One By One Book 1 113y5l

BOOK 1: ONE BY ONE Copyright © 2015 by Global Leadership Center All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other, without the prior permission of GLC.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction

page 4

How to Use This Workbook

page 5

Session 1:

page 7

One Truth The Gospel

Session 2:

One Way

page 15

The Savior Session 3:

One Proof

page 25

Our New Life in Christ Session 4:

One Promise

page 33

The Assurance of Our Salvation Session 5:

One Source

page 43

The Holy Spirit Session 6:

One Pursuit

page 51

Growing in Our Relationship with Christ What’s Next?

page 61

Suggested Answers

page 63

Appendix A: God’s Way to Heaven

page 69

Appendix B: One-Minute WitnessTM

page 75

Appendix C: Tips on Using the God's Way to Heaven booklet

page 89

Appendix D: How to Handle Different Responses to the Invitation to Receive Christ

page 91

Appendix E: Evaluation Tool for Gospel Sharing

page 95

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INTRODUCTION A mere glance at the headlines will convince anyone that our world is in trouble. From deadly viruses to terrorists who kill defenseless people; from tragic mass transportation accidents to corrupt governments and natural calamities; we all have to live with these harsh realities everyday. With our increasingly interconnected global community, it would seem that a problem in one part of the world can affect us who live thousands of kilometers away. On the other hand, a positive difference made by one individual can make a difference to millions of people all over the world. Just think of the technological, environmental, medical, and other advancements that help us lead better lives today. The question is, can any ordinary person make a lasting and life-changing impact in our complicated, connected world today? More importantly, what is the most significant difference one can make in someone else’s life, in our search for peace, security and hope amidst our global-scale concerns? Welcome to Book 1: One by One. In here, we will explore together how lasting change can and should happen first in us, then in the world around us, as we go out and influence another one, then another one – one by one. Sounds like a fairy tale? Maybe not. In the series of conversations that you and I will have with this guide, you will discover that there is a greater Story behind all the news that we hear today. This Story will change your life. The Solution to our greatest problem is probably something that you have never known before.

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HOW TO USE THIS WORKBOOK This workbook is for the GLC Essentials Book 1: One by One study. It can be used as a stand-alone Bible study guide for small groups. If you are a small group servant/facilitator, all you have to do is make sure that you do a personal Bible study using this workbook ahead of your small group meeting for preparation. Encourage your group to have their own workbooks. Do not divert the teaching topic – stick to what is in the workbook. The workbook includes the Bible lesson, and individual and small group learning activities to help you get the most out of your meetings. There are five parts in every session: Explore, Examine, Express, Experience and Equip. •

Explore — contains individual and small group activities that help prepare you for the Bible study.

•

Examine — this is where you go through the Bible lesson with your group.

•

Express — this is where the of the group get a chance to express more of their insights, questions and thoughts about the Bible lesson. They can do it in writing, doodling or drawing, and sharing to the rest of the group.

•

Experience — this section is accomplished outside the group meeting time. There are suggested individual or group Life Apps that will hopefully help you experience life transformation as you apply God’s truth in practical ways.

•

Equip – this section is to be accomplished by your small group or Dgroup member with your coaching and mentoring. This is the "on-the-job" training for every member of a Dgroup to become a discipler (someone who is a Christ-committed follower and helps others become Christ-committed followers also).

This workbook is just a tool. We need to depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us God’s truth and transform our hearts as we go through the Bible studies. So, come and discover the One who will change your life!

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SESSION 1

ONE TRUTH The Gospel

What is the gospel? The word “gospel” in Greek* literally means “good news.” The question is what is the “good news”? The answer to this and most of our questions about the Christian faith are found in the Word of God, the Bible. We will discover, by studying the Bible, answers to questions concerning how Jesus truly is relevant to our lives – how He loves us, and how He can truly transform our lives.

*

see note on page 10

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EXPLORE Good News Form a group of 3-4. Give time for each one to introduce themselves. They will also share something based on the last digit of their birth year. Be guided by the following criteria (to be flashed): If your birth year ends with: 0-1 : Something good that happened to you today 2-3 : Something good about your family 4-5 : Something good that you will like to eat for breakfast 6-7 : Something good about your work or school 8-9 : Say something good about the person to your right

LEARNING NUGGET People love to share good things that has happened to them. The Bible tells about the greatest news that mankind has ever received. But the big question is, what is the" good news" and why is it so?

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EXAMINE THE GOOD NEWS God desires to have a relationship with you! God loves us Read 1 John 4:8–9 1. What does this verse tell us about God’s basic nature?

Read John 10:10 2. In your own words, what do you think Jesus meant when He said that He came to give us an abundant life?

While God is loving, He is also holy Read 1 Peter 1:15 3. How is God described in these verses? What does it mean that God is holy?

So far we have seen that God is loving but He is also holy. In the following verses, we will see how these two aspects of God’s nature are both involved in the Good News. But how does this relate to us?

Our Problem: Sinful and Opposed To God 4. How does Isaiah 53:6 describe us prior to placing our faith in Christ?

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Read James 2:10 5. Is there any difference between breaking one commandment and breaking all the commandments? How would this affect people who think they are basically good?

Read Romans 6:23 6. What is the consequence of our sin? Is anyone exempted from the sentence that has been handed down to us? Why or why not?

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Not

In the Greek language, in which the New Testament was originally written, death meant separation – spiritual death means eternal separation from God. Most people have the perspective that they basically are good, and somehow God should accept us because of His great love for us. But if we compare ourselves with the perfect holiness of God, our goodness is not enough. Sin separates us from God; it is rebellion against Him. Sin is basically choosing self-will over God’s will. So far this doesn’t sound like very good news. Though God desires to have a relationship with us, we are cut off from Him because of our own sin and rebellion. Is there any solution to our dilemma?

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God sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin 7. What do Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 say that God has done?

Sacrifice of His Son The story is told of a drawbridge operator whose job was to lower the bridge each day before the arrival of a enger train, then raise it again for the ships in the river below to continue plying their trade. Each day as he lowered the bridge, the engers in the train would smile and wave as they ed over his bridge. One day the drawbridge operator brought his son to work with him. He showed him the huge gears and pulleys used to raise and lower the bridge, and the beautiful view of the river valley and the many ships that ed under the bridge. As he prepared to lower the bridge for the daily train, he heard a terrifying noise – his son had fallen into the gears of the draw bridge and could not free himself! As the oncoming train barreled on, he was faced with a dilemma – he could either go and free his son, knowing that hundreds of people would die as the train would smash into the raised drawbridge; or he could continue to lower the drawbridge, knowing that it would cost his son his life. With tears in his eyes, he chose to lower the drawbridge – sacrificing his own son for the lives of those on the train.

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Another Death Sentence In the United States in the 1840s, a man was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Only days before his sentence was to be carried out, while the man was waiting in his prison cell, a messenger arrived. He carried with him a presidential pardon signed by President Garfield. However, to the astonishment of the prison officials, the man refused to accept the pardon. The officials brought the matter to the Supreme Court where the justices ruled that the pardon had no effect unless it was received by the prisoner. The man was hung as scheduled because he refused the pardon that had been granted to him.

It seems impossible to believe, but many today do not accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers. •

Some may be too proud to accept that they need God’s pardon.

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Some feel they have to do something to make themselves worthy first before accepting pardon.

•

Some think there is another way to be pardoned, and insist on doing it their way.

We all have the choice to accept or reject the offer Jesus gives us. Have you ever made a decision to accept His gift of forgiveness?

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If you have not, you can accept that gift right now by faith. One way to express our faith in Christ is through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God, and expressing to Him the desires of our hearts. You can open your heart to God right now and accept His gift of salvation through a simple prayer of faith. Pray something like this: Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You so much for loving me. I am so sorry for my sins. Thank You for dying on the cross for all of my sins. With Your help, I will turn away from all my sins. Today, I trust in You to be my Savior and Lord. And I receive You into my heart. Thank You for forgiving my sins and for coming into my heart. I accept Your free gift of eternal life. Thank You that one day, I will go home to You in heaven. From this day on, I will follow and obey You. Amen.

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EXPERIENCE If you made the choice to trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord, entering into an eternal relationship with God, read and sign the pledge below as a reminder of your commitment today: “Today, Jesus, I trusted in You to be my Savior and my Lord and I accepted Your free gift of eternal life. I commit to love and obey You for the rest of my life.” SIGNED DATE

EQUIP On-the-Job Training (15 minutes) Your discipler will read through the “God’s Way to Heaven” (GWTH) booklet with you. This booklet is what we often use at CCF to share the gospel with our loved ones, friends, co-workers, etc. (See Appendix A). Observe carefully how he/she does it.

SESSION 2

ONE WAY The Savior

How many ways are there to salvation? There are many views on how to be saved and how to be certain of our eternal destiny before God. Most of them have a ring of truth. Yet when we think a little more deeply, we find that many are in conflict with what God Himself has revealed to us in His Word. The Bible gives us the only certain knowledge of how salvation is possible. It corrects many of our wrong ideas about being saved. What are some of the common thoughts or feelings we have concerning our salvation?

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EXPLORE I've Been Wrong Before Take turns in your small group to answer the questions: Have you been wrong about something you felt and believed was so right before? What was that wrong belief? i.e. I used to think that sleeping with wet hair would cause blindness. I used to believe that Santa Claus was a real gift-giver.

LEARNING NUGGET Some wrong beliefs may not cause us too much harm – like believing the Tooth Fairy will give us a coin for each tooth we lose, etc. Other wrong beliefs can have more devastating consequences, such as jumping off a tall building and flapping your arms believing that you were born to fly. On the other hand, right beliefs will lead to good consequences for us, such as correctly believing that eating more fruits and vegetables will help us live healthier lives. When it comes to spiritual things, what we believe in will have serious consequences not only in this life, but for eternity.

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EXAMINE Have you ever had thoughts like these? I. “God will save me, after all I am not so bad.” Perhaps you have heard or even thought, “God wouldn’t send him to hell, he is basically a good person.” Or, “I may not be perfect, but I am a lot better than she is even if she goes to church all the time.” In both cases, our standard for determining whether someone should be saved is how good they are compared to other people we know. We think that someone who is relatively good by human standards is a better candidate for heaven than someone who is not so good. But this is not what the Bible teaches. Read Romans 3:10–12 1. What do these verses tell us about human goodness?

No one would disagree that some people are better than others. Yet when God judges us, He does so by a completely different standard. Read James 2:10 2. According to this verse, what is the result of breaking God’s law even one time?

These verses make it clear that being good compared to other people is insufficient to qualify one for salvation. To be qualified for salvation through one’s own effort, one would have to be as holy as God Himself.

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Many Jews in the time of Christ had this perspective. Paul, before his conversion to Christ, was one of them. But, after coming to faith in Christ, his outlook changed dramatically. Read Galatians 2:15–16 Read Luke 18:9-14 3. Jesus contrasts two people in this story. What was the Pharisee like? What was the tax collector like? Who was declared righteous (justified) before God? Why?

II. “God will save me if I do enough good works.” Many people think God will judge us with a set of scales that compare our good deeds with our bad deeds. But that is not the picture of the basis of our standing before God as it is found in the Bible. Read Ephesians 2:8–10 4. According to verse 9, can we earn our salvation through good works – i.e., doing kind deeds, going to church, etc.? How is a person saved? Based on this, how would you define grace? 5. Salvation is a gift because Jesus paid for it by His death on the cross. How do you receive a gift? Do you have to pay for a gift?

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Based on the above verses, which is God’s formula for salvation? A. FAITH IN JESUS + GOOD WORKS = SALVATION ex. GOOD WORKS (charity, prayer, good deeds vs. sin) B. FAITH IN JESUS = SALVATION which results in good work The correct formula is B.

It is clear from the Bible that salvation is not the result of our good deeds. We can never be good enough to please God because He is righteous and holy, and we are not. This realization often leads us to the next perspective concerning salvation: “I couldn’t possibly be saved because I am so bad.”

III. “God could never save me... I am too bad to be saved.” Perhaps this is how you feel today. This perspective is based on the very same assumption as the perspective that “God can only save those who are somehow good enough to gain His favor”. But, as we have seen above, is this true?

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The Thief on the Cross Read Luke 23:39–43 6. What were Jesus’ companions at the crucifixion like? Were they basically good people? What did Jesus promise to the criminal that asked Him for mercy? Did he do anything to make himself worthy of salvation? What did he demonstrate when he asked Jesus to him when Jesus goes to paradise?

God’s Perspective on Salvation Read Psalm 103:8–13 7. What do these verses say about the forgiveness God offers? Have you ever placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation? If you have not done so, would you like to right now?

If you would like to do so, simply pray in faith asking Him to come into your life as your Savior and Lord as the prayer from the end of Session 1 indicates. If you have already done so, thank God that He has saved you, forgiven your sins and given you a new life.

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EXPERIENCE Which of the wrong perspectives about salvation have you believed in the past? Now that you know how you can be saved, what will you do differently this week?

Ephesians 2:10 says that one result of having faith in Christ is that we can do good works that He created for us to do. What good thing will you do this week that will show your faith in Jesus?

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EQUIP On-the-Job Training (30 minutes) Last week, your discipler read through the God’s Way to Heaven (GWTH) booklet with you. Now it’s your turn to read through it with your discipler. Simply read the booklet the way your discipler did it with you before. (See Appendices C and D for helpful tips in using the God's Way to Heaven or GTWH booklet.) When you’re done, your discipler will give you a few observations on how you did reading through the booklet. (See Appendix E for the evaluation tool.) Practice the Pray-Care-Share principle (page 23) in reaching people around you with the gospel of Christ.

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A SIMPLE ACTION PLAN:

PRAY, CARE, SHARE Pray – Pray for people, and pray with people. First make a list of 10 people that you will begin praying for them to come to Christ. Then look for opportunities to pray with them. While some people may not be immediately open to talking with you about spiritual things, many will be willing to allow you to pray for them. Simply ask them, “What can I pray for you?” When they tell you, pray for them. Then check back and see how God has answered your prayer. Care – Show tangible concern for people. Look for ways that you can go out of your way to do something kind for them. There are many ways – treating them out for coffee, bringing food when they are sick, giving them a small gift or sending an encouraging text. They may wonder why you are doing it – if they ask, tell them that you just love them, and wanted to show your love in a tangible way. Share – Share the gospel with them when the Lord gives you the opportunity. There are many ways to share. Here are two: 1. God’s Way to Heaven. CCF has developed a simple presentation in booklet form, which you can read through with a friend to explain the message of the gospel, and lead a person to faith in Christ. 2. One by One. Now that you have gone through One by One, you can help others who don’t know Christ yet by going through it with them. The first two lessons explain the gospel and how a person can put their faith in Christ. The PCS Packet contains the tools you need to help you do Pray-CareShare wherever you are. You may purchase it at the CCF Center Bookstore or CCF .

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Make a list of ten people with whom you will practice Pray, Care, Share. PRAY I WILL PRAY FOR...

1. George 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

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CARE WHEN

HOW I WILL CARE

Tues, 8pm

Treat for coffee

SHARE WHEN

WHAT I WILL USE TO SHARE

WHEN

Sept. 9

My testimony

Oct. 30

SESSION 3

ONE PROOF Our New Life in Christ

How can I know if I have eternal life? In the first two sessions, we saw that the Bible is very clear – one cannot be saved on the basis of doing good deeds, being religious, or trying to make up for our sin through religious rituals. We are saved by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ’s sacrifice for our sin. It is not because we are good that we are saved, but because God is good, and He made a way for us to be saved. At the same time, the Bible warns us that not everyone who thinks they are saved will actually experience eternal life. Matthew 7:21 says that not everyone at the final judgment who says to Him “Lord, Lord” is truly saved. Can we know for sure?

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EXPLORE As a group, come up with at least ten (10) movies, TV series or songs that has a theme of living forever, immortality, and eternal love in its plot. For example, in the 80's, the movie Karate Kid II (1986) has the theme song by Peter Cetera, "Glory of Love" and the chorus has the line, We'll live forever Knowing together That we did it all For the glory of love. Consider locally-produced songs, movies and TV series as well as foreign ones from past decades until the present.

LEARNING NUGGET No matter what era you're from, you will come across the theme of "eternal life" or "eternal love" in popular media. This only shows that people from all ages and all cultures has a deep-seated wish or longing for life to go on forever. Jesus Christ (7-2 BC to 30-33 AD) made the bold claim that He is the source of eternal life. It is a claim that is at the least, interesting enough to investigate that you might find something to seriously consider.

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EXAMINE WE CAN KNOW! Read 1 John 5:11–13 1. What do these verses promise us? According to this age, who has been given eternal life? Is it possible to know that you have eternal life? How can a person be sure?

Knowing the Shepherd One of the most powerful illustrations of the certainty of our relationship with Christ is His story of the Good Shepherd. Read John 10:11–14; 27–30 2. What is the difference between the good shepherd and the “hireling?” What will the hireling do when things are not going well? What will the Good Shepherd, Jesus, do for the sheep?

3. What is the guarantee that we will never be taken from His hand?

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The proof of our new life in Christ One way to be confident of our relationship with Christ is to see tangible evidence – a transformed life. The Bible mentions several ways that we can recognize that God really has entered our lives, and is beginning to accomplish His work within us. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 4. What does this verse say we are if we have Christ in our lives? After receiving Christ into your life, what do you expect to happen in your life?

Two markers of our new life: Obedience and Love Read 1 John 2:3–6 5. How can we say we really know God? What evidence did John say should be seen in a person’s life as a fruit and proof of his faith?

Read 1 John 2:7–11 6. How should we relate to one another? How is that a demonstration of our relationship with Christ?

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Read Titus 2:11–12 7. How does grace work in our lives?

As you can see in these verses, changes are to be expected as a result of our experience of God’s saving power in our lives. The Bible tells us that true believers will be transformed – they will want to obey what God desires, and will begin to love others in ways they may have never experienced before. While we will never be perfect, people who have a relationship with Christ will continue to grow in Christlikeness. Are you beginning to see the work of God in your life? If you are beginning to see these changes take place, you can be sure that you have begun a lasting and eternal relationship with the Good Shepherd! Take a moment to pray and thank God for the changes He is beginning to bring. If you are yet to experience any of these, ask Him to help you trust Him to begin His work within you.

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List down some changes you see in yourself: Examples: Love for others, desire to learn more about God

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EXPERIENCE 1. How has this change in attitude been good for you? In what way/s has it been a challenge for you?

2. How has this change been translated into your actions?

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EQUIP On-the-Job Training (30 minutes) Your discipler will take you through the One-Minute-Witness training. (See Appendix B). Practice your one-minute witness skills with other people that you know this week; perhaps you can ask someone in your family to help you practice your skill. Continue to apply the Pray-Care-Share principle as you reach people with the gospel.

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SESSION 4

ONE PROMISE The Assurance of Our Salvation

In the previous session, we learned that we can have the wonderful assurance of having a permanent relationship with God. At times we might feel otherwise – that perhaps we may disappoint Him, and that somehow that relationship will change. What does the Bible say about such fears?

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EXPLORE In your small group, take turns sharing your answer to the questions below: What are one or two things in your life that you are quite assured of? What are one or two things in your life that you wish you were assured of?

LEARNING NUGGET A promise is only as good as the one who gives it. We may make promises we intend to keep, but because human beings have many limitations, we do not have the ability to keep all of our promises and thus we cannot give total assurance to someone that things go the way we promised them. Only our All-Powerful and sovereign God can totally assure us that all his promises will come true.

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EXAMINE He promises He will never leave us Read Hebrews 13:5–6 1. What does God promise that He will never do?

2. What does this mean for our relationship with Christ?

“But what if I disobey Him?” It is great to know that Christ promises to NEVER leave us once we begin our relationship with Him. But what if we sin or disobey Him? What happens to our relationship with Christ? If you have accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord by faith, then you have become a follower of Christ – a Christian. You have become a son or daughter of God. In John 1:12-13 we are told: 12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Our relationship with God is permanent. It will never change. But sometimes there are problems and conflicts within a family that affect the way we relate to each other. The Bible gives us a powerful picture of that reality in a famous story told by Jesus.

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The Story of the Prodigal Son Read Luke 15:11–24 3. What was the relationship between the two main characters in this story? After the younger son left his father, did his position as his father’s son ever end? How do you think the prodigal son’s actions affected their relationship as father and son first when he left home, and later when he went back to his father?

You and the Prodigal This story is a picture of our relationship with God. We are His children because we have received Christ into our lives (John 1:12). He has promised never to leave us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). Yet we can (and often do) commit sin. Does our relationship with Him change? This story beautifully illustrates the answer. Even when he dishonored his father and squandered his inheritance, the prodigal never stopped being his father’s son. In the same way, even when we sin we are still God’s children. Our relationship does not change. What changes is our fellowship with Him. Sin makes us ashamed and feel distant from God. We cease to enjoy a close or intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, but we do not lose our relationship with Him. God is ready and waiting for us to return to Him and restore the joy of our salvation. We need to return to our Father, humble ourselves before Him, and ask Him to forgive us.

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Restoring our fellowship with God How can we restore fellowship with God when we have sinned? Read 1 John 1:8–9 4. What should we do if we sin against God? What does this verse promise that God will do if we confess our sins to Him?

Read 1 Timothy 2:5–7 5. Who is the one mediator between God and man (a mediator is someone who stands between two parties in order to facilitate an agreement)? What are the implications of this concerning confessing your sins?

Hebrews 10:19–22 says that Jesus made a way for us to go directly to God. This means we have the great privilege of approaching God humbly, yet confidently. The Bible tells us that we can restore our fellowship with Jesus by going directly to God, asking His forgiveness, and once again seeking to serve and follow Him. We do not need to go to anyone else to confess our sins, and we do not need the intervention of any other intermediary – we have the privilege of going straight to our heavenly Father, who welcomes us back into fellowship with Himself through Jesus Christ our mediator. But wait… This sounds too easy. Can’t this be abused? If God will forgive us anyway, doesn’t that mean we can sin whenever we want?

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It is possible to come to the wrong conclusion that, since God is gracious and forgives all of our sins, then we can deliberately sin without consequences. But this is not what the Bible teaches. Read 1 John 3:6, 9–10 6. According to these verses, what do God’s children practice? How does this relate to people who think they can sin whenever they want because they know God will forgive them?

Read Hebrews 12:9–11 7. What do fathers do to help their children grow up to live well as adults? What does it mean that God disciplines us? What is His purpose in disciplining us?

Ever wonder if you can do whatever pleases you without regard for God’s will? Consider what Galatians 6:7–8 says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." These verses tell us two things. First, true believers will never invoke God’s promise of grace and forgiveness as an excuse to live a life of sin. Such a lifestyle actually points to another possibility: perhaps such a person does not even know Christ. Second, these verses teach us that there are consequences for disobedience and sin. Even if God loves and forgives us, when we disobey Him we will experience the painful effects of our disobedience. God also promises to discipline us when we disobey. Just like a loving father will

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discipline his children to help them make right choices in life, so too will our heavenly Father correct us so that we will experience His blessings and avoid the consequences of our wrong choices. A final word on the certainty of our relationship with Christ Even if we know the promises of God that He will not leave us, and that we only need to ask His forgiveness to restore us to right fellowship with Him, sometimes we don’t feel that He has forgiven us. We feel we have to do something more to make it right. Or we believe the lie of Satan that God can’t forgive us, because somehow our sin is too bad for Him to forgive. The following diagram is a good reminder of the proper relationship between our feelings and the truth of God’s Word.

Engine (God and His Word)

Fuel (Our trust in God and His Word)

enger Car (The result of our faith and obedience)

The train will run with or without the enger car. But it is futile to attempt to pull the train by the enger car. In the same way, we as Christians do not depend on feelings or emotions, but we place our faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God and the promises of His Word. If you begin feeling that God cannot forgive your sin, remind yourself of the promises of God that our relationship with Him is permanent, and our fellowship with Him can be restored by asking for His forgiveness and turning away from our sin. He promises to cleanse us and restore our fellowship with Christ! Take a few moments to thank God for the certainty of our salvation and the assurance of our relationship with Christ.

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EXPERIENCE 1. What will you do this week in case you disobey God?

2. Now that you know you have eternal security in your relationship with God, what will you do this week if you start to doubt God’s love or your relationship with Him?

3. Have you surrendered your uncertainties to the Lord in prayer? Take time to memorize and pray according to God’s promises like Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 23:1, 4 and 6.

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EQUIP On-the-Job Training (45 minutes) Your discipler will demonstrate to you how to share the gospel using your one-minute testimony together with the GWTH booklet. Observe carefully how he or she does it. After the demo, practice doing the same thing with your discipler or another Dgroup member. This week, pray for others in your family, friends, co-workers and other people God brings to mind. Ask God that they too will hear the gospel and place their trust in Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Use the CCF Prayer Bookmark to write down the names of this special group of people that you want to pray for.

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SESSION 5

ONE SOURCE The Holy Spirit

How can I live a life that honors God? In Session 4, we learned that our relationship with God is permanent. Even if we occasionally stray, sin does not permanently damage our relationship with God. We can be restored to the joy of our new life in Christ by confessing our sin and turning back to God. But it would be even better to consistently see victory over sin! How can we consistently live in a way that pleases the Lord? In this lesson, we will learn several important principles which will help you grow in obedience to Christ.

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EXPLORE Think about a time when you went through a challenging experience at work, in the family, with your health, finances, etc. Who were the people who provided you with the kind of you needed to get through and overcome your challenge? How did they help you? Take turns sharing in your small group.

LEARNING NUGGET No one is truly ever a "self-made" man or woman. We all need someone's help and at times. Some challenges prove too great for overcoming just by our lonesome selves. Jesus promised his disciples Someone who will always be with them to help them in their times of need. In fact, we will not be able to overcome the battles of our soul without the help of this promised One--the Holy Spirit.

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EXAMINE HOW TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY We please God when we consistently overcome temptation and learn to follow Jesus as a way of life. But how do we live a victorious life? Know the Three Primary Sources of Temptation A. The World Read Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:9–11 1. How are we conformed to the world system? How do we avoid being conformed to it?

The World System In this verse, what Paul refers to is how our society and culture thinks, and how this tends to turn us away from the Lord. For instance, we often think an action is wrong only if we are caught (like running a red light when no traffic enforcer is present, or cheating on an exam, or telling a “white lie”). Because our society accepts it (“everyone is doing it”), we think it is OK. But God’s Word calls lying, and cheating and breaking the law sin, whether or not you are caught. As the song says, “God is watching us,” even if no one else ever knows. The Bible says it even more clearly: “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” (Job 34:21-22) We should have our minds renewed by the Word of God, the Bible, so that we will no longer be conformed to this world’s way of thinking.

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B. The Flesh Read James 1:13–16, 2 Timothy 2:22 2. What is the source of our temptation? What is the process of the temptation becoming sin? How should we stop the process? What should we do when we find ourselves tempted to sin?

C. The Devil Read Ephesians 6:10–12 3. Who is our enemy in the spiritual battle we are in? How do we win this battle?

Use the Right Strategy The Bible outlines several important strategies that we should make use of to avoid sin: The Bible and prayer to counter the world Read Luke 11:1–4 4. Why do you think Jesus included the words “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil” at the end of His model prayer for us? What is the role of prayer in overcoming temptation in our lives?

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Flee from lust Read 1 Corinthians 15:33–34 5. People. According to these verses, what danger is there in spending a lot of time with people who don’t follow Christ? Who are the people you normally spend the most time with? Do they encourage you to follow Christ?

Resist the devil Read Ephesians 6:10–12, James 4:7, and 1 Corinthians 10:13 6. Who is our enemy in the spiritual battle we are in? How do we win that battle? What should we do when the devil tempts us? What does God promise to do for us?

Be controlled by the Holy Spirit in all situations Read Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:5–6 Many people misunderstand who the Holy Spirit is. They think of Him as an inanimate force, like the “force” in Star Wars. Actually, the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. He is one of the Persons of the Godhead, coequal with the Father and the Son. Because He is God, He is all-knowing, all-powerful and omnipresent. He helps us in our difficulties. He comforts us. He guides us into truth. And most importantly, He lives within us and gives us the power to obey Christ. It has been said that it is impossible to live the Christian life; this is one of the ironies of Christianity. But through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to obey Him. The Holy Spirit makes the impossible possible!

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7. What is the result of being controlled by the Spirit?

What is the difference between a person controlled by the Spirit and one controlled by their sinful nature?

Read Ephesians 5:18 8. What does this verse command us to do? Will God fill you with His Spirit if you ask Him to?

What does it mean to be ‘filled with the Spirit’? In Ephesians 5:18, Paul contrasts being filled with the Spirit with being drunk with wine. People who are drunk are unable to control their actions. Ask them to walk a straight line and they can’t. They are “under the influence” of the alcohol they have consumed. In a sense, a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit is “under the influence” of God Himself. The normal way of life we once experienced has now changed. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to His desires, not our own. We are controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to act in accordance to His will.

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EXPERIENCE Take a moment now to ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that you can begin seeing victory over sin in your life. First, confess any sin which you have committed against the Lord. Claim His promise in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then, on the basis of His command to you in Ephesians 5:18, ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you can obey and please the Lord through His power, not your own. Tell Him that you sincerely desire for Him to control your life, and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live moment by moment for Him.

EQUIP On-the-Job Training (30 minutes) Share your one-minute testimony and the gospel to someone in your workplace this week. If he or she gives a positive response to the gospel, do a follow-up meeting with him or her within 48 hours. Use Book 1: One by One in your follow up and subsequent meetings.

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SESSION 6

ONE PURSUIT Growing in Our Relationship with Christ

How will I grow in my relationship with God? If you have ever been “in love”, then you know what it is like to have a growing desire to know the person you fell in love with. Married couples especially know that entering into a relationship and growing in intimacy with your loved one are two different things.

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EXPLORE Take turns sharing in your group about... 1. A skill you learned as a child that you continue to use today 2. A skill you tried to learn at any point in your life but never mastered

LEARNING NUGGET A popular idea on mastering a skill states that it takes about 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to develop an expertise in a field of discipline such as in music, sports, the arts, culinary skills, etc. Whether or not this is true, it is commonly observed that we can improve our performance of a certain skill when we practice the right way for sustained periods of time. This proves true as well for our relationships--with people and with the Lord. Growing in our love relationship with God will take time and discipline on our part.

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EXAMINE Growing in Your Relationship with Christ When you entered into a personal relationship with God, your journey in knowing Him intimately had only just begun. You need to keep on growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Growing a relationship – whether with another human being or your relationship with the Lord – can be likened to growing plants in a garden.

The Parable of the Four Soils Just like a healthy plant grows through proper cultivation and care, so does our relationship with Christ. Jesus used the parable of the four soils to illustrate the different growth patterns of those who have heard the gospel.

Read Matthew 13:1–9; 18–23 1. What are the four types of soil described in this parable?

a. What is characteristic of the hard ground of the path? What happens to the Word of God when it lands there?

b. What is characteristic of the rocky soil? What happens to the Word of God when it lands there?

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c. What is characteristic of the thorny soil? What happens to the Word of God when it lands there?

d. What is characteristic of the good soil? What happens to the Word of God when it lands there?

Growing a Healthy Relationship with Christ When you received Christ into your life you began a new relationship with Him. Before, you only knew about God but now you know Him personally. Our relationship with Christ grows as we spend time with Him and follow His pattern for our life. There are several important elements in developing a healthy relationship with Christ. The following diagram gives us a picture of these elements. F WORSH IFE O IP AL

PRAYER

FELLOWSHIP

JESUS CHRIST

WITNESSING

ED N

IN

TH

E PO W R OF TH E

SP

GOD’S WORD

LY

IE

E

IRI

T

OB C

E

HO

The Growth Wheel, Adapted from The Navigators

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A life of worship Everything we do should bring honor and glory to Christ. Worship is often expressed most clearly when we all come together to worship on Sundays. But everything we do should honor Christ – even when we are at work, at home, at school, or at play. Christ the center When Christ is the center of our life, the wheel moves smoothly. Obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit Obedience to Christ is where the “rubber meets the road” – where we see our relationship with Christ worked out in the crucible of our daily lives.

The vertical spokes of the wheel relate to our vertical relationship with Christ: Prayer Regular communication with the Lord is essential to developing our relationship with Him. We do this through prayer. God’s Word Every relationship is built on two-way communication. We must carefully listen to the Lord through regular Bible reading/study and obey what He tells us to do.

The horizontal spokes relate to our horizontal relationships with those around us. Fellowship with other believers Our faith was never intended to be practiced alone. We must grow in the Lord together, and love and encourage one another by spending regular time together with other believers.

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Witnessing This simply means connecting those around us to Christ. Christ desires to use us to connect our family, friends and loved ones to him. Being a witness for Christ is a part of every growing Christian’s life.

Cultivating Our Relationship with Christ These elements can all be seen in the life of the early church. Read Acts 2:42–46 2. What did the first Christians do after they came to know the Lord?

Through Prayer Read 1 John 5:14–15 3. What do these verses tell us about our prayers?

Through God’s Word (The Bible) Read Psalm 119:105; Joshua 1:8 4. What do these verses tell us about God’s Word?

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These are the two main elements that will help us develop our vertical relationship with God: prayer and God’s Word, the Bible. Prayer is talking to God, telling Him whatever is on our hearts, and asking His help, guidance and involvement in our lives. The Bible is God’s primary way of speaking to us. Through the Bible, God communicates to us about who He is, and how we are to live for Him. It tells us how to obey Him in the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can be pleasing to Him.

Jesus’ example Read Matthew 14:23 and Luke 5:15–16 5. How would you characterize Jesus’ life and ministry? How did He respond to the demands on Him?

If Jesus, God’s own Son, needed to retreat frequently to spend time with the Father, we need to do so even more.

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How to Have a Quiet Time A “quiet time” is a time for you to meet with the Lord daily to grow in your relationship with Him. • Choose a place where you will not be disturbed and where you can concentrate well. • Select a time when you are alert, not rushed, and when you can be consistent. • Bring your Bible, a ballpen and notebook to write down prayer requests and things the Lord teaches you from His Word. • Begin spending a few minutes a day with the Lord. Later, you may want to extend the time as you get to know Him more. • Be creative. Although the basic elements of a quiet time are the same (prayer, praise, Bible reading, singing, meditating on the Lord and His word, etc.), there are different ways to spend time with the Lord.

Cultivating Our Relationship with People Through Fellowship Hebrews 10:24–25 6. What do these verses instruct believers to do?

Through Witnessing Acts. 1:8 7. What did Jesus tell His disciples they would receive and become? What does a witness do?

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EXPERIENCE 1. Think back on the 4 different soils. What kind of soil are you right now? What kind of soil do you want to be? What will you do to become good soil?

2. Read Acts 4:18–20; John 4:39–42. What were Peter and John told not to do? What was their response? What did the Samaritan woman do after she met Jesus? How did she influence the people in her town? Have you been pressured not to talk about Christ to others? What should your response be? What steps will you take to share Christ with others?

3. Schedule a time to read the Bible and pray. If you read for at least ten minutes everyday, you can finish the whole Bible in a year!

4. When will you spend regular time with God in prayer and reading the Bible this week?

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Will you commit to spend ten minutes a day to read the Bible systematically (Genesis-Revelation, etc.), reading at least two chapters? I commit to read the whole Bible by spending ten minutes everyday reading at least two chapters.

SIGNED

DATE

EQUIP On-the-Job Training (30 minutes) Your discipler will ask you what your experience was like when you shared your one-minute witness testimony and the gospel. Be sure to give honest and do not be embarrassed to ask for help with any difficulty you may have encountered. This week, share the gospel using your one-minute testimony and the GWTH booklet with someone in your workplace or community that you have been praying for. If that person gives a positive response to the gospel, to do a follow-up meeting within 48 hours. Use Book 1: One by One in your followup and subsequent meetings.

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WHAT’S NEXT?

BOOK 2: SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Congratulations! You have completed Book 1: One by One. We sincerely hope that you have made the decision to enter into a committed relationship with God through Jesus as a result of this study. When you enter into a new relationship, you make space for that special person in your schedule, in your budget, in your circle of friends and in your family. You choose to prioritize your relationship over other endeavors. This is similar to your life with Jesus Christ. A committed follower of Christ will see changes happen in his lifestyle in response to God’s presence in his life. But what does it mean to live life with Jesus Christ? How does one “make space” and prioritize God in the busyness of 21st century living? What kind of changes in your life can you expect to see as you grow in intimacy with the Lord? These and other FAQs of the life of a committed follower of Christ will be dealt with in Book 2: Spiritual Disciplines. We hope that you continue discovering more about Jesus Christ and what it means to have Him in your life!

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SUGGESTED ANSWERS SESSION 1 1. God is love; His basic nature is that He is a loving God. 2. A full and meaningful life; a life with purpose; a life with love, joy, and happiness. 3. God is holy; He does not sin, and keeps Himself completely separate from anything sinful or impure. 4. We were like sheep that have LOST their way. 5. If we break one commandment, we are guilty of the whole law; even if we think we are basically good, we must realize that our good deeds cannot outweigh our bad deeds. 6. Death – eternal separation from God; there are no exceptions because everyone has sinned. 7. God showed his love for sinners like us when he sacrificed his only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for the penalty of our sins (death); He offers us the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

SESSION 2 1. There is no one who really seeks God, and no one who is really good. 2. We are guilty of the whole law. 3. The Pharisee was boasting of his good works. He looked down on the tax collector. The tax collector humbled himself before God. He itted he was a sinner and needed God’s mercy. 4. We are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by our good works – instead, when we do good things, they show that we are simply fulfilling God’s design for our lives. Grace is something we receive that we do not deserve. 5. We receive a gift when we accept it from the giver. No, we do not have to pay for a gift – the gift-giver already paid for the gift!

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6. They were convicted criminals and were not “good” people. Jesus promised that the repentant criminal will be with Jesus in paradise. The criminal on the cross did not (and could not) do anything to make himself worthy of salvation. He demonstrated faith in Jesus as his Savior. 7. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our wrongdoing. He has removed our transgressions from us.

SESSION 3 1. God has given eternal life to all those who believe in his Son. Yes, it is possible to know as seen in these verses because these were written so that we will know that we have eternal life. A person can be sure of eternal life based on God’s promise as written in these verses. 2. The good shepherd will not abandon the sheep, he will give up his life to protect the sheep. The hireling will abandon the sheep when there is danger. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. 3. Jesus promised that not one of His sheep will ever perish or be snatched away from His hand. No one can snatch them away from His Father’s hand, who is greater than all. 4. We are a new creation. I would expect my life to be different from my old one. 5. We can say that we really know God if we keep or obey His commands. A person who lives like how Jesus lived shows evidence of his faith in Christ. 6. We should love one another. The age says that loving our brothers and sisters is evidence that we are in the light. Since God loves us, loving each other reflects how He relates to us. 7. God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodly living and worldly ions.

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SESSION 4 1. God promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. 2. Since Jesus promised He will always be with us, we do not need to worry about losing our salvation. 3. They were father and son and the relationship is permanent. The son remained his father’s son even when he left home. However, the son’s actions resulted in alienation from the father. He could no longer enjoy the closeness or fellowship with his dad. This fellowship was restored after the son went back to the father who welcomed him with delight and forgiveness. 4. We should confess our sins to God; He will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from impurity. 5. No one who lives in God keeps on sinning. God’s children do what is right. Those who keep on sinning because they believe God will forgive them anyway shows that they do not belong to Him. 6. Our actions will have consequences. Sin could result in broken relationships with others, shame, guilt, financial crisis, etc. while obedience will result in peace, harmonious relationships, a purposeful life and other blessings from God. 7. Fathers discipline their children. When God disciplines us, it means that He treats us as His legitimate children. His purpose is to train us for our good for us to become godly or to be like Him.

SESSION 5 1. By letting the way the world thinks influence us to think and act the same way; by allowing our mind to be renewed by God’s Word. 2. Our fleshly lusts; we start by thinking about it, then by considering it, then by doing it; do not be deceived by lustful thoughts; God’s Word keeps us from sinning. Flee from temptations because we should not unnecessarily expose ourselves to tempting situations. 3. Because He wanted us to practice praying so we can avoid falling into sin. Prayer allows us to receive God’s strength to say “No” to temptation.

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4. Morally bad people can influence us not to follow Christ. 5. The devil and his forces; by putting on the armor of God – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). Resist the devil; he will flee from us. God will never give us a temptation that is impossible to overcome; He will always give us a way to escape. 6. We will not carry out the desire of the flesh. The person controlled by the flesh does not experience spiritual life, the person controlled by the Holy Spirit enjoys life and peace. 7. It commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit; yes, because we know it is His desire that we be filled with the Spirit.

SESSION 6 1. Four kinds of soil – hard, rocky, thorny, and good soil. a. The hard and compacted soil of the path made it impossible for the seed to penetrate and grow. The Word of God lands on a hard heart (like the hardened soil of the path), then Satan (like the birds) snatches away what was sown in his heart. b. Rocky soil contains some soil to accept the seed, but not enough for them to be deeply rooted. The soil is also filled with rocks of all sizes. The plant eventually dies because there is no root formed. These people joyfully receive the Good News of the gospel because of the promises offered. They grow a little initially, but since it has no roots or lacks real depth, when trouble or persecution comes they quickly fall away. c. Thorns rob the plant of nutrition, water, light, and space. Thus, when the thorns grew, the good seed was choked out and could not grow to maturity and yield a crop. The man hears the Word but the worries and cares of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Distractions and conflicts can rob new believers of time to reflect and meditate on God’s Word to grow from it. Materialistic pursuits distract believers, choking out God’s Word so that it yields nothing.

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2.

3. 4.

5.

6.

7.

d. The seed landed in plowed and readied soil. This seed had the depth of soil, space, and moisture to grow and produce a crop. Believers should be a good soil; they hear the Word and accept it. These are the true disciples, those who have accepted Jesus, believed His words, and allowed His Word to build and make a difference in their lives. They met together for prayer, to study God’s Word, for fellowship, and for witnessing. In order to produce spiritually healthy disciples of Jesus Christ. God listens to our prayers. Praying in line with God’s will is the key to getting whatever believers ask in prayer. We have to meditate on God’s Word daily. God’s Word directs and guides us in our Christian walk. It is the sole rule of our faith and conduct. God’s Word will help us to become successful in God’s standards, to mature in the faith and become Christ-like. Jesus’ life and ministry is characterized by prayer and fellowship with the Father. Many people came to hear Him preach and to be healed of their diseases but Jesus made sure He had time alone with the Father and that He prayed regularly. We should always gather together to worship God, share our faith and to strengthen one another in our Christian walk. We have to enjoy encouragement from one another especially in times of challenges and difficulties. The disciples will receive power from the Holy Spirit to become witnesses. Being a witness for Christ is simply sharing to your friends, family, relatives and associates what Christ has done in your life.

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APPENDIX A

GOD’S WAY TO HEAVEN

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There are Four (4) Truths that we must clearly understand to be sure of going to heaven. I. GOD LOVES YOU and desires that you: 1. Have eternal life with Him. Jesus is speaking, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 2. Have an abundant and meaningful life. Jesus is speaking, “ ...I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10) But most people aren’t experiencing a meaningful life and aren’t sure that they have eternal life because... II. Man has a SIN problem that SEPARATES him from GOD. 1. Every one has sinned. Romans 3:23 says, “Everyone has sinned and is far from God’s saving presence.” 2. Have an abundant and meaningful life. “For sin pays its wage - death; ...” (Romans 6:23)

What kind of death? The Bible talks about two kinds of death. The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual or eternal separation from God. We read about this SECOND DEATH in the book of Revelation.

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“But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practice magic, those who worship idols, and ALL LIARS - the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the Second Death.” (Revelation 21:8) Since sin separates man from God, what is the solution to his problem? III. JESUS CHRIST is God’s ONLY way to heaven. 1. He is the ONLY way. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “ ...I am the way, the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except by Me.” 2. He COMPLETELY PAID the penalty of your sins. “For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God ... “ (1 Peter 3:18) 3. His resurrection proves that He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the only Savior. “It is about His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to His humanity, He was born a descendant of David; as to His divine Holiness, He was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death.” (Romans 1 :3-4) 4. He promises Eternal Life. Jesus Himself said in John 11 :25-26, “ ...I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me will live, even though they die; and those who live and believe in Me will never die.” Do you believe this? Merely knowing about what Jesus Christ has done for us is not enough.

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IV. We must place our FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST to save us. 1. You are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but GOD’S GIFT, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8–10) If salvation can be expressed in a formula, which do you think is the correct one? Please check. FAITH IN JESUS + GOOD WORKS = SALVATION or FAITH IN JESUS + NOTHING = SALVATION Ò GOOD WORKS Read Ephesians 2:8–10 on the previous page again. Which formula is consistent with this age? Good works are not the means to salvation, rather they are the evidences or by-products of your salvation. 2. Show your faith in Jesus Christ by accepting His gift of eternal life. Jesus is speaking, "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me." (Revelation 3:20)

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You can pray this simple prayer to express your faith in Jesus Christ and receive Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. You only have to pray this prayer once, but with sincerity, because when He enters your life, He will never leave you. PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving me. I confess that I am a sinner worthy of eternal punishment. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for all of my sins. With your help, I am turning away from all my sins. Today, I put my trust in you as my Lord and Savior and I receive you into my heart. Thank you for forgiving my sins and for coming into my heart. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Thank you that one day, I will go home to be with you in heaven. From this day on, I will follow and obey you. Amen. If you have just trusted Jesus Christ to save you and expressed that trust by asking Him to come into your heart, then the following things have happened to you: 1. You have ETERNAL LIFE. "The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life and this life has its source in His Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life - you that believe in the Son of God." (1 John 5:11-13)

2. All of YOUR SINS are PAID FOR and FORGIVEN. (Past, Present and Future sins)

"He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of His dear Son, by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven." (Colossians 1:13-14)

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3. You are A NEW PERSON in God's eyes. A new life has begun for you.

"Anyone who is ed to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17) 4. You became A CHILD OF GOD. "Some, however, did receive Him and believed in Him; so He gave them the right to become God's children." (John 1:12) Today is your spiritual birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! As a reminder of your commitment today, read and sign the pledge below:

TODAY JESUS, I TRUSTED IN YOU TO BE MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR AND I ACCEPTED YOUR FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. I COMMIT TO LOVE AND OBEY YOU FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

SIGNED

DATE

You now have a very personal and permanent relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. To grow in your relationship with Him: 1. Pray to Him every day. This is how we talk to God. 2. Read the Bible. This is how God talks to you. Begin with the Gospel of John. Read a chapter a day and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it. 3. Be part of a small group. Learn more about God and how to please Him in a Dgroup.

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APPENDIX B

ONE MINUTE WITNESS TM

One of the World’s Easiest Faith-Sharing Tools!

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Share my faith, Who me? Your country needs you... Your friends need you... Your Savior needs you... To bring them hope! Aren’t you glad someone shared their faith with you? If Jesus is the answer, shouldn’t we be actively sharing His solutions with others in this broken world? ME, share my faith? Yes. God has chosen you and me to be His ambassadors, His voice, His beating heart. Why? Because there is no better ment for His life-changing love than you and me! We are His trophies of grace. Maybe you’re thinking that evangelism is too hard or it’s the pastor’s job. Or maybe you’re worried someone may ask a hard question. These thoughts and fears aren’t new. They just reflect ‘creative thinking’ on the part of our own insecurities. In fact, God invites all Christians to share their faith. Sharing our faith not only blesses the recipient, it blesses you back. Plus, God even gives us the Holy Spirit to help us so we never do this alone. Let’s decide to shut-off that voice of insecurity, and ask God to give us ‘spiritual ears’ to hear His voice! We ALL can do this. We ALL have a story, and this ONE-MINUTE-WITNESSTM tool makes it fun and easy. After learning and applying this ONE-MINUTEWITNESSTM tool, a pastor said, “To think I have wasted all these years by not sharing my faith. Now I can do it with confidence.” AND SO CAN YOU... I GUARANTEE IT! Tom Elie International Evangelist

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Evangelism Made Easy The ONE-MINUTE-WITNESSTM tool can revolutionize your life and mobilize you in sharing your faith without fear. Thousands of others are using it. So give it a try... for the sake of those God intends to influence through you!

The One-Minute Witness Tool 1. Permission 2. B.C. (Before Christ) 3. T.P. (Turning Point) 4. A.D. (Anno Domini) 5. “If I had not met Christ...”

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Permission Use your fingers to help you these 5 easy steps!

Because God loves people, He wants us to tell them about Jesus: whether they are strangers or friends. Here’s a great way to start: PERMISSION When we ask people ‘permission’ to share our thoughts, we treat them with respect, and their defenses come down. Here’s a way to transition your conversation... “I wonder if I could ask you a question?” If they agree, ask...

“What would you say is the best thing that has ever happened to you?” People invariably smile. Why? It taps into their memory archives and brings up pleasant thoughts. After they finish their story, then ask...

“May I share the greatest thing that has ever happened to me?” Be brief. Sow the seed of the Gospel in around 60 seconds; that’s a ‘ONEMINUTE- WITNESS.TM’ A brief story will help keep your friend engaged. NOW IT’S TIME TO START YOUR STORY...

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B.C. (Before Christ) Begin your B.C. story

We all have a ‘B.C’ story, our life ‘BEFORE CHRIST.’ What was your life like before you personally fell in love with Jesus? I DIDN’T SAY before you went to church or got confirmed. I DO MEAN when you truly surrendered your heart and life to Christ. Here’s where we start writing YOUR B.C. story. First, think of three adjectives that describe your B.C. life. Perhaps you were lonely, frustrated or lacked purpose. Perhaps you had success without significance, lots of guilt or anxiety. Maybe you were hopeless in life or angry at God or afraid to die. The list goes on. Maybe you’re like me. You surrendered your life to Christ at a young age and can’t a specific moment of conversion. Even though I was young, there are some things I : my need for forgiveness, feelings of guilt, and knowing there has to be a God. As you your B.C. days, YOUR STORY begins to take shape. Go ahead and finish this sentence with three adjectives or phrases and write them on page 73: “There was a time in my life when...”

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T.P. (Turning Point) Begin your T.P. story

Everyone has a season when their spiritual curiosity kicks in, a time when you see your spiritual need. This is your TURNING POINT. It could have been during a church service, during a crisis, a healing or answered prayer. It could have occurred when someone shared their faith with you or even when you experienced success, yet still felt empty. My T.P. sounds like this: “One day someone told me about a God who really loves me. This God was personal and not distant, and invited me to live in heaven with Him forever. But I had a problem. Heaven’s perfect, and I’m not, so I couldn’t get in. But this God, named Jesus, made a way for me. He came to earth 2,000 years ago and became the perfect sacrifice. He died for me to remove my sins. All I had to do was receive His gift. So I asked Jesus to forgive me, and I invited Him to become the leader of my life.” WHAT’S YOUR ‘TURNING POINT’? How did you hear about Jesus? What did you ask Jesus to do in your life? Write this on page 83.

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A.D. (Anno Domini) Begin your A.D. story

A.D. MEANS ‘ANNO DOMINI’. It is Latin for ‘the year of our Lord.’ This is the easiest and most fun part of our story because we get to talk about the positive change Christ has made in our lives. Here are some of the benefits of coming to know Christ and the difference He makes in our lives: having new joy, a sense of purpose and fulfillment, no more guilt, new friends, and assurance of eternal life. It’s a picture of the father rejoicing when his prodigal son came home. “My son was lost but now he’s found, he was dead but now he’s alive!” (Luke 15). My A.D. sounds like this, “Since asking Jesus to be the king of my life, I have new purpose, new joy, and the confidence that I can go to heaven when I die.” FIND THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE THE POSITIVE CHANGE THAT CHRIST HAS MADE IN YOUR LIFE. That’s not too hard, is it? Turn to page 83 when you have come up with your answers.

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If I Had Never Met Christ... Complete your story

Imagine what your life would be like without knowing Jesus. That sounds frightening, doesn’t it? You certainly wouldn’t have the blessings you just described in A.D. Let’s wrap up your story with what your life might be like if you had never met Christ. When you speak, the listener will hear your heart. Some people say their life would be empty, meaningless or still searching for purpose. Others say they would be in jail, on drugs, divorced, or even dead. Life would be radically different. When you’re done, thank them for listening. I am told the average person hears the Gospel 7 times before they give their life to Christ. Our immediate goal is not to win them to Christ, but to plan the seed of your testimony. Anything more than that is a bonus! You can respond to their questions if they are open to talk more. Just don’t get into a discussion over doctrine. The power of your story is simply sharing your heart. It’s like the blind man who said, “I don’t know much about this man who healed me. All I know is that I once was blind, but now I see” (John 9:25). Finish this sentence and write your answer on page 84. IF I HAD NEVER MET CHRIST, ...

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Finish this sentence with three adjectives or phrases... “There was a time in my life when...”

1 2 3

What was your ‘turning point’? 1. How did you hear about Jesus?

2. What did you ask Jesus to do in your life?

Describe the positive change that Christ has made in your life. List three benefits

1 2 3

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What would your life look like without Christ? “If I had never met Christ, I...”

Let’s Review 1. Permission 2. B.C. (Before Christ) 3. T.P. (Turning Point) 4. A.D. (Anno Domini) 5. “If I had not met Christ...”

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Inviting the Holy Spirit The ONE-MINUTE-WITNESSTM tool is simply an aid to help you share the life- changing story of Jesus. It is only a tool. It is NOT the message. We must put our confidence in the leading of the Holy Spirit and in His ability to “draw all men unto Him” (John 12:32). Jesus often approached strangers... like the woman at the well, Zacchaeus who was in the tree, and Matthew the tax collector. Other times Jesus built relationships and then shared, but He was quick to obey His Father’s voice. So when, how, and with whom do you share your faith? Begin each day with the following prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to someone. “DEAR JESUS, I AM AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STORY TODAY. AMEN.”

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Taking it Further... After sharing the ONE MINUTE WITNESS, you may ask them questions, such as: 1. “So what about you? If you died tonight, do you think you would go to heaven?” 2. “How do you think someone gets to heaven?” 3. “May I tell you how the Bible says you can know you’re going to heaven?” If their answer is “yes,” introduce the ‘ABCs.’ ‘A’- IT I have done wrong, and my sin separates me from a holy God. (Romans 3:23) ‘B’- BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died to forgive me, and then rose again, proving He is the one true God. (Romans 10:9–10) ‘C’- CONFESS my sins to Jesus, and ask Him to be the king of my heart. (1 John 1:9) If they understand the ABCs, then ask this key question: “What would stop you from totally surrendering your life to Jesus Christ today?” If there’s nothing stopping them, then ask, “With God’s help, would you be willing to turn away from what the Bible calls ‘sin’, and follow Jesus daily?”

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Closing Your Story... If they say “yes,” then ask them to repeat your heartfelt prayer using the ABCs. When they are done, congratulate them, and point them toward 3 things: reading the Bible daily, praying daily, and finding a Bible-believing church to attend weekly. Exchange e-mails and phone numbers, and them again within 24 hours to congratulate them. Read John 3:16– 17 to them and ask them what it means to them. Ask them how you can pray for them, and invite them to go with you to church or your small group. FOR GREAT FOLLOW-UP GO TO THESE WEBSITES: www.frostygrapes.com www.salvationpoen.com So my friend, now you are equipped for the adventure of an eternity. Ask a friend to be your witnessing partner for the next 7 days. Email us with your results. And let’s be His everyday witness... starting today!

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If you want to others who are serious about taking their faith to a new level, us at:

www.oneminutewitness.org Sign up at our Website to receive our FREE One Minute Witness E-mail each week. It will motivate you to focus on things that matter for eternity... souls!

To order this ONE-MINUTE-WITNESSTM booklet, visit our Website above or write:

Oasis World Ministries PO Box 2244 Maple Grove, MN 55311 USA 763-425-9355 . [email protected]

© 2009, revised 2014. Oasis World Ministries. Written by Tom Elie and Oasis World Ministries. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be changed in any way or reproduced in any form without written permission from Oasis World Ministries. V6.

*The One-Minute Witness booklet is also available at the CCF Center Bookstore or place your orders with the CCF Center office.

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APPENDIX C

TIPS ON USING THE GOD'S WAY TO HEAVEN BOOKLET Adapted from Campus Crusade for Christ

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PP Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit PP The best way to use the GWTH booklet is to simply read through it aloud without adding your own commentary or additional information. PP Seek to communicate in your natural speaking voice, not in a mechanical way. PP If questions come up that would change the topic, discern if it is an honest question or simply a tactic to divert the conversation. If your is really trying to clarify a point related to the gospel, then give a brief and straight answer as clearly as you can. Point out Bible verses to show where you base your answer. PP Be sensitive to the level of interest of the person you are sharing with. If he or she seems to lack interest, and there seems to be no response, pause and ask, “Is this making sense to you?” or a similar question to hold the interest of the listener. PP Hold the GWTH booklet so that it can be clearly seen. Use a pen to focus on certain key points. This will also help hold the attention of the person you are sharing with. PP If you are sharing to more than one person at a time, give each one a copy of the booklet. Ask that everyone follows along as you share. Pray with those who are interested in receiving Christ; when you get to the prayer part, say something like: “If you would like to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, simply follow after me as I lead in prayer….” This will give a chance to anyone in the group to accept Jesus if they choose to.

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APPENDIX D

HOW TO HANDLE DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO THE INVITATION TO RECEIVE CHRIST

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Instructions: When you get to Page 11 in the God’s Way to Heaven gospel presentation, read through the page as is. After reading through the prayer section, ask, “Would you like to pray and receive Christ into your heart?” Wait for your evangelistic ’s response and proceed accordingly; use the following guide to help you respond appropriately: Their Response YES

Your Response Say something like, “That’s great! Let me go through the prayer again and this time, you pray along with me.” Lead them in prayer, phrase by phrase, aloud with them repeating after you.

Next Step / Comments If they want to pray silently say, “Why don’t you take the booklet, and as you read the prayer, silently, pray the prayer to Christ, inviting him to come into your life. When you finish, just say, amen, and I will know you have finished.” Sometimes, a person will state that they would like to pray on their own later in the day. Say, “That is fine. Let me suggest that you take the booklet with you and sometime between now and the time you go to bed that you get alone and read through this booklet again. And when you come to the prayer, pray the prayer to the Lord. And then finish reading through the booklet.”

Adapted from MC2 Training of Campus Crusade for Christ

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Their Response

Your Response

I AM NOT YET READY TO ACCEPT CHRIST or I AM NOT YET READY TO PRAY THIS PRAYER

“Let me show you what will happen when you do invite Christ into your life.”

Next Step / Comments Proceed to pages 12-13 and use the future tense to share the points of what will happen when they do accept Christ. Do not read the sentence “Today is your spiritual birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” Some may not be ready to pray because they did not completely understand, may have their questions answered when you explain what will happen when they pray. After reading through pages 1213, ask them again if they want to invite Christ into their life. If they answer “YES”, then go back to page 11 and lead in prayer. If they answer “NO”, then say something like, “I respect your decision, if at a future time you may be ready to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you know how. Thank you for letting me have this conversation with you! I would like to leave this booklet with you so you can read through it again if you’d like to.”

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APPENDIX E

EVALUATION TOOL FOR GOSPEL SHARING

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MD Peer Evaluation Tool for Evangelistic Presentation Evaluator

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Date:

Gospel Sharer : Kindly evaluate your partner based on the following criteria. Check the appropriate box under the “evaluation” column that corresponds to your evaluation for each criterion. Please give your partner specific points for improvement for every “I somewhat agree” and “disagree” evaluation you give. CRITERION 1. Clarity • My partner shared the gospel points in a logical sequence • My partner's voice was easily heard • My partner used words that are easily understood 2. Connection • My partner introduced himself/ herself to me in a friendly way • My partner asked for my name and took some time to listen to my interests and/or needs • My partner related my needs or interests to spiritual truths • My partner maintained good eye during our conversation • My partner had me read some of the gospel verses

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EVALUATION I agree I somewhat agree I disagree

I agree

I somewhat agree

I disagree

CRITERION 3. Conciseness • My partner transitioned our conversation to the gospel in a timely manner • My partner shared the gospel within the time he asked for • My partner avoided giving additional explanations to what was written in the evangelistic tool 4. Completeness • My partner shared the gospel points completely • My partner gave me an opportunity to respond in prayer to Christ’s offer of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life • My partner gave me an opportunity to express to God in prayer my desire to follow Jesus as my Lord

EVALUATION I agree

I somewhat agree

I disagree

I agree

I somewhat agree

I disagree

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