LESSON ONE: SALVATION AND ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

Introduction

One of the most graphic biblical accounts of the born again experience is found in

John 3:1-21, where Jesus had an encounter with Nicodemus. In this biblical passage,

Jesus revealed that the born again experience was man’s first and foremost

important encounter with God. He made it very clear that one can not be a part of

the kingdom of God, or a child of God for that matter, without being born again

(John 3:3).

A. What does it mean to be born again?

The interaction of Jesus with Nicodemus not only reveals some misconceptions

about the born again experience, but it also reveals the truth about the experience.

Here are six important truths about the born again experience.

1. The born again experience is a spiritual and supernatural experience.

There is the misconception that the born again experience is a physical or natural

experience like Nicodemus thought. But on the contrary, it is a spiritual and

supernatural experience.

“How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he cannot enter

the second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4)

“͙Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit͙” (John 3:6)

“I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of

God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (I Corinthians 15:50)

The born again experience is based on God’s Word.

There is the misconception that the born again experience is based on religious

experience and traditions. But on the contrary, it is based on the truths of the

Word of God.

Being religious is basically based on man’s traditional ideas about God and how

man thinks he ought to worship God. However, these ideas are not grounded on

God’s Word. Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees, which was one of the

prominent religious groups of Judaism (the religion of the Jewish people). As a

Pharisee, Nicodemus mastered the religious doctrines and laws of the Jewish

people. He was no doubt a respected religious leader of his time, but like many

religious people today who are involved in a lot of religious activities, he was not

born again, neither did he understand what it meant to be born again (John 3:3,

4,9,10).

3 | P a g e

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the

Jewish ruling council͙How can this be? Nicodemus asked. Your are Israel’s

teacher, said Jesus, and do you not understand these things? (John 3:1, 9, 10).

“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that

God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you

believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are

saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10)

“͙Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will

pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the

truth͙ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him͙” (Titus 1:13-

16)

3. The born again experience is based on faith.

There is the misconception that the born again experience is determined by how

one feels or thinks, or on what people say. But on the contrary, it is determined by

acting on faith in the Word of God. Also read Ephesians 2:8-9 and Hebrews 4:2

and 11:6.

4. The born again experience is based on God’s grace.

There is the misconception that the born again experience is based on good

morals. But on the contrary, it is based on God’s grace. Nicodemus was no doubt a

good moral leader, but according to Jesus, he needed to be born again (John 3:1-

3). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians

2:8- 9).

5. The born again experience takes place instantly.

There is the misconception that the born again experience involves a long process

of time. But on the contrary, it takes place instantly, upon believing and confessing

that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord.

Read Acts 16:29

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new

has come!” (II Corinthians 5:17)

6. The born again experience is a mystery.

A mystery is something that cannot be understood by the natural mind. In this case,

the supernatural working of the born again experience in the heart of man cannot

be understood by man’s natural mind, or explained through the natural ability of

man. The best we can do is to accept it by faith.

4 | P a g e

“How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he cannot enter

a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4)

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where

it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John

3:8).

In summary, being born again is a spiritual experience in which one receives eternal

life (the life of God, or the God quality of life). This happens as a result of accepting

through faith, Christ and His finished work of redemption on the cross. The process

involves confessing your sinful state to Christ, and asking Him to forgive you and

make you a new person (I John 5:11, 12, Colossians 2:13-15, Romans 10: 9-10).

What changes take place in the one who is born again?

1. Spiritually, they become a new creature (new person). “Therefore, if anyone is in

Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (I Corinthians

5:17).

2. They are made spiritually alive. To be made alive spiritually is to have a desire for

God and a concern for spiritual matters. This can only happen through the power

of the Spirit of God, as the result of the born again experience.

“ s for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to

live ͙But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive

with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions͙” (Ephesians 2:1-5).

3. They are forgiven of their sins.

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God

made you alive with Christ. He forgave us our sins, having canceled the written

code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he

took it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).

4. They become the righteousness of God and receive right standing before God.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become

the righteousnessof God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

5. They are made children of God. Read Romans 8:15-17.

6. There is now a new desire to live right by obeying God and loving people.

5 | P a g e

C. How to be confident of your born again experience (dealing with doubts)

Doubt and confusion started as far back as the Garden of Eden, when Satan our

archenemy sowed the first seed of doubt in the mind of Eve. He convinced Eve through

his seductive suggestion to disobey God, “͙has God indeed said, ‘you shall not eat of

every tree of the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1-5).

Since then, doubting God and His promises has been a major challenge not only among

unbelievers, but among believers as well. As a result, many believers experience doubt

not only in the area of their salvation experience, but also in the areas of trusting God

for provision, protection, or for direction. In contrast to Satan’s attempt to cause God’s

people to doubt, the apostle John emphasized the importance of demonstrating

assurance and confidence in God and His word (I John 5:13-15).

1. Doubting your born again experience

The enemy wants believers to doubt their born again experience. He therefore

uses different experiences, means, or situations to make us feel like our

acceptance and confession of Jesus as our Lord and Savior was not genuine. Below

are a few reasons he plants in the mind of a believer.

Second thoughts about our childhood experience of being born again.

He wants you to think you didn’t mean what you said, did or that you didn’t

understanding it bcause you were too young.

The absence of emotional feelings and other similar experiences we associate with

being born again.

On the contrary, the Bible says “͙it is by grace you have been saved, through faith

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can

boast”(Ephesians 2:8-9).

The misunderstanding about the experience of temptation, which results to

conflict between the sinful nature and the spirit. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and

you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires

what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful

nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever

you want” (Galatians 5:16-17). Also Read James 1:13-15 and 1 Corinthians

10:13.Temptation is not a sin; it is simply an opportunity to sin.

D. How to be sure of your born again experience.

1. Know that you can be confident of your born again experience at any time.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you

may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching

God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that

6 | P a g e

LESSON TWO: THE CHURCH

A. The meaning of the word “church”

1. The English word “church” comes from the Greek word “ekklesia” which refers to an

“assembly” or “congregation of believers” or “called out ones” from the world (1

Corinthians 1:2, I Peter 1:2).

2. Dick Scoggins - “ community of believers committed to living out the corporate life

of the kingdom before the world and the heavenly realm” (Ephesians 2:10-11).

(Planting House Churches in Networks)

3. George Patterson & Scoggins - “ group of believers of any size, committed to one

another and to obeying Jesus’ commands.” (Church Multiplication Guide, p. 12)

4. Watchman Nee - “The meeting together for worship, prayer, fellowship and mutual

edification, of all the people in a given locality, on the ground that they are Christians

in the same locality.” (The Normal Christian Church Life, P.47).

B. Expressions used to refer to the church

1. The Universal Church: This refers to all believers in Christ all over the world, including

the living and the dead.

2. The local church: This refers to the physical and visible assembly or congregation of

believers in Christ residing in a specific geographic location. The New Testament

speaks of churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia,

Laodicea (Revelation 1:11).

3. The Body of Christ: This is an expression used to refer to the comparing example or

analogy between the spiritual body of believers in Christ, and the human physical

body (1 Corinthians 12:12, Colossians 3:15, Ephesians 4:4).

The analogy is twofold:

• In unity/many but united in Christ

• In diversity/many and different in gifts

C. The purpose of the church

1. There are at least five basic biblical purposes of the church. These five purposes are

the basis for the existence of the church and should be the basis for developing

ministry strategies in the church.

a. To exalt God in praise and worship.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging

to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into

his wonderful light” (I Peter 2:9, Matthew 22:36-38, Psalms 63:1-2).

8 | P a g e

b. To establish and provide a meaningful relationship among members in the

community of the local church.

It is in the church that we receive ministry from each other by loving and by

encouraging each other to face the challenges of life.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with

God’s people and members of God’s household͙” (Ephesians 2:19). Also read 1

Peter 3:8, Romans 12:5.

• To provide the opportunity for members to grow and develop in their walk

with Christ. “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ

and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from

acts that lead to death, and faith in God͙” (Hebrews 6:1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• To teach and encourage members to do the work of ministry.

(read Ephesians 2:10, 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10 and 1 Corinthians 12:5, 27).

• To extend God’s Kingdom through discipleship and missions.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey

everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19, 20). Also, read Acts 20:24; Romans

10:13-14.

9 | P a g e

LESSON THREE: CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

The importance of becoming a member of a local church cannot be overemphasized. The

church is our spiritual home and ministry training center. It is here that we learn how to live the

Christian life in relationship to God and people. It is here also that we learn to do the work of

the ministry and to impact the world with the Gospel. The church was the central focus of life

and ministry in the early church (Acts 2:40-47; 4:32-37). For this reason, believers are

admonished in Hebrews 10:25, to not “͙forsake the assembling of ourselves together͙”

We contradict the Word of God when we think it is possible to be a follower of Jesus Christ

without making a commitment to the body of believers who make up a particular congregation.

To remain unattached is to fail to grasp the basic implications of biblical Christianity both

corporately and personally. But whoever understands the notion of the “Body of Christ”will

make sure to be a part of its local and practical manifestation.

Membership is legitimate and important, meaningful, and relevant, without being cheap. It

does more than offer convenience; it also requires commitment between churches and

members. It has both privileges and responsibilities; the key word is commitment. For when a

person is received into membership, the church makes a commitment to them, and they make

a commitment to the church.

A. Importance of church membership

1. It is a demonstration of one’s commitment to following Christ.

“Let us not give up meeting together͙but let us encourage one another͙” (Hebrews

10:25).

2. It provides the opportunity to minister to each other.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Also, read

Ephesians 4:16, Galatians 6:1-2 and Hebrews 10:25.

3. It provides opportunities for members to discover and use their gifts in ministry. Read

Romans 12:4-8

4. It provides the opportunity for members to be spiritually fed and nurtured by their

spiritual leaders. “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider

the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). Also, read

Hebrews 13:17 and Acts 20:28-29.

B. Benefits of church membership

1. Solid biblical teaching

10 | P a g e

Members can look to the church with confidence for balanced and practical instruction

from the Scriptures. Meaningful corporate worship, the gathering of brothers and

sisters to express adoration and praise to the Lord, which is part of the joy of Christian

life, will always include a time especially devoted to the exposition of the Word of God.

2. Pastoral care

When members suffer sickness, tragedy, or bereavement, they can expect pastoral

attention and the involvement of other members of the church family, in providing

care and compassion. Pastoral assistance is also natural, with normal events like

weddings, dedications, and funerals. Generally, expressions of concern and counsel of

pastors and church leaders are to be expected in a variety of situations and

predicaments.

3. Opportunities for ministry

The church is always a recruitment center, a training institute and a mobilizing

agency, ready to coordinate the ministries of individuals within the Body of Christ.

Members are therefore encouraged to offer their spiritual and natural gifts, to meet

ministry needs in the church, the community, and all missionary outreaches. As the

church provides acceptance, friendship, and love, membership becomes an antidote to

loneliness, along with an opportunity to be a part of something eternally significant.

4. Spiritual covering

a. Spiritual protection: It places you under the spiritual protection of Godly

leaders (Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28-29).

b. Spiritual growth: It gives you a place to discover and use your gifts in ministry (1

Corinthians 12:4-27).

c. Spiritual support: It gives you the accountability you need to grow (Ephesians

5:21).

d. Spiritual family: It provides a spiritual family to support and encourage you in

your walk with Christ (Galatians 6:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25).

C. Expectations of a church member

1. To be a faithful servant along with other fellow believers in the community of faith. “Let

us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing͙” (Hebrews 10:25).

2. To be a committed follower of Christ. “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the

Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the

Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

3. To demonstrate your faith through water baptism.

11 | P a g e

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were

added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and

to the fellowship, to breaking of bread and prayer” (Acts 2:41-42).

4. To submit to the spiritual nurture and authority of your leaders.

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men

who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for

that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17).

5. To be established in the local church through meaningful fellowship. Read Acts 2:46-

47. Being established in the local church through intimate fellowship provides the

opportunity to:

• Develop meaningful friendships.

• Minister to each other.

• Benefit from the support of fellow believers in dealing with life’s challenges.

6. To pray for the church. “Finally my brothers, pray for us the message of the may

spread rapidly and be honored” (II Thessalonians 3:1).

7. To support the ministry endeavors of the church by giving generously.

Members are expected to provide for the needs in the kingdom of God. Their giving

must not be coerced but voluntary; not grudgingly but with great delight, not

demanded, but expected (Matthew 3.8-10; 1 Corinthians 4.1-11, 9:6-10; 2 Corinthians

9.6-10).

Under the Old Testament law, giving was based on the tithe. Then there were

additional gifts called offerings. In the New Testament, we are encouraged to give

generously, which may mean giving beyond the tithe and offerings. A tithe is the first

10% that you give to your church as an act of worship. Offerings are gifts that are given

over and above the 10%, as the Lord leads, or as you are able.

The purpose of tithing is to teach us to love God and to always put Him first in our lives.

Read Deuteronomy 14:22- 23. Learn to revere the Lord your God always”

(Deuteronomy 14:22-23).

Also read 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 11 Corinthians 9:6-8).

John MacArthur once said, “I can’t tell you how much to give, but if the law required a

10% minimum, I would think that barely scratches the beginning of what grace

deserves.”

8. To live in harmony with the doctrines and purposes of the church.

General unity among members on the basic foundations of the Christian faith as

expressed in our constitution, by-laws, manual of procedures, policies and practices, is

12 | P a g e

not negotiable. All the members are expected to promote such unity within the body,

and to work actively for the dissemination of the Gospel of the grace of God (Matthew

28.18-20; 1 Corinthians 9:16, 12:25-26; 1 Peter 3:8).

To attend church services regularly. It hardly makes sense to claim to be a member of a

church, and not sharing in worship, fellowship, and ministry. We cannot be a member

of a Harvest church and not participate in its life (Hebrews 10.25).

9. To use your spiritual abilities or gifts in service to the Lord and each other.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully

administering God’s grace in various forms” (I Peter 4:10).

10. To have a personal ministry. The biblical principle is that every member of the body

must function as a minister, a servant of others. Therefore, every member is expected

to serve in and through the programs and ministries of the church. Membership means

the willingness to contribute to the spiritual health and growth of fellow members, in

an ongoing process of mutual edification.

D. Your covenant with Harvest Intercontinental Church

1. will protect the unity of my church by:

• Acting in love towards other members.

• Refusing to engage in the practice of gossiping, which leads to strife and

divisions.

• Following the leader. “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to

you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews

13:7). Also read Mark 10:42-45 and John 13:13-17.

2. I will share the responsibility of my church by:

• Praying for its growth.

• Inviting the unsaved and unchurched to the church services and other ministry

events.

• Warmly welcoming those who visit the church's services and ministry events.

“ ccept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise

to God” (Romans 15:7).

3. I will serve in the ministry of my church by:

• Discovering my gifts and talents.

• Being equipped to serve with my pastors.

• Developing a servant’s heart of service.

4. I will support the testimony of my church by:

• Attending church services and other ministry events faithfully.

• Striving to live a Godly life.

13 | P a g e

LESSON FOUR: WATER BAPTISM AND COMMUNION

WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is an act in which a Christian is immersed in water to symbolize the end of

an old way of living, and a new start. When you get baptized it is a testimony to God and

people that you, by faith, will live a new life as an overcomer. If the meaning of baptism

could be boiled down to one word, that word would be identification. Baptism speaks

primarily of a personal, public identification with Jesus Christ.

The importance of baptism

Concerning baptism, Jesus said to His disciples in Mathew 28:18-20, “All authority in

Heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you

always, to the very end of the age.”

What is the meaning of baptism?

1. It is a symbol of faith in Christ.

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God

raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were

added to their number that day” ( cts 2:41).

2. It is a symbol of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized

into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Baptism is a Christian ceremony that symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of

Christ, and in which Christians symbolically identify themselves with Christ and with

the Christian faith. This symbolic identification demonstrates the believer’s

deliverance from the condemnation and bondage sin, and a new life in Jesus. Also

read Colossians 2:9-13.

Physically - Christ

Spiritually - The Believer

Died

Dead with Christ to the power of sin

Buried

Buried with Christ to the old life

Resurrected

Raised with Christ to new life

15 | P a g e

The baptism ceremony serves as an opportunity for the believer to make a public

testimony to the world of his/her new experience of being free from the bondage of

sin, and a new life in Jesus. It also serves as an opportunity for the believer to make a

public declaration of his/her commitment to walk in this newly found life in Jesus.

Baptism does not save anyone, neither does it washes away sin, or contribute in any

way to the new birth. It is simply an acknowledgment through an outward symbolic

act, of an inner spiritual experience.

Why should one be baptized?

To obey the command of Christ. In the Great Commission given by Jesus to His

disciples, He commanded them to baptize everyone who believed.

He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I

have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

(Matthew 28:19, 20).

“If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).

To follow the example of Christ. Read Mathew 3:13-17.

To follow the scriptural pattern of what is expected of a new believer. The book of

Acts which is the biblical history of the early church reveals that all who made a

commitment to follow Christ were baptized soon after their conversion.

• The baptism of three thousand believers as the result of Peter’s sermon (read

Acts 2:37-41).

• The baptism of the Samaritan believers as the result of Philip’s sermon (Read Acts

8:5-12).

• The baptism of the jailer and his household as the result of the ministry of Paul

and Silas (Read Acts 16:29-33).

To testify to the world that you are now a follower of Christ. “Crispus, the

synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the

Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).

Why do we prefer baptism by “immersion?”

1. It is consistent with the meaning of the word “baptism” and its Greek equivalent

“baptizo”-“to dip, immerse, or submerge.”

2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion, and there was plenty of water.

16 | P a g e

“Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of

water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized” (John 3:23). Also, Read

Acts 8:36-38.

3. Immersion best symbolizes the analogy of the death, burial, and resurrection of

Christ as described in scripture (Read Romans 6:3-4).

4. Additionally, church leaders agree that immersion was the method used in the early

church.

• Martin Luther (founder of the Lutheran Church) said, “I could wish that such as

are to be baptized should be completely immersed into the water according to

the meaning of the word and the significance of the ordinance.”

• John Calvin (leader of Presbyterians and Christian Reformed Churches) said, “The

very word ‘baptized’ signifies to immerse; and immersion was certainly the

practice of the early church.”

• John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church) said, “Buried with Him alludes to

baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church.”

Is re-baptism necessary?

Generally, the answer is,“no.” If the baptism was not Christian baptism, re-baptism will

be required. If you were baptized before you committed your life to Christ, baptism will

be required.

What are some obstacles a new believer faces about being baptized?

1. Embarrassment: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my word, the Son Man will be

ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the

holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

2. Peer and family pressure: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and

mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he

cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).

3. Fear: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love

and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Who should be baptized?

All those who repent and believe on the Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord should be

baptized. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:37-38; Acts 10:47) We believe that baptism is a symbol

of salvation and not that baptism saves a person. It is the saved person that must be

baptized. The new believer is baptized as a way of welcoming him or her into the body of

believers. It is like saying “welcome” to the fellowship and family of believers. It is

important to note that the person to be baptized must:

•

Be born again.

•

Be aware of and understand the spiritual significance of the act of baptism.

17 | P a g e

•

If the person is a minor, their parents or guardians should be involved in the

process of deciding if they understand what baptism entails and has confessed

Jesus as Lord and Savior.

II. THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper, also called the Eucharist, the Thanksgiving Meal, or simply, communion,

was established by our Lord the night He was betrayed. The record of this event can be

found in Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-39 and John 13:1-17:26.

In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, the postle Paul elaborated on the Lord’s Supper further, helping

us to understand better its purpose, its benefits and the manner with which it is to be

received by those who believe the Gospel.

A. Purpose of the Lord’s Supper:

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial that reminds us of Jesus and the new covenant He

made with the Father on our behalf when He sacrificed His body and blood for our

redemption. “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

The Lord’s Supper is a proclamation to the world by the church in unison that God’s

Son, Jesus Christ, is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He died

as the sinner’s substitute, was buried, and rose again on the third day. All who will,

can eat, or partake of Him, by faith. Those who choose to believe will be forgiven of

all their sins, past, present and future, and will receive God’s gift of eternal life.

Lord’s Supper is a means of grace by which the Holy Spirit builds our faith and

imparts both spiritual and physical strength to us to do God’s will and walk fully in

our inheritance. s such, we believe it is more than a mere symbol of Christ’s body

and blood. We believe it is both an ordinance (a God-ordained ceremony) but is also

a sacrament, a means by which God does a supernatural work for us and in us. We

believe one of those things we can receive through the Lord’s Supper is divine

healing.

The Lord’s Supper is to be a time of celebration and communion, when we together

as one body in Christ, acknowledge and actively celebrate our “common union” with

God and with one another. It is a time to strengthen our bonds of love and peace

and to rid ourselves of all attitudes and behaviors that push us apart and cause

divisions among us. As the body of Christ on Earth, we are to see ourselves as one

with Him and one with each other, remembering God has not called us only to

Himself, but also to one another.

B. Who is to participate in the Lord’s Supper?

18 | P a g e

Since the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus in the Upper Room with only His

disciples present, and since it is a meal that is to affirm and express the unity of Christ’s

body, many believe that only professing Christians who are members of Christ’s body

should be invited to participate in this covenant meal. Others, however, point out that

since Jesus offered and did not withhold the communion from Judas, someone He knew

was a notorious sinner, we should follow His example today and not deny it from

anyone who is present and who chooses to participate. We, therefore, cannot be

dogmatic about our decision on this matter.

Our practice, however, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, is to intentionally invite

those who “believe the Gospel,” and are therefore members of Christ’s body to partake

of the Lord’s Supper with us. We consider this to be the specific group for which it is

ordinarily intended, based on the teachings of the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11, and

the practice observed in Acts by the disciples, “who broke bread from house to house.”

Being mindful of the fact that Jesus did not withhold the communion from Judas, we will

not withhold it from anyone who chooses to participate once we have explained the

meaning of the communion to all present. We believe that God can use the communion

in such a case, just as He uses the Word of God, to bring that person to repentance and

salvation. We will pray and ask God to do so.

C. How should we participate in the Lord’s Supper?

In a “worthy manner,” according to 1 Corinthians 11:27.

But what does this mean? It does not mean that only persons who are worthy to

partake of the Lord’s Supper should do so. If this were the case, no one would qualify,

because “there is none righteous, no not one.” The only Righteous One, the only

worthy Person, is Jesus, and it is only by being included in Him as we place our faith in

His worthiness and His sacrifice for us, are we made acceptable to God and qualified to

come into God’s presence, without any guilt or condemnation.

In 1 Corinthians 11:28, every man is asked to examine himself and then to partake,

freely and without fear. Clearly, the intent of the Holy Spirit is not to discourage or

frighten people into not partaking of the Lord’s Supper, but to instruct them to do so in

a manner that will enable Him to work through it to impart to them the very strength

and life of the Son of God they need so much.

The Corinthian believers were told in verse 29, the reason they were not receiving the

Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner was their failure to “discern the Lord’s body.” This

means, they failed to recognize and distinguish the church they were part of as the

actual spiritual body of Christ and treat each believer to whom they had been joined in

the church by the Holy Spirit, with love and highest regard as fellow members of the

body of Christ. Instead, they permitted divisions to exist among them and behaved in

selfish, unloving ways toward one another (1 Corinthians 11:17-22). Paul characterized

19 | P a g e

this type of attitude and behavior as “despising” God’s Church. Looking down upon it,

regarding it as negligible, not taking it seriously!

This attitude toward the church, the living body, affected their attitude toward the

broken body of Christ, as well. Paul found it necessary in verses 23-26, to remind them

of the sacredness of the bread and wine as sacraments of grace, which are not to be

consumed as they were doing, as mere food to satisfy their physical appetites. So,

secondly, discerning the Lord’s body means having high regard for the broken body and

blood of Christ represented by the bread and wine received at communion.

We conclude that believers should examine themselves to make sure every time they

gather together for worship, and especially during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper,

they are responding to both the living body and the broken body of Christ in

the manner that allows the Holy Spirit to minister the strength and very life of the Son

of God to them.

“This do in remembrance of Me,” Jesus said. The Lord’s Supper is not the time to

remember our sins, but to remember the Savior and the sacrifice and all He

accomplished in saving us from sins and joining us together to form one body, His

body. Knowing this, we are to examine ourselves as we prepare to partake for two

things—faith in the broken body and love for the living body. Are we trusting in our

works, or are we exercising our faith in the broken body alone for our justification and

for all our needs? Are we acting selfishly and divisively, or are we walking in love and

unity toward the other members of His living body, the church?

When we partake in faith and in love, we are partaking worthily. And when we partake

worthily, we create the spiritual conditions that allow the Holy Spirit to work

supernaturally within the gathering. This supernatural operation of the Spirit gives

strength to the weak, health to the sick, and life to the dying. Unfortunately, when this

faith and love are not being expressed, then the Spirit’s work is limited and for this

reason “many are weak and sick among you, and many have died” (verse 11:30).

If we would therefore would “judge ourselves,” that is, take the time to really examine

our attitude toward the Body of Christ to ensure we are choosing to walk by faith in His

broken body and in love toward His living body, He won’t have any reason to chasten us

in love in order to correct our attitudes and behaviors. In this way, we can benefit fully

from the grace available to us in Christ Jesus through His body, and also effectively resist

the enemy, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, by the power at work in the Church

and through the Lord’s Supper.

D. Where and when should the Lord’s Supper be received?

“ s often as you drink this, you do show forth the Lord’s death until He comes.”

20 | P a g e

Jesus did not establish a rule concerning how frequently we should partake, but He

encourages us to do so often. In many churches, this is once a week, or once a

month. We ask that our churches celebrate the Lord’s Supper at least once a month,

but encourage pastors to consider doing so more frequently. The risk of doing it weekly

is that it may become “common” in the eyes of many and make it harder for them to

see it as what it is—something powerful and very special. The risk of doing it less

frequently, however, is the loss of the opportunity to receive the grace God imparts

through the communion each time we partake of it in faith. Pastors should seek the

Lord to receive guidance from Him concerning this.

While we encourage believers to partake of the communion privately as a means of

grace and a channel of God’s healing power, this should never be seen as an acceptable

replacement for celebrating the Lord’s Supper with all other members of the local

church assembled together for this very purpose under the guidance of the Shepherds

God has placed over them. believer may partake of the elements alone, but the Lord’s

Supper itself is meant by the Lord to be an expression of unity, oneness, an act of

communion among members of Christ’s body. It’s a communal thanksgiving worship

encounter intended to strengthen the bonds of love and peace among believers. It is a

joint proclamation of the Lord’s death. Believers should hold this union and communion

dear to their hearts and make every effort to participate often in the Lord’s Supper with

one another as one body in Christ.

21 | P a g e

LESSON FIVE: OVERVIEW OF OUR TENETS OF FAITH

1. We believe in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew

28:19; Luke 3:22; 1 John 5:7).

2. We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God to man and is the infallible

and authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessolonians 2:13, 2

Peter 1:21).

3. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus-Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, and sacrificial

death; His glorious resurrection, exaltation, and soon return (Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 7:26,

1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 28:6; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Phillipians 2:9-

11).

4. We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. This salvation is

received through repentance and submission to Jesus as Lord and Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9,

Romans 10:8-11; Titus 3:4-7).

5. We believe that water baptism by immersion is commanded in Scripture as an outward

expression of an inward work. It is a declaration to the world that the believer has died and

risen with Christ to walk in newness of life. All who repent and believe in Christ as Lord and

Savior should be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).

6. We believe that the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is a symbol of our union with Christ

and partaking of His divine nature; a memorial of His suffering and death; and a prophecy of

His second coming (2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 11:26).

7. We believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit as subsequent to and distinct from the new

birth. It endues the believer with power for life, witness, and service, and is accompanied by

supernatural manifestations, deepened reverence for God, an intensified dedication to God

and His work, and a more active love for Christ, His Word, and the lost (Acts 1:4,8; 1

Corinthians 12; Acts 8:12-17; Hebrews 12:28; Acts 2:42-43; Mark 16:20).

8. We believe that physical healing was provided for in the atonement of Christ and that divine

healing is available through the prayer of faith for all (Mark 16:18; Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter

2:24; Isaiah 53:5; James 5:14-15).

22 | P a g e

9. We believe that sanctification, which is the act of separation from all which defiles flesh and

spirit and complete dedication to God and His will, is the normal life of the Christian. All

believers are required to sanctify themselves, this sanctification being made possible

through the Word of God, the fellowship of the saints, and the blessed, Holy Spirit (Hebrews

12:14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 6:1-11).

10. We believe in the present-day ministries of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and

teacher for the equipping of the saints and the evangelization of the world (Ephesians 4:11-

13).

11. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of the Spirit and that the

local church is the concrete expression of the General Assembly and Church of the First-

Born. Every believer should as soon as possible become an active and integral part of a local

church contributing to its mission by offering his time, talents, tithes (10% of their income)

and other resources which the Lord may have need of to support His work (Ephesians 1:22-

23, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23; Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 12).

12. We believe in the bodily resurrection of believers as the blessed hope of the church, the

millennial reign of Christ, the judgment of the wicked, and the new Heaven and the new

Earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30;

Revelations 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-15; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 21:22).

13. We believe that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman and is

intended to be for life (Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19: 4-6; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:31; I

Timothy 3:2, 12).

14. We believe in the sanctity of human life which begins at conception and should be

preserved and protected in accordance with the Holy Scripture (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 1:39;

Psalm 139:13-16).

23 | P a g e

LESSON SIX: HIM-U MISSION, VISION, HISTORY AND

LEADERSHIP

I. MISSION, VISION AND BUSINESS STATEMENTS

A. MISSION: Win the losts at all costs and make as many disciples for Christ as we possibly

can in our generation.

B. VISION: A world where no one lives or dies without Christ.

C. BUSINESS: Harvesting souls and growing leaders.

2. BASIC INFORMATION

• Harvest Intercontinental Ministries Unlimited; aka HIM-U

• Harvest Intercontinental Church (individual churches) + location

• Harvest Intercontinental Ministries formerly Bethel World Outreach International

Ministries

• Headquarter: 16227 Batchellors Forest Road, Olney, MD 20832

• CORE VALUES: H-A-R-V-E-S-T

• H- Humility

• A-Accountability

• R- Results-oriented

• V- Veracity (Truthful/honest)

• E- Evangelism

• S- Service & Spirituality

• T- Teamwork

• DISTINCTIVES

• Our congregations tend to be family oriented.

o People grow and develop within the church.

o Multiple generations grow and develop within the church.

• Diversity

o More than 50 nations present (strong African roots).

24 | P a g e

o Imperfect people are welcome here, because we’re imperfect ourselves.

• Church Planting

350 churches planted and counting.

o We are a missionary church/organization.

• We are teaching-oriented

o Focused on teaching the Word.

o Educating Christians in the area of Grace.

• Exuberant praise and worship

o We praise and worship God for who He is, what He has done and what He is

doing.

• ADVANTAGES

• A network of churches around the world that share the culture of missions and

outreach.

• A sense of ownership and teamwork; our vision is shared by all within the ministry.

• Large geographic footprint.

• Training and Leadership Development

o Many of our small group leaders discover the call to preach and teach God’s

word.

• For the most part, we evangelize by going to people in our communities and serving

their needs, not by asking them to come to us. However, we do hold regular events to

create awareness.

II. STRATEGIES:

Evangelize: Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others

Encourage: Love and care for new converts to grow

Equip: Disciple and train those who accept the Gospel

Engage: Help new converts get involved in the Harvest

III. WHAT WE BELIEVE

A. We believe that in this era of relativism where it is generally claimed that there are

no absolutes, God does have absolutes. God, His Word, and His truths stand as

eternal absolutes, unchanged and unchanging, forever reliable. Please refer to

Lesson Five—Overview of our Tenets of Faith (if needed).

25 | P a g e

B. Why we exist:

For evangelism

For fellowship

For partnership

For accountability

For training

IV. HARVEST INTERCONTINENTAL MINISTRIES UNLIMITED (HIM-U) GENERAL INFORMATION

• You are a part of a larger vision

• It is an intercontinental ministry platform that God has set before you to impact your

generation for Christ

• It is a worldwide ministry in six continents and over 27 nations with a membership of

more than 50,000.

• More than 320 churches and affiliated ministries

• More than 500 Spirit-filled men and women licensed and ordained to oversee the

various churches and ministries worldwide.

Below are the six diocese and the countries within each diocese

1^st Diocese

2^nd Diocese

3^rd Diocese

4^th Diocese

5^th Diocese

6^th Diocese

Liberia

Ghana

Gambia

Cameroon

Benin

Brazil

Guinea

Nigeria

Cote d’Ivoire Chad

Burkina Faso Canada

Guine Bissau Sierra Leone

Mali

Gabon

Niger

United States

Senegal

Kenya

Togo

France

South Africa

United Kingdom

Tanzania

Australia

Rwanda

South Korea

Congo Democratic Republic (DRC)

V. OUR HISTORY

Harvest Intercontinental Ministries Unlimited (formerly Bethel World Outreach Ministries

International) was established in Silver Spring, MD in August 1990, by Bishop Darlingston

and Lady Chrys Johnson. By the direction of the Lord and in accordance with the Church’s

Constitution, the name of the ministry was amended in October 2020, to more fully

encapsulate God’s purpose for our existence and to ensure we never lose sight of the

harvest of souls we exist to reach for Him.

Prior to establishing the new ministry in 1990, Bishop and Lady Chrys lived in Liberia and

pastored the Bethel World Outreach Center, the fastest growing church in the nation at that

time. But while visiting the US to attend an international pastors conference in June 1990,

26 | P a g e

they found themselves unable to return to Liberia, due to the eruption and intensification

of a civil war in their home country. Unable to return, with only two suit cases, no money

and no home of their own, they turned to the Lord in prayer for direction.

He spoke to them saying: “Don’t be refugees, be missionaries. I told you to win the lost at

all costs. That is not limited to Liberia. There are lost people here, too.” As they sought Him

further, He made it clear they were to continue to pursue the vision he had given them in

1986 while students at Oral Roberts University, to build a world outreach ministry with a

strong local church as its base.

In obedience to His directive, they planted the new church and incorporated a world

outreach ministry, based in Silver Spring, MD which they elected to call, Bethel World

Outreach Ministries, International, because of their connection to Bethel World Outreach

Center In Liberia. Worship services officially began in August 1990, at Howard University in

Washington, DC, with around fifteen persons.

In order to give himself wholeheartedly to this new ministry, Bishop, with Lady Chrys’

support, made the choice not to seek any other employment. To support themselves, and

the new work, Lady Chrys worked full time, braiding hair on the side to help pay the bills.

Those were challenging times, but the Lord proved Himself faithful and far more than

enough.

In spite of the smallness of its numbers and income, the young ministry began to set aside

money, no less than ten percent of its monthly income, to facilitate church planting in the

nations. Keenly aware of the vision the Lord had entrusted them with and the

responsibilities it entailed, they focused their attention on building both a strong

multinational local church in the US and an extensive outreach to the nations.

s a result of God’s grace and this commitment of time and resources, the new church

began to sponsor and send young, vibrant, African missionaries to reach the nations of the

world, beginning with Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Cameroon. Today, by

God’s enablement HIM-U, has become a truly global church planting movement. Churches

have been and are still being established on every continent, schools are being built, and

medical and humanitarian projects are being initiated or supported by HIM-U globally. It has

become a strong and ever growing network of committed ministers and lay people, sold out

for Christ, with an eye on the salvation of the lost. Members of HIM-U are asked to share

the Father’s vision and labor together with Him and each other to create “a world where no

one lives and no one dies without Christ!”

VI. WHY HARVEST INTERCONTINENTAL MINISTRIES UNLIMITED?

A. Harvest, because that’s what is on God’s heart.

B. Intercontinental, because our mission field is the entire world and every continent.

C. Ministries, because we do not seek to be served, but to serve and to give our best in

service to Christ for the sake of the harvest.

27 | P a g e

D. Unlimited, because we serve an unlimited God gives us unlimited resources to fulfill an

unlimited destiny. No limitations accepted!

E. HIM-U, because it’s all about Him, and all about Him in You! It’s about His covenant with

you and the unlimited resources you have in Him to fulfill your destiny, carry out your

assignments, and bring in the harvest.

VII. HISTORY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH THAT IS CONDUCTING THE NEW NEMBERS CLASS:

(Each local church should prepare and add here, a text summarizing the details of its

planting and evolution, from the beginning to the present days).

VIII. OUR LEADERSHIP

A. International Officers

1. The Presiding Prelate

2. The Assistant Presiding Prelate

3. Bishops/Council of Bishops

4. The General Secretary

5. International Executive Director of TESFC

6. The International Treasurer

7. International Advisory Council

8. The International Executive Committee

9. The International Board of Trustee

B. Diocesan Officers

1. The Diocesan Bishop

2. The Diocesan Executive Committee

3. The Diocesan Team of theological Education, spiritual formation and

credentialing (TESFC)

4. The Diocesan Advisory Council

5. National Overseers or National Representatives

C. National Officers

1. The National Overseer or National Representative

2. The National Executive Council

3. The National Team of theological Education, spiritual formation and

credentialing

4. The National Advisory Council

5. The National Secretary

6. The Mission Director

7. The Zonal or Regional Coordinators

D. Cathedral Officers

1. The Presiding Bishop: Senior Pastor

2. The Dean

3. Assistant Pastors

28 | P a g e