First Steps Lesson 2 Step In Your WALK

First Steps Lesson 2: Step In Your WALK

Introduction When people come into our church they get a menu of options of where to spend their time, but what we all really need is a map that shows us how best to connect and where to plug in. First Steps is that map that shows everyone how it all fits together. “The entire purpose of First Steps is to help you as a follower of Christ to grow in your walk with the Lord and “to be conformed to the image of Christ” (Romans 8: 29). “ Know that YOU are NOT ALONE in this journey, in Overflow we are here for one another, we are in this journey together. 2

Step 1 Review- Step In Your IDENTITY • Fact 1 - You were created in God’s image for a relationship with God and to fulfil His purpose. • Fact 2 - Our sin (breaking His moral law) separated us from Him. • Fact 3 - You can have a relationship with God through Jesus. • Admit you have sinned, confess it to the Lord, and repent from it. • Believe Jesus was God's son who conquered death to pay for your sins • Commit to a life of obedience to Him. • Who Are You Now? ? 3

SAVED!!!! 4

What Next? ? 5

Be Immersed! (baptizo!) • Baptism is a symbol or a sign of: • Obedience to Christ • Gospel In Your Life • Commitment to Your Church • • Baptism does NOT change your life Baptism does NOT save you Jesus Does But we still do it because He told us to 6

• Any questions about lesson one? • Anything come out of that lesson that changed your perspective on something? • Anything come out of reading through the “WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE” homework? 7

Step In Your WALK How do I live it out? 8

Spiritual Disciplines • What are they? • Disciplines = Practices or Activities found in scripture that promote spiritual growth (2 Timothy 3: 16 -17, 1 Corinthians 9: 24 -27) • Done well, these become healthy & strengthening habits (training) • These activities draw us closer to God and closer to each other • Practiced since the beginning of the church and demonstrated for us throughout scripture (Acts has lots of examples) • There are many, but we will only cover 3 9

Discipline 1 - Studying the Bible • Devotion to God means spending time getting to know Him • What better way to get to know Him than studying His Word for us? • Christ promises us that when we study God’s word and obey it, God reveals Himself to us. • John 14: 21 -23 - 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. ” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world? ” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 10

3 Effective Ways to Study God’s Word • Memorizing Scripture • Psalm 119: 9 -11 - 9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. • Tips: • • • Pick a verse you have been studying Write it down someplace you see often Read it numerous times each day Try to repeat it without looking Do it with your family! 11

3 Effective Ways to Study God’s Word • Meditating on Scripture • Psalm 119: 97 -99 - 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. • Tips: • • • Find a place without distractions Select a passage you would like to understand read through it several times Pray through it asking the Holy Spirit to guide you Rewrite or restate the passage in your own words Look for ways to apply it to your own life 12

3 Effective Ways to Study God’s Word • Journaling about Scripture • Psalm 77: 11 -12 - 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. ” • Tips: • • • Find something where you can record and write your thoughts Write down things that you are learning from your study Write down ways which you will apply what you are learning Write down questions you may have and continue studying to answer them Write down prayer requests along with how God is answering your prayers 13

Discipline 2 - Prayer • Prayer literally means talking to God. Prayer can take many forms: • • It can be in thanksgiving It can be in worship It can be a cry of help, need, or desperation It can be a request for guidance…. and many other things • Prayer requires both talking and listening. • Hebrews 4: 16 - 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. • We have free access to the throne room of God. 14

Discipline 2 - Prayer Matthew 6: 5 -13 - 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ 15

Discipline 2 - Prayer • • • Jesus makes it clear it’s not about show or attention Jesus shows us to call God our Father Jesus shows us to focus on God’s plans instead of our own As we pray He transforms our hearts and aligns it with His These methods of prayer can enhance your relationship with God • • • Adoration- Praise God for who he is Thanksgiving- Thank God for all he has done Confession- Come clean and ask forgiveness for your sins Petition- Look to God and ask Him for help Intercession- Bring God requests on behalf of the people around you 16

Discipline 3 - Service • Service is the natural response to salvation • Isaiah 6: 1 -8 - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. ” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty. ” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. ” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 17

Discipline 3 - Service • Service gives us a chance to model the example Jesus gave us • 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want? ” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom. ” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking, ” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? ” “We can, ” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father. ” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ” 18

Discipline 3 - Service • As believers, service is not optional. • 1 Corinthians 6: 19 -20 - 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 19

Application/ Discussion Questions • Why are spiritual disciplines necessary for our life? • Which of the 3 disciplines discussed is your weakest? • How can you make some adjustments to improve your walk? 20