christ; whether it
is in ministries, gifts or works of the Spirit that Ephesians 4:1 urges
us to fulfill:

Being humble and gentle

Recognizing that what we received is a gift and not the result of
our own ability or intellect.
Diversity
Understanding that our role is one of many in the body of Christ
and that it is limited in its reach. The purpose of each of the roles
is to participate towards the churchs edification and not to
compete or compare ourselves with others, but to exalt the name of
the one who gave His life for us, Jesus.
Diligence
To carry out our role to the service and benefit of the body of
Christ.
Keeping the unity of the Spirit through:
The bond of peace
Understanding that the only way to establish this bond is by
reconciling with God through Jesus, and then bringing that
reconciliation to each area of our lives.
One body
Where the most important thing is that the head, in other words
Jesus, who stands out while we carry out the task that has been
given to us.
One Spirit, one hope, one Lord
The Holy Spirit that we received is an advance of eternal life,
which the Lord Jesus won for us, that gives us the hope that
one day we will see Him face to face.

Acts 13:1-3
In the church at Antioch there were
prophets and teachers: Barnabas,
Simeon called Niger, Lucius of
Cyrene, Manaen (who had been
brought up with Herod the tetrarch)
and Saul. While they were
worshiping the Lord and fasting,
the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for
me Barnabas and Saul for the work
to which I have called them." So
after they had fasted and prayed,
they placed their hands on them
and sent them off.
1 Corinthians 14:1-3
Follow the way of love and eagerly
desire spiritual gifts, especially the
gift of prophecy. For anyone who
speaks in a tongue does not speak
to men but to God. Indeed, no one
understands him; he utters
mysteries with his spirit. But
everyone who prophesies speaks to
men for their strengthening,
encouragement and comfort.
Acts 21:9-11
He had four unmarried daughters
who prophesied. After we had been
there a number of days, a prophet
named Agabus came down from
Judea. Coming over to us, he took
Paul's belt, tied his own hands and
feet with it and said, "The Holy
Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of
Jerusalem will bind the owner of
this belt and will hand him over to
the Gentiles.' "
Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who themselves
were prophets, said much to
encourage and strengthen the
brothers.
Acts 8:12-15
But when they believed Philip as he
preached the good news of the
kingdom of God and the name of
Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women. Simon
himself believed and was baptized.
And he followed Philip
everywhere, astonished by the great
signs and miracles he saw. When
the apostles in Jerusalem heard that

Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to

One faith, one baptism

One faith that is the obedience to Gods will, revealed to us
through His Word, which helps us to unify our opinions. One
baptism where we voluntarily yield our rights, giving up our
old self to death and resurrecting to a new life where we no
longer live, but where Christ lives in us.
Lets identify the mysteries and gifts through which God equips
His body for ministry:

1. The head of the body: Christ (Ephesians 4:7-10)

Jesus purified us from our sins through himself; His death on
the cross made Him the head of the body; Christ gives different
roles to its members in order to give them all the necessary
elements to carry out their purpose, emphasizing that we all
have to work together.

2. The vital organs of the body: Ministries (Ephesians

4:11-16)
These functions are carried out by the people that have
received a calling in order to serve Him fulltime; therefore they
have the responsibility to be in charge of the churchs
leadership.
The five organs or ministries in charge of equipping, discipling,
preparing, habilitating, and purifying are:

1. Apostles
According to the Scripture, they are planters of churches.
In the primitive church, the apostle Peter in his apostolic
function starts evangelizing among the Jews in Acts 2, in Acts
8 among the Samaritans, and in Acts 10 and 11 among the
gentiles.
The apostle Paul in his apostolic function is sent by God to
establish the local churches among the gentiles (Acts 9:15) in
all the world known in that time, from Antioch of Syria to
Rome (Acts 13-28), and was recognized to be part of the
ministry by the church in Acts 13:1-3.
2. Prophets
The prophet of the New Testament is an instrument inspired by
God to minister the church, proclaiming Gods revelation;
interpreting the plan of salvation, and putting into action the
truth of the gospel to edify, encourage, and comfort the
believers. (1 Cor. 14:1-3) (Acts 21:9-11, 15:32).

them. When they arrived, they

prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Spirit,

3. Evangelists
They are missionaries whose duty is to preach the gospel,
especially among the people who do not know Him. In Acts
8:12-15 and Acts 21:8 we can see Philip as an example and we
can remember that his ministry started by serving tables to the
Greek widows. This experience in turn, served him to develop
Christs character that every person who serves God must have.
The requisites that Philip had to fulfill in order to be called to
the service of the Lord were: have a good testimony, be filled
with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom (put knowledge into
practice).
4. Pastors
Local congregations ministers that through the preaching of
the Word, and the model of it in their lives, and they minister
to Gods flock. Pastors also have the responsibility to pray for
their members (Acts 20:17, 28, John 21:15-17).
5. Teachers
People who serve in local congregations, who teach children,
youth and/or adults by sharing the Word and being a living
example of it.
The purpose of these official five ministries is to equip the
members of the body, and through the proper instruction reach
spiritual maturity and fulfill their roles, which at the same time will
allow the work of the ministry (which is given to all) to take place.
It is crucial that each member performs his function so that the
growth of the body of Christ may not be withered. As we can see
in Ephesians 4:14, the consequences of the lack of understanding
of the former principles has as a result immature believers, 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 men in
their deceitful scheming.
The Lord asks us that by speaking the truth in love, we will in all
things grow up into him who is the Head (Ephesians 4:15). In
other words, in each area of service, and in each function of be
body, we are to be submissive to the head who is Christ, and held
together by its ligaments in order to help us not to gossip, criticize
or step on each other; but rather pray for each other and understand
that we need to carry out our roles with humility. Our functions are
limited, diverse, and should seek to exalt Christ and not ourselves.

Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we reached
Caesarea and stayed at the house of
Philip the evangelist, one of the
Seven.
Acts 20:17,28
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus
for the elders of the church.
Keep watch over yourselves and all
the flock of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers. Be
shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own
blood.
John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating,
Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon
son of John, do you truly love me
more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he
said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of
John, do you truly love me?" He
answered, "Yes, Lord, you know
that I love you." Jesus said, "Take
care of my sheep." The third time
he said to him, "Simon son of John,
do you love me?" Peter was hurt
because Jesus asked him the third
time, "Do you love me?" He said,
"Lord, you know all things; you
know that I love you." Jesus said,
"Feed my sheep.
Ephesians 4:14
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 men in
their deceitful scheming.
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into
him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

The arms of the body (gifts) (Romans 12:4-11)

The gifts are special abilities that God gives to a person so that
they may be voluntarily given to the service of Christ, and that
under the authority of God they may be used for the edification of
the body.
These gifts are irreversible and are given to reach out to every
person, like through the arms of God:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Prophecy
(declare the Word)
Service
(demonstrate the Word)
Teaching
(defines the Word)
Exhortation (demands the Word)
Distributes freely
Presides with diligence
Mercy with joy

The legs of the body (functions) (1 Cor. 12:6-10)

From verse 7 to 10, a list of functions is given to us. These
functions are carried out by some members of the body under
special circumstances in which the Holy Spirit gives to each one,
just as He determines (v. 11), when He wants, in the manner that
He wants, always for the benefit of the body of Christ and not for
our own boastfulness.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Message of wisdom
Message of knowledge
Faith
Gifts of healing
Miraculous powers
Prophecy
Distinguishing between spirits
Speaking in different kinds of tongues
Interpretation of tongues (glosa and dialects)

We have the privilege of being called to carry out our function like
an orchestra in a grand symphony that proclaims the Good News,
one that is united to exalt and glorify the name of our Lord, not
only audibly but visibly too. We must help each other so that His
Kingdom is established in us and through us, revealing the Good
News to the world.

Romans 12:4-11
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 who are
many form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according
to the grace given us. If a man's gift
is prophesying, let him use it in
proportion to his faith. If it is
serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if
it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it
is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy,
let him do it cheerfully.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is
evil; cling to what is good. Be
devoted to one another in brotherly
love. Honor one another above
yourselves. Never be lacking in
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:6-11
There are different kinds of
working, but the same God works
all of them in all men. Now to each
one the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good. To
one there is given through the Spirit
the message of wisdom, to another
the message of knowledge by
means of the same Spirit, to
another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healing by that one
Spirit, to another miraculous
powers, to another prophecy, to
another distinguishing between
spirits, to another speaking in
different kinds of tongues, and to
still another the interpretation of
tongues. All these are the work of
one and the same Spirit, and he
gives them to each one, just as he
determines.

4 A Witnessing Church
God works in boldness
If we take a look at the Scripture we will find that the men of God
paid a high price in order to give testimony of their faith.
Announcing the coming of the Messiah and the Good News, they
put their lives at risk many times.
Nowadays a few people have that privilege. Nevertheless the
Scripture says that the ones that have been granted to believe in
Him will have to suffer, in one way or another, to let the name of
Jesus be known (Phil. 1:29). This is a truth rarely preached in our
times, however the Lord said in Mathew 5:10-12 Blessed are
those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult
you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your
reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.
Joyful and blissful are the ones who are willing to pay the price of
announcing He who said I am the light of the world, in a world
that is in darkness, because the Lord will back us up to fulfill this
task:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:7-8)

Objective:
Understand that it has not only been granted to us to believe in
Him, but to suffer for Him. (Phil. 1:29)

Verse to Memorize:
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain
true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to
enter the kingdom of God, they said. (Acts 14:22)
Throughout the past lessons we have seen that as disciples of our
Lord Jesus Christ we must:
1. Depend on the daily fellowship with God (John 6:63)
2. Keep the unity with the body of Christ (John 17:23)
3. Carry out the role that has been assigned to us through the
Lord and the Church (Eph. 4:16)

Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you on
behalf of Christ not only to believe
on him, but also to suffer for him
Acts 14:22
Strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true to
the faith. "We must go through
many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God," they said.
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh
counts for nothing. The words I
have spoken to you are spirit and
they are life.
John 17:23
I in them and you in me. May they
be brought to complete unity to let
the world know that you sent me
and have loved them even as you
have loved me.
Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined
and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and
builds itself up in love, as each part
does its work.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.
Mathew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my
sake will find it.
Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on his
journey, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. He fell
to the ground and heard a voice say
to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?" "Who are you,
Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus,
whom you are persecuting," he
replied. "Now get up and go into
the city, and you will be told what
you must do."

The goal of the full understanding of these principles is that we

may be a church prepared to fulfill our functions as the body of
Christ and to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
Witness: Martus = Martyr (Strong #3144)
The word witness or martyr was first accepted in the primitive
church, leaving us an example that would help us understand that
anything of value in the Kingdom goes hand in hand with sacrifice
(Mt. 10:39) because faith increases and develops through
tribulation.
This is one of the reasons why Jesus asks us to be baptized; so that
we understand and give public testimony that we believe in Him.
We are to tell the world that we are willing to die to ourselves and
hand over our lives to Him, to live through Him and for Him.
Lets look at seven aspects of a witnessing life:

1. The calling of a witness (Acts 9:3-6, 15-16)

When the deity and the Name of Jesus are revealed to our lives,
our purpose will also be revealed to us.
a) Who are you, Lord? (Verse 5)
b) What will you have me do? (Verse 6)
Accepting Christs sacrifice in our place not only covers our sins
but also gives us a new responsibility to which we have to obey.

2. A witness provision (Acts 4:23-31)

Our task as witnesses can only be accomplished through the power
of the Holy Spirit. This is why we need to learn to depend on the
Lord, and ask Him for boldness so that in submission to the body
of Christ, to which we belong to, we can announce the Gospel.

3. The honorable price of being a witness (Acts 5:4041)

It is true that following Christ means to undergo confrontations,
mockery, threats, or that we have to get away from people or
situations that do not glorify God; but paying this price will always
be a joy worth suffering and will constitute us as His disciples.
(Luke 14:26-27)

4. A witness commitment (Acts 4:19-20, 5:29).

Jesus said to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what
belongs to God. Every man must submit to the governing
authorities (Rom. 13:1-2) as long as they do not oppose to the
fulfilling of the Great Commission (Mathew 28: 18-20) because it

Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go!
This man is my chosen instrument
to carry my name before the
Gentiles and their kings and before
the people of Israel. I will show
him how much he must suffer for
my name."
Acts 4:23-31
On their release, Peter and John
went back to their own people and
reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said to them.
24
When they heard this, they raised
their voices together in prayer to
God. "Sovereign Lord," they said,
"you made the heaven and the earth
and the sea, and everything in
them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit
through the mouth of your servant,
our father David: " 'Why do the
nations rage and the peoples plot in
vain? The kings of the earth take
their stand and the rulers gather
together against the Lord and
against his Anointed One. Indeed
Herod and Pontius Pilate met
together with the Gentiles and the
people of Israel in this city to
conspire against your holy servant
Jesus, whom you anointed. They
did what your power and will had
decided beforehand should happen.
Now, Lord, consider their threats
and enable your servants to speak
your word with great boldness.
Stretch out your hand to heal and
perform miraculous signs and
wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus." After they
prayed, the place where they were
meeting was shaken. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 5:40-41
His speech persuaded them. They
called the apostles in and had them
flogged. Then they ordered them
not to speak in the name of Jesus,
and let them go. The apostles left
the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because
they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the Name.

is necessary to obey God before men speaking about what we

have seen and heard through our new life in Christ.

5. A witness joy (John 15:20, Acts 4:13)

The joy of a witness will be to look like his Lord and to inspire
people around him to know God through his life. There is no
greater privilege that a witness can have in this world, that to be
acknowledged to have been with Jesus.

6. A witness result (Acts 2:37-38, 4:4)

When a witness speaks with boldness, backed up by the Holy
Spirit and supporting his message on the Scripture, even in times
of tribulation the result will be: people who receive the Word of
God and understand that the conversion is not about a change of
behavior but a change of purpose for their lives.
After his first missionary trip, the apostle Paul comes back to the
cities where he had had numerous tribulations to announce the
Gospel with the purpose of giving the disciples a message of
encouragement by telling them: We must go through many
hardships to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

7. A witness companion (Acts 5:32) (Mt. 28:18-20)

(John 12:26-27) (Pr. 1:23).
We can be sure that the Lord will be with us always until the end
of the world, every time that in obedience we are His witnesses.
The companion of a witness is the Holy Spirit.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of
power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

Acts 4:19-20
But Peter and John replied, "Judge
for yourselves whether it is right in
God's sight to obey you rather than
God. For we cannot help speaking
about what we have seen and
heard."
Acts 5:29
Peter and the other apostles replied:
"We must obey God rather than
men!
John 15:20
Remember the words I spoke to
you: 'No servant is greater than his
master.' If they persecuted me, they
will persecute you also. If they
obeyed my teaching, they will obey
yours also.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of
Peter and John and realized that
they were unschooled, ordinary
men, they were astonished and they
took note that these men had been
with Jesus.
Acts 2:37-38
When the people heard this, they
were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles,
"Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:4
But many who heard the message
believed, and the number of men
grew to about five thousand.
Acts 5:32
We are witnesses of these things,
and so is the Holy Spirit, whom
God has given to those who obey
him.

5 An Evangelizing Church
God works in His covenant
Due to ignorance about the Scripture and the propagation of the
deceiving humanism, we frequently mistake the Churchs mission,
which is to announce the Gospel and Christs grace, with social
service, charity works, political and economical negotiations, etc.
Nevertheless, if the Church focuses in fulfilling its mission with an
eternal perspective, it will impact the society, the economy, and
policy more efficiently than if it focuses in solving temporal
problems with strategies of reconciliation among humans and
leaves behind the real problem of men: sin.

Objective:
Understand that the Church was bought with the precious blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ in order to carry the message of the Good
News and the reconciliation with God through faith in the sacrifice
of His Son.

Verse to Memorize:
We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christs
behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Co. 5:20)
The ministry to which the Church of Christ has been called for is
the ministry of reconciliation (2 Co. 5:18), which consists in
preaching the Good News of the Gospel:

Gospel:

Euangelion (Strong #2097)= announce good news

Eu= good, Aggelos= message, news.

To have an effect on the world, the same way the primitive church
did, the proclamation of the Gospel must include the principles
used by Peter in his first speech, after he received the Holy Spirit.
These principles are found in Acts 2:14-39:
1. The support of the Church and the Scriptures

(Acts 2:14-21)

The Churchs support

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven
Peter did not act by himself, but with the support of the
church to which he belonged. They were in one accord,
unanimous, with the same way of feeling and thinking.

Acts 2:14-39
Then Peter stood up with the
Eleven, raised his voice and
addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews
and all of you who live in
Jerusalem, let me explain this to
you; listen carefully to what I say.
These men are not drunk, as you
suppose. It's only nine in the
morning! No, this is what was
spoken by the prophet Joel: " 'In the
last days, God says, I will pour out
my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will
prophesy, your young men will see
visions, your old men will dream
dreams. Even on my servants, both
men and women, I will pour out my
Spirit in those days, and they will
prophesy. I will show wonders in
the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of
smoke. The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and
glorious day of the Lord. And
everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved.' "Men of
Israel, listen to this: Jesus of
Nazareth was a man accredited by
God to you by miracles, wonders
and signs, which God did among
you through him, as you yourselves
know. This man was handed over
to you by God's set purpose and
foreknowledge; and you, with the
help of wicked men, put him to
death by nailing him to the cross.
But God raised him from the dead,
freeing him from the agony of
death, because it was impossible
for death to keep its hold on him.
David said about him: " 'I saw the
Lord always before me. Because he
is at my right hand, I will not be
shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my
tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
because you will not abandon me to
the grave, nor will you let your
Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the
paths of life; you will fill me with
joy in your presence.' "Brothers, I
can tell you confidently that the
patriarch David died and was
buried, and his tomb is here to this

Support in Scripture
Peter quoted the Word of God, not his own opinions
because faith comes from hearing the message, and the
message is heard through the word of Christ (Rom.
10:17). People need to hear the Word of God because
it is like the rain and snow which make faith bud,
flourish and yield in our hearts, it does not return empty
but accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent
(Isaiah 55:10-11).
Jesus himself throughout His ministry quoted the Word
with power in various situations He was in, and we
must follow His example and do the same.

2. Why Jesus? (Acts 2:22-35)

a. Approved by God
Jesus was the approved sacrifice by God to pay for our
sins. He was the only one tested in everything, but
without sin.
Delivered by the Father
Jesus was delivered unto death by the pre-knowledge of
God because there was no other offering that was
enough to pay for our sins. Death did not find Him
unexpectedly; He willingly gave His life for us.
Raised up on a cross
Jesus reveals Nicodemus the meaning of the prophecy
told by Moses when He says, Just as Moses lifted up
the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may
have eternal life. (John 3:14-15) It was necessary
that the snake be lifted on a wooden beam to symbolize
the terrible price that would have to be paid for our sins
in the raising of Jesus on the cross.
Resurrected
Jesus was resurrected by His Father to confirm that He
was the promised Messiah in Isaiah 9:6-7: Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.
Exalted
The Father exalted Jesus because He made Himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made
in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a

day. But he was a prophet and

knew that God had promised him
on oath that he would place one of
his descendants on his throne.
Seeing what was ahead, he spoke
of the resurrection of the Christ,
that he was not abandoned to the
grave, nor did his body see decay.
God has raised this Jesus to life,
and we are all witnesses of the fact.
Exalted to the right hand of God, he
has received from the Father the
promised Holy Spirit and has
poured out what you now see and
hear. For David did not ascend to
heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord
said to my Lord: "Sit at my right
hand until I make your enemies a
footstool for your feet." "Therefore
let all Israel be assured of this: God
has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ."
When the people heard this, they
were cut to the heart and said to
Peter and the other apostles,
"Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise
is for you and your children and for
all who are far offfor all whom
the Lord our God will call."
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the
message is heard through the word
of Christ.
Isaiah 55:10-11
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so
that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the eater, so is my word
that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but
will accomplish what I desire and
achieve the purpose for which I
sent it.

man, he humbled himself and became obedient to

death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-11)
3. Our guilt and the Reign of Christ (Acts 2:36-39)
The guilt of men
It is necessary that we are confronted with our sin to
understand our need of repentance.
The need to receive the reign of Christ
The repentance, to which the Lord calls us, is not a
change of behavior but of purpose. Through this
purpose we receive Christs reign over our lives, giving
up voluntarily all our rights, desires, and dreams to Him
and in return we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
which capacitates us to be witnesses.
An evangelizing church cannot oversee the points that we have
seen if it wants to have an effect on its surroundings, in the same
way the first church did.
We are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and it is
important that we carry out the task that has been commended to
us: the ministry of reconciliation.

6 A Discipling Church
God works in knowledge
The Great Commission to which the Lord sent us in Mathew
28:18-20 consists not only in evangelizing, but in teaching all of
Gods guidance and teaching the disciples to obey everything God
has commanded us, knowing that the Lord promised to be with us
always as long as we are carrying out our task.
Each member of the body needs to be thoroughly prepared so that
Gods work may be carried out in his life and through his life. For
this to happen it is indispensable that the disciple and the person
who disciples receive all of Gods guidance found in the Word of
God in order to restore each area of their lives, so that they may
make decisions that will allow them to reach Gods purpose for
them.
In John 17:3 the Lord reveals us that the eternal life depends in
that we know Him, in John 10:10 He promises us life to the full,
which will be the result of knowing Him, receiving Him and
allowing that His Word becomes alive in our daily life.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and
more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be
able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless
until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of
God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

Objective:
Recognize the importance of letting Gods complete plan be
known, understanding that the Bible, as the makers manual, will
restore each area of our lives.

Verse to Memorize
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have
not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the
knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and
understanding. (Col. 1:9)

Mathew 28:19
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,
Acts 2:41-42
Those who accepted his message
were baptized, and about three
thousand were added to their
number that day. They devoted
themselves to the apostles' teaching
and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
Acts 20:27
For I have not hesitated to proclaim
to you the whole will of God.
Acts 14:21-22
They preached the good news in
that city and won a large number of
disciples. Then they returned to
Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true to
the faith. "We must go through
many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God," they said.
Acts 19:8-10
Paul entered the synagogue and
spoke boldly there for three
months, arguing persuasively about
the kingdom of God. But some of
them became obstinate; they
refused to believe and publicly
maligned the Way. So Paul left
them. He took the disciples with
him and had discussions daily in
the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This
went on for two years, so that all
the Jews and Greeks who lived in
the province of Asia heard the word
of the Lord.

Lets analyze the instructions that the Lord left us in the Great
Commission of Mathew 28:19:
Therefore go and make disciples
1. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Baptism is the public and voluntary renunciation of our
rights and of our life to the will of God.
2. Teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you
Once we have received what Jesus did for us by forgiving
our sins (Gospel), now it is necessary that His work in us
transform each area of our life (discipleship), which will
only be able to be carried out by being supported on the
Word of God.
The Great Commission has to be carried out in all nations,
teaching them everything, with the confidence that the Lord will be
with us everyday we do that.
Our brothers of the first church, under Peters leadership, fulfilled
this task in Acts 2:41-42 where we observe that those who
received His Word, (1) were baptized and were added to the
church and (2) persevered in the apostles teaching.

The commitment of the person who disciples.

Is to instruct his disciples in the Word of God:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
The apostle Paul clearly understood this responsibility and for this
reason he returned to the places where, with great persecution, he
had announced the Gospel, to confirm the disciples in the Word
making sure not to hesitate to proclaim to them the whole will of
God (Acts 20:27) even when this meant to put his life at risk.
In Acts 14:21-22 we can observe that a verb sequence that helps
us understand the complete task to which we are called:

Preached all the Good News

Make disciples
Return to strengthen and encourage them

Acts 20:31
So be on your guard! Remember
that for three years. I never stopped
warning each of you night and day
with tears.

Paul had such passion to make true disciples that when at the
synagogue some refused to believe and publicly maligned the
Way, Paul left them, took the disciples with him, and for two
years had discussions with them (Acts 19:8-10).
This was the beginning of the growth of those who would become
the first leaders of the Church constituted by Paul, who completed
their training in three years (Acts 20:31).
It is interesting that it was a similar amount of time that the Lord
Jesus took to prepare His disciples. This tells us that becoming
and making disciples takes time.
We need to be patient and make sure that those to which we assign
roles of leadership are developing the three required characteristics
that marked Pauls ministry:
1. Integrity
Being an example of not only knowledge but also of
wisdom, putting into action the principles of the Word in
their lives (Acts 20:18-20, 24, 33-35).
2. Interest
Caring about the spiritual needs of their disciples,
investing their resources, time, and effort to instruct them
in all of Gods will (Acts 20:27-31, 36).
3. Focus
Lead them to know and personally depend on the power of
God and the Word of His Grace, and not in the leaders
personality (Acts 20:20-21, 24, 27, 32).

Acts 20:18-20
When they arrived, he said to them:
"You know how I lived the whole
time I was with you, from the first
day I came into the province of
Asia. I served the Lord with great
humility and with tears, although I
was severely tested by the plots of
the Jews. You know that I have not
hesitated to preach anything that
would be helpful to you but have
taught you publicly and from house
to house.
Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth
nothing to me, if only I may finish
the race and complete the task the
Lord Jesus has given methe task
of testifying to the gospel of God's
grace.
Acts 20:33-35
I have not coveted anyone's silver
or gold or clothing. You yourselves
know that these hands of mine have
supplied my own needs and the
needs of my companions. In
everything I did, I showed you that
by this kind of hard work we must
help the weak, remembering the
words the Lord Jesus himself said:
'It is more blessed to give than to
receive.' "

2. A disciples commitment
The ordered process of the verbs mentioned in Acts 2:41-42
teaches us the normal and healthy development in the life of a
disciple:

Accepted his message

Were baptized
Were added to the church
Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching
To the fellowship
To the prayer

Two elements, that every person who wants to be a disciple must

consider, stand out:

To remain firmly in the Word.

Be willing to undergo many tribulations.

Acts 20:27-31
For I have not hesitated to
proclaim to you the whole will of
God. Keep watch over yourselves
and all the flock of which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers. Be
shepherds of the church of God,
which he bought with his own
blood. I know that after I leave,
savage wolves will come in among
you and will not spare the flock.
Even from your own number men
will arise and distort the truth in
order to draw away disciples after
them. So be on your guard!
Remember that for three years I
never stopped warning each of you
night and day with tears

7 A Church with Authority

God works in obedience
The Lord has given the church the ability to represent Him in the
world, carry the message of Gods reconciliation with men through
the death and resurrection of Jesus, for which He has invested
authority to the Church.
The Church has to carry out the authority that God has entrusted it
in order to fulfill the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) and the
Great Commandment (John 13:34).
For this purpose it is important that each member of the body
learns to live under authority and also to execute it because God
works in obedience.

Objective:
Learn that one cannot live in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ without
being under the authority given by God.

Verse to Memorize:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling
against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. (Rom. 13:1-2)
Authority: exusia (Strong #1849) = ability, privilege, delegated
influence, right, jurisdiction, power.
Jesus carried out the redemption of our sins under the authority of
the Father:
This command I received from my Father. (John 10:18b)
Jesus gave them this answer: I tell you the truth, the Son can
do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father
doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
(John 5:19)
We can find a clear example in Jesus to learn how to submit
ourselves to authority, how to implement it and how to recognize
it.

Mathew 28:18-20
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."
John 13:34
A new command I give you: Love
one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
John 10:18
No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and
authority to take it up again. This
command I received from my
Father.

Lets study some passages that can help us identify these

principles.

I. How to submit to authority

1. In voluntary submission: Who, being in very nature
Godmade himself nothing (Phil. 2: 5-7)
Humans need to live under authority throughout all their life.
Only those who are willing to live under authority will learn to
properly implement it.
Jesus gave us an example when being in the same position of
authority like the Father; He voluntarily made himself nothing
and submitted himself taking the nature of a servant.
2. With suffering: to death (Phil. 2:8-9)
Jesus was obedient to death, and death on the cross.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him
the name that is above every name.
There will be times that by submitting to authority we will
suffer, but the Lord will allow it with the purpose of forming us
to the image of His Son. Remember that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him.
3. In obedience: learned obedience (Heb. 5:7-9)
Through His sacrifice and his submission to the Father, Jesus
in his days as man learned obedience, becoming the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey him.
The Word encourages us to have the same attitude that Jesus had
by voluntarily submitting ourselves under Gods authority even
when this takes us to suffer. By doing this we will learn
obedience, which will bring blessing into our lives and the lives of
those around us.
When a person resists authority he brings upon himself
condemnation.
We conclude that we submit to authority:
1. Voluntarily
2. With suffering
3. In obedience

Philippians 2:5-9
Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did
not consider equality with God
something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a
man, he humbled himself and
became obedient to death
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the
highest place and gave him the
name that is above every name,
Hebrews 5:7-9
During the days of Jesus' life on
earth, he offered up prayers and
petitions with loud cries and tears
to the one who could save him
from death, and he was heard
because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a son, he learned
obedience from what he suffered
and, once made perfect, he became
the source of eternal salvation for
all who obey him

II. How authority is implemented

The Lord chose the last supper with His disciples as the precise
moment to teach them, by being an example, how they should
implement the authority soon to be delegated to them as the
Church. This teaching is found in John 13:1-17.
1. Knowledge: knew (John 13:1)
It is necessary to know that the purpose of the children of God
is to be made unto Christs image and that this image
multiplies by making disciples. This will strengthen us and
keep us focused, even in difficult circumstances.
2. Commitment: loved them unto the end (John 13:1)
It is our commitment to do everything within our reach to lead
our disciples to develop a personal relationship with God.
We need to teach them to depend on the Lord, love them with a
committed love, not an emotional love. Give them the
opportunity to repent and hand over their lives to Christs
reign, the way Jesus did it, even when He knew that Peter
would deny Him and giving Judas the opportunity to repent,
until the end.
It is important to understand that a committed love is not
giving the people what they want, but what they need.
3. Teaching: Unless I wash you (John 13:8)
In order for the disciples to recognize the authority of their
leader, the leader has to take the responsibility of continuously
washing them with the Word of God, and share with them the
vision and mission that he has received, which will in turn
generate respect and recognition of his authority.
This same concept appears in Ephesians 5 in regard to
marriage, where the husband is encouraged to exercise his
authority being the spiritual leader of his house, continuously
washing his wife with the Word of God, so as to present her to
himself without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy
and blameless.
To have part with the Teacher in His kingdom it is needed that
we are washed with His Word.
Finally, it is necessary for the disciple to have a teachable
attitude, in order to be transformed to the image of Christ.
John 13:1-17

John 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover
Feast. Jesus knew that the time had
come for him to leave this world
and go to the Father. Having loved
his own who were in the world, he
now showed them the full extent of
his love. The evening meal was
being served, and the devil had
already prompted Judas Iscariot,
son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus
knew that the Father had put all
things under his power, and that he
had come from God and was
returning to God; so he got up from
the meal, took off his outer
clothing, and wrapped a towel
around his waist. After that, he
poured water into a basin and
began to wash his disciples' feet,
drying them with the towel that was
wrapped around him. He came to
Simon Peter, who said to him,
"Lord, are you going to wash my
feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not
realize now what I am doing, but
later you will understand." "No,"
said Peter, "you shall never wash
my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I
wash you, you have no part with
me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter
replied, "not just my feet but my
hands and my head as well!" Jesus
answered, "A person who has had a
bath needs only to wash his feet;
his whole body is clean. And you
are clean, though not every one of
you." For he knew who was going
to betray him, and that was why he
said not every one was clean. When
he had finished washing their feet,
he put on his clothes and returned
to his place. "Do you understand
what I have done for you?" he
asked them. "You call me 'Teacher'
and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is
what I am. Now that I, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your
feet, you also should wash one
another's feet. I have set you an
example that you should do as I
have done for you. I tell you the
truth, no servant is greater than his
master, nor is a messenger greater
than the one who sent him. Now
that you know these things, you
will be blessed if you do them.

4. Service: when he had (John 13:12)

Before our disciples recognize the authority in us it is needed
that we have served them, that we have demonstrated a true
interest in the transformation of their lives, and that we have
supported them in the process.
In these verses it is emphasized that only after Jesus washed
the feet of the disciples, He took on His function of authority
by putting His clothes back on.
We conclude that authority is exercised with:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Knowledge
Commitment
Teaching of the Word
Service

III. Recognizing Authority (John 13:13-17)

Once Jesus, knowing His purpose, finished the commitment of
loving His disciples until the end, teach them the Word and serve
them, He then has the authority over them as Teacher and Lord.
In the same way if we put these things into practice (John 13:17),
we will be recognized in the role of authority delegated to us,
whether it be as a Pastor, teacher, coordinator, worship leader,
etc and you will be so!
From the things mentioned we learn that authority is not imposed,
nor demanded, but recognized by the body of Christ.
In Acts 15 we find that the church recognized Paul and Barnabas.
There are also cases of some people who tried to impose it.
Who are these some? (Acts 15:1).
Unknown people that without any authority delegated to them by
the Holy Spirit or the Church, instead of being a blessing,
edification and joy to the body of Christ (like Paul and Barnabas),
infiltrate the Church agitating the brothers, dividing the people and
looking for their own glory and not the Lords (Gal. 4:17).
The some are characterized by not submitting to the authority
and demand it or impose it.
Contrary to them, Paul and Barnabas submitted to the counsel of
the brothers, submitted to the apostles authority and to the elderly
above them, go to the Church in Jerusalem to look for counsel and

Acts 15:1
Some men came down from Judea
to Antioch and were teaching the
brothers: "Unless you are
circumcised, according to the
custom taught by Moses, you
cannot be saved."

are received by the Church (Acts 15:2), while the some are
excluded from the meeting.
In this passage we observe that the true leaders, in which we can
find Peter, Barnabas, and Paul, not only give testimony of their
faith but also look for the unity of the body of Christ. In response,
the assembly became silent, recognizing their authority (Acts
15:12).
Jacob, who presides over the counsel, guided by the Holy Spirit
and recognized by the Church, determines what has to be done,
which is approved by the apostles and the elderly, giving as a
result a unanimous church (Acts 15:19-22).
We conclude that authority is recognized:
1. By having applied the principles of:
Knowledge,
Commitment
Teaching
Service
2. By being integrated to the body of Christ.
3. By seeking for unity and unanimity.
4. Being submitted to authority.

Dear brothers, we have finished this series praying that these

principles restore the Church the Lord has entrusted in our hands,
and that we may be leaders that have a clear concept of what
service means by guiding people to the freedom of the Word of
God. We must understand that the Lord is not interested in us
going to church, but in us being the Church.
Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which
can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those
who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

Acts 15:12
The whole assembly became
silent as they listened to
Barnabas and Paul telling
about the miraculous signs and
wonders God had done among
the Gentiles through them.
Acts 15:19-22
"It is my judgment, therefore,
that we should not make it
difficult for the Gentiles who
are turning to God. Instead we
should write to them, telling
them to abstain from food
polluted by idols, from sexual
immorality, from the meat of
strangled animals and from
blood. For Moses has been
preached in every city from the
earliest times and is read in the
synagogues on every Sabbath.
Then the apostles and elders,
with the whole church, decided
to choose some of their own
men and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. They
chose Judas (called Barsabbas)
and Silas, two men who were
leaders among the brothers.

Credits
Concept and development:
Heriberto and Elsa Hermosillo
Material version written by:
Elsa Hermosillo
Production Coordination:
Mariana Diaz Gonzalez
MDG Producciones
pistashow@yahoo.com / reach4thesky1@hotmail.com
Graphic Design:
Rodrigo Galindo Breton
www.rgbdesign.com.mx
Audio and Video Production:
Francisco Alonso
FM Imagen Radial
fmimagenradial@yahoo.ca
Post-production and DVD design:
Rogelio Ortega Barrera
agaveproducciones@prodigy.net.mx

www.sembradosenbuenatierra.com
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