A Christian Worker's Resource (2 of 4)

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A CHRISTIAN WORKER’S RESOURCE

You have begun a relationship that will continue the rest of your life. Colossians 2:6-7. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your LORD, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

ASSIGNMENT: Write how it feels to know that God has given you a new life. What does that mean to you personally?

4. You have the privilege of prayer. Just as good friends can talk to each other, so God, your heavenly Father, wants you to talk to him. And, while you may not understand it right now, you'll find that he “talks” to you as well.

You can pray to God about anything and everything. He wants to hear from you.

Philippians 4:6. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God

what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ASSIGNMENT: Commit yourself to getting used to talking to God. Start out with about three minutes a day of focused time talking to God. Talk to him as you would to a friend. In your journal, begin a list of the things you're talking to God about and the concerns that you're bringing to him.

5. You have the treasure of God's Word. When you buy a new gadget, you usually get an instruction manual. With your new life in Christ, you need God’s instruction manual, the Bible. In fact, the communication you “hear” from God will often come as you read his Word.

You can trust God’s Word. 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

ASSIGNMENT: Commit yourself to spending five minutes a day reading the Bible. Begin in the book of Mark (in the New Testament) and read about Jesus. As a result of something you read, write in your journal something you learned or something you need to do.

6. You have a great friend in Jesus, so get to know him! As you're reading in the book of Mark, you've been learning more about Jesus. In essence, Jesus is God put into focus for human eyes. Jesus came in order to show us God and then to take the punishment for our sins.

Only because of Jesus do you have a personal relationship with God.

Colossians 1:19-20. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through

him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven

and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. ASSIGNMENT: Write a prayer to Jesus, thanking him for all he did for you.

7. You have a new lifestyle. A good foundation is essential for a house to stand strong. Jesus wants you to know that obeying God will give your life a solid foundation.

You show your love for Jesus by doing as he says. John 14:15. if you love me, obey my commandments. Philippians 2:13. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

ASSIGNMENT: In your journal, write one area of your life where you are obeying God and one where you think you are not. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, and then to give you the strength to do it.

8. God will help you to follow and obey him. Asa Christian, you have been given the Holy Spirit. He will give you insight into what God is like and what he wants you to do.

A CHRISTIAN WORKER’S RESOURCE

God gives you his Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life.

John 14:26. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the

Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told

you. ASSIGNMENT: Write down one question that you'd like the Holy Spirit to help you with. Now take a couple of minutes and just talk to God about it.

9. You can resist temptation. Becoming a Christian is like switching sides ina battle. You used to be on Satan’s side and now you're on God's side—and Satan isn’t happy about it! He wants to try to trip you up and tempt you to disobey God.

You're not alone in temptation. God promises to show the way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand, When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

ASSIGNMENT: List three temptations that Satan often uses on you. Now thank God ahead of time that he will show you how not to give in next time.

10. You can continue to receive forgiveness. Asa child in God’s family, you'll still mess up. But God’s love for you is so great that he will continue to forgive you.

When you mess up, go to God and ask him to forgive you. 1 John 1:9. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

ASSIGNMENT: Write down ways that you have disobeyed God recently. Look at each one and confess it through prayer. Then cross out each sin. Let this remind you of God's loving forgiveness. Commit to obey him in the future.

11. You have the privilege of worship. When you became a Christian, you joined a family—sometimes called “the body of Christ,” which means you're now “related” to Christians all over the world! You need to join a portion of that family by beginning to attend a local church.

You need the church to help you continue to grow. Hebrews 10:25. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

ASSIGNMENT: Go with some friends or family to church this week. List two ways you worshiped God.

12. You can let others know about what Christ has done for you. If you found a really great doctor, or a helpful mechanic, or even a terrific diet, you probably would tell your closest friend about it. Since you've found the One who forgives sin and gives you a new life, don’t you think that’s something you ought to share?

The news you have to share is the best news anyone could hear! Romans 1:16. For 1 am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

ASSIGNMENT: Write down the name of one person who needs to know Jesus Christ. Start praying for that person to become a Christian. Ask a Christian friend to pray with you for the person and to help you learn how to share your faith with him or her.

13. Take time to memorize Scripture. To fight a battle you need powerful equipment. The Holy Spirit will use the power of God’s Word like a sword to defeat Satan. A great strategy is to memorize Scripture so you always have it with you.

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Memorized verses will give you comfort and help you in temptation. Ephesians 6:17. Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

ASSIGNMENT: Review the verses you've underlined in your Bible. Choose one or two favorites and begin to memorize them.

14. Realize your long-term goal—to be like Christ. You've been a Christian for a short time now, and you're learning that you have a lifelong relationship with Christ. So what’s your long-range goal? Becoming like Christ!

Fortunately, you don’t do this alone. God works in you to help you become more like his Son. Philippians 1:6. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Psalm 119:105. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

ASSIGNMENT: Make a list of at least five ways you want to become more tike Jesus. Spend time asking God to help you. Remind yourself to read this part of your journal in one month to check on your spiritual growth.

Mining the Treasures of the Life Application Study Bible As a believer in Christ, you will often be asked questions about your faith—sometimes these are honest seekers with tough questions that have bothered them; sometimes they're questions used by the questioners in hopes of tripping you up. In either case, it helps to be prepared with answers, or at least to know where to find the answers. The Life Application Study Bible notes were written not only to help explain the contents of the Bible and to get people started in thinking about application, but also to answer some of these key questions. The treasures are here, and so we have mined them for you by guiding you to the notes that best answer questions in the following twenty-five categories. The references noted after each question are for the note(s) that will best help you to answer that question. (A number in parentheses indicates that there is more than one note on that particular Scripture.)

BELIEF Why should I believe? See notes on Genesis 15:6; Exodus 9:12. What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus? See note on John 3: 16(3).

BIBLE Why should I read the Bible? See notes on 2Chronicles 17:7-9; 34:31; Psalm 119: 19. Why should I trust the Bible? See notes on Psalm 33:4; Proverbs 16:22; 2 Peter 1:16-21. Why do you call the Bible God’s Word? See note on 2Timothy 3: 16-17. How is the Bible different from other religious literature? See note on 2Timothy 3:16.

CHURCH How should I choose a church? See notes on 1 Corinthians 3:10-11; 1 Peter 5: 8-9. If eternal life is free, what’s this 10 percent I keep hearing about? See notes on Deuteronomy 14:22-23; 2Corinthians 8:10-15; 8:12(1and 2. Isn't participation in church an option? See note on Luke 4:16.

DEATH What happens when people die? See notes on Hebrews 2:14-15(1and 2); 1Thessalonians 4: 15-18. How can I be ready to die? See notes on Genesis 50:24; Psalm 23:4.

A CHRISTIAN WORKER’S RESOURCE

FAITH How strong does my faith have to be? See notes on Matthew 17: 17-20; Luke 17:6; Romans 14:1 ff. Is faith enough? That seems too easy. See notes on 2 Kings 5:12; Matthew 3: 9-10; Philippians 3:2-3(2); James 2:1ff. How can I tell others about my faith? See notes on Exodus 3:16-17; Revelation 1:5-6.

FORGIVENESS. How can I know that God forgives me? See notes on Psalm 32: 1-2; Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 10:17; Lohn 1:9(D.

FUTURE What can God tell me about the future? See notes on Job 19: 25-27; Matthew 24: 3ff; John 14:19-21; Revelation 21: 7-8; 22:20. How is the world going to end? See notes on Mark 13:5-7; Luke 12:40; 1 John 2:18- 23.

GOD What is God really like? See notes on Genesis 1:1; 18:14; Numbers 14: 17-20; Deuteronomy 27-15-26; Psalm 34:9-10; 36:5-8; 99:5; John 14:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:10- 12. What are idols and what’s wrong with them? See notes on Exodus 20: 1-6; 32:4-5; 1 Kings 18:29. Isn't God only all about rules? See note on Isaiah 5: 11-13.

GOSPEL What is the gospel? See notes on Matthew 4: 23-24; John 3:16(1); Romans 1:3-5; 1Corinthians 15:3-4,

GRACE What is grace? See note on Ephesians 1:7-8. How important it is to have God’s grace? See note on Nehemiah 9: 28-31.

HEAVEN/HELL What does the Bible really say about heaven? See notes on Mark 12:24; 1Corinthians 2:9; 1 Peter 2:11. What does the Bible really say about hell? See notes on Matthew 25:46; 2Thessalonians 1:9; Jude 1:7; Revelation 20: 14.

HOLY SPIRIT Who is the Holy Spirit? See notes on Psalm 48:14; John 14: 15-16; 14:17 ff; Acts 1:5.

JESUS How do we know Jesus wasn't just a really great teacher? See notes on Matthew 17:5; Luke 24:6-7(2); John 5: 3Iff; Philippians 2:5-11(D. What do you mean when you say Jesus is God? See notes on Hebrews 1: 1-2; 1:3(). What did Jesus do for me? See notes on Mark 15:31; 2Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1: 12-14; Hebrews 9:22.

LIFE What does God really want from me? See notes on Numbers 9:23; Judges 21:25; Proverbs 13:6; Ecclesiastes 1:8-11; John 4:20-21. Doesn’t God want me to be perfect? How can I do that? See notes on Matthew 5:48; Romans 5:20; Hebrews 10:14. How can I “commit” my life to God? See notes on Proverbs 16:3; 1 Peter 1:14-16(2). If lama Christian, how am I supposed to live? See notes on Exodus 23: 24-25; Joshua 1:5; John 17-18; Romans 13:1 ff; 1 Peter 1:8-9.

OLD TESTAMENT The Old Testament seems so—old. How much of it really applies to me today? See notes on Deuteronomy 4:8; Matthew 5: 17-20; Acts 21:23-24(2). How do the Old and New Testaments relate? See notes on Leviticus 1:2(2); Matthew 13:52; Hebrews 3:5.

ONLY ONE WAY Hew can Christians insist that Jesus is the only way to God? See notes on John 6: 67-68; Acts 4:12; 1Timothy 2:5-6; 2Timothy 4:3-5, Hebrews 10:26. Why isn’t just being “good” good enough? See note on Colossians 1: 21-22; Hebrews 7.28; 9:14.

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