Knowing Jesus Series

Beginning Your New Life Series

Follow-Up 4: Beginning Your New Life of Growth in Christ


Look Back

How are you? When was the last time you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you?

Let's worship God for who He is by sharing to the group at least three characteristics or attributes.

What happened during your gospel presentation to classmates? Did they go back for follow up?

Witnessing is one of the examples of obedience to God's commands. Obedience is one of the elements for growth in Christ. Let's learn how we can grow more in Christ through our lesson today.


Look Up

Beginning Your New Life of Growth in Christ

Receiving Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior is the most important decision in life. The act of receiving Jesus Christ by faith starts a whole new life. Just as physical life requires air, food, rest and exercise, so spiritual life has its requirements for growth and development.

The moment you received Christ, you were born into God’s family and you received everything you need to live the abundant Christian life. Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. “The righteous mall shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail in your life.

The nourishment for spiritual well-being is provided in the following Principles of Growth:
a. Prayer
b. Bible Study
c. Obedience

Prayer

Prayer is talking and listening to God. Failures in the Christian life can most often be traced to prayerlessness.

  1. How does man speak to God?

  2. Read Philippians 4:6-7
    a. What are we told to do?
    b. What should we pray about?
    c. As we pray about everything, what does God promise we will experience?

We talk to God through prayer as illustrated in the diagram. He talks to us through the Bible.

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Bible Study

Physical food is necessary for physical life. Without food, one comes weak and eventually ill. This is true spiritually as well. The Bible is our spiritual food.

  1. How does God talk to man?

  2. How does reading the Bible help us? (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

  3. How does faith grow? (Romans 10:17)

  4. When should we read the Bible (Acts 17:11)

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Acts 17:11
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

As we read God’s Word, the Bible, God talks to us. As we pray, we talk to God. We need to constantly practice both.

It is necessary to read God’s Word daily for daily strength.


Obedience

The key continual growth in the Christian life is obedience to the will of God. To know the importance of prayer and Bible Study is of little value unless they are applied in our lives.

Daily reading for daily strength

  1. Read James 1:22.
    a. According to this verse, is it enough to read the Bible?
    b. After we have read the Bible, what are supposed to do?

  2. How can we prove that we love Jesus? (John 14:21)

James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

Conclusion

  1. In light of our study and discussion, what three things do you think God wants you to do daily?

  2. Realizing that prayer and Bible study are essential for my spiritual growth, I am going to set aside the following time each day to pray and study the Bible.

  3. What will be the result of keeping Christ’s commandments? (John 15:10)

  4. Where do we get the power to obey the will of God? (Philippians 2:13)

John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Answers

Prayer

  1. Through prayer

  2. a. Do not worry and to pray
    b. Pray about everything
    c. We will experience His peace

Bible Study

  1. Though His Word, the Bible

  2. God’s Word is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness

  3. Through Bible Study

  4. Everyday

Obedience

  1. a. No
    b. Do what it says, apply it
    c. By obeying Him

Conclusion

  1. Pray, Study the Bible, Obey

  2. Personal committed to God

  3. We will remain in His love

  4. From God


Look Forward

Now, let's have a practice on how you can effectively share the gospel to your friends using the 4SL.

Shall we go out together again for witnessing tomorrow?