Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the most important decision you

will ever make in your life. It is the beginning of a brand-new life in Christ, and as a
new-born child of God, there are many important things you need to understand and
do daily.

CONTENTS

▪ Salvation (Definition, Assurance, and Benefits)

▪ 5 Steps to Christian Growth (Expounded)
▪ Word of God
▪ Prayer
▪ Christian Stewardship
▪ Faith
▪ The Holy Spirit
▪ Your own Local Church & Life Groups

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TOPIC NO. 1

SALVATION
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV)

INTRODUCTION:

The Lord calls us to have fellowship with the Son (1 Corinthians 1: 9)

THE ORIGINAL STATE OF MAN

• Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…so God
created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female
He created them…let them have dominion over the cattle, over all the earth and over
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth … Genesis 1:26-27.

• The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom
he had formed

(Genesis 2:8). So God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden which was a
wonderful place of living. Our God is a good God and He wanted only good things
to happen to Adam and Eve. God told them what they should and should not do.
Adam and Eve had the power to choose to obey or to disobey God.

THE FALL OF MAN

• Disobedience of Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:1-7. Adam was created in God’s
image, in holiness and righteousness. He was placed in an ideal environment with a
fulfilling occupation. He was provided with Divine companionship and marital love.

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 His potential was immortality, yet he disobeyed and fell. Adam and Eve committed
the sin of disobedience.

• Fruit of Sin - Genesis 3:14-24; Romans 5:12

• Condition of Man – Romans 3:23. Man is now in a fallen state. He is separated

from God because of sin and engaged in a worldly kind of living. Man is born into
this world with a sinful nature. Man needs a Savior.

• Penalty of Sin – Romans 6:23

MAN’S WAY OF SALVATION

Because of sin, there is a gap between the Holy God and the sinful man. But man is
trying to reach God in his own way through:

• Religion – Acts 4:12; John 14:6 Good works – Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5

• Education – 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 Money – 1 Peter 1:18-20

• Strength – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Power

GOD’S WAY or PLAN OF SALVATION

• Man can never reach God through his own ways. God Himself, because of His
great love for man provided the only way to salvation…Romans 5:8…John
3:16…John 14:6

1. Confess your sins to God – 1 John 1:9

2. Put your faith in God our Father and believe Jesus – Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10

3. Receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord – Revelation 3:20; John 1:12

• Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ…Ephesians 2:8-9

ASSURANCE AND BENEFITS OF SALVATION

1 John 5:11-12 “And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is
in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not have the life.”

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 • You are saved by faith -- Your salvation is based purely upon your faith in Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior. Salvation is a gift from God and came as you simply
put your faith in Jesus, His death and resurrection, and trusted him to forgive your
sins and become your savior and Lord. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• You're not saved by feelings -- Remember that He has promised to always be with
you and never leave you, regardless of feelings (Hebrews 13:5). Always remember
that the Christian lives by faith, not by sight or the feelings of our natural senses. (2
Corinthians 5:7).

• You may experience doubts -- One of the most common things that happen to a
new believer is that the Devil tries to whisper doubts in your thoughts: "You're not
really saved," or "Nothing happened to you." But don't buy into Satan's lies and
deceptions! Your faith in Jesus Christ saved you. (Romans 10:9).

• You are forgiven of all your sins -- The Bible teaches that all mankind has a sinful
nature which keeps him separated from God's presence and will result in eternal
death. But Jesus came to suffer the consequences of that sin as our substitute so
that we could be forgiven of sin and have access to God's presence. When you
repented (turned away) from your sins, and asked Jesus to forgive you and become
your savior, that's exactly what he did. God can forgive more sins than man can
commit. (1 John 1:9).

• You're not perfect, just forgiven -- Being a Christian doesn't mean that you won't
make mistakes, but it means that you are forgiven of sin and that your goal is to live
like Christ and not live in the old sinful way anymore. Don't ever let other people or
the Devil bring condemnation upon you! God loves you and will correct you, but He
will not condemn you. (Romans 8:1).

• You are a New Creation -- Now that you accepted Jesus, He came into your heart
by His Spirit, and now His presence and nature live and dwell in your heart (1
Corinthians 6:19). You did not merely become a better person, you were "born
again" spiritually as a brand-new person! Now He wants you to learn to live your
life according to the new nature of His Spirit inside you. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

CONCLUSION

Now is the time to be saved… Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 4:7; Revelation 3:20

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TOPIC NO. 2

FIVE STEPS TO
CHRISTIAN GROWTH
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:18,NKJV)

INTRODUCTION:

After that born again experience, we are like newborn babies – spiritual infants. As
spiritual infants we need to eat, grow, develop, and mature. We must move on from
spiritual infancy into spiritual maturity…this is God’s Will

HOW DOES ONE GROW INTO CHRISTIAN MATURITY?

1. BY READING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY
• Matthew 4:4 says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God”. Man is a tripartite being --- created by God with a
body, soul, and spirit. (Genesis 2:7). Each part has specific needs. The body has
physical needs such as food, sleep. The soul has emotional and psychological needs
such as love, acceptance. The spirit, which can know and communicating with God,
needs the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2).
• Just as it is important to develop good habits like eating the right kind of food – it
is also important to eat at God’s table, the Bible, every day. If you don’t eat, your
body will not grow. In the same way, if you don’t read your Bible, you will never
mature spiritually.
• Joshua 1:8……2 Timothy 3:16-17

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2. BY PRAYING TO GOD DAILY
• Prayer is simply talking to God and listening while God talks. It is the most basic
expression of our faith in God. Prayer, like Bible reading, can be made into a habit.
• If the Bible is the food of our spirit, then prayer is our lifeline to God. What
breathing is to our physical life, prayer is to our spiritual life. Prayer is the
breathing of our spiritual life.
• Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you.”
• John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you
wish, and it will be done for you.”

3. BY WITNESSING FOR CHRIST

• Not all are called to be preachers or teachers or evangelists, but every Christian is
called to be a witness for Christ…Isaiah 43:10…Act 22:15
• Witnessing for Christ does not necessarily mean that we need to preach. We can
witness Christ through our lives and words.
• Witnessing by our life means letting the Word of God affect and change our life
…obeying God’s Word…displaying the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our words,
actions, and behavior so people see Jesus in all areas of our life. We become
Living Epistles.
• However, just being a witness to our life is not enough. Christian growth means
that we also must witness by our mouth. You must have that desire to tell others
about the wonderful life with Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God will give us just
the right words and the right people to talk to. All we have to do is to take some
time to witness with our mouths.
• Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven.
• Matthew 28:19 “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,

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4. BY FELLOWSHIPPING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
• Fellowshipping is spending time and doing things with others who love Jesus
Christ.
• Burning pieces of wood together makes a very strong fire. But place only one
piece of wood on the fireplace and the fire goes out. Christians need to be
together, or the fire of enthusiasm will go out. That relationship is essential for
Christian growth.
• The best place to find fellowship with other Christians is in a church in your area. It
is also there that we will receive good teaching from the Word of God and
experience the joy of worshipping him.
• Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward
love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.”
• Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about
anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where
two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

5. BY OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD

• Living a life of obedience to God helps us grow as Christians… “Abide in Me, and I
in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither
can you, unless you abide in Me” ……John 15:4…1 Samuel 15:22
• James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do
what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like
someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have
heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
• John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you
wish, and it will be done for you.”

CONCLUSION:
Allow the Holy Spirit to control and empower our daily life and witness…Galatians
5:16

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TOPIC NO. 3

WORD OF GOD
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV).

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom
of sinners and the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise, believe it to be save,
and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and
comfort to cheer you.

WHAT THE BIBLE IS

• The Bible is DIVINELY INSPIRED. “Divine Inspiration” is the process whereby
“spirit–moved men” (1 Peter 1:20-21) produced “spirit–breathed” writings. (2
Timothy 3:16). It is that inexplicable power which the Holy Spirit put forth on the
writers of the Scriptures to guide them even in the employment of words and its
preservation from all errors and omissions.
• The Bible contains SUPERNATURAL WISDOM. It gives us wisdom – the ability to
apply knowledge rightly. It teaches us to deal successfully with the practical affairs
of everyday life and how to relate to God, parents, children, neighbors, and
government.
• The Bible is SELF AUTHENTICATED. You need no historical critic or university
professor to prove that the Bible is God’s word. The Holy Spirit, the author of this
book, makes it speak to our hearts with such powers to produce divine conviction.
• The Bible is LIVING and OPERATIVE – Hebrews 4:12. It is the living word of God
and has living power. You read the Bible and it reads you.
• The Bible CREATES and TRANSFORMS. It changes people’s lives and societies.
There are millions of evidence of its transforming power.

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EFFECTS OF GOD’S WORD
1. It produces faith. Romans 10:17. Our faith must be based on the Word of God.
2. Seed of New Birth. 1 Peter 1:23. Incorruptible seed produces incorruptible life.
3. Spiritual Nourishment. 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4
4. Mental Illumination. Psalm 119:130
5. Physical Healing. Proverbs 4:20-22
6. Victory over sin and Satan. Psalm 119:9,11; Matthew 4:4,7,10
7. Cleansing and holiness. Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 1:7

POINTS TO REMEMBER IN READING THE BIBLE

1. Read it REVERENTLY. It is the Word of the Almighty God.
2. Read it PRAYERFULLY. It is God’s message to me, to my own heart and life.
3. Read it MEDITATIVELY. Psalm 1:2-3
4. Read it SYSTEMATICALLY. Read right through the Bible not just selected
portions.
5. Read it RESOLUTELY. Obey that which the Father teaches.
6. Read it DAILY. Not just on Sundays but every day of your life. Joshua1: 8; Psalm
1:2

CONCLUSION
The Bible doesn’t only contain the Word of God, but it is the Word of God. Make the
Bible your constant guide and companion in life. Let it transform your life. Get into
our hearts and minds daily.

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TOPIC NO. 4

PRAYER
“The effective, fervent, prayer of a righteous man avails much”
(James 5:16, NKJV)

INTRODUCTION:

For a Christian, prayer should be second nature, almost like breathing. Along with the
study of the Word of God, prayer is a chief source of the Christian’s strength for his
daily life and his constant battle with the enemies of his soul.

DEFINITION OF PRAYER

• Prayer is COMMUNION – conversing with GOD. It is a relationship, friendship,

sharing of thoughts and feelings with God. Prayer is our talking to God and hearing
Him talk to us. It is spending time in communion with our Heavenly Father.

• Prayer is ADORATION – praising and thanking God. It means adoring God and
enjoying the blessing of His presence.

• Prayer is ASKING – asking God for things. Matthew 7:7. Asking God for blessings
for ourselves is petition or supplication. Asking God for blessings for others is
intercession.

FOUR PARTS OF PRAYER

A – Adoration (praise and worship). Psalm 95:6

C – Confession (repentance). 1 John 1:9; Psalm 66:18

T – Thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6

S – Supplication (petition and intercession). 1 Timothy 2:1

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THREE PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER

1. Pray in the Name of Jesus – John 14:13-14; John 16:23-24

2. Pray from the heart – Matthew 6:7. It is better to pray with a heart without
words than to pray with words without heart.

3. Pray with faith – Mark 11:23-24; James 1:6

SUBJECTS OF PRAYER

1. The poor and needy – 1 Timothy 2:1

2. The physically and spiritually weak – Galatians 6:1; Romans 15:1-2

3. Those in authority – 1 Timothy 2:2

4. Ministers of the Gospel – Acts 12:5; Colossians 4:3-4

5. Our loved ones – Luke 16:27-28

HINDRANCES TO PRAYER

1. Lack of faith – James 1:6-7

2. An unforgiving spirit – Mark 11:25

3. Iniquity/sin – Isaiah 59:2

4. Asking amiss (asking with wrong motives or out of the will of God) – James 4:3

CONCLUSION

Luke 6:12 and Luke 9:18 – being alone with God is the secret of true and effective
prayer.

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TOPIC NO. 5

CHRISTIAN
STEWARDSHIP
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to
give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we
have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chronicles
29:14)

INTRODUCTION:

As the One who has created us and given us life, we owe our days and our breath to
God. As the One who sustains us and provides all our needs, we owe our strength
and our riches to Him. And as the One who gave His one and only Son for us, we owe
our everything to Him.

From the Greek oikomos, stewardship means “to arrange or manage.” Applying that
principle to our faith, Christian stewardship involves the management of everything
God has entrusted in our care, with an acknowledgment that everything we have—
from material blessings to our very life—comes from and belongs to Him.

IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP

Because everything that we have is God’s, it is proper that we use the following
properly:

1. TREASURES
— The resources and possessions we have, no matter how hard our efforts are to
earn them, are from God (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Therefore, we must be accountable
and responsible in spending and using our resources.

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— Aside from that, we are also to set aside part of our resources for the following:
a. Tithes
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room
enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
— Giving 10% of our income or earnings to God, a practice and principle present in
both the Old and New Testaments.
• before the dispensation of the law (Genesis 14:18-20)
• during the dispensation of the law (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24;
Deuteronomy 12:5-6)
• during the period of kings and prophets (2 Chronicles 31:5-12; Nehemiah 10:37;
Malachi 3:8-12)
• in Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42)

b. Offering
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his
courts. (Psalm 96:8)
— Giving unto the Lord from the 90% we have after deducting our tithes

c. Love gift
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
— Giving to a particular person or organization
who has been a blessing to us

d. Pledge
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
— Giving a particular amount of money for a specific purpose or cause (e.g. for
missions, for the building of a church, for a church activity, etc.)

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2. TALENTS
— Each person has been given a talent (even, talents) to be used in His Kingdom, for
His glory, in varying forms.
a. The Five-fold Ministry Gifts
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and
teachers. (Ephesians 4:11)
• Apostles
• Prophets
• Evangelists
• Pastors
• Teachers

b. The JILCW Multi-ministries

• Worship and Arts Network (WAN)
o Music Ministry
— Jesus’ Army of Musicians (JAM)
— Voices in Adoration (VIA)
o Dance Ministry
— Triune Movers
— Elyon Doulos
• Multimedia Arts Network (MAN)
o Writers for Christ
o Design
o Program Management
o Technical SPL (Sounds, Projection, and Lights)
o Audio, Video, Photo Documentation, and AVP Production
• Services Auxiliary Network (SAN)
o Gatekeepers
o Security of the Saints (SOS)

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3. TIME
Unlike the first two, time is something that we cannot hoard or bury. It is constantly
ticking, whether we consciously use it or not. Therefore, it must be spent wisely.
Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)
a. in God’s presence
— because He is the Giver of time
— through prayer, Bible reading, quiet time, and church attendance
b. with our family
— because next to God, they are our treasures
— through table talks, vacations, play, etc.
c. for one’s self
— because our time on earth depends partly on how we take care of our bodies
— through rest and recreation

WHY WE SHOULD STEWARD?

Every believer must practice Christian stewardship because:
1. STEWARDSHIP IS A MUST.
a. When we steward, we acknowledge that everything is God’s.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
(Psalm 24:1)
b. When we steward, we fulfill our responsibility.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and
take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
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You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7all
flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all
that swim the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:6-8)

2. STEWARDSHIP IS A PROPER RESPONSE TO—

a. God’s generosity towards us (James 1:17; Psalm 23)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

b. God’s sacrifice for us

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake
he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

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 3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us
new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into
an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
(1 Peter 1:3-4)

3. STEWARDSHIP IS A SCALE BY WHICH—

a. we will be judged (Matthew 25:14-30)
b. we will be rewarded (Malachi 3:10-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Colossians 3:23-24)
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Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me
in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven
and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11I will
prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their
fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12“Then all the nations will call you blessed,
for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
(Malachi 3:10-12)
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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided
in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God can bless you abundantly, so that in all things always, having all that you
need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)

D. HOW WE SHOULD STEWARD

While stewardship is a must, believers must do it not out of obligation or compulsion.
1. We are to steward willingly.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
2. We are to steward faithfully.
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
3. We are to steward readily, at every opportunity.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those
who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)
4. We are to steward unselfishly, according to the example of the early believers.
(Acts 4:32-37; John 12:1-8)

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TOPIC NO. 6

FAITH
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about
what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

INTRODUCTION:

There can be no Christian without faith, because faith is the basis of our relationship
with God. While faith is a gift from God, the Christian also has the task of cultivating
the faith he has received. The neverending activities of life, along with the challenges
and trials it entails, necessitate a strong faith if the Christian desires a victorious life
here on earth.

To have a clearer understanding of faith, we need to know what it is and what it is

not.

FAITH IS NOT DENIAL OF THE SITUATION OR MERE POSITIVE THINKING.

a. It is resolute belief in God’s promises.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? – Numbers 23:19

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. – Matthew 24:35

— belief even when the situation says otherwise

• Abraham believed in God’s promise, even though he and Sarah were past the
age of childbearing (Romans 4:17-21).
• Mary believed in God’s word, even though she was a virgin (Luke 1:26-38).
— belief even when people say otherwise
Abraham believed in God’s promise, even though he and Sarah were past the age
of childbearing (Romans 4:17-21).

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b. It is absolute confidence in God’s Person.
— confidence that even in our impossible situations, He is powerful
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah
32:27)
• David did not see his smallness before the giant Goliath; he saw the
immensity of his God (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
• The centurion believed that distance could not hinder God’s power to heal
(Matthew 8:5-13).
— confidence that even in our changing circumstances, He is unchanging
I the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6a)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were unmoved in their knowledge of who

God is, whether they were saved from the fire or not.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not
16

need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing
furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your
Majesty’s hand.” (Daniel 3:16-17)

— confidence that even in our toughest challenges, He is faithful

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his
covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his
commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord
your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, k neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Joseph, even after a long series of sufferings, believed that God made something good
out of his misfortunes. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)

FAITH IS NOT JUST A STATE OF MIND OR HEART.

a. It involves confession.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith,
we also believe and therefore speak. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does
not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for
them. (Mark 11:23)

— We need to express what we believe.

— We need to reinforce what we believe.

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b. It involves action.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:20)

— We need to demonstrate what we believe.

• Noah didn’t just believe; he built the ark.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save
his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness
that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

• Abraham didn’t just believe; he obeyed God

(Genesis 12:1-5).
— We need to claim what we believe.
• Bartimaeus didn’t just believe; he shouted until Jesus heard him (Mark 10:46-
52).
• The bleeding woman didn’t just believe; she went out to touch Jesus’ cloak
(Luke 8:43-48).

IMPORTANT OF FAITH
Faith is important for every believer because—
1. It pleases God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

2. It moves God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he
said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2)

3. It unlocks prayers.
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But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. (James 1:6-7)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

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4. It empowers us.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in
you. (Isaiah 26:3)

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

HOW FAITH IS DEVELOPED

To have a clearer understanding of faith, we need to know what it is and what it is
not.
1. Faith is developed through God’s Word.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The basis of our faith is our knowledge of God and of His promises, which can be
found in His Word. Therefore, we must engage in these activities:
a. reading and meditation of God’s Word daily
b. listening to the preaching of God’s Word regularly

2. Faith is developed through trials and temptations.

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In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer
grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your
faith—of have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth
than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and
honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
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Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope
does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:35)

An untested faith is mere theory. The fiery furnace of trials and temptations does
these three:
a. reveals the level of our faith
b. reinforces our knowledge of and relationship with God
c. refines our faith

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3. Faith is developed through the community of believers.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
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that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. (Romans 1:11-12)
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Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers
throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:9)

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged
about you because of your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:7)

We can weather storms together and lend strength to each other by sharing the
following:
a. stories of persistence, victories, and answered prayers
b. words of encouragement and advice

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TOPIC NO. 7

THE HOLY SPIRIT

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you
forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he
dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:14-17, ESV)

INTRODUCTION:

When you accept Christ as your Savior (Romans 10:9–13), the Holy Spirit takes up
residence in your heart, bringing with Him an entirely new life of love, relationship,
and service to the Lord. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by
the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 (NIV)

WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS INDWELLING PRESENCE

The Greek word “Parakletos”, which means somebody who is called beside us to
help, is one of the names given to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit desires to speak
to us, guide us through life, empower us, and counsel us with God’s Word. He
seeks to inspire every thought, fill every emotion, direct every action, and order
every step.

• The Holy Spirit is the believer’s Helper.

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 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach
you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26,
ESV)

• The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit helps the believer understand and
apply the Scripture to his daily life.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their spirit within them? In the same way,
no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is
not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand
what God has freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12, NIV)

• The Holy Spirit leads the believer into all truth.

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He
will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell
you things to come” (John 16:13).

• The indwelling Spirit enriches the believer’s prayer life and intercedes for him in
prayer

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as
we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
(Romans 8:26, ESV)

• The Holy Spirit empowers the yielded believer to live for Christ to do His will
(Galatians 5:16).

The Spirit leads the believer in paths of righteousness (Romans 8:14).

DEPENDING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT: What does it mean to depend on the Holy Spirit?

• To trust and be totally dependent on Him

• Complete surrender of our life
• Be sensitive to His voice
• When we hear His voice, obey immediately

CONCLUSION

If we want success in everything we do, we should depend totally on the Holy Spirit.
The Lord told us through the prophet Zechariah, “Not by might, nor by power, but by
My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zech 4:6)

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TOPIC NO. 8

YOUR OWN LOCAL

CHURCH AND LIFE
GROUPS
“Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha
and the church in her house”
(Colossians 4:15, NIV)

INTRODUCTION:

The Church worldwide is the Body of Christ. So that it can function properly, it is
divided geographically into local churches, fellowships, or communities. In the New
Testament, the word Church as translated from the original Greek means assembly.
As used, the word means the called-out body of the believers or the called-out ones.

WHAT A LOCAL CHURCH IS ACCORDING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT:

• It is a fellowship of a community of believers who recognize and express

themselves as part of the whole Body of Christ.

• It understands and receives the five ministries of Ephesians 4:11 as Christ’s gifts
to the worldwide church to bring the body into maturity.

• It is under the leadership of elders – Acts 11:23; 10:28

• It is a place where believers in fellowship under the ministry to the Word of God
and the Holy Spirit are brought to maturity in the image of Christ – Ephesians 4:13

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REASONS WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO BELONG TO A LOCAL CHURCH

• It is God’s pattern. (Psalms 68:6; Hebrews 10:25). Joining or associating with any
church can’t save. (Romans 11:6; Acts 4:12)

• We need to be under authority. (Hebrews 13:17)

• We need to have a place where we consistently receive teachings. (Acts 2:42).

The church should always be a place where the gospel is preached and taught.

• Only through a local church and LIFE GROUPS can we grow and mature in the
ministry of God that has called us through fellowship and discipline. The church
must develop the Body of Christ. This growth is always in accordance to the Word.
(1 Peter 2:2; 1 Cor. 12:13,14)

• It is a place of safety. The local church is like a sheepfold, wherein there is safety,
while outside, we become like stray sheep easy to prey by the enemy.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH AS CHRISTIAN

• Support it - its workers and ministries through tithes, offerings, etc.

• Love its Pastor, workers, and fellow members.

• Get involved in its functions to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world.

• Let your commitment be first to God and then to that local church.

• Be sure that you get your spiritual food from that local church of yours.
(Colossians 3:15-16)

LIFE GROUPS | Basically, Life Groups connect people relationally in groups (ideally 5
persons in a group) for the purpose of growing together in Christ likeness, loving one
another, journeying together on the road of change, the road of discipleship.

CONCLUSION

Without a local church and small groups (life groups), we cannot reach our full
Christian or spiritual growth and maturity. (Eph. 4:13)

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 REFERENCES
• JIL Region 6 Education & Discipleship Ministry, Basic Bible Seminar
(Condensed and Combined), October 2017
• JILCW Education & Discipleship Department, Basic Bible Seminar 2022 Edition
• Jesus Is Lord Church Silver Edition Bible

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