Lesson #1 Essentials of Growth

Lesson #4 The Church

Lesson #2 Your Prayer Life

Lesson #5 Witnessing

Lesson #3 The Holy Spirit

Lesson #6 Using Your Gifts

You have made the most important life-changing decision it is possible to make. You have personally invited Jesus Christ into your life as Saviour and Lord. You have experienced what Jesus described as a "new birth." "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17, N.I.V.). Christ has given you forgiveness, purpose, peace, and assurance of eternal life. He wishes to continue to provide you His abundant life and to work through you to touch the lives of others. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" (Col. 2:6 N.I.V.).

God wants you to have real assurance of your life in Christ. This assurance is built on three concepts:

1. THE FIRST IS FACT. The New Testament presents the historical record of Jesus Christ, his life, ministry, death and resurrection. It records His words and actions and those of His immediate followers. This is a true record. There was a man named Jesus. He did walk this earth as God in the flesh. He did come to bring man back to God. He was crucified, and He arose from the dead. His followers did believe Him to be the Saviour of the world and the Lord of life. You can be sure of this!

2. THE SECOND IS FAITH. Your faith in Christ is also based on personal experience. You believed the above facts and entered into a personal relationship with Christ. You can now look back on your life and claim the experience of receiving Jesus Christ in your life as your own personal Saviour. Your faith experience is further assured by the testimony of the word of God (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 10:28; Rom. 8:35-39) and the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life (Rom. 8:16; 1 John 3:24).

3. THE THIRD IS FOLLOW-THROUGH. After receiving Christ, the life that you live demonstrates the genuineness of your commitment. As you grow in Christ, you become obedient to Him and to His will for your life. The letter of 1 John clearly describes the follow-through phase of the Christian life and how it does bring assurance to the individual life.

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." (1 John 2:3, N.I.V.). Each act of obedience to Christ in your life adds to your assurance of His presence. A disobedient child is often filled with doubts about how real his relationship is. First John 3:14 indicates that our love for others is another way of testing obedience and having assurance.

Receiving Christ was only the beginning. Growing in Him is the continuation. Begin right now to understand and apply the following essentials of growth.

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit is Christ with us today. It is impossible to live a growing and victorious Christian life in your own strength. If you try you will fail. Living in Christ is possible only as the Holy Spirit strengthens you. John 14:16 emphasizes the importance of the Spirit in the life of the believer. You should be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). You should be guided and controlled by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

2. PRAYER - Prayer is your personal communication with God. It is your lifeline. It is speaking to God and allowing Him to speak to you. You cannot grow spiritually without an active prayer life. Find a place where you can pray in private, where you can talk out loud to God. Find a time when you can pray regularly. Always be in a attitude of prayer. Begin each day by offering your life to God to be used by Him in reaching others. Mark 1:35 tells of the prayer life of Jesus. Let this serve as a pattern for your prayer life.

3. BIBLE STUDY - Now that you know Jesus Christ personally, study God's Word. Make it an exciting and fruitful part of your daily life. The Bible is God's personal message to you. It is the bread of life. It should be read daily. Become acquainted with the various books of the Bible. Use a present-day translation which presents a message in easy-to-read form. Memorize key verses. Begin a definite pattern of Bible study with the Gospel of John.

4. WITNESSING - Perhaps your most important task as a new Christian is to share Christ with others. The greatest joy that can come to you personally is to lead someone to receive Christ into his or her life. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and speak through you as you witness. Make a list of the names of those with whom you want to share Christ. Pray definitely that the Holy Spirit will lead you into a situation where you can meaningfully and naturally share the good news with each person.

5. THE CHURCH - You need regular fellowship with other Christians. You cannot be an effective disciple alone. The church is God's appointed way of providing a means by which His people may gather to worship, pray, share, study, and proclaim the message of Christ. You should become involved in a Sunday School if you are not already. Following Christ in baptism, is an outward symbol of your inner commitment. Take a place of responsibility in your church as soon as you can do so. Give of your material means to help strengthen the ministry and outreach of your church.

You have begun the great adventure of following Jesus Christ. May God richly bless you as you study this first of six brief lessons. May they help you as you seek to grow in Christ.

In the first lesson, the importance of prayer and Bible study were discussed. The degree of joy and fulfillment you experience in your Christian life will be determined largely by your communication with Christ through prayer and Bible study.

Prayer is talking to God and allowing Him to speak to you. Through the Bible, God communicates with you also. Prayer is conversation. Therefore, there is no need for a special language, form or system.

The "Model Prayer" is often called the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:9-13). It includes several elements of prayer that should be included in a dynamic prayer life.

Prayer must begin with the recognition of the greatness of God and the acknowledgment of the lordship of Christ in our lives. Along with this adoration comes praise and thanksgiving for God's providing for us, and for His guidance, love, and grace.

As we come to realize God's greatness, we become aware of our own sinfulness. Thus prayer must include confession of our sins to Him. The real heart of prayer is to bring to God the things which relate to our involvement in His kingdom work from day to day.

We talk with Him about our deepest needs and problems. We pray for others. This leads to commitment. We ask God to use us to meet these needs and to serve Him.

Remember that we must keep prayer dynamic. The daily devotional period must not become a dead ritual. It need not, if it is properly planned. Decide on a time and place fitted to your own schedule and needs.

If prayer is conversation with God, then we need to make plans and develop definite courses of action for the day and for the future.

Since prayer is something we learn how to do, we must give attention to a systematic method of praying.

There is a very definite and unifying value in having a "prayer list". We are human and naturally forget many things, including the promise to a friend, "I'll be praying for you." The best way to keep that friend uppermost in your mind and thus in your prayers is to list his name along with other items for prayer consideration. This list becomes your personal concern list and should be used in your regular prayer sessions. Using such a list daily can make a difference in your prayer life. It can help you to be consistent.

Prayer is dynamic. In I Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) Paul said, "Pray without ceasing." Thus, whether we are studying, working, relaxing, or whatever, we are in ready contact with God. We remain in an attitude of prayer. We feel God's presence. This is dynamic prayer -- in force every moment.

Prayer with other Christians can open up new blessings and insights not possible while praying alone. Develop a definite prayer relationship with at least one other person.

I suggest that you study the following passages: Matt. 6:5-7 deals with insincerity and use of a lot of words in prayer; John 14:13-14 relates prayer to the will of God for your life; Romans 8:26 and John 14:16-17 show how the Holy Spirit is involved in our prayer life. (See also Rom. 1:9; Heb. 7:25; Phil. 4:6-8.)

Seek to pray in a natural way. In prayer you are talking with a personal friend.

The Bible is God's special written word to His people. So couple prayer with a regular and intensive study of the Bible. Your study of the Bible can become an exciting part of your new adventure in Christ. Make certain that you combine it with your daily prayer time. As you read and study the Bible, depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal its meaning to you. Before beginning, prepare your heart by praying: "Lord, I am going to read your word. Please speak to me through it and make me sensitive to the Holy Spirit who will interpret its truth to me." (John 16:13)

Since the Bible is a rather lengthy book, it may help you to learn something of its basic makeup and content and to know where to begin. Ask a Christian friend to recommend a Bible handbook which gives a summary of the biblical message and a review or outline of each book.

The New Testament is the heart of God's message. Thus it would be the logical place to begin your study. The first four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus. Study first the account of John. Then read the book of Acts to gain an understanding of what happened in the lives of the followers of Christ for the thirty years following the resurrection. Next, study the letter of Paul to the Romans for a basic understanding of the Christian message. Continue with a study of other books as they are introduced to you.

Another approach to Bible study is by subject. (Consult a concordance.) Still another approach is through specially prepared study guides, such as the series used in Sunday School and Church Training classes.

Remember -- you will never outgrow this need for daily fellowship with Christ.

Your life in Jesus Christ can be filled with exciting adventure and genuine fulfillment. It can if you properly understand and use the power offered to you through the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to live a victorious Christian life without depending upon the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is Christ with us in the world right now. He is mentioned over 250 times in the New Testament. A careful study of the following verses will clarify the work of the Holy Spirit. Read John 3:16; John 14:26; John 16:8; John 13:14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:15, 27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:21.

The Christian is helpless without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit desires to fill and give power to every believer who is willing to yield control to Him.

Many persons think that this filling is reserved for certain special messengers. But Jesus promised His Spirit to all of His followers who are willing to ask in faith. God has nothing but good in store for those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

If God intends for all Christians to be filled, and if you as an individual desire this filling, how can it be received?

1. Continually recognize, confess, and turn from sin. The Holy Spirit cannot effectively work through a vessel that is dirty with sin and disobedience. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us {our} sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

2. Understand that the Holy Spirit already dwells in your life. He is there by your personal invitation. He worked the miracle of the new birth when you received Christ. Therefore, you need not ask God to send the Spirit since He is already present. You simply need to take the necessary steps to use His power and His fullness.

3. Remember that you did not receive the Holy Spirit on the basis of your works. You received Him by faith. You were saved by faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: {it is} the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8-9). Read Titus 3:5.

4. Understand that being filled with the Spirit does not necessarily mean that you will have some great emotional experience. "FEELING" is not the test of having the fullness of the Spirit. It is based on the fact of God's promise and your response in faith. You may very well experience emotion to some degree, but it is not the test.

5. Since you received Christ by faith, you can be filled by faith. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk ye in him:" (Col. 2:6). As simple as this may seem it is all that is necessary for you to have the promise of Christ in John 14:13-17.

When you yield control of your life to the Spirit, many things begin to be realized in your relationship to Christ.

1. You have a continued awareness of God's presence (John 15:4 and Gal 2:20).

2. You have victory over sin and temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).

3. You produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

4. Your life is guided and controlled by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25).

5. You have boldness and power to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8, 4:31).

6. You have a daily desire to continue in the Spirit-filled life. Having once experienced what God can do through your life controlled by the Spirit, you can never be satisfied with anything less.

A man was given a pair of fur-lined gloves as a gift. Because he lived in a warm climate and really did not need the gloves, he placed them in a drawer and promptly forgot about them. They were of no use to him because he did not use them. Later, he was called to a cold northern city on business and remembered the gloves. At last he would find use for what he considered a useless gift.

When he placed the first glove on his hand he noticed that something kept his thumb from fitting properly. To his great surprise, it was a rolled-up $10 bill in each finger. One hundred dollars! It had been there all the time, but he had not been aware of it!

The Holy Spirit is in the life of every believer all the time. But the believer must depend upon Him. May your life be controlled and guided by the Spirit, and may you be filled with the Spirit. If you have not already discovered the fullness of life He gives, ask right now. He will fill you.

Jesus left with His church the responsibility of sharing His good news. The word "church" means "called out ones," and can be translated "assembly." The same word in the Old Testament is used to describe God's gathered people. Jesus gave the word a unique significance. The origin and beginning of the church is recorded in Acts. In each community, as a group of believers would gather, a church was formed. These churches were different in racial and social backgrounds, but they had certain common beliefs and objectives which united them in spirit with their brothers in other places. They were convinced that Jesus Christ was God's unique Son, that He had come to give them life, and they were committed to sharing this message with the whole world.

Whenever a person professed personal faith in Christ, he was baptized by immersion to symbolize the death and resurrection of Christ and his own death to the old life and resurrection to a new life. The church leaders were called pastors or bishops. Deacons (servants) were set apart to assist the pastor in various church ministries. The early churches were independent of each other, and yet they voluntarily cooperated with each other for joint ministries.

Members met together at appointed times, usually on the first day of the week. They met to worship God, to share with each other and partake of a memorial supper in remembrance of the death of their Lord. They parted from each other in order to share with others the good news of Christ. They often met in secret because of persecution. They had a deep love for one another and were even willing to give up personal possessions for the good of the body. I would advise that you study the first few chapters of Acts for a clear understanding of the church.

There were churches during the New Testament days which had experienced considerable difficulty. The Corinthian Church experienced a number of serious problems which Paul sought to correct through his letters to them. There are churches today which experience similar difficulties. There are churches today which do not measure up to these New Testament descriptions.

How does one ever determine which church to join? The following checklist may be of assistance:

1. The church believes and proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that God revealed Himself fully and completely in Him. His life was perfect and His death and resurrection realities.

2. The church regards the Bible as the written Word of God, adequate and authoritative in matters of practice and belief.

3. One comes into right relation to God by means of personal faith in Jesus Christ who provides forgiveness of sin and assurance of abundant and eternal life.

4. The new believer is baptized by immersion as an act of obedience to Christ. He must be old enough to make a personal and rational decision to receive Christ. (This would eliminate infant baptism.)

5. The Lord's Supper is observed as a memorial event of the death of Christ. It is only a symbol; it has no saving power in itself.

6. Each individual can go directly to God through Christ. Each believer should share Christ with others.

7. Each church should be completely free to conduct its own mission and business without interference from any other church or denominational structure.

8. The church should have a spirit of cooperative action, joining with other like-minded churches in special ventures such as missions and education.

9. The church should provide meaningful experiences in worship, ministry, and training which will honor Christ and lead to personal Christian growth as a Christian body.

10. The church should be a loving fellowship, living in the Spirit of Christ, caring for all people, and encouraging application of Christian principles in all areas of life.

The first step in becoming a member of a church is to follow Christ in baptism. A study of Romans 6:4 reveals that baptism is an outward symbol of an inner experience: death through Christ to the old life and resurrection with Him to a new life in Christ.

When your church sets aside times for worship, prayer, study, and outreach, you should seek to be present and participate fully whenever possible. You can help your church financially by giving at least 10 percent of your income, the biblical minimum standard. There will be a definite task in the church which you can perform. Remember, you will not be serving a church -- you will be serving Christ through your church.

The purpose of the church is to enable Christians to gather to help each other in their spiritual journey, to carry out the commission of Christ to make disciples, and to teach these disciples to follow Him.

May God bless you as you seek to make your church a vital part of your growth in Christ.

One of your most important tasks as a new Christian is to share Jesus Christ with others. All Christians are called to witness. All Christians are under the commission of Christ who called us to "make disciples of all nations" (See Matt. 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). Witnessing should be the natural result of a new life in Christ. When Andrew became a follower of Christ, the first thing he did was to tell his brother (John 1:40-42). Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). Sharing Christ is a pouring out of your experience.

Perhaps the most well-known application of the word "witness" is in connection with law. In a courtroom, a witness is asked to tell what he personally knows about the case. He is not to tell what someone told him, or what he thinks. He is to tell only what he personally saw and experienced. A Christian witness is simply to share what he has experienced in Christ.

The early Christians witnessed regardless of the cost. Often they were put in prison, tortured, or killed. The Greek word for witness means martyr. Note that they were killed because they were martyrs (witnesses), not martyrs because they were killed.

Witnessing involves two general areas of action: our lives and our testimonies. The living witness is accomplished through our day-by-day living. We seek to allow Christ to live in us. Others note our attitudes, actions, concerns, and relationships. This is an important basis for the speaking part of our witnessing. This part is the actual sharing of Christ in words, and telling a person how he, too, can come to know Jesus.

Many times, a powerful Christian life causes others to turn to Christ, or to ask why this life is different. However, never become content without testimony.

In order for you to be most effective as a witness, consider these essential qualifications:

1. You must have a genuine experience with Christ as Lord and Saviour.

2. You must have a dynamic, growing relationship with Christ.

3. You must have an intelligent understanding of your experience with Christ.

4. You must be guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit, so as to depend on His power to work through you.

5. You must be able to communicate your experience to others.

6. You must have a desire and concern to share Christ.

7. You must have an active prayer life.

8. You must have a working knowledge of the Bible.

9. You must be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and conscious of the opportunities about you.

10. You must involve yourself in the interests and needs of the person to whom you are witnessing.

Effective witnessing may be done in one-time "chance" situations, such as on a plane, or at the beach. But probably the most effective witnessing can be done with those whom you contact in the normal activities of daily life, such as a friend, classmate, neighbor, or a fellow worker. God has purposely placed you in a specific location for a definite reason: that you might be the one through whom He can touch the lives of those immediately around you.

You do not have to go anywhere to be a witness, you are already there. Witnessing is not only what you do, but also what you are. Therefore, it is important to build a depth relationship with a person. Seek to see him as a fellow human being first of all -- a human being with human problems. He is an individual -- a person. Begin now to establish a meaningful relationship with several persons so that you can minister and witness to them.

The climax of any witnessing situation is telling a person how to become a Christian. Regardless of how effective your life may be lived before others, they must be shown precisely how. This involves the use of Scripture verses, your own testimony, and a logical plan of presentation. This plan should be simple and systematic -- showing the person his position before God, what God has done for him in Christ, and the need for repentance and faith. Show him how to pray and invite Christ into his life.

Someone took time and showed enough concern to tell you about Jesus Christ. What could have happened if that person had not been faithful in witnessing? Your commitment to Jesus Christ should lead you to share Him with someone else. That someone will in turn reach another, and the people touched because you started a chain of witnessing will be uncountable. Begin today to be a witness for Christ. Pray each morning, "Lord, work through me today to share Christ with those whom I touch."

You have received Jesus Christ into your life as Saviour and Lord. You have begun a new life in Him. This new life becomes more meaningful each day as you discover additional evidences of God's love for you and His purpose for your life. It is the purpose of this series of lessons to help you become more deeply involved in God's plan for your life and to become better acquainted with Christ. Receiving Him is just the beginning. Daily commitment to Him is necessary if you are to enjoy the fullness of life He has for you. "Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18).

How are you getting along as a new Christian? Have you asked Christ to fill your life with His presence and power? Have you established a certain time for prayer and Bible study? Have you become involved in fellowship with other Christians at church? Have you sought to share Christ with others?

In this lesson we will talk more about you specifically as we discuss "creative discipleship." The essentials thus far studied are for all Christians. Yet, each Christian will express his Christian life in a different way because each one is a unique individual. You are you.

The word "disciple" is used to describe a follower and learner of Christ. It involves a definite and sustained commitment. The follower of Christ must live a disciplined life, under the control and direction of his Lord.

You should be creative in using the freedom you have in Christ to discover and use particular abilities and talents which He has given you. This demands a "calling out" of the gifts that you have. Paul urged young Timothy to keep alive the gift that God had given him (2 Tim. 1:6). He told the Romans to use the gifts that they had (Rom. 12:6).

Make a list of each of your personal abilities and gifts which might be developed. Consult with Christian friends who may help you to discover unused abilities and talents. These talents may be in the area of music, intellectual sharpness, or simply the ability to listen to others. Or you may have a knack for working with small children. It could be that a talent lies in a ministry that has not been started by our church. Once you have discovered your basic gifts and abilities, develop them. Seek to use them in creative ways.

Someone has said, "To seek the will of God is the greatest search, to find the will of God is the greatest discovery, and to do the will of God is the greatest accomplishment." Normally, God's will for your life will be in accord with the gifts He has given you. If you submit your will to God and ask for His guidance, He will lead you to right decisions.

Perhaps you can help your church become involved in meeting some needs of society. Seek personally to apply the message of Christ to the problems and opportunities of daily life. Do something personally to bring about racial justice, rehabilitation of juveniles, and fair business and employment practices.

Obviously, you cannot do everything. Creative discipleship means that you take care in selecting that which you can do best. Learn to say no to the rest. This demands learning how to set priorities. You have only twenty-four hours each day. You can accomplish only a certain amount. What comes first? How much time should you spend in prayer and Bible study? in church-related activities? in recreation and family relationships? earning a living or going to school? Jesus reminded us to "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matt. 6:33) and everything else would be taken care of.

Creativity does not mean arrogance or independence. You are still a part of the body and you need very much the contribution of the other members. Creative discipleship means seeking, to the best of your ability, to discover and develop the gifts God has given you, and to submit the use of these gifts to God's will.

The church will come alive when individual disciples begin to use their gifts and express their creativity.