1. KNOW

1. KNOW

The Gospel and your decision to follow Jesus.

 

Welcome to the next steps in following Jesus Christ. These 7 Steps will help you as you begin your new life with Jesus Christ and teach you how to walk with God daily as you grow in your relationship with Him.

The 7 Steps are: KNOW, READ, PRAY, LISTEN, CONNECT, WORSHIP AND SHARE. These steps will change your life and help you become the person God created you to be.

 

Here is our plan for you to grow in knowing God:

1. KNOW – The Gospel and your decision to follow Jesus.

2. READ – Reading the Bible and learning what God thinks.

3. PRAY – Understanding how to pray and talk with God.

4. LISTEN – Learning how to listen to God and hear his voice.

5. CONNECT – Understanding how we are created for community and called to serve.

6. WORSHIP – Seeing how we are called to worship and praise God.

7. SHARE – Learning how to share the good news of Jesus.

 

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ and how we can start a personal relationship with God. The 4 Steps of the Gospel are: Love, Separated, Jesus, Pray.

 

1. Love

God loves you and has a plan for you. The Bible says, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not die, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” — a complete life full of purpose (John 10:10).

 

2. Separated

We are sinful and separated from God. We have all done, thought or said bad things, which the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The result of sin is death, spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23).

 

3. Jesus

God sent Jesus to die for your sins. This is the good news: Jesus died in our place so we could have a relationship with God and be with Him forever. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). But it didn’t end with His death on the cross. He rose again and still lives! “Jesus Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).

 

4. Pray

Pray to receive God’s forgiveness. Praying is simply talking to God. He knows you. What matters is the attitude of your heart and your honesty. Pray a prayer like this to accept Jesus as your Savior: “Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Thank you for dying on the Cross for me, set me free from all my sins and forgive me today. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Be with me forever. Thank you Jesus!”

 

What’s next?

Your Decision to follow Jesus Christ starts when you turn from your sins to follow Him. God made the world and created humanity. Man was in relationship with God and loving God was at the purpose of life and it was good. However, that all changed when man sinned against God. The moment man disobeyed God is when sin and death came into the world and spread to the entire human race. It is known as “the Fall,” and you can read more about the Fall in Genesis 3.

 

Sin broke man’s perfect fellowship with God and brought evil, disease and death into our world. Today everyone is born a sinner and sin continues to keep people separated from a perfect and holy God. “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore” (Isaiah 59:2). Our sin is the problem and we are powerless to overcome our sin on our own. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 2:23) We have all sinned and are in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ came to be the Savior of the whole world. “The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14).

 

Jesus came into this world to defeat sin and death forever and give us the free gift of eternal life to everyone who believes in Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus was fully God who became a perfect Man and paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). So how do sinful people receive the free gift of God? It’s simple, just confess and believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior. “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.” (Ephesians 10:9). Salvation is a free gift. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” (Ephesians 2:8).

 

Today you are forgiven, you are a child of God, your relationship with God has been restored, you are now a new creation and sin no longer separates you from God. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

Welcome to the Family of God.

 

Bible Group Want to start a Bible Group?

You can host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together. Read the Bible to learn how to fully trust God and have a deeper relationship with Him.

  • John 14:6

  • Ephesians 2:8-9

  • Romans 10:9

  • Acts 2:21 2

  • Peter 3:9

2. READ

2. READ

 

Reading the Bible – Learning what God thinks.

 

Many new believers wonder how they can know what God wants them to do. God reveals Himself to us through His Word, the Holy Bible. He also shapes our hearts and lives through His Word. Spending time in the Bible transforms us, our lives and brings us closer to God.

 

The Bible is God’s true word – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).

 

The Word of God is a living and active word that we can interact with – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

 

When we have more of God’s Word in our hearts, God is able to lead us closer to Him. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

 

All believers, especially new ones, should read and study the Bible every day. As with any book, we must read it in context and in its entirety to truly understand its meaning and what God is saying. To get started, you can open your Bible to the book of John. Reading the book of John will help you better understand the story of Jesus.

 

When you read the Bible, ask the following three questions:
1. What does the verse say about God?
2. What does the verse say about people?
3. How do I obey what I have read?

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together.

 

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Hebrews 4:12
• James 1:22
• Psalms 18:30

3. PRAY

3. PRAY

 

Prayer – Talking with God.

 

It is actually pretty awesome to think that we have a direct line to the Creator of the universe. We often make a relationship with God more complicated than it needs to be. If you look at your best relationships, it is usually because you care about one another, you spend time together, and you value what the other has to say. The same things hold true for a relationship with God.

 

Prayer is simply talking with God. It is being honest with Him but also recognizing His ways are beyond what we can understand. Find time each day to pray and talk with God. This will help you to start learning how to trust Him with everything in your life.

 

God wants us to pray and make our requests known to Him. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Our prayers are powerful. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

 

There is no formula you have to use for prayer, but many have found a simple model that works well. It is based on the acronym ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

 

Adoration is expressing to God how great He is and how you love Him for it. Confession is admitting your sins and being accountable for disobeying Him so you can be cleansed. Thanksgiving is thanking God for His grace and forgiveness in our lives and expressing your appreciation for everything He has done for you. Supplication is asking God help in your life and praying for others. Find time each day to pray and talk with God. This will help you to start learning how to trust Him with everything in your life.

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together.

 

• Philippians 4:6-7
• 1 John 5:14
• Jeremiah 29:12
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• Colossians 4:2

4. LISTEN

4. LISTEN

 

Listening – Hearing what God has to say.

 

Everyone that has ever prayed to God has wanted a clear answer to some request or question. Often those answers are not what we expect or when we expect them. The key to finding and understanding those answers is making time to listen to God. We have to be very intentional when we listen so we actually hear what God is saying. The Bible talks about how Jesus took time away from everyone else to just be with God and listen to Him.

 

Spiritual quiet time often is mixed in with prayer and reading the Bible. That means finding a quiet place where you can settle your heart. It means turning off all the things that compete for your attention. When we focus solely on connecting with God and hearing what He wants to share with us, we receive direction, hope and answers.

 

God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. That is why it is called “the Living Word.” When we read the Bible we hear God’s voice speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.

Some people say, Well, God doesn’t talk to me. But, here is an important truth: even if you don’t feel like God speaks to you—He does. In fact, He’s speaking to you right now. But, if you aren’t expecting to hear from Him, you haven’t even turned on the receiver!

 

Now, let’s be clear—He isn’t going to scream, yell and demand that you pay attention. He is always speaking to you, but He speaks in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). So to hear Him, you have to tune in and listen carefully.

 

Another way to describe the way we hear God’s voice is through an inward witness. What is an inward witness? God doesn’t communicate with us the way we communicate with one another. He communicates from His Spirit to your spirit, and then your spirit communicates what you hear to your mind. That is what we call an inward witness. It is very similar to a thought or a prompting. It’s very subtle and requires a closeness with God and regular practice to hear it more quickly and clearly.

 

That’s why the more time you spend with the Lord and the more you practice tuning in to His voice, the more it will become a voice that “thunders in marvelous ways” (Job 37:5).

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together.

 

• Jeremiah 33:3
• Philippians 4:9
• Psalms 34:4
• Psalms 85:8
• Proverbs 1:33

5. CONNECT

5. CONNECT

 

Connecting – Understanding the importance of community.

 

God did not design you to live alone. We are all created for community. We are stronger when we are living with others and not trying to do life alone. This is especially true as a new believer. You need other believers around you to encourage you and teach you new things about God. You also need other believers to worship and pray with so your faith can go stronger and stronger! Your decision to follow Jesus is an awesome event in your life. Think about who you know that is a follower of Jesus and share this with them. Ask if you could talk with them more about their faith journey.

 

What is the Church?

The Bible’s original Greek word for church is translated as gathering or assembly. The idea being that followers of Jesus would gather to live in fellowship with one another. They would be united by Jesus, study God’s word, love one another, encourage each other through difficult times, help each other grow closer to Jesus and live as a Christian family.

 

Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).

 

The Church is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ. “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior” (Ephesians 5:23).

 

Another aspect to community is the concept of serving the “body of Christ.” The idea is that each follower of Jesus is part of the universal body and we each serve a different purpose that together makes us whole. We are called to care for one another and recognize that if one suffers we are all hurting.

 

We should think about how to use our time, our talents and our treasure to serve God. You have a role in the Church, in God’s community of believers and you need to spend time thinking about what it may be. When we meet together we find our calling, purpose and the destiny that God has planned for us.

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together.

 

• Acts 2:42-44
• 1 Corinthians 12:21-31
• Ephesians 4:15-16
• 1 Peter 4:10
• Hebrews 10:24

6. WORSHIP

6. WORSHIP

 

Worship – How we are created to praise God.

 

Going to church does not save us, but we are called by God to gather together. Church is where true worship as a community of believers occurs. It is where ministry can happen in a way different than any individual or small group can deliver.

 

As we grow closer to Jesus Christ, we should develop a desire to worship God, receive His Word, and fellowship with other believers.

 

We encourage you to find a good Bible-teaching church. Review their statement of faith and see if they hold the correct doctrines and beliefs of a Christian Church.

 

What does a good Bible-teaching Church believe?
We believe in one God, who exists in three Persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is loving, holy and just.

 

We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is inspired and accurate. It is our perfect guide in all matters of life.

We believe that sin has separated us all from God, and that only through Jesus Christ can we be reconciled to God.

 

We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and Man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He led a sinless life, took all our sins upon Himself, died and rose again. Today, He is seated at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest and Mediator.

 

We believe that salvation is the gift of God to man. This gift is effected by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and it produces works pleasing to God.

 

We believe that water baptism is an outward act that demonstrates a believer’s identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He guides us in all areas of our lives. He also blesses us with spiritual gifts and empowers us to yield to the fruits of the Spirit.

 

We believe that the Holy Communion is a celebration of Jesus’ death and our remembrance of Him.

 

We believe that God wants to transform, heal and prosper us, so that we can live blessed and victorious lives that will impact and help others.

 

We believe that we are called to preach the gospel to all nations. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again just as He promised.

 

Look for a place where you can become part of a community that will help you grow closer to God and worship him well.

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together.

 

• Psalms 29:2
• Acts 2:42
• Hebrews 10:25
• 1 Peter 2:5-6
• Romans 12:4-8

7.SHARE

7. SHARE

 

Share – How to spread the Good News.

 

One of the first steps we all should take as followers of Jesus is to be baptized. This is how we follow Jesus’ example of being baptized and how we publicly proclaim that we are followers of Him. It is an illustration of how we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This does not save us as no works of our own can do that. Being baptized is an important symbol of what has happened to our lives and hearts as someone that has trusted Jesus.

 

We are called by Jesus to share the Good News and make disciples of others.

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

 

It may be hard to talk about God with those that may not know or believe in Him. Therefore, start with some basics.

 

We must live our life genuinely in service to God so we are not seen as hypocrites. Start praying for those you want to share with and that you believe don’t know Jesus. Keep in mind that you are not asked to save anyone but rather share the Gospel. Only the Holy Spirit can open eyes and hearts to God’s truth.

 

When you get that opportunity to bring this up, don’t be afraid. God is with you and wants to help. Don’t feel like you need to know the answer to every question. Focus on sharing your story and the difference God has made in your life. Use simple words in explaining how we are all sinners and in need of forgiveness.

 

Use “we” and “us” to let them know you are no different and just blessed enough to have heard the Good News and accepted Jesus. Be faithful and let God use you in the amazing process of Him revealing himself to others. Finally, you have no idea how long God has been working on you, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a while with others.

 

Bible Group.
Host a Bible Group with your friends by meeting weekly and reading these verses together. How do you keep your Bible group going? Continue to meet and read the Bible together and empower others to host new Bible groups with new people who come to Jesus Christ.

 

• Romans 6:3-5
• Luke 3:21-22
• Matthew 28:19
• Mark 16:15
• Psalms 105:1
• 1 Peter 3:15
• Acts 1:8

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