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These Bible studies on the seven major commands of Christ are an easy way to begin
teaching others. They start where Jesus told us to start, as we make disciples--with all
that Jesus commanded us. Don't wait for a big crowd! Begin teaching a family member
or a friend around a table. Or, invite a small group to join you using these simple studies
to discover what Jesus taught us to do.
Jesus commanded many things but they can be summarized in the seven major
commands that these studies deal with. They are:
1) Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit (these three essentials for salvation
go together; one cannot do any of them without the other two. For example, one
cannot have heart-felt repentance without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, being
born again of the Spirit.
2) Be baptized
3) Love (love God and neighbor in practical ways, forgiving enemies and showing
mercy to the needy)
7) Make disciples (this includes teaching the Word, shepherding and sending
workers to neglected peoples)
(Command # 1)
Jesus commands us to repent, believe, and receive the Holy Spirit, all of which makes
up our 'conversion.'
Luke 24:33-53 focuses on the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the
foundation of our faith. His resurrection clearly portrays Him as the Christ (Messiah).
This Bible passage also clearly teaches that repentance and faith in Him is to be
preached throughout the whole world for the forgiveness of sins. Please read it now.
Questions:
(Command # 1, continued)
Jesus' first command was to repent and believe. Let us focus on what He meant be
‘believe." We will examine a parable and a graphic illustration that Jesus gave, to grasp
salvation by faith.
Questions:
(Command # 1, continued)
To understand further Jesus' first command to repent and believe, let us examine the
parable of the sower in Mark 4:1-20. Please read it now.
Jesus said, "Can you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all of
the parables?" The word of God, the seed, comes regularly to us, teaching many truths.
If we don't tend our garden to receive the truth he gives us, then lack of understanding,
or hardness of heart, or weeds of the world will prevent the fruitfulness that the seed is
intended for. If we don't understand this elementary truth about the importance of taking
God's word seriously, and do something about it, then how can we go on to hear and
receive all that God has? Our fields will not be prepared to receive it, each time it comes
(because the Word of God comes often to us, in the form of a sermon, a Bible study, the
Spirit bringing to mind what has been taught, etc.) This sower and seed teaching is
elementary if we're going to go on and benefit each time God's Word that is sown in our
hearts. otherwise, it's wasted!
(Command # 1, continued)
This study adds more about Jesus' first command, to repent and believe.
The Christian must not see faith as something we do only at the beginning of our walk
with Christ. Followers of Jesus learn to "walk by faith," keeping in step with the Spirit,
learning to trust God and His Word throughout our lives, in the hard times as well as the
good. The Bible is full of examples of people who persevered in their faith and "reaped a
harvest" because of it.
Hebrews 11 relates the accounts of saints through the ages who were commended for
their persevering faith. They were tested, but their faith came out like pure gold in the
end. Please read Hebrews 10:19 through 12:13 now.
Questions:
Our faith is based in these questions: (Can you find the answers?)
What has been promised? (See John 3:16 and related promises)
What is the reliability of the One who made the made the promises? (Hebrews
10:23)
What should be the result, in our hearts, in response to the above truths?
(Hebrews 10:22a, 23a)
What should be the result of our faith? (Hebrews 10:24 & 25)
How do we please God? (Hebrews 10:38 & 11:6)
Was Noah's faith in God dormant or active? What did he do in response to His
faith in God's Word? (Hebrews 11:7)
Did Moses suffer for His faith? How? (Hebrews 11:24-27)
What happened to some who had persevering faith in the Old Testament?
(Hebrews 11:32-38) The Old Testament "heroes" were people just like us who
struggled with their own sinfulness. The Old and New Testaments do not hide
their dirty laundry. However, the Bible emphasizes their persevering faith that
helped them to overcome.
Why did the writer of Hebrews tell US about the people of old who persevered in
their faith? (Hebrews 12:1)
When the Lord disciplines us, we often respond wrongly. In what two ways do we
wrongly respond to His discipline? (Hebrews 12:5)
What should motivate us to respond rightly to His discipline?
What is the result of God's loving discipline?
(Command # 2)
Jesus commands us to be baptized in water, and to live the new life that baptism
initiates.
This story of John the Baptist shows that in Jesus' day baptism confirmed repentance,
faith in God's forgiveness, and the BEGINNING OF A NEW WAY OF LIFE. Jesus' three-
year public ministry (some biblical scholars say four) began with His baptism. After His
resurrection, He instructed His disciples to continue to baptize all who believe in Him
throughout the world. Please read Luke 3:1-18 now.
Questions:
How did John the Baptist "prepare the way of the Lord?" (vv. 3 & 4)
What did John mean when he said "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance"?
Was John easy on the people of Israel? What was the source of John's
message? (v. 2)
To what did John compare those people whose "repentance" did not aim for a
changed life? (v.9)
What advice did John give to those who asked what they should do to produce
good fruit? (vv.11-14) In each case, was it practical?
Did these people who came to hear John respond to His message? How quickly?
Did they wait for a while after their repentance before they were baptized?
Compare this with Acts 2:37-41. How long did these new believers wait before
they were baptized?(v.41)
John spoke of someone coming after him who had a different kind of baptism.
Who was it? What kind of baptism did this next person come with? (Luke 3:16)
Did Jesus mention baptism in His Great Commission? Why do you think Jesus
commanded His disciples to continue to baptize as they spread the gospel around the
world?
Have you obeyed the Lord's command to be baptized in water? Do you see from
this study that baptism is the START of a new life where good fruit is produced?
What areas of your life do you need to "produce good fruit in keeping with your
repentance?" Will you ask the Lord to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit to help
you in this?
(Command # 2, continued)
Read Luke 11:5-13 focuses on the believer's part in receiving and walking in the
fullness of the Holy Spirit.
What time of day did the person go to His friend to ask for help? (v.5) In biblical
times as well as our own times, what did the night represent?
What did the man ask of His friend?(v.5) What did he want to do with this gift?
(v.6)
Though the friend would not get up and give the bread because of friendship,
what would be the motivating factor for the giving?(v.8)
What was Jesus' point in telling this parable? (v.9) What happens when people
do ask/seek/knock?
What kind of gifts do earthly fathers give their children? (11, 12) What contrast
does Jesus make between the character of earthly fathers and the character of
your Father in heaven? Read v. 13 again. Meditate on "how much more" and
share your thoughts.
1. What good gift does the Father give? (v.13) To whom does He give it?
How does Jesus describe the water in John 4:10? What did he say the woman's
response to Jesus would have been if she had known who he was?
What will the water that Jesus gives become in a person? (John 4:14) What are
the characteristics of springs?
In John 7:37-38, Jesus uses the same analogy. What does he say is the
responsibility of the one who is thirsty?
Paul was speaking to believers who had already received the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Yet he exhorted them to "be filled with the Holy Spirit." From this (and
many other passages), can we say that it is possible for believers to walk in less
than the fullness of the Spirit on a daily basis? What, then, should be our earnest
cry before the Lord?
Ephesians 5, verses 19-20, links to v. 18. Meditate on these verses and offer
your comments on what they have to do with being continually filled with the
Spirit.
(Command # 3)
Jesus’ most important command is to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as
ourselves.
In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus helps an expert in the Jewish law understand that knowing the
law and doing it can be two different things. Please read it now.
Questions:
How did the expert in the Jewish law summarize the law's requirements?(v.27)
Did Jesus agree with His answer? According to Jesus, what would be the results
of doing these things?(v.28)
Why did the man ask "who is my neighbor?" (v.29)
In the story, what was the occupation of the two men who left the hurting man?
Should they have known the law?
Do you know who Samaritans were in the days of Jesus? They were social
outcasts. Why do you think Jesus used a Samaritan in this story in contrast to the
religious leaders?
Who was the true neighbor? Did being a "neighbor" cost the Samaritan anything?
What?
What was Jesus' instructions to the expert in the law when the story was over?
(v.37)
How can we apply this to our lives today? Think ahead. What type of sacrifices
may need to be made to walk in such love? Name them.
Have you seen in your own life that merely KNOWING what the scripture teaches
and DOING IT can be two very different things? What word did Jesus use (in
Luke 12:1) to describe those who talked one way and lived another? Are you
committed to "Go and DO LIKEWISE" as Jesus instructed the expert in the law?
Can you foresee that sometimes choices of sacrificial love will involve a battle
with your own desires? What practical things can be done to help us overcome
the enemy?
(Command # 4)
Jesus emphasizes in Luke 18:1-8 that our faith is demonstrated when we persevere in
prayer. Also, He shows us that the loving Father hears and answers our prayers
speedily. Please read it now.
Questions:
(Command # 5)
Jesus’ fifth major command is to pray. He shows in Mark 12:41-44 that our giving is not
measured by the dollar amount we give to His kingdom but rather by our
wholeheartedness in our giving. Please read it now.
Questions:
Who was watching as the crowds put their offering into the temple treasury?
(v.41)
Who gave the large amounts of money?
Who gave the small amount? What was the monetary worth of her coins?
Do you think this amount helped significantly in the upkeep of the temple? Would
this small offering be honored and praised in the eyes of men? Which offerings
that day were most likely noticed by men?
Who did Jesus call to him to show them what he saw?(v.43)
Whose offering was most significant to Jesus? According to Jesus, who gave the
biggest offering that day? Why?
In this passage does Jesus say that we must each give away our last penny? Are
we made right with God by the amount we give to Him? What then is the point of
this illustration?
Are you committed to live wholeheartedly for the Lord, offering all that you have
to Him for His kingdom?
Have you ever stopped to think about how much you give to the growth of
Christ's kingdom? Is it your best? Is it wholehearted? Would the Lord take notice,
as He did with the widow?
(Command # 6)
Jesus’ 6th major command is to break bread together in remembrance of Him, the Lord’s
Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 focuses on the Lord Jesus and His wholehearted sacrifice. It
also contrasts His servant's heart with church members who are concerned only about
themselves. Please read it now.
What did Paul say about the Corinthian church gatherings? (v.18)
What complaint did he have regarding their partaking of the Lord's Supper?
(v.20-22) Was it really the Lord's Supper that they were eating?
According to Paul, what happened on the night Jesus inaugurated the Lord's
Supper?(v.23)
What did Jesus call the bread? What did he call the cup of wine? When they
partook of them, what were they proclaiming? (v.26) Who were they
remembering?
Knowing the improper conduct of the Corinthian church (verses 17-22) and the humble
ways of Jesus on the night he was betrayed (verses 23-26), you now have the context
of verses 27-34.
Read verses 27-34 again. What do you think Paul was addressing when he spoke of
taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner?
What does he mean in verse 29 by "without recognizing the body of the Lord"?
How did the Corinthian church's attitude during the Lord's Supper not recognize
the body of the Lord? Did they exhibit the humble attitude that Jesus showed on
the night he was betrayed?
According to Paul, is it proper to examine and judge ourselves? In this passage,
what happens when we judge ourselves? What happens when the Lord judges
us? (v. 32)
Read again Paul's summary statements in v. 33 and 34. What attitude was
he trying to cultivate in that body of believers? Whose attitude was he trying to
display as worthy of imitating?
When you partake of the Lord's Supper, what's to be your focus?
PERSONAL APPLICATION: Will you now take the Lord's Supper with a new
attitude of "recognizing the body of Christ" and all He has done for you? Will you
strive for unity in the body of Christ?
(Command # 7)
Where did Jesus go to call His first disciples? (Mark 1:16) What were their
occupations? (Were they trained religious leaders?)
After he told them to follow him, what did Jesus say to these men? (Mark 1:17)
These disciples and others followed Jesus for an estimated 3 years. They heard him
teach wonderful truths, saw him perform miracles of compassion and power, stood
beside him as he stood up to the religious hypocrites who pretended to follow God, and
watched His example of true humility and servant's heart. They were LEARNERS, the
meaning of DISCIPLES. As they spent more time with Jesus, he sent them out to do
what they saw him doing.
Why do you think Jesus called disciples? (Wasn't he big enough to do the job on
His own?)
Read 2 Timothy 1:13 through 2:7. Paul is writing an encouragement letter to Timothy,
whom he calls affectionately "my son."