Welcome to the Beyond Belief Scripture study and memorization course. The goal of this course is to help fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) to make disciples of Jesus in all the world. To be a disciple means to go beyond being just spiritual, or being just a church-guy, or merely believing in Jesus in some intellectual and superficial way. A disciple of Jesus is someone who enters into a personal, daily relationship with Jesus in which He is their teacher, role model, and even master to direct their lives. Thus, a disciple is someone who follows Jesus’ teaching, example, and will for them. To become anything less than a follower of Jesus, a disciple, is to miss God’s call upon our lives and to miss the best He has for us.
This material grows out of the deepest conviction that in order to become a disciple, we must study. Study is necessary because humans arrive in this world knowing nothing; completely helpless. Life is a journey in which we learn what we need in order to survive and to become what God desires for us. From our first day on earth, learning is instinctual. We don’t choose to learn. We just start learning. In other words, humans are born learners, and studying to become Jesus’ disciples is part of that overall learning process. Therefore, Beyond Belief is a tool to help people to learn the most important material of all: what a disciple of Jesus is, why being His disciple is so important, and how to do so.
Beyond Belief can be used in a variety of venues. It is designed for self-study. The material can be studied in groups. A mentor can also use this material to disciple others one-on-one. The student will need a bible, a pen (or keyboard for the computer), and the course book. The course will be most useful if the student commits to a regular time to study; daily, three times a week, or weekly, etc. In order to keep the information fresh and to move along, the student should not study less than once a week. When you do study, set aside enough time to finish a section or a theme in the booklet. When seated to study, first pray! Ask the Lord to help you to learn what He wants you to learn. Ask the Holy Spirit to quicken your mind to understand His will and to soften your will to respond. Ask Christ to make you His disciple.
God challenges us to lay up His word in our hearts—to memorize. Memorizing key Scriptures is one of the surest ways to understand and apply God’s word to daily life. It’s work, but it pays off big! Beyond Belief revolves around such key Scriptures, and to get the most out of the course, and to make the most gain as disciples, memorization is the route. There’s no trick to memorization. It’s all about repetition in bit-sized amounts, adding more chunks, and review. Anyone can do it if he/she is motivated. The passages of Scripture recommended for memorization are in The Big Picture summary found right after this introduction, and they are found word-for-word in the study booklet.
Beyond Belief does not require the help of a professional bible teacher. But you are not alone! You may need help completing the course, or you may need more input on some issue you study. Please feel free to call one of the pastors at DCC for such assistance as you have need. Now, it’s time. Time to go…
Beyond spirituality, beyond churchianity, beyond mere belief… Discipleship!