Growing A Strong Faith

Growing A Strong Faith Note: Dirt and Foundations have been combined so you have now completed both. New Song Community Church 3985 Mission Ave Oceanside, CA 92058 www.newsongchurch.com (760) 560-5000 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13: 23 24

Congratulations! You ve finished Dirt. BUT, one last thought. Remember that the evidence that you are in the good soil is that your life is multiplied 30, 60 or 100 times. You have now been equipped to disciple someone in the early steps of their Christian faith. Can you think of someone you would like to take through Dirt? Would you be willing to take someone at NS through Dirt? Tear off the card below and hand it in to Fuel or place it in an offering. What s my next step? Name Phone Email I am interested in... Roots Class (membership) Baptism A special thanks to: Trunk Small Group Branch small Group Fruit Class/Small Group I ve got?s I want to serve Counseling I want to take someone else through Dirt 2 23

DIRT Grow Up Seminars If you are a new Christian, just made a recommitment or just want your faith to come more alive then this is for you. Dirt is a four week 1-on-1 mentorship program. Session 1: What does it mean to be a Christian? ROOTS TRUNK So what s the whole church thing about? Roots is a three week class where you learn God s purpose and heart for the church. We ll also walk through New Song s specific vision and mission and how you can play an important part. So how do I grow in my faith? Trunk is a four week small group curriculum designed as a resource to help you to grow in your relationship with God. We focus on helping you develop spiritual habits, to move towards greater spiritual maturity. Imagine a huge grand canyon and one side is US and one side is GOD. At one time there was nothing between us but then SIN came into the world. Sin is simply anything that is not perfect or against God. The Bible says that sin ultimately leads to DEATH and the Bible defines death as eternity away from God in a real place called hell. BRANCH FRUIT So what could God want to use me for? Branch is a four week small group curriculum designed to help you discover your spiritual gifts and how God has shaped you to do ministry and have an impact. So how do I share this with others? Fruit is a four week class set up to train you to share your faith with those around you. Romans 3:23 Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So each of us try our best to make it to God. Maybe you make it 2/3 of the way while I would only make it 1/3. Bottom line is everyone falls short because no one is perfect. 22 3

What if I was baptized as a baby? Child baptism is a meaningful commitment by your parents to raise you to love Jesus. Every baptism in the Bible is about a person who is proclaiming their OWN LOVE for God. So they are two different things. Bottom line is, you should be baptized now as a believer. Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 6:23a says, For the wages of sin is death. That means what we deserve or earn for our sins is eternity away from God. Pretty bad news huh? Every other religion in the world could be summed up in the word, DO. You need to do this or do that to be saved. Fortunately Jesus says it s not about what we do. If it were, then we would be in trouble. Instead, the word is DONE; What Jesus has already done for us. Do I need to be baptized to be saved? No, your salvation comes completely through what Christ has done for you in dying on the cross for your sins. With that said, think about it from God s perspective. You: God, I will follow You no matter what. God: Awesome! The first thing I want you to do is be baptized. You: No way! I m not doing that! God:????? How do I sign up? 4 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Maybe the best verse in the whole Bible is Romans 5:8. But God demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So God is on His side and knew there was no way we could ever get to Him. So he sent His only son to the earth. And because Jesus was the only one ever to not sin, when Jesus died he became a sin sacrifice for us. He took our punishment. All of the sins you have ever committed or will commit were nailed to that cross and already paid for. The cross becomes a bridge from us to God. 21 Fill out a baptism application and turn it into Fuel. We will figure out a date in the near future for you to be baptized in a service. Righteousness simply means figuring out what the next right thing to do is and then doing it or the next right step to take and then taking it.

The First Step of Obedience: BAPTISM Why Should I be baptized? 1) To follow the example set by. At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river. Mark 1:9 2) Because Christ it. Jesus said, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 3) It demonstrates that I really am a....many of the people who heard Him believed and were baptized. -Acts 18:8 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 John 1:12 John 1:12 says, Yet to those who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called children of God. It s not just enough to BELIEVE in God, but we also must RECEIVE his free gift of dying on the cross for our sins and allow Him to take over our lives. When we RECEIVE him we know God is in our hearts and is preparing a place for us to be with Him in heaven after we die. What is the meaning of baptism? 1) It illustrates and resurrection. For when you were baptized you were buried with Christ and in baptism, you were also raised with Christ. Colossians 2:12 Why be baptized by immersion? There isn t some magical prayer Because was baptized that way. Every baptism in the was by immersion. The word Baptize means to. Who should be baptized? you can pray and everything is cool. It s all about your HEART. If your heart is ready here is a prayer you could use. Believer s Prayer A = Not interested, stop talking to me. B = I ve never accepted Jesus into my heart, but I m interested. C = I ve already accepted Christ and 20 Every person who has in Christ. Those who believe and accepted His message were baptized. Acts 2:41 When should I be Baptized? As soon as you have. 5 Dear Jesus, Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins. Please come in to my heart and take my life. I want You to be my Lord and Savior. Amen are living for Him. So which place best describes you? Follow up questions for B s. Is there anything stopping you from C? -Would you like to become a C now?

Matthew 13:1-9 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." According to this passage there are 4 Ways we can Respond to the Good News! PATH = ROCKS = THORNS = GOOD SOIL = Which one do you think best describes your life right now? Which one do you want to be on? 3) Read Hebrews 10:24-25 Church is not a building you go to, but a family you belong to. A family is a place where you can know and be known, serve and be served, love and be loved and celebrate and be celebrated. The primary way we live this out is in our small groups. New Song has tons of small groups and we can find one that would work best for you and your family. 4) Read 1 Peter 4:10 Why did God give you your spiritual gifts? We grow by doing. If church is a family then everyone has to do their part. You won t truly feel like this is your church until you are serving somewhere. Here are just a few of our serving opportunities. Great ministry opportunities @ New Song. -Ushering -Greeters -Hospitality -Office -Parking -Tech -Music -Youth -Children s -Teaching -Accounting -Leadership 5) others to a church service. Read Acts 1:8/ Matt 28:18-20/ Romans 10 While we are a family we want to be a growing family. Every weekend service is set up to make it very easy to bring your unchurched friends. You may be the closest to Jesus that some of your family members, coworkers, friends and neighbors may ever get to. The added bonus is that when you reach out to people you grow in your faith as well. Can you think of any unchurched people in your life God may want you to invite? 6) Read James 1:22 Why is reading the Bible not enough? 6 19

We don t just accept God into our we accept Him into our. It s kind of like chocolate milk = Life = the = the Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-14 18 = the Does this illustration remind you of another diagram in DIRT? How do the three glasses of milk correspond to the Spiritual, Fleshly and Natural chair illustrations? So how do I stir Him into my life? 1) Read Joshua 1:8 How often should we interact with God s word? The primary way God speaks to us is through the Bible. The greatest spiritual habit you can start is spending time reading God s Word on your own. A great place to start is in the book of Luke and read a chapter a day until you re finished. 2) Read Philippians 4:6-7 What are we to do instead of stressing? Prayer is how we communicate back to God. We really encourage you to read the book Prayer Coach mentioned in the Next Step Brochure. It s in Fuel. 7 Your SALVATION is completely based off of what Jesus has DONE for you BUT you GROW SPIRITU- ALLY largely based on what you DO. What are some things you think would help you grow spiritually and be on the good soil? (Hebrews 10:24-25) (Joshua 1:8) (Philippians 4:6-7) (Acts 1:8) DIRT

Session 2: What really happened when I received Christ? Who am I now? I am a member of.(1 Corinthians 12:27) I am and (Ephesians 1:4) I am as his child (Ephesians 1:5) I am a. (Ephesians 1:1) I am God's. (Ephesians 2:10) I am a (2 Corinthians 5:17) What do I have now? I am assured all things work (Rom 8:28) I have not been given a spirit of but of, and (2 Timothy 1:7) I have been (Romans 5:1) I am (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14) I have (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11) I am sealed with the promised (Ephesians 1:13) I have. (John 6:47) Session 4: So where do I go from here? It s not. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn t know how to do what is right. -Hebrews 5:12-13 It s a. Learn to be mature Proverbs 8:5 Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ -2 Peter 3:18 It takes. Spiritual Growth Warnings Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit. Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness (NASB) When God wants to Satan wants to. -1 Timothy 4:7b The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come that you may have life and life to the full. John 10:10 Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 I personally must my own. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 I am promised a (John 10:10) 8 17

How do I live the Christ Directed Life? CONFESS all known sin. SURRENDER control of every area of your life to Christ. TRUST the Holy Spirit to fill you in response to God s command and promise. Read Luke 9:23. What does God ask of those who follow Him? The Goal of spiritual growth is not to try harder and harder to get to God but simply surrendering to Him and letting Him take over. But what if I don t FEEL like these things are true? Doubts, questions and varying emotions are common parts of everyone s life, but they are unreliable gauges of anyone s relationship with Christ. Even though feelings are important, your relationship with Christ is based on unchanging truths, not on emotions that can change daily. The Christian lives by faith in the reliability of God Himself and what He has said to us. This diagram below illustrates the relationship between fact (God and His Word), faith (your trust in God and His Word) and feeling. The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be useless to attempt to pull the train by the caboose. In the same way, do not depend on feelings to live the Christian life. The promise of God s Word, not our feelings, is our authority. Taking it home To help you grow, spend 10-15 minutes a few times this week reading the following passages. Read Ephesians 5:18-21 and Colossians 3:12-17 Compare what these two passages say about the Spirit filled life. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 This is Paul s prayer for people in that day and for us. From where does this power come? What can this power accomplish in your life? Read Mark 4:35-41 This is the account of Jesus and the disciples in the storm. Why were the disciples afraid? What did they doubt about Jesus? But what if you wake up tomorrow and don t feel like Christ is in your life? Place your faith in the faithfulness of God Himself and the trustworthiness of His Word. The more you learn of His Word, the more you will be able to answer any doubts with timeless truths. Your feelings will begin to respond to the truth of God s Word and not your circumstances. What will I do the next time I don t feel like God has really saved me? 16 9

If you re near a computer go to www.newsongchurch.com and click on and then click on Dirt Video Then take a few minutes a write a prayer to Jesus, thanking him for all he has done for you. Dear Jesus, Imitation Inhabitation (John 15) KEY PRAYER: Help me be like you. KEY PRAYER: Lord, please live through me. GOAL: Try as hard as possible to GOAL: Surrender every part of my be like Christ. life and let Christ take over. VIEW OF MINISTRY: Do as much as I can for God. END RESULT: Impossible to live out and will lead to discouragement when I fall short. VIEW OF MINISTRY: Stay connected to God and let Him minister through me. END RESULT: A close relationship with God, where I see Him do amazing things through me. Natural (1 Corinthians 2:14) Fleshly (1 Corinthians 3:1,2) The FOUNDATION OF YOUR FAITH must be that you re so Spiritual overwhelmed that CHRIST DIED (1 Corinthians 2:15) 10 FOR YOU that all you want to do is LIVE FOR HIM. 15 Look above, which circle best represents your life? Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

In the day when this was written, list of sins, meant an itemized bond nailed to the prison door. It listed every crime for which the prisoner had been convicted. When the sentence was served or restitution was paid, the authorities removed the list and wrote on it, paid in full. The prisoner used this as proof that he could never be tried for those crimes again. The person who trusts Christ s payment for sin can never be tried again. Their sins have been paid in full. They have received a full pardon from God. Experiencing God s Love and Forgiveness Daily Put yourself in the earlier father-child illustration. What would you do to restore fellowship with your father? Read 1 John 1:9 How do you restore your fellowship with God? When God brings to your attention something you have done or thought is a sin, confess it. Confession involves at least three factors. Taking it home Take one truth each day from the list below and reflect on it. Read the verses listed beside each truth. Thank God that this is now true of you. Knowing and trusting in these essential truths is important to your growth in Christ. DAY 1 You are forgiven: Read Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 2:13. DAY 2 You are a child of God: Read John 1:12,13 and 1 John 3:1. DAY 3 You are united to Christ: Read Romans 6:5,6 and Galatians 2:20. DAY 4 You have new life: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 2:4,5. DAY 5 You have eternal life: Read 1 John 5:11-13 and John 10:27-29. 1) Agree with God that you have sinned. 2) Thank God that He has already forgiven you. 3) Turn away from sin and trust God. (Repentance) How will knowing how to receive God s forgiveness help you? 3) Let the Holy Spirit Take Over. Christianity is not so much about IMMITATION, but INHABITA- TION. It s not what you can do for God, but what He wants to do through you. Read John 15: 1 8. What is the secret to living a fruitful life? 14 11

TIME Session 3: Your new relationship with God. While spiritual maturity takes years of development in Christ, you can experience God s power and joy in your life from the very beginning. Trusting and Obeying God + Time = Spiritual Maturity Suppose you rebelled against your father and angrily left home in spite of his efforts to reach out. Would you still be your father s child? What would happen to your fellowship? The same is true in your relationship with God. Your Relationship with God Your Fellowship with God. Spiritual Birth Christian Growth TRUST & OBEDIENCE It s crucial to remember that your new relationship with God is in fact a personal relationship with God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here are a couple things to keep in mind to grow in your exciting new relationship. Began when you received Christ. John 1:12,13 Lasts forever. 1 Peter 1:3-4 Is maintained totally by God. John 10:27-29 Never Changes Hebrews 13:5 Began when you received Christ. Colossians 3:12 Can be damaged. Psalm 32:3-5 Is maintained in part by you. 1 John 1:9 Changes when you sin. Psalm 66:18 12 1) Understand you re a child of God. The resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike What s next Papa? God s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are. Father and children. Romans 8-15-16 (MSG) Just as your relationship to your imperfect earthly father is permanent no matter what you do, you will always biologically be his child so, too, is your relationship with your perfect heavenly Father. But God doesn t want merely a technical relationship. He desires loving fellowship with all his children. 13 How does this impact how you see your relationship with God? 2) Embrace Christ s forgiveness. While God has saved you from the punishment and power of sin, that doesn t mean that you re never going to make a mistake again. God had a plan for this all along. It s called forgiveness...and it s amazing!!! Read 1 Peter 3:18 and Colossians 2:13-14. What do these verses say? Christ s death on the cross paid for our sins once for all. His death for us is the basis by which we can have a relationship with God AND for experiencing His forgiveness in our daily lives.