Seven Steps for Training in Spiritual Growth

Tools needed for training.

• A standard KJV study Bible with cross references in or near the column text, and a concordance in the back. Possible choices might include the:
  • Old Schofield Study Bible, KJV
  • KJV New Defenders Study Bible by Dr. Henry Morris
  • Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible-KJV
  • The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible: King James Version;
• Cruden's Concordance
• A three ring notebook binder
• notebook paper
• A pack of 3x5 or 4x6 cards and a box, container, or means to file them
• Pencil, pen
• Regularly access to a computer printer and modem
• A high school or collegiate dictionary (Minimum)

Provisions to the student will include

E-Sword or Power Bible or Online Bible Software (KJV)

Classroom resource books will include

Young's Concordance
Strong's Concordance
Unger's Bible Handbook
Copies of different study Bibles
Copies of different Bible Dictionaries
An Unabridged Dictionary
Wilmington's guide to the Bible

NOTE: A student should prepare to buy for himself a study Bible, a Bible Dictionary, a Good Concordance, a large quality English dictionary, and a Bible handbook. These are essential tools. By having these, one does not need to rely on the electronic age to be able to satisfy personal spiritual needs. These can be carried to the ends of the earth. They enable one to live under almost all conditions of energy and communication scarcity.
It should be recognized that commentaries, while useful to the newer believer, will soon be found to often lack meaningful resource and answers to the student's questions. It is often said that they speak to the obvious and ignore the difficult. Commentaries tend to be devotional at best. They provide a helpful breadth of illustrative material for those who speak frequently, several times a week.

Seven steps of study

Monthly outlines of Books of the Bible

We will in graph format, title each chapter of various books of the Bible. Then the books will be divided into topics or logical information blocks. Using three or four different sources, we will compare how various authors divide the book information logically.

The order of book study will include the Books of John, Acts, James, Ephesians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Genesis, Exodus, Deuternonomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, (either 1 & 2 Kings or Chronicles), Daniel, Zechariah, Malachi, Revelation, etc.

Develop lists and notes relating to Bible topics

Lists will include the nature of the natural man, the carnal man, the spiritual man, the traits of pastor, deacons, godly women, children, the church, the names of God, etc.

Diagram Bible passages and learn how to use English grammar and skills in interpretation

This section will include the details of Bible interpretation according to grammar and the rules of the English language. This will include establishing meaning according to parts of speech, verb tenses, how modifiers and their antecedent affect the meaning of words and phrases. This section will also deal with kinds of reasoning, comparison, simile, metaphore, allegory, etc.

Develop skills of different methods of Bible study and analysis.

The focus of this will include use of cross reference skills, comparing verses with other verses; contextual comparisons with the local passage, the chapter, the book, and the Bible, and sometimes with secular literature. There will be development of skills to see the difference between the teaching of secular and Biblical literature, including that found in newspaper, magazines, and other published media. Part of the teaching of this area will be to gain skills in discernment of what is published.

Possible suggested ideas might include taking a Disney film or story and determining the doctrinal teaching of that story and comparing it with Bible truths.

Develop Christian service projects and weekly activities

The student will learn the skills of loving thy brother and loving thy neighbor. They will search out in the Bible how love was demonstrated. Taking these statements and principles, they will then develop plans to actively demonstrate that love to others, tell what they did, tell why it was a Biblical act of love using the Bible to explain why, what, and how it fulfilled Bible admonitions. In the beginning they would do simple projects. Later they would develop more complex efforts.

Learn the characteristics of spirituality and learn practical applications of this.

• This lesson series would take the student from the generalities of understanding what it means to be a Christian and learn about the characteristics of true spirituality.
• Then they would develop practical applications of this for their own personal life.
• This section will include lists, definitions, Biblical examples of these things in action, etc.
• The individual will learn to understand that the Christian life is an active willful life and not one of passivity.
• They will discern the nature of the natural person, the spiritual person and the carnal person.
• They will learn how one moves from one condition to another. The intent will be that they will love that which is spiritual and hate that which is carnal or worldly.
• They will also study how to minister to others so that they also may enjoy the spiritual, fruitful life.

Develop address lists and records of personal characteristics of people to whom you may minister

This is the reach out portion of the class.

• The student will learn how to become a part of the lives of others.
• The student will develop plans to reach out to members
  • of their church,
  • of their personal families, and
  • of members of the community.
• The student will develop a record keeping system of names, addresses, and pertinent information.
• Then they will note information about each person in the record relating to their
  • work,
  • families,
  • their friendships,
  • personal interests,
  • skills,
  • hobbies,
  • likes and
  • dislikes.
• They will note any other bit of information which will be helpful in reaching out to that other person in love and with the gospel.
• They will begin developing planns for ministering to such people as they know and meet.

This will be a servant building skill and tool for reaching out. This is where the understanding of a spiritual person will be put into practice by practicing these skills withing the church, the family, the neighborhood and the world.

Work load

Most all of the study and written work will be done in class. Students will be expected to use their class time responsibly. Some of the projects such as obtaining addresses and information about people will be done mostly out of class. Much of the Christian service project work may be done as a part of normal family and community interaction. The work load, skills requirements, and difficulty will be adjusted according to grade level and adjusted to meet these guidelines.

All work is to be individually done. There will be no group projects in the beginning. The student is not to share his work with another student.

The student will be required to keep a daily log sheets in the front of the three ring binder of the work accomplished each day relating to any of the seven areas. Such record keeping will note when a task is begun and when the task is completed. It will record when information is updated on notecards, a task is worked on and a task is completed out of class.

Grading

A -  The student will do all the work asked and will do extra work and projects above and beyond. The student will consistently be in class with all of the tools and course resources.
B -  The student will do all the work asked and show sincere effort in doing it well. The student will normally be prepared with that necessary for class work.
C - The student will do most of the work asked and give evidence of just trying to get by. The student will frequently need to be prodded by the teacher.
D - The student will show a lazy spirit, come to class unprepared, miss deadlines, fail to complete work, and is sloppy in his effort.