Study Guide Notes

 

Introduction

The theme of truth has been woven throughout this Bible study as it is generally a neutral term and also because most people tend to recognize the need for truth in their lives.   Therefore, rather than presenting Christianity as a religion, people need to be challenged with the truths of God’s Word, which can change their lives both eternally and immediately.   A person who seeks after God will also seek truth.

With this in mind, this Bible study follows a logical procession of essential truths that serve as stepping-stones leading to salvation.   It begins with the Bible (Lesson 1), which needs to be presented and recognized as the source of truth.   Otherwise, the remaining lessons (2-10) risk being erroneously received as only the personal opinions of the teacher, the traditions of men, or just another religious moral code.   The Bible is the real textbook the student will be using so it is essential they appreciate its importance from the very beginning. Lessons 2-3 communicate truths about God that will help the student understand what God expects from us.   The truths about man in Lessons 4-5 then reveal how man fails to live up to these expectations.   This highlights his need for a Savior, who is introduced in Lessons 6-8.   The final two lessons then serve to personalize the Bible study for the student, emphasizing the need to respond to God’s truth so that it may indeed change his life.  Therefore, this Bible study is titled “Life Changing Truth”.

Another purpose of this Bible study is to systematically get the student into God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12) and allow for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin and repentance, rather than relying on cleverly worded arguments.   Therefore, considerable thought has been given to the Bible passages to be used in this study.   Longer passages, which touch on a number of essential truths, have been chosen over isolated verses as this encourages a greater depth of interaction between the student and God’s Word.   Of course this does not prevent the teacher from using other passages at his discretion to reinforce a particular point.   However, caution should be exercised in using passages that may introduce subjects or issues that can distract the student from the central truths related to salvation, which is where you want the student to stay focused.

This study is in an English/Japanese format to help missionaries whose first language is not Japanese, and to make it a useable tool for those involved in English teaching.   Furigana is also included for the same reason.

 

How you start an evangelistic Bible study

The hardest part in studying the Bible with a non-Christian is often not in studying the Bible itself but in actually initializing the Bible study!  How can we get our unbelieving friend or relative to agree to study the Bible with us? 

Obviously, we begin with prayer, asking God to help in the process by preparing the person’s heart.  Then we must look for and possibly even create opportunities to boldly invite the person we’ve been praying for to join us in a study. (Matt. 7:7-8)  All such invitations of course must be grounded in the trust relationship that you have hopefully already established with your friend or relative.  People are more inclined to want to know and trust your God because they know and trust you.

But what are some practical questions you might use as an invitation to join a Bible study when the opportunity does arise?  Below are a few suggestions, but certainly there are many other possible approaches you can use.  Of course the one you use should be appropriate to the person and situation you are in.  Ask God to guide you as to what you should say.  (Matt.10:18-20)

• Would you like to know more about Christianity and why I became a Christian?

• Would you like to know how Christianity is different from other world religions?

• Would you like to know more about God and how much He loves you?

• Would you like to know more about the Bible and its basic teachings?

• Are you looking for meaning and direction in your life?

• Did you know that the Bible is like a manual that can help us with everyday issues in life?  Would you like to know more about it?

• What are you living for?  What should you live for?  What does the Bible teach about this?

• Would you like to know how to have eternal life and forgiveness of sin?

• Did you know that God offers rest to those who are tired? (Matt.11:28)  Would you like to know more about this rest?

If you receive a positive answer to any of the previous or similar questions, you might want to follow it up in the following way:

"If you are interested, I would be delighted to meet with you ten times to study the Bible using this textbook.  (show textbook)  There is no pressure for you to become a Christian, be baptized, attend church, give money, etc.  Of course, because I care for you, I want you to receive the blessing of knowing God as I have but that is for you to decide.  Jesus said “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  I hope we can study together some of the eternal truths recorded in the Bible that changed my life.“

 

Before you start

Atmosphere is an important element to your Bible study that can either hinder or enhance your efforts.   Choose a location and time that will facilitate your student’s ability to relax and encourage active participation.   Small talk and light refreshments may help to put the student at ease and other activities with the student outside of scheduled class times can be instrumental in earning his trust.   Offer to pray for your student either before or at the end of the class with regard to any specific needs they may have.   As the students grow in their awareness of your genuine concern for them, they will be more likely to receive what you have to say.  Instead of a classroom or school-like setting, you want to establish an atmosphere that encourages openness in sharing without fear of making mistakes.

If you are teaching more than one person at a time, it is important to create an environment of mutual trust among your students so that they will feel free to share matters of the heart later on in the study.   Icebreakers are provided for each lesson with this purpose in mind.   More time may need to be devoted to this in the first few lessons as you seek to bond as a group.   This is why the initial lessons are shorter than those toward the end of the series.

It is also important to respect your student’s time by making every effort to start and end the study on time.   If the student has additional questions that are unrelated to that day’s lesson, seek to answer the questions afterwards so that the choice to remain for an extended time of study is the student’s own and not forced upon him.   Each lesson is designed to be completed roughly within an hour but you may want to lengthen or shorten that time according to your particular circumstances.   Whatever you decide, be sure the projected length of your study time is clearly communicated to the student so he can plan accordingly.   Respect for their time may help to earn their respect for what you have to say in the course of the study.

 

Who can use this study

God can use any Christian to lead others to Christ (II Corinthians 4:7) so this Bible study can be used by even the newest of believers.  In fact, they are encouraged to do so!  A new Christian’s faith and enthusiasm can compensate for what they may lack in knowledge or experience.  However, a new believer is certainly to be encouraged to get advice from a more mature Christian or church leader in areas where they may need help.

Prayer is an essential element to any Bible study as it is the Holy Spirit alone who can open people’s hearts to understanding the truth.  God is the ultimate teacher so our absolute dependence upon Him in prayer is where we must always begin.  Prayer and preparation must go hand in hand.  Never neglect to pray for your student and yourself.

As you communicate the truths of God’s Word to your friend or relative, always remember that he or she is a unique person with unique questions, fears, doubts and concerns.   Although you cannot possibly understand all that is in someone else’s heart, it is helpful to constantly recall how you once thought as a non-Christian.  As you teach the Word of God, you want to make it understandable and relevant to the student.  Where appropriate, share your own struggles in becoming a Christian and how God enabled you to overcome them.

 

How to use this study

This Bible study series only provides a framework that each teacher will need to build upon and personalize with his own comments, illustrations, Bible passages or personal experiences.   Although some illustrations and key teaching points are included in the appendix, the goal is for the student to discover Biblical truths for himself and for you as the teacher to assist him to that end.   Therefore, your contributions are important, as the most effective type of evangelistic Bible study is one that is built upon and born out of a personal relationship.   Don’t underestimate the contribution you are able to make.   Your personal stories, illustrations and testimony, along with your favorite verses can add a crucial ingredient essential for the success of this Bible study; that being for your friend or family member to receive Jesus as their personal Savior.

The student should be encouraged to complete the lesson before you meet together although some students will inevitably come unprepared.   However, if he looks at the passages and answers the study questions ahead of time, it should help to maximize your time together and enable the student to more fully digest the truths of God’s Word.  It is also not necessary to read all the Bible passages, particularly the longer ones, if the student has already done so and has completed the assigned lesson.  This will allow you extra time to focus on the concepts that come from the Bible.  Lesson 1 is an exception to this rule as most of the answers are not found in Bible passages but must be provided by the teacher.  Therefore, the student cannot complete this lesson on his own.

Of course it is important that you as the teacher, are adequately prepared for each lesson.   Although answers are provided in the teacher’s version, you may want to add to them and decide what verses or points you want to emphasize in the course of the study.   Other illustrations, verses or personal stories might come to mind in your preparation that would be helpful to include.

Don’t assume that your student understands everything the first time he hears it or that he will necessarily remember it afterwards.   This is where it is important to ask questions along the way to make sure the student is grasping the essential points and their significance to his own life.   Your initial objective is not to have the student agree with everything that is taught (although we certainly desire that) but rather to understand it.   Only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction of truth into a person’s life but we must do what we can to ensure the truth is properly understood.   This emphasizes the need to constantly review the essential points (i.e. What is God like?   What does He expect from us?   What is man like?   What does man need?   Who is Jesus?   What must I do? etc.) so the student can follow the logical progression of truth.   Therefore, it is advisable at the beginning of each lesson to review what you studied in the previous class and how it is connected to your lesson for that day.

Where the student is interested and has the time, you might find it helpful to lend or give him appropriate books, cassette tapes or videos that will stimulate his thinking and help him to more fully understand what he has already studied in class.   Another Christian might be invited to share a portion of their testimony in class if you think it will contribute to the student’s understanding and reception of the lesson.

 

Symbols Key

Throughout the teacher’s text a number of symbols will appear that are explained in the key below.   Each symbol represents an addition to the text that the teacher may or may not want to use in their study time, depending on the particular needs of the student and available class time.   These additions are found in the appendix portion located at the back of the teacher’s text.

	ICEBREAKER		Question or activity designed to provide a positive atmosphere and orientate the student to the lesson subject.
	ILLUSTRATION		Story or anecdote to help explain an important point.
	SCRIPTURE		Additional passage that may be useful in clarifying a truth.
	EXPLANATION		Additional notes for the teacher to help explain a particular point that appears in a Bible passage.
	QUESTION		Optional question for the student that might facilitate understanding or encourage a desired response.