International Full Gospel Tabernacle Church-Cell Training

Base 1‐Self Discovery‐Your New Life in Christ Page 1

International Full Gospel Tabernacle Church-Cell Training Manual

BASE ONE

SELF DISCOVERY-YOUR NEW LIFE IN

CHRIST!

Cell Group Training ManualBASE ONE Written by Rev Reuben O’Connor,

IFGTC, Namaka Nadi, Fiji Islands.



INTERNATIONAL FULL GOSPEL

TABERNACLE CHURCH, NAMAKA, NADI

CELL TRAINING MANUAL

Copyright

© First Edition 2011 Rev R.O’Connor, Nadi, Fiji Islands

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or

by any means without written permission from the author.



Chapter 1

The Beginning

“Knowing Jesus Christ is the most exciting relationship you can have. It is a beginning of a life of adventure with an all-loving, all powerful God”

Four spiritual laws concisely explain all a person needs to know to begin a new life

in Christ. A brief review of these will help you as we study the principles of Growing in

your relationship with Jesus Christ:

ONE‐God loves you with an everlasting love and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

TWO‐People or Human beings are sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know him

personally or experience his love.

THREE – Jesus Christ is God’s one and only provision for our sin. Through him alone, we

can know God personally and experience God’s love. There is no other way!

FOUR – We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and then we can

begin to know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.



Sub‐Lesson 1 – CONFIDENCE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Key Question: How can a person who has received Christ know with certainty that

he will spend eternity with God?

You can be confident in your relationship with Christ because you have been

completely forgiven and accepted by God. Only Christ death on the cross is

sufficient to provide this proper relationship with God.

Read: Ephesians 2:8, 9 (Amplified Bible)

“For it is by free Grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made

partakers of Christ’s salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it

came not of your own striving), but it is the gift of God”

Three important words in these verses explain the basis of our acceptance of God:

1. Grace – unmerited favor or undeserved gift of God. Discuss in groups of

two or three the following questions: What role did Grace play in

establishing your relationship with God? (You didn’t deserve this

relationship nor did you earn it by any good works. Rather it is a free gift

from God that you accepted when you placed your trust in Christ.)

2. Saved – delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ salvation.

What do you think this verse means by saying you are “saved”? From what

are you rescued or saved? (Roms 6:23 says that the final result or wages or

outcome of sin is death. Discuss death/curse….When you received Christ’s

death on the cross as the payment for your sins, you were rescued from

eternal condemnation, from having to pay the penalty for your own sin.

3. Faith – Belief, trust, an act of the mind‐‐What role does faith play in

receiving Christ? (Faith is believing or trusting God and his Word. When you

received Christ, you put your trust in Christ and in his death for your sin.

Instead of believing in your own ability to earn God’s favor, you now trust

that you have been reconciled to God through what Christ has already done for

you.



Sub‐Lesson 2 – UNDERSTANDING FIVE (5) ETERNAL TRUTHS ABOUT YOUR

RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Key Question: Suppose you were standing before God and He asked you, “Why

should I let you into Heaven?” What would you say?

There are many exciting things that are true about your relationship with Christ.

Understanding these truths will help you build a firm foundation from which to

grow.

CHRIST FORGAVE ALL YOUR SIN

Read: Ephesians 1:7 (Amplified Bible)

“In him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through his blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our

offenses (short‐comings, trespasses), in accordance with the riches and generosity of his gracious favor”

When you trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, All your sins were

forgiven!.....past, present and future!

Discussion: What difference does it make in your life to know that ALL your sins

have been forgiven?

CHRIST MADE YOU A CHILD OF GOD

Read: John 1:12, 13 (Amplified Bible)

“But to as many as did receive and welcome him he gave authority (Power, privilege and right) to become the

children of God, that is those who believe in(adhere to, rely on, trust in) His name ”

Discussion: What had to take place in order for you to become a child of God?

CHRIST CAME INTO YOUR LIFE AND HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

Read: Revelation 3:20 (Amplified Bible)

“Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears and listens to and heeds my voice and opens the door, I

will come into him and eat with him and he (will eat) with me”

Discussion: Where is Christ right now in relation to you?



Read: John 6:37 (Amplified Bible)

“All whom my father gives (entrusts) to me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will most certainly

not cast out (I will never, no never reject one of them who comes to me)”

Discussion: Under what circumstances might Christ leave?

According to this, how many times is it necessary to receive Christ?

CHRIST GAVE YOU NEW LIFE

Read: 2 Cor 5:17 (Amplified Bible)

“Therefore if any person is (engrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creature (a new creation altogether)

the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passes away. Behold the fresh and new has come”

When you trusted Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you began a new spiritual life.

God will increasingly produce many new qualities in you as you grow in Him.

CHRIST GAVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE

Read: 1 John 5:11‐13 (Amplified Bible)

“And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He who

possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. I write this to you who

believe in (adhere to, trust in and rely on) the name of the Son of God (in the peculiar services and blessings

conferred by Him on men), so that you may know (with settled and absolute knowledge) that you (already) have life,

yes, eternal life,”

Discussion: In who is eternal life found? Who has eternal life? Do you have eternal

life? When did eternal life begin for you?

Key question: If you were to die tonight, how sure are you that you would spend

eternity with God?

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SUMMARY POINTS

All the wonderful benefits discussed above, are based or have its foundation

totally on Jesus Christ.

None of them can be earned by us! Salvation is a free gift from God! You

received them all the moment you placed your faith and trust and reliance in

Christ!



Sub‐Lesson 3 DEALING WITH DOUBTS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Even though feelings are important, your relationship with Christ is based on

facts/truth of God’s Word and NOT on your FEELINGS or EMOTIONS.

You may have expectations about how you should feel after placing your trust in

Christ. While Feelings are important, they are unreliable indicators of your sincerity or

the trustworthiness of God’s promise.

Our feelings changes easily, but God’s Word and His character remain constant.

This CHAIR illustration below shows the relationship between fact (God and his

Word), faith (our trust in God and His Word) and feelings.

FACT – This chair is strong enough to support you!

FAITH‐ You believe that this chair will support you, so

You sit in it!

FEELING – You may or may not feel comfortable in

This chair but it continues to support you!



The promise of God’s Word, the Bible, not our feelings is our Authority in this life

and in the one to come! The child of God lives by FAITH (trust) in the trustworthiness

of God himself and his Word!

But what if you don’t feel like a Christian tomorrow? Place your faith in the

faithfulness of God himself and the trustworthiness of His Word! The more you read

and study the Word of God, the more you learn His Word, the more you will be able to

answer any doubts with solid facts. Your feelings will begin to respond to the truth of

God’s Word and not to your circumstances!



Sub‐Lesson 4 GROWING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Since you have….

trusted in the Christ’s FULL payment of your sin

understood the foundation or basis of your relationship with God

looked at five ETERNAL truths about your relationship with God

You can be absolutely confident in your relationship with Christ.

Throughout the coming weeks and indeed your life from now on, begin to meditate

upon and make these truths part of your life as you grow in Christ:

You are forgiven : Colossians 1:13,14; 2:13,14; Hebrews 10:15‐18

You are a child of God : John 1:12,13; Romans 8:15; 1 John 3:1

You are indwelt by Christ : Revelation 3:20; Galatians 2:20

You have a new life : 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:4,5

You have eternal life : 1 John 5:11‐13; John 5:24; John 10:27‐29

For the next five (5) days, take on truth, reflect on it and read the verses listed

beside it. Thank God that this is now reality for you. Knowing these essential truths is

critical to your growth in Christ.

This week you may want to share these exciting truths with someone about these

exciting truths you have newly discovered about your new relationship with Christ!

What happens when we struggle and fall short in our efforts to live the Christian

life?



Chapter 2

Experiencing God’s Love and Grace!

Sub‐Lesson 1 “Understanding the difference between our RELATIONSHIP with GOD

and our FELLOWSHIP with GOD”

Remember: Your RELATIONSHIP with God is secure because through Christ, you are forgiven and accepted by God!

In addition to providing this secure RELATIONSHIP, God also desires that we

walk closely with HIM and communicate with him moment by moment,

everyday……When we do this, we FELLOWSHIP with HIM.

When we CHOOSE to willfully SIN against God, our RELATIONSHIP (our

position as God’s children) is not affected, BUT our FELLOWSHIP is interrupted!

Father‐Child example: Your relationship with your earthly father is permanent. No

matter what you do, you will always be his child. But suppose you rebelled against

your father and angrily left home in spite of his efforts to reconcile your grievances:

Discussion Questions:

Would you still be our father’s child? If yes, does this mean that their

RELATIONSHIP is still intact?

What would happen to their FELLOWSHIP?



Use Chair Example of SIN in BETWEEN us and GOD!

Cell Leader to demonstrate by using one chair between the sinner and God…then

two chairs…then three, then four…..further and further away as more chairs are placed

between the child of God and God….FELLOWSHIP IS



COMPARE YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO YOUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IN THE TABLE BELOW

RELATIONSHIP FELLOWSHIP

Began when you received

Jesus Christ‐Born

Again…John 1:12

Began when you received

Jesus Christ…read Colossians

2:6

Is Everlasting/Eternal….read

1 Pet 1:3‐4

Can be

interrupted/hindered….read

Psalm 32:3‐5

Is maintained by God

Himself…read John 10:27‐29

Is maintained in part by

Us!....read 1 JOHN 1:9

Never Changes!....read Heb

13:5

Changes when we willfully

SIN!....read Psalm 66:18

Though All Christians have a relationship with God, NOT ALL Christians are

experiencing FELLOWSHIP with Him!

Discussion Question: How can we consistently experience FELLOWSHIP with

GOD?



Sub‐Lesson 2 “Our need for God’s Grace/Love and Forgiveness”

What is Sin? – Sin is a barrier for both Christian people and non‐Christians people.

Sin keeps us all from experiencing God’s Love. But many people are confused about sin

is and what it is not.

What are the results of Sin? – It is more than cheating, lying, immoral behavior etc.

These actions are only the results or outcomes of an attitude of sin. A simple definition

of sin is doing what we want instead of what God wants – both in actions and attitudes.

For people who are not Christians, sin prevents a relationship with God…..Read

Ephesians 2:1….As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins….

Discussion point: What about people who try to reach God through living a good

moral life? Are they separated from God? Why or why not?

For Christians, sin inhibits fellowship with God…..

Read 1 John 1:6‐8……..If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie

and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship

with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from sin. If we claim to be without

sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…….

SUMMARY: All of us sin. Therefore, you and I both need to experience God’s

forgiveness for our attitudes and actions.



Sub-Lesson 3 “The basis for God’s Love and Forgiveness”

Read 1 Peter 3:18………

….For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to

God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit…….

Christ’s death is the basis for forgiveness to bring us into proper relationship

with God. His death is also the basis for forgiveness in our daily fellowship with

God.

Read…..Colossians 2:13, 14

….You were dead in sin and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a

share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sin and blotted out the charges against

you, the list of His commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sin and

destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross……

In the day when this was written, “list of sins” meant an itemized bond nailed to

the prison cell door. It listed every crime for which the prisoner had been convicted.

When the sentence was served or restitution paid, the authorities removed the list and

wrote‐‐‐“paid in full”. The prisoner used this as proof that he could never be tried for

those crimes again. The believer who trusts Christ’s payment for sin can never be tried

again for sin has been “paid in full” – The sinner saved by God’s Grace now has full

pardon from God!

Read Psalms 103‐:10‐12

……He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as

high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the

east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us…….

Discussion Questions:

What has God done with your sins?

For how many of your sins did Christ die?



When Christ died for you, how many of your sins were in the future?

What difference will it make in your daily life to know that you are totally forgiven?



Sub-Lesson 4 “You can Experience God’s Love and forgiveness Everyday”

Even though you may be totally forgiven, you still need to deal with your sins/sin

nature on a day‐to‐day basis in order to experience continuing fellowship with God.

Put yourself in the father‐child illustration. What would you do to restore

fellowship with your father?

Let’s look at how you restore fellowship with God.

Read 1 John 1:9…..

…….If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us

from all unrighteousness……

CONFESSION – is agreeing with God about in

When God brings to your attention that something you have done is sin, confess it.

This confession involves at least three factors:

1. Agree with God that you have sinned.

2. Thank God that he already has forgiven you.

3. Trust God to change your wrong attitudes and actions.

By turning back to God and away from your sin, you will experience his Love and

forgiveness provided by Christ’s death on the cross. Instead of feeling guilty or

condemned, you can know that your fellowship with God is restored.

CONFESSION – putting it into practice

A helpful exercise:

1. Ask God to reveal any sins in your life.

2. List these on a piece of paper; be completely honest as this is just between

you and God.

3. After completing your list, write over it the promise of 1 John 1:9



4. Thank God for the forgiveness he has provided for you through what Christ

did on the cross.

5. Tear up the list into small tiny bit and throw it away.

How often do you need to confess a sin to God?

When should you confess a sin?

CONFESSION – experiencing the Results!

What should you do if you’re still feeling guilty after you have confessed your sins?

Read Psalms 32:5 and103:12 what do these passages say about guilt and cleansing?

….”then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity, I said, “I will

confess my transgressions to the Lord” and you forgave the guilt of my sin….

…..”As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us…..

How would your life be affected by applying these truths?

In light of what we looked at concerning guilt and forgiveness, how would you complete this

statement?

When I confessed all my sins, I

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Sub-Lesson 5 “GROWING IN GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

Take some time to apply the things you have learned about God’s love and

forgiveness. Make your “sin/cleansing” list.

This week try to spend 15 minutes or so each day alone with God in Bible reading

reading and prayer. Here are some suggestions:

1. Read the story of the young man who ran away from his father and wasted

his inheritance. Jesus told this story in Luke 15:1‐32. What does the story

illustrate about our relationship with God, our forgiveness and our

fellowship with Him?

2. Read Galatians 5:16‐23. Notice the differences that will take place as you

allow God to work in your life. As you become aware of an area of your life

that displeases God, deal with it according to 1 John 1:9 and then enjoy your

fellowship with God.

3. Read Psalm 32. What was David’s experience with confession in this Psalm?

How did he feel before he confessed his sin? How did he feel after dealing

with his sin?

SUMMARY

Understanding God’s great love and forgiveness allows Christians to enjoy a

growing fellowship with Him.

Why then are so many Christians not experiencing the power God has made

available to living the Abundant /Overflowing Christian life?



Chapter 3

Growing In Christ

“The Holy Spirit desires to empower you to live a Christ-centered life. As you continue to breathe spiritually (exhale-confess your sin and inhale-be filled with the Holy Spirit), you will experience a deepening fellowship with God enabling you to Grow into Christian maturity or Christ like character."

“Maturity in Christ takes time….there are no shortcuts….It’s a lifelong process and it starts today….every day until he comes!”



Sub-Lesson 1 What Does it mean to Grow in Christ?

It means to INCREASE IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST, love for Him and

Obedience to Him!

Read John 17:3

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom

you have sent.”

Read Matthew 22:37‐38

Jesus replied:” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with

your entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

There are over 600 commands in the Old Testament. Why do you think Jesus

singled this one out?

How would loving God with all your heart, soul and mind affect your life?

Read John 14:21

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me

will be loved by my father and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

What will be the result of your growing love for Him?



Sub-Lesson 2 how can you and I Grow in Christ?

Just as it is a natural process for a child to Grow in a loving relationship with his

parents, so it is natural for you to grow in your Love relationship with God.

1. COMMUNICATION IS VITAL TO ANY RELATIONSSHIP, INCLUDING

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST!

Four aspects of communication that will help you grow in your relationship with

Christ as you walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit is illustrated in the following

figure below.

God communicates with you through the BIBLE, revealing his CHARACTER and

his WILL.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

“All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training

in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Describe each benefit described in the above passage?

Which of these benefits would be most useful to you right now?

Evaluate the helpfulness of your Bible reading/Bible study so far?



You communicate with God through PRAYER.

Remember: the Tabernacle Prayer model is prescribed in‐depth in the Base Two

Cell Training Manual. This is an in‐depth study guide on “God’s pattern of covenant

communion that leads to God’s Glory and Abiding Presence of God in your life

everyday”

Read Philippians 4:6, 7 and 1 John 5:14, 15

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his

WILL, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us‐whatever we ask‐we know that we have

what we asked of him”.

What do the above verses tell us about Prayer?

What are some of the things you should be praying about?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

“Always Give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ”.

Why is it important to always thank the Lord for EVERYTHING?



You communicate with other Christians through FELOWSHIP –

ENCOURAGING AND BUILDING ONE ANOTHER UP!

Remember: Several logs burn brightly TOGETHER but, put one aside on the cold

hearth and the fire goes out. So it is with your relationship with other Christians.

Read Hebrews 10:24, 25

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us

NOT give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one

another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Why is it important to spend time regularly with other Christians for example in Cell

meeting or Bible Study or in church on Sunday?



Why is consistent church or cell group attendance vital?

Why would this be important for you now?

Read Acts 2:42‐47

“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were

done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their

possessions and goods, they gave anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet

together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and

sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all people. And the Lord added to their

number daily those who were being saved.”

The Greek word for FELLOWSHIP, Koinonia means “sharing in common”. We desperately

need to share our Christian experience with others who love God and walk with Him ad likewise

allow them to share with us. The church where we can meet other Christians and hear God’s

word is God’s appointed place for Christians to meet. Bible studies and meetings are also

extremely helpful.

You communicate with non‐Christians by BEING A WITNESS! –LET YOUR LIFE

BE THE FIFTH GOSPEL TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS…..share with

your friends and family about your new relationship with Jesus Christ!.



Read Acts 4:12

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by

whom we must be saved.”

What will motivate us to tell another person about Christ?

Who would like to tell about what Christ has done in your life?

List their names down right now and Pray to God about them, that God will give

you the right moment to speak to them about Jesus Christ, to invite them to cell group

meeting or to church!

Would you like to have help sharing this Good News?

Summary

Read 1 Corinthians 3:6

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

God is the source of your growth today! You cannot develop spiritual maturity just

by “trying real hard”. As you walk in the Spirit read the BIBLE, PRAY, TELL PEOPLE

ABOUT CHRIST AND SPEND TIME WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IN FELLOWSHIP,

GOD WILL BE AT WORK IN AND THROUGH YOU PRODUCING FRUITFULNESS

AND MATURITY!



Sub-Lesson 3 what can you expect as you Grow in Christ?

List some characteristics that you want God to produce in your life:

Read 2 Peter 1:5‐9

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, knowledge; and to

knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness and to

godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities

in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to the passage, what is the primary hindrance to growth?

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Sub-Lesson 4 what can you do now?

Set aside time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. One of the ways

we can renew our minds is to recite the Bible verses out loud.

You may want to begin with the book of John. As you read, underline things you

learn about God, Circle things you learn about yourself. Pray and ask God to show you

who He is and how you can respond to Him.

Some additional suggested passages for study are the ones in this lesson. Other

passages are : Colossians 1:9‐12; Matthew 7:7‐11; 2 Corinthians 5:17‐21; 1 Corinthians

12:12‐27; Psalms 1;34;103;145; John 15:1‐7; and Luke 9:23‐26.

Become involved in a local church with other Christians where you can

enjoy encouragement from others who are also learning more about their

life in Christ.

Remember to talk to someone about your growing relationship with

Christ.

Documents

International Full Gospel Tabernacle Church-Cell Training