The Goal: Maturity

“let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity” Hebrews 6:1

“…to prepare God's people for

works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of

God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13

CONVERTED by the GOSPEL – Believing the good news of Jesus Christ that he provides complete FORGIVENESS and perfect righteousness to ALL who receive Him as LORD

CONSISTENT in the WORD – Investing time daily to read and understand God’s blue print and will for our lives so that we can know the TRUTH

CONSTANT in PRAYER – Interacting and talking with God on a regular basis so that we can receive His POWER and be faithful and fruitful

COMMITTED to FELLOWSHIP – Becoming involved in a Bible believing, teaching, and obeying church so that believer’s are equipped towards MATURITY (to be like Christ)

COURAGEOUS in WITNESSING – Obeying Christ’s command to GO make disciples by sharing the message of the gospel and showing the LOVE of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet

CONTINUOUS in WORSHIP – Honoring the Lord and giving Him praise and GLORY in everything we do and say

CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN – Seeing others saved, baptized, and growing in their walk with Christ as we pass the torch of truth to others through EVANGELISM and DISCIPLESHIP

Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man mature in Christ.”

Basic Discipleship

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Basic Discipleship Class

You are in the right place if you want to DISCOVER or know more about what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is a

disciple of Jesus Christ.

What is a disciple?

Latin word “discipulus” = pupil (student) discere (to learn) One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another An Active adherent

One of the original followers of Jesus

Jesus gives the same invitation to everyone as he Jesus gives the same invitation to everyone as he

did in did in Matthew 4:19:Matthew 4:19: “Come, follow me.”

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

A Disciple is someone who actively follows, studies, learns, and obeys Jesus

Opening illustration: “Hey you guys, say this prayer after me”

MAN

SIN

SINFUL MAN I give Money

I “Keep the 10 commandments”

“I believe there is a God”

I go to Church

I’m a Good Person

SIN leads to Death Death leads to Judgment Judgment w/o Christ leads to Hell

REV 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

MAN

I give Money

I “Keep the 10 commandments”

“I believe there is a God”

I go to Church

I’m a Good Person

MAN

SIN

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were

yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

MAN

SIN

ACTS 16:31-34 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

ROMANS 10:9-13 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are

saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame”... "Everyone who

calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.Repentance: 52X in the NT, 20X in the OT

Faith: 274X in the NT, 136X in the OT

. , pist-yoo´-o; from

; to have faithhave faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by impl. to entrustentrust (espec. one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):— believe (-r), commit (to trust), commit (to trust), put in trust with.put in trust with.

. , pis-tik-os´; from

; trustworthytrustworthy, i.e. genuinegenuine ( (unadulteratedunadulterated):—):— spike-[nard].James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

. , pis´-tis; from ; persuasion, i.e. credencecredence; mor. convictionconviction (of relig. truth, or the truthfulness of God or a relig. teacher), espec. reliancereliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancyconstancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truthtruth itself:— assurance, assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

. , pi´-tho; a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by anal. to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); refl. or pass. to to assentassent (to evidence or authority), to to relyrely (by inward certainty):— agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) confident, make agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) confident, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.

James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

meta - change, transfigure, transform.change, transfigure, transform.

. , met-an--eh´-o; from

and ; to to think differentlythink differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsiderreconsider (mor. feel compunctionfeel compunction):— repent.

. , met-an´-oy-ah; from ; (subj.) compunction (for guilt, incl. reformationreformation); by impl. reversalreversal (of [another’s] decision):— repentance.

James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

MIND

EMOTIONS

WILL

TRUST

COMMITMENT

BELIEF

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Acts 26:20

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God

will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:25

MIND

EMOTIONS

WILL

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (1 Peter 1:13-16)

1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (James 2:19)

TRUST

COMMITMENT

BELIEF

John 12:36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed,

you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the

praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to

become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

•To be RESTORED

•Born Again (John 3:3)

•Inner Change: slave to the Spirit instead of Sin (Romans 6:6-18)

•Spiritual Transformation: dog to child of God (Rev 22:15, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:15)

•Change of Mission: From Self to Savior (1 Cor 15:58)

Titus 3:5He saved us through the washing of rebirth and

renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us

generously through

Jesus Christ our Savior

The judicial act of God that declares the sinner “not-guilty” of sin. We are thereby released from its penalty and restored to righteousness

Jesus paid the punishment of our sin (Romans 5:8-9)

Jesus gives us his righteousness (Romans 5:19)

Jesus remains to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25)

“declared righteous”

[We] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

“Set Apart”The lifelong PROCESS of becoming like Jesus To be made holy, perfect, and set apart from the world

1 John 2:4-6 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the

truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever

claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 Cor 3:18,2 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 3:18, Phil 2:12-13, Gal 5, 2 Pet 1:3, Col 2:6

Future Sinlessness in Heaven To be with the Lord and FULLY made perfect

Completely free from the presence & power of SinDear friends, now we are children of God, and

what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like

him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

MIND

EMOTIONS

WILL

TRUST

COMMITMENT

BELIEF

1 John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

1 Timothy 6:12 Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Acts 19:18, John 12:42, 2 Timothy 2:19

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from

God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear

from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.“ He who was seated

on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.“ He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and

the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I

will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who

practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:1-8

Do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? Don’t Be Left Behind!

MAN

A: ADMIT you are a sinner and need God Romans 3:23B: BELIEVE that Christ died, was raised, and is coming again 1 Cor 15:3-4

C: Confess your sins, repent, and COMMIT your life to Christ – to live for Him instead of yourself Acts 26:20

MAN

JN 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

MAN

5. I have ETERNAL LIFE Jn 17:3, 1 Jn 5:11

3. I am ADOPTED as a Son/Daughter of God Jn 1:12

2. I am INDWELT by the Holy Spirit Gal 2:20, Heb 13:5, Rev 3:20

4. I am a NEW CREATION in Christ 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:4-5

•1. I am FORGIVEN of ALL my sins Heb 10:12-14

5. Are you sure that if you were to die today, that you would go to heaven? John 17:3, 1 John 5:11

3. Are you sure you are a child of God? Jn 1:12

2. Are you sure the Holy Spirit lives within you? Gal 2:20, Heb 13:5, Rev 3:20

4. Are you sure that you are a NEW CREATION? 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:4-5

1. Are you sure you are forgiven? Heb 10:12-14

Made Righteous by His Life,

Forgiven by His Death, and

Assured Victory over sin & death

Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:1-3, 10:14, John 17:3, Romans 5:1, Revelation 21.

“I don’t believe there is a God”

What is the Gospel (good news)? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth to forgive sinners all their sins by taking on Himself all the sins of the world and experiencing the punishment that only sinners deserve (death and separation from God). He took on Himself God’s full wrath against our sins on the cross. Therefore, the blood of Jesus Christ makes atonement for our sins by satisfying God’s justice against our sins (redemption). Jesus not only forgives us but He gives us His perfect righteousness in order to have relationship with a perfect God in this life and enter His perfect presence and Kingdom in the life to come. Therefore, Jesus’ perfect life fulfilled the Old Testament law on our behalf so that in God’s sight we are declared righteous (justified) even though all of us are guilty of breaking God’s laws given through Moses or known by our conscience. Therefore, anyone who repents, believes, and trusts by faith in Jesus’ blood to forgive them all their sins (past, present, and future) and His perfect righteousness to be reconciled to a perfect God will be saved from the wrath of God to come (Tribulation/Lake of Fire). That is good news – you can be forgiven and restored to the right relationship with God that you were created for – so are you sure that you have repented and by faith asked Jesus to forgive all your sins and credit you His perfect righteousness? If you have, the Bible says that you have crossed over from death (judgment/man’s side) unto life (eternal life - John 5:24).

THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ What exactly must I do to be saved? Repent of all your sins, Believe by Faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to forgive you, and ask Jesus to be your Lord (Romans 10:9-13). The Lord Jesus (Mark 1:14-15): “Repent and believe in the gospel” The Apostle Paul (Acts 20:21): “Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” The Author of Hebrews (Hebrews 6:1-2): “Repentance from dead works and faith toward God” Conclusion: All sinners must Repent and Believe by faith in Jesus as Lord in order to be saved from God’s wrath (John 3:36) Real Repentance - not just realizing you are a sinner that deserves hell (mind), not just being sorrowful/broken over your sin (emotion), but turning away from your sins and replacing them with righteous/Biblical living over the course of your entire life (will) +Real Faith - a faith that believes Jesus was and is who He claimed to be (fully God and fully Man) and a trust and commitment that loves, follows, and obeys Jesus as Lord (master, owner, boss) = Real Conversion – God marks every true believer by indwelling them with the Holy Spirit, who gives power and conviction to stop sinning and power and motivation to obey Jesus as Lord (being born again and totally changed to enjoy new life now and eternal life later)

“I’m a good and moral person”

“I’m not a terrible sinner like some – I don’t need to repent or follow Jesus - God is loving and merciful – he’ll forgive me”

“I believe in Jesus but don’t live or follow Him as my Lord”

“I’m a religious person and go to church”

“I said the sinner’s prayer once but live just like the world”

GOD’S DESIRE IS FOR US TO BECOME: (7 C’s)

Converted by the GOSPEL 1 Tim. 2:4

+ Consistent in the WORD 1 Tim. 4:13 + Constant in PRAYER 1 Thess. 5:17 + Committed to FELLOWSHIP Heb. 10:24

+ Courageous in WITNESSING Matt.28:19

+ Continuous in WORSHIP 1 Cor. 10:31 = Contagious CHRISTIANS 2 Tim. 2:2 SAYSF Bible Church (Seek And Ye Shall Find - Luke 11:9) 46544 Rue Purchase Rd. Lexington Park MD 20653 301-862-3755 www.saysf.org Sun.Services: 8:30a/11a/6p

Why is man separated from God and deserving Hell? Because every man has rebelled against God as their Creator even though He gives them everything they need and enjoy (light, life, love, etc.). Man is therefore cursed, separated, guilty, deceived, unable to be forgiven and made righteous on their own. They are physically going to die, face judgment before God, and be eternally separated from God (the source of everything good)in Hell if they don’t repent and receive God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord! Read the following passages in the Bible: Genesis 3 – Man is CURSED for rebellion against God and lives for SELF instead of the purpose God created us for (to love, worship, know, serve, and please Him with our lives) Isaiah 59 – Man is SEPARATED from God so that the relationship we were designed to enjoy with God is broken (why He doesn’t answer the prayers of the unrepentant) Romans 3 – Man is GUILTY of sin (the cause of most pain and suffering in the world) and deserving of God’s wrath Galatians 3 - Man is DECEIVED in believing they can earn forgiveness, God’s favor/blessing, or enter heaven on the merit of their own righteousness and deeds Romans 6:23 – Man is going to DIE because of their sin Hebrews 9:27 – Man will be JUDGED by God after they die (just on basis of the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 - would God judge you innocent or guilty of sin? What is your solution for sin or death? Jesus asked, “How will you escape Hell?”(Mt. 23:33)

Revelation 21:8 – Man will be PUNISHED eternally in the lake of fire (called the 2nd death) if they don’t believe and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord through repentance and faith.

What is God like and why do I need Jesus to be at peace with Him?

Read the following passages in the Bible: Who is God? (His Constitution): 1 Timothy 1:17 – God is ETERNAL in that He is Spirit (John 4:24), Invisible/Immortal (Hebrews 1:8), One Essence (Deuteronomy 6:4, Romans 3:30, 1 Timothy 6:15), and yet a Trinity (three distinct persons - Matthew 3:16-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-16, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Cor. 1:21-22) What God is like? (His Character): 1 Peter 1:15-16 – God is HOLY in that He is perfect (Matthew 5:48), He is truth (John 3:33), He is just (2 Thessalonians 1:6), He is love (1 John 4:8), He is peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23), He is personal/knowable (John 17:3), He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9) He is mysterious (Romans 11:33), He is unchanging (Titus 1:2), He is worthy (Revelation 4:11), and He is merciful (Eph. 2:4) Why is God still in control? (His Capabilities): 1 Timothy 6:15 – God is SOVEREIGN in that He is omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17 - all powerful as the Creator of everything good - light, life, and love), omniscient (Gal. 6:7 -all knowing as the author of all knowledge, wisdom, truth, and understanding), and omnipresent (Psalm 139 - always present, always in control, and promises to wipe every tear and right every wrong with justice as He will make all things NEW (Rev. 21:4-5)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6

John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:4-5, Acts 4:12

by His Resurrection