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IV. IMMEDIATE DISCIPLESHIP IV.A. WELCOME IV.A.1. ROMAN 8:38-39 / LUKE 15:10 (Name), it has been so wonderful to come and talk with you. Welcome into God's family! You are now a child of God’s family, and no one can separate from God. The Bible declares that there is joy among the God’s angels for every sinner who repents. IV.B. LITERATURE Here is a little booklet for you; it’s called “Partners in Growing.” IV.C. REGISTRATION(Show him the birth certificate) It would be good to register your decision here. Would you sign here and put the date. This will be a reminder for you of your decision. As a witness, I will sign and put my address so that you can contact me if necessary. IV.D. BIBLE STUDIES (MEANS OF GROWTH) Jesus says that you are born again, and just like a baby who must grow physically, you need to grow spiritually. An child grows by eating good food and receiving love from his family; likewise, we grow by eating good spiritual food and by receiving the love of a local church. If you are interested, we could begin with five Bible studies which would help you to grow spiritually. IV.D.1. WORD Begin by reading each day a chapter from the Gospel of John. “Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that b it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteouness, so that the man of God be thoroughly equpped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). IV.D.2. PRAYER Spend some time speaking to God in prayer each day. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present youir 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). If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) IV.D.3. WORSHIP Worship the Lord regularly in an assembly where the Bible is taught. “My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted har and rejoice” (Psalm 34:2). “I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1). “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:46). “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 10:25). There are two sacraments which are important: IV.D.3.a. BAPTISM Baptism is a sign that believers give to the world in witness to their relationship with God., Jesus gave us this commandment: “Make disciples ... by baptizing (Matthew 28:19). IV.D.3.b. HOLY COMMUNION Jesus gave to his disciples the order to take communion “in memory of Me.” It is a moment when we reflect on the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made for us. Broken bread reminds us of His broken body for us. The cup reminds us of His shed blood for us. IV.D.4. FELLOWSHIP Look for other Christians who will help you to grow in faith. Fellowship with other Christians is a source of great joy and a need if we want to grow. We instruct and encourage each other mutually: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). We all need other peope with whom we can share our lives and our problems. “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). The early Church understood this: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). IV.D.5. WITNESSING Be a witness by telling others what Christ means to you. Witnessing is sharing the joy of your salvation with others. As a convert, it is important that you confess Christ. Why? Because Christ Himself said: “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven, but whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Our friends and our family need to know how to receive the gift of eternal life. The message which you communicate could be what you have just heard and summarized in the tract, “Are you sure?” or John 3:16: “For God so loved the whole world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This verse will become more personal to you if you complete in replacing the “world” with your name: “For God so love _____ that He gave His only Son so that if I believed in Him, I would not perish, but I would have eternal life.” May this be a tool in your testimony and opposition to Satan. IV.E. MEETINGS Here is my name and address. I would like to invite you to Church this Sunday morning if you have time. Could I come by for you around 9:30 in the morning? (Yes) And since you're a new Christian, could I also meet you here for Bible studies next week, say, at the same day and I came today? (Yes) Good! We will look at means of growth together: The Word, Prayer, Worship, Fellowship, and Witnessing. Next week, we'll start with a Bible study on the Word of God. See you then. |