Set to Grow
GROWING YOUR FAITH
God loves us and wants us to experience the joy of loving Him. He desires that you develop an intimate relationship with Him and talk to Him like your best friend. And that relationship requires investing time in getting to know more about God.
We are blessed to have His story documented in the Holy Scriptures. The Bible provides countless stories of God’s pursuit of mankind, His grace, His power and His love. And through sending His son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, He has provided true life examples of how we should live our lives on earth.
Read/Study Your Bible
The Bible is more than just a good book, it is the Book of Life, which leads to life in Jesus Christ. It enables us to know God in all his majesty and glory, to know ourselves in all our sinfulness and brokenness, and the way of redemption and restoration.
II Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)
Pray
Prayer is conversation with your heavenly Father, who loves you very much. It should be just as natural for a Christian to talk to the Lord as it is for a little boy to talk to his Daddy.
Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Surround Yourself with Other Believers
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Being around other believers gives us the chance to learn and grow in our faith. It demonstrates to us why we believe and is an excellent food for our souls.
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)
SHARE THE GOSPEL
Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He left the church one Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15 NASB).
Jesus makes the why very clear, but many of us struggle with the how. We don’t all have a dramatic life story like Paul (Acts 26), but we all have our own story of how we came to Christ. If you have experienced God’s grace, you have a story! And it is your story that no one can deny.
Read / Study the Bible
Reading the bible will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of your faith, learn about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and gain guidance and wisdom for your life.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
JEREMIAH 3:3
Resources
The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is a short prayer that provides a model on how Christians can pray. The prayer itself includes 7 petitions (requests) for God’s help in living a holy and faith-filled life. The first 3 petitions focus on acknowledging and respecting God’s power and authority, while the last 4 petitions focus on asking for God’s help in life’s day-to-day challenges.
1. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”
Jesus starts by establishing our identity as children of God. He emphasizes this relationship as a source of confidence that God listens when you pray.
2. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven.”
It’s tempting to rush to the part of prayer where you’re asking God for what you want or need. But Jesus makes a point of placing God’s agenda first. He also uses this phrase as a reminder that what is true of God in heaven is also true on earth.
3. “Give us today our daily bread.”
Jesus models asking God for His own needs. Because God is a loving Father, He enjoys hearing what His children want and need, so that He can provide for them. Though He won’t give you anything and everything you ask for, He will provide what you need to get through each day, including His grace to sustain you.
4. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Forgiveness was at the heart of Jesus’ teaching during His time on earth, and it’s here at the heart of His guide to prayer.
Jesus first models asking forgiveness for anything you have done that displeases God. Second, He reminds you to consider any unforgiveness you might have toward another person and ask Him to help you forgive them.
5. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
the evil one.”
Finally, Jesus closes His prayer by encouraging His followers to keep in mind that the Christian life is a spiritual battle with a very real enemy. Jesus closes His prayer by emphasizing how quickly and naturally humans stray from God’s protection.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CHURCH
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)
SOUND TEACHING
The very first thing that you should look for in a church would be sound teaching.
FELLOWSHIP
Are the people in that church warm and sincere in how they accommodate you and your family?
Prayer
The church you choose should be one that has a fiery prayer life.
JESUS CHRIST
The church you choose should always remind itself of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done.
The Holy Spirit
Many churches might have the first four played out well, but they miss this: The Holy Spirit.
Other
One of the best ways to find a church is by asking friends and neighbors where they attend.
Jesus makes the why very clear, but many of us struggle with the how. We don’t all have a dramatic life story like Paul (Acts 26), but we all have our own story of how we came to Christ. If you have experienced God’s grace, you have a story! And it is your story that no one can deny.
BENEFITS OF ENGAGING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS
Worship
Christians gather to worship God, express their gratitude, and honor him through prayer, singing, and other forms of worship.
Fellowship
Christians meet to build relationships with one another and to encourage one another in their faith. By sharing their experiences, struggles, and joys, Christians can support and uplift one another.
Learning
Christians meet to learn more about God’s word and to grow in their understanding of the Bible. Through teaching, preaching, and Bible study, Christians can deepen their knowledge of God’s truth and apply it to their lives.
Accountability
Christians also meet to hold one another accountable and to help each other stay on track in their faith. By sharing their struggles and challenges, Christians can receive support and guidance from others who share their beliefs.
Mission
Finally, Christians meet to work together to fulfill the mission of the church, which is to share the good news of Jesus with others and to serve those in need. By working together, Christians can make a greater impact in their communities and in the world.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
Romans 1:16
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO share Christ with others BY tellING your story OF SALVATION?
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