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NEW

LIFE
IN CHRIST

Volume 1

Basic steps of the Christian life

This is the English edition of NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, Vol 1 It was originally produced in
Spanish as NUEVA VIDA EN CRISTO. Its purpose is to give you a solid foundation for
your Christian life. When you finish with Volume 1, continue with Volume 2 & 3
For more information email us at: [email protected]
You may download a free copy of this book at the following website:
www.NewLifeDiscipleship.com
For printed copies contact:
Camino Global, 8625 La Prada Dr., Dallas, TX 75228 USA
Phone: 800 366-2264 or 214 327-8206
For free materials in Spanish go to: www.obrerofiel.com
It is also available in Spanish French, Portuguese, Ukranian, Russian, Romanian,
Swahili, Malagasy, Kinyarwanda, Miskitu and German. The document is in PDF
format and requires Adobe Reader (formerly known as Acrobat Reader) to be read.
If you have trouble opening the documents, download the latest free version of
Adobe Reader at: http://www.adobe.com

Third English edition 2008. Copyrighted 1993


Mark Robinson
Permission is given to make copies of this material, with the condition that
you cite the original source and make no changes to its content or format.
Produced in cooperation with Camino Global and believers
from the Asociacin Evanglica Centroamericana de Costa Rica
8625 La Prada Dr., Dallas, TX 75228 USA

July 31, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Teachers Guide........................................................... 4
Introduction to the Christian Life................................. 5
Step 1

Saved!...................................................... 6

Step 2

Secure!..................................................... 8

Step 3

Victorious!................................................ 10

Step 4

Lord of All................................................ 12

Step 5

Living in the Spirit..................................... 14

Step 6

God Speaks to Me.................................... 16

Step 7

Talking with God...................................... 18

Step 8

Meeting with God Every Day..................... 20

Step 9

My Church............................................... 23

Step 10

Witnessing!.............................................

25

Step 11

Baptism & Communion............................

27

Step 12

The Family................................................ 29

Step 13

Following Jesus........................................

31

Appendices................................................................

33

TEACHERS
GUIDE

1.


2.

We congratulate you for accepting the


challenge of discipling new believers using
New Life in Christ as your guide. The results
of this study can produce eternal fruit.
Let the Bible always be your authority in
answering the questions. The students should
look up the Bible passages by themselves and
try to answer the questions based on what the
Bible says.

8.

Try to have the students think about the


practical implications for their lives. Help them
to understand specific, practical applications.

The assignments in the boxes at the side of


each lesson are designed for this purpose.
Make use of them.

9.

Help students cultivate the habit of prayer.


Teach them by praying together with them.

10. It is important to understand that discipleship


is much more than studying the lessons of
New Life in Christ. Discipleship implies a life
change for the disciple.

Some new believers need a brief orientation


on how to find the references in their Bibles.


3.

This manual may be used in many different


ways. In most cases, you will study one lesson
a week, encouraging the disciple to do all the
assignments in each lesson.

4.

Try not to let your sessions get too long.

5.



Encourage the students to answer the


questions in their own words. Avoid
copying the Bible word for word. Using
their own words will help them to analyze
the meaning of the texts studied.

11. It is of the utmost importance that disciples


learn habits like daily Bible reading, prayer,

and Scripture memorization.


6.

7.

This manual is just an initial help. The students


need continual help in seeking to change their
character, ways of thinking, habits, etc.

Avoid preaching. Use questions to discover


what the students understand and to stimulate
active participation.
Prepare well for each session yourself. As the
teacher, you should be familiar with the content and key concepts of each lesson.
Your preparation should include prayer for
your students and for your own heart to be
prepared for the lesson.

At the beginning of each lesson, take time


to review the previous memory verse and ask
them how the daily Bible study is going. Do
not scold students who have not completed
some of the assignments, but be sure to
encourage them to finish.

12

Be sensitive to what God is doing in the


disciples life. Take time out of each session to
answer any questions they might have, or to
help with facing problems in their personal life.

Keep in mind that there are times when it is


not possible to get to every question in the
lesson because of lack of time. In these cases,
choose the questions of most importance to
discuss.

Welcome To God's Family


Congratulations! If you have received Christ as your personal
Savior, you have been born again into God's family. Your sins
are forgiven and you are now a new creature possessing eternal
life.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old


things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

God is just beginning to transform your life.


Live each day by faith, entrusting yourself to
God as He makes changes in your life. Have
patience and wait with anticipation. A great
adventure lies ahead!

Exercises To Help You Grow


As a new believer, you are beginning a relationship with
Christ which will grow as you follow Him. Learning to follow
Him is called discipleship. There are certain exercises that will
strengthen you as a new Christian. The more you practice
them, the stronger you will become.
Christ wants to be the center of your life. Submit to Him
moment by moment, letting Him control all areas of your life.
Pray throughout the day, every day. Prayer is talking with God.
Read the Bible every day. Before beginning, tell God: Here I am, Lord,
ready to hear your voice through the Scriptures.
Find a church that preaches the Bible. The church members are your new
family.
Leave behind the world of sin to which you used to belong. Ask God to help
you resist temptation.
When you sin, confess that sin to God and receive the forgiveness He offers.
Tell others about Christ.
Continue studying Volumes 2 and 3 of New Life in Christ. If you cant find a
place to get them, you may download them for free at the following website:
www.newlifediscipleship.com

Step 1

Saved
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ To be saved, it is only necessary to believe that God exists.
____ Sin causes a separation between God and man.
____ I am saved by going to church and doing good things.

THE OLD LIFE

DECISION TIME

1. According to Ephesians 2:1, what was our condition before Christ gave

us eternal life? _________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. Read Romans 3:23. Does that mean everyone sinned? Yes

No

Have you already accepted Christ?


Yes

If so, when? __________________


If not, do you want to?
Yes

If that was the case, what was our condition before Christ saved us?

_____________________________________________________________

3. The Bible says that we were condemned. Why? (John 3:18) __________

______________________________________________________________

THE WORK OF GOD


4. In Ephesians 2:4-5, how is God described? _________________________

______________________________________________________________

5. According to this passage, what has God done for us? _______________

______________________________________________________________

6. Look at Romans 5:8. How does God demonstrate His love for us? _____
______________________________________________________________

7. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. God decided that we would not be saved by our
works (v. 9). What kinds of good deeds do people perform in order to

be saved? _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

8. We are saved by ___________________ through ________________ (v. 8)



Grace means an undeserved gift. In other words, God gave us


salvation freely, even though we did not deserve it.

9. In whom should we have faith in order to be children of God? (Galatians


3:26) _________________________________________________________
6

No

No

TO RECEIVE CHRIST
1. Admit that you are a sinner.
Don't try to hide it any longer.
2. Decide to distance yourself
from sin. Repent.
3. Believe that Christ died for your
sins and rose from the dead.
4. Ask Jesus to come into your
heart to forgive your sins and
take control of your life.
The following prayer could serve as
a model of how to receive Christ.
Dear Lord
I know that I am a sinner and that I
need your forgiveness. I believe you
died for my sins and rose from the
dead. I want to leave sin behind,
and live a pure life. Come into my
heart, and be my savior. I want to
follow you as my Lord. Thank you
for saving me. Amen.

THINK ABOUT IT
Think about your home and everyone and everything that you love.
How does your sin affect them?
Think about your future. Had you
continued with the old life, you
would have faced the judgment of
God. Read Revelation 20:11-15
and think on it, thanking God for
His great love.

GROWING STRONGER
It is important to form habits that
will help you grow in your new life.

10. Tell in your own words what it means to have faith in Christ. _________

_____________________________________________________________

THE NEW LIFE

As exercise
strengthens
the body,
there are
spiritual
disciplines
that help
you to grow
in Christ.

11. For what purpose did Christ come? John 10:10 ____________________

These disciplines include:

Bible study
prayer
memorizing Bible verses.

_____________________________________________________________

12. What does God offer to the person who accepts Christ? John 1:12

_____________________________________________________________

13. According to John 5:24, what happens when a person accepts Christ?
_____________________________________________________________

14. What did God create us for, according to Ephesians 2:10?


____________________________________________________________

In addition to completing these


lessons, it is important to read a
portion of the Bible and pray to
God every day.

Note that we are not saved by works but we are saved for good works.

This week read chapters 1-7 in


the book of John, one chapter
per day.

Pray to God before reading, preparing your heart to receive what He is


going to tell you through His Word.

come: ______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

After reading each chapter, pray


again, talking with God about
what you have read.

_____________________________________________________________

With Gods help, I commit to reading a chapter a day in my Bible.

IN SUMMARY

_________________________Date.

15. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. To be in Christ means to have accepted Him


as Savior. So, if someone is in Christ, what does he or she become?
_____________________________________________________________

16. Explain in your own words the phrase, the old has gone, the new has

In your own words, summarize what we have studied.


1. What was your life like without Christ?___________________________

Memorize Ephesians 2:8-9

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2. What did Christ do for you? ___________________________________

For it is by grace you have


been saved, through faith, and
this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God, not by works,
so that no one can boast.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

In Appendix #1 you will find some


cards to help you memorize the
verses in these lessons.

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

3. How should you show in your daily life the new life that God gave you?

Step 2

Secure!
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ Right now I can be sure that I am saved.
____ God wants me to sin so He can show more of His love.
____ If I sin and die without confessing it, I am still saved.

GOD GIVES
ME SECURITY
1. Read Romans 8:38-39. Once we have accepted Christ, is there any way

we can be separated from the love of God? ________________________

Read John 10:27-29 and respond to questions 2 through 7


.
2. What is offered to us? (v. 28) _____________________________________
3. Who gives eternal life? (v. 28) _____________________________________

GIVING THANKS
According to John 10:28-29, you
are in the hand of Jesus Christ, and
at the same time you are in the
Fathers hand.
Think of how protected your life is
in those hands! No wonder it says
two times that no one can snatch
us from that place.

4. Can something eternal come to an end? ____________________________


The verb give is in the present tense. This indicates that we already
have eternal life. Eternal life does not begin when we die, but rather from
the moment in which we accept Christ as our personal Savior.

5. When will we perish? (v. 28) ______________________________________


This refers to the fact that eternal life never ends.
6. Could someone or something snatch us out of Christs hand? (v. 28)

_______________________________________________________________

7. Could someone snatch us out of the hand of our Father? (v. 29)

______________________________________________________________

Now read Ephesians 1:13-14 and respond to questions 8 - 9.


8. What is the work that God did in us? (v. 13) ________________________

______________________________________________________________

9. When were we sealed? (v. 13) ____________________________________


THINK ABOUT IT
To sin is to do, say, or think
something against the will of God.
Although God loves me, He hates
my sin.
Think about and write down two
reasons why you believe that a
Christian should seek to avoid sin:
1. __________________________

God gave us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (pledge) of the fact that we
belong to Him until Christ comes for us.

__________________________

Read Who am I in Christ? in Appendix # 2, at the end of the book.

2. __________________________

How do you feel as you read these affirmations? Do they give you

confidence? ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
8

__________________________

__________________________
__________________________

10. Read 1 John 5:11-12. Do you have eternal life? ____________________


How can we know for sure whether we have eternal life or not?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

WARNING
11. Now that I am saved, why shouldnt I play around with sin?
THIS WEEK
This week, pray for one of your
family members who has not yet
received Christ. Ask for their salvation. Write down their name:
__________________________
Having trouble finding passages in
your Bible? Heres a tip. Memorize in order the names of the first
ten books of the New Testament:
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians

GROWING STRONGER
Read John 8-14
this week
(one chapter per day).

Memorize John 10:27-28


My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow
me; I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish;
and no one can snatch them
out of my hand.

Romans 6:1-2. _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Read Hebrews 12:5-10 and respond to questions 12-13.


12. Since I am a child of God, He disciplines me. Why does He do this? (v. 6)

____________________________________________________________

13. For what purpose does God discipline me? (v. 10) __________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

GOD GIVES ME A CHOICE


It is not Gods desire that you sin. But, as human beings, we are subject to
temptation. This means that we still struggle against sin in our lives.
What happens when you sin? You do not lose your salvation, but it can
affect your fellowship with God. As the loving Father that He is, He has
provided the way of escape from temptation and also the means for us
to draw near to Him if we do sin. We will study this in detail in Step 3.

DIGGING DEEPER
Read 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. Every Christian will be judged. It will not
be to see if they are saved, but rather to test their works.
If his works were pleasing to God, the Christian will receive a reward.
If they werent, he will lose these special rewards (these rewards are
not the same as salvation, since the person already has salvation according to v. 15).
Will you receive rewards or will you just barley make it into heaven?
___________________________________________________________

Step 3

Victorious!
Answer True (T) or False (F)
____ If we are tempted, it is inevitable that we will sin, because we are so weak.
____ If we sin and we confess it to God, He will forgive us.
____ We have spiritual enemies who tempt us.

DIGGING DEEPER

WE ARE ENGAGED IN A BATTLE


The Bible says that God is not the one who tempts us (James 1:13). Who
then are our spiritual enemies according to the following passages?
1. James 4:4 _____________________________________________________

We are all tempted, but this doesnt


mean that we have to sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13 has three truths
that encourage us.

2. Galatians 5:17 _________________________________________________

1. Temptations are part of being


human. It is possible to overcome them.

3. 1 Peter 5:8 ____________________________________________________

2. God puts limits on temptations;


we can resist them.

How should we respond to each enemy?

3. In every temptation, God


always provides an escape.

4. To the world (Romans 12:2)______________________________________


5. To the flesh (Galatians 5:16) _____________________________________
6. To the devil (James 4:7) _________________________________________
WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS
7. Who is greater than Satan? (1 John 4:4) __________________________

Meditate on
these truths
and BELIEVE
THEM!

8. Who lives in the believer? (1 Corinthians 3:16) _____________________


9. Who gives us the victory? (1 Corinthians 15:57) ____________________

_____________________________________________________________
AFFIRMING THE TRUTH

GOD GIVES US RESOURCES TO BE VICTORIOUS


According to the following passages, what should we do to avoid falling
into temptation?

The Christian can conquer


temptations. Can you recall a time
recently when you were tempted
and overcame it with Gods help?

10. Psalm 119:11 _________________________________________________


_______________________________

11. Matthew 26:41 _______________________________________________


12. Proverbs 4:14-15 ______________________________________________
13. 2 Timothy 2:22 _______________________________________________
10

_______________________________
_______________________________

MAKING THINGS RIGHT


The one to whom I should confess
my sin is God (Psalm 32:5); but
there are cases in which this is not
enough. I need to go one step
further.
If my sin has affected another
person, I should seek out that person and ask his or her forgiveness
as well (James 5:16; Matthew 5:
23-24).

WE CAN BE FORGIVEN
14. According to 1 John 1:8, can anyone, even Christians, claim to be

sinless? __________________________________________________

By sinning, the fellowship between God and the believer is broken.


God is not happy, and although He loves us, He will not listen to our
requests while we are unwilling to confess our sin.
15.

What should we do to be forgiven? (read 1 John 1:9) _________

__________________________________________________________

Paraphrasing the Apostle John:


How can I be right with God,
whom I dont see, if I am not right
with my neighbor, whom I do see?
(1 John 4:20)

HOW SHOULD I CONFESS MY SIN?


Confessing is not just saying, I sinned.
True confession requires several things:

THIS WEEK
This week, pray to God for a
friend, co-worker, classmate, or
neighbor who needs to know Jesus
Christ.

a.

Be sincere.

b.

Be repentant (truely sorry and desiring to not commit that sin again).

c.

Be specific (telling God precisely what I did).

This week I will pray for:

d.

Be quick to recognize my error. As soon as I realize that I have sinned,


I should confess it. Otherwise, I am in danger of falling into more sin.

e.

Be humble by asking forgiveness of those people who were affected


by my sin.

f.

Accept forgiveness. We should not continue to reproach ourselves for


sins that we have already confessed. If God has forgiven us, we must
accept His forgiveness, and believing, give Him thanks. Reject Satans
accusation that we cant be forgiven.

____________________________
Memorize the next ten books of
the New Testament, reviewing the
first 10 from the last lesson:
Philippians
Colossians
1 and 2 Thessalonians
1 and 2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James

16. According to 1 John 1:9, what happens when I confess my sin?


a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________

GROWING STRONGER
Read John 15-21
this week (one chapter
per day).

SUMMARY
1. Who are our spiritual enemies?

Memorize 1 John 1:9

2. What resources do we have to conquer them?

If we confess our sins, He is


faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness.

3. If we sin, what should we do to be forgiven?

11

Step 4

Lord of all
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ I have the right to control my own life.
____ If I yield control of my life to Christ, Hell take away all my fun.
____ I know how to run my own life. No one else has any right to tell
me what to do.

WHOS THE BOSS?

CHECK UP

One of the titles that is often used to refer to Christ is LORD. Although the
world lives today in rebellion against God, one day every knee will bow before
Christ and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Phil. 2:10-11).

There are many things that are not


bad in themselves but can come
to take the place that only Christ
should occupy in our lives.

1. What does it mean to say: Jesus is Lord of my life? _________________

Mark the things that are hindering


the work of Christ is your life:

_______________________________________________________________

2. Why does Christ have the right to rule my life?

Belongings

Friends

Ambition

Work

Colossians 1:16 _________________________________________________

Entertainment

Habits

Your character

Family

2 Corinthians 5:15 ______________________________________________

Other ____________________

To whom does my life belong now? ________________________________


What specific areas do you need
to surrender to Christs control?

MY RESPONSE
3. If Christ owns me, how should I respond to Him, according to

2 Corinthians 5:15? ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

________________________
________________________
________________________

4. Read Galatians 2:20. This verse summarizes one of the essentials of the
Christian life. Explain the following phrase: I no longer live, but Christ

Right now, pray to the Lord,


asking Him to take control of the
areas of your life that you wrote

lives in me. ___________________________________________________

down

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

THIS WEEK

To be crucified with Christ means that my old life died, or remains


behind me. Now I have new life in Christ, with power to conquer sin.

Now finish memorizing the


following books of the New Testament, reviewing the other names of
the ones you already learned:

5. How should I live this new life in Christ? See the second part of
Galatians 2:20.

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
12

1 and 2 Peter
1, 2, and 3 John
Jude
Revelation

CONQUERING FEAR
Does it scare you to think about
surrendering your life completely to
Christ?

6. What is a good way to know if Christ is Lord of my life? Luke 6:46


____________________________________________________________

7. Why is it so necessary to yield my life to Christs control?


I cannot serve two Lords. I have to decide whether Im going to
serve God or serve the world. I cant please both (Luke 16:13).
Without Christ as the guide of my life, I am a slave to sin
(Romans 6:16).
One day I will have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ to
give an account (2 Corinthians 5:10).

WHO IS MOST CAPABLE OF MANAGING MY LIFE?

Here are some reasons people have


for being afraid to surrender to
Christ. Mark those that affect you.

I fear that Jesus really does not


understand my problems.
Im afraid Christ will command
me to do something I cant
fulfill.
I fear that Christ wont let me
marry the person who will
make me happy.
Im afraid God will take away
my friends and fun things I do.
I fear that I wont be faithful, or
not fulfill what He wants me to
do.
Now read 1 Peter 5:6-7. In light of
this passage, do you think there is
any basis for your fears?
Yes

Jesus

Myself

Who always desires the best for my life?

Who knows what is best for my life?

Who is able to do whats best for my life?

WHAT MUST I SURRENDER TO CHRIST?


Some areas of my life that I should surrender to Him are:
8. Romans 12:1 _________________________________________________

Isaiah 26:3 ___________________________________________________

Ephesians 5:15-16 _____________________________________________

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ____________________________________________

No




GROWING STRONGER
Read Acts 1-7
(one chapter per day).

Memorize Galatians 2:20


I have been crucified with
Christ; and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live
in the body I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and
gave Himself for me.

A DAILY SURRENDER TO CHRIST


Romans 12:1 exhorts us to surrender our bodies to Christ.
The following prayer may serve as a model for this daily surrender.
Lord, I surrender myself to you.
Take my mind and what I think
Take my eyes and what I see
Take my ears and what I hear
Take my lips and what I speak
Take my heart, what I feel and my attitudes.
Take my hands and what I do
Take my feet, where I go
Take my body, it is your temple.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit.
I want to obey you.
I want to do your will.
13

Step 5

Living in the Spirit


Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ The Holy Spirit is a force of God.
____ The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of our sin.
____ The Holy Spirit dwells in all children of God.

THE INITIAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

DIGGING DEEPER

When He ascended to the Father in heaven, Christ Jesus sent the Holy Spirit
(the Spirit of Truth) to give testimony about Himself (John 15:26).

According to 1 Corinthians 6:11,

1. According to John 16:8-9, what is the work of the Holy Spirit in

_______________________________

See also Acts 5:3-4

unbelievers?______________________________________________

who is the Holy Spirit? ___________

2. The Holy Spirit causes the person who accepts Christ to be born again
(John 3:3-8). What does it mean to you to be born again?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

In addition, the Holy Spirit does other things in the person who accepts
Christ, as we will see below.

3. According to 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 we were all __________________


into one body by the Spirit.

Baptism with the Spirit does not refer to baptism in water, but rather
to the Holy Spirit making us members of the body of Christ, that is, the
church, which is made up of all true believers throughout the world.

4. According to Ephesians 1:13, we were __________________ by the


Holy Spirit of promise. To be sealed with the Spirit means that we are
Gods secure possession from the moment that we first believe (v.14).
Just like a rancher brands a steer, God had put his mark on us to say
"This one is mine!"
5. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16, the Christian is the temple of God, and

the Holy Spirit ________________ in him or her. This means that the
Spirit truly and permanently indwells each Christian.

THINK ABOUT IT
Ephesians 1:14 says that the Holy
Spirit Himself is the guarantee or
down payment of our salvation.
How does this truth make you feel?
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

MY RESPONSE
Knowing that our body is the temple
of the Spirit of God, how should we
take care of our body?
See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
______________________________

SUMMARY OF THE INITIAL WORK OF THE SPIRIT:


Convicts of sin

Seals forever

Causes the new birth

Dwells in our body

Baptizes us into the body of Christ

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

14

THE CONTINUING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT


THIS WEEK

6. What did Christ promise about spiritual knowledge, according to

Share your
testimony
(how you
came to
know Christ)
with one
person.

John 14:26? ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

What joy to know that the Spirit of Christ Himself teaches us!

7. The Holy Spirit knows us intimately. What else does He do for the

Maybe this could be with the


person you have
been praying for.

DIGGING DEEPER
Read Jude 20. What does
praying in the Holy Spirit
mean? See question 8.

believer, according to Romans 8:26-27? ____________________________

______________________________________________________________

8. Romans 8:14 says that the Holy Spirit leads the Christian. In order to be
led by the Holy Spirit, the Christian should:

Ephesians 5:18 _________________________________________________

Galatians 5:16 _________________________________________________

To be filled with the Spirit or to walk in the Spirit means that the Christian
is controlled and guided by Him. This is demonstrated by the fruit
mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

HOW CAN I BE FILLED


WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?




When you realize that you have sinned,


confess it to God. Do not wait for sin to
build up (1 John 1:9). In addition, it is
necessary to accept by faith the forgiveness
that God offers you.

Present yourself to God. Permit Him to control your life,


submitting to His will (Romans 6:13).
Review the prayer at the end of the previous lesson.

GROWING STRONGER

By faith appropriate the filling of the Holy Spirit, that is, believe that
He is controlling you. Begin to act and live according to that faith.

Read Acts 8-14


(one chapter a day).
Memorize 1 Corinthians 12:13
For we were all baptized by
one Spirit into one body
whether Jews or Greeks, slave
or free we were all given the
one Spirit to drink.

SUMMARY OF THE SPIRITS WORK IN THE BELIEVER



He teaches the believer

He intercedes for the believer

He guides the believer

He fills the believer

He glorifies Christ (John 16:13-14)


15

Step 6

God speaks to me
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ Almost all of the Bible is of divine origin.
____ Every person who asks for Gods help is able to understand the Bible.
____ To get the greatest benefit from the Bible, its important to meditate on it.

WHAT IS THE BIBLE?


THIS WEEK

1. What does 2 Timothy 3:16 say about the origin of the Bible? __________

______________________________________________________________

The word inspired found in some translations literally means breathed


by God. What does this tell us about Gods Word?

______________________________________________________________

thats so, could there be any errors in it? ___________________________

This verse says that _______________ Scripture is inspired by God. If

2. In what way is the Bible different from other books? Hebrews 4:12

______________________________________________________________

Yes

No

When reading the Bible, have you


seen that its power has touched
your heart or changed your life?
Yes

No

Tell someone about what you are


learning in your readings.

If up until now you have not read


your Bible regularly, why not start
today?
With Gods help I commit to
reading my Bible (suggestion: one
chapter a day)

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE


4. The Bible feeds you spiritually. To what is the Bible compared in

1 Peter 2:2? ___________________________________________________

What would happen to the Christian who neglects to read the Bible?

______________________________________________________________

5. The Bible guides you in your daily life. To what is the Bible compared in

Psalm 119:105? ________________________________________________

What is a lamp used for? ________________________________________

We live in an age of confusion. There are many teachers, churches and friends
who want to give us advice. How do we know which one has the truth?
God gave us the Bible for this very purpose, to enlighten our minds and to help
us to evaluate the advice that they give us.

Are you reading a chapter a day?

______________________________________________________________

3. Explain how the Bible serves as a sword in your life. (Heb. 4:12) ________

How are you doing on the Bible


readings assigned in each lesson?

6. The Bible helps you to not sin (Psalm 119:11). What does I have hidden

your word in my heart mean? __________________________________

______________________________________________________________
16

Date _________________________

Memorize in order the names


of the first 14 books of the Old
Testament:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 and 2 Samuel
1 and 2 Kings
1 and 2 Chronicles

MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE

7. The Bible helps you grow in the Christian life.


2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible is useful for:

According to

Joshua 1:8 commands us to meditate on the Bible day and night,


that is, all the time.

____________________________, _________________________________

____________________________, _________________________________

We suggest
the following
means of
meditating
continually
on the
Bible:

The one who lets him or herself be guided by the Bible will be
thoroughly equipped for every good work. Be careful of those who
say that the Bible is not enough and encourage you to seek dreams and
revelations in addition to the Bible. The Bible is enough!

From your
daily Bible
reading copy
a verse onto
a 3x5 card or notebook.
Carry it in your purse or wallet, or
tape it up in a visible place (like the
mirror or refrigerator) so that you
can review it often during the day.

How does faith come to us? _____________________________________

How can we increase our faith? __________________________________

8. Is it hard for you to have faith at times? Read Romans 10:17 & answer:

THE CONTENT OF THE BIBLE The Bible is divided into two parts:
THE OLD TESTAMENT
39 Books
The Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
The History of Israel (Joshua to Esther)
Poetry (Job to Song of Solomon)
Prophecy (Isaiah to Malachi)

When you meditate on your verse,


ask yourself:

What does God want to


teach me?
How should I put this passage
into practice in my life today?

THE NEW TESTAMENT


27 Books
The Life of Christ (the 4 Gospels)
The Growth of the Church (Acts)
Teaching (the Epistles)
Prophecy (Revelation)

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE BIBLE


THINK ABOUT IT
Is the Bible the final authority in
your life? Read Acts 17:10-11.
What custom did the Berean believers have which is worthy
of imitation?

Listen: Fellowship with a church where the Word of God is faithfully taught.
(Revelation 1:3; Hebrews 10:24-25)
Study: Are you reading your Bible daily? Take notes in a notebook of what you
are learning in your daily readings (See Appendix 4). A good place to start is
with the books of John, Acts, 1 John, and Romans.
Meditate: See MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE in the box at the side.

Note: Many religions and groups practice types of meditation. They try to completely
empty their minds, repeat one word or phrase over and over to achieve a trance
state, or visualize themselves on a journey to get spiritual guidance. This is NOT
biblical meditation; it is part of divination, sorcery and idolatry, which God hates (see
Deut. 18:9-13). Biblical meditation involves thinking and talking about Gods Word.

GROWING
STRONGER
Read Acts 15-21
(one chapter
per day).
Memorize 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.

Memorize: A memory verse is assigned in each lesson. It is very important to


complete this assignment, because once you have the verse memorized,

it is kept in your mind for use in the future.
Obey: Write in your own words, the main idea of James 1:22.

_____________

___________________________________________________________

What did Ezra do with the Scriptures? (Ezra 7:10) Write down three things:

1. _________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________

17

Step 7

Talking with God


Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ In order to pray, it is important to do it in a church and on your knees.
____ I can pray with confidence, because God hears me and promises to answer.
____ It is enough to just pray before I eat and when I go to sleep.

WHAT IS
PRAYER?

THINK IT OVER

Prayer is communicating with God. It is as simple and natural as talking to a


friend. You can talk to God with complete confidence about any topic, fear
or need. Prayer is an intimate communication with Him.

With what attitude should we


draw near to God, according to
Hebrews 4:16?

_______________________

1. What great offer does God make in Jeremiah 33:3? _________________

_______________________

______________________________________________________________

Prayer is a means of honestly expressing everything that is in your heart


to a friend who listens to you with great interest.

How does God promise to respond to your prayer? __________________

________________________

______________________________________________________________

Are there times when God is too busy to hear your cry? Yes

We should pray when we


have the desire to pray,
because it would be a sin to
waste such a valuable opportunity. We should pray when
we do not have the desire
to pray, because it would be
dangerous to stay in such an
unhealthy condition

No

2. Prayer is one of the ways we protect ourselves. What was the advice that
Jesus gave to His disciples so that they would not fall into temptation?

Matthew 26:41 ________________________________________________

In your opinion, what is the reason


for this degree of confidence that
we can have with God?

______________________

Charles H. Spurgeon

3. What dangers do we need to avoid when we pray?


Matthew 6:5 __________________________________________________

Matthew 6:7 __________________________________________________

What is your interpretation of the phrase meaningless repetitions


(babbling like pagans in the NIV)?

_____________________________________________________________

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?


4. The Psalms give us many reasons to praise God. For example, what reasons does Psalm 106:1 give you for praising God?

_____________________________________________________________

5. Instead of always worrying, what should you do? Philippians 4:6


______________________________________________________________
18

THIS WEEK
Memorize in order the names of
the following books of the Old
Testament and review the ones
previously learned.
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel

THIS WEEK
1 Timothy 2:1 commands us that
requests, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for
everyone.
Do you have a list of prayer requests that reminds you for whom
you should pray?
Make a prayer list on a piece of
paper or in a notebook.
Your list could include the following categories:
Family members

6. According to Philippians 4:6, what should our attitude be when we are


asking God for something?______________________________________

When we pray with thanksgiving, we are expressing faith in God for


the answer that He will give to our request.

That is why verse 7 says we can experience ______________ in our hearts


upon leaving our burden in the hands of the one who is completely able
to help us with our problems.

7. What does pray without ceasing mean? (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


______________________________________________________________

If you should pray all the time, does that mean that you can pray in any

place, for example, at your job, riding the bus, etc.? _________________

Friends
Brothers and sisters in the
faith

Your prayer should include:

Servants of God (your pastor,


etc.)

Adoration & Praise to God for who He is.

The people that govern your


country and community

Confession of your sins so that they dont



hinder your fellowship with God.

People who have done you


harm

Requests for personal needs and intercession for others.

People you want to win for


Christ

Thanksgiving What has God done for you?



Lets not be ungrateful. Lets express our gratitude to Him.

Your goals and personal


growth

8. According to John 14:13 we should pray in the name of ______________


9. What else can we learn about how to pray from the following passages?

GROWING STRONGER
Read Acts 22-28
(one chapter a day).

Psalm 66:18 __________________________________________________

1 John 5:14-15 ________________________________________________

Matthew 21:22 _______________________________________________

10. How does Ephesians 3:20 encourage your faith? ____________________


______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

GOD ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS

We have seen that God promises to answer our prayers. But, how?
Someone has said that God has three ways of answering them:

Memorize Philippians 4:6-7


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.

Sometimes He says yes.


There are times when, for our good, He says no,
Others times He says wait a while.
19

Step 8

Meeting with God every day


Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ It is important to read the Bible and pray every day.
____ One should try to read many chapters of the Bible each day.
____ God wants to transform us day by day through His Word.

WHAT IS A DEVOTIONAL TIME?


A devotional time is our daily appointment with God. It should be every day,
because it takes time to develop our relationship with Him. Maturity does not
come instantly, rather, it is cultivated day by day, one step at a time.
Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay
my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
Some people call it the quiet time, because it is a time to wait before God so
that He will speak to us through His Word, and then to respond in prayer.
ITS IMPORTANCE

THINK ABOUT IT
Hebrews 4:12 compares the Bible
to a two-edged sword.
Sometimes, reading it is
uncomfortable for us, because it
penetrates our lives to show us
what we are like, and what we
have to correct.
Have you ever thanked God for
the ability of the Scriptures to do
this?

Why is it important to have a daily devotional time?


Joshua 1:8 _______________________________________________________
Psalm 63:1 _______________________________________________________
Matthew 4:4 _____________________________________________________
Would you say that a daily appointment with God is a necessity or just a good
idea (if you have time)? _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD YOU HAVE YOUR DEVOTIONS?
Usually, the best time is in the morning. This lets us start the day off with God.
Men like David and Christ set aside a special time in the morning (Psalm 5:
3 and Mark 1:35). Obviously, this implies that we will have to get up earlier
than usual, but it will be worth the effort. Some like to set aside time in the
evening (Psalm 63:6), or at another time during the day when they know they
can keep their appointment with God.
Whatever time you choose, look for a peaceful place where you can spend
this time without interruptions. Sometimes, to seek this privacy, it might be
necessary to get up before others, to close the door to your room, or to go
outside.
Set a time and place now for your devotions:
Time: __________ I will get up at: ___________ Place: ____________________

20

THIS WEEK
Memorize in order the names of
the following books of the Old
Testament, reviewing the ones you
learned before.
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zachariah
Malachi

BIBLE READING PLAN


We suggest beginning your reading
in the New Testament. Read from
one book daily until you finish it.
You might begin to read the books
of the Bible in the following order:
John
Acts
1 John
Romans
James
Philippians

WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR DEVOTIONAL TIME


Prepare your heart:
With what attitude should you present yourself before God?
Psalm 139:23-24 _______________________________________________
Psalm 119:18 _________________________________________________
Psalm 5:3 _____________________________________________________
Hebrews 4:16 _________________________________________________
Study the Word of God

Appendix #5 gives a list of readings


for a whole year.

Note: When you finish reading a


book, before starting another one,
try reading a Psalm and a chapter
in Proverbs.

GROWING STRONGER

Cut out the page and


paste it in your Bible.
It will serve as a guide
to help you benefit from your
daily appointment with God.

How to Study the Bible

Passage: ________________________________
Dig into the passage using questions.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of questions to ask as you read.

Memorize Joshua 1:8

Appendix #4
contains a summary of
how to have your
devotional time.

To begin, study short passages (no more than one chapter). It is sometimes better to read a short passage several times than to read several
chapters. That way you can analyze it well.

Read 1 John 1-5,


Psalm 1 and 5
(one chapter a day).

Do not let this book of the Law


depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to
do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous
and successful.

In John 5:39 we see that the Jewish leaders were to search the Scriptures.
The Bereans in Acts 17:11 examined the Scriptures when they received
them, and the psalmist says, I have sought out your precepts...
I will ponder your statutes. (Psalm 119: 94, 95). This implies not only
reading, but also studying the passage for the purpose of discovering its
meaning and seeing what God wants to communicate to you.

1. What impressed you most from this passage?


2. What is the main idea of the passage?

3. What are some of the key words? What do they mean?

4. What does it mean for your life? What does God want you to do?

a. Is there a commandment to obey?

b. Is there an example to follow?

c. Is there a sin to avoid?

d. Is there a promise to make your own?

Get a notebook today to use in your devotional time. Use the method in
the box above to study your Bible, writing down your thoughts in the notebook.
21

Pray

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
1. Take the time that you need
for your devotions. Dont try
to hurry.
2. Give priority to your daily
appointment with God. Try
not to miss the appointment.
If you skip a day, dont get
discouraged; but dont miss
the next day.
3. Try to read a chapter a day. At
times it is better to read less in
order to study it well. At times
you may need to read more.
4. Mark your Bible, underlining
key verses to be able to find
them later.
5. Try to put key verses in your
own words to understand
them better.
6. If it is hard to concentrate,
read or pray out loud, or pray
standing up. Its better not
to have your devotions lying
down on the bed; you could
fall asleep. Ask for Gods
power to be able to concentrate.
7. Get a notebook to write down
the results of your Bible study,
prayer requests, etc.

Pray, referring back to the Bible passage studied. Respond to God, telling Him
about your reaction to the passage. Include:




Confession, when you become aware of all the impurities in your life.
Worship for who God is (the Psalms can help you enrich your praise).
Praise to God for what He does.
Thanksgiving for what God has given you.
Pray for the requests on your prayer list.

Sing to the Lord


Music lifts your spirit and helps you create an atmosphere of worship.
Sing choruses and hymns regularly, throughout the whole day, not just in
your devotions. Ephesians 5:19. If you prefer, whistle or hum choruses.
Put what you have learned into practice




James 1:22 warns us to be doers of the word, and not merely


hearers. Reading the Bible without applying it to our lives is like seeing our face in a mirror and going away without cleaning off the dirt
that the mirror shows us. It doesnt make sense to read the Bible if
we are not willing to submit to what it says.
Note: This doesnt mean that we should stop reading the Bible when
we feel rebellious. We should read it all the MORE during these times,
asking God to change our hearts. Dont let spiritual enemies (see Step
5) keep you away from the Bible!

Meditate and Memorize




Copy a verse from the passage you read on a piece of paper or in a


notebook to meditate on it during the day. Try to memorize it. In
this way, God will help you to resist sin.

REVIEW: A SIMPLE PLAN FOR YOUR DEVOTIONAL TIME


1. Prepare your heart
Examine yourself anad confess your sin.
Ask God for understanding

4.

Sing to the Lord

Sing a chorus or hymn. The music will


lift your spirit and will help you praise
God.

5.

Apply what you have learned

What will you do today to put it into


practice in your life?

6.

Meditate and Memorize

From the passage you read, choose a


verse on which you can meditate, and
memorize it. Write it down in a notebook or on a 3x5 card to carry it with
you during the day.

2. Study the Bible





What impressed you the most?


What is the main idea?
What are some of the key words? What do they mean?

What does it mean for your life?

3. Pray to the Lord

Talk with God about the passage studied.


Worship God for who He is.
Give God thanks for what He has done
Ask of God, using your list of requests.

22

Step 9

My Church
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ The church is only a building.
____ The church is the community of all believers.
____ I dont need church, as long as I keep reading the Bible at home

and listen to Christian programs on radio or television.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

THIS WEEK

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: ...I will build my church...
Christ spoke in the future tense (I will build) and spoke of the church as
something that belonged to Him (my church). This church that Christ was
going to build already exists today and continues to grow. It is the visible
manifestation of Christ in the world today.

To deepen your fellowship with the


brothers and sisters of your church,
start this week by inviting one of
them to your house or out for a
meal together.

In one sense, the church is universal, but at the same time it has a local presence (Matthew 16:18, Acts 13:1).
THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
The universal church is the supernatural body of which Christ is the head. It
is formed of all the people that have been born again from the day of
Pentecost until the rapture of the church.
1. To what is the church compared? 1 Corintians 12:27 _________________

______________________________________________________________

2. Who makes up this body (the church)? The church is made up of all the
believers in Jesus Christ, those who have been regenerated by the Spirit
of God. (1 Cor. 12:13)
3. What has God given to the members of the church? Romans 12:4-8

______________________________________________________________

4. Who is the head of the church? Ephesians 4:15 _____________________


5. According to Ephesians 1:12, why does the church exist? _____________

______________________________________________________________

6. What is the mission of the church? Matthew 28:18-20 _______________


______________________________________________________________

THE LOCAL CHURCH


The local church is a group of people who are born again, baptized, and
organized in order to glorify God, edify one another and proclaim the gospel.
23

THINK ABOUT IT
God has given each believer a spiritual gift. Romans 12, Ephesians 4:
11 and 1 Corinthians 12 speak of
the gifts. For example, some of the
gifts mentioned there are:
Service
Teaching
Exhortation
Giving
Faith
Evangelism
Wisdom
Pastoring
Showing mercy
Leading (Administration)
Do you know which are your gifts?
If the answer is NO, then you could
find out by praying, serving in the
church, and asking brothers and
sisters in Christ to tell you what
ability they observe in you.

THINK ABOUT IT

7. Read Hebrews 10:24-25. Does the Bible teach that the believer in Christ
should be part of a local church?

Make a list of the excuses some


believers use for not attending
church (assembling).

Yes

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________

How can we spur one another on toward love and good deeds?

______________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
What is the real reason why they
dont attend? Hebrews 10:25
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
THIS WEEK

No

Why? _________________________________________

8. What other things did believers do together in the Jerusalem church?


Acts 2:42 ___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

9. If you are a part of a church, you should help it. In what ways could you
help your church?

Galatians 6:1-2 _______________________________________________

Galatians 6:10 ________________________________________________

1 Peter 4:10 __________________________________________________

2 Corinthians 9:7 ______________________________________________

Make a list of the leaders of your


church and pray every day this
week for one of them.

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, the Bible sets requirements for
church leaders. Read these passages. Although you may not be
planning to be a leader yet, every Christian should aspire to have
the characteristics mentioned in these verses.

10. Since leaders were put in the church by God, what should our attitude
towards them be?
GROWING
STRONGER
Read Romans 1-4
(read each chapter for two days
in a row in order to understand
it better).
Memorize 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.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ________________________________________

Hebrews 13:17 ________________________________________________

11. What is one of the responsibilities of the church toward its members,

according to Galatians 6:1-2? ____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

12. What attitude should you have when correcting a straying brother? v.1,2

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

The church, since it is a family, has the responsibility to look out for the
well-being of its people. There are times when discipline is necessary to
preserve the testimony and purity of the church. It is an act of love and
concern toward the people in the church. Discipline is one of the things
God uses to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
24

Step 10

Witnessing
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ It is important to evangelize others, because the majority are on the road to hell.
____ I can evangelize my family and friends with success.
____ To be able to share my faith, I should wait to receive a course on witnessing.

One of the believers privileges is to witness about his or her faith in Christ.
Witnessing, or evangelizing, means to share the plan of salvation with
another person, so that they come to accept Christ.
THE NEED TO WITNESS
As we saw in the first lesson, humanity is trapped in the clutches of sin.
There is none righteous, not even one...all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God. (Romans 3:10, 23)
1. Matthew 7:13-14 speaks of two gates that represent two different destinies in life. According to these verses, what destiny awaits most people?

_____________________________________________________________

2. What does John 3:18 say about those who have not trusted in Christ?

_____________________________________________________________

3. In contrast, the believer is _______________________________________


___________________________________________ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

THE SPECIAL MISSION ENTRUSTED TO US


4. God has appointed us as His ambassadors. What is the mission that God
has entrusted to us as his ambassadors, according to 2 Corinthians 5:20?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

5. Read Matthew 5:14-16. As well as ambassadors, Christ calls us


________________________________________________________ (v. 14)

PREPARE
YOURSELF
TO SHARE
WITH OTHERS

Do you feel insecure, because


you dont know what to say
to those to whom you want to
witness?
Its very common to feel that way.
In order to have more confidence:

Study the plan of salvation


in Appendix 6.

Learn this plan by heart,


including the Bible verses.

Cut out the page in the




appendix that tells the plan


of salvation and paste it in
your Bible.

If you want to know how to


effectively give a personal
testimony,

6. What does it mean to you to say that we are the light of the world?

Appendix 6 gives some

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

7. In contrast, what does it mean to put your light under a bowl or a basket?

v. 15 _________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
25

practical suggestions to help


you share with others what
Christ has done in your life.

THIS WEEK

8. How much does your light shine? Understanding that you are the light
of the world, mark the statements that best describe your life.

Whom do you feel responsible

I like to speak about Christ, because


He has changed me.

to share the gospel with? Write


their names below:

Family Members:

Sometimes I shine, but sometimes my


light is covered up.

______________________

I dont know how to witness about Christ.

___________________________

I am somewhat embarrassed to talk about Christ.

___________________________

Friends and Acquaintances:

Up until now, my light has shone very little.


9. Matthew 28:19-20 contains what we call the Great Commission.
In this commission, what does Christ command us to do?

______________________

____________________________________________________________

___________________________

____________________________________________________________

___________________________

Pray regularly for them and


speak to them about Christ.

When can you start to witness?




This week share the plan with


one person on your list. Dont
wait for more time to pass!
If you dont have the plan
memorized, you could share
John 3:16.

10. Does it embarrass you to speak with others about Christ? If so,
read Romans 1:16. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

____________________________________________________________
HOW TO WITNESS: PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
Let Christ change your life. Remember that your words will be worth
little if they are not backed up by your behavior. Matthew 5:16
Use the Bible. It is the Word of God. It is a powerful weapon that clears
up the confusion in the mind of the sinner. Hebrews 4:12.
Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you witness. He convicts the world of
its sin, preparing them to listen when you present the plan of salvation
(John 16:8). You cannot force anyone. God Himself will do the work in
their hearts.
Pray constantly for your friends who have not accepted Christ. Look for
opportunities to share with them.
Look on the unbeliever with compassion, understanding that he or
she lives enslaved by sin. The unbeliever is not your enemy; rather,
he is a victim of the enemy (Satan).

GROWING
STRONGER
Read Romans 5-8
(read each chapter for two
days in a row in order to
understand it better).
Memorize
Learn the plan of salvation
in Appendix 6

Witness with an attitude of humility (1 Peter 3:15). Understand that


if it werent for the grace of God, you could also be in the same condition.
Be courteous. Make sure the unbeliever feels that you really want to help
him. Dont condemn.
Be natural. The best contacts you have are your family and friends. Dont
be afraid to share with them. Take advantage of these opportunities.
Get some good tracts and begin passing them out now. Ask your
pastor or church leaders how to get some.
Be brave. Even though not everyone accepts your message, remember
that you are a bearer of the good news that brings eternal life (Romans 1:
16). Whats more, the majority of people are more open than we think.
26

Step 11

Baptism & Communion


Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ I must be baptized to go to heaven.
____ Baptism and the Lords Supper (Communion) make me more holy.
____ The elements of the Lords Supper symbolize the blood and body
of Christ

BAPTISM
1. Before ascending to the Father in heaven, Jesus commanded His followers
to make disciples of all nations. According to Matthew 28:19-20, when
someone becomes Christs disciple, whats the first step they should take?

_____________________________________________________________

Baptism is not optional; rather, it is a commandment to be obeyed


by every believer.

2. Baptism is not required for salvation, but rather it is a result of already


being saved. Let's look at the case of the Phillipian jailer in Acts 16.

What was the only requirement in order to be saved? Acts 16:30-31

______________________________________________________________

How did the jailer and his family give testimony of their new faith?

Acts 16:32-33 _________________________________________________

Note that v.34 indicates that the whole family believed, not just the jailer.

We see that baptism is a way to give public testimony to the fact


that we are saved.

DIGGING DEEPER
Read Romans 6:1-4. At first
glance, this passage seems to
speak of baptism in water. However, here the word baptism is
really being used to speak of our
identification with Christ.
When we accept Christ we
identify with Him in His death, His
burial, and His resurrection. So, in
Christ we are new people.
Water baptism symbolizes this
transformation that occurred in
the moment of our salvation.
Going down under the water
symbolizes our identification with
Christ in His death and burial,
and that we die to our old
life. Coming up out of the water
symbolizes our resurrection to a
new life.

3. According to Acts 2:41, after having received the word (the gospel), they

were _______________________________ and about three thousand

souls were ______________________ to their number.

These three thousand people, by being baptized, identified themselves


with the church in Jerusalem. In the same way, we identify ourselves
with our local church when we are baptized.
Some people have mistaken ideas about baptism.
Therefore, it is important to know that:

DECIDE
If you have already
accepted Christ,
have you obeyed
Him by being
baptized?
Yes

1. Baptism does not save us.


2. Neither is it a step towards salvation.
3. Baptism does not make us holier, although it does motivate us

to live in holiness.
27

No

If you have not been baptized,


talk to a pastor or leader in your
church today.

THE LORDS SUPPER

REMEMBERING
According to Hebrews 10:10-12,
how many times does Christ offer
his body in sacrifice for sins?

The Lords Supper (or communion) was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ
on the night He was betrayed. It is something sacred and very special, but
it is not a sacrament or something magical.
4. Please read 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26. According to verse 26,

What do we proclaim? ________________________________________

_____________________ for all

Until when? _________________________________________________

Think about the implications of this


passage for those who say that the
bread and wine literally become
the body and blood of Christ.

This passage teaches us the meaning of the Lords Supper. It reminds


us of Christs sacrifice on the cross for us, and it is a reminder of His
second coming.

If this were so, wouldn't that mean


the sacrifice of Christ was being
repeated week after week?

5. What does it mean to do this in remembrance of me? ___________


____________________________________________________________

6. According to verses 24 and 25, what do the bread and the cup
symbolize?

The Bread __________________________________________________

The Cup ____________________________________________________

7. Now, read 1 Corinthians 11:27-31. Verse 28 says that before participating in the supper, each one should examine him or herself. What
does this act mean to you?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

8. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 emphasizes another aspect of the Lords


Supper which is communion, sharing, or fellowship. What does it
mean to have fellowship with other believers?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

GROWING STRONGER

Some have mistaken ideas about the Lords supper;


therefore, it is important to know that:

Read James 1-5;


Psalm 19 and Psalm 27
(one chapter a day).

1. The Lords Supper is not a sacrament or something magical.

Memorize Matthew 28:19

3. The juice does not turn into the blood of Christ, nor does the

bread become the body of Christ; rather they symbolize the blood
and the body of Christ, reminding us of Christs sacrifice until He
comes.

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

2. It does not make us holier, although it does motivate us to holiness.

4. It is an act of obedience and a moment of fellowship with Christ



and with our brothers and sisters in the faith.

28

Step 12

The Family
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ The husbands primary responsibility is to love his wife.
____ The wifes respectful conduct can win her husband for Christ.
____ Even if ones parents are not believers, one should always respect them.

THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY

DISCUSS

The Christian home is a center of support, protection, and mutual edification.


Through the home, material needs are met, and children are taught how to
face the issues of life. In contrast, if Christ is not reigning in the home, far
from being a refuge, it becomes a battleground and a place of frustration.
Gods plan for the family in the book of Genesis
It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for
him... Genesis 2:18
It was God who created Eve, as a wife for Adam. So, the idea of
creating the home came from God Himself.
The wife is described as a suitable helper, adequate for her husband.
Both the wife and the husband mutually complement each other.
United, they are better than when they are apart.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united
to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were
both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:24-25
The couple needs to become independent from their parents, to
form their own separate family. This is the only way they can learn
to depend on each other.
One flesh implies living in union with each other, not in competition,
as best friends sharing intimate thoughts.
Sex within marriage is not a cause for shame, but rather is a gift from
God to the couple for their good. The children that will come are a
blessing from God.

The Bible speaks about the wifes


submission to her husband. Do
you believe this gives the husband
the right to be overbearing? Why
not?
THINK ABOUT IT
There are many things that can
threaten the unity of the home.
Write down some of them:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

THIS WEEK
One of the threats to
family unity is the low
priority we place on spending time
together. Although we love them,
there are times when they dont
feel our love.
What will you do today to show
love in a concrete way to your husband or wife (or family member)?
_____________________________


YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE HOME

_____________________________

1. What commands does God give to husbands in the following passages?


Ephesians 5:25 ____________________________________________________

This week, what activity can you


do with your children (family members) so that they feel your love?

Colossians 3:19 ___________________________________________________

_____________________________

1 Peter 3:7 _______________________________________________________

_____________________________

Husband, do you believe you are fulfilling this? If not, in what areas should
you change? What kind of love did Christ have for His church? This love is
the model to follow in your relationship with your wife.

_____________________________

29

_____________________________

_____________________________

DIGGING DEEPER
Love is central to the Christian
home. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,
Paul defines true love. On a separate sheet of paper, write down
the characteristics of love according to this passage; or underline
in your Bible the words that stand
out the most to you.

2. What commands does God give to wives?


Ephesians 5:33 _______________________________________________

1 Peter 3:1-2

________________________________________________

3. What does God tell parents to avoid? Ephesians 6:4


_____________________________________________________________

Give examples of what parents do that frustrates or provokes their kids

to anger. ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

What should they do? _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4. According to Deuteronomy 6:6-7, in what situations and places should


you instruct your children? ______________________________________

GROWING STRONGER

_____________________________________________________________

Read Philippians 1-4;


Psalm 37, 51 and 139
(one chapter per day).

Share as a family what you learn during your devotional time. Read the
Bible and pray together for each ones needs.

5. What does God command children to do in Ephesians 6:1-2? _______


Memorize Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better
than yourselves. Each of you
should look not only to your
own interest, but also to the
interests of others.

_____________________________________________________________

6. There are a few rules that promote harmony in the home.


They apply to the husband, the wife, and the children. What are they?

Ephesians 5:21 ________________________________________________

Philippians 2:3-4 _______________________________________________

THINKING ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION


If your family is not Christian, be prepared for criticism or
ridicule for being a believer. When you came to Christ, you
probably broke with family traditions. Remember, you must
please God ahead of your family, for He is the one you will
ultimately give account to. Remember, the Gospel has given
you new life and changed your eternal destiny (Rom. 1:16).

Adultery has destroyed many homes. Protect your heart,


reserving yourself for your spouse alone. Immunize yourself
against adultery by dedicating time and energy to keep your
marriage healthy. Love needs to be nurtured daily. If one
spouse has been unfaithful, they should not try to cover it up
but repent, beg for forgiveness, and pray their partner will
forgive them. Both of you will probably need the counsel of
a mature believer to work through this.

Have compassion on the unsaved, knowing that they are victims


of the enemy and of their own sinful nature. Remember how
you once lived before accepting Christ. The hardest to reach
might be those who are "good" or "religious" people.

Being single is difficult in today's world that places a low


value on sexual purity. Dare to swim against the current and
save yourself for your future spouse. Confess your past sin and
ask God to help you overcome temptation. Only date other
Christians; but also make sure they are serious about their walk
with Christ.

Testify by allowing Christ to change your life. The first thing


they will notice is your attitude toward them. Love them, and
be patient, praying that God will touch their hearts. Don't
preach. Permit your light to shine before them so they will see
your good works and glorify God (Matt. 5:16).

We are often surrounded by pornography, so much so that


it is hard to avoid. Be careful about what you look at, or the
places you go. Be alert: pornography is addictive! If you have
an internet connection, install internet filter software on your
computer to protect yourself and others from temptation. Use
Google or Yahoo to search for "internet filter software" to find
programs for your computer.

Living together without being married is a commonly accepted practice but the Bible calls this fornication. God asks us
to make a lifelong commitment to the one we choose to live
with. Don't settle for second best; God is calling you to something better. Make that commitment. If you are not legally married, ask your pastor for advice on how to correct the situation.

30

Step 13

Following Jesus
Answer TRUE (T) or FALSE (F)
____ The Christian has a lot to do with his or her own spiritual
growth.
____ Fellowship with the body of Christ is not important.
____ It is possible to enjoy continual communion with God.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations on reaching the end of this study on "NEW LIFE IN CHRIST". We encourage you to continue
your studies in Volume 2. Consider the following questions as you look at the drawing above:

Do you wish to reach the goal of becoming Christ-like?

Yes

No

Has this study of NEW LIFE IN CHRIST helped you towards reaching that goal?

Yes

No

Does finishing this course mean you have reached that goal?

Yes

No

Becoming a true disciple of Christ doesn't just consist of finishing a course like this one. Discipleship is like a
long distance race, rather than a 100 meter dash. It is a daily walk, every day; a new lifestyle with different
rules than those that goverened your old life.

BASIC HABITS FOR


ORDERING YOUR LIFE
In the previous lessons, you have
taken significant steps towards
establishing your walk with Christ.
____________
____________
____________
____________
Identify the basic habits of the
Christian life that correspond to each
These habits are absolutely necessary for you
of these drawings:
to be Christ-like. Dont ever neglect them..

_______________

_______________

It is important to order your life, dedicating time to what


is really important. This is called establishing priorities.
The habits represented by these drawings should become
your new priorities; taking preference over other activities.

Jesus spoke of three things that characterize the Christian life. Dedication to:

Jesus Christ Other Christians
Christ's work in the world.
1. What does Christ want you to have?

John 17:3 ___________________________________

John 17:13 __________________________________

2. John 17:11 describes the relationship that Jesus wants Christians to have with each other. protect them

by the power of your name... so that they ___________________________________, as we are one..

3. John 17:23 May believers be brought to complete ____________ to let the world ___________ that Christ
came from heaven to love this world. This love and unity among Christians is a strong testimony, which
authenticates our message to unbelievers. John 13:34-35
31

CHECK UP
Are you using the devotional time
plan presented in lesson 8?

Yes No
What is the time you have set aside
for your daily appointment with
Christ? ________________________

How are you going to cultivate your
relationship with other Christians?
_____________________________
_____________________________

WALKING BY FAITH
4. Paul says we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7) How is faith

described in Hebrews 11:1? ____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

5. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. What


are the two things we must believe in order to come to God? v. 6

a. ___________________________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________________________

6. Think for a moment what it means to walk by faith, then meditate on


what is said about faith in the box below.

_____________________________
_____________________________

How will you show the world that


Christ lives in you?

_____________________________

Faith is not just blind hope, but rather it is the certainty that God is faithful
and that He is going to do all he has promised. To have faith in God implies
no longer trusting in our own resources, but resting in Gods.
To walk by faith is to daily put into practice what the Lord is teaching you.
Thats why it is so important to maintain and protect your intimate fellowship
with Him.

_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

DIGGING DEEPER
Read John 15:16. Jesus desire is
that His own bear much fruit and
that their fruit would remain. There
are two types of fruit. What are
these fruits, according to Galatians
5:22-23 and Matthew 28:18-20?

7. How does Jesus describe His relationship with His followers in


John 15:4-5? _________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Our relationship with Christ is compared to a grape vine, with Christ


being the plant and ourselves as the branches.

8. Why is it vital to maintain this relationship with Christ? _____________


____________________________________________________________

_____________________________

9. What does it mean to "remain" or "abide" in Christ (v. 4)?

_____________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________________________________________

10. According to John 15:10, how can we remain in His love? ___________
GROWING
STRONGER
Read
1 Thessalonians 1-5
and 2 Thessalonians 1-3
(one chapter per day).
Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will
make your paths straight.

_____________________________________________________________

COMMITMENT
11. What is required to be Christ's disciple? Luke 9:23 _________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

12 Are you willing to deny your own desires in order to joyfully follow
Christs will for your daily life? Yes
No

Continue on with the patterns and habits that you have learned.

Put into practice what the Lord shows you each day.

Jealously watch over your intimate relationship with God.


32

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

For it is by grace you have been saved,


through faith, and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no
one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

My sheep listen to my voice;


I know them, and they follow me;
I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish;
and no one can snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:27-28

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just


and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

I have been crucified with Christ; and I no


longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live
in the body I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Appendix 1

Step 8

Step 7

Step 6

Step 5

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one


body -- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 12:13

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.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do no 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.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not let this book of the Law depart from


your mouth; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything
written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful.

Joshua 1:8
Step 13

Step 12

Step 10-11

Step 9
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.

Hebrews 10:24-25

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

Matthew 28:19

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain


conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean


not on your own understanding. In all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make your
paths straight..

Proverbs 3:5-6

Cut on the lines. Carry these cards with you and memorize the verses

Appendix 2

Adapted from Victory Over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson

I am a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)


I am a child of God. (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:14-15; Gal. 3:26; 4:6)
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. (Col. 1:14)
I am free forever from condemnation. (Rom. 8:1)
I have been set free from the power of sin. (Rom. 6:1-6)
I have the right to come without shame before the throne of God to find mercy
in times of need. (Heb. 4:16)
I am righteous in Christ, completely forgiven. (Rom. 5:1)
I am a slave of righteousness. (Rom. 6:18)
I am holy. (Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Phil. 1:1)
I am the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13)
I am the light of the world, bearer of the truth. (Matthew 5:14)
I am Christs friend. (Jn. 15:15)
I am chosen by Christ to bear His fruit. (Jn. 15:16)
I am made a servant or slave of God. (Rom. 6:22; Eph. 3:1; 4:1)
I am a temple, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)
I have been bought with a price and therefore I belong to God. I am not my own
master. I live for Christ. (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 5:14-15)
I am a member of the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30)
I am reconciled with God. I am a minister of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18-19)
I was crucified with Christ, and I no longer live; Christ lives in me. (Gal. 2:20)
I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without
spot before Him. (Eph. 1:4)
I am an heir of God, because I am His child. (Gal. 4:6-7)
I am Gods workmanship, born again in Christ to do His work. (Eph. 2:10)
I am holy and righteous. (Eph. 4:24)
I am a citizen of heaven. (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:6)
I am a pilgrim in this world, in which I am living temporarily. (1 Pet. 2:11)
I am a child of the light, not of the darkness. (1 Thess. 5:5)
I have been rescued from the domain of Satan and transferred to the kingdom of
Christ. (Col. 1:13)
I am an enemy of the devil. (1 Pet. 5:8)
I am born of God. The devil doesnt have authority to touch me. (1 Jn. 5:18)
Christ Himself dwells in me. (Col. 1:27)
I am chosen of God, holy and beloved. (Col. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:4)
I have received very great and precious promises from God. (2 Pet. 1:4)
I will be like Christ when He returns. (1 Jn. 3:1-2)
By the grace of God I am what I am. (1 Cor. 15:10)

WHO AM I IN CHRIST?

Be repentant (desiring to not commit that sin again).


Be specific (telling God precisely what I did).
Be quick to recognize my error. As soon as I realize that I
have sinned, I should confess it. Otherwise,
I am in danger of falling into more sin.
Be humble by asking forgiveness of those people
who were affected by my sin.
Accept forgiveness. We should not continue to reproach
ourselves for sins that we have already confessed. If God
has forgiven us, we must accept
His forgiveness, and believing, give Him thanks. Reject
Satans accusation that we cant be forgiven.

Be sincere.

Confessing is not just saying, I sinned.


True confession requires several things:

1 John 1:8-9

If we claim to be without sin,


we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

HOW SHOULD I CONFESS MY SIN?

Cut on the dotted line and fold in the center. You might want to glue it into your Bible

Why should I worry about my needs when I know that God will take
care of all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ
(Phil. 4:19)?

Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit
of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7)?

Why should I lack faith to live for Christ, when God has given me a
measure of faith (Rom. 12:3)?

Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the
strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action
because I know God (Psa. 27:1; Dan. 11:32)?

Why should I allow Satan control over my life when He that is in me


is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always
leads me in victory (2 Cor. 2:14)?

Why should I lack wisdom when I know that Christ became wisdom
to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask
Him for it (1 Cor. 1:30; Jas. 1:5)?

Why should I be depressed when I have hope and can recall to mind
Gods lovingkindness, compassion and faithfulness (Lam. 3:21-23)?

Why should I worry and be upset when I can cast all my anxieties on
Christ who cares for me (1 Pet. 5:7)?

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Why should I say I cant when the Bible says I can do all things
through Christ who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13)?

1.

Someone has said that success comes in cans and failure in cannots.
Believing that you can succeed at Christian growth and maturity takes no
more effort than believing that you cannot succeed. So why not believe
that you can walk in faith and in the Spirit, that you can resist the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and that you can grow to maturity as a Christian. The following Twenty Cans of Success, taken from
Gods Word, will lift you from the miry clay of the cannots to sit with Christ
in the heavenlies:

TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS

Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and
He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5)?
Why should I feel as if I'm cursed or have bad luck when the Bible
says that Christ rescuedme from the curse of the law that I might
receive His Spirit by faith (Gal. 3:13-14)?
Why should I be unhappy when I, like Paul, can learn to be content
whatever the circumstances (Phil. 4:11)?
Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin for me so that I
might become the righteousness of God? (2 Cor. 5:21)?

13.
14.

15.
16.

Adapted from Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson, pp. 114-116

Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take
courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its problems (John 16:33)?

Why should I feel like a failure when I am more than a conqueror


through Christ who loved me (Rom. 8:37)?

19.
20.

Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He


gives me knowledge through His Spirit who lives in me (1 Cor. 2:12;
14:33)?

18.

Why should I feel helpless in the presence of others when I know


that if God is for me, who can be against me (Rom. 8:31)?

Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Chrsit Jesus (Rom. 8:1)?

12.

17.

Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is freedom


where the Spirit of the Lord is (Gal. 5:1)?

11.

Cut on the dotted line and fold in the center. You might want to glue it into your Bible

Appendix 3

Examine yourself anad confess your sin.


Ask God for understanding

What impressed you the most?


What is the main idea?
What are some of the key words? What do they mean?
What does it mean for your life?

Apply what you have learned

What will you do today to put it into


practice in your life?

Meditate and Memorize

From the passage you read, choose a verse on which you can
meditate, and memorize it. Write it down in a notebook or on
a 3x5 card to carry it with you during the day.

5.

6.

Start to read the New Testament, reading one chapter a day until you
finish it. We suggest you read John, Acts, 1 John and Romans first. :
When you finish reading one book, before starting another, read some
Psalms and a chapter in Proverbs. See Appendix 5 for more details.

BIBLE READING PLAN

Sing a chorus or hymn. The music will lift your spirit and will
help you praise God.

Talk with God about the passage studied.


Worship God for who He is.
Give God thanks for what He has done
Ask of God, using your list of requests.

Sing to the Lord

4.

3. Pray to the Lord

2. Study the Bible

A SIMPLE PLAN FOR YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS

1. Prepare your heart

Appendix 4

b. Is there an example to follow?


c. Is there a sin to avoid?
d. Is there a promise to make your own?

a. Is there a commandment to obey?

What does it mean for your life? What does God want you to do?

3. What are some of the key words? What do they mean?

2. What is the main idea of the passage?


1. What impressed you most from this passage?

Dig into the passage using questions. Here are a few examples of the kinds of
questions to ask as you read.

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we
may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my


requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

PREPARING YOUR HEART

Cut on the dotted line and fold in the center. You might want to glue it into your Bible

Appendix 5

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

PSALMS
LUKE

HEBREOS

1 CORINTHIANS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

2 CORINTHIANS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22

REVELATION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

MATTHEW

1 2 3

2 PETER

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5

1 PETER

1 2 3 4

COLOSSIANS

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

1 2 3 4 5 6

EPHESIANS

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

GENESIS

1 2 3

2 THESS.

PHILEMON

1 2 3 4 5

1 THESS.

1 2 3

TITUS

1 2 3 4

PHILIPPIANS

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5

JAMES

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

MARK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

ROMANS

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5

1 JOHN

1 2 3 4 5 6

GALATIANS

2 TIMOTHY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

ACTS

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

PSALMS

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21

JOHN

1 TIMOTHY

Chapters

As you read the chapter, put an X over the number of the chapter on the list.
That way, you will be able to keep track of your progress in the readings.

A SIMPLE BIBLE READING PLAN FOR ONE YEAR

Cut on the dotted line and fold in the center. You might want to glue it into your Bible

Appendix 6

Include a key scripture that helped you understand the gospel. People should
be able to understand the gospel from your testimony.

3. Keep it interesting. Use human interest illustrations and concrete examples.


Give graphic descriptions when appropriate, so the listeners can visualize what
you are describing.

2. Keep it casual, conversational. Avoid preaching. Use appropriate humor to relax


the atmosphere and reduce tension.

1. Keep it simple. Use regular words, not religious vocabulary. Use words that
everyone understands. Avoid unnecessary details (but include enough details to
make it interesting).

Suggestions:

3. After I received Christ...



What has happened since you accepted Christ? Mention several specific
changes you have seen.

2. How I received Christ...



Consider some of the following to include: How did you accept Christ? What
brought you to this moment? Who helped you come to Christ? Where did you
do it? What did you pray? How did you feel? How did God touch you?

1. Before I received Christ...



How did you live and think before receiving Christ? Summarize, including both
positive and negative aspects of your life without Christ. Make it interesting
by mentioning specific things like your dreams, feelings, attitudes, character,
habits, etc. Be truthful. Avoid exaggerations.

We cannot save ourselves

Eph. 2:8-9

Christ is the only provision for our salvation.


He died in our place and rose again.


3.

Jn. 14:6
1 Cor. 15:3-6

We must receive Christ as our Savior


Jn. 1:12
Rev. 3:20

Romans 10:9 By faith invite Him to come into your life.



4.


Christ is waiting for you to invite him in.

Receive Christ in order to be a child of God.

Christ rose again

Christ is the only way

Rom. 5:8

Christ died in our place

The consequence of sin is spiritual death,


separation from God

We are all sinners


Rom. 6:23

Rom. 3:23

Man is a sinner and is separated from God.

2.

Jn. 10:10b

The plan of God for your life

Jn. 3:16

The love of God

God loves you and has a plan for your life

1.

There are many ways to present the gospel. We can use any of them, but
there are always some basic things that the person needs to understand
in order to be saved. The following plan of salvation is based on The
Four Spiritual Laws.

Have you ever wondered how you could share your faith with a friend? Perhaps
one of the best ways is to share your personal story, or testimony. The following
guide will help you to organize your thoughts, preparing a testimony that is simple,
yet effective. Write it out on paper so that you can practice it. You might want to
think about preparing a short version (3 min.) and a longer version.

Guide for preparing your personal testimony

THE PLAN OF SALVATION

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Cut on the dotted line and fold in the center. You might want to glue it into your Bible

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Date

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Pastor or Teacher

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,


but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Basic Steps of the Christian Life

New Life in Christ Volume 1

who has satisfactorily completed all the lessons of the course

___________________________________________________________

This certificate is presented to

Certificate

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