NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Introduction

• The day you gave your heart to the Lord is the greatest decision you made in your life.
• Remember that God accepted you just the way you are and has given you eternal life. This is a FREE GIFT from God, our Heavenly Father.
• Now, we will be looking at what happened to you after you received the Lord and at your new identity as a born-again believer.

A. You have been cleansed from sin

1. You now stand clean before God (Psalm 51:7).
2. God chose to remember your sins no more (Isaiah 43:25).
3. You must forgive yourself just as God has forgiven you. Our God is the God of new beginnings. When you gave your life to Jesus, you have received a new start in life (Psalm 103:12).

B. You are now a new creation

1. The Bible now calls you a “New Creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. You are now a new person
3. You will develop new habits, have new friends, and have a different way of thinking and a new life in Christ.
4. Your heart was changed when you received Jesus in your heart.
   • You now recognize the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.
   • You repented of your sins, disobedience and rebellion against God (Romans 10:9-10).
5. You have been born again (John 3:3).

 

2 DEVELOPING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Introduction

• We have learned that when we surrendered our lives to Jesus, we have been forgiven and cleansed from our sins.
• We also have been given the right to a personal relationship with God (Romans 5:1-2).
• Now, we will further discuss how to develop our relationship with God through prayer and the Word.

A. Developing your relationship with God through prayer

1. 1. Biblical Example of Daily Devotion
   • David practiced daily devotion (Psalm 5:3).
   • We must prepare ourselves by uncluttering our souls.
2. We must begin to pray and take time to listen.
   • The Lord’s Prayer is a biblical pattern to follow (Matthew 6:9-13).

B. Developing your relationship with God through the Word

1. We need to have the right attitude towards the Word of God.
   • It should be precious to us.
   • Because it affects our relationship with God.
2. The Word of God affects our spiritual lives everyday.
3. The Word of God affects the quality of our lives (1 Peter 2:2, Joshua 1:8).
   • Get started in a regular, enjoyable Bible study habit.

 

3 OBEDIENCE TO GOD & CONNECTING TO GOD’S PEOPLE

Introduction

• Obedience brings blessings into our lives.
• Obedience to God means our rebellion against Him has ended and success and prosperity is ahead of us.
• Let us now learn about our obedience to God through water baptism.

A. Obedience through water baptism

1. Purpose of Water Baptism
   • It’s the FIRST STEP of our obedience to Christ (Acts 2:38).
   • It’s participating in the death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4).
   • It’s a vital part of our salvation (Mark 16:16).
2. How do you get water baptized?
   • The original word for water baptism means “total immersion.”
3. Illustration: Jesus was baptized by immersion.
4. You are baptized in the Name and the authority of Jesus (Matthew 28:19).

B. Getting connected to God’s People

1. Attend church least once a week (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Peter 2:4-5).
2. Attend a Go Group (Acts 2:42).

Conclusion

If you are not yet water baptized, then this is the time for you to obey Jesus in water baptism. Also, make it a habit to be in church and a connect group at least once a week.

4 BEING CONNECTED TO GOD

Introduction

• We must understand that we did not just have an emotional experience when we received Jesus Christ.
• We actually made a decision to enter into a personal relationship with God to be CONNECTED with God.

A. New Life In Christ

Our relationship with God: He is now our Father.
(Romans 8:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 51:7, John 3:3)

TRANSITION: In order for our relationship with God to grow, we need to value and nurture it by investing time through prayer and reading the Bible.

B. Developing a relationship with God

1. Through Prayer
   • Illustration: David in Psalm 5:3
   • How to spend time in prayer
     1. Prepare your soul by uncluttering it and being calm (1 Peter 4:7).
     2. Organize your prayer (Psalm 5:3).
     3. Begin to pray (Follow the example of Jesus) (Matthew 6:9-13).
   • Take time to listen to God by reading His Word.
2. Through the Word
   • We need to have the right attitude towards the Word of God – It should be precious to us.
     1. We have to crave for pure spiritual milk (2 Peter 2:2).
     2. Even as we grow as Christians, we should should still crave for the Word of God (Joshua 1:8).

1. • Getting started in a regular, enjoyable Bible study habit:
     1. Buy a Bible translation which is easy to understand.
     2. Meditate on the Word of God. Let it change you.
     3. Take time to memorize important verses and Bible promises.

John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him; he will bear much fruit, apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Conclusion

As we have made a decision to have a personal relationship with God, we also need to make a stand to remain in Him — a daily decision to stay connected to God through prayer and reading His Word.

 

5 DAILY DEVOTION

Introduction

• Last time, we learned the importance of being connected to God through prayer and in Word. Today, we will learn some simple patterns on how we do our daily devotions.

A. Prepare Yourself

1. Turn off your phones and gadgets.
2. Prepare your: Bible, notebook to take notes, pen and highlighter. (Reading other books is not recommended.)

B. It helps to begin with prayer and worship

C. Suggested patterns of bible reading

1. Read the whole Old Testament at least once a year devotionally.
2. Divide the total number of pages by 365 and then begin reading that number of pages every day.
3. Read the New Testament twice a year. Use a similar method in #2, and then multiply the total by 2.
4. Read a chapter of Psalms and Proverbs everyday.

D. Special Considerations

1. We are not just to read as quickly as possible, but we meditate as we go (Joshua 1:8).
2. As we read, ask ourselves:
   • How does this apply to me?
   • How does this affect my life?
   • How does this affect my relationship?
3. Note down insights or principles that you learned.
4. Let the Word of God change you (James 1:23-24).
5. Take time to memorize important verses and Bible promises.

E. PRAYER TIME: (You may also play soft Christian music)

1. Pray to the Father, spend time in worship, bring your requests to God, and listen to Him.

 

6 GETTING CONNECTED TO GOD’S PEOPLE

A. Local Church

1. Jesus is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23).
2. The Church, the Body of Christ: The People
   • The church is not the building but the people
     1. The Body of Christ.
   • Example of local churches in the Bible (Jerusalem, Corinth, Ephesus)
3. Christians stay in one local church even though they belong to the universal church (Romans 12:4).

B. Go Group

1. Important for growth and discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20)
   • Christianity is something we learn, not only through listening to instructions but also by seeing it in other people’s lives.
2. Important for close relationships with other people in church
   • We are to be devoted to one another (Acts 2:42).
   • We are to experience life together with other believers.
3. Praying together (Acts 2:42)
4. Encouraging one another (Romans 1:12)
5. Ministering to one another (Ephesians 4:16)

 

7 MEMBERSHIP IN THE BODY

Introduction

• What is the next step for someone who has just been saved? New believers are to come to Jesus and ask Him join them to other “living stones” (that is, other Christians) and help them be committed to a local church.

A. The Church – The Body (Romans 12:4-8)

1. The church is like a body with many parts, each having different functions but belonging to one another.
2. Each person has different gifts according to the grace of God. As the members use their God-given gifts, individually and diversely help accomplish the goals of the church and bless all the members.

B. God – The Head of the Body (Colossians 2:18-19)

1. The primary and fundamental connection of a believer is to the Head.
2. The Head of the Body, of every church, is Jesus.

C. Leaders – Ligaments, Sinews, Joints, and Tendons of the Body. (Colossians 2:19)

1. The ligaments and sinews in the Body of Christ are the pastors, assistant pastors, and different leaders of the church.
2. Leadership is what binds and holds the body together.
3. Who is your visitation pastor? Go Group Pastor? Go Group Leader? They are the ones who get you connected.