Introduction
I am so excited that you made a decision to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The following material will help you get started on this journey of a lifetime. It’s possible you have a lot of questions, hopefully this will set a good path to follow.
This material is designed to be studied together with another believer. However, you can work through the material by yourself. It is divided into 4 sections.
New Birth will walk you through your decision to become a follower of Jesus. It will provide the background of the Biblical terminology for your decision, such as born again, child of God, disciple, saved, follower of Christ, redeemed, and Christian.
New Resources will provide insight into how to read the Bible, begin to talk to God through prayer, and access the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
New Family Dynamics explains the roles and expectations of the followers of Jesus. As a family member of God you have been giving gifts to help others, a greater capacity to love everyone, and the secret of peaceful relationships – forgiveness.
New Mission will help you discover how to share your own story of change with others who need to experience the good news of freedom and life in Jesus.
*Don’t skip over the questions. They are designed to help you understand and explain this new life in Jesus.
*Don’t be overwhelmed by all of the Bible verses in italics. These will be some of the first verses that you will want to begin to commit to memory. The Bible is the major source for growing in your relationship with Jesus.
Enjoy The Journey of All Things New
New Birth
So, you made a decision to become a follower of Jesus. Congratulations! Perhaps you responded to the pastor during a worship service and prayed to ask Jesus to come into your life. Or, maybe you reflected on childhood memories of stories about Jesus and made a commitment to start a relationship with him. Maybe, a friend shared the good news that life could be far different than your present experience and you prayed for Jesus to help you. Regardless, you know something has changed even if you don’t fully have the words to explain it.
First, let me tell you what did NOT happen
You did NOT just accept a new set of values for better living.
Just because your parents know Jesus, this does NOT make you a follower of Jesus.
You did NOT pray only to “feel” better about life.
You did NOT join a religious group like becoming part of a civic organization.
The Bible says when you invited Jesus to be a part of your life, YOU BECAME A NEW PERSON.
“17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17 New Living Translation (NLT)
How does belonging to Christ happen?
Change of Heart Story
Once there was a man who had a terminal heart condition. He met with his doctor to see if there was any cure. The doctor gave little, to no hope. Yet the man was determined to find a cure.
First, he decided to treat his body differently. He read and practiced all of the latest info on healthy living. His body improved in every area. But when he returned to his doctor the symptoms of his heart condition had only gotten worse.
Then, he decided that his problem was a symptom of bad karma from the way he interacted with people. He changed his behavior and tried his best to follow the golden rule of doing for others what you would want them to do for you. He spoke with kindness and helped the poor. But, his heart condition continued to worsen.
Next, he engaged in religious activities. He went to church faithfully every week. He gave money to the church and to those who were poor. Still there was no improvement to his failing heart.
In desperation, he asked the doctor if there was anything he could do? The doctor gave one moment of hope. “If you could find another person with a totally clean heart, we could schedule a heart transplant.” The man set up an organization to start checking hearts around the world. However, it did not take long until dismay began to fill his life. Every person’s heart which he checked, had traces of the same disease which was present within his own heart.
“Doctor, what can I do? Every person has the same sick condition.” He said.
“Unless you find someone with a pure heart that is willing to exchange his for yours, you will remain and die in your sick condition” the doctor replied.
But who would do such a thing?
This is what Jesus does for us. He is willing to exchange His pure and clean heart for our sick and diseased sinful heart. Every person in the world is in need of a heart transplant. In Ezekiel 36:26 God says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Why could the man not find another person who had a pure heart?
The Good News is that Jesus has a pure heart which he is willing to exchange for our sick and sinful heart. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
The procedure for this exchange occurred when he took the payment for our sin as he was crucified on the cross. He died in our place so that we could have a new heart, become a new person.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
Does knowing that a cure exists make it yours? No! We must humbly ask God.
You must receive the antidote. The Bible says that we do this in two ways. We confess or ask with our mouths that Jesus died for us and can help us, and we believe that it is true in our hearts. The heart is representative of the very core of our thinking. It is the center of who we are. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NLT
Perhaps you already prayed this prayer when you invited Jesus into your life. If not, and this is the desire of your heart right now, then I invite you to pray this simple prayer. God hears your words, but also sees the seriousness of the matter in your heart.
Dear God, I realize that I am a sinner. I have done many wrong things that are against your principles of right living. Please forgive me! I trust that you have forgiven me. I now invite you to come into my life and make me a new person. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, amen.
You are Born Again, Child of God, Disciple, Saved, Follower of Christ, Redeemed, Christian!
I recognize some of these terms may be new for you, but they reveal the status change which has taken place in your life. As you mingle with other believers you may hear these expressions. Let’s take a moment to find them in the Bible and to understand their meaning for you personally.
Born Again. The Bible states that we are “born again”. A spiritual birth has taken place. At one point, Jesus is talking with a Jewish leader named Nicodemus.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c]must be born again.’ John 3:3-7 NIV
When you are born into a new person, it would be very natural for you to begin to see life differently. You have experienced a new birth.
- But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:12-13 NLT
- So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT
- See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1 NLT
Disciple – this means learner, a student of a teacher. This means that you will always be studying the life of Jesus. You will begin to think and act like the one you admire and study.
- Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. John 8:31 NLT
- A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 ESV
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:3-7
The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 illustrates Jesus desire to search for those who are lost. Jesus declares his mission to seek and to save those who are lost.
-8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24 NLT
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men. Mark 1:16-20 NLT
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So, Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14 NLT
-18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
- 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7
-14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:14
-(It was at Antioch that the believers[g] were first called Christians.) Acts 11:26 NLT
-28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” Acts 26:28 NLT
- 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! I Peter 4:16 NLT
Becoming a Christian follower of Jesus is wonderful. In the next section of New Resources, you will learn that God has provided everything necessary for you to be growing in Christ.
I am so excited that you made a decision to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The following material will help you get started on this journey of a lifetime. It’s possible you have a lot of questions, hopefully this will set a good path to follow.
This material is designed to be studied together with another believer. However, you can work through the material by yourself. It is divided into 4 sections.
New Birth will walk you through your decision to become a follower of Jesus. It will provide the background of the Biblical terminology for your decision, such as born again, child of God, disciple, saved, follower of Christ, redeemed, and Christian.
New Resources will provide insight into how to read the Bible, begin to talk to God through prayer, and access the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
New Family Dynamics explains the roles and expectations of the followers of Jesus. As a family member of God you have been giving gifts to help others, a greater capacity to love everyone, and the secret of peaceful relationships – forgiveness.
New Mission will help you discover how to share your own story of change with others who need to experience the good news of freedom and life in Jesus.
*Don’t skip over the questions. They are designed to help you understand and explain this new life in Jesus.
*Don’t be overwhelmed by all of the Bible verses in italics. These will be some of the first verses that you will want to begin to commit to memory. The Bible is the major source for growing in your relationship with Jesus.
Enjoy The Journey of All Things New
New Birth
So, you made a decision to become a follower of Jesus. Congratulations! Perhaps you responded to the pastor during a worship service and prayed to ask Jesus to come into your life. Or, maybe you reflected on childhood memories of stories about Jesus and made a commitment to start a relationship with him. Maybe, a friend shared the good news that life could be far different than your present experience and you prayed for Jesus to help you. Regardless, you know something has changed even if you don’t fully have the words to explain it.
First, let me tell you what did NOT happen
You did NOT just accept a new set of values for better living.
Just because your parents know Jesus, this does NOT make you a follower of Jesus.
You did NOT pray only to “feel” better about life.
You did NOT join a religious group like becoming part of a civic organization.
- Why does understanding the change that happened in your life matter?
- In 2 or 3 sentences can you share why you decided to follow Jesus?
The Bible says when you invited Jesus to be a part of your life, YOU BECAME A NEW PERSON.
“17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor. 5:17 New Living Translation (NLT)
- What does it mean that the “old life is gone”?
- What changed in order for you to become a “new person” and some versions say new creation?
- Take a moment to share your story how you became a new believer.
How does belonging to Christ happen?
Change of Heart Story
Once there was a man who had a terminal heart condition. He met with his doctor to see if there was any cure. The doctor gave little, to no hope. Yet the man was determined to find a cure.
First, he decided to treat his body differently. He read and practiced all of the latest info on healthy living. His body improved in every area. But when he returned to his doctor the symptoms of his heart condition had only gotten worse.
Then, he decided that his problem was a symptom of bad karma from the way he interacted with people. He changed his behavior and tried his best to follow the golden rule of doing for others what you would want them to do for you. He spoke with kindness and helped the poor. But, his heart condition continued to worsen.
Next, he engaged in religious activities. He went to church faithfully every week. He gave money to the church and to those who were poor. Still there was no improvement to his failing heart.
In desperation, he asked the doctor if there was anything he could do? The doctor gave one moment of hope. “If you could find another person with a totally clean heart, we could schedule a heart transplant.” The man set up an organization to start checking hearts around the world. However, it did not take long until dismay began to fill his life. Every person’s heart which he checked, had traces of the same disease which was present within his own heart.
“Doctor, what can I do? Every person has the same sick condition.” He said.
“Unless you find someone with a pure heart that is willing to exchange his for yours, you will remain and die in your sick condition” the doctor replied.
But who would do such a thing?
This is what Jesus does for us. He is willing to exchange His pure and clean heart for our sick and diseased sinful heart. Every person in the world is in need of a heart transplant. In Ezekiel 36:26 God says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Why could the man not find another person who had a pure heart?
- How could he get cured?
- Is it possible to live with 2 hearts at the same time?
- Why would someone resist giving up their heart?
- How does the story reflect your own story?
The Good News is that Jesus has a pure heart which he is willing to exchange for our sick and sinful heart. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
The procedure for this exchange occurred when he took the payment for our sin as he was crucified on the cross. He died in our place so that we could have a new heart, become a new person.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
Does knowing that a cure exists make it yours? No! We must humbly ask God.
You must receive the antidote. The Bible says that we do this in two ways. We confess or ask with our mouths that Jesus died for us and can help us, and we believe that it is true in our hearts. The heart is representative of the very core of our thinking. It is the center of who we are. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 NLT
Perhaps you already prayed this prayer when you invited Jesus into your life. If not, and this is the desire of your heart right now, then I invite you to pray this simple prayer. God hears your words, but also sees the seriousness of the matter in your heart.
Dear God, I realize that I am a sinner. I have done many wrong things that are against your principles of right living. Please forgive me! I trust that you have forgiven me. I now invite you to come into my life and make me a new person. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, amen.
You are Born Again, Child of God, Disciple, Saved, Follower of Christ, Redeemed, Christian!
I recognize some of these terms may be new for you, but they reveal the status change which has taken place in your life. As you mingle with other believers you may hear these expressions. Let’s take a moment to find them in the Bible and to understand their meaning for you personally.
Born Again. The Bible states that we are “born again”. A spiritual birth has taken place. At one point, Jesus is talking with a Jewish leader named Nicodemus.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c]must be born again.’ John 3:3-7 NIV
When you are born into a new person, it would be very natural for you to begin to see life differently. You have experienced a new birth.
- What does it mean to be born again by the Spirit? Our human spirit because of sin is dead in relationship to God. The Holy Spirit brings our spirit to life so we are able to communicate with God.
- What are some natural activities for a new baby?
- Eating – spiritually this is found when we read the Bible. Jesus equated the Word of God with food. 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4
- Breathing – taking air in and out is a dual process. Prayer is talking with God and learning how he talks with us is the listening part of prayer.
- Eating – spiritually this is found when we read the Bible. Jesus equated the Word of God with food. 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4
- But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:12-13 NLT
- So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT
- See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1 NLT
- How do you think you will live life differently knowing that you are God’s child?
- As your Father, how does God reveal how he feels about you?
- As your Father, how will God provide care for you?
- As your Father, how does God reveal how he feels about you?
Disciple – this means learner, a student of a teacher. This means that you will always be studying the life of Jesus. You will begin to think and act like the one you admire and study.
- Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. John 8:31 NLT
- A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 ESV
- How would you define an effective disciple?
- Jesus is not physically walking with us like he did with his disciples, how can we study and become like him?
3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:3-7
The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 illustrates Jesus desire to search for those who are lost. Jesus declares his mission to seek and to save those who are lost.
-8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
- In what ways would you say that people stray or become lost?
- Describe the circumstances how Jesus found you? How where you lost?
- Do you think describing yourself as saved is a good term? Why?
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24 NLT
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men. Mark 1:16-20 NLT
As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So, Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14 NLT
- Why do you think the disciples left their jobs and followed Jesus?
- How is being a follower of someone different than just having a high value of them?
-18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
- 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7
-14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:14
- Why do you think blood was a sufficient payment for redemption?
- What other ways do you think people try to get forgiveness of sins?
-(It was at Antioch that the believers[g] were first called Christians.) Acts 11:26 NLT
-28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” Acts 26:28 NLT
- 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! I Peter 4:16 NLT
- How does it feel that you are now called a Christian?
- Does the term Christian have negative or positive connotations for you? Why?
Becoming a Christian follower of Jesus is wonderful. In the next section of New Resources, you will learn that God has provided everything necessary for you to be growing in Christ.
