A Guide to Personal Discipleship
This book belongs to:
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A Guide to Personal Discipleship
“Seek, Strengthen, Send”
Crosswind Church Denver
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Welcome to this study in basic Christianity.
“101” is a tool that can bring you into a
personal relationship with Jesus and onto the
path of Christian growth.
It is our prayer that the Lord will use this book
to proclaim life in Jesus Christ —which is
available in abundance (John 10:10b) to all
“who receive Him” (John 1:12). And it is also
our prayer that it will enable you to bear much
fruit to the glory of God the Father (John 15:8).
Amen.
This book is adapted from
“Christianity 101” by Terry Powell
a Training in Ministry course,
with permission of the copyright owner,
Discipleship Overseas, Inc.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a
division of Good News Publishers.
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Table of Contents
GOING GREEN ..................................................... 7
SALVATION ........................................................... 9
Experiencing a Relationship ............................ 9
ASSURANCE ....................................................... 17
Achieving Certainty! ...................................... 17
WATER BAPTISM ............................................... 23
From Death to Life ......................................... 23
GOD ................................................................... 27
The Holy Trinity .............................................. 27
OUR PART AND GOD’S ...................................... 36
Advancing in the Faith ................................... 37
DEVOTION ......................................................... 43
Prayer and the Bible ...................................... 43
CHURCH ............................................................. 51
Living and Engaging in God’s Family ............. 51
What’s Next?...................................................... 59
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GOING GREEN
Wherever we are in the world, the color green represents
life, growth and fruitfulness. In temperate regions, the
sight of grass turning green provides a sense of new life
after the long deadness of winter. In tropical regions,
green is a flamboyant spectacle of warmth and lush flora
all year round. What it represents in nature makes the
color green a powerful metaphor of life in the spiritual
realm.
The Bible used “green pastures” to conjure images of
pastoral scenes of sheep led by a shepherd (Psalm 23:2).
Another psalm affirms green in its symbolism of being
alive in the presence of God: “But I am like a green olive
tree in the house of God…” (Psalm 52:8).
Jesus once referred to men’s hearts as places to which the
seed, the word of God falls (Matthew 13:1-8). Some seed
fell along the path, some on rocky ground, some among
thorns, and lastly on good soil which produced “much
grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty”.
It is the Lord’s desire that the hearts of men be cultivated
and nourished so they can become “good soils” that the
Word of God can be planted into. Jesus’ parable of God
sowing the seed of His word to the soil of a man’s heart is
a picture of evangelism and discipleship.
Jesus used this as wonderful illustration of the Christian
journey - from the vividness of a green tender shoot when
we first heard the Word and made alive in the Spirit, to the
rich green of a mature leaf as we grow in the Lord., and in
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our continued submission to His Lordship through all
seasons of life, as green must give way to the changing
colors of fall and the barrenness of winter.
“The Green Book” which is entitled “101” is a tool to get
someone into a relationship with Jesus and on a path of
growth and abundance in the Christian life. Using basic life
questions that engage a person to take a deeper look into
God’s love and purpose, it helps prepare and make fertile
the soil of one’s heart to receive truth from God’s Word.
The book then guides the new believer in Christ in the
early stages of a tender shoot, towards a mature leaf,
leading to the eventual sharing of this material to others
which will produce “green trees” in the kingdom of God.
Multiplication, not addition, is Jesus’ operation in
discipleship.
CrossWind church is privileged to adapt the lessons from
Discipleship Overseas’ book, Christianity 101 (where we
get the name “101”) in the development of “The Green
Book”. It is our hope that the Lord uses this book in the
hands of faithful men to proclaim life in Jesus Christ
available in abundance (John 10:10b) to all “who receive
Him” (John 1:12) and unfold truths that will help the
Christian bear much fruit to the glory of God the Father
(John 15:8). Amen.
THE PASTORS OF CROSSWIND CHURCH DENVER
March, 2016
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SALVATION
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Experiencing a Relationship
Salvation Needed
What comes to mind when you hear the
word salvation? It is “deliverance” from
some type of danger by being snatched
away and brought to a place of safety. All of mankind
need deliverance in a spiritual sense.
Why does every human being need deliverance?
The Bible tells us that . . .
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23)
We were created with a capacity to know God and to
have fellowship with Him. But the first couple, Adam
and Eve, decided to disobey God. Their disobedience
immediately cut them off from a relationship with
God. This cut-off-from-God state was passed down
through all mankind.
We therefore have a natural bent to go our own way
(called a “sinful nature”), so we're cut off from a
relationship with a perfect God. This sin nature limits
our ability to understand spiritual things. Left
unchecked, this sin nature also warps the conscience
and blots out a sense of right and wrong, weakens the
will and limits our ability to do what we know is right.
What is the ultimate consequence of sin?
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“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Salvation Provided
We need deliverance—and we're unable to deliver
ourselves. Sounds bleak so far, doesn't it? But wait.
God took the initiative and dealt a knock-out punch to
the sin problem. Read the following passages that
show how God loved mankind and provided salvation
by sending His Son Jesus to pay the penalty of our sins
by dying on the cross.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a
result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians
2:8-9)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Seconds before taking His last breath on the cross,
Jesus uttered, “It is finished!” The same word
translated “finished” in the Greek language is an
accounting term that means “paid in full”. Jesus was
saying that the debt of sin has been “paid in full.”
What a relief! What a Savior!
God placed a stamp of approval on Jesus’ sacrifice on
the cross by raising Him up on the third day! Man can
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now experience God’s forgiveness for sins and eternal
life. Through Jesus, we can be restored back to a
relationship with God and become His children.
Salvation Received
Though Jesus took the penalty for sin that each of us
should have to pay, does that mean everyone is
automatically saved? No. Each individual needs to
repent. Repentance is turning way from our sins and
turning to God. God doesn't force salvation on anyone.
He has given us the choice to have a loving
relationship with Him starting with our repentance.
To be sure, salvation is a gift from God. It isn't
something we work for. Yet what is involved in
accepting His offer of salvation?
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
(John 1:12)
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to
him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation
3:20)
Salvation involves us repenting and then receiving,
confessing and trusting in Jesus. Would you open the
door of your heart to Him?
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Do you want to pray to the Lord and receive that gift
of salvation now? If so, say this prayer aloud and from
your heart:
“Dear Father in heaven, I confess that I am a
sinner, and have fallen far short of Your glory. I
recognize that I need your salvation. Thank You
for providing the only way for me to be saved by
dying on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins.
I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead. I am
sorry for my sins and ask that You cleanse me. I
put my trust in Jesus as my Lord, Master and
Savior. Come into my heart and make me a new
creation. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to
turn away from everything the Bible calls sin.
Help me to love, serve and obey you. Use me to
tell others about Your saving love. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.”
The Bible says that God looks at our hearts. If you
meant that prayer in your heart, you are now what
Jesus called “born again” and have become a new
creation! The apostle John wrote: “Jesus answered
him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one
is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’”
(John 3:3).
You have started your life journey with Jesus and well
on your way to fulfilling God’s purpose in saving you.
Question to ponder:
Did God save us only so we can get to heaven?
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Salvation's Purpose
In entering our life, Jesus wants us to be his witnesses
to the world. He didn’t snatch us to be with Him in
heaven but rather kept us alive in the world for that
reason. He also wants us to have fellowship with God
the Father and to deliver us from the control of sin.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
We are not yet perfect when we received Christ, we
will still sin. But God’s Holy Spirit is now in us to guide
and help us in our new life in Jesus. Welcome to the
beginning of your journey with Jesus!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
Question to ponder:
What does it mean to call Jesus our “LORD”?
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LORDSHIP
The Lord Jesus did not just call us to be converts but
to be disciples. Jesus’ disciples called him “Master”
which simply means “boss”, the one who calls the
shots. They did not just look at Jesus as a great
teacher but they submitted fully to his authority. This
is the essence of lordship. When Jesus told them
“Come follow me”, it is a call to give their full
allegiance to Him, the kind that goes beyond being
students in a classroom. Intellectual acceptance of
Jesus’ teachings is not enough. Confessing Jesus as
Lord therefore should mean total submission to Him
in all areas of life. If Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is
not Lord at all. He is not only our Savior but should
also be our Lord.
If Christ is truly our Lord, His Lordship should
encompass every part of our life and His influence
should be seen in our lifestyle.
““Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I
tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
In the New Testament, Jesus was referred to as Savior
twenty four times, while being referred to as Lord 622
times. This biblical emphasis upholds the truth that
Jesus should be Lord of our lives.
What does Christ’s lordship demand of us?
1. We should have a single-minded devotion to Jesus
and embrace the cost of following Him.
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“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come
after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)
2. Lordship means remaining in Christ and submitting ourselves to complete obedience to Christ
and His word.
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will
keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we
will come to him and make our home with him.”
(John 14:23)
3. Lordship is not performing external acts of religion or a set of traditions but rather an internal submission of the heart.
“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy…”
(1 Peter 3:15)
4. Lordship is a lifelong walk with Jesus and not just
a one-time experience.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk in him,” (Colossians 2:6)
When we’re involved in discipleship, we do not
graduate until we get to heaven. Discipleship is a
lifelong experience of learning the mind of Christ
and following the will of Christ, submitting ourselves
in complete obedience to His lordship.
Remember that we don’t submit to some tyrant who
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does not deserve our devotion or allegiance. We
submit to the Son of God Who loves us and gave
Himself for us. He is worthy to be Lord of all!
Personal Application
When we experience salvation in Christ, He has begun
the lifelong process of changing us and making
something beautiful out of our lives. We’ll start to see
those changes in our behavior and value systems.
Perhaps you can already identify at least some areas
of your life where you believe you most need God’s
beautifying work. Prayerfully surrender them to the
lordship of Christ as you list them below:
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ASSURANCE
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Achieving Certainty!
Birth signals the beginning of life! If
you've come to Christ recently, you have
just been born into God’s family. You're in
the infant or toddler stage of a new life.
But as a young child quickly discovers, the growth
process has its ups and downs.
New Christians sometimes stumble because of their
doubts about personal salvation, or a pervasive sense
of insecurity about their relationship to the Lord. If
they don't respond to these fears and doubts
according to what the Bible teaches, spiritual growth
will be stunted.
Question to ponder:
How can we be sure we are really saved?
Causes of Doubt
Let's survey four prominent reasons for insecurity in
the life of a believer. These reasons aren't mutually
exclusive—they may overlap at some points. But for
the sake of organization, let's probe them separately.
Ready?
Reason #1 — Depending Exclusively on Feelings
Sometimes, when a person comes to Christ, it is an
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emotionally charged experience. But ecstatic feelings
don't last. And God never intended for feelings to
control our behavior or our daily walk with Him.
Tomorrow, if you don't feel close to the Lord, does
that mean your salvation was phony and really didn't
happen? Of course not! If you don't feel that God still
loves you after you've failed, does that mean He has
actually cast you out of His family? No!
Let's look at the three “F's” of the Christian life: The
first “F” is fact. The second “F” is faith. The third “F” is
feeling. Your membership in God's family is rooted in
the historical facts: Jesus came to earth, died on a
cross as a substitute for sinful humanity, and then
rose from the dead. When you became a Christian,
you put faith in those facts. You exercised your will,
and in response to the wooing of God's Spirit, you
asked Jesus to enter your life. By admitting your need
of a Savior and putting faith in His work on the cross,
you were born into God's family (John 1:12). Your faith
personalized the facts. Positive feelings are often the
initial result of putting faith in the facts. But as we've
already discussed, those feelings are fickle. The basis
for our security is never our feelings; rather, it is the
facts to which we've responded with faith.
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A train diagram showing three cars (the engine, a
passenger car, and a caboose) summarizes the
relationship among the three “F’s.” Based on your
understanding of the three “F's,” label each with one
of the “F's.” Which represents the engine, essential
for the train’s operation? Which represents the car
that carries the passengers? Which is symbolized by
the caboose that tags along at the end?
Reason #2 — Not Knowing God’s Promises
Knowing the truths of God’s Word doesn’t
automatically change us. We must also apply them.
On the other hand, doubts will enter a blank mind
more readily than a mind filled with the knowledge of
God’s Word. The Bible contains truths that, if known,
can boost our trust level and increase our confidence
as Christians. The more we know about God and how
He relates to us as His children, the more ammunition
we have to battle satanic lies and doubts.
Imagine that yesterday you committed what you
would consider a “big” sin. You felt genuine sorrow, so
you promptly confessed it to the Lord and claimed His
forgiveness. Yet a day later, that sin still haunts you.
You don't feel forgiven; you feel insecure in God's
presence, as if He is holding it against you.
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Read the following Bible verses:
“Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have
compassion on him, and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
How do these verses contribute to the solution of the
hypothetical problem above?
God's Word is always more reliable than our feelings!
Reason #3 — Misunderstanding Our Standing before
God
This cause of doubt, though treated as a separate
point, also shows how a grasp of the Bible combats
lack of assurance. Do we occasionally “put ourselves
on the cross,” and try to improve on or add to the
sacrifice Jesus made for our sins? How do we do that?
It happens when we mope around and carry the
emotional burden of sins we've already confessed.
Subconsciously, we feel we must inflict pain upon
ourselves to prove to God that we're sorry for our sins.
And we “put ourselves on the cross” when we delay
prayer after we've blown it spiritually, because we're
afraid He won't accept us.
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How crucial it is to grasp our standing before God!
Misunderstanding at this point creates insecurity.
Look at how the following verses can increase our
confidence before our Heavenly Father.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by
faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans
5:1-2)
Now examine these verses:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
Reason #4 — Failure in Our Daily Walk With God
It's possible to doubt the reality of conversion
because we sin or show inconsistency as a follower of
Christ. Scripture makes it plain that evidences of
newness of life will emerge in the life of a convert. Yet
some changes Jesus produces happen gradually, over
a period of time. Maturity doesn't occur with pushbutton ease.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good
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work in you will carry it on to completion until the day
of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
Sinning after conversion shows that salvation doesn't
completely wipe out our sinful nature. God's Spirit has
moved in, and we have a new power to obey the Lord
and resist Satan. But the “old” and “new” nature
coexist, each vying for control. When we fail the Lord,
instead of questioning the reality of our salvation, we
can follow the apostle John's advice to “confess our
sins” and claim the promise that “he is faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Question to ponder:
Do you now have the assurance of salvation that
will stabilize your walk with God?
Personal Application
Read Philippians 1:6 again, and paraphrase it (put it
in your own words without changing its meaning).
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WATER BAPTISM
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From Death to Life
Baptism is an important act of faith and
obedience for someone who has entered
into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The
Bible teaches water immersion as the
method for baptism. Jesus Himself led the way in the
example of water baptism when He was baptized by
John the Baptist.
“But Jesus answered him (John), ‘Let it be so now, for
thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then
he consented. And when Jesus was baptized,
immediately he went up from the water, and
behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to
rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven
said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased.’” (Matthew 3:15-17)
In the book of Acts, the first Christians were baptized
right after they received Jesus Christ.
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.”
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“So those who received his word were baptized,
and there were added that day about three thousand
souls.” (Acts 2:38, 41)
The pattern from the Bible was that every newly
baptized believer got added to the local church.
Question to ponder:
What is the significance of water baptism?
The Apostle Paul also explained the significance of
Baptism by comparing it to a burial.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin
that grace may abound? By no means! How can we
who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all
of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? We were buried therefore
with him by baptism into death, in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
(Romans 6:1-4)
In order to be buried, a person must first die. In the
same way, baptism symbolizes the fact that when we
received Christ, we have died to sin. Remember what
repentance means from lesson 1? This means that sin
no longer has control over us. After we are buried
(symbolized by immersion in water), we are then
raised to a new life in Jesus.
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To recap, water baptism therefore:
1. Is public identification with Christ and what
He did for us on the cross.
2. Symbolizes dying to sin and putting away the
old life.
3. A new life emerging in obedience to Christ.
Water baptism is not in itself the means of salvation,
but an act of faith and obedience after receiving
Christ. The believer makes a public declaration to put
away the old life and embrace a new life of obedience
to Christ. Talk to a pastor about taking the step of
following the Lord in water baptism.
Personal Application
 Have you repented of your sins?
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 Do you trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Your Lord and
Savior and have the assurance of salvation in your
heart?
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 Read Acts 8:26-39. This is a beautiful story of salvation that ended in water baptism. After reading it,
consider the same question that the eunuch asked
Philip in verse 36: “What prevents me from being
baptized?”
To this, the reply is: you may be baptized if you believe
(trust) Jesus as your lord and savior.
Do you want to follow the Lord in water baptism?
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GOD
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The Holy Trinity
The one God in Whom Christians believe
exists in three Persons: God the Father,
God the Son--Jesus Christ, and God the
Holy Spirit. This hard-to-grasp, but
important teaching about God, is called the Trinity.
(The fact that there's only one God is called His unity.
The mind-stretching truth that He exists in three
Persons is called His “tri-unity,” or “trinity.”)
1. God the Father
Christianity is the only faith that begins with God's
attempt to reach man! God took the initiative. He
decided to create mankind, and to reveal Himself for
the purpose of enjoying an ongoing relationship with
us. God revealed Himself to us primarily through the
Bible and the Person of Jesus Christ.
Character Sketch
God the Father has both supernatural and human
traits in a complete and perfect sense. Scripture
depicts God as a Person who can think, create, make
decisions, feel, and communicate. He isn't the
mysterious, impersonal “Force” of Star Wars fame.
Read the following Bible scriptures about God the
Father and see some of His attributes:
He is gracious and merciful. He is compassionate and
loving.
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“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15)
He is omnipresent
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I
flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you
are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand
shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold
me“ (Psalm 139:7-10).
He is all powerful and infinite in wisdom.
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his
understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5).
He is holy.
“You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and
have separated you from the peoples, that you should
be mine“(Leviticus 20:26).
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must
worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
God is also truthful, infinite in understanding and
changeless.
Question to ponder:
How is it helpful to know that God is all-knowing?
Changeless? All-powerful? Truthful?
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What an Awesome God! Think of all His divine
attributes for a moment. Now ponder the truth that
He is a loving Father who deeply cares for you. What
a privilege to be loved by the almighty God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but
have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
2. God the Son
Who Is Jesus? Why did Jesus Christ leave such an
impact on human history? What makes Him different
from other founders of religious movements such as
Buddha or Mohammed? Why do we Christians insist
that He's the only way to God and to eternal life?
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.” (John 14:6)
St. Paul in Colossians wrote about Jesus:
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved
Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
all creation. For by him all things were created, in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for
him. And he is before all things, and in him all things
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hold together. And he is the head of the body, the
church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased
to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, making
peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:13-20).
Jesus—God Himself!
Undoubtedly, one of the things you gleaned from
Colossians 1:13-20 was a reference to Jesus being
God. Paul called Him “the image of the invisible God”,
and God's beloved Son. If Jesus Christ had been only
a man—no matter how great a leader He was—He
wouldn't deserve our allegiance and worship. He was
fully man and fully God!
There are many evidences from the Bible that prove
that Jesus is truly God. This information can reassure
us and deepen our faith in Christ. It can equip us to
share with people who have doubts about Jesus' deity.
Numerous people whom we meet aren't convinced
that Jesus was God. Many of them don't even believe
that the Bible portrays Jesus as deity!
Read each scripture below that shows more evidence
of Jesus' divinity. Talk about every evidence that Jesus
is God from each of these verses.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things were made through
him, and without him was not anything made that
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was made….And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the
only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:1-3, 14).
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).
“I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30).
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the
paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and
go home.” (Mark 2:10-11)
“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned
among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new
teaching with authority! He commands even the
unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27).
“You know that he appeared in order to take away
sins, and in him there is no sin. “(1 John 3:5).
“. . . and was declared to be the Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection
from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. ”(Romans 1:4).
Jesus’ Mission
The reason why Jesus came to earth can be
summarized in three R’s. R-Reveal, He came to
reveal the Father to us. R-Redeem, He came to
redeem and save mankind. R-Rule, He came to rule
in a spiritual kingdom of the hearts of men.
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Jesus' Number-One Accomplishment
You probably can now guess the primary reason why
Jesus came from the chapters on salvation and
assurance of salvation.
Here’s a hint: Jesus lived on earth approximately 1700
weeks. In Mark's Gospel, for instance, chapters 1-10
cover Jesus' first 1699 weeks, and chapters 11-16
cover His last week!
Question to ponder:
Do you now know what Jesus’ number-one
accomplishment was?
This proportion shows that Mark wanted to
emphasize Jesus' death for our sins. “For even the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Just think of it—you and I are the reason He came to
earth! He came to die in our place.
Current Job Description
Of course, Jesus' death would have accomplished
nothing if He hadn't risen from the grave and
ascended into heaven. But what became of the Son of
God after He abandoned His life in the flesh? He
didn't retire to some plush lake resort in heaven,
leaving all the work to God the Father and the Holy
Spirit. No, He's still active on our behalf and is
interceding for us.
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“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who
died—more than that, who was raised—who is at
the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for
us” (Romans 8:34).
“Since then we have a great high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).
3. God the Holy Spirit
Who is the Holy Spirit? Let's get better acquainted
with Him as a Person and someone we need to
respond to.
This perspective is significant because we must view
the Holy Spirit as a Person who has all the qualities
and characteristics of God. He isn't some impersonal
force, or some sort of optional benefit of the Christian
experience.
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who
does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to
him.” (Romans 8:9)
A person cannot be a Christian unless he has the Holy
Spirit. All Christians have the benefit of the Spirit's
presence in their lives.
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that
God's Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Let's take a closer look at what Jesus taught
concerning the Holy Spirit.
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“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit
of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for
he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave
you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)
One of the terms Jesus used to describe the Spirit is
translated “Helper” or “Comforter.” Literally, the word
means “One who comes alongside to help.” The verb
form of this term means “to encourage.” The Holy
Spirit continually comes alongside of us to lend
encouragement and strength to press on when our
spiritual batteries seem weak.
The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ words.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, He will teach you all things
and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you.” (John 14:26)
The Holy Spirit also illumines our minds to
understand the truth of God which we now have in
the Bible.
Question to ponder:
Since the Holy Spirit lives in every Christian, does
that mean every Christian is “filled” with the
Spirit?
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Filled with the Holy Spirit
The filling of the Holy Spirit is an experience to be
repeated in the life of each believer. To be “filled” is
not the same as being filled with a substance. Since
the Holy Spirit is a Person, to be “filled” with Him is a
matter of relationship where we allow Him to occupy,
guide and control every area of our lives. He therefore:

Makes us fruitful and effective for God.

Fills our hearts with joy.

Glorifies Jesus in our lives.

Delivers us from the power of sin.

Changes the pattern of our lives to be
pleasing and holy before God.

Guides us into all truth.
A Christian leader named A. C. Dixon once said,
“When we rely on organization, we get what
organization can do. When we rely upon education,
we get what education can do. When we rely on
eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. But when
we rely on the Holy Spirit, we get what God can do!”
Now that you know who the Holy Spirit is, always pray
for his daily infilling in your life. Remember, He is there
for you as your helper, teacher and the One who will
give you power to serve God and live a holy life.
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Personal Application
1)The trinity of God is best understood when we remember that we are created in God’s “image” (Genesis 1:27). Paul tells us this “image” of God consists of
body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23). If man is tripartite, and we are created in God’s image, what does
this say about the nature of God?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
2) Now think of an attribute that God has expressed
in His relationship to you during the past month.
Briefly describe how you experienced or benefited
from each quality.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
3) Which evidence of Jesus' deity impresses you most?
Why?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4) How often does the filling of the Holy Spirit need to
be repeated? Why?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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OUR PART AND GOD’S
5
Advancing in the Faith
We now come to the nitty gritty of the
Christian life. We will learn that this life is
a partnership between us and God. We
have to depend on God, but we also have
a responsibility in growing as a follower of Christ.
Where Does Discipline Fit In?
Without discipline we are not disciples, even though
we profess His name and pass for followers of Jesus.
Self-discipline is a prerequisite to successful Christian
living and ministry.
Questions to ponder:
Do you agree that discipline is important for a
Christian? If so, why is our experience on selfdiscipline far from what we believe about it? What
are some obstacles that often keep us from
developing Christian discipline?
We must take seriously the development of discipline
in our lives. And that begins by pondering hindrances
to its development and creating strategies to remove
those hindrances.
For many people, one significant hindrance to the
exercise of discipline is a misunderstanding regarding
how we develop holiness of character and make
progress in our walk with the Lord. This is represented
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by two extreme positions:
1. Spiritual growth is left entirely up to us and can be
attained by sheer human will-power and determination.
2. Spiritual growth is all God’s work and there is nothing we can do to facilitate the process.”
You can look at these two positions as a pendulum
that swings between two far and opposite positions.
Let's put the pendulum to rest somewhere in the
middle.
Let’s look at this verse from the Bible:
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for
the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
(Hebrews 12:14).
The word “strive” suggests two thoughts: first, that
diligence and effort are required; and second, that it
is a lifelong task.
The apostle Paul said, “He who sows to his own flesh
will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows
to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life”
(Galatians 6:8)
This principle of sowing and reaping can be applied to
the Christian life in the matter of spiritual discipline.
Before a farmer will sow a single seed into the soil, he
needs to do the preliminary work of plowing,
fertilizing and cultivating. After he does all these
things, he plants the seed and waters it. However, in
the final analysis, he is still dependent on forces
outside of himself for the seed to germinate, like rain
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and sunshine. A farmer is dependent on God for a
successful harvest. We can say that farming is a joint
venture between God and the farmer.
In the same manner, the Christian life and the pursuit
of holiness is our joint venture with God.
Richard Foster said this:
“A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is to
provide the right conditions for the growing of grain.
He puts the seed in the ground where the natural
forces take over and up comes the grain. That is the
way with the Spiritual Disciplines—they are a way of
sowing to the Spirit. The Disciplines are God's way of
getting us into the ground; they put us where He can
work within us and transform us. By themselves the
Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get
us to the place where something can be done. They
are God's means of grace. The inner righteousness we
seek is not something that is poured on our heads.
God has ordained the disciplines of the spiritual life as
the means by which we are placed where He can bless
us. In this regard it would be proper to speak of “the
way of disciplined grace.” It is ‘grace’ because it is free;
it is ‘disciplined’ because there is something for us to
do.”
Note “the means of grace” that Foster mentioned is
grace that God has made available, but for which we
have a responsibility. For instance, He works through
His Word, but we may choose whether or not to study
it. He works through prayer, but only when we choose
to pray!
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Implementing My Part
What Foster called “spiritual disciplines” or “means of
grace” are merely the avenues through which God
meets and empowers us. A few of the disciplines will
be covered in future chapters, but for now, read each
set of Scripture references and describe the course of
action that is recommended to us.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask
whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John
15:7)
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask,
and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John
16:24)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love
and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as
is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
(Hebrews 10:24-25)
The three “disciplines” or “means of grace” from the
verses above are:
1. Study of God’s word
2. Prayer
3. Fellowship with other believers
God deserves the credit for changes produced in your
life, yet you have to tap into His power through times
of Bible study, prayer, and involvement with other
Christians.
40
Personal Application
1. Two extreme positions regarding the relationship
between God's part and our part in spiritual growth,
both of which are imbalanced and inappropriate,
could be summarized as follows. (Describe each
mindset in your own words.)
The position that over-emphasizes our part:
__________________________________________
The position that de-emphasizes our responsibility:
__________________________________________
2. How does the farming analogy clarify the
relationship between God's part and man's part in
daily Christian living?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
6. What are the three spiritual disciplines or “means
of grace” that a Christian should submit to?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
4. Which of the three disciplines, or courses of action,
41
listed above, have you been implementing most
successfully?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
6. Now mull over this question. Which of the three
basic “means of grace” that you gleaned from the
previous passages of Scripture are you least
consistent in implementing?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
7. What changes in your schedule are necessary in
order to regularly exercise this means of spiritual
growth?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
8. Read the following Bible verses: Ephesians 3:2021; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; and 4:13. How do these
verses encourage someone who is discouraged about
his ability to change?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
42
DEVOTION
6
Prayer and the Bible
Now we get into the “means of grace” or
spiritual disciplines. In this lesson we will
study the first two disciplines: prayer and
Bible study. These disciplines make up our
devotion as followers of Jesus.
1. Prayer
Prayer, or communication with God is a discipline: a
consciously chosen course of action that plugs us into
the flow of God’s grace and power. It is a means of
getting to know God better. As we spend time with
Him through prayer and His Word, a more intimate
level of relationship develops. The fire in our heart
flickers out only when we fail to nurture that
relationship with Him.
The Lord’s Prayer: The Model
Let’s zero in on what Jesus taught about prayer in
what we commonly call “The Lord’s Prayer”.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
43
Question to ponder:
Did Jesus require us to pray the “Lord’s Prayer”
word for word or verbatim?
Jesus offered a prayer which He intended to serve as
a timeless model for praying. Jesus taught “how” we
should pray and not strictly “what” we should pray.
It will serve us well to follow Jesus’ example in prayer.
From Him, we can learn how to have an intimate time
of connection with the Father and pray according to
His will.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray directly to
God as our Father, not to the saints, or angels or His
mother. We are also to pray through Jesus because He
is the only way to the Father.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1
Timothy 2:5)
We can see that in His model prayer, the Lord Jesus
has taught us four kinds of prayers. Many have
benefited from a useful tool which describes four
different kinds of, or reasons for, prayer. This tool
employs the acronym ACTS:
A-doration
C-onfession
T-hanksgiving
S-upplication
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Adoration is praising God for Who He is. When we
express adoration in a prayer, we mention one or
more divine qualities that set God apart from man
(holiness, power, justice, love, faithfulness, etc.).
David wrote, “I will extol you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever” (Psalm
145:1).
Confession involves acknowledgement of sin that the
Holy Spirit exposes in our life. The term “confess”
means “to agree with.” We agree with God that a
particular attitude or act was wrong, and we agree
that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for
that sin. John assured his Christian readers with these
words:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9).
Failing to confess our sins hinders the effectiveness of
our prayers.
“But your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Thanksgiving is expressing gratitude to the Lord for
things He has done (such as answered prayers,
material provision, and comfort during trying times).
Whereas adoration focuses on His character,
thanksgiving illuminates His deeds.
45
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Supplication is making requests to God. We're free to
request things for ourselves and trust God for the
answer (whether it's yes, no, or wait). And we're
encouraged to make requests on behalf of others.
That's called “intercession.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7)
By the way, don't isolate these four kinds of prayer
from one another. They become an effective
devotional tool when you incorporate each kind into
the same “quiet time” with God. Disciplined use of
the ACTS formula will keep your prayers balanced. You
won't fall into the rut of approaching God for the
same things. Also, remember that if we pray
according to His will as we know from His word, we
know He will answer.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him,
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears
us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we
ask, we know that we have the requests that we have
asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
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2. The Bible – The Word of God
A survey was taken of several hundred young Christians of how many had a daily time of devotional
reading from the Bible. Only three percent said they
did! Failing to take nourishment from God's Word will
lead to spiritual malnutrition. Such neglect saps our
vigor and endangers our spiritual health. Even the
Holy Spirit used the analogy of food to describe the
benefits of Bible study by calling it “pure spiritual
milk” and “solid food”. It provides fuel for daily Christian living.
In Lesson 5 we learned that it's our responsibility to
pursue holiness. In addition to prayer, one of those
means of spiritual growth is reading God's Word. Digesting its morsels of truth inevitably adds weight and
muscle to our spiritual frame. In the next few pages,
you’ll learn more about the Bible and practice a simple method of digging into it.
Question to ponder:
Why should we trust the Bible - wasn’t it written by
mere men?
The Bible: What and Why?
The concept of divine revelation was explained earlier
in this book. “To reveal,” means to tell or to show
others information that otherwise they wouldn't have.
Two main avenues of His revelation are the living
Word (Jesus Christ), and the written Word (the Bible).
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“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, “(2 Timothy 3:16)
In this verse, Paul states that Scripture is inspired by
God or literally “breathed out by God.” The Holy
Spirit guided each word that originally formed our Old
and New Testaments. Though it contains 66 separate
books, written by more than 40 different human authors over a period of 1500 years, its primary message is consistent throughout. In fact, it's the only
piece of literature that God has inspired as a means
of revelation.
Read the following verses that show God’s purpose in
writing the Bible.
 The Bible reveals Jesus.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in
them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear
witness about me,” (John 5:39)
 The Bible keeps us from sin and temptation.
“How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9, 11)
 The Bible equips or trains us for service.
“
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17)
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Perspectives on Bible Study
Let’s go over a few perspectives to keep in mind as
you delve into God's Word.
BEGIN YOUR TIME OF BIBLE STUDY WITH PRAYER.
Remember the chapter on the Holy Spirit? He is the
One who illumines your mind. He helps you
comprehend spiritual principles and see the
applications for your life. Make this Psalm your own
prayer: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous
things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18).
EXAMINE YOUR LIFE TO MAKE SURE NO UNCONFESSED SIN BLOCKS YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH
GOD. Isaiah wrote, “but your iniquities have made a
separation between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2).
ANYTIME YOU READ A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE, HAVE
THE EYE OF AN EAGLE! Be observant. We often gloss
over words and details that offer timeless principles
for living or encouraging truths. Take time to analyze
the facts with the help of the Holy Spirit.
BE WILLING TO OBEY WHATEVER YOU OBSERVE. God
is concerned with our response to knowledge. Don’t
just be biblically educated, be obedient to God’s instructions written in the Bible. Don’t just garner information, rather experience transformation.
James put it this way: “But the one who looks into the
perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being
49
no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be
blessed in his doing.” (James 1:25).
Personal Application
a. Failing to confess our sins hinders the effectiveness of our prayers. Read Isaiah 59:1-2. Summarize
its timeless truth in your own words:
_______________________________________
b. List three specific things the Lord has done for you
in recent weeks.
__________________________________________________________
c. Look up Philippians 4:6-7, and answer this: What
undesirable mindset can be relieved by the habit of
making personal requests?
________________________________________________________
d. In your own words, answer this question: Why
does Christianity place so much emphasis on the Bible?
_______________________________________
e. We are encouraged to memorize Bible verses so
we can have them handy when needed. Most Christians have a “life verse” that they cherish and they
believe spoke to their hearts when they were new
believers. Can you now identify your own life
verse?”
__________________________________________
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CHURCH
7
Living and Engaging in God’s Family
“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock
I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.’”
(Matthew 16:16-18)
Jesus Christ is the founder of His church. In the
scripture we just read from Matthew, He said He
Himself will build His church on the rock of truth that
Peter confessed when he declared Jesus as the Son of
the living God. Jesus also said that His church will be
a victorious church that will prevail over the kingdom
of darkness. It is therefore important to understand
that according to Jesus and later Paul, the church is a
body of believers – the people of God. Church or
“Ekklesia” in the original language refers to a local
group of people meeting regularly. Church being
equated to a religious building is a common
misconception through the centuries.
The local church is God’s provision that will benefit
the Christian in the following areas.
FELLOWSHIP
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
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you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of
the household of God, built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself
being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure,
being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord. In him you also are being built together into a
dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:1922)
In these verses we see that we belong to a family, the
household of God. God never meant for any Christian
to be alone. He meets and empowers us not only
through prayer and Bible study, but also through
other people who have entered into a relationship
with Him. We are to grow with other believers into a
“holy temple” in the Lord. We are to grow and to
function as members of the body united in one
purpose.
“For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are
one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)
In this whole passage in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul likened
us to parts of the body that serve different roles for
the benefit of everyone and the whole body.
To help us understand what it means to live as “parts
of a body,” or “members of a family,” God has given
specific commands to guide our relationships. Most
of these commands contain the phrase “one another”
or “each other.” Here are some verses with “one
another” commands showing what Christian
52
fellowship should look like.
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has
welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)
That is what the church should be like! A family where
the members genuinely love and welcome one
another, share in one another’s burdens and pray for
each other.
WORSHIP
Worship is our expression of love, commitment and
thanksgiving to God.
Jesus said this in John 4:23, “But the hour is coming,
and is now here, when the true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is
seeking such people to worship him.”
DISCIPLESHIP
The last command Jesus gave before ascending to
heaven was to go and make disciples and to teach
them to obey God’s word. This is called “The Great
Commission”.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20)
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“And what you have heard from me in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be
able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
Question to ponder:
How do I know I am at the right church?
One way to grow in discipleship is by engaging in a
local church that is intentional in its discipleship
program. The local church is still God’s primary
agency for fulfilling His redemptive plan for the world.
INVOLVEMENT IN MINISTRY
It is ideal for every member of the church to be involved in the church’s life. This is the concept of “everyone is a minister”. Rather than just sitting on the
pews watching others perform, it is God’s desire that
everyone pitch in and involve himself in the work of
the church. Here are ways someone can get involved
in the local church.
Get Involved by Joining the Church.
If the church offers official membership, try to be a
member. Persons who are in membership in a church
often enjoy privileges and responsibilities that are unavailable to non-members. Becoming a member gives
someone ownership of the church and its work to
bless people. To become a member means committing myself to the people, the work, and the head of
the church – Jesus Christ.
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Get involved by Attending Regularly
Christian living has both private and corporate
dimensions. We need private times of prayer, Bible
study, and worship. Yet in order to be spiritually wellrounded, we need to experience the same disciplines
in a corporate context.
The author of Hebrews wrote, “And let us consider
how to stir up one another to love and good works,”
(Hebrews 10:24).
Worshiping corporately reminds us that other people
share similar beliefs, joys, and struggles.
Get involved by Giving Financially
If we believe the local church is God's primary agency
for ministry, then we'll give a portion of our income to
keep it functioning.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also
reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided
in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Get involved by Serving
What we give financially to God's work is merely a byproduct of a “total life commitment” to Him. God
wants you to impact others through frugal
stewardship of all the resources He has given you. As
Paul suggested in Ephesians 2:10, He saved you for
the purpose of ministry. “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
55
works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.”
SHARING OUR FAITH GENEROUSLY
The beauty of the truth that “Christ is in you, the hope
of glory” should not be hidden but shared with others.
The Dead Sea in Israel is called “dead” because no
creature can live in it. Minerals just accumulate due
to the fact that water flows into it but cannot flow out.
Unlike the Dead Sea, we need to have an outflow and
be a channel of God’s blessing to others by sharing
Jesus with them.
You now have a greater responsibility before God than
you had seven lessons ago; you're accountable for
what you've learned! Jesus put it this way: “Everyone
to whom much was given, of him much will be
required, and from him to whom they entrusted much,
they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:48).
Consider it a privilege to be given this responsibility
by the King. Prayerfully commit yourself to sharing
your faith to a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker. As you actively obey Christ’s Great
Commission, remember Jesus’ words:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
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Personal Application
Think of “one another” or relational commands you
need to obey in order to serve a family or an individual. Write them here:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Why is getting involved in a local church important?
What are the ways I can get engaged or involved?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
What life adjustments do I have to make to be better
involved in my local church?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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If you are asked this personal question: “What is the
greatest reason why you should share your faith with
others?” What would be your answer?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
List some names of people that you want to share
your faith with. Pray that God will enable you to lead
them through the lessons of this book.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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Congratulations! You have completed the
first part of your journey with Jesus Christ.
What’s Next?
Institute for Training in Ministry
Getting Equipped for Service
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CROSSWIND CHURCH OF DENVER
15801 E. Centretech Circle Aurora, CO
80013.
For more information about our church
and ministries, contact us at
(877) 566-2430 or visit our website
www.crosswindchurchdenver.org.
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