ADG 1: Jesus, Worthy of Our Trust
What is an Agape Discovery Group?
An Agape Discovery Group (ADG) is three or more people who are discovering who Jesus Christ is and how, by following Him, we can have a significant influence in our society.
Why are we having an Agape Discovery Group?
To help those who do not know Jesus Christ personally to understand how they can receive Him as Savior and Lord.
To help us learn how to live in obedience to God’s Word by His power moment by moment.
To help us have a significant influence in our society by teaching us how to tell other’s about God’s love and plan for their lives.
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, we should be able to:
Define and explain the purpose of an Agape Discovery Group.
Explain some unique qualities that make Jesus Christ trustworthy.
Explain why a person needs to trust Christ as his Savior and Lord.
Explain how a person becomes a Christian.
Look Up
Bible Study
As we begin our study, let’s remember that we will always find our answers from the Bible, not our own thoughts and ideas. God gave us His written Word as our authority, our source of information. Let’s look at a passage in the Bible which tells us why we can rely on the Bible. Let’s turn to 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV
Let’s say someone was asking you to follow him and trust him. Then you found out he was cruel, a liar or a little bit crazy. Would you want to follow him?
What qualities would you require in a person if you were going to give your life to that person and become his follower?
Now let’s see what we can learn about Jesus Christ by discovering what the Bible says.
Observation / Interpretation (What does it say and mean?)
Read Matthew 9: 35, 36. What quality do you see in Jesus’ life in verse 36?
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9: 35-36, NIV
2. Read Matthew 20: 25- 28. What quality do you see in Jesus’ life in verse 28?
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28, NIV
A person may have good character qualities, but what makes Jesus Christ different from all other men? Well, He made claims no one else has ever made.
3. Read Mark 2: 5-7. In verse 5, what did Jesus say He could do that only God can do?
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2: 5-7
4. Read John 10: 30-33. What did Jesus say about Himself in verse 30?
5. In verse 33, what did the Jews understand Jesus to say?
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
John 10: 30-33
Jesus made many other claims for Himself. We must decide if what He said was true or false.
IF HIS CLAIMS WERE FALSE:
THEN
He knew they were false which makes Him a LIAR
OR
He really believed He was God which makes Him crazy
HOWEVER, IF HIS CLAIMS WERE TRUE:
THEN
HE IS GOD, SAVIOR
6. In Romans 1:4 what event in Jesus’ life proved that He is God?
and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:4, NIV
Application (What does it mean to me?)
On the basis of our discussion, do you think Jesus was just a good man or a prophet?
Who do you think He is?
Most people agree that Jesus Christ was the greatest personality the world has ever known. From the evidence we have seen, it is reasonable to believe that Jesus is God. Yet few people understand how they can know Him personally. Let’s take a few minutes to consider this very important question of how to establish a personal relationship with Christ.
Look Forward
Training
Your leader will read through the Four Spiritual Laws with you. Carefully answer the questions he asks to help you understand the tool.