Big Picture
Growing Christian
Discipleship .
What's life about
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
Blog Site
Derek’s Blog which comes out weekly to fortnightly is at -
Go to the new more user friendly version - beingrecreated.org
Introduction
Paul talks of the purpose of the Christian life in terms of a fruitfulness that is developed through being rooted in Jesus, and strengthened in the faith. Of course in order for this to happen a person must be planted in the faith and nurtured.
The meat of this page is in the links, which will direct you all over the site.
Bible Zone
- Seedlings - Growth cannot begin unless the seed is planted.
- Fruitfulness - What is God looking for in a person’s life for Him to call it fruitful?
- Strengthened - A life strengthened by God has been changed in attitude.
- Rooted - Rooted in God there is a source of strength and nutrients for life.
- Environment - Understanding our environment helps us to better prepare for life.
- Planting Life - Jesus’ last words on earth instructed us to make disciples.
Jesus appeals to people to enter into life with Him. Jesus describes the person who has come into life with Him.
- What must a person have done inn order to receive this life?
- What are the consequences of entering into life - past, present & future?
John 5: 24 "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
- Clarify doubts - Some visual illustrations to help you through to faith.
- Challenges to faith - Examining some common causes for concern.
- Receive Jesus - How does one receive Jesus?
- Relate with God - What is involved in meeting God?
- Live the faith - What are the basics of living the Christian life?
- Church - How do we relate with others who have become God’s children.
- Next Steps - What are some next steps towards maturity?
The life that God is looking for is one that reflects Him and produces a fruit that comes from His life at work in us. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13
- What is it that will last forever?
- How do you live out these things?
1 Corinthians 13: 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.* All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
More on how the Bible teaches that these things are developed.
- God at work in us - God working through us produces His fruit.
- Love a quality - The Bible points to love as overarching all.
- Love expressed - It is one thing to understand love, but it must be lived.
- Faith Trust - Faith answers the question do I trust God for life.
- Faith Lived - Faith is expressed when I take action depending on God.
- Hope - I know I hope when I can love in extreme situations.
- Lifestyle - As I live for Christ my lifestyle begins to reflect His.
A life that has been strengthened by God is seen by responses to tough situations. It is the outworking of a life enriched by God that enriches others as they take God’s strength into a needy world.
- What has God done in a believer’s heart to make them strong?
- How is this strength observed from the outside?
- How does the believer experience this strength?
2 Corinthians 4: 6 For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.* This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
- Attitude - those whose attitudes reflect Christ’s can take the knocks.
- Identity - When our identity reflects Christ’s we have perspective.
- Lord’s Attitude to us - It helps us go on when we know we are loved.
- Community - We need each other and cannot stand on our own.
Those who are rooted in God have a source of life that means they can flourish no matter what difficulties surround them. Instead of being crushed, they are strengthened by trials of life. They have the inner resources to show love when others dole out excuses.
- How are the two types of people contrasted here?
- What are the consequences of having roots that go into God through trust?
Jeremiah 17: 5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.
7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
- God - The Father of all is the one we live for.
- Son - Jesus, the Son, is the one we live through.
- Holy Spirit - His Spirit empowers our lives.
- Orient to God - God can be there but if our passions are elsewhere ...
- Prayer - we are nurtured through relating with Him in prayer.
- Word - we are built up by Him as we feed on His word and live like Him.
If we understand the spiritual soil, environment and circumstances then we are not so surprised by the events around us and can go forwards with God.
- What criticism did Jesus lay at the feet of these religious people?
- What value does Jesus place on understanding what is going on spiritually?
Matthew 16: 1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
2 He replied, "You know the saying, 'Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.' You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!*4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.*" Then Jesus left them and went away.
- Beyond Here & Now - Understanding the environment helps us grow well.
- Life’s Challenges - Understanding weaknesses helps us depend on God.
Jesus called on His disciples to make disciples. This seems an awesome task, yet He has not left us alone in it. It is a partnership with Him.
- What is Jesus’ part in this great commission that He gave us, His people?
- What are we asked to do in it?
- How do we do this with Jesus?
Matthew 28: 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
- God’s Leader - Leadership is a big topic, what does the Bible say?
- Principles of discipleship - To help people grow, understand the end.
- Helping individuals - Advice from experience.
- Practical group ministry - How to develop groups for growth.
- Experiences of leadership - Some lessons I have learned.
Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
