Calvary Chapel of Downey
NEW BELIEVER BIBLE STUDY
LESSON 1
SOMETHING TO GROW BY
Asking Jesus Christ into your heart is only the beginning of the Christian life. There is more, ‘much more’ as Romans 5:10 tells us. You have been born again, but when you were first born into the world, you didn’t start life with a full-grown body. You were just a baby. Well, the Bible tells us that you begin your new spiritual life in exactly the same way. From the time you receive Jesus, you too begin to grow spiritually.
Listed below are four helps to Christian growth. This lesson and those to follow will help you to grow in each of these four ways.
1. BIBLE STUDY. Just as your body could not grow without proper nourishment, as a Christian you must also have food of the spiritual kind, the Word of God. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).
2. PRAYER LIFE. Many people don’t understand what prayer is all about. It’s really just talking to God and letting God talk to you. Prayer builds confidence, hope and joy in every situation of life. Prayer develops your relationship with Jesus. “Be careful (anxious) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).
3. CHURCH. When you received Christ you became one of God’s children (John 1:12). You need to attend church and have fellowship in the same way a child needs the love and support of his family. That’s why God says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25).
4. WITNESSING. Witnessing means to tell other people what has happened to you. Now that you’re a Christian and have had your sins forgiven, you can tell others the “Good News” of Jesus and what He will do for those who turn their life over to Him! Many verses in these will help you point others to Christ and make you a better witness.
READY TO GO!
Start each study time in prayer. Only God the Holy Spirit is able to “lead you into all truth: (John 16:13). Conversion is the beginning of the new life in Christ. God’s purpose in creating living things is that they grow and develop according to His plan. The new life is described in the Bible as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). As you follow Jesus your life will become real and exciting for you.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU?
Before beginning your study please read: Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; John 12:16-26; Galatians 5:16-26; Philippians 3:1-11.
(Please answer in your own words)