Jump-Start
It usually happens in the freezing cold of winter. On this occasion it was my son who called to
ask me for a jump-start. I had loaned him my car. When he returned to the parking lot where he had left
it, he discovered that the lights had been left on and the battery was drained of its power. I borrowed a car with a strong
battery and with a jump-start, was able to get his car started.
Jump-Start in the Christian life
Jump-start in the Christian life occurs
when a mature Christian instructs and encourages a new Christian to begin walking and following Christ immediately after making
a commitment to Him. Synonyms: follow-up, Christian nurture.
The following is suggested material
for follow-up with new Christians. There could be two or more sessions depending on the time and need. The sessions will help
the new Christian take her or his first steps to becoming a mature, fully devoted follower
of Jesus Christ. Each session is designed
in an outline form for easy adaptation to the situation and application to the needs of the new believer
Session One
Meeting Jesus
1. The Bible (See the End
Notes2) teaches who we are:
1.1 A unique creation
of God, made in His image.(Psalm 139:13-16)
1.2 Lost by our own choice
(Isaiah 53:6)
1.3 Separated from God
(Isaiah 59:2)
1.4 Individuals with freedom
of choice (Romans 6:23)
1.5 A new people in a
new community in Christ
(1 Peter 2:9, 10)
2. God's original plan for
humankind. (Figure #1)
2.1 What did God have in mind when he
created humans? (Genesis 1:26,27)
2.2 Did
God's plan for people change when sin entered into their lives? (Romans 8:29)
The dotted line represents God's plan but humans are moving away from God
(the downward arrow).
3. How God brings hope to people - His plan still intact.
(See Figure #2).
When people meet Christ (the circle), they begin a new life, growing into
the image of God. The ups and downs become less as we grow spiritually.
3.1 If God has not
changed His plan for people, even after the fall, what change needs to take place so that humankind can participate in that
plan?
John 1:12,13:
__________________________________________
Ephesians 2:5:
__________________________________________
Colossians 3:9, 10:
__________________________________________
3.2 There
has to be a change within people themselves. This is a change from being self-centered and lost to becoming a follower of
Christ who now has
God's Holy Spirit within to empower us to life in the image
of God.
3.3 How people may
receive a new life through Christ.
Revelation 3:20
__________________________________________
John 1:12
__________________________________________
Romans 10:9
__________________________________________
4. When Jesus comes into a person's life a lot of things change -- goals, values, direction, etc.
(2 Corinthian 5:17) -- and they receive eternal life. (1 John 5: 11, 12). Notice that this is a present reality. You now have (not will have) eternal life.
John 6:47 says that one who believes has:
__________________________________________
5. What to Expect as You Begin Your New Life
5.1. A new
spiritual awareness - The Holy Spirit takes up residence in each person who opens their life to Jesus (Ephesians 1:13). The
Holy Spirit will guide us and give us a desire to know more of Jesus and to make Him known to others (John 14:26, John 16:13,
Acts 1:8).
Ephesians 1:13 -- What is the seal that we are marked with when we believed?
__________________________________________
Acts 1:8 -- What do we receive power for when we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
__________________________________________
5.2 Overcoming
the influences of evil - When we come to Christ, we have turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God
(Acts 26:18). God promises in His Word that He will give us strength to overcome temptations to do wrong (1 Corinthians 10:13).
You will struggle, but God is with you now. You will still sin and will feel sorry for those things, but instead of turning
away ashamed, you can come to Him with confidence to receive forgiveness and help. There is nothing you might do that Jesus
has not already paid for (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 4:16). You will begin to understand God's grace and His mercy (grace = receiving
what we do not deserve; mercy = not receiving what we do deserve).
1 Corinthians 10:13 What has God promised to give us when we are tempted?
__________________________________________
1 John
1:9 What does God promise to do if we tell him we did something wrong? __________________________________________
