03. Cultivate: Bible Study Ministry
Cultivate Spiritual Interest
After planting the seed of God’s Word, the next phase in the disciple-making process is to CULTIVATE the growing spiritual interest. This is one of the longest and most labor-intensive parts of the disciple-making process. It is best accomplished by engaging in full-message Bible studies while providing friendship, guidance, and spiritual support.
ESTABLISH A BIBLE STUDY MINISTRY:
- Elect a Bible school coordinator to oversee the Bible study ministry (Church Manual, p. 107).
- Budget annually for Bible study guides and other resources.
- Provide resources and training for members to offer, host, and give Bible studies, including personal, small group, online, drop-off, correspondence, video, or other formats.
- Plan Bible study strategy annually, including dates when advertising and invitations will be increased, small groups organized, training offered, etc.
- Provide leadership support—prayer, promotion, financial support, and participation.
“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’” (Acts 8:31).
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
"Let ministers teach church members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them—the burden of leading souls into the truth" (Christian Service, p. 69).
"There are those in the world who are reading the Scriptures, but who cannot understand their import. The men and women who have a knowledge of God are needed to explain the word to these souls" (Christian Service, p. 142).
"The plan of holding Bible readings (studies) was a heaven-born idea" (Christian Service, p. 141).
"The more one tries to explain the Word of God to others, with a love for souls, the plainer it becomes to himself" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 354).
"In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people.... Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God" (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 196).