Beginning Steps For New Believers

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Beginning Steps For New Believers
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CONGRATULATIONS

• Matthew 2819-20 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, (19)
• teaching them to observe everything I have
  commanded you. And remember, I am with you
  always, to the end of the age. (20) HCSB

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Jesus Commanded the Church to Go!

• Make Disciples intentional witnessing Go
• Make Disciples intentional assimilation,
  baptism
• Mature Disciples- intentional discipleship,
  mentoring, teaching

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Spiritual Birth Certificate (Pg. 2)

• It is a reminder of the date and time of trusting
  Jesus.
• It is a reminder of a changed life.
• It is a reminder of a new life as a follower of
  Jesus Christ.

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Contact Information

• It will remind the new believer that God uses
  individuals to share Jesus.
• You are responsible for the new believers walk
  for at least 3 months.

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Newborn Believers

• 1 Peter 22 Like newborn infants, desire the
  unadulterated (complete) spiritual milk, so that
  you may grow by it in your salvation. (HCSB
  Translation)

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How to use Beginning Steps (Pg. 3)

• Emphasize the importance of receiving Jesus.
• Emphasize the importance of spiritual growth.
• Make aware of the devils plot to hinder growth.
• Prayer seeking Gods help to grow.

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Prayer for Strength

• Dear God, I know I am going to need Your help
  in working through this booklet and understanding
  what You are trying to teach me. I want to grow
  spiritually. Help me be faithful in completing
  this booklet. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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4 Easy Steps

• Secure an easy to read Bible, take notes.
• Choose a time and place to have your
• daily study
• Read the questions and use your Bible.
• Think about the answers and write them down.

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7 Steps to Christ-like Growth

• Be sure of your salvation.
• Publicly declare your faith.
• Share Jesus with others.
• Study your Bible.
• Learn to pray.
• Be faithful to a church.
• Trust Jesus to direct your life.

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Step 1Be Sure of Your Salvation

• God wants you to know for sure that you have
  eternal life.
• 1. Your assurance is based on the Word of God.
  John 316 - God loves you.
• 1 John 513 - You can know you have
  eternal life by faith in Jesus.

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• 2. Your assurance is based on the Promises of
  God.
• Romans 109 If you CONFESS, BELIEVE, YOU SHALL
  BE SAVED
• John 524 WORD, BELIEVES, ETERNAL LIFE,
  CONDEMNED

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• 3. Your assurance is based on the
• Character of God.
• 1 Corinthians 19 FAITHFUL
• 1 Thessalonians 524 FAITHFUL
• Hebrews 1023 FAITHFUL
• The Meaning of Faithful reliable,
  trustworthy, stable, authentic, realistic,
  truthful, accurate.

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God the Promise Keeper

• His promises are believable.
• He is absolutely faithful.
• His salvation gift is unchangeable.
• His love for you is secure.
• Romans 838-39 Nothing can separate you from
  Gods love in Christ Jesus.

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• 4. Your assurance is based on the Spirit of God.
• Ephesians 113-14 In Him (Jesus) you also
  trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
  gospel of your salvation in whom also, having
  believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of
  promise. Who is the guarantee of our inheritance
  until the redemption of the purchased possession,
  to the praise of His glory.

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The Ephesians Principle

• You heard the gospel of truth.
• The gospel leads to salvation.
• Salvation is only in Jesus Christ.
• Belief in Jesus results in preservation or
  sealing in the Holy Spirit.
• Gods promise is the Spirit who is the guarantee
  or down payment on your eternal security.

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The Final Proof

• 2 Corinthians 517 In Christ we are a NEW
  CREATION, the old has PASSED, the new has COME.
• YOUR ASSURANCE
• THE WORD OF GOD
• THE PROMISES OF GOD
• THE CHARACTER OF GOD
• THE SPIRIT OF GOD

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Step 2Publicly Declare Your Faith

• 1. Jesus Wants New Believers to Declare Publicly
  Their Faith in Him.
• Matthew 1032-33 acknowledges
• acknowledge, denies, deny
• Baptism is your public profession of faith in
  Jesus Christ.

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• 2. Baptism is an ACT of obedience that declares
  your faith.
• It is a test of faith.
• Learn to trust in Jesus.
• 1John 23 This is how we are sure that we have
  come to know Him by keeping His commands.

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The Importance of Baptism

• 3. Jesus commanded Baptism.
• Matthew 2819-20
• Baptize them in the name of the Father, the
  Son, and the Holy Spirit,
• This is picture of the Trinity. Why? All 3
  Persons are shown in equal status.

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Baptism is not a Suggestion it is a Command.

• To be baptized shows our obedience to God.
• Jesus set the example for being baptized.
  Matthew 313-17
• Jesus obeyed Gods command for baptism under
  John the Baptist's ministry.

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All New Believers to be Baptized

• In the New Testament, new believers were
  baptized. Acts 237-38, 41, 47 reveal their
  obedience to keep Gods command.
• Acts 835-38 illustrates another new believer
  to follow Jesus. Practice and be baptized.

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An Expression of Love

• 5. Baptism expresses your love for Jesus.
• John 1421 The one who has My commands and
  keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one
  who loves Me will be loved by My Father.

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Baptism Pictures Two Things

• What Jesus did for you - He died for your sins,
  was buried, and was raised again.
• (1 Corinthians 153-4)
• 2. What has happened to you - you died to an old
  way of life and have been raised to live a new
  life in Jesus (Romans 63-4)

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The Method of Baptism

• Biblical teaching is by immersion-baptize, to put
  under
• A literal translation from Koina Greek language.
• Before baptism you must have trusted in Jesus for
  the forgiveness of your sins.

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Step 3 Share Jesus with others

• The good news about Jesus is exciting - life
  changing, and eternal.
• A new believer desires to share news about Jesus.
  A new nature, person, exists.
• God wants you to help others know Jesus too.
• John 140-42 Andrew brought Peter his brother to
  Jesus.

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2 Things to use When Sharing

• Your Personal Testimony is Your Own account of
• (1) Your life before receiving Jesus
• (2) How you received Jesus
• (3) How Jesus Makes Your Life more Meaningful

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Read Acts 223-21 Find the 3 parts to Pauls
story.

• My Life before receiving Jesus
• (Acts 221-5)
• Paul was educated.
• Paul studied Gods word.
• Paul persecuted the Way, and followers of
  Jesus, to death
• Paul was very religious.

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Testimony-Part 2

• How I received Jesus
• (Acts 22 6- 16)
• Paul tells of his conversion
• He knew the place.
• He knew the time.
• He had an encounter with Jesus.
• He heard Jesus speak to him.
• He called Jesus Lord.

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Testimony-Part 3

• How Jesus makes my life more meaningful.
• (Acts 22 17-21)
• Paul described how trusting in Jesus resulted in
  changing his life.
• Describe how surrendering your life to Jesus has
  made a difference.
• Describe how knowing Jesus has changed your
  life.

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Memorizing Scripture

• Romans 1513 God fills you
• Romans 116 Not ashamed
• Romans 24 Gods kindness
• Romans 323 All sinned
• Romans 58 Gods love
• Romans 623 Gods gift
• Romans 109,13 Trust in Jesus

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Review Lesson

• Why share Jesus with others?
• Matthew 2819-20
• Who needs Jesus?
• Make a list
• Share your testimony daily.
• Acts 18

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Step 4 Study Your Bible

• 1. Gods Word Has Specific Purposes
• 2 Timothy 316
• teaching, rebuking, correcting, training in
  righteousness.
• Gods Word is Useful for Teaching.
• Jeremiah 313 Gods everlasting love, Gods
  faithful love.
• Romans 58 God proved His love when Jesus died
  for our sin.

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Study Your Bible

• Gods Word is Useful for Rebuking (to point out a
  fault) and Convicting of Sin.
• Ephesians 426-31 anger, stealing, rotten talk
• Gods Word is Useful for Correction of Error.
  Psalm 1199
• keeping Your Word

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Study Your Bible

• Gods Word Is Useful for Training in
  Righteousness. (godly behavior)
• Delight in Gods Word, the joy of your heart.
• 2. There Are Several Methods of Learning Gods
  Word. 1. Hear, 2. Read, 3. Study, 4. Memorize, 5.
  Meditate on Gods Word.

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Learning Gods Word

• Hear Gods Word
• Romans 1017 Faith comes by what is heard, and
  what is heard comes through the message of
  Christ.
• Read Gods Word
• 1 Timothy 413 Until I come, give your attention
  to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.

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Learning Gods Word

• Study Gods Word
• 2 Timothy 215 Be diligent to present yourself
  approved to God, a worker who doesnt need to be
  ashamed of, correctly teaching the word of truth.
• Memorize Gods Word
• Psalm 11911 I have treasured Your word in my
  heart so that I may not sin against You.

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• Meditate on Gods Word
• Joshua 18 This book of
• instruction must not depart from your mouth you
  are to recite it day and night, so that you may
  carefully observe everything in it.

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The four Purposes

• Teaching
• Rebuking and Convicting
• Correction
• Training in Righteousness

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Step 5 Learn To Pray

• Jesus Set the Example for us.
• Mark 135 He got up early
• Jesus taught the Necessity of Prayer.
• Luke 181 the need to always pray
• What did the disciples ask Jesus to teach them?
• Luke 111 How to pray.

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On Prayer

• Why should we pray continually.
• 1 Thessalonians 517 Pray constantly
• The acrostic ACTS will help you to begin
  developing your prayer life.
• Adoration
• Confession
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication

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• Adoration is praise focusing on who God is.
• Psalm 1453 God is great and is highly
  praised His greatness is unsearchable.
• Psalm 1471,5 How good it is to sing to our
  God, for praise is pleasant and lovely.
• Our Lord is great, vast in power His
  understanding is infinite.

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• Confession is acknowledging your sins before
  God in order to receive forgiveness.
• A relationship was established.
• God will never break the relationship.
• Unconfessed sin can hinder your relationship
• Psalm 6618 If I have cherished sin in my heart,
  the Lord would not have listened.

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Actions to Practice

• When you sin
• Confess the sin to God
• (1 John 19a)
• Receive His promise of cleansing
• (1 John 19b)
• Claim victory over temptation
• (1 Corinthians 1013)

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• Thanksgiving is expressing gratitude to God for
  specific acts.
• 1 Thessalonians 518
• Give thanks in everything.
• 4. Supplication is making requests and expressing
  desires to God.
• (1) Petition is asking God for your needs.
• John 157- Remain in God to receive
• Phil. 46-7- Make your requests known to God.

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• (2) Intercession is praying for the
• needs of others.
• Exodus 3230-34 Go to God and pray on the behalf
  of others who have sinned.
• Romans 101 Be concerned for others to be saved.
  

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Review Step 5

• A Adoration
• C Confession
• T Thanksgiving
• S Supplication

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Step 6 Be Faithful to a Church

• Matthew 1617-18 Jesus spoke these words about
  Himself, I will build my church and the forces
  of hell will not overpower it.
• The word church means called out ones. Called
  out to follow Jesus. Christianity is a chosen
  faith. Chosen by God and not mankind.

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Why Be Faithful to a Church?

• Through Your Local Church You receive
  Instruction.
• a. Spiritual Leaders to the church (Ephesians
  411)
• b. Why leaders? (Eph. 412-14) for the training
  of the saints.

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• 2. Through Your Local Church you have the
  Privilege of Fellowship. (Hebrews 1024-25)
• a. To promote love and good works,
  encouraging each other.
• 3. Through Your Local Church You Meet to
  Worship.
• (Colossians 316)
• a. teaching, admonishing, singing psalms,
  hymns, gratitude.

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• 4. Through Your Local Church you have
  Opportunities for Service.
• (Romans 126-8)
• a. God gives special spiritual gifts for
  service.
• Matthew 2819- .Go and make disciples of all
  nations.

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5 actions

• Sharing eternal life with the world
• Baptizing new believers
• Teaching the Bible
• The joy of ministering in Christs name
• Giving your money, time and talents

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Review

• The word church means
• Called out ones
• 4 reasons to be faithful to your church
• Receive instruction
• Fellowship
• Worship
• Service

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Step 7 Trust Jesus to Direct Your Life

• Jesus desires to guide you daily in your
  spiritual adventure.
• Jesus is to be Lord of your life.
• Confessing Jesus is trusting in Him.
• A life directed by Jesus will be spiritually
  fruitful and filled with joy. (John 154)

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Jesus Lordship Means

• Jesus Christ is Lord.
• John 1313- You call me Teacher and Lord
  and rightly so, for that is what I am.
• John 2028 My Lord and My God.

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Paul describes Jesus

• 1. I Cor. 28 They would not have
• crucified The Lord of glory.
• 2. II Thessalonians 316 May The Lord of peace
  Himself give you peace always in every way.
• 3. I Tim. 615 He is the blessed Only Ruler, the
  King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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Jesus Lordship Means

• 2. Jesus Christ Has Earned the right to Direct
  Your Life.
• Philippians 28-11 God exalted Him to the
  highest place and gave him the name that is above
  every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee
  should bow, in heaven and earth and under the
  earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
  is Lord.

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• Jesus is Worthy to Direct our Lives
• Romans 121-2 Therefore, brothers, by the
  mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies
  a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God
  this is your spiritual worship. Do not be
  conformed by this age, but be transformed by the
  renewing of your mind, so that you may discern
  what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of
  God.

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• 3. Jesus Christ Desires to Direct Your Life.
• (1) Recognize daily His right to direct your
  life. (Luke 923)
• If anyone will come after Me, he must deny
  himself and take up his cross daily and follow
  Me.

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• (2) Confess your sins consistently and accept His
  promise of forgiveness. (1 John 19)
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
  and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
  all unrighteousness.

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• (3) Trust Him completely as you allow Him to
• direct your
• Time - Ephesians 515-16 Pay careful attention,
  then to how you walk - not as unwise people but
  as wise -making the most of the time
• Money - 1 Corinthians 162 On the first day of
  the week, each of you is to set something aside
  and save to the extent that he prospers, so that
  no collections will need to be made when I come.
  
• Abilities - Colossians 317 And whatever you do,
  in word or in deed, do everything in the name of
  the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
  through Him.

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• Relationships - Matthew 2234-40 He said to him,
  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
  all your soul, and with all your mindLove your
  neighbor as yourself.
• Mind - Romans 121-2 but be transformed by the
  renewing of your mind, so that you may discern
  what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  

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• Ambitions - Matthew 633 Seek first the kingdom
  of God and His righteousness, and all these
  things will be provided for you.
• Morality - 1 Corinthians 619-20 Do you not know
  that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit
  who is in you, whom you have from God? You are
  not your own for you were bought at a price
  therefore glorify God in your body.

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What areas need to be surrendered to Jesus?

• Time - opportunities
• Money every week set aside
• Abilities do all as unto Jesus
• Relationships Two commandments Jesus gave
• Love God wholeheartedly
• Love your neighbor

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• Mind Let God transform your mind
• Ambitions Seek first the kingdom of God
• Morality Honor God with your body

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Review

• Jesus Christ is Lord
• Jesus Christ has earned the right and desires to
  direct your life.