We believe that a passionate follower of Jesus is a person who embarks on a lifelong journey with Christ. It’s more than any one moment, one class or one decision. We believe it’s a lifetime of learning, giving, serving, and growing in your relationship with God. You have made the decision to take this journey. Think of this resource as packing your bags as you start on your way. Together we are going to dive into eight essential ideas that will help you begin the journey.

“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 2:10 

DISCIPLE: a passionate follower of christSALVATION: God’s plan to rescue me through relationshipGRACE: God’s goodness to me even though I don’t deserve it FAITH: living with complete confidence in God’s plan and purposeREPENTANCE: changing my mind to align with God’s perspectiveREDEMPTION: receiving Jesus as payment for a debt I could not payJUSTIFICATION: the way God sees me that helps me see myselfSANCTIFICATION: the process of becoming holy through personal surrender and cooperation with God

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through FAITH that leads to REPENTANCE.

SALVATION produces in us a REDEEMED life, JUSTIFIED by God and SANCTIFIED by new HABITS.

DISCIPLE: A PASSIONATE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

We exist to compel the unconvinced to become passionatefollowers of Christ.

At Life Fellowship a passionate follower of Christ is what the Bible calls a _______________.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Somehow, an idea has taken root in the minds of many Christians that being a disciple of Jesus is not essential to salvation. Rather, they see discipleship as an extra step or a deeper commitment. Discipleship is, in common understanding, optional. Interestingly, nowhere in the Bible is this idea reinforced. Jesus clearly understood that anyone who experienced Salvation was at that point, and forevermore, a disciple.

Jesus even said it this way: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’“ Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

A disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ. Being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.

This lifelong process reminds of us of four things:

1) IT’S NOT __________________“You have been Christians for a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead ... you need someone to teach you ... When a person is still living on milk, it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life ... He’s still a baby Christian!” Hebrews 5:12-13 (LB) 2) IT IS A ______________“Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior Jesus Christ.”2 Peter 3:18 (GNB)

3) IT TAKES _____________________“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)

4) THE MARK OF A DISCIPLE IS ____________-_______________“Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

How often am I to do this? DAILY“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23

What is involved in “cross-bearing”?WHATEVER IT TAKES to give Christ first place in my life.

ANSWER KEY: DISCIPLE, AUTOMATIC, PROCESS, DISCIPLINE, CROSS-BEARING

SALVATION: GOD’S PLAN TO RESCUE ME THROUGH RELATIONSHIP

 “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 2:10

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with ____________________.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 (NIV)

Salvation, or spiritual birth, is ___________________ to see the Kingdom of God, and receive eternal life.

“…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…” Titus 3:5 (NIV)

Salvation is a transformation and _______________ of the person.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“…to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:23

Through this process the new believer becomes:

A __________ of God “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…” Galatians 3:26 (NIV)

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

A ________ Person“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

_____________________ to be Godly “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE SALVATION:

You are set free from sin’s bondage. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:18

You receive a spiritual desire to obey God and to follow the leading of the Spirit. “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:13

You will live a righteous life.“If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.” 1 John 2:29

You will love other believers.“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1 John 3:14

You avoid a life of sin.“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” 1 John 5:18

ANSWER KEY: SALVATION, NECESSARY, RE-CREATING, CHILD, NEW, MOTIVATED

GRACE: GOD’S GOODNESS TO ME EVEN THOUGH I DON’T DESERVE IT

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving _____________.“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

Grace in Three Words: God’s unmerited favor. A. W. Tozer expanded on that, saying, “Grace is the good pleasure of God that

inclines him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.”

Grace is a ___________. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Grace allows us ______________________. (Romans 5:2) Grace empowers us __________________________. (Romans 6)

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

ANSWER KEY: GRACE, GIFT, TO COME BEFORE GOD, TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE

FAITH: LIVING WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through ______________.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’” Romans 10:9-11

Faith = a moral conviction of the truth.

Faith brings ________________ (John 3:16)Faith grows __________________________ (Romans 10:17) Faith ________________________(James 2:14-18) (John 3:36 NAS)

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

FAITH IS A LIVING, BOLD ________________ IN GOD’S GRACE.— MARTIN LUTHER

ANSWER KEY: FAITH, SALVATION, THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, REQUIRES ACTION, TRUST

REPENTANCE: CHANGING MY MIND TO ALIGN WITH GOD’S PERSPECTIVE

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through FAITH that leads to _________________.

“‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’” Acts 2:36-39

Repent = to change one’s mind; to turn and go another direction

Repentance is for the ________________ of sins (Mark 1:4) Repentance is proven through _____ ____________(Matthew 3:8) Repentance is a _______________ of Christian life (Hebrews 6:1)

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sinto give as much as you know of yourselfto as much as you know of your God,and as our knowledge grows at these three pointsso our practice of repentance has to be enlarged.— J. I. Packer

ANSWER KEY: REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS, LIFE CHANGE, FOUNDATION

REDEMPTION: RECEIVING JESUS AS A PAYMENT FOR A DEBT I COULD NOT PAY

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through FAITH that leads to REPENTANCE. SALVATION produces in us a ___________________ life.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

The English word ‘redemption’ means ‘repurchase’ or ‘buy back.’

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’…“ Galatians 3:13

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36 (NIV)

Jesus taught that the wrath of God is on every human being.Jesus taught that He came into the world to solve that problem.And He solved it by taking the curse on himself. My death is God’s curse on me and I absorb it,therefore redeeming those who choose to accept me.

So when we are redeemed:We are completely _________ (John 8:36) We are set free from the _____________ (Galatians 3:13) We are set free and given a __________________ (Galatians 3:14)

ANSWER KEY: REDEEMED, FREE, CURSE, BLESSING

JUSTIFICATION: THE WAY GOD SEES ME THAT HELPS ME SEE MYSELF

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through FAITH that leads to REPENTANCE. REPENTANCE produces in us a REDEEMED life, _______________ by God.

“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:9 (NAS)

Justification = to declare righteous, to make one right with God

Justification is an act of God. It does not describe the way that God inwardly renews and changes a person. It is, rather, a legal declaration in which God pardons the sinner of all his sins and accepts and treats the sinner as righteous in His sight. God declares the sinner righteous at the very moment that the sinner puts his trust in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26, 5:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

We are justified _____________ (Romans 3:24)We are justified by ___________ (Romans 3:28)Justification brings _________ (Romans 5:1-2)

Justification = God’s gracious declaration that all the demands of the law are fulfilled on behalf of the believing sinner through the

righteousness of Jesus Christ.

ANSWER KEY: JUSTIFIED, FREELY, FAITH, PEACE

SANCTIFICATION: THE PROCESS OF BECOMING HOLY THROUGH PERSONAL SURRENDER AND

COOPERATION WITH GOD

The new life of a DISCIPLE begins with SALVATION by receiving GRACE through FAITH that leads to REPENTANCE. REPENTANCE produces in us a REDEEMED life, JUSTIFIED by God and SANCTIFIED by new HABITS.

If Salvation is Birth, Sanctification is __________________.

We must surrender those HABITS which have been constructed by sinful thoughts and perspectives with NEW HABITS consistent with God’s Word.

To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer.

It is a continuing change worked by God in us, freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues. Sanctification is a real transformation, not just the appearance of one.

Our Sanctification is by Christ offering _____________________ (Hebrews 10:10)Our daily Sanctification comes through the __________ and _____________ (1 Timothy 4:4-6)Our sanctification makes us ________________ for the kingdom (2 Timothy 2:21)

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (NAS)

SANCTIFICATION LEADS TO HABITS“... You have put off the old self with its HABITS, and have put on the new self ... which God is continually renewing in his own image, to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.” Colossians 3:9-10

Passionate Followers of Christ:

1. ARE LIFELONG ________________ OF GOD’S WORD.“If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

2. PRAY AS A _______________ WAY OF LIFE.“If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it ... in this way you become my disciples.” John 15:7-8 (GN)

3. ARE ________________ IN GOD’S HOUSE WITH GOD’S PEOPLE.“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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.” Hebrews 10:23 

4. ARE ______________ IN EVERY WAY.“None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all of his possessions.” Luke 14:33 (JB)

5. SEE ________________________ AS A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT.“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

ANSWER KEY: GROWTH, HIMSELF, WORD, PRAYER, USEFUL, STUDENTS, DAILY, INVESTED, GIVERS, MULTIPLICATION

Notes