Conviction What do I need to believe to become a modernday follower o - PDF document

1 ¥Conviction: What do I need to believe t
¥Conviction: What do I need to believe to become a modern-day follower of Christ? !¥!¥ 2 Corinthians 13:5We under

2 stand the importance of regular checkups
stand the importance of regular checkups. We take our cars in for scheduled maintenance. We go to the doctor for

3 physical examinations. We take the neces
physical examinations. We take the necessary steps to avoid catastrophe in almost every area of our lives. But ho

4 w often do we examine our spiritual cond
w often do we examine our spiritual condition? Just as refusing Our belief in God must go beyond our heads into

5 our hearts, hands, and feet. The combina
our hearts, hands, and feet. The combination of knowing and doing GodÕs will proves that we are faithful. A convi

6 ction is a belief held so deeply that we
ction is a belief held so deeply that we live it out in every area of our lives. In the space below, write a few

7 of the most important commands that you
of the most important commands that you know from the Bible. Biblical Commands That I Believe Are Important: 1-

8 After 14 years of preaching, Paul went t
After 14 years of preaching, Paul went to the leaders in Jerusalem to make sure that he was teaching people the t

9 rue gospel that leads to salvation. Like
rue gospel that leads to salvation. Like Paul, we need to be sure that we are not Òrunning our race in vainÓ when

10 it comes to salvation doctrine and espe
it comes to salvation doctrine and especially our own conversions. Take a moment to think about the conviction/b

11 elief someone needs in order to become a
elief someone needs in order to become a Christian or get saved. a template by detailing how you are devoted to

12 the apostles If you would be a complete
the apostles If you would be a completely different person after meeting Jesus, you may need to ask yourself if

13 you have actually met Jesus and begun to
you have actually met Jesus and begun to follow him. Conversion Review the conversion letter you wrote. Would yo

14 u be 100% conÞdent helping your friend i
u be 100% conÞdent helping your friend if their salvation depended on your knowledge of Biblical conversion? If y

15 ou lack conÞdence in the plan of salvati
ou lack conÞdence in the plan of salvation for someone else, can you be certain that you know GodÕs plan of salva

16 tion for yourself? Eternal life is not s
tion for yourself? Eternal life is not something that we want to be mostly sure about. Talk through any questions

17 you have about what it means to become
you have about what it means to become a Christian (to be converted). Commitment Re-examine your commitment. Do

18 es your devotion match the devotion of t
es your devotion match the devotion of the Þrst followers of Christ? It may be difÞcult, but certainly worthwhile

19 , to discuss your current church situati
, to discuss your current church situation with your study partner. If you havenÕt been devoted like the Christia

20 ns Matthew 7:7-8 What does this passage
ns Matthew 7:7-8 What does this passage promise? What does that mean for you? If Þnding God is guaranteed, then

21 this is a worthwhile pursuit! Matthew 7:
this is a worthwhile pursuit! Matthew 7:13-14 This verse seems to contradict 7:7-8. How can it be that: Òeveryone

22 who seeks Þnds,Ó but, Òonly a few Þnd i
who seeks Þnds,Ó but, Òonly a few Þnd it?Ó So, there is a certain way to seek God that guarantees weÕll Þnd him.

23 How should we search after God to be su
How should we search after God to be sure weÕll Þnd him? There are only two roads. If you had to choose which ro

24 ad you are on right now, what would you
ad you are on right now, what would you honestly choose? Why? Matthew 6:33 According to this verse how are we to

25 seek? What priority is God in our lives?
seek? What priority is God in our lives? What would a personÕs life look like who seeks God To illustrate the Bi

26 bleÕs standard for followers of Jesus. T
bleÕs standard for followers of Jesus. To commit to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18-20 According

27 to this passage, what is GodÕs will for
to this passage, what is GodÕs will for all of mankind?How would you deÞne a ÒdiscipleÓ? How does that relate to

28 the term ÒChristianÓ?Acts 11:25-26 The c
the term ÒChristianÓ?Acts 11:25-26 The context of this verse is describing the Þrst predominantly Gentile (non-Je

29 wish) churches. This is about 10 years i
wish) churches. This is about 10 years into the history of the church. This church in Antioch is the Þrst time th

30 at the disciples were called Christians.
at the disciples were called Christians. What does that say about the relationship between these two words?This i

31 s signiÞcant because the word ÒChristian
s signiÞcant because the word ÒChristianÓ is only used three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26, 26:28, I Peter 4:16)

32 . The word What does this passage tell
. The word What does this passage tell us about the affect of sin? When we talk about salvation, what is it that

33 we need saved from? Mark 7:20-23 Where
we need saved from? Mark 7:20-23 Where does sin come from? Whose fault is it when we sin? There are many lists

34 of sins like this in the scriptures. Let
of sins like this in the scriptures. LetÕs look at a more complete list and talk about how each sin causes us to

35 fall short and build a wall between God
fall short and build a wall between God and ourselves: Galatians 5:19-21 (2 Timothy 3:1-5) God has given us a con

36 science so that we donÕt need a PhD to k
science so that we donÕt need a PhD to know when weÕre sinning. Look up the deÞnitions of any sin you donÕt know.

37 What does the fruit of your life say ab
What does the fruit of your life say about your repentance?Luke 13:1-5 Do you remember what the wages of sin are

38 ? So it makes sense that if we do not re
? So it makes sense that if we do not repent we will perish. Think about your sin, in what ways do you need to ch

39 ange your mindset to see things like Jes
ange your mindset to see things like Jesus? Acts 26:19-21 Paul preached the unpopular message of repentance every

40 where he went. It remains unpopular toda
where he went. It remains unpopular today because it requires a sober look and true life change. Is it possible t

41 o tell if someone has repented? How? Co
o tell if someone has repented? How? Colossians 2:11-13 We often hear that we are, Òsaved by faith.Ó How does th

42 is passage tie faith and baptism togethe
is passage tie faith and baptism together? Acts 22:1-16 This is Paul (who wrote Romans) becoming a Christian. He

43 hated Christianity and was on his way to
hated Christianity and was on his way to persecute Christians! How do we stay strong as Christians? How could you

44 live out the call to daily encouragemen
live out the call to daily encouragement? Real relationships keep our hearts from being hard. As disciples in th

45 e church we have many opportunities to c
e church we have many opportunities to confess sin, get advice, give encouragement and help others. We accomplish

46 this through midweek small groups. Do y
this through midweek small groups. Do you understand what discipleship groups are all about? Who have you built

47 relationships with in the church? Who wo
relationships with in the church? Who would you like to get to know? Why are real relationships important for sta

48 ying faithful? Acts 2:42-47 This is the
ying faithful? Acts 2:42-47 This is the 1st century church in action. Our church strives to live _______________