GOFAMI

NTANYI
GBAASSEMBLY
MYBAPTI
SMALCLASSNOTE
OURCOREVALUES

•Out
reach:
Tocommuni
cat
eGod'
swor
dandbr
ingpeopl
eint
othesav
ingknowl
edgeof

ourLor
dJesusIChr
ist(
Mat
t.
28:
18-
20;
Mk.
16:
1S)
.

•Wor
shi
p:Tol
i
vei
nthel
i
ghtofGod'
spr
esenceandt
ocel
ebr
ateGod'
spr
esencei
n

si
ngi
ng,
pray
ing,
giv
ing,
hear
ingandshar
ingt
heWor
dofGodt
oget
herasbel
i
ever
s(John

4:
23-
24;
1Cor
.14:
26)
.

•Fel
l
owshi
p:Tocar
eforoneanot
herasamemberoft
hef
ami
l
yofGod(
Eph.
2:19;

Eph.
6:2,
3,
10;
James5:
16)
.

•Di
sci
pleshi
p:Toeducat
eGod'
speopl
etoknowt
hei
rposi
ti
onsandpr
ivi
l
egesi
nGod

andt
her
ebygr
owi
ntomat
uri
ty/
per
fect
ion(
Eph.
3:11-
16)
.

•Ser
vice:
Todemonst
rat
eGod'
slov
ebyser
vingot
her
s(Rom.
12:
6-8;
GaI
.S:
13)
.

OURFUNDERMENTALBELI
EF.

TheGospelFai
thMissi
onInter
nat
ional
isanorgani
sati
on,whi
chai
msatpreachi
ngandteachi
ng
thegospel
ofourLordJesusChri
st.Wedonotpreachdenomi
nati
onbutwepreachi
ndi
visi
ble
ChurchofChri
sti
ntheworld

Webel
i
eve.
..

TheGospel FaithMissi
onInter
nati
onalisanorganisat
ion,
whichaimsatpr
eachi
ngand
teachingthegospelofourLordJesusChrist
.Wedonotpr eachdenomi
nati
onbutwedopr
each
i
ndivisibl
echurchofChri
stintheworld.Webeliev
e:

1.i
ntheDi
vi
nei
nspi
rat
ionoft
heHol
yBi
ble(
IITi
m.3:
16-
17)
.
2.i
ntheTr
ini
tyoft
heGodhead:
Fat
her
,SonandHol
yGhost(
Mat
t.28:
19)
.

3.i
ntheTot
alDepr
avi
tyoft
heHumanRace(
Rom.5:
12)
.

4.i
nthepl
anofRedempt
iont
hrought
heBl
oodofChr
ist(
Jn.3:
16)
.

5.
inRepent
anceandRest
it
uti
on(
Act
s3:
19;
Ezek.18:
21;
Lk.19:
8-9)
.

6.i
nJust
if
icat
ionandt
heNewBi
rt
h(Jn.3:
3).

7.i
nEnt
ir
eSanct
if
icat
ion(
Heb.10:
10)
.

8.i
nWat
erBapt
ism asTest
imonyt
oSal
vat
ion(
Mat
t.28:
19)
.

9.i
ntheLor
d’sSupper(
ICor
.11:
28)
.

10.i
ntheBapt
ism oft
heHol
ySpi
ri
t(Eph.5:
18)
.

11.i
ntheGi
ft
sandFr
uitofSpi
ri
t(ICor
.12:
1-2;
Gal
.5:
22)
.

12.i
ntheNewTest
amentSt
andar
dofGi
ft
s,Of
fer
ingandTi
thes(
Lk.21:
1).

13.i
nnoDi
vor
ceandRemar
ri
age(
Mat
t.19:
9;Rm.7:
2-3)
.

14.i
nDi
vi
neHeal
i
ngandpr
esentdayMi
racl
es(
James5:
14-
16)
.

15.i
ntheCi
vi
lGov
ernment(
Rom.13:
1-5)
.16.i
ntheResur
rect
ionoft
heBody(
Rev
.20:
5).

17.i
ntheSecondComi
ngofChr
ist(
IThess.4:
16-
17)
.

18.i
ntheTr
ibul
ati
on(
Mat
t.24:
21-
28)
.

19.i
ntheEt
ernal
Heav
enandEt
ernal
Hel
l(Mat
t.22:
31-
46)
.

20.i
ntheJudgmentSeatofChr
istf
orSai
nts’
rewar
d(Mat
t.16:
27;
25:
31;
31-
46)

21.i
ntheFi
nal
Judgment(
IICor
.5:
10)
.

22.i
ntheendl
esspuni
shmentofUnbel
i
ever(
Rev
.20:
10-
15)
.

23.i
ntheNewHeav
enandt
heNewEar
th(
Rev
.21:
1-3)
.

24.i
ntheEndl
essAgewhenGodt
heFat
hershal
lbeal
li
nal
l(ICor
.15:
28)
.

STATEMENTOFPURPOSE

ToPr eachtheWordofGodandbri
ngpeoplei
ntothemembershi
pofGod’sfamil
y;Toteachthe
WordofGod, toenhancef
reedom,pr
omoteChri
sti
anmatur
it
yandbindthepeopl
et oGodf or
ser
vice,andtoli
vetheWordofGod,t
odemonstrat
ethenewli
fei
nChristt
othewor l
d,and
ensur
esecur
it
yoft
hebel
i
ever
.

GOFAMI
NTMEMBERSHI
PCOVENANTS

THEGOFAMI
NTMEMBERSHI
PCOVENANT

Hav i
ngacceptedJesusChr istint
omylifeasmypersonalLordandSavi
our,uponwhi chIhave
beenbaptizedbyimmer sionandi nagr
eementwit
hGOFAMI NTinhervisi
on,statementof
purposeandst r
uctur
e,Inowf eell
edbytheHol
ySpiri
ttoj
ointheGOFAMI NTchur chf
amil
y.By
doingso,Icommi tmyselftoGodandt oothermember softhisbodyt
odot hef ol
lowi
ng:

1.Cov
enantofSer
vice.Iwi
l
lser
vet
hemi
nist
ryofmychur
ch:

…byat
tendi
ngal
lmeet
ingst
hatconcer
nme.

…bydi
scov
eri
ngmygi
ft
sandt
alent
sandusi
ngt
hem t
opr
omot
ethechur
ch.

…bybei
ngequi
ppedt
oser
vemypast
orsandf
ell
ow br
ethr
en.

…bydev
elopi
ngaser
vant
’shear
ttoser
veasourMast
erJesusdi
d.

Aseachofy ouhasr ecei

vedagi ft(apar t
icularspi r
itualtalent,agraciousdiv i
neendowment ),
employitforoneanot heras( befi
ts)goodt rusteesofGod’ smany -
sidedgr ace-f
aithfulsteward
oftheextremelydiverse(power sandgi ft
sgr ant edtoChr i
stiansbyunmer i
t edfavour ;(
IPet.
4:
10).Itwashewhogav esomet obeapost les, somet obepr ophets,somet obeev angeli
sts,
andsomet obepast orsandt eachers,toprepar eGod’ speopl eforwor ksofser vi
ce, sothatthe
bodyofChr i
stmaybebui ltup.(Eph.4:11-22) .Donot hi
ngoutofsel fi
shambi ti
onorv ai
nconcei t
,
butinhumi l
ityconsi
derothersbet terthany our selves.Eachofy oushouldl ooknotonl ytoy our
owni nt
erests,butal
sot othei nt
erestsofot her s.Butmadehi mselfnothi
ngt aki
ngt hev ery
natur
eofaser vant
,beingmadei nhumanl ikeness( Phil.2:3-4,
7).

2.Cov
enantofDef
ence.Iwi
l
ldef
endt
heuni
tyofmychur
ch:

…byact
ingi
nlov
etowar
dsot
hermember
s.

…byav
oidi
ngal
lfor
msofbackbi
ti
ngandt
ale-
bear
ing.

…byf
oll
owi
ngt
hef
oot
-st
epsofourl
eader
s.

…bypay i
ngobedi encet
oallinst
ruct
ionoft
heleader
sSoletusthendefi
nit
elyai
mforand
eager
lypursuewhatmat esforharmonyandformutual
upbuil
ding(edi
fi
cati
onand
devel
opment )ofoneanother
.

(Rm.14:
19).Lovemustbesincer
e,hatewhati
sevil
andcl
i
ngtowhatisgood.Bedevotedt
o
oneanotherinbr
other
lyl
ove.Honouroneanot
herabov
eyour
sel
ves.(
Rm.12:9-10)
.Letnofoul
orpolluti
nglanguage,norevilwor d,norunwhol esomeorwor t
hlesstal
k( ever
)comeoutofy our
mout h;butonlysuch(speech)asi sgoodandbenef ici
altothespiri
tualprogressofother
s,asis
fi
tti
ngt otheneedandt heoccasi on, thatitmaybeabl essi
ngandgi ve(God’sfavour)t
othose
whoheari t.(
Eph.4:29).Obeyy ourl eadersandsubmi ttothei
rauthori
ty.Theykeepwat chover
youasmenwhomustgi veanaccount .Obeyt hem sothatthei
rworkwi llbeajoy,notaburden,
forthatwouldbenoadv antaget oy ou.( Heb.13:17)
.

3.Cov
enantofCommi
tment
.Iwi
l
lbeapar
takerofandshar
eint
hebur
denandr
esponsi
bil
i
tyof
mychurch:

…bypay
ingmyt
it
hesr
egul
arl
y.

…bypr
ayi
ngf
ort
hegr
owt
hoft
hechur
ch.

…byi
nvi
ti
ngt
heunsav
edt
oat
tendourf
ell
owshi
p.

…bypay
ingmyv
ows/
pledgeswhendue.

…bygi
vi
nggoodof
fer
ingsdur
ingchur
chser
vice.

Tot hechurchoftheThessaloniansinGodt heFatherandt

heLordJesusChr ist:Graceand
peacet oyou.WealwaysthankGodf orall
ofy ou,menti
oni
ngyouinourpr ay
er s.(
IThess.1:1-
2).
Thent hemastert
oldhi
sser vant“Goouttot heroadsandcountr
ylanesandmaket hem come
i
n,sot hatmyhousewillbefull
.”(Lk.14:
23).Acceptoneanother
,thenjustasChr i
staccepted
you,inordert
obri
ngpraisetoGod( Rm.15:7).

4.Cov
enantofFai
thf
ulness.Iwi
l
lsuppor
tthet
est
imonyofmychur
ch:

…byat
tendi
ngf
ait
hful
l
yourchur
chmeet
ings.

…byl
i
vingagodl
yli
fet
hatcanchal
l
enget
hesi
nner
s.

Letusnotgiveupmeet i
ngt
ogether,
assomear einthehabi tofdoi
ng,butletusencourage
oneanotherandallt
hemoreasyouseethedayappr oaching.(Heb.10:25)
.What ev
erhappens,
conductyour
selv
esinamannerwor t
hyoft
hegospel ofChr i
st.Then,whetherIcomeandsee
youoronlyhearabouty
ouinmyabsence.Iwil
lknow t hatyoustandfi
rmi noneSpir
it,
contendi
ngasonemanf ort
hefait
hofthegospel.(Phil.1:
27).

5.Cov
enantofResponsi
bil
i
ty.Iwi
l
lbehav
eresponsi
bly
:

…bywi
tnessi
ngt
hedeat
handr
esur
rect
ionofJesusChr
istt
oot
her
s.

…bygi
vi
ngt
otheLor
d’swor
k,t
hemi
nist
ersofGodandt
heneedy
.
Eachoneofy ou,onthefi
rstdayofeachweek, shoul
dsetasi
deaspecifi
csum ofmoneyin
proport
iontowhaty ouhaveearnedandusei tfort
heoff
eri
ng.(ICor
.16:2LB)
.At it
heof
everyt
hingfr
om theland,whethergrainfr
om thesoi
lorf
rui
tfr
om thetr
ees,belongstot
he
LORD: i
tisholytotheLORD( Lev.27:30)
.

Letusnotbecomewear yi
ndoinggood, f
oratt hepr opertimewewi l
lreapaharvesti
fwedo
notgi
veup.Therefore,
aswehav eopport
uni
t y
, letusdogoodt oallpeople,
especial
lyt
othose
whobelongtothefamil
yofbeli
ever
s.(Gal
.6:9-10) .Hewhoi skindtothepoorl
endst othe
LORD,andHewi l
lrewardhi
m ofwhatHehasdone.( Prov.19:17).

HowYouBecameaChr
ist
ian
BecomingaChri
sti
anist
hemostgl
ori
ousexper
ienceany
onecanev
erunder
goont
hissi
deof
et
erni
ty.I
tist
oundergoatot
al

revol
uti
on.Godt heFat her,
Godt heSonandGodt heHolySpir
itareall
involvedint
hemakingof
aChr i
sti
an.TheBi bl
esay s,“I
fanyoneisinChr
ist
,heisanewcr eati
on;theoldhasgone,t
henew
hascome”( 2Cor int
hians5:17).So,i
fyouareaChri
sti
an,youhavenotj ustaccept
edsomenew
teachi
ngsandr ulestoliveby.Youhav ebeenmadetotal
lynew.Howdi dt hatcomeabout
?

TheThr
eeSt
epst
oSal
vat
ion

1.TheHol ySpiritshowedy outhaty ouwer easinnerwor thyofdamnat i

oni nhel
l.Youobv i
ously
l
earntthisthrought heWor dofGod, asi twasshar edwi t
hy ouorasy our eadit
.Tr uthsl i
ke“ al
l
havesinnedandf all
enshortofthegl oryofGod”( Romans3: 23)becamev eryr
eal toy ou.You
real
isedthattheGodwhocr eat
edt heuni ver
seisahol ybeing,andthat ,i
fy ouwer et oappear
beforehim ont hejudgementdayasy ouwere,hewoul dwi t
houthesitationsendy out ohell.You
knewt hatyouhadbr okenhisholylawt imeswi t
houtnumbersi ncey ouwer eborn, byy our
thoughts,yourwor dsandy ouracti
ons.Younotonl yr eal
isedthatyouhadabadr ecor din
heavenbutt haty oualsohadabadhear tonearth.Yousawasnev erbef orethaty ouwer ea
slavetosin(John8: 34).Yourheartwasasi nfactory.You, t
herefor
e, reali
sedthaty ouneededa
doublecureify ouwer eevertogot oheav en.

2.TheHol ySpiritshowedy out hatinJesus’ li

feanddeathy ouhadasuf fi
cientremedyf ory our
si
n.Agai ny ouobv i
-ouslyl
ear ntthisthrought heWordofGod.Your eali
sedt hattheSonofGod
becameasonofman, sothaty ou—asonofman—coul dbecomeasonofGod( John1: 1-
2, 10-
14).Hence, Jesusbecamev eryprecioust oy oubecauseyousawt hathetooky ourdebtupon
himselfandpai ditwithhisv erylif
e( 1Pet er2:24-
25).Soyousawt hatyoursalvationli
esnot
withaf ormul abutwi thaper son—JesusChr ist
.Youalsoreali
sedthatyoursal v
ationwas
centredupont hecr osswher eJesusdi edf oryou.AstheBiblesays,“Godmadehi m whohadno
si
nt obesi nf orus, sothatinhi m wemi ghtbecomet heright-
eousnessofGod”( 2Cor inthians
5:21).Finall
y,yousensedt haty ouwer ebei nginvi
tedtoseekpardonf rom Godonl ythr
ought hi
s
fi
nishedwor kofJesus.Your eali
sedt hattherewasnoot herwayofsal vati
on( John3: 18) .You,
asitwere,
hear
dJesussayi
ng,
“Cometome,al
lwhol
aborandar
eheav
yladen,
andIwi
l
lgi
ve
yourest
”(Matt
hew11:
28,ESV)
.So,y
oucame!

3.Yout henrepentedandbel i
evedintheLordJesusChr ist.Itist hi
sresponseofr epent anceand
fai
ththattheBi bl
ereferst oasconv er
sion.I
twasatt hi
spoi ntt hatyouwer esaved.Per haps
previ
ouslyyout ri
edt odogoodwor ksinordert opleaseGod, butt hi
stimey ourealisedt hatGod
mustsav eyoubygr aceandbygr aceal one(Ephesians2: 8-9).TheBi blesays,“
ForGodsol ov
ed
theworldthathegav ehisoneandonl yson, thatwhoev erbel i
ev esinhim shal
lnotper i
shbut
haveeternalli
fe”(John3: 16).Torepentistoadmi tthatyouar easi nnerandtof orsake
everyt
hingyouknowt obesinfuli
nGod’ seyes.Tohav efaithinJesusi st obeli
eveev er
y thi
ng
thatGodsay sabouthi sSonandt oentrustyourli
fet ohim asy ouronlyhopeofsal v ati
on.That
i
swhaty oudid.Andont hatdayyoubecameapossessorofet er nall
if
e.Youpassedf r
om deat h
toli
fe!

TheSt
ept
oJust
if
icat
ionandAdopt
ion

4.Godt heFatherjustif
iedyouandadopt edy ouashischild.Inr esponsetoyourrepentanceand
fait
h, Godpardonedy ou,declar
edy our i
ghteousandadopt edy ouintohisfamil
y.Thispardon
andgi ftofri
ghteousnessi snotsomet hi
ngy ouexpe-r
iencedsubj ecti
vely
.Itt
ookplaceiny our
recordsi nheaven.Godwi pedawayal lyoursinsanddecl aredy our i
ghteousonthebasisofy our
fait
hi nwhatJesusdi dforyou( Galati
ans2:15-16)
.Heal sogav ey ouanewl egalst
atus,andthis
i
st ruewhet heryouf eelitornot.Henceforth,youweretobet reatedasasonofGod, and
becausey ouareason, hehasal somadey ouanhei r(Galatians4: 1-
7).So,alt
houghy oumay
notf eelli
keit
,andal thoughthewor l
dmaynotacknowl edget hatabouty ou,youareapar doned
chil
dofGodnow!

ThePr
ocessofSanct
if
icat
ion

5.TheHol ySpi
ritcamet odwel l i
ny ouandbegant hepr ocessofSanct ifyi
ngy ou.Whi l
eGodt he
Fatherwasj usti
fy i
ngandadopt i
ngy ou, t
heHol ySpi ri
twasi ndwell
ingy ouandbegi nningto
makey oumor elikeChr ist(Romans8: 5-14).Thisisint her ealm ofsubjectiv
eexper i
ence,andit
wasbecauseoft hist
haty ouwer eabl etonot i
cet hedi f
ferencei nyourlikesanddi sl
ikes.You
l
ostinterestinthemusi candpl easuresoft hewor ld,andi nsteaddev el
opedani nsat i
able
appeti
tef orspir
itualthings.Younowwant edtor eadt heBi bleandpr ay.Youwant edt ospend
ti
mei nfellowshipwi t
hChr ist
iansandt otellt
hewor l
daboutJesus.TheBi blesay s,“
Wear ehi
s
workmanshi p,createdi nChr i
stJesusf orgoodwor ks, whichGodpr eparedbef orehand, t
hatwe
shouldwal kinthem”( Ephesians2: 10,ESV) .Thisisonl ythest artofawor kofGodi nyoursoul
thatwil
lcont i
nue, wit
hy ourcooper ati
on, unti
lyoudi e.

St
udyQuest
ions

1.Descr
ibehowyoubecameaChrist
ian,andtr
ytoidenti
fysomeoft
hest
agesofconv
ersi
on
youhavelear
nti
nthi
sstudyi
nyourpersonalt
esti
mony .

2.Whyisrepent
ingofsi
nnotenoughtomakeGodacceptusi
nheav
en?Whyi
sitcr
uci
alt
hat
weshouldalsobel
iev
eintheLor
dJesusChr
ist
?[Hi
nt:
SeeJeremi
ah2:22.
]
3.Whatwoul
dhappentoyoui
f,asaChri
sti
an,
yousinnedagainstGodandy
oudi
edj
ustbef
ore
youcoul
dconfessy
oursi
ntohi
m?[ Hi
nt:
SeeHebrews10:11-18.]

4.Whataresomeofthet
hingst
hatmakey
oudoubtt
haty
ouar
eaChr
ist
ian?Cany
ouanswer
thosedoubt
sfr
om t
heWor dofGod?

HowYouCanGr
owasaChr
ist
ian
GrowingasaChr i
sti
andoesnothappenaut omati
call
y.TheBibl
esays,“Conti
nuetoworkout
yoursal
v ati
onwithfearandt r
embling,foritisGodwhowor ksinyoutowi l
landtoactaccor
ding
tohisgoodpur pose”(Phi
li
ppians2:12-13).Godwor ksinyouasaChr i
sti
an,butyoumustwor k
outyoursalvati
onbycooper ati
ngwi t
hhi m.How?Ther eareanumberofact ivi
ti
eswhichare
cal
culat
edt ogivetheHolySpi r
itt
her awmat er
ial
sthatheneedstomakey oumor eandmor e
l
ikeChrist.Theseare:

1.ReadingtheBible:Thi
sisthewayi nwhi chGodt al
kstoy ou,
asaFat hertal
ki
ngt ohi
schil
d.I
t
i
sav er
yimportantpartofyourspiri
tualgrowth( 2Timothy3:14-17).Youmustr eadtheBibl
e
everyday!Therearemanydai lyBibl
er eadingguidesthatareavail
able,andIwoul dstr
ongly
recommendt hatyouuseonet hattakesy ouslowlythroughlar
gesect i
onsoft heBibl
e
systemati
call
y.Ifyoudonothav eone, youcoul dreadsecti
onsoft heBi bl
eandt henask
yoursel
fthefoll
owingquestions:

a.I
sther
eanyf
actaboutGodf
ormet
oknow?

b.I
sther
eanyexampl
eformet
ofol
l
ow?

c.I
sther
eanycommandf
ormet
oobey
?

d.I
sther
eanyer
rorf
ormet
oav
oid?

e.I
sther
eanysi
nformet
ofor
sake?

f
.Ist
her
eanypr
omi
sef
ormet
ocl
aim?

Alwaysr eady ourBiblewi

thanot ebookbesideyousot hatyoucant akenot eofthemain
l
esson( s)fortheday .Donotreadprimari
lyi
nor dertohelpothers.Readf oryour
self
.Asanew
Christ
ian, y
ouneedf oodt
ogrow.Begi nyourBiblereadi
ngwi t
hapr ay eraski
ngGodt oenable
youbyhi sHolySpiri
ttounderstandwhathei ssayi
ngi ntheporti
onofScr ipt
ureyouarereading
thatday .Wewoul ddowel lt
of oll
owthepsalmistwhounder stoodthisneedandpr ayedtoGod,
“Openmyey esthatImayseewonder f
ult
hingsiny ourlaw”(
Psal m 119:18).

2.Prayi
ng: Thisisthewayi nwhi chyoutalkwithGod.Itisbestt oalwayspr ayaf
teryouhav e
readtheBibleandmedi tateduponi t.Thatwayy ouwillberespondi ngtowhatGodhasj ustsaid
toyouandwhaty ouhavealr eadypondered.MostyoungChr istiansdonotknowhowt opr ay.So,
Iencouragey oungChristi
answhoar elearni
ngtopr aytouset heacr onym A-C-
T-Sasagui de.
Obv i
ously
,ast heygrowint hef ai
th,t
heywi l
lnotneedthese“ crutches”anymore.Buttheyarea
veryhelpf
ul st
art.A-C-
T-Sst andsfor:
a.Adoration:Thisi
sthetimeyouspendinprayerworship-
pingGodforwhohei sandforhis
wonderful works.I
nprayerweoft
enrushstrai
ghttowhatwewantf rom God.Thatiswrong!We
arenotgoi ngbeforeamightyser
vant
,butwear eapproachi
nganalmightysoverei
gn.Henceit
i
simpor tanttopausefir
standacknowledgewhohei sandt hewonder
fulworksthathehas
done(Psal m 103).

b.Conf ession: Thi

sisthet i
mey ouspendinpr ayeradmi t
ti
ngy oursintoGod( Psal
m 51).As
l
ongasy ouliveinthiswor l
dyouwi l
lal
wayssinagai nstGod( 1John1: 8).Someti
meswesi n
againstGodt hroughouract i
ons,someti
mesi tisthrought hewor dswespeakandsomet imesit
i
sthr oughsi nfulthoughts.Agai
n,sometimeswesi nagainstGodbydoi ngwrongthi
ngs( sinsof
commi ssion),butsomet i
meswesi nagainsthim bynotdoi ngri
ghtthi
ngs( si
nsofomis-sion).
Whenwepr ayt oGod, weshouldbemi ndfulofoursinsandconf essthem toGod.This
rel
ationshipwi thGodi stooimportantnottotakeitseriously—youmustcomet oGodwi th
honestl i
ps( Psalm 145:18).

c.Thanksgiv
ing:Thisi
st heti
mey ouspendinpray
erthanki
ngGodf oral
lthet hi
ngsthathe
giv
esy ou(Psalm 107:
1).Thiswil
lincl
udel
if
e,famil
y,f
ri
ends,workorschool,str
ength,peace,
church,et
c.Oftenwetakeal otofGod’sbl
essi
ngsforgranted,
unti
lhetakesthem awayf rom
us—thenwest arttogr
umbl e.Wemustbegr at
efultohi
mf orall
hisbl
essingswhi l
ewear esti
ll
enjoyi
ngthem.

d.Suppl ication: Thisisthet i

mey ouspendi npray eraski ngGodf orv ari
oust hi
ngst hatar eon
yourhear t(Phili
ppi ans4:4-7).Youwi l
lwantt oprayf ory ourf amily
,yourchur ch,y ourfriends,
yournat ion, etc.Aspar tofanear lydi
scipl
ine,i
tisgoodt okeepapr ayerdi aryandapr ay er
calendar .Iny ourpr ayerdiary,youwr i
teyourpray err equest sandt akenot eoft hedaywhent he
Lor danswer edt hem.I ny ourprayercalendar,youwr it
et hei ndivi
duals,chur ches, etc.forwhi ch
youpr ayregul arly,i
.e.
,eit
heronceaweekoronceamont h.Letmeencour agey out ohav ewhat
hascomet obecal leda“quiett i
me”ora“ personal dev otion” .Whatdoest hismean?I tr efersto
adai lytime, whi chy ousetasi deasaChr i
sti
an, f
ort hepur poseofr eadi ngt heBi bleandpr ay i
ng
alone.Ev eryChr isti
anshoul dhav esuchat ime!Inor derfory outohav et hi
s, youmustf ixat i
me
dailyforit.Donotl eaveittochance.Theny oumustchooseaqui etplacewher ey oucanget
awayandspendt i
meal onewi thGod.Thenwi t
hy ourBi ble,not e-
book, prayerdi aryand/ or
calendar ,ready ourBi ble,medi t
ateuponi tandpr ay.Youwi l
l needal otofdi sciplinetomai ntain
this,buty oucanbesur et hatnoonehast rulybeenspi ri
tuallyst r
ongwi thoutsuchat i
meal one
withGodonadai l
ybasis.So, yousimplymustdi sci pli
ney our sel
f.

3.HavingFel l
owshipwi thFellowBel i
ev ers:All t
hatspiri
tualinputyour eceiv efr
om y our
fel
lowshipwi thGodneedssomeout letorel seitwilldecay.Onewayi nwhi chthiscomesouti s
i
ny ourfell
owshi pwithot herbeli
evers.Par tl
y ,
thisiswhyy oushoul djoinal ocalchurch.Iti
s
pri
marilythroughthel ocalchurchthaty ouent erintofel
lowshi pwithGod’ speopl e.Tohav e
fel
lowshipwi thpeopleist oshareint heircommonl if
e.TheBi blesay s,“Letusconsi derhowwe
mayspuroneanot heront owardlov eandgooddeeds.Letusnotgi v
eupmeet ingtogether
,as
somear eint hehabitofdoi ng,butletusencour ageoneanot her—andal lthemor easy ousee
theDayappr oaching”( Hebrews10: 24-25) .Youmustshar ewi thfell
owbel i
ev er
st hethi
ngsthat
Godist eachingyout hroughhi sWor dandi ny ourdailyexperiences.Butf ellowshipisatwo-way
street.Theapost l
ePaul wr otet ot heChr istiansi nRome, “
Ilongt oseey ousot hatImayi mpar t
toy ousomespi ri
tual gifttomakey oust rong—t hati s,thaty ouandImaybemut ual l
y
encour agedbyeachot her ’
sf aith”( Romans1: 11-12) .So, youshoul dal sobeal lear s, want ingt o
l
ear nf rom t heexper iencesofot herbel iev ers.AlthoughIwi llsaymor eonf ell
owshi punder“ What
Chur chMember shipI sAl lAbout ”,letmedi scussonemor easpectofi ther e.Although
fell
owshi pbegi nsonaspi ri
tual level ,i
thar dlyeverendst her e.Itof tent ouchesot heraspect sof
l
ife,suchast hephy sical andsoci al aspect sofl ife.Hence, i
ny ourf ellowshi pwi thot her
believer syoumustbeont hel ookoutf ort heirphy si
-cal andsoci alneeds.Shar ewi t
ht hem what
Godhasbl essedy ouwi th,andbesi ncer eenought oshar ewi ththem y ourphy sical andsoci al
needsaswel l
.Thus, par toff ellowshi pist ol earnt opr ayf oroneanot herf orthosespeci f i
c
needs.Asy oucar eforot herbel i
ev ersint hi sway ,youwi llgrowi ny ourspi rit
ual l
ife.Youal so
needt olear nt odev elopChr istianf riends.Ther ear etoomanyy oungChr istianswhokeept he
non- Chr i
stianf riendst heyhadbef or etheygotconv erted, andsot heyst untt heirowngr owt h.
Theycheatt hemsel vesi ntot hinkingt hat, bybei ngwi t
ht hosef riends, per hapst heymi ghtbe
conv er t
ed.Thati snott rue!Inst eadt heyar etheoneswhoendupcompr omi sing.Theyf orget
thatheal t
hi snotcont agi ous, butdi seasei s.TheBi blesay s: Donotbey okedt oget herwi th
unbel ievers.Forwhatdor i
ght eousnessandwi ckednesshav ei
ncommon?Orwhatf ellowshi p
canl ighthav ewi t
hdar kness?Whathar monyi st herebet weenChr istandBel i
al?Whatdoesa
believerhav ei ncommonwi thanunbel i
ev er?Whatagr eementi st herebet weent het empl eof
Godandi dol s?Forwear ethet empl eoft hel ivi
ngGod.AsGodhassai d: “Iwi l
l l
ivewi tht hem
andwal kamongt hem, andIwi llbet heirGod, andt heywi l
l bemypeopl e.”“Ther e-forecomeout
from t hem andbesepar ate,say stheLor d”( 2Cor inthians6: 14-17).So, leav ey ourcl oset ieswi th
oldf ri
endsanddev elopChr istianf riends.

4.Ev angel isingSi nnersandSer vingt heLor d:Anot herwayi nwhi chy ourf ell
owshi pwi thGod,
throught heWor dandpr ayer ,
findssomeout l
eti sbyy ourmi nistr ytoGod’ sneedywor l
d.Thi sis
l
ikedoi ngexer ci sesinordert okeepf it.Spiri
tually,youunder got heseexer ci
seswheny oumake
deliberateef fortst osharet hegospel withsinner s.Thi si snott hesameasmaki ngthem y our
fri
ends; r
at her ,itistogot ot hem wi tht hegoodnewst hatJesussav essi nner s.Thismaybe
throught hepr ogr ammest haty ourchur chhasi nplacef orout reachpur poses.Buti tmayal so
bet hroughy ourowni ni
ti
ative.Itisof tenadv isable, whi chev ert hecase, togowi thanot her
Chr i
stianwheny ougot oshar ethegospel withnon- Chr istians.Thi sisespeci allythecasei ft hey
aremember soft heopposi tesex, assuchef f
or t
scancausey ourmot ivest obemi sunder stood
orquest i
oned, orev encauseot her st oaccusey ouf alsely .Whent heLor dsenthi sdi sciplesout
forev angel ism, hesentt hem outi npai rs(Luke10: 1).Whenal lissaidanddone, theexper ience
ofbr i
ngi ngasoul t
oChristcannotbecompar edt oany thingel sei nthewor l
d.Itisexhi l
arat ing!
Also, yourchur chpr obablyhasmi nist r
ies( ordepar tment s)i nwhi chy oucanser vetheLor d.
Perhapsy oucoul drunthechur chl ibrar y,
wor kwi thy ourchur ch’smi nistryt othepoor ,orbepar t
ofay outhgr ouporwomen’ sgr oup, etc.Ev entually,youmayev ent eachSundaySchool .Agai n,i
f
youar ereal l
yt ogr owspi r
ituall
y ,
y ouneedt omaket imet oj oinoneormor eofsuchmi nist r
ies
andseekt oser v etheLor df ai
thfullyt hrought hem. Youmustt aket heissueofy ourspi r
itual
growt hser i
ousl y.Ifyoustopgr owi ngspi r
ituallyyouwi llbacksl ide.So, makesur ey ouar eev er
growi ng.
St
udyQuest
ions

1.Whatar
esomeofthethi
ngsthatarehi
nder
ingspir
it
ual
growt
hiny
ourl
i
fe?I
nthel
i
ghtof
whatyouhav
elear
nt,
whatshoul
dy oudoaboutthem?

2.Thi
nkofaplaceandt
imewhenyoucanhav
eyourqui
etti
me,
andcommi
tyour
sel
ftoatl
east
thr
eemonthsofsuchati
mewithGodbef
orer
evi
ewingi
t.

3.Developyourownpray
erdi
aryandpr
ayercal
endarandbegi
ntousei
timmedi
atel
y.Rev
iewi
ts
useinthreemonths.

4.Wri
teoutagospelmessage,aboutapagel
ong,whichy oucanshar
ewi
thsomeonewhoi
s
notaChri
sti
an.Remembertoincluder
elev
antBi
bleverses.

WhatBapt
ism I
sAl
lAbout
Youonlyneedt obeinChri
stiancir
clesashor ttimetor eal
i
set hatthereisalotofconf usion
aboutalmostanythi
ngandev ery
thing.Unfortunatel
y,evenast rai
ght-
forwardsubj ectl
ike
bapti
sm hasnotbeenspar edthi
sconf usi
on.Peopl edonotknowwhet heriti
sr i
ghtorwr ongt o
bapti
sebabies.Theyalsodonotknowwhet herbapti
sm shoul dbebyimmer sionorbyspr inkl
ing.
Somet hi
nkthatitdoesnotmat t
er,whileothersarev er
ystronglyopposedt oei t
herimmer sion
orspri
nkli
ng.So,weneedt osaysomet hingaboutt hi
ssubj ectsoast oclearanywr ongnot ions
youmayhav eandenabl eyoutoseewhatt heBiblereall
ysay saboutthisordinance.Essent i
all
y,
Iwanttodrawy ouratt
enti
ont of
ourbasi ctruthsaboutbapt i
sm.

1.Bapti
sm i
sanordinancecommandedbytheLordJesusChri
st.Hesaid,
“Allaut
horityin
heavenandoneart
hhasbeengi vent
ome.Therefor
egoandmakedi scipl
esofallnations,
bapti
zi
ngthem i
nthenameoft heFat
herandoftheSonandoftheHolySpiri
t,andteaching
them t
oobeyevery
thingIhavecommandedyou.Andsurel
yIam wit
hy oualways,t
ot he

ver
yendoft heage”(Matthew28:18-
20).Bapt
ism,
therefor
e,i
ssupposedtobethefi
rstactof
obedi
encethatyouperfor
m afteryoubecomeaChrist
ian.Thr
oughityouar
etel
lingt
hewor l
d
whathashappenedt oyou.Jesuswantsyoutodothatifyouaret
rul
yhisdi
sci
ple!Sobapti
sm i
s
anactofri
ghteousness.

2.Wat erbapti
sm isanout wardexpressionofaninwardexperi
ence.Thei nwardexperi
encei
s
taughtinRomans.Theapost l
ePaul says,“Whatshal
l wesay,t
hen?Shallwegoonsi nni
ngso
thatgracemayi ncrease?Bynomeans!Wedi edtosin;howcanwel iv
eini tanyl
onger?Ordon’
t
youknowt hatal
lofuswhower ebaptizedint
oChr i
stJesuswerebapt i
zedi nt
ohisdeath?We
werethereforeburi
edwi thhimthroughbapt i
sm i
ntodeat hi
norderthat,
justasChristwas
raisedf rom t hedeadt hrought hegl oryoft heFat her,
wet oomayl iveanewl ife”(Romans6: 1-4)
.
Inot herwor ds,ther easonwhyat rueChr i
stiancannotcont i
nuei nasi nful li
festyleisbecausehe
diedt osi n.How?Byt hespir
itualbapt ism heunder wentatconv ersion.JustasJesusdi edto
thiswor l
dofsi n, wasbur i
edandr oseagai nt onewnessofl i
fe,soal soev er ytrueChr i
sti
anis
i
dent ifi
edwi ththatexper ience.Hedi est osi n,i
sspiri
tual
lyburiedasf arast hatl i
feisconcerned,
andcommencesanewl if
e.Wat erbapt i
sm si mplyrefl
ectsthatexper ience.Wheny ougoi nt
o
thewat ery ouar et ell
i
ngt hewor ldthaty ouhav ediedt oi
tandal litswi ckedness.Theper son
youusedt obehasbeenbur ied.Hei snomor e!Thenwheny oucomeoutoft hewat eryouar e
tell
ingt hewor l
dt hatt hepersont heyar enowseei ngandr el
ati
ngt oisabr andnewper son—a
per sonwhoseonl ydesi reinlifeistoobeyt heLor dJesusChr i
standt olivet ot hegloryofGod.
Thati swhatbapt ism sy mbolises.Itisi mpor tanttobebapt i
sedbecausei tisi mportantforyou
tot ell
thewor l
d,int hi
sGod- ordainedway ,whathashappenedt oy ou.

3.Bapt ism ist hei mmer si onofabel i

ev er’
swhol ebodyi nwat er.Thisisbecauset hewor d
baptism comesf r
om t heGr eekwor dbapt i
zo, whichsimpl ymeans“ toi mmer se”.Thatiswhyi t
i
sabsur df oraper sont osayhewasbapt isedbyspr i
nkli
ng.Thati sequi val
entt osay i
ng,“Iwas
i
mmer sedbyspr inkling”!Thati sacont radicti
oni nterms.Youwer eeitherimmer sedor
spri
nkl ed.So, onl ythosewhohav ebeeni mmer sedcancl aimt ohav ebeenbapt ised.I
nt heBi bl
e
wehav eacl assicexampl ethatshowsust hateveni nBibletimesbapt ism hadt obeby
i
mmer sion.ItwaswhenPhi liptheevangel istbapt i
sedtheEt hiopianeunuch.Theeunuchwason
ajour neyi nthedeser treadingt heBible.Phi l
ippr eachedtohi mt hegoodnewsaboutJesusas
Savi
our .Heobv iouslyalsot oldhimt hei mpor tanceofbapt ism becausewer eadt hat,“
ast hey
tr
aveledal ongt her oad,t heycamet osomewat erandt heeunuchsai d, ‘Look, hereiswat er.Why
shouldn’ tIbebapt ized?’Andhegav eor derstost opthechar iot.Thenbot hPhi li
pandt he
eunuchwentdowni ntothewat erandPhi li
pbapt izedhim”( Act s8:36-38) .Theyhadt oact ual
ly
getint ot hewat ert operf ormt hebaptism; thatshowst heeunuchwasi mmer sed,notjust
spri
nkl ed.

4.Bapt ism isthewayi nwhichy ouj ointhechur chofJesusChr i

stonear th.Sincey ouwer e
j
oi nedtoChr i
st’
smy st
icalbodyt hroughspi rit
ualbapt i
sm, itonlymakessenset hatyoushoul d
j
oi nthechur ch( Chr
ist
’seart
hlybody )throughwat erbapt i
sm.TheBi blesay s,“Thebodyi sauni t
,
thoughi tismadeupofmanypar ts;andt houghal lit
spar tsaremany ,t
heyf orm onebody .Soi t
i
swi t
hChr ist.Forwewer eallbaptizedbyoneSpi r
itintoonebody —whet herJewsorGr eeks,
slaveorf ree—andwewer eal l
givent heoneSpi ri
ttodr i
nk”( 1Cor i
nthians12: 12-13).Spiri
tual
bapt i
sm ist hewayi nwhichwewer ejoinedt oChrist.Physical
,wat erbapt ism ismeantt oshow
out wardlywhathasal readyhappenedi nwar dly
.Amongot herthings, i
tismeantasasy mboli
c,
publ i
ctestimonyofourconv ersi
ont oChr i
st.Bapti
sm i stheGod- ordainedwayofj oini
ngwi th
thepeopl eofGodi npubli
cwi tnessandt estimonyt othegospel ofJesusChr ist.Inthatway ,
bapt i
sm ist hemanneri nwhichaper sonbecomesapar tofal ocal groupofChr isti
ans.

St
udyQuest
ions

1.Whatdoyouthi
nkisgoingt
ohappent
othosepeopl
ewhor
epentbutdonotgetbapt
ised
bef
oretheydi
e?Wil
ltheygotoheav
en?Whyorwhynot?
2.I
nthel
ightofwhaty
ouhavelear
ntf
rom t
hisl
esson,
whyi
sitsensel
esst
obapt
isei
nfant
sand
todosobyspri
nkl
ingt
hem wi
thwater
?

3.Fi
ndatl
eastf
ourothersi
tuat
ionsi
nthebookoftheActsoftheApost
leswher
ebapt
ism t
ook
pl
ace.Whatdoyoul
earnaboutbapti
sm f
rom t
hesepassages?

4.Whatshoul
dyoudoifyouwer
ebaptisedbef
oreyourconv
ersi
onori
fyouwer
ebapt
isedi
na
chur
chthatdi
dnotpr
acti
cebapt
ism byimmersi
on?

WhatChur
chMember
shi
pIsAl
lAbout

Wehav esai dt hatwat erbapt ism i sthewayi nwhi chyouj oint hechur chofJesusChr iston
eart
h.I nt hebookofAct s,wer ead, “Thosewhoaccept ed[ Peter’s]messagewer ebapt ized,and
aboutt hreet housandwer eaddedt othei rnumbert hatday .Theydev otedt hemsel vest othe
apostles’ teachingandt othef ell
owshi p,tothebr eakingofbr eadandt opr ay er”(Acts2: 41-42).
Noticet hepr ocess: responset ot hegospel ,thenbapt ism, thenchur chmember ship, t
hen
commi tmentt ovariousaspect soft hel i
feoft hechur ch.Whyi st hati mpor tant ?Itisbecauseas
aChr i
st i
any ouar epartofGod’ sspiritual f
ami l
y.Justast hehumanf ami l
ycanbei dentif
iedby
thehomest owhi chtheybel ong, soal soGodexpect sChr i
st i
anst obel ongt ol ocalisedbodi esof
beli
ever s.Int hosehomes, t
heywi lllearnt hebasi cprinciplesofl if
ei nt heki ngdom ofGod, t
hey
wil
lbedi scipled,andt heywi lllearnt ol i
vewi thot herbelieversi nacont extofmut ual care.
Noticet hataf terJesussai d, “
Goandmakedi sciplesofal lnations, bapt i
zingt hem int hename
oftheFat herandoft heSonandoft heHol ySpirit”
,hewentont osay , “
andt eachingt hem t o
obeyev er ythingIhav ecommandedy ou”( Mat t
hew28: 18-20).Inot herwor ds, i
tisint helocal
churcht haty ouwi l
lbetaughty ourspi rit
ual r
esponsi bil
it
ies.Someoft heresponsi bil
it
ies( and
pri
vil
eges)ofbel ongingt oal ocal chur char e:

1.Mai ntainingaGodl yLi festyl

e: Youar egoi ngt obepar tofaf ami l
y ,andsoy oushoul dbe
concer nedaboutt hef ami ly’
sname.Pr ev i
ousl y, onlyy ouwoul dbemockedbyt hewor ldifthey
sawy ourcompr omi se, butnowi twill
bey ourent irechur cht hatwi llbeary ourshamet ogether
wi t
hy ou.So, seekt omai ntaint hehighestst andar dofgodl yl i
ving.TheBi blesay s,
“Thedi sci ples
wer ecalledChr isti
ansf i
rstatAnt i
och”( Acts11: 26) .Why ?Itwasbecauset hewor l
dnot edhow
theycol l
ect i
velylivedl ikeChr ist.Itmustbesowi thy ou.Youmustal sobemi ndf ul
thaty oudo
notlety ourChr isti
anf reedom becomeasour ceofst umblingf ory ourbr ethren, especi all
yi nt he
areaofdr essingandf r i
ends.Letev erythingabouty oubeencour agi ngtoy ourbr et
hren.The
Biblesay s,“Ther ef
or el etusst oppassi ngj udgmentononeanot her.Instead, makeupy ourmi nd
nott oputanyst umbl i
ngbl ockorobst aclei ny ourbr other’
sway ….I fyourbr otheri sdi stressed
becauseofwhaty oueat , youar enol ongeract ingi nl ove.Donotbyy oureat ingdest royy our
brotherf orwhom Chr istdi ed.Donotal lowwhaty ouconsi dergoodt obespokenofasev il
….We
whoar est r
ongoughtt obearwi t
hthef ail
ingsoft heweakandnott opl easeour selves.Eachof
usshoul dpl easehi snei ghborf orhisgood, tobui ldhi m up”( Romans14: 13, 15- 16;15: 1-2).So,
from nowonwar dsy oushoul dt hinkint ermsoft heef f
ecty ouract ionswi llhaveony ourf ellow
churchmember s.Wi llitencour agethem orj ustcauset hem t osl andery ou?

2.At
tendi
ngAl
ltheMeet
ingsoft
heChur
ch:
Thi
sisper
hapst
hemostobv
iousr
esponsi
bil
i
ty.
Youar egoingt obepar tofaf ami l
y ,andl ikeint hephy sical fami l
y,youmustmakesur ethatyou
arether eforf ami l
ymeal sandf ami lyindabas.I tist hesamewi thchur chmember ship.
Previously,youchosewhi chmeet ingsy ouwant edt oat tendandwhi chonesy oudi dnotcar e
about ,andnoonebot her edyouabouti tbecauset heyknewt haty ouwer eanout sider .Butnow
youar esay i
ngt haty ouwantt oj oi
n“ thei nnerci rcle” ,theref orey oumustdel i
ber atelymakesur e
thaty oumaket imef orsuchmeet ings.Thi swillobv iouslyi ncl udesuchmeet ingsasSunday
servi
ces, midweekmeet i
ngs, businessmeet ings, andanyspeci almeet ingscal l
eduponbyt he
elders.Ifyouar eunabl et oattendanyoft hesemeet i
ngsf oranyconsi der ableper iodoft ime,do
notjustdi sappearbuti nf ormy ourchur chl eadersabouti t
.Thati spar tofwhati tmeanst obea
responsi blechur chmember .
Descr ibingt heear lychur ch, theBi blesay s, “Theydev ot ed
themsel vest ot heapost les’t
eachi ngandt othef ellowshi p, tot hebr eaki ngofbr eadandt o
prayer ….Allthebel ieverswer et oget herandhadev erythingi ncommon….Ev er ydayt hey
continuedt omeett oget herinthet empl ecour ts.Theybr okebr eadint heirhomesandat e
togetherwi thgl adandsi ncer
ehear ts, praisingGodandenj oy ingt hef avorofal lthepeopl e”
(Acts2: 42,44, 46-47) .TheBi blealsosay s,“Letusnotgi veupmeet i
ngt oget her,assomear ein
thehabi tofdoi ng, butletusencour ageoneanot her —andal lthemor easy ouseet heDay
approachi ng”( Hebr ews10: 25).Wheny ouar econsi st entlyinv ol vedinchur chmeet ingsi t
encour agest hesai nts, ev eni
finsomemeet ingsy ousaynot hi ngatal l!

3.Labour ingt oExt endGod’ sKingdom: Oneoft hepi ctur esoft hechur chi ntheBi bleisthati ti
s
anar myofsol diersf ighting.Thi sref er stothespeci al gat her ing/meet ingofasmal lcommuni t
y
forthepur -
poseofdi scussi ngmat terst hataf f
ectt heircol lect i
vewel fare.f orthecr ownr ightsof
i
tsSav i
our ,t
heLor dJesusChr i
st( Ephesi ans6: 10-18) .Wheny ouwer esav ed, youwer er ecruit
ed
i
ntot hisar my .Thet imey ouj oinal ocal churchi sthet imey ouar epost edt oone, specifi
car my
unit.Youmust ,ther efore, bedi l
igenti nt hatunitt of ulf
il themandat eoft hechur chonear th.
Throught hemi nistriesoft hechur ch, andaccor dingt oy ourgi f
ts,gracesandcal lingi nli
fe, you
mustspendandbespentf orJesus.TheBi ble,i
nencour agi ngChr i
sti
ansi nviewoft hefactt hat
wewi l
lallonedaydi e,say s, “
Ther ef ore,mydearbr other s, st andf i
rm.Letnot hi
ngmov ey ou.
Alway sgiv eyour selvesf ullytot hewor koft heLor d, becausey ouknowt haty ourl abori nt he
Lordi snoti nv ain”( 1Cor inthians15: 58).Itisprimar i
lyt hr oughy ourlocal chur cht haty oucan
givey ourselvesf ull
yt ot hewor koft heLor d.Accor dingt oEphesi ans4: 7-16, ther easonwhywe
hav epast orsisbecauseGodwant st hem t oprepar eChr istians“ forwor ksofser v ice”,andi n
thatwayt hebodyofChr istwi ll
bebui ltupi nquant i
tyandi nqual it
y.Int hatpassage, t
heBi ble
compar esthechur cht ot hehumanbodyandshows, t
her efor e,howt hechur chgr ows.I tsay s,
“From [Chr i
st]t hewhol ebody ,j
oinedandhel dtoget herbyev erysuppor tingl igament ,
growsand
buildsitselfupi nlov e,aseachpar tdoesi t
swor k.”So, doy ourpar t
,andt hechur chwi l
lgrow,
growandgr ow.

4.Financiall
ySuppor t
ingtheWor koft heLor d:Althought hechur chisaspi r
it
ual inst
itution,
as
l
ongasi tisonearthitneedsf i
nancesi nordert of unction.Itneedsst at
ionery,electr
icity,water
,
tel
ephones, postalservi
ces,fl
oorpolish,etc.Allthesecostmoney .Then,thechur chal sohas
meet i
ngsandout r
eachef f
orts,whichneedpubl i
city,transport,food,etc.Alltheseneedmoney .
Then, t
hechur chneedsper sonnelwhom i tmustpay ,e.g.
, t
hechur chpastor.Ast hechur ch
grows, i
tbeginstoalsoneedcar et
akers,secr et
aries,mi ssionari
es, et
c.Alltheseneedt obepaid.
Themai nsour ceoff undingf orthechur chisthet it
hesandf reewi lloffer i
ngsofi tsmember s.
So, nowt haty ouar et hi
nkingofj oini
ngt hechur ch,youmustal soser iouslyl ookathowy oucan
suppor tit
sv ariousf unctionsf i
nanci ally
.Ifyouar etobeagoodst ewar di nt hisarea,your
fi
nanci al givi
ngi nthechur chmustbesy stemat i
candpr oporti
onatet oy ourincome.Ti thingi s
givi
ngt ot hechur chatl east10%ofy ourincome.TheBi bleconsi dersl ackoft i
thingast heft!
“Willamanr obGod?Yety our obme.Buty ouask, ‘
Howdower oby ou? ’Intithesandof fer i
ngs.
Youar eunderacur se—t hewhol enat ionofy ou—becausey ouar er obbi ngme.Br i
ngthewhol e
ti
thei ntot hest orehouse, thatt heremaybef oodi nmyhouse”( Mal achi 3:
8-10) .Theattitudey ou
displayi ny ourgiv i
ngi sver yimpor t
antt oGod.TheBi blesays,“Remembert his: Whoeversows
spar i
ngl ywi l
lalsor eapspar i
ngly ,andwhoev ersowsgener ouslywi l
l al
sor eapgener ously .Each
manshoul dgivewhathehasdeci dedi nhishear ttogive,notreluctant lyorundercompul si
on,
forGodl ov esacheer fulgiver”( 2Cor i
nthians9: 6-7)
.So, yourgivingshoul dbegener ousand
cheer ful.Thisi sgoingt obey ourr esponsi bil
it
yasachur chmember ,somakesur eyouar e
fait
hful t
oi tdespitet hefactt hatnoonewi llseehowmuchy ouar egi vingt othechur ch.God,
whoseeswhati sdonei nsecr et,wi l
lrewar dyou( Matthew6: 4).

5.Seekingt heWel f
areofAl lOtherMember s:Bef oreyoubecameaChr istianyouwentt ochurch
thewayIgot othepostof fi
ce,ifyouwentatal l
.Youwer eonlyinterestedi nthepersoninfront
andwhathehadt oof f
er .Youwer enoti nterestedinwhoel sewasi nchur chorsi t
ti
ngnextto
you.Butonepr ooft haty ouhav etrulybecomeaChr i
sti
ani sthatyousuddenl ybecome
i
nt er
estedi not
herChr istians.Youbegi ntocul ti
v at
ear elati
onshipwi tht hem.Thi siswhatyou
continuet odowheny ouj oinal ocal church.Youmakeadel i
berateef f
or ttoknowt heother
member sandtopr ayf ort hem regularly(Ephesi ans6:18; Hebrews3: 12-13) .Youalsomakei t
yourbusi nesst
or espondt ot heirpracti
cal andspi r
itualneeds( James2: 14-16;1Thessalonians
5:14-15).Whenot herpeopl ecomet oy ouwi thjuicystori
esaboutt hem, y ourefusetoenter
tain
sucht al
kbecausey ouknowt hatitishur tf
ul t
ot hem andt oy ourrelati
onshi pwi t
hthem
(Proverbs16:28).Thati spar tofy ourmember shipresponsibili
ty.

6.Usi ngYourSpi r i
tualGiftsfortheGoodoft heChur ch:AsChr ist
ianswewantt ohel pot hersin
thechur chandbeasour ceofencour agementt ot hem.Becauseoft hisweshoul dgi v eevery
efforttohel pingbui ldupt hechur chingodl yway s.Accor dingt o1Cor inthians12- 14Godhas
givenev eryChr ist i
anamani festati
onofGod’ sHol ySpiritf ort hecommongoodoft hechur ch.
Thesegi ft
soft heHol ySpi ri
taregiventoeachandev eryChr istian,buttheact ual gif
tswi lldiff
er
from onet ot heot her,
sot hatasachur chwewi l
lneedev er yone’ shelpandcooper ationinor der
togr owandmat ureasweshoul d.So,asanewChr i
stian, youshoul dbeencour agedbyt he
knowl edget hatGodhasgi venyounewabi li
tiesorcapaci tiest obeusedbyhi mi nhi swor kof
strengt heningandsuppor ti
ngandbr i
nginggr owt htohi speopl e.Trytof i
ndway sofhel pi
ngt he
Chr i
stianswi thwhom y oumeetr egul
arly,
aswel lasway st oai dthegener al eff
ortsoft he
church.Butdonotj ustassumet hatyouwi llbemostusef ultot hechurchi naspeci fi
car ea
simpl ybecausey ouhav eexper i
encei nthatfield,orbecausey ouar eapr of essi
onal i
nsome
area, orev enbecausey ouhav ear ealdesir
ef oracer t
ainact ivity.Thegi f
tsoft heHol ySpiritare
distr
ibut edsov ereignlybyGod, andwhet herornoty ouwoul dhav echosent hatar eaf oryour sel
f,
youcanbesur et hatyouwi l
lfi
ndf ul
fi
lmenti ndoi ngtheki ndsofact i
vi
tieswhi chGodhas
blessedy out oaccompl ish.Byexper i
ence,pray er,andt hecounsel ofmat ureChr isti
ans( who
wil
lnaturall
yhavesomeexper
iencedist
ingui
shi
ngspir
it
ual
gift
sfrom natur
alabi
li
tiesor
desi
res),youcandiscov
ert
hewayt hatGodhasfit
tedyoui
ntohischurchfori
tsgrowthand
support.

7.Submi tti
ngt otheEldersandCooper ati
ngwi t
htheDeacons: Al
thoughwear esav ed
i
ndi vi
dually,Godexpect sust ocomeunderhi sunder shepher dssot hattheycanl ookafterour
l
ives.Butf ort hem todot hisworkinourli
ves,wewi l
l needt osubmi tourl i
v estothem.The
Biblesays, “Obeyy ourleadersandsubmi ttothei
raut hority.Theykeepwat chov eryouasmen
whomustgi veanaccount .Obeythem sothattheirwor kwi llbeaj oy,notabur den,fort
hat
woul dbeofnoadv antaget oyou”(Hebrews13:17).So, t
hisobedi enceandcooper ati
onistobe
giveninthosear easwhi chwi l
lenabl
ethem todischar get heirduti
esoft eachingandov ersi
ght,
andadmi nisteri
ngt heordinaryandoutwardaffair
soft hechur ch,respect i
vely.So,partofyour
spiri
tualgrowt hwi l
l t
akeplaceasy oulearntoli
veunderChr i
st’sunder shepher dsinthelocal
church.Ar ey oureadyf orit?

St
udyQuest
ions

1.Whatshoul
dyoudoifsomethi
ngt
hatyouli
ketodoorwearoreatordr
inkcausesot
her
Chri
sti
ansi
nyourchur
chtotal
kbadthi
ngsaboutyou?

2.I
nwhatwayscany
ouserv
ethechurchnow,sot
hatyoucanbegi
ntodi
scov
erhowy
ouar
e
gi
ft
edandinwhi
chwayyoucanbestser
vetheLor
dinhischur
ch?

3.I
s“givi
ng”inthechurchsupposedtobeonlyfort
hosewhowor kandsogetast
eadyincome,
orshouldi
tbedonebyev er
yone—incl
udi
ngthosewhojustgetsomeall
owancesf
rom par
ents
orcol
lege/uni
versi
tysponsors?

4.What,accordi
ngtoMatthew18:
15-17,
shouldy
oudoi
fyouseeorbecomeawar
eofabr
other
orsi
stersinni
ngagainsty
ouoragai
nstother
s?

Concl
usi
on
Itrustthatasy ouhav egonet hrough“ yourbapt ismal classnot es”youhav ebeenhel pedt o
under standwhatr eal l
yhappenedt oyouwheny oubecameaChr i
sti
an.Nev erunder est imatet he
i
mpor tanceofy ourconv ersi
ont oChrist.Yourl i
fefr
om t hatpoi ntonwar ds—fort imeandf oral l
eternity—willbefor ev ert
ransf ormedbecauseofi t
.Ther eareal otofresponsibil
itiest hatwill
becomey oursfrom t hedayy ouunder gobapt i
sm.Theyar ef ami l
yresponsibi
li
tiesbecausey ou
willbepubl icl
yjoiningt hefami l
yofGod.Br acey ourselffortheser esponsibil
i
tiesandmakesur e
thatyour i
setotheoccasi on.Yourbapt ism, theref
ore, i
st hedayy ouwillwanttof l
yal lyour
fl
agshi gh.Youwi llwantt otel lt
hewor l
dt hatJesussav es.LikePaul ,onthatdayy ouwi l
lbe
say i
ng, “Chri
stJesuscamei nt othewor ldt osav esinners—ofwhom Iam t hewor st”(1Ti mot hy
1:15).Ar eyoulooki ngf orwardt omaki ngsuchapower fulstatement ?Theny ouwi llf
indy our
baptism v erymeani ngful
.Oncey oualsot akey ourpl aceofact iveChr i
sti
anser vicei ny ourlocal
church, otherswi l
lal soseet haty ourbapt i
sm wasmeani ngful.Donotl etyourbapt i
sm endj ust
withbei ngmadewet !
Letmeendwi t
ht hetesti
monyofChar l
esHaddonSpur geon,asherecall
edthedayofhis
bapti
sm.Thedaywas3May1850.Hesay s:
Iwasupear l
y,tohaveacoupl eofhoursf
orqui
et
pray
eranddedicati
ont oGod.ThenIhadsomeei ghtmi l
estowalk,t
or eachthespotwher
eI
wastobeimmer sedintotheTri
uneNameaccor dingtothesacredcommand.Whatawal kit
was!Whatthoughtsandpr ay
ersthrongedmysoul dur
ingthatmorning’
sjourney!
Spur
geonwas
bapti
sedwit
htwol adiesinari
ver,t
heRi v
erLar
k.Hecont i
nues:

Myt houghtswereinthewat er,somet imeswithmyLor dinjoy,andsomet i

meswi thmy sel
fin
trembli
ngaweatmaki ngsopubl icaconf essi
on….Thewi ndblewdownt her i
verwithacutti
ng
blast,
asmyt urncamet owadei ntothef l
ood,butafterIwalkedaf ewst eps, andnot edthe
people…,Ifel
tasifheaven,andear t
h,andhell,
mi ghtgazeuponme, forIwasnotashamed,
thereandthen,t
oownmy sel
faf olloweroftheLamb.Myt i
miditywaswashedaway ….Baptism
alsoloosedmyt ongue,andfrom t hatdayithasnev erbeenqui et.Ilostat housandfearsinthat
RiverLark,
andfoundt hat‘i
nkeepi ngHi scommandment st
hereisgr eatr eward.’I
twasat hrice-
happydayt ome.Godbepr aisedf orthepreserv-
inggoodnesswhi chal lowsmet owr i
teofi
t
wi t
hdeli
ghtsolongafterwards.Spur geonendsbysay ing:

Iwisht hatall
otherbeli
ever
swer eledtomakeaser i
ouspoi
ntofcommencingthei
rv i
sibl
e
connect i
onwi t
hthechurchbyt heordi
nancewhichsymboli
sesdeat
htotheworld,bur
ialwit
h
Christ,andresurr
ecti
ontonewnessofl i
fe.Thatopenst
ream,thecr
owdedbanks,andthe
solemnpl unge,haveneverfadedfrom mymi nd,
buthaveoft
enoperat
edasaspurt odutyanda
seal ofconsecrat
ion.

Tot
hatIsay
,amen!

ADDI
TIONALSTUDY
STUDY1

Under
standi
ngt
heNewBi
rt
h

Memor
yVer
se:
IICor
int
hians5:
17,
Act
s4:
12

I
ntr
oduct
ion:

Tobecomeamemberofaf ami l
y,y
ouar eeitherbornoradoptedintoit.Thenewbi r
thistheway
youarebothbornandadoptedi nt
ot hefamilyofGod.Iti
saspi ri
tualexperi
encethattr
ansfor
ms
youfrom t
hekingdom ofdarknessintothekingdom ofGod.Itisbot haspiri
tual
andmor al
change.Chri
stl
ivesi
ny oubyt heHolySpiri
t.Iti
ssov i
tal
anexper iencethatnoonecanent er
i
ntoGod'sKingdom wit
houtit.John1:12-13;Gal.4-
5,Eph.5:
30-32

1.Underst
andi
ngthefal
lofmanthroughAdam.Adam wast heheadoft
hehumanrace.Justas
theheadofacountr
ycancausehiscountr
ytofal
lorsucceedthr
oughhi
sleader
shi
p,Adam
changedthecour
seofhumanracebyf al
l
ingi
ntosin.Rom.5:12Sat
andecei
vedAdam Gen:2:
15
-20,
3:18
2.Under
standi
ngt
heConsequencesoft
hef
all
!

a.Lossofcommuni
onandf
ell
owshi
pwi
thGodI
sai
ah59:
2,Ehp.
2:11-
12

b.Spi
ri
tual
Deat
h:Rom.
6:23a;
Phy
sical
Deat
h:Heb.
9:27Et
ernal
Deat
h:Rev
.20:
15

c.Recei
vedt
henat
ureofsi
nanddebtt
osi
n.Gen.
1:27,
5:3

d.Tr
ansf
err
edourf
ather
hoodt
othedev
ilJOHN8:
44

e.Sl
aver
ytoSat
an.Col
.1:
13,
II
Tim.
2:26

f
.LossofGodgi
venaut
hor
it
ytot
hedev
ilJOHN14:
30,
Luke4:
5-6,
Eph.6:
10-
18

g.LossofDomi
nionov
eral
lofGod‟
shandwor
kGen:
1:28

h.Lossoff
reedom f
rom di
sease,
sor
row,
har
dshi
pandsuf
fer
ingsGen.3:
16-
19

3.Undeni
abl
eMer
cyandPar
donf
orsi
n

Someat
tri
but
esofGod:

Ri
ght
eousness119:
137-
138,
Jer
.23:
6Just
:Deut
.32:
4ISA.
45:
21

Lov
e:John:
3:16,
Rom 1:
8

Tr
uth:
IISam.
7:28,

Et
ernal
Lif
e:Rev
.1:
8

4.God’smer cyexpl
ained:
TomeetGod‟sholychar
act
erofj
usti
ce(forsi
n)andl
ove(
fort
he
sinf
ul man),t
helastAdam wassentt
obreakdownthebar
ri
erbetweenGodandMan.Rom.5:
17
-19,ICor.15:
21-22,45-
47

5.Whatt
heNewBi
rt
hisnot
:

a.Bei
ngr
eli
giousorchur
chy-Act
s10:
1-9

b.Keepi
ngt
hel
aw-Rom.3:
20;
Gal
.2:
16-
21;
Act
s13:
39

c.Bei
ngSel
f-
ri
ght
eous-I
s.64:
6;Phi
l
.3:
8-9

d.Educat
ionandcul
tur
e-ICor
.1:
18-
27

e.Wat
erBapt
ism -Act
s8:
36-
39

f
.Goodwor
ksandgoodmor
als-I
s.64:
6;Act
s10:
1-2,
22

Theset
hingsar
egoodandi
mpor
tantbutt
heywi
l
lnotsubst
it
utef
ort
henewbi
rt
h(Mat
t.23:
23)
6.Whati
stheNewBi
rt
h?

1.I
tisaspi
ri
tual
bir
thJn.3:
1-7.Ourspi
ri
t,notf
leshbecomesbor
nagai
n.

2.I
tist
hequi
ckeni
ngofourspi
ri
tthatwasdeadt
osi
nbyt
hewor
dofGodJn1:
12-
13;
1Pet
er
1:
23.

3.I
tist
hepr
ocessofbei
ngt
ransl
atedf
rom dar
knessi
ntol
i
ght
.Col
.1:
12-
13;
Eph.2:
8-10

4.Iti
stheprocessofsubst
it
uti
ngt
heAdami
cnat
urei
.e.t
hesi
nful
nat
ure,
tot
henat
ureofGod
(Holi
ness)

7.WhyistheNewBirthSoImpor
tant?Thehumannat ur
ei nanyhumanbeingwill
standagainst
hi
m orheratthegat
eofheavenifnotsubsti
tutedorexchangedforaGodl
ynat ur
eThenatural
Manisspiri
tual
l
ydeadandcannotobey,understandorpleaseGod.Rom.8:6-
8;Jer.17:
9;Eph.
2:
3.Thenewbi r
thgi
veseter
nall
i
fe.John3:16.

Hemustber
e-bor
nifhei
sto"
see"or"
ent
er"t
heki
ngdom ofGod.1John3:
3-

Thenat
ural
mani
sonasl
oppycour
set
odest
ruct
ionPr
ov.14:
12,
12:
15

Thenewbi
rt
hguar
ant
eet
hatournamei
swr
it
teni
nGod‟
sbookofl
i
feRev
.20:
15

Wi
thoutt
henewbi
rt
hthenat
ural
mani
sthechi
l
doft
hedev
il
.In8:
44;
1In3:
10

Thenat
ural
mani
scor
rupti
nhi
saf
fect
ionsandper
ver
sei
nhi
swi
l
l.Gal
.5:
19;
Mk7:
21-
23

Thenewbir
thaf
fect
sourt
ast
e,habi
t,opi
nion,
desi
re,
vocabul
aryappear
anceandhopeet
c.2
Cor.5:
17

Thr
ought
henewbi
rt
h,wear
erai
sedf
rom deat
hofsi
ntot
hel
i
feofr
ight
eousness

8.HowCanIbebor
nagai
n?

Acknowl
edget
haty
ouar
easi
nner-Rom.3:
23;
Luke18:
13;
Ps.51

Sincer
elyr
epentofyoursi
ns-Acts3:
19;
Luke13:3Confessyoursi
nst
oGod-1John:
1:19or
turnawayfrom y
oursinsandol
dways–Is.55:
7;Prov.28:
13

Hi
m andHi
ssubst
it
uti
onar
ysacr
if
ice-John3:
16;
IICor
.5:
21

Recei
veHi
mint
oyourhear
tbyf
ait
handt
her
eaf
tert
hankGodf
orsav
ingy
ou-
John1:
11-
12;
Eph.
2:
8

9.Whatar
etheEv
idencesoft
heNewBi
rt
h?

Thef
oll
owi
ngchar
act
eri
sti
cswi
l
lbemani
fest
edi
nthebel
i
everwhoi
sbor
nagai
n:
Di
scussnoti
ceabl
eevi
dencesoft
henewbi
rt
hiny
ourl
i
fesi
ncey
ouopenl
yconf
essedJesus
Chr
istasyourLor
dandsavi
or

1.Achangedl
i
fe-I
ICor5:
17Col
.3:
1-3

2.ARi
ght
eousandHol
yli
fe-IJohn2:
29,
3:7,
5:181Pet
er1:
14-
16

3.Ov
ercomi
ngl
i
fe-IJohn5:
4

4.Powert
oli
fet
heChr
ist
ianl
i
feJohn1:
12

5.Communi
onandf
ell
owshi
pwi
thGod.1John1:
3

6.Godl
yfearEccl
.12:
13

7.Godl
ylov
e-IJohn4:
7

8.Wi
tnessoft
hespi
ri
t-Rom 8:
16

10.HowCanWeLi
vet
hisNewLi
feSuccessf
ull
y?

1.Bygi
vi
ngour
sel
vest
othest
udyoft
heWor
dIPet
er2:
2,Ps.119:
103

2.Bygi
vi
ngour
sel
vest
oPr
ayerIThes.5:
17

3.Wemustal
sosubmi
ttot
all
ytoChr
ist
.James4:
6-7

4.byf
ell
owshi
ppi
ngconst
ant
lywi
tht
hebr
ethr
en.Heb10:
25

Concl
usi
on:

AbornagainChri
sti
anmustbediff
erentf
rom t
hosewhoar enot.Thi
sshouldbeevidentinthe
wor
ds, t
houghtsandacti
ons(
whatyouwear,hear
,seeortouch)ofthebel
iever
.Al
soheorshe
mustletgooffol
dpatter
nsofsi
nsanddoawaywi thever
yf or
m ofdest
ructi
verel
ationshi
psand
ways.

STUDY2:
REPENTANCEFROM DEADWORKS

Memor
yVer
se:
Prov
erbs28:
13,
HEB.6:
1-2

I
NTRODUCTI
ON:

Thi
sist
hef
ir
stf
undament
aldoct
ri
neofChr
isti
nthescr
ipt
ure.Nobodycanl
aycl
aimt
obei
ng
bor
nagai
nwi
thoutt
hest
epofgenui
ner
epent
ance.

1.WhatdoesRepent
ancemean?

I
tisaf i
rm consci
ouspersonal
decisi
ontochangef
rom si
n(obedi
encetothedev
il
)to
ri
ghteousnessinobedi
encetowardsGod,l
iv
inghol
y,i
tisnotanemoti
on.Heb.6:
1-2Act
s3:
19;
1Thes.1:5-
10

2.Repent
ancemusti
nvol
vet
hest
epsof
:

1.Acknowl
edget
hef
actt
haty
ouhav
esi
nned.Rom 3:
23

2.Conf
essy
oursi
ns.IJohn1:
9

3.AskGodf
orf
orgi
venessandHi
smer
cy.I
sa.55:
7,

4.Askf
orDi
vi
neabi
l
ityt
ofor
sakey
oursi
ns.Pr
ov.28:
13;

3.Howi
mpor
tanti
sthesubj
ectt
ousasbel
i
ever
s?

Genui
ner
epent
ancei
sfol
l
owedbydesi
rabl
efr
uit
sofl
ove,
peace,
pat
iencef
ait
het
c.Luke3:
7-9-

JesusourLor
dandmast
ercommandedust
orepentandbesav
ed.Mar
k6:
12,
Luke24:
46-
47-

Pet
ercommendedi
tAct
s2:
37-
38

Paul
commendedi
tAct
s17:
30-
31

Nobodycansayhei
sbor
nagai
nwi
thoutgenui
ner
epent
ance.

4.Whatar
ethedeadwor
ksf
rom whi
chwehav
etor
epent
?

1.Si
nEph4:
25-
31

2.Thewor
ksoft
hef
leshPhi
l
3:1-
3,Gal
.5:
19-
21

3.I
dol
sIThesl
:
9

4.Empt
yrel
i
gionandal
lunr
ight
eousnessI
ITi
m3:
1-9,
ICor
.6:
9-11

5.El
ement
sofgenui
ner
epent
ance

1.Conv
ict
ion-befor
eanysi
nnercanrepent
,hemustbeconv
ict
edt
hathehasur
gentneedt
o
makehiswayrightWit
hGod.Ps38:4;51:3;Act
s2:37

2.Godlysor
row:
Thiscomesasaconsequenceofconv
ict
ionbyt
heHol
ySpi
ri
tleadi
ngt
o
repent
ance.
II
Cor
7:10

3.Renunci
ati
on:
Truer
epent
ancei
nvol
vesgr
iefandhat
redf
orsi
ntur
ningf
rom i
ttoGod.I
s55:
7
5.Communi
onandf
ell
owshi
pwi
thGod.1John1:
3

6.Godl
yfearEccl
.12:
13

7.Godl
ylov
e-IJohn4:
7

8.Wi
tnessoft
hespi
ri
t-Rom 8:
16

10.HowCanWeLi
vet
hisNewLi
feSuccessf
ull
y?

1.Bygi
vi
ngour
sel
vest
othest
udyoft
heWor
dIPet
er2:
2,Ps.119:
103

2.Bygi
vi
ngour
sel
vest
oPr
ayerIThes.5:
17

3.Wemustal
sosubmi
ttot
all
ytoChr
ist
.James4:
6-7

4.byf
ell
owshi
ppi
ngconst
ant
lywi
tht
hebr
ethr
en.Heb10:
25

Concl
usi
on:

AbornagainChri
sti
anmustbediff
erentf
rom t
hosewhoar enot.Thi
sshouldbeevidentinthe
wor
ds, t
houghtsandacti
ons(
whatyouwear,hear
,seeortouch)ofthebel
iever
.Al
soheorshe
mustletgooffol
dpatter
nsofsi
nsanddoawaywi thever
yf or
m ofdest
ructi
verel
ationshi
psand
ways.

6.Di
sti
ngui
shbet
weengenui
ner
epent
anceandr
emor
se

GENUI
NEREPENTANCE

Leadst
osal
vat
ion

Comesf
rom t
heSpi
ri
t

Godl
ysor
rowf
orsi
n

Hear
tfel
tconf
essi
onanddesi
ret
ofor
sakesi
n

Phy
sical
mani
fest
ati
onofhol
yli
fe,
thought
sandwor
k

REMORSE

Leadst
odeat
h

Comesf
rom emot
ion
Regr
etf
orwr
ongdoi
ng

Shal
l
owandt
ransi
entconcer
naboutsi
n

Tur
bul
entl
i
feofsor
rowandf
ail
ure

7.Whatar
ether
esul
tsofgenui
ner
epent
ance;
Ps51:
12-
14.

1.Cl
eansi
ngwi
tht
hebl
oodofJesusbyf
ait
h.IJohn1:
7-9

2.Assur
anceoff
orgi
veness.Rom 5:
1

3.Nomor
econdemnat
iont
husabi
l
ityt
ohav
efr
uit
ful
fel
l
owshi
pwi
thGodi
npr
ayer
.Rm 8:
1

4.Just
if
icat
ionasi
fsi
nsnev
eroccur
red.Anewcr
eat
ion.I
ICor5:
17

5.Peacewi
thGodandman.I
s30:
15

6.Bur
denofsi
nisl
i
ftedr
esul
ti
ngi
nat
imeofr
efr
eshi
ng.Act
s3:
19

7.Joyofsal
vat
ion.Ps51:
12-
14

CONCLUSI
ON

Remember,Godi
snotmockedPsalm 86:
5.Thewagesofsi
nisdeat
hbut
,Godi
sreadyt
o
for
giv
eift
herei
sagenui
nerepent
ance.

STUDY3:
DI
SCOVERI
NGYOURNEW SELF

Memor
yVer
se1PETER2:
9

I
NTRODUCTI
ON:

BeforeSaul hadhisfi
rstencounterwithGodont hewayt oDamascus, hewasanav owedenemy
oftheLor dJesusChrist.Butaf
tertheexperienceont hewayt oDamascus, hebecamea
dif
ferentperson.Hewascommi ssionedandhest ar
tedpreachingthesameGospel hehad
persecuted.Acts9:1-22.Saul(
laterPaul)wasaser vantorslaveoftheLaw, cul
tur
eand
tr
aditi
onsbutwast ur
nedt oaservantofGodi nright
eousness.Nowt hatyouhave,bytheGrace
ofGodbecomeachi l
dofGod, youmustnowl earntol i
veandoperatesuccessfull
yinyournew
positi
on.Thisisnecessarybecauset hekindofli
feyouwer elivi
ngbef orei
sasharpcontrastto
yournewl if
e.
1.Knowi
ngwhoy
ouar
e

1.Youwer
easer
vantofsi
n,achi
l
doft
hedev
ilt
hatnowhasbeendel
i
ver
edf
rom si
nandi
ts

passi
ons.Rom 6:
16-
18;
Rom 7:
5-6;
Jn.8:
24,
44;
IJn.3:
8.

2.Youwer etakencaptiv
e,af
fl
ictedanddehumani
zeatwi l
lbythedev
il,
butnowhavebeen
del
iveredtot
all
yfrom thepowerofdarknessandt
ransl
atedint
othekingdom oft
heLor
dJesus
Chri
st.IITi
m 2:26;Luke13:11-16;Col1:12-
13

3.Youwer eoncenopeopl e,al

ientothecommonweal t
hofIsraelandstranger
stothe
covenantsofpromise.Nowy ouhav ebeenmadeSon, i
nfact,j
ointheirwit
htheLor
dJesusand
ther
ebymadeent it
ledtoalldiv
ineblessi
ngs.Rom 9:
25-26;Eph2:11-16;Rom8:17;
Eph1:3;I
I
Peter1:3;I
IPeter1:3-4;
Eph2: 19;
IPeter2:9-
10

4.Satanhadruleandauthori
tyoveryousi
ncey oul
ostyourf
ir
stpositi
onduetosin.However
,
thenewy ouarenowr est
oredbacktothatfor
merposit
ionandy ounowbearrul
e,power,
dominionandauthorit
yoverSatanandhiscohort
s.I
ITi
m 2:25-26;Luke4:6;
Col1: 20-
22;
Luke
10:19;James4: 7;Luke9:1;Luke10:1and17.

2.HowdoesGodseey
ounow?

1.Anewpersonenti
rel
y,whosesinshavebot
hbeenwashedawayandfor
got
ten.I
ICor.5:
17;
Gal
.6:15;Heb8:12;
Rev1: 5;IJohn1:7;I
s43:25;
Is44:
22.Si
nsmenti
onedherei
ncl
udeev er
y
mannerofsi
ncommi tt
edinthepast.

2.Asbeingholyandpecul
i
artoHim:Hehasconsequent
lykeptyouast
heappl
eofHi
sey
e.I
Peter2:
9;Tit
us2: 14:
Ex19:5-
6;Deut32:
10;Zech2:8;I
s54: 15-
17

3.TheI
mmedi
ateThi
ngsGodExpect
sFr
om You

1.Putof
ftheol
dmanandputont
henewman:
Eph4:
20-
32;
Col
3:5-
10,
Mat
t.9:
15-
17.

Whatar
ethet
hingst
oputof
f?Di
scuss

2.Br
eakal
ldi
plomat
icr
elat
ionswi
tht
hedev
ilandhi
ski
ngdom.I
ICor6:
14-
18;
Eph5:
11-
12;

Gal
4:4-
9;Ps1,
Deut7:
4-6;
ICor15:
33.

Whatki
ndsofr
elat
ionshi
psar
ewet
obr
eak?Gal
4:4-
9PS.
1:1,
Deut
.7:
3-6,
1Cor
15:
33

3.Pur
if
yyour
sel
f,y
ourt
hought
sandal
lyouhav
eonadai
l
ybasi
s,i
nor
dert
oret
ainGodt
her
e.I

Cor3:
16-
17;
Rom 12:
1-2;
(Di
scuss)IPet2:
11;
James4:
7;John17:
17.

Howcanthesebeachi
eved?Ps119:
11Thywor
dhasIhi
dinmyhear
tthatImi
ghtnotsi
n
agai
nstt
hee.

4.Hav
eregul
arf
ell
owshi
pandunbr
okenper
sonal
rel
ati
onshi
pwi
thGod.(
Discuss)IJn1:
1-3;
James4:
8,t
houwi
l
tkeepi
nper
fectpeacewhosemi
ndi
sst
ayedont
hee(
JesusChr
istgav
e

usagoodexampl
e)Luke6:
12

5.Fel
l
owshi
pwi
thot
herbr
ethr
enatal
lti
mesHebHeb.10:
25;
Act
s2:
42-
47;
Ps133:
1-3.Whyi
s

t
hist
ypeoff
ell
owshi
pver
yimpor
tant
?Ecc.4:
9-10;
Mat
t18:
18-
20;
Deut32:
30.

6.Doal
lthi
ngsi
nFAI
THi
nor
dert
opl
easeGod.Gal
3:11;
Rom 1:
17;
Heb11:
6;Mk11:
23-
24;

Di
scuss-
whati
sFai
th?Heb11:
1

Howcanwer
ecei
vet
hev
ict
ori
ouski
ndoff
ait
h?Rom 10:
17

Exampl
esofv
ict
ori
ousFai
th:
Rom.4:
19-
22;
Heb11:
17-
19.

4.TheI
mmedi
ateThi
ngsYouShoul
dExpectFr
om t
heWor
ld

1.Thewor
ldwi
l
lhat
eyou.Di
scusswhy
?John15:
18-
19;
John17:
14;
Man5:
44-
48

2.Thewor
ldwi
l
lper
secut
eyou,
dist
ingui
shbet
weenper
secut
ionandaccusat
ion.John15:

20-
21;
John16:
33;
IITi
m 3:
12.

3.Thewor
ldwi
l
lwantt
olur
eyoui
ntodoi
ngt
hingsofol
d.James4:
7;Pr
over
bs1:
10-
15

STUDY4:
TEACHI
NGONBAPTI
SM:
THREEBAPTI
SMSFORTRUEBELI
EVERS

Memor
yVer
se:
ROMANS6:
4

I
NTRODUCTI
ON:

Thi
sv er
yimpor
tantst
udywi
l
llooki
ntot
hreet
ypesofbapt
ismsev
erybel
i
evermustunder
go.
Theseare:

1.TheBapt
ism i
ntoChr
istandHi
sbody

2.TheBapt
ism i
nWat
erorWat
erbapt
ism

3.TheHol
ySpi
ri
tBapt
ism

1.Bapt
ism I
ntoChr
istandHi
sBody
Whatdoesi
tmeant
obebapt
izedi
ntoChr
ist
?

Di
scuss:

Bei
ngBapt
izedi
ntoChr
istchur
chbyonespi
ri
t,ICor
.12:
13

Byput
ti
ngonChr
istGal
.3:
27,

Byhav
ingonef
ait
hinChr
istEph:
4:5;

Bybei
ngpar
taker
sofhi
sbodyICor
.10:
17.

2.Wat
erBapt
ism

OurLor
dJesusChr
istwasbapt
ized.Mt
.3:
13-
17

Thef
ir
stsetofconv
ert
saf
tert
hePent
ecostwasbapt
ized.Act
s2:
41,
Act
s8:
12,
38

Aspeopl
egav
ethei
rli
fet
oChr
istt
heywer
eimmedi
atel
ybapt
ized.Act
s16:
33;
Act
s18:
8

Al
loft
heabov
egav
eust
hescr
ipt
ural
evi
denceofwat
erbapt
ism

Whywat
erbapt
ism mustbebyi
mmer
sion:

Thewor
dbapt
ism i
nGr
eeki
s"Bapt
izo"whi
chmeanst
osubmer
geori
mmer
se.

I
texpr
essedt
her
eal
i
tyofbur
ial
wit
hChr
ist(
Rom.6:
4).

Bi
bler
efer
encesi
ndi
cat
eitbei
ngcar
ri
edoutbyandi
nther
iver
.(Mt
.3:
6,13)

Thei
mpor
tanceandorsi
gni
fi
canceofwat
erbapt
ism:

I
tisanout
war
dsy
mbol
ofani
nwar
dreal
i
ty-genui
neconv
ersi
on.

I
tisasy
mbol ofi
dent
if
icat
ionwi
tht
hedeat
h,bur
ial
andr
esur
rect
ionofourLor
dJesusChr
ist
.
(
Rom.6:3-
6)

I
tisanopendecl
arat
ionofsepar
ati
onf
rom t
hewor
ld.

I
tist
ofol
l
owt
heexampl
eoft
heLor
dJesusChr
isti
nful
fi
ll
i
ngal
lri
ght
eousness.Mat
.3:
3-15;
I

Pet
.2:
21;
John13:
5

I
nwhosenameshoul
dwat
erbapt
ism becar
ri
edout
?

Wear
etobebapt
izedi
nthenameofGodt
heFat
her
,Godt
heSonandGodt
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.
TheMi
nist
erofGod(
ThePast
or)i
stheagentoft
hist
ypeofBapt
ism.Mat
t.28:
19.

Howappr
opr
iat
eorscr
ipt
ural
isi
nfantbapt
ism?Di
scuss.(
Act
s8:
12)

Thescri
ptur
edemandsr epent
ancetowardGodandfai
thtowardsChr
ist(
Acts20:
21)asbasi
c
condi
ti
onsforWaterBapti
sm andnochildcandot
hisunt
ilheorshei
smat ur
edenought
o
under
standsinandwhattodot obesaved.

Wat
erbapt
ism i
sacommand
Waterbapti
sm i
sacommandi
tisnotopt
ional
,sol
ongasabel
i
everr
emai
nsal
i
veaf
ter
conver
sion.Mar
k16:
16

3.Bapt
ism wi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
ts

Ther egener
ati
ngworkoftheHolySpi
ri
tisdi
ffer
entfr
om Hisworkofbapti
sm.Inregener
ati
on,
ther
ei simpart
ati
onofthedi
vi
nelif
eornatur
eofGod( IPet
.1:4)
,buti
nbaptism wi
ththeHoly
Spir
ittherei
simpart
ati
onofdiv
inePowerforeff
ecti
veChri
sti
anservi
ce.Lk.
24:49;
Acts1:4-
5,8;
3:1

Whati
stheimmedi
ateout
war
dsi
gnoft
heHol
ySpi
ri
tBapt
ism?Act
s2:
4;Act
s8:
17;
Act
s10:
44-
46;
Acts19:
6-7

I
tgi
vespowerf
oref
fect
iveandr
esul
tor
ient
edChr
ist
ianser
vice.Act
s1:
8;2:
41

I
timpar
tsbol
dnessf
orser
vice.Act
s2:
1-14;
Act
s4:
31;
Prov
.28:
1

Atr
egener
ati
on,wehaveHol
ySpir
itas"
resi
dent
"int
hebel
i
everbutatt
heHol
ySpi
ri
tbapt
ism,
wehaveHim ast
he"Pr
esi
dent"
.

Whoshoul
drecei
vet
hisbapt
ism andwhen?Di
scussMar
k16:
17;
Act
s10:
44;
Lk.11:
9-13;

Act
s5:
32ev
eryobedi
entchi
l
dofGod.

Whoistheagentofbapt
ism i
nthi
scase?Luke3:
16.TheLor
dJesusChr
isti
stheagentofHol
y
spi
ri
tbapt
ism.

STUDY5:
QUI
ETTI
ME,
BIBLI
CALFASTI
NGANDPRAYERS

Memor
yVer
se:
IPETER2:
2,Mar
k929

Quietti
mei sthet
imesetasidet
omeetwit
hGod.Itist
het i
mesetasidetocommunicatewit
h
theFatherthr
oughthel
ivi
ngWordwitht
heassi
stanceoftheHol
ySpirit
.Iti
sal
soati
met obr
ing,
ourrequesttoGodinpr
ayer.Thr
oughQui
etTi
mewecul ti
vatear
elat
ionshipwi
thGod.Inthi
s
st
udy
,weshal
lal
sodiscusshowtohaveeff
ect
ivequi
ett
imeonadai
l
ybasi
swi
thGod.Mat
h
6:
34Say
ssuff
ici
entunt
ot hedayi
stheev
ilt
her
eof.

1.Whyt
heneedf
orqui
ett
ime

1.WeneedGodspowert
ocopewi
tht
hedai
l
yact
ivi
ti
es.IKi
ngs19:
7;John15:
5;I
s40:
31

2.Wepat
ter
nourl
i
vesaf
terourLor
dJesusChr
ist
'
sli
febyf
oll
owi
ngHi
sst
eps.Mt
.14:
23;
Mk

1:
35;
6:46;
IPet
.2:
21

3.Tocul
ti
vat
eper
sonal
habi
tofwor
shi
ppi
ng;
theLor
dhel
psourper
sonal
dev
oti
on.IPet
.2:
2;

Josh.1:
8;Ps.1:
1-3;
Ps.95:
6

4.Tocr
eat
eper
sonal
adj
ust
mentt
othet
eachi
ngsoft
heBi
ble;
i.
e.l
i
vingbyt
heWor
d,r
eact
ing

posi
ti
vel
yornegat
ivel
ytot
heBi
ble.Jn.1:
21-
25;
Mt.4:
4;IPet
.2:
2;James1:
21-
25

5.ForGod‟
spowert
oli
veanov
ercomi
ngl
i
fe,
hel
psCr
eat
eri
ghtr
eact
iont
otr
ial
sand

t
empt
ati
ons:
Subst
anceal
readyi
mpar
tedi
nushel
pscr
eat
eri
ghtr
eact
ionst
osi
tuat
ionsand

ci
rcumst
ances.IPet
.1:
3-7;
Heb.12:
10-
11;
James1:
24.

2.Ti
meandpl
aceofqui
ett
ime

1.Fr
equency
:Atl
eastonceaday
.Dan.6:
10.

2.Per
iodoft
hedayshoul
dbeanaccept
abl
eti
me,
pref
erabl
year
lyi
nthemor
ning.Mk.1:
35;

Pr
ov.8:
17;
Ps.5:
3;Gen.19:
27

3.Benef
it
sofusi
ngt
hemor
ning

1.Waki
ngt
hought
sar
efocusedonGod.

2.St
rengt
hisr
ecei
vedt
omeett
hechal
l
engesoft
heday
.Eph6:
10-
12

3.Pl
ace:
Thepl
acechosenf
orqui
ett
imeshoul
dbesecl
udedf
rom noi
seanddi
str
act
ions.

4.Dur
ati
on:
Tobedet
ermi
nedbyt
heBel
i
eversucht
hati
tdoesnotencr
oachonot
heract
ivi
ti
es

f
ort
heday
.

4.Whaty
our
equi
re

1.TheHol
yBi
ble(
iti
sadv
isabl
etohav
emor
ethanonev
ersi
onandagoodr
efer
enceoft
he
2.Bi
bleaty
oursi
de)
.

3.Hy
mnbook/
chor
usbookanddi
cti
onar
y

4.Not
ebookandpen

5.Li
stofpr
ayerpoi
nts

6.Ai
d,Dai
l
yPower
,Ev
ery
daywi
thJesuset
c.

13

5.Howt
oobser
vequi
ett
ime

1.Begi
nwi
thsomepr
aiseandwor
shi
psongs.Eph.5:
19,
ashor
tpr
ayer
.Ps.119:
18;
John16:

13-
15,

2.Readsl
owl
yandmedi
tat
ivel
ythr
oughapr
edet
ermi
nedpor
ti
onoft
heBi
ble(
Ps.119:
18,
105)

3.Pr
ovi
dinganswer
stot
hef
oll
owi
ngquest
ionswher
eappl
i
cabl
e:

a.Whati
sthemai
nsubj
ectoft
hepassageorbook?

b.Whoar
etheper
sonsr
eveal
edi
nthepassage?

c.Whoi
sspeaki
ng?Aboutwhom i
shespeaki
ng?

d.Whati
sthekeyv
erse(
s)oft
hepassage?

e.I
sther
eanysi
nformet
oconf
essandf
orsake?Pr
ov.28:
13

f
.Ist
her
eanycommandmentf
ormet
oobey
?

g.I
sther
eanypr
omi
sef
ormet
ocl
aim?

6.Met
hodsofBi
blest
udydur
ingqui
ett
ime

1.Bychapt
ers,

2.Bypar
agr
aphs,

3.Byv
erses,

4.Bybooks,

5.Byt
opi
cs,
6.Thr
oughbi
ogr
aphy
,

7.St
udyout
li
nes,
e.g.Dai
l
yBr
eadorEv
ery
daywi
thJesusorOpenHeav
ens.

7.Benef
it
sofqui
ett
ime

1.I
tpr
ovi
desanoppor
tuni
tyf
ort
hesoul
tol
i
ngeri
nthepr
esenceofGod.

2.I
tcr
eat
esanat
mospher
eofGod‟
spr
esence

3.I
tbr
ingsaboutt
hewor
kingknowl
edgeoft
heBi
ble.

4.I
tpr
oducest
hedesi
ret
oknowGodandt
odoHi
swi
l
l.

8.HowDoesGodspeakt
ous?

1.ByHi
sWor
dPs.119:
105;
Heb.1:
1

2.ByDr
eam Joel
2:28;
Job33:
14-
16;
Gen.31:
11;
37:
5-7.

3.ByVi
sionAct
s10:
3;Joel
2:28;
Is.6:
1-4.

4.TheSt
il
lSmal
lVoi
ceIKi
ngs19:
12.

5.I
nwar
dWi
tnessPr
ov.20:
27;
ICor
.2:
11.

6.Audi
bleVoi
ceAct
s10:
13;
ISam.3:
4.

7.Thr
ought
hegi
ft
soft
heHol
ySpi
ri
t,e.
g.pr
ophecy
,wor
dofwi
sdom,
wor
dofknowl
edge,
etc.I

Cor
.14:
3-4;
IIPet
.1:
19-
21;
Deut
.18:
20-
21.

9.Obst
acl
est
oef
fect
ivequi
ett
ime

Di
scusspossi
bleobst
acl
est
oaf
rui
tf
ulqui
ett
ime:

Hast
e,di
stur
bance,
badpl
anni
ng,
Lazi
ness,
over
-eat
ing,
monot
onyduet
ousi
ngonemet
hodof

st
udy
,Tel
ephoneet
c.Neh.13:
1-5,
theenemyi
srev
eal
ed,
youknowpeopl
eandwhatt
oav
oid,

gener
ati
onal
cur
ses,
youroppr
essorar
edi
spl
aced,
andt
heol
dki
ngi
sdi
spl
aced.

Pr
ayer
Pr
ayercanbedef
inedasdi
vi
necommuni
cat
ionwi
thGod.I
tisadi
alogueandwai
ti
ngt
ohear
f
rom God.1Sam1:
15,
Isa.26:
16.

I
tisal
sot
hepour
ingoutoft
hehear
tbef
oreGodPsal
m 62:
8

Di
scusst
hemodel
pray
erMat
hew6:
9-13

1.Ty
pesofPr
ayer
s:

1.Ador
ati
on:
i.
e.pr
aiseandwor
shi
pofGodf
orwhohei
s(Godi
sgood,
mer
cif
ul,
kind,
power
ful
,

f
ait
hful
,j
ust
,ri
ght
eouset
c.Psal
m 96:
6,

2.Conf
essi
on:
repent
ancef
rom ev
eryknownsi
n.Psal
m 32:
5

3.Thanksgi
vi
ngMat
hew6:
9-13:
i.
e.bet
hankf
ulf
orany
thi
ngandev
ery
thi
ngt
hatGodhasdone,

i
sdoi
ngandwi
l
ldof
ory
ou.Phi
l
.4:
6:

4.Suppl
i
cat
ion:
i.
e.i
nter
cessi
on,
request
s,pet
it
ionsandal
lourdesi
rescannowbeaddr
essedt
o

God,
int
henameofJesust
hrought
hepoweroft
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.1Ti
m.2:
1

2.Wher
ecanIpr
ay?

Wecanprayany
where,
int
hecl
oset,
inthechur
ch,i
nthesecr
et,
int
heopen,
aloneandorwi
th
ot
herpeopl
eorfami
l
ymembers.1Tim.2:
8,MT.6:
6,Lk.
18:
10

3.WhencanIpr
ay?

Wecanpr ayintheMor ning,atnoon,i

ntheeveni
ng,dur
ingthedayandorni ght
,dai
lyandor
al
way s.I
tisnotonlywheny ouar eonyourkneeswit
hyoureyesclosedthatyoucanpray.You
canprayasy oudriv
et owork,whileatwork,
whiler
esti
ng;si
ngi
ngpr ai
sestoGodi safor
m of
pray
er.Praywithoutceasing

4.Forwhatam It
opr
ay?

Manypeoplecannotpr
ayl
ongbecauset
hei
rpr
ayeri
ssel
fi
sh,
thati
stheypr
ayonl
yfor
t
hemselves

1.Pr
ayf
ort
hesi
ckJames5:
13-
16

2.Pr
ayf
ory
ourcount
ry,
andt
hegov
ernment

3.Pr
ayf
oral
lmen:
thepr
esi
dent
,gov
ernor
s,l
egi
slat
ors,
past
ors,
chur
ch,
wor
ker
s,t
hepr
egnant

i
nthechur
ch,
mini
str
ieset
c1Ti
m.2:
1-4

4.Pr
ayf
orev
eryChr
ist
iant
obemadeper
fect
.Col
.1:
28
5.Pr
ayf
ory
ourenemi
es.Mt
.5:
38-
48

6.Pr
ayf
orwi
sdom andunder
standi
ng.1ki
ngs3:
5-9

7.Pr
ayf
orper
sonal
saf
etyandt
hatofot
her
s,t
hewi
l
lofGod,
for
giv
eness,
gui
dance,
vict
oryov
er

t
empt
ati
on,
Mat
t.6:
9-13

8.Pr
ayf
orl
ong,
heal
thyl
i
fe.I
sa.38:
1-5

9.Pr
ayf
ort
hesecondcomi
ngofChr
ist
.Mat
t.6:
9-13

Youcanseet
hati
tisnotdi
ff
icul
ttopr
aywi
thoutceasi
ng

5.HowcanIpr
ayef
fect
ivel
y?

1.Pr
ayi
nfai
thHeb.11:
6Psal
ms.27:
13Mar
k11:
23,

2.Pr
aywi
thbol
dness.Heb.
4:16;
Isa.41:
21;
43:
26,

3.Pr
aywi
thHumi
l
ity
.Luke18:
10-
12;
Isa.57:
15;
11chr
o.7:
14

4.Pr
aywi
thar
enewMi
nd.Jer
.3:
15;
1Sam.2:
35;

5.Pr
ayper
sist
ent
lyLk.18:
1-8

6.Donotpr
ayoraskGodf
orsomet
hingt
hati
scont
rar
ytohi
swi
l
lort
hatcont
radi
ctt
heBi
ble

Mat
t.26:
39

7.For
giv
eot
her
sify
ouwantGodt
oanswery
ourpr
ayer
sMk.11:
25

8.Begui
dedbyt
heHol
yspi
ri
tinpr
ayi
ng:
rom.
8:26-
27

9.Pr
ayi
nJesusnameJohn16:
24

10.Af
tery
ouhav
epr
ayedwai
tont
heLor
dIsa.40:
31;
Prov
.20:
22

6.Whyar
esomepr
ayer
snotanswer
ed

Ther
ear
efourmaj
orcausesofunanswer
edpr
ayer
s

1.Unbel
i
ef.James1:
6-7

2.Anunf
orgi
vi
ngspi
ri
t.Mk.11:
25

3.Si
n.Psal
m 66:
18

4.Aski
ngagai
nstt
hewi
l
lofGodJames4:
3oraski
ngami
ssorwi
thwr
ongmot
ives.
CONCLUSI
ON

Af
rui
tf
ulandconsi
stentqui
ett
imebr
ingsoutabal
ancedspi
ri
tual
dev
elopmenti
natl
eastt
hree

di
ff
erentar
eas:

1.Heal
thyandf
rui
tf
ulBi
bleKnowl
edge:
Ps.119:
9,11,
105;
Eph.3:
16;
IITi
m 2:
15;
Ps.19:
8;

Hos.4:
6

2.Fr
uit
ful
Pray
erLi
fe:
Pr.28:
9;15:
8,29

3.Anenv
iabl
eChr
ist
ianchar
act
er:
Mt.5:
16;
IPet
.3:
2;Phi
l
.3:
20;
IPet
.3:
15-
16

BI
BLI
CALFASTI
NG

I
ntr
oduct
ion:

Fast
ingi
simper
ati
vef
orChr
ist
ians.I
tisessent
ial
,amongot
hert
hings,
todeal
wit
hthef
lesh,
the

humannat
urethatpr
event
susfr
om prosperi
nginthethi
ngsofthespi
ri
t.Apost
lePaul
sai
d“But
Ikeepmybodyunderandbri
ngi
tint
osubject
ion…”(1Cor.9:
27)

Whati
sFast
ing?

Fasti
ngmeansabst
inenceandBi
bli
cal
fast
ingmeansabst
aini
ngf
rom f
oodanddr
inksf
ora
peri
od.

Thusf
ast
ingi
sanactofdeny
ingoursel
vesoft
hingst
hatgi
veuspl
easur
ewi
thav
iewt
o

suppr
essi
ngt
hef
leshandupl
i
fti
ngt
hespi
ri
t.

Fast
scoul
dbedi
vi
dedasf
oll
ows:

Absol
utef
ast
:Abst
inencef
rom f
oodandwat
erf
orast
ipul
atedper
iodoft
ime.Af
ter3day
siti
s

medi
cal
l
yadv
isabl
etodr
inkwat
er

Nor
mal
fast
:Ameal
ist
akenaf
ter12hour
s;wat
ermaybet
akeni
nbet
weendependi
ngont
he

dur
ati
onoft
hef
ast
.

Par
ti
alFast
:Absti
nencefrom f
oodf orast
ipul
atedti
me,butwat
ercanbet
akenwi
thi
nthet
ime.
Thi
sisadvi
sedforal
lulcerpat
ientandanyonewithheal
thi
ssue
1.Whoshoul
dfast
?

AChr
ist
ianoraBel
i
ever
;2Sam.12:
16;
2Cor
.6:
5,11:
17.

Agr
oupofBel
i
ever
s;Act
s13:
1-3

Awhol
enat
ionJonah3:
5-9Est
her4:
15-
17

2.Pur
poseofaf
ast
:Isa.58:
6-9

1.Tol
oset
hebandsofwi
ckedness,
toundoheav
ybur
dens,
tol
ett
heoppr
essedgof
ree,
to

br
eakev
eryy
oke,
togi
vebr
eadt
othehungr
y,t
orest
oret
hepoor
,tocl
othet
henaked.

2.Toputdownourf
leshandi
ncr
easeourspi
ri
tual
capaci
ty,
str
engt
handawar
eness,
“butt
hey

t
hatwai
tont
heLor
dshal
lrenewt
hei
rst
rengt
h…”I
sa.40;
31,
Psal
m 35:
13

3.Tomaket
hepur
poseofGodi
nyoursi
tuat
ioncl
ear
erasy
oubecomemor
erecept
ivei
nthe

spi
ri
t

4.Togai
nandpossesskeenerper
cept
ionofdi
vi
nei
ssuesandcl
ari
tyoft
hought
,

5.Tohel
pki
ndl
eanddev
elopf
ait
h;t
hroughf
ast
ingspi
ri
tual
fir
eiski
ndl
eandf
ait
hoper
ateswel
l
.

6.Tohel
pbr
eakt
hepowerofSat
an,
andbr
ingaboutdel
i
ver
anceandheal
i
ng,
Mar
k9:
28-
29

7.Tohel
pimpr
ovesy
ourpr
ayerl
i
feLuke11:
9-11

8.Toenhancecont
inuousf
lowofGodsanoi
nti
ng;

9.Wef
astsot
hatourspr
itwi
l
lreadi
l
ybeal
i
vet
ohearwhenGodspeaks.Act
s13:
3-4

10.Not
e:whethery
ouar
efast
ingornot
,youar
eexpect
edt
oli
veapr
act
ical
dai
l
yli
feofhol
i
ness
1Peter
:1:
15-16

3.Whendowef
ast
?

1.Whenaski
ngf
ordi
vi
nesecr
ets.Dan.93,
20-
22;
10:
2-3

2.Wheni
ndanger
;Act
s27:
21-
25,
Jonah1:
17,
2:1

3.Whenaboutt
otakeacr
uci
aldeci
sion;
Est
her4:
15-
16

4.Whensi
ckandi
nneedofdel
i
ver
anceMar
k9:
29
5.Whenpr
epar
ingf
oragr
eatt
ask,
rev
ival
,et
cMat
hew4:
1-3

6.Whenaski
ngGodf
ori
nter
vent
ion;
Nehemi
ah1:
3-4,
2Chr
o.20:
3-10

7.Wheni
nter
cedi
ngf
orot
her
s;Dani
el9:
3

8.Whenev
ery
ouneedt
ohearf
rom God;
Act
s13:
3-4

4.Howt
ooper
ateBi
bli
cal
fast
ing

Whenf
asti
ng,
youneedtobev
erycl
oset
oGod,
seeki
nghi
sfacei
npr
ayer
sandsuppl
i
cat
ionf
or
t
hedur
ati
onofthef
ast
.

I
fthef
astgoesbey
ond3day
siti
snotmedi
cal
l
yadv
isabl
etocont
inuewi
thoutdr
inki
ngwat
er

Wher
ethepersonfast
ingneedt
oundert
akesomeheav
ytasksorunder
takel
ongdi
stance
j
our
neys,
dri
nkingofli
quidi
sadvi
sabl
e

Thedurat
ionofaf
astshoul
dbeacovenantbetweeny
ouandGod,
wit
hacl
earpur
pose;
else,
thef
astmaybeaswasteoftime,
ahungerstr
ikeordi
eti
ng

Abst
ainf
rom sexdur
ingf
ast
ingasagr
eedbet
weenhusbandandwi
fe.1Cor
.7:
5

Bepray
erfulandcont
inuousl
ymedi
tat
eont
hewor
dofGod,
li
stent
ohearf
rom t
heHol
ySpi
ri
t
dur
ingthefast.

Whenyouaredonefasti
ng,endi
ngthefastshoul
dbedonewi
thcaut
ionanddi
sci
pli
ne,
exer
cise
moresel
fcont
rolsothatyourheal
thi
snotimpaired.

5.Medi
cal
Benef
itoff
ast
ing?Di
scuss

Concl
usi
on

Apostl
ePaul decl
aredthathefastof
ten2Cor.11:27.Ever
ybeli
evershouldhavearegul
ar
per
iodoffastingeveryweek,monthetc.Pr
aydail
y.Jesus,Davi
dandPaul fast
edandprayed.Do
not
hingtoindicat
et opeopl
ethatyouarefast
ingi
fy oudesir
earewardfrom it
.Mathew6:16-18
STUDY6:
PERSONALEVANGELI
SM

Memor
yVer
sePROVERBS11:
30,
ICOR.
9:16

I
NTRODUCTI
ON

Per
sonal Evangeli
sm i
sthepersont
opersonsharingofthegospelmessagewi t
htheai
m of
l
eadingtheindivi
dualt
oChrist
.Ther
eisnogreaterjoyt
hanseeingasoul comingtoChr
ist
.
Moreover,t
heBi bl
esays,"
hethatwi
nsasouliswise"(Pro.11:30)
.Oneoft hepri
maryr
easons
wear est
ill
ali
veaf t
erwerecei
vedChri
sti
stobef i
shersofmen( Matt
.4:19) .

1.Whati
sEv
angel
i
sm?Mat
t.28:
18-
20;

Evangeli
sm i
sacommandgi venbyJesusChr i
sttoal
lhi
sdiscipl
estogoint
oall
nat
ionsand
makeot her
shisdi
sci
plesbytel
li
ngt hem aboutJesusChr
ist,
baptizi
ngt
hem int
heprocessand
teachi
ngthem t
oobserveal
lhisteachings.

2.Whymustwewi
nsoul
s?Eze.
33:
7-9;
Mk.16:
15-
16;
Mat
t.28:
19-
20;
Jn.15:
16;
14:
6;20:
21-
23

1.Thewor
thofasoul
:asoul
iswor
thmor
ethatt
hewor
ldandy
oumaybet
heonl
yonewhocan

makeani
mpr
essi
onont
hatpar
ti
cul
arsoul
.Heav
enr
ejoi
cesatt
heasoul
thatcomest
oChr
ist
,

Chr
istdoesnotwantanysoul
toper
ish2Pet
er3:
9,1t
im.
2:4

2.Ther
eal
i
tyofHel
l
:Hel
li
sreal
,i
tisnoti
magi
nar
y.I
fyout
rul
ybel
i
evet
hatunsav
edsoul
sar
e

headi
ngf
oral
ostet
erni
tyofhel
lfi
re,
tor
tur
e,bl
ackness,
angui
shandpai
nfor
ever
,theny
ou

shoul
ddoal
li
nyourpowert
oper
suadet
hem t
otur
nfr
om si
ntoJesusChr
ist
.

3.Thet
hir
dreasoni
sthesuf
fer
inganddeat
hofJesusChr
istf
ort
hel
ostsoul
ont
hecr
ossf
or

eachsi
nnersot
hatt
heycanbesav
ed:
wit
hacr
ownoft
hor
nonhi
shead,
nai
l
sinhi
shands

andf
eet
,hewentt
hroughsomuchagonyf
ort
hesi
nner
s,y
oudonotwantt
hedeat
hofJesus

t
obei
nvai
nregar
dingt
hem.Chr
istsuf
fer
edanddi
edf
ort
hei
rsoul
s.

4.Thef
our
thr
easoni
sthev
ani
tyoft
hiswor
ld.Youhav
edi
scov
eredt
hatt
hiswor
ldi
svai
n,t
hat

t
hewor
ldwi
thi
tsl
usti
spassi
ngawaybutt
hatt
hosei
nChr
istshal
lst
andf
orev
er;
iti
syourdut
y

t
otel
lyourf
ri
endst
het
rut
h.I
finChr
isty
ouhav
efondsomet
hingbeaut
if
ulandendur
ingi
tis

y
ourdut
ytot
ell
yourf
ri
endsandr
elat
ionst
oo!Thegr
eat
estgi
fty
oucangi
veany
onei
sChr
ist
.

Whoev
erhasChr
isthasal
lthi
ngsPh.4:
19
5.Al
lbor
nagai
nChr
ist
ianswer
egi
venaper
sonal
commandbyJesusChr
istt
owi
tnesst
othe

l
ost
;ther
efor
e,t
her
eisaper
sonal
responsi
bil
i
tyt
oGodEze.
33:
7-9;
Mk.16:
15-
16;
Mat
t.

28:
19-
20;

3.Whyi
situr
gent
?Jn.4:
35-
38;
Mat
t.9:
36-
37

1.Thehar
vesti
spl
ent
ybutt
hel
abor
ersar
efew,
yetweneedt
opr
eacht
oal
lnat
ions

2.Theappoi
ntedt
imef
orasoul
isonl
yknowbyGod,
yetJesusdoesnotwantanysoul
per
ish

4.Howl
ongdoesi
ttakeaf
ternewbi
rt
htowi
tness?Jn.1:
40-
42;
4:25-
30,
39

5.Howof
tenandwher
eshoul
daChr
ist
ianwi
tness?Act
s5:
42;
2:46-
47;
20:
20;
IITi
m.4:
2

6.Whatar
ether
esul
tsoft
hese?Act
s6:
7;19:
10;
IICor
.5:
15-
20

7.Whatt
hingsmakef
oref
fect
ivePer
sonal
Evangel
i
sm?

1.Youhav
etobesav
edy
our
sel
fandbesur
eofy
oursal
vat
ionorbebor
nagai
n.Thebl
i
nd

cannotl
eadt
hebl
i
nd.Asi
nnercannotl
eadanot
hersi
nnert
oChr
ist
.

2.Secondl
yyoumustbeamanoff
ait
h;whoev
erwi
l
lleadot
her
stoChr
istmustf
ir
stbel
i
eve.

3.Youmusthav
ecompassi
onf
ort
heot
her
stobesav
edj
ustl
i
key
ou,
other
wisey
ouwi
l
lwor
k

wi
thadead,
mechani
cal
,di
spassi
onat
econcer
nandsi
nner
s(t
hosey
ett
orecei
veChr
ist
)know

t
hosewhoar
etr
ulyconcer
nfort
hem.

4.Youneedt
ohav
eani
nfi
l
li
ngofHol
yspi
ri
tanddependont
heHol
ySpi
ri
ttodot
heconv
ersi
on,

y
ourdut
yisj
ustt
otel
lthem andt
ryt
oleadt
hem t
oChr
isti
ftheyar
ewi
l
li
ngandr
eadyt
o

5.Youneedt
ohav
eatl
eastaf
airknowl
edgeoft
heBi
ble;
youdonotneedt
obeanexper
t.

Psal
m 1:
1-2,
James1:
5;i
naddi
ti
ony
oucanal
soshar
eyourownper
sonal
test
imoni
es.

6.Youmustbepr
ayer
ful
,becauseSat
anwi
l
lnotl
etgoeasi
l
yof
fthoseunderhi
sbondaget
hat

y
ouar
etr
yingt
osetf
ree,
wit
hpr
ayer
sbef
oreset
ti
ngoutobst
acl
est
hatSat
anmayhav
eset
up

i
nthel
i
vesoft
hesoul
topr
eventt
hei
rconv
ersi
onandl
i
ber
ati
oncaneasi
l
yber
emov
ed

t
hroughpr
ayerbyt
hehel
poft
heHol
yspi
ri
t

Act
s20:
31,
Ps.126:
5-;
Mat
t.10:
16;
ICor
.13:
1-3;
7.Youmustbel
i
vingaHol
yorpur
eli
fey
our
sel
f,andnothy
pocr
it
ical
.Yourl
i
fecanbea

t
est
imonyt
hatwi
l
lbr
ingot
her
stoChr
ist
.

Lk.9:
5-55;
Mat
t.8:
5-13;
IICor
.5:
14;
Pro.16.
1;ITi
m.2:
1-4;
Luke.24:
47;
ITi
m.1:
15;
Rom.1:
16;

1Jn.4:
8;Mat
t.8:
5-13;
Luke.9:
53

Di
scusspr
act
ical
probl
emst
hatar
eli
kel
ytobeencount
eredi
nPer
sonal
Evangel
i
sm.

Whatr
ewar
dsawai
taf
ait
hful
Chr
ist
ianwi
tness?IThess.2:
19;
Dan12:
3;I
ITi
m 4:
7-8;
Jn.15:
1-2,
7-
8

CONCLUSI
ON

Thi
sstudyi
snotjustatheor
y;somethi
nginant
ici
pati
onofanexaminat
ion.I
tisnotthehear
er
onl
ythatwi
l
lbejusti
fi
edbutthedoeroftheWord.St
artper
sonal
evangeli
sm aft
erthi
sstudy
.

STUDY7:
Rest
it
uti
on,
Mor
alI
ssuesandMoneyMat
ter
s

Memor
yVer
seI
SAI
AH1:
19

RESTI
TUTI
ON:

Whati
sRest
it
uti
onandhowdower
est
it
ute?

Rest
it
uti
oni
nvol
vesr
est
ori
ngt
otheowneral
lthi
ngst
akenbyf
alsehood,
conf
essi
ngal
ll
iest
old

andbr
ingi
ngal
lthosewehav
edecei
vedi
ntot
het
ruepi
ctur
esoft
hings.

Pr
over
bs6:
30-
31,
28:
13,
Act
s24:
16,
Ezek.33:
14-
16,
2Sam.12:
1-6,
Phi
l
.1,
Lev
.6:
1-7.

I
tisbei
ngwi
l
li
ngt
olett
heLor
dexposeandt
henheal
pai
nful
areasofourpast
.Godcommands

t
hatr
est
it
uti
onbemade.

Rest
it
uti
onl
eav
esbehi
ndani
ndel
i
blet
est
imonywi
tht
heonewhom r
est
it
uti
oni
smade,
whi
ch

whenanunbel
i
everi
sinv
olv
edbecomesameansofpr
eachi
ngt
hegospel
ofJesusChr
ist
.

Whenadel i
cater
esti
tuti
onistobemadei nvol
vinganonChr i
sti
an,undoi
ngwrongsdone
agai
nstorgani
zat
ions,orthoset
hataf
fectmar r
iager
elat
ionshi
ps,etc.muchpr
ayerand
counsel
i
ngf r
om menofGodmayber equired.
MORALI
SSUES:

God‟
sst
andar
ddoesnotchangewi
tht
imeandHi
svi
ewshav
enotchangeont
hef
oll
owi
ng:

Adul
ter
y:

Whati
sadul
ter
y?Doesi
tbel
ongt
otheOl
dTest
amentper
iod?Exodus20:
14,
1Cor
.6:
9-10,
15-
16

i
tinv
olv
esbr
eaki
ngsol
emnmar
ri
agev
owsanddef
il
ingt
heconj
ugal
bed.Heb.
13:
4,Pr
ov.6:
20-
35

For
nicat
ion:

Whati
sfor
nicat
ion?I
svi
rgi
nit
yout
dat
ed?1Cor
.6:
13,
18a,
Eph.5:
3,Rom.
12:
2.Thef
actt
hat

for
nicat
ioni
sacommonpract
icedoesnotmakeitaccept
abl
etoGod.Keepy
our
sel
fpur
e,no
sexbeforemar
ri
age,
andnosexwit
hsomeoney ouarenotmarr
iedt
o.

Sexual
Per
ver
sion:

Whatdoesi
tmean?Lev
.18:
22-
23,
Rom.1:
26-
27.RememberSodom andGomor
rah

Fl
i
rti
ng:

Fl
i
rti
ngi
sdef
inedasshowi
ngat
tent
ionoraf
fect
ionwi
thoutser
iousi
ntent
ionsoremot
ional

commitment
;lov
eistooseriousforpl
ayacti
ng.PaulwarnedTimothy1Ti
m.5:2don‟
tsendout
thewr
ongsignal
s.Rom.14:16;Eph.4:
27.Bewise;ensur
ey oukeepasafedist
ancef
rom
membersoftheopposi
tesexy ouarenotconvi
ncedyouaregoingtomarry.

DangerofMor
alI
ndecency

Godr
egar
dsi
tasawast
eofr
esour
ces.Pr
ov.29:
3

Asav
owbr
eaker
,youar
eunderacur
se.I
sa.54:
5,Mal
.
2:14

I
tdesecr
atest
hebl
oodpur
chasedpr
oper
tyofJesusandat
tract
sdest
ruct
ion.1Cor
.6:
19-
20

I
tisasi
nagai
nstone‟
sbody
.1Cor
.6:
18

I
topensdoor
wayf
orSat
an‟
sat
tack.Eccl
.10:
8b.Peopl
emayout
war
dlyl
aughaty
ouy
eti
nwar
dly

admi
rey
ouasaChr
ist
ianwhohast
hecour
aget
ost
andupf
ort
hei
rmor
alchast
it
y.
1.Hol
yMar
ri
age:

Godi
nit
iat
edmar
ri
age.Gen.2:
18,
24-
25.

Marr
iageshouldbebetweenamanandawoman.Lev .18:
22-24homosexual
i
tyi
san
abominat
iontoGod,Goddetestsexual
per
ver
sion.Rom.1:26-28

AChr
ist
ianshoul
dmar
ryonl
yonewi
fe.1Ti
m.3:
2,Gen.2:
18,
24-
25

2.Whyshoul
dwemar
ry?Weshoul
dmar
ryf
ort
hef
oll
owi
ngr
easonsandmor
e:1Cor
.7:
1-15

Toobeyt
hecommandmentofGodGen.1:
28

Forf
ell
owshi
pandpar
tner
shi
p,i
ttakest
wot
omake„
onef
lesh‟Eccl
.4;
9-11,
Gen.2:
18,
24-
25.

Fort
hepr
opagat
ionoft
hehumanr
aceGen9:
1

Tosatisf
ycr
eat
ionandsexualdesi
rest
hatar
egood,
hol
y,andl
egi
ti
mat
ebuti
tcanonl
ybe
sat
isf
iedinmar
riage1Cor
.7:
1-15

Cour
tshi
p:

3.Whati
sCour
tshi
p?

Cour
tshi
pisati
meforthemanandwomanofget
ti
ngbet
teracquai
ntedandascer
tai
ning
whet
herornott
heyar
epr epar
edf
ormar
ri
age.

4.Whati
stheBi
bleappr
ovedwayofget
ti
ngengagedt
obemar
ri
edasaChr
ist
ian?

1Sam.16:
7,Gen.24:
1-4,
1Thess.4:
1-7.

Ensuret
hatyouandy ouri
ntendi
ngspousehaveacommonunderst
andi
ngofthekeydoct
ri
nes
oftheBi
ble.Heb.6:
1-2;Pett
ing,
romance,sex,
shoul
dbest
ri
ctl
yavoi
deddur
ingcourt
shi
p.Prov
.

9:
17-
18,
Heb.
13:
4.

5.Whoshoul
dwemar
ry?

CanaChr
ist
ianmar
ryanonChr
ist
ian?

AChr
ist
ianshoul
dmar
ryaChr
ist
ianonl
y.

Nomar
ri
ageshoul
dbecont
ract
edwi
thanunbel
i
ever
.2Cor
.6;
14-
17,
Amos3:
3,Deut
.7:
3-6.Any

mar
ri
agecont
ract
edout
sideofGod‟
spl
anwi
l
lof
tengi
vebi
rt
htot
roubl
es.

6.Whenshoul
daChr
ist
ianmar
ry?Di
scuss

7.Mar
ri
agedonebef
orebecomi
ngaChr
ist
ian:
I
fyouar
eal
readymar
ri
edt
oanunbel
i
everGodcanusey
out
obl
essy
ourunbel
i
evi
ngpar
tner
.

1Cor
.7:
14,
10-
17

8.Di
vor
ceandSepar
ati
on:

Godiniti
atedmarri
age.Gen.2:
24.Godi sagainstdi
vor
ce.Mathew19:6,5:32,Mal.2:
13-16.
Putt
ingawayandr emarri
ageconsti
tuteadulter
y.Mark10:
11-
12.Onlydeat hshouldseparat
ea
couple.Rom 7:
2-3,
Loverender
sdivorceirr
elevanti
nmarri
age.1Cor.13:4-7

9.MoneyMat
ter
s:

1.TheBibl
edoesnotcondemnmoneybutgi
vessomesaf
egui
del
i
nesont
heat
ti
tudeofa
Chri
sti
antowar
dsmoney

2.Donotl
ovemoney
.1Ti
m.6:
6-10.Ther
emedyi
scont
ent
mentwi
thwhatGodhaspr
ovi
dey
ou

3.Donotbet
oopr
eoccupi
edwi
thsear
chi
ngf
ormoneyatt
heexpenseofGod.Mat
hew6:
33

4.Donothoar
dMoney
.Mat
thew6:
19-
21,
1Ti
m.6:
17.y
ourf
inanci
alst
rengt
hhasnobear
ingi
n

heav
enorhel
l
.

5.Takenot
eoft
hef
oll
owi
ng.1Ti
m.5:
8,Eccl
.7:
12

6.Donotwor
shi
pmoney
.Mat
hew6:
24,
Prov
.11:
28.Moneyshoul
dnotbey
ourGod.Noi
dol
ater

shal
li
nher
itt
heki
ngdom ofGod.

7.Donotl
i
vei
ndebt
sasawayofl
i
fe.Theonl
yBi
bler
ecommendeddebti
slov
e.Rom.13:
8

8.Remembery
ouhav
ebeenboughtwi
thapr
ice1Cor
.6:
20,
yourmoneyi
sthepr
oper
tyofy
our

mast
er.Youar
eonl
yacust
odi
an1Cor
.4:
2-7,
Deut
.8:
18

9.Donotputy
ourt
rusti
nmoney
.1Ti
m.6:
17,
Psal
m 62:
10b

10.Donotbei
nvol
vedi
nex
tor
ti
on,
bri
ber
yandcor
rupt
ion.I
sa.33:
15.

Bi
bli
cal
Pri
nci
plesofGi
vi
ng

Thef
oll
owi
ngpr
inci
plesofgi
vi
ngshoul
dbeobser
ved:

OFFERI
NG

Thr
oughoutt
hebi
ble,
Godencour
agedust
obr
ingof
fer
ingst
oHi
m whi
chi
sdi
ff
erentf
rom t
he

Ti
the.Todaywedonotbr
ingSi
n,Bur
nt,
Gui
l
tof
fer
ingsbecauseJesushasdonei
tal
lforus.
Howeverwe
St
il
lbr
ingt
hanksgi
vi
ngof
fer
ing.

I
tisanexpr
essi
onofgr
ati
tudet
oourGod.Mor
eso,
Hei
shonor
ed.Ps50:
23

1.Whati
sof
fer
ing?Deut
.12:
16

Theyar
egi
ftt
haty
ougi
vet
oGodi
naddi
ti
ont
oyourt
it
he.Endeav
ornott
ocomei
ntoGod‟
s

pr
esencesempt
yhanded.Deut
.16:
16.Not
ethatof
fer
ingi
sment
ionedt
oget
herwi
tht
it
hes.

tit
heopensthewi
ndowsofheav
en,
off
eri
ngdet
ermi
neshowwi
dei
tshoul
dbeopened.
Luke.
6:38.

Yourof
fer
ingshoul
dbegi
venpr
ayer
ful
l
yandsy
stemat
ical
l
y

2.Whydoy
ougi
ve?

1.Todemonst
rat
eGod‟
slov
eandf
oll
owhi
sexampl
e.John3:
16,
Godi
stheul
ti
mat
egi
ver
.Deut
.

8:
16

2.I
topensupanoppor
tuni
tyt
orecei
vef
rom God.Luke6:
38

3.I
tisanoppor
tuni
tyt
osowaseedofhel
pandbl
esssomeone.Pr
ov.14:
21

4.I
tismor
ebl
essedt
ogi
vet
hant
orecei
ve,
avoi
dthet
rapofst
ingi
ness.Act
s20:
35Pr
ov.11:
25-

26,
2Cor
.9.
6

3.Whatdoy
ougi
ve?

Youcangi
vey
ourski
l
l,t
ime,
pray
ers,
money
,et
c.Exo.35:
4-35,
Act
s3:
1-7,
Pet
erandJohnhad

nomoneybutgaveheal
i
ngint
henameofJesus;
Petergavehi
sboatforJesustopreachin.
Luke5:
1-3,
not
hingi
stoosmal
l,nomat
terhowsmal
litwil
lmakeadif
ference.Luke21:
1-4,John
6:
1-13

4.Towhom doy
ougi
ve?

1.God‟
swor
k,Exo.35:
29,
36:
2-7,
Ezr
a2:
69

2.Spi
ri
tual
Leader
sGal
.6:
6,Phi
l
.4:
15-
19

3.TheLesspr
ivi
l
eged.Pr
ov.19:
17,
21:
13

4.Any
oney
ouar
einaposi
ti
ont
ohel
p.Luke10:
25-
37

5.Fel
l
owChr
ist
ians.Rom.
12:
13,
Act
s11:
29,
9:36-
41
5.Howdoy
ougi
ve?

1.Fr
eel
yandcheer
ful
l
y:Pr
ov.11:
24,
2Cor
.9:
7-8.I
tat
tr
act
sGodsf
avor
abl
eat
tent
ion

2.Gi
vegener
ousl
y:2Cor
.9:
6

3.I
npr
opor
ti
ont
o,att
imesbey
ondy
ourmeans:
Act
s.11:
29,
2Cor
.8:
13Mar
k12:
44.

4.Gi
vewi
thoutpubl
i
cit
y:Mat
hew.6:
1-4

TI
THE

I
NTRODUCTI
ON:

Shoul
daChrist
ianpayti
thes?Theanswerisyes.Ther
eisahugedebat
er agi
ngamong
Chri
sti
ansastowhetherti
thesshoul
dbepaidornot.Besi
des,
manyChristi
ansgi
vever
yli
tt
le
andsometi
mesnot hi
ngatalltosuppor
ttheworkofGod.

1.Whati
sthet
it
he?

I
tist
hegi
vi
ngat
ent
hofone'
sincomeasanof
fer
ingt
oGod.

Abr
aham wast
hef
ir
stmanev
err
ecor
dedi
nthebi
blet
ogi
vet
it
hest
oGod,
Genesi
s14:
17-
20.

Melchi
zedekwasthepri
estoftheMostHighGod.Thebreadandwi
neheof
fer
edt
oAbr
aham
hasacloseresembl
ancetotheLor
d'sSupper
.(Luke22:
14- 23)

Hebr
ews7:
1-22shedsmor
eli
ghtonMel
chi
zedek.Hewast
hepr
iestoft
heMostHi
ghGod.He

wast
heonl
yonequal
i
fiedt
orecei
vet
it
hesf
rom Abr
aham.Al
lthi
shappenedbef
oret
hel
awwas

est
abli
shed.Ther
eisnorecor
dofAbraham,whowasatt
hist
imest
il
lcal
l
edAbr
am,
bei
ngt
old
togi
vetit
hestoGod,nori
sanyexpl
anati
ongiv
en.

Jacobgi
vesust
hesecondr
efer
encet
opay
ingt
it
heswhenhemadeav
owt
oGod.Genesi
s
28:22

Thebiggestar
gumentagai
nstpay
ingt
it
hesseemstobewi t
hit
sassoci
ati
onwitht
helaw.Lev
27:30-32Numbers18:21–29say st
it
hesgotowardssuppor
ti
ngtheLevi
teswhointur
ngiv
e
par
tof

i
tasanof
fer
ingt
otheLor
d.

2.Pur
poseoft
heTi
the

1.Tosuppor
tthewor
kofGodLev
iti
cus27:
30–32

2.Topr
ovi
def
orhi
slabor
ers(
theLev
ites)
3.Tosuppor
tst
ranger
s,homel
essordi
sadv
ant
agedt
hef
ather
less,
andwi
dows.Deut26:
9-12.

Notetheterm'fi
rstfr
uit
s'ar
ement i
onedinDeut
eronomy
.Indeedt
hisiswhatt
it
hesar
e.They
arethefi
rstport
ionsthatwetakeoutofouri
ncomeandofferi
ngrat
it
udetoGod.Gi
veiti
nthe
supportofthechurchandminist
ry.

3.Thef
ir
stf
rui
ts

WhenGodbr
oughtI
srael
int
othel
andofCanaant
hef
ir
stci
tyt
heyt
ookwasJer
icho.Godt
old

t
hem nott
otouchanyoft
hespoi
l
.(Joshua6:
17-19)I
twast
heLor
d's.I
twast
hef
ir
stf
rui
tsof

batt
le.Itwastheirti
the.Thenextci
tytofall
wasAi.Heretheywer eall
owedtotakeasmuch
spoi
l astheyneeded( Joshua8:1-2).Theyhadpaidthei
rfi
rstfrui
tsorti
theswit
hJeri
cho,
Hencet hedif
ference.Malachi3:3-12givesGod'
smindwi thregardstopayi
ngtit
hes

4.Butwhatdoest
heNewTest
amentsayaboutt
it
hes

Notal
ot.I
nfactt
heonl
yref
erencest
oti
thi
ngi
ntheNewTest
amentar
eMat
thew23:
23,
Luke

11:
42,
Luke18:
12andHebr
ew7:
5-9.

Thegi
vi
ngoft
hel
awhel
pedt
oest
abl
i
sht
hei
mpor
tanceofmanyoft
heunwr
it
tent
rut
hsal
ready

knownbygod-
fear
ingmen.ButwhenJesusbr
oughtusf
ait
hther
eisnol
ongert
heneedf
ort
he

super
visi
onoft
hel
aw.Gal
ati
ans3:
23-25.

Inotherwor ds,
thelawwasgi vent
omaket hi
ngsclear.Withoutthelawwewoul dnot
understandsin.Si
nwasar oundbefor
ethelawbutthel awexposedi t.Thegi
vi
ngofti
theswas
alsoaroundbef or
ethelaw.Againt
helawhelpedintheest abl
ishi
ngitsimport
anceand
relev
ance.Thel awdidnotinv
entti
thi
ng,i
tonlyexposedit.Wecoul dsaythesameofsacri
fi
ce
andobedi ence.

5.Whydowepayt
it
hes?

Abr
aham gav
eti
thest
oMel
chi
zedek,
KingofSal
em,
athi
sret
urnf
rom bat
tl
e.Gen.14:
20

Jacobal
soi
mit
atedhi
sgr
andf
ather
'spi
ety
.Gen.28:
22

Mosesor
dai
nedthatal
ltheti
theoft
hel
and,
whet
heroft
heseedoft
hel
andorf
rui
toft
hel
and
begi
vent
oGod.Lev.27:
30-32.

Godcommandedust
obr
ingourt
it
hesi
ntoHi
sst
orehouse.Mal
l3:
10

6.Howdowepayourt
it
hes?

Ast
art
ingpl
acef
oral
lofusi
sonet
ent
h,not
hingl
esst
hant
hat
.
Wemustbr
ingi
tint
othehouseofGodpr
ompt
lyandcheer
ful
l
y2Cor
int
hians9:
6-8wi
thal
lour

hear
tsandgr
atef
ulnesst
oGod.

Itshouldbethef
ir
stfr
uit
.Inot
herwor
ds,thef
ir
stt
hingy
oupay
,anoff
eri
ngt
oGodi
snot
subjecttoot
herbi
ll
sandneedsyouhave;
rememberHeownsi
tal
l.

Ti
thi
ngi
syouractofwor
shi
ptoGod.Gen4:
1-5

Paytheti
thet
othechur
chwher
ethewhol
etr
uthi
spr
eached,
thechur
chwher
eyouar
ebei
ng
fedwit
hthewordofGod.

7.Benef
it
soft
it
hing

1.Godwi
l
lrebuket
hedev
our
erf
ory
oursake.Mal
.3:
11

2.Godwi
l
lopent
hewi
ndowsofheav
enandpourHi
sbl
essi
ngsmor
ethany
oucan

accommodat
e.Mal
.3:
10

Unfai
thf
ulnessi
nthear
eaoft
it
hingcanmakeabel
i
evert
oloseheav
en,
becausei
tisst
eal
i
ng
fr
om Goddi r
ect
ly.

STUDY8
THESECONDCOMI
NGOFCHRI
ST

Memor
yVer
seICORI
NTHI
ANS15:
54

I
NTRODUCTI
ON

Ev
ent
sint
hewor
ldt
odayar
eshowi
ngmor
ethanev
ert
hei
mmi
nenceoft
hecomi
ngofourKi
ng

andourLor
d(Luke21:
8-11)
.Hei
scomi
ngagai
n,andweshal
lsoonheart
hesoundoft
he

tr
umpet.However
,iti
swort
hyofnot
ethatHissecondcomi
ngshal
lbeintwophases.I
nthi
s
studyweshal
ll
earnaboutt
hese,
andthevar
iousevent
swhi
chshal
loccurundert
hem.

1.Thef
ir
stphaseofHi
scomi
ng

Rev
.18:
4Undert
hispar
t,t
heLor
dJesusChr
istwi
l
lbecomi
ngf
ort
hesai
nts,
tor
emov
ethem

f
rom t
hewor
ldandt
aket
hem unt
ohi
msel
fsot
hatt
heywi
l
lnotpar
takei
nthe"
GreatTr
ibul
ati
on"

whi
chshal
lunf
oldi
tsel
fimmedi
atel
yaf
tert
hef
ir
stphaseofHi
ssecondcomi
ng.Ther
ear
emany

ev
ent
swhi
chshal
lbewi
tnessedwi
thi
nthi
sfi
rstphaseandt
heyar
e:

TheLor
dJesusshal
lappeari
ntheskyt
otakehomeHi
sown.IThess.4:
16.
Thesai
nt swhosleptshal
lberesurr
ectedandthelivi
ngones(sai
nts)t
ransf
ormedand
tr
ansl
atedtomeett heLordi
ntheskyi naneventrefer
redtoas"TheRaptur
e".Thi
sevental
so
si
gnal
st hebegi
nningofthe"Fi
rstResurr
ecti
on".IThess.4:
13-
18;ICor.15:
44,51-
53.

Ther
eshal
lbesev
eny
ear
sofgr
eatt
ri
bul
ati
ononear
thwhent
heant
ichr
istshal
lbet
heheadof

gov
ernmentoft
hewor
ld.I
tisasev
en-y
earper
iodofgr
eatdecei
t,bl
oodywar
,vi
olence,
cri
me,

l
awlessnessandt err
orThereshallnotbesuchti
mesbef or
eit,orafterit
.Mat t.24:21;2Thess.
2:5-8.I
nthesky ,howev er,
theraptur
edsaint
swhowi llremaintherewi t
hChr istforsevenyears
shal
l betr
eatedtosuchev entssuchasTheJudgmentSeatofChr i
st,beingtheper iodof
accountabi
li
ty.Rom.14: 10;IICor
.5:10;ICor
.3:
11-15.Alsoweshal lhav etheMar r
iageSupperof
theLambwhi chwi l
lbethemar ri
agebetweenChri
st,theBridegroom, andHisbr ide,whichi
sthe
Church-theraptur edsaint
s.Rev.19:7-
9

Theseconddeat
hshal
lhav
enopowerov
err
apt
uredsai
nts.ICor
.15:
54;
Rev
.20:
6;2:
11

TheChur
ch,
theundef
il
edbr
ethr
en,
thesai
ntl
ysai
ntsshal
lnotpar
takei
ntheGr
eatTr
ibul
ati
on.

Luke21:
34-
36

Not
e:Thedayi
scomi
ng,
sonear
,whent
her
eshal
lbebol
dheadl
i
nesonpagesoft
he

newspaper
sconcerni
ngmill
i
onsofpeopl
ewhoaremissing,
whosuddenlydisappeared.There
wil
lbeconfusi
onandfort
hosewhohavehadf
ore-
knowledgebutmissedtheev ent
,itwil
lbe
sadnews.Wheredoyouwanttobeonthi
sday,
intheairwit
htheLord,oramongt heperplexed
oneshereoneart
h?

2.Thesecondphase

Att
her
ound-
upofev
ent
sint
heai
randabl
ert
hesev
eny
earper
iodasal
readyment
ioned,
Chr
ist

andHi
sbri
deshal
lret
urnt
otheear
th.I
not
herwor
ds,
att
heconcl
udi
ngpar
tofHi
ssecond
comi
ng,

Heshal
lbecomi
ngwi
tht
hesai
nts.Hal
l
eluj
ah!Thef
oll
owi
ngev
ent
sshal
lunf
oldatt
hiscomi
ng:

3.Thebat
tl
eofAr
mageddon:

Thisi
sthewart hatwill
bef oughtatthedescentofChri
standt
hesai
ntst
otheeart
h.The
anti
chr
istwill
inst
it
utethisbattl
eusinghisconfeder
atedarmywhi
chhewouldhav
egathered
fr
om allnat
ions.Rev.16:13-
16;Zech.14:1-
5;Rev.19:
11-19.

Thatant
ichr
ist
‟sar
mieswi
l
lbedef
eat
edanddest
roy
edwi
tht
heswor
dthatcomesoutf
rom t
he

mout
hoft
hegl
ori
ousLor
dJesusChr
ist
.Rev
.19:
20-
21

4.TheMi
l
lenni
alRei
gnofChr
ist
:
Rev.20:4-6.Thev
ict
oryatAr
mageddonher
aldsi
ntheonet
housandy
ear
srei
gnofChr
istand
Hissaintshereoneart
h.

Thef
oll
owi
ngshal
lbet
hef
eat
uresoft
hisper
iod:

Thegov
ernmentoft
heMi
l
lenni
alper
iodwi
l
lbeat
heocr
ati
csy
stem ofgov
ernment
;thati
s,God

rul
ing.Iti
sgoingtobeaperiodofGoldenage,thati
s,ati
meofl ast
ingpeaceonear
th,
nowar,
nocr i
me,div
inehealt
hforal
l,noinf
antdeathandmanyot herwonderful
event
sshal
lbethe
orderofthedayIs.2:
4;11:
6-9;60:
18;Jer
.30:17;I
s.33:
24;65:20

Jer
usal
em i
nIsr
ael
shal
lbet
hecapi
tal
oft
hegov
ernmenti
nMi
l
lenni
um.Joel
3:16-
18

Chr
istwi
l
lbemani
fest
edtotakepossessi
onofDav
id'
sKi
ngdom accor
dingt
othecov
enant
madewit
hDavi
d.I
ISam.7:8-
16

I
tist
het
imeofr
est
orat
ionofI
srael
backt
othei
rlandandconv
ersi
onunt
othei
rri
ght
eousand

r
ight
ful
King.Jer
.31:
10;
Amos9:
14-
15

Sat
anshal
lbehel
dboundi
nthebot
toml
esspi
tdur
ingt
heent
ir
eper
iod.Rev
.20:
1-3

CONCLUSI
ON

Br
ethr
en,
commi
tyour
sel
ftoChr
istandHi
scomi
ngi
nal
lhol
i
nesssoast
opar
takei
nthi
sfi
rst

r
esur
rect
ionwhi
chshal
lseedeat
hbei
ngswal
l
owedupi
nvi
ctor
y.

CONGRATULATI
ONS!YOUAREWELCOMETOTHEFOLDOFCHRI
STJESUS

MARANATHA

Compi
l
edby
:

ANDREW JEHUALADEMEHI
N

Past
or,
Gof
ami
ntAny
igba/
OfakagaAssembl
i
es