STUDY 2: GROWING AS A NEW BELIEVER (Part B)
AIM: To introduce the unique nature of God’s love, the importance of the Word of God, and the blessings of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE 2: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)
MEMORY VERSE 3: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation …” (1 Pet.2:2)
MEMORY VERSE 4: “Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him …” (1 Pet.5:8)
CONSIDER: To survive and flourish any newborn baby needs love, food for growth, and protection. Likewise, a new Christian has the same three fundamental needs.
LOVE – The Bible is God’s love letter to us. We can be assured of God’s love for us.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16)
“… but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom.5:8)
“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” (Rom.8:38-39)
QUESTION:
What are the characteristics of God’s love for you?
MORE:
Why is it wrong to question God’s love for us? – 1 Jn.4:7-12
GROWTH – The Bible is God’s Word and our endless source of spiritual food for growth.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation …” (1 Pet.2:2)
“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim.3:16-17)
QUESTION:
Why is a hunger for God’s Word so important for your growth as a Christian?
MORE:
How did the Scriptures help the psalmist to fight Satan? – Psalm 119:9
PROTECTION – God has placed his own Holy Spirit in us to empower us against the devil.
“Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him …” (1 Pet.5:8)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Eph 6:10-11) Check out verses 12-18
QUESTION:
How real is our battle against the devil? Can we win it on our own?
MORE:
How did Jesus fight the devil’s temptations? – Mt.4:1-11 …
God’s Word meets all our needs:
- GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE BIBLE AND WE RESPOND IN PRAYER: Good relationships have two-way communication. Two people both speak and listen. When two-way communication breaks down, we have a dysfunctional relationship or no relationship at all. Praying without regular input from the Bible risks us praying wrongly and with incorrect motives (see Jms.4:2-3). The only reliable truth from God is found in the Bible. All claims of ‘subjective’ messages must be measured against the ‘objective’ truth of God’s Word. That is because …
- THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD NOT MAN’S: The indwelling Holy Spirit will give you understanding of the message of the Bible – “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet.1:20-21).
QUESTION:
What makes the Bible much more than the words of mere people? Why?
- THE BIBLE CONTAINS ALL GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE BY: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, 4 by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Pet.1:3-4).
QUESTION:
What makes the promises of the Bible so precious in living out your new faith?
- STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS BY HEEDING HIS WORD: Jesus drew attention to the principles of the relationship between Himself and His followers with the Parable of the Vine …
1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser … 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples … 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you (John 15:1, 4-8, 16)QUESTION:
Does the Lord promise to answer your prayers? Are there any conditions for you to fulfill?
MORE:
How can we gain confidence in our praying – Psalm 119:18 …
What can make us confident to approach God’s throne? – Heb.4:14-16 …
Things you can do to help you get to know the Lord better:
- Reading the Bible – Where do I start?
If you have never spent time reading the Bible before, it is not like any other book where you start from the beginning and read to the end. The Bible is a compilation of 66 books, letters, and messages. You could try starting with the Gospel of John (although all the Gospels are crucial) that gives the story of Jesus’ time on earth, followed by Acts which is how the church started, then Romans which sets out Gods plan for your salvation and what that means for your life. - Explaining about Bible versions:
This Church uses the English Standard Version (ESV) which is a direct translation (i.e. word by word) like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and New King James Version (NKJV). Paraphrased Bibles (i.e. thought for thought) are often easier for younger believers to understand. This includes the New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT). It is wise to get a well bound, less bulky Bible like a thin-line version. A Reference addition has the advantage of providing more comprehensive cross references and information. Including a different version will help you understand the Bible. - Marking, colouring, and underlining insights and promises:
It is helpful when you read the Scriptures to mark your Bible by either colouring or underlying key insights, principles, commands, or promises. This will provide you with a record you can refer to more readily for future encouragement or sharing. - Following a Bible reading plan and devotional insights:
It is helpful to follow a Bible Reading Plan that challenges you to be regular and balanced in your Bible reading and study. It is wise to keep a journal of your study insights and prayer petitions. - Commitment to a discipleship relationship:
The Great Commission of Jesus is a call to all His followers to MAKE DISCIPLES (see Mt.28:19-20). To make disciples, requires that you first get discipled. In the Disciple-Making process you will be taught the fundamentals of the faith. You will learn how to use a Prayer Plan and write up Bible Study notes like S.O.A.P. [Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer] or S.P.E.C.K. [Sin to confess/avoid – Promise to claim – Example to follow – Command to obey – Knowledge about God]. Discipleship will equip you to pass these basics of the faith on to others.