The

Establishing your life in Christ

 The

Establishing your life in Christ

Paul Gotthardt

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations

are taken from the New American Standard Version.
Copyright © 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2012 by Life Baptist Church in Las Vegas.

Congratulations!
Welcome to the family of God. As you begin this relationship with
Christ, we want to provide some information that will help you
pursue Him.

When you turned from your sin by placing faith in Jesus Christ,
you began a new life as a Christian. The Bible uses many terms
to describe this new life. It says you are “saved,” “redeemed,” “born
again,” “a child of God,” “a friend of God,” “a new creation in Christ,”
and so much more. According to Scripture you have a new identity
in Christ.

A major part of your growth as a Christian is understanding

and embracing this new identity in Christ. You will discover that
Christianity is not about you living for God; it is about God living
His life through you. This life is possible when you understand your
identity in Christ and pursue Him relationally. Over the course of
the next seven days, this booklet will help you find answers to the
following questions:

Day 1: What is my new identity in Christ?

Day 2: What is eternal life?
Day 3: What is the goal of the Christian life?
Day 4: What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
Day 5: How do I study the Bible?
Day 6: Why should I attend church?
Day 7: What should I do to grow as a Christian?

Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined

to become conformed to the image of His Son...”.

God wants to conform your character into the character of Christ.

He wants you to grow in your understanding and development
as a Christian. Our objective is to help you on the right path.

May God bless you as you discover the Christ life!

How to Use This Booklet:
1. You will need a Bible, a pen,
and a highlighter.

2. Read the information carefully,

and fill out any blanks as you go.

3. If possible, try to go through

this booklet immediately after
becoming a Christian.
If you’ve been a Christian for a
while, use this book as a reference
guide to insure that you’re on the
right track.

4. Share these teachings with others

as God provides the opportunities.
T h e R e l at i o n s h i p

Day 1 : What is my new identity in Christ?

Our identity defines us. Our identitiy is often linked to what we do,
what we like, where we’re from, or how we see ourselves. Notice
how people introduce themselves for the first time. “Good morning.
My name’s Dr. Simms. I’m a pediatrician.” “Hi, I’m Allen. I teach 7th
grade history.” “Hello everyone. My name is Mike. I’m an alcoholic.”
Our identity defines us.

Prior to Christ, our identity was defined by what we did. Romans 3:23
tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” It doesn’t
matter if we’ve sinned a little or a lot, everyone has sinned and everyone
was defined as a sinner.

When you turned from your sin by placing faith in Christ, you
were given a new identity. You are no longer defined by your sin;
you are defined by Christ’s righteousness. Paul said, “I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me” (Galatians 2:20). Christ lives in you.

William Culbertson describes the exchange (Christ saving you and

giving you His identity) through the lens of Romans 6:6–8. “Who
died on the cross? Of course, our blessed Lord died on the cross, but
who else died there? Knowing this, that our old self was crucified
with him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with,
so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is
freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we
shall also live with Him.’”

As a Christian, your new identity is found in Christ. When He died

on the cross, you died on the cross (Romans 6:6–8). When He rose
from the dead, you rose from the dead (Colossians 2:12). You are in
Christ and Christ is in you. He is your identity!

That does not mean that you are equal with Christ. It simply means
that your old life has passed away, and your new life is found in
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The chart on the following page describes your new identity

from God’s perspective.

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Who Are You?

You are the salt of the earth You are a fellow citizen in His family
(Matt. 5:13) (Eph. 2:19)
You are the light of the world You are a prisoner of Christ
(Matt. 5:14) (Eph. 3:1; 4:1)
You are a child of God (part of His You are righteous and holy
family) (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:16) (Eph. 4:24)
You are part of the true vine You are a citizen of heaven
(Jn. 15:1, 5) and seated in heaven right now
You are Christ’s friend (Jn. 15:15) (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:6)
You are chosen and appointed by You are hidden with Christ in God
Christ to bear His fruit (Jn. 15:16) (Col. 3:3)
You are a personal witness of Christ You are an expression of the life
(Acts 1:8) of Christ (Col. 3:4)
You are a slave of righteousness You are chosen of God, holy,
(Rom. 6:18) and dearly loved (Col. 3:12)
You are enslaved to God (Rom. 6:22) You are chosen and dearly loved
by God (1 Thess. 1:4)
You are a child of God
(Rom. 8:14, 15; Gal. 3:26; 4:6) You are a son of light and not
of darkness (1 Thess. 5:5)
You are a joint-heir with Christ
(Rom. 8:17) You are a holy brother, partaker
of a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)
You are a temple of God
(1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19) You are a partaker of Christ
(Heb. 3:14)
You are joined to the Lord and are
one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17) You are a living stone (1 Pet. 2:5)
You are a member of Christ’s body You are a chosen race, a royal
(1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30) priesthood, a holy nation
(1 Pet. 2:9–10)
You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)
You are an alien and stranger
You are reconciled to God and a to this world (1 Pet. 2:11)
minister of reconciliation
(2 Cor. 5:18–19) You are an enemy of the devil
(1 Pet. 5:8)
You are a son of God and one
in Christ (Gal.3:26–28) You are a child of God (1 Jn. 3:1–2)
You are an heir of God (Gal. 4:6–7) You are born of God and the evil one
(the devil) can’t touch you
You are a saint (Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; (1 Jn. 5:18)
Phil. 1:1, Col. 1:2)
You are a sheep of His pasture
You are God’s workmanship (Ps. 23 and 100)
(Eph. 2:10)

A major part of Christian living is beginning to see

yourself from God’s perspective. Take the time to highlight
the ones that mean the most to you.

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Day 2 : What is eternal Life?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been given the free gift
of eternal life (Romans 6:23). That’s great news. Unfortunately, so
many Christians are confused about eternal life. Let’s take a few
moments to define eternal life from God’s perspective.

Jesus spoke regularly about eternal life. He said…

• “Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.”

(John 3:15)

• “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the
Son and believes in Him will have eternal life…” (John 6:40)

• “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have
eternal life.” (John 3:16)

• “…the water that I will give him will become…a well of water
springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

Everywhere Jesus went, He spoke of eternal life. He brought it up in

messages, prayed it back to the Father, and taught it to His disciples.
Based on Scripture, we know that those who believe in Christ will
have eternal life. But what is eternal life? It’s not until John 17 that
Jesus actually defines it.

• “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Eternal life is to know God. The reason Christ set aside the glory
of heaven and came to earth is that we may know God. Many
Christians have falsely assumed that eternal life is going to heaven
when you die. Heaven is great. But going to heaven is a benefit of
knowing God; it’s not the main gift.

God’s primary gift is Himself. We were created for relationship with

God, sin separated that relationship, and Jesus died and rose again
to reconcile the relationship. Eternal life is to know God relationally.

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If eternal life is to know God, how do we get to know Him?

First: God must reveal Himself.

Second: We must believe what He has revealed.
Third: We must spend time with the revealed One.

How has God revealed Himself? He has revealed Himself through…

• Creation

(Psalm 19:1–4; Romans 1:20)

• Conscience

(Romans 2:14–15)

• Christ

(John 1:1, 5:18, 8:58; 14:9; Hebrews 1:1–2)

• The Canon of Scripture (John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

Why is it important to believe what God has revealed? Faith is

central to the Gospel message. As we saw through the Scriptures
on the previous page, eternal life is given to those who believe in
Christ. That means a person believes that Jesus is the Son of God
and that He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and offers eternal
life. Who Christ is and what Christ did on the cross is the core of the
Gospel message. It must be believed by faith.

Finally, we must spend time with the revealed One. The only way
to get to know someone is to spend time with that person. You
can learn about someone from a book, but you get to know that
person by spending time together. As you’re with someone, you
pick up their mannerisms, likes and dislikes, temperament, attitude,
outlook, heart, the way they think, and how they respond. You get
to know a person by spending time with that person.

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Let’s put those pieces together. God’s gift is eternal life. Eternal
life is to know God. We get to know God because He has
revealed Himself, by believing what He has revealed, and by
spending time with Him.

Look up John 15:1–8 in your Bible. How many times does Christ
tell us to abide? To abide means to stay with Him, remain in
Him, be at home in Him. Based on what you’ve read, how does
abiding in Christ help you to know God?

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God has revealed Himself in Scripture. Part of knowing God is

to believe what He has revealed. Look up Colossians 1:15 –19.
What does God reveal about Himself? Write down several major
characteristics. Do you believe it?

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As you spend time with God and believe what He has

revealed, you get to know Him. As you get to know Him,
you experience eternal life.

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Day 3 : What is the goal of the Christian life?

If God’s gift to humanity is eternal life (to know Him), then our
ultimate goal should be to embrace that gift. In some ways,
this section is an extension of yesterday’s lesson. Now that we
understand the essence of eternal life, we can accurately see the
goal of the Christian life.

What is the goal of the Christian life? Clyde Cranford taught that the
goal is twofold:

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO KNOW GOD.

We embrace the gift of eternal life by getting to know God. It brings

us back to our purpose in creation. We were created for relationship
with God. That takes us to our second goal. How do you really get
to know someone?

THE DAILY GOAL IS TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD.

As we saw yesterday, the only way we get to know someone is

by spending time with that person. You can learn about a person
through a book, but you can only get to know that person by
spending time together. Let’s pull this idea out just a little more.

Think for a moment about dating. The primary purpose of dating is

to get to know someone to see if you’re compatible. While dating,
you go where they go; you do what they do; you try to understand
their heart, their character, their dreams and plans. By spending time
together, you discover their personality, mannerisms, etc. Over time,
you get to know the person.

Take that same approach to knowing God. How can you spend time
with God? Some common ways are provided for you. Many of these
are referred to as “the disciplines” of the Christian faith.

• Reading the Bible is a way to spend time with God and

get to know Him. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself.
In the Bible, God reveals His character, His heart, His desires,
and His plans. The more you study the Bible, the better you
know and understand God.

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• Talking with God in prayer is a way to spend time with

God and get to know Him. Prayer is not just telling God
everything you need; prayer is also listening as God speaks
to you. It takes time to discern God’s voice in prayer.
However, the more you’re with Him, the more you will
recognize His voice.

• Worshipping God is a way to spend time with God and get

to know Him. Worship is not just singing. We worship God
with our lives, our decisions, our actions, and our pursuits.
Worship can be as simple as focused reflection on God,
offering thanks for what He’s done, or obeying His promptings.

• Listening to biblically based preaching and teaching

is a way to spend time with God and get to know Him.
Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show ourselves
approved to God.” No one figures God out on their own.
Christianity requires collaboration with other believers. As
you listen to biblically based preaching and teaching, it
points to Christ, elevates Christ, encourages faith in Christ,
shares the teachings of Christ, etc. All of which will help you
know Him more.

• Time in nature can be a way to spend time with God

and get to know Him. Romans 1 tells us that God’s invisible
attributes, nature, and character are clearly seen by what
has been made. The Psalmist declares that the heavens are
filled with the glory of God. While God’s specific revelation
of Himself is found in the Bible, God’s general revelation can
be seen in creation.

Regardless of which approach you choose, the goal is

to spend time with Him where the focus is on Him.

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Let’s recap. The ultimate goal is to know God. The goal is not
just to know about God. The goal is not to become a biblical
scholar. The goal is to know Him. It is possible for a person to
spend his or her entire life learning about God, doing spiritual
things, but never really get to know Him.

The daily goal is to spend time with Him. We need to find

ways to be with God and get to know Him. Review the list of
ways provided in this lesson. The first goal orients your life;
the second goal orients your day.

If a Christian keeps these two goals at the forefront of his or

her mind, they will make great strides in understanding and
living the Christ-life.

Based on the ways to spend time with God (found in this lesson),
list several things you can start today.

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If the goal is to know the God of the Bible, who can help you
achieve that goal? List several specific people or types of people.
Contact some on your list.

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Additional Notes:

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Day 4 : What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)

There are two questions that need to be addressed from this

passage. What is a disciple? How are disciples made?

From a first century Jewish perspective, a disciple is someone who

spends time with their rabbi (listening, watching, and imitating
him) so that they could become like Him, and eventually pass on
His teachings to others.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called “Rabbi” thirteen times. He is

our Rabbi; we are His disciples. As disciples, we are to spend time
with Christ (listening to Him, watching Him, and imitating Him)
so that we can become like Him, and eventually pass on these
teachings to others.

As you spend time with Christ, He will lead you into four specific
areas. He will lead you to love God, unite with believers, serve the
world, and entrust the Gospel. The entire Christian life flows out of
this pursuit of Christ.

To love God is to…

• Enjoy personal relationship with God

• Get to know Him through His Word
• Communicate with God through prayer
• Spend time with God
• Worship Him with our lives
• Live according to the first and greatest commandment
(Matthew 22:37–38)

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To unite with believers is to…

• Enjoy and develop strong relationships with other believers

• Unite our lives together in mission, prayer, service, vision,
love, Bible study, etc.
• Understand that Christianity is experienced in community
with other believers
• To love and serve each other

To serve the world is to…

• Show people love through our actions—not just our words

• Be good stewards of our world and its resources
• Follow Christ’s example of serving others
• Invest our lives in people, families, communities, and nations

To entrust the Gospel is to…

• Share the Gospel of the Kingdom

• Entrust the teachings of Christ to others
(“...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...”)
• Invite others to join in God’s Kingdom activity

If you removed all church buildings, budgets, and programs, being

a disciple is about pursuing Christ. As we pursue Christ, He leads
us to love God, unite with believers, serve the world, and entrust
the Gospel.

Everyone’s journey with God is going to look a little different, but

the disciple’s orientation is the same. Christ will lead us to love,
unite, serve, and entrust.

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Now that you see the process, it can also serve like a spiritual
compass. If you want to make sure that the course of your
life is moving towards maturity in Christ, place these truths
over your life and ask God to reveal what’s missing. Loving
God must always remain our “spiritual north”. The other three
points on our spiritual compass work well when we are
focused on loving God.

When you place this spiritual compass over your life, you may
see the need for some course corrections. You may find that
you’re not spending time with God. You may realize that you’re
not uniting with other believers or serving the world or sharing
your faith. Once you realize what’s missing, ask God to live that
part through you.

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Based on the four areas mentioned, what areas are currently

missing in your life? Who can you talk to about getting involved.

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We are called to be disciples and to make disciples. Who can

you learn from (list their names) and who can you share with
(list their names)?

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Day 5 : How do I study the Bible?

The following statement is found inside the front cover of Gideon

Bibles. The author is unknown, but the summary is profound and
relevant. The book being referenced is the Bible.

This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the
way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of
believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its
histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to
be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct me, food to sustain me and comfort

to cheer me. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrims staff, the pilot’s
compass, the soldiers sword and the Christian’s character.

Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened and the gates of

Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object, my good is its design
and the glory of God is its end. It should fill the memory, rule
the heart and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.

It is given me in life, will be opened in judgment and will

be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility,
will reward the greatest labor and will condemn all who trifle
with its sacred contents.

This description of the Bible is powerful and true. However, we

want to provide a very simple definition of the Bible.

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to humanity.

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Studying the Bible is essential to our maturity as disciples. All

doctrinal beliefs and personal convictions must be evaluated
by the truths of the Bible. The following questions are answered
through the study of Scripture.

• How do I know what is true?

• How do I know what God expects?
• How do I know God?
• How do I know if my beliefs are true?
• How do I know how to lead my family?
• How do I learn how to walk as a disciple?

All of these types of questions are answered as we study the

Bible. Second Timothy 3:15–17 says, “…the sacred writings which
are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate,
equipped for every good work.”

There are several key ideas to keep in mind while

studying the Bible.

1. Scripture is God’s Word.

• “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Timothy 3:16a)

• Inspired in Content, Inerrant in Manuscripts,
Infallible in Doctrine
o Inspired: G  od breathed out
(through the writers of Scripture)
o Inerrant: the absence of error
o Infallible: the impossibility of error

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2. The Holy Spirit Enables Understanding

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide

you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own
initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will
disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).

As a Christian, the Holy Spirit is not just with you,

but in you (John 14:17).

3. Scripture Interprets Scripture

“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is

a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was
ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20–21).

If you don’t understand a text, allow Scripture to answer

the questions.

4. Context Unlocks Meaning

To properly interpret a text, we need to know the…

• Author: who wrote the book

• Audience: to whom was the book written
• Setting: what was happening with the audience
and the writer
• Purpose: why was the book written
• Genre: what is the style of writing (historical narrative,
poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, apocalyptic writings,
epistles, etc.)

(Most of this information is found in the front

of each book in a Study Bible.)

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5. There Is One Interpretation and Many Applications

The interpretation will be specific to the original context.

Once we know what the original writer intended for the
original audience, we can begin to apply the truths to
our lives.

6. The Goal Is To Know Him

The ultimate goal for studying the Bible is not knowledge;

the ultimate goal for studying the Bible is to know God.

Studying the Bible takes time and consistency. You will

not understand everything at once. Write down your
questions, pray for understanding, and allow God the time
to answer you.

Start reading the Bible today. If you don’t know where to start,
begin in the Gospel of John.

Additional Notes:

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Day 6 : Why should I attend church?

Chances are, you’ve heard someone say, “I love God, but I don’t
have to go to church to prove it.” They’re right! Jesus does not say,
“And this is how you know that you love me—if you attend church
every Sunday.”

If going to church is not required to show our love for God, what
is the point of church?

The answer may surprise you. Part of your growth in Christ only
happens when being in community with other believers. It is
the equivalent of trying to become a great football player alone.
There is only so much you can learn on your own; after a while
you need to be on a team to really understand the sport and hone
your skills.

Christianity is a team sport. We can definitely learn truths alone;

however, these truths are fleshed out in community with other
believers. As you learned on day four, part of being a disciple is
uniting with other believers. If you want to be all God created you
to be, it happens in biblical community.

Weekly worship services contribute to our growth in multiple ways.

1. It’s a place to connect with other believers.

“All…who had believed were together and had all things

in common; and they began selling their property and
possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might
have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the
temple, breaking bread from house to house, they were taking
their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart…”
(Acts 2:44–46)

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2. It’s a place to worship God.

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his
mighty heaven!” (Psalm 150:1)

3. It’s a place to hear Scripture taught.

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’

teaching…” (Acts 2:42).

4. It’s a place to serve others.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of
spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).

5. It’s a place to find encouragement.

“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” (Hebrews 10:25).

6. It’s a place to be challenged.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”

(Proverbs 27:17).

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In Ephesians 4, Paul shares how each person in the body of

Christ is important and needed. “As each part does its own
special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole
body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16
NLT). Each Christian has something to contribute to the church.
When we are willing to get involved, serve, and work together—
“the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

When speaking to believers in Corinth, Paul tells them that they are
dependent upon each other. “The way God designed our bodies
is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every
part dependent on every other part” (1 Corinthians 12:25). It’s not
only nice to be with other believers; it’s necessary. We need each
other. Part of our growth in Christ only happens when being in
community with other believers.

How do you find a church/group of believers

that’s right for you?

• Pray for discernment and leading.

• Look for a church that faithfully teaches God’s Word.
• Find a church that is serious about making disciples (i.e.
love God, unite with believers, serve the world, entrust
the Gospel).
• Ask questions about their vision, mission, beliefs,
ministries, leadership, etc.
• Get involved.
• If it fits—stay; if it doesn’t fit—find a church that does.

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 d ay 6 | w h y s h o u l d i at t e n d c h u r c h ?

Do you have a church that you attend? Does it meet the

criteria we just mentioned? If not, what is missing?

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If you do not have a church that you attend, write down

several churches that you are willing to try and research. Also,
write down the names of Christians you know who might be
willing to help you in your search.

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T h e R e l at i o n s h i p

Day 7 : What should I do to grow as a Christian?

There are multiple disciplines that will help you to grow as a Christian.
It’s important to understand the disciplines and why we do them.

If we just engage in the activity without knowing the purpose,

it leads to religion instead of relationship.

What are my first steps?

1. Get baptized.

Baptism is an act of identification and obedience. In baptism,

we identify with Christ’s life, death, burial, and resurrection
(Matthew 3:13–17). When we are baptized, we obey Christ’s
teaching in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:16;
Acts 2:38).

Scriptural baptism is after salvation and by immersion. Baptism

does not save anyone; baptism is a public profession of faith by
those who are saved.

2. Spend time with God daily.

We addressed the importance of time with God on days two,

three, and four. The goal of life is to know God; the daily goal
is to spend time with God. There are many ways of spending
time with God. However, the two basic ways are prayer and
Bible study.

a. Prayer

Prayer is sharing with God what’s on your heart, and listening

as God shares with you what’s on His. Think of prayer as a
conversation between two friends. If only one is talking—
that’s monologue. When both are talking—it’s a conversation.

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 d ay 7 | w h at s h o u l d i d o t o g r o w a s a c h r i s t i a n ?

It takes time to develop a listening ear for God’s voice.

God’s voice in prayer will never contradict God’s voice in
Scripture. God will often answer our prayers, questions, and
comments through Scripture. Prayer and Bible study go
hand in hand.

b. Study and Memorize Scripture

We’ve already covered the basics on how to study the

Bible, but why do we study the Bible? We study Scripture to
know God, His heart, His directions, His way, etc. The Bible
is alive (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible is God’s word, and He
uses it to speak directly to His people.

Where do you begin? Here are several suggestions.

• Read the Gospel of John (one chapter a day). Ask

two questions. Who is Jesus? What does it mean to
be a follower of Jesus? Write down the answers with
references.
• Read the book of Proverbs (one chapter a day for 31 days).
• Read the New Testament (Matthew-Revelation). If you
read 3 chapters a day, it will take you around 3 months to
finish the whole New Testament.
• Read the entire Bible (Genesis–Revelation). There are
numerous plans for reading the Bible in a year. You can
download a plan or buy a One Year Bible. The One Year
Bible takes you through the Bible in a year by giving you
some passages from the Old Testament, New Testament,
Proverbs, and Psalms each day.

When you find key verses that mean a lot to you, take the time
to commit them to memory. God will often bring up Scripture
we’ve memorized when addressing us in prayer.

29
T h e R e l at i o n s h i p

3. Unite with a local church.

We discussed the importance of the local church on day

six. In order to grow as a follower of Christ, you need to
be in community with other believers. Some common
ways are as follows:

a. Corporate worship

Corporate worship is about recognizing and

verbalizing our love for God. We recognize who He is
and what He has done through Scripture. We verbalize
our love through singing, praying, teaching, and
conversation.

b. Join a small group/Sunday school class

Small groups help you develop friendships and they

give you an opportunity to ask questions. Small groups
will accelerate your growth in Christ.

c. Give to God’s work

Giving is an act of worship and trust. The Bible tells us

that God owns everything, and He entrusts a portion
with us. God tells us to give a tithe (10%) back to Him.
When a Christian gives a tithe back to God, it is an act
of obedience and trust. They obey God’s commands,
and they trust that God can do more with the 90% that
remains than if they were to keep 100% for themselves.

d. Get involved

Talk with a pastor, discover your spiritual gift(s), find a

place of service, get to know the people—GET INVOLVED.
When Christians are willing to get involved, they will find
opportunities to connect. If you wait for others to invite
you, you may be waiting a long time. Take the initiative.
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 d ay 7 | w h at s h o u l d i d o t o g r o w a s a c h r i s t i a n ?

In all of these steps, remember the goal. The goal is not to

perform religious duties out of obligation; the goal is to know
God. Let your Bible study, prayer, and church involvement
lead you into intimacy with God.

Additional Notes:

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31
Conclusion
In the past seven days, we’ve covered the basics of your new
life in Christ. That statement does not imply that we’ve covered
all of Christianity. We’ve not even scratched the surface of
theology, the Christ-life, our position and possessions in Christ,
etc. However, we have addressed…

• Your identity in Christ

• Eternal life
• The goal(s) of the Christian life
• What it means to be a disciple of Christ
• How to study the Bible
• The importance of the local church
• Steps for growth in Christ

These lessons have been taught in a week, but they need

to be applied over a lifetime.

The more you study Scripture, attend corporate worship, and unite
with believers—the more God will fill in the details and depth.

Try to remember that the Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a

marathon. Learn the fundamentals well and you will grow in
maturity over time. The further you go, the more you will see
the importance of the following truth:

Everything God desires to do in and through your life,

He will accomplish out of the overflow of your relationship
with Christ. Everything! Not just some things—ALL things.

May God bless you as you continue to pursue Him!

 Our focus for the week has been to share
the basics of your new life in Christ and
to put you on the right path for developing
a vibrant relationship with God.

To continue these principles

for another month, please
obtain a copy of The Pursuit.
The Pursuit is found as a PDF
online at www.thisistheGospel.com.
A printed version of The Pursuit can
be obtained by sending an email
to info@lifebaptistchurch.com.

SUIT
Exploring your life in Christ

Scan to begin
reading right away

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messages on
Gospel living
 Christ Life
Resources

After your eyes have been opened to the wonders of relational

living and the Christ-life, there’s no going back to dead religion.
The question becomes, “Where can I go to learn more?”

We’ve included a list of books that have a strong relational emphasis.

Some of these books are out of print, but they can be found in
second-hand bookstores. Key thoughts from several of these
writers are represented within the This is the Gospel Resources.

Some of these books present teachings that are not held by the
writers of this devotional guide. For example, Stanford teaches
that believers have both the sin nature and the new nature
(simultaneously). We disagree based on Scripture. McVey,
Foster, and George give powerful rebuttals in their respective
books. We’ve left these books on the list because they provide
spot-on insights into other relational issues. Stanford is one
of the greatest writers on the process by which God brings
a believer into positional truth. While there will be some
differences, a mature believer will have no trouble discerning
error in light of Scripture.

As you read these books, look for key concepts on relationship.

Take note of phrases like, “Christ in you,” “abiding in Him,”
“relational living,” “being instead of doing,” “knowing God,”
“intimacy with Christ,” “God living through you,” “positional
truth,” or “in Christ truth.” These phrases will guide you into
the riches of relationship.
Here’s a list of recommended resources:
• Grace Walk by Steve McVey
• The Complete Green Letters by Miles Stanford
• Because We Love Him by Clyde Cranford
• Transformed Into His Image by David Foster
• Grace Amazing by Steve McVey
• Complete in Christ by Bob George
• The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
• The Rest of the Gospel by Stone and Gregory
• Laws for Liberated Living by Manley Beasley
• Classic Christianity by Bob George
• Calvary Road by Roy Hession
• The Indwelling Life of Christ by W. Ian Thomas
• Truefaced by Thrall, McNicol Lynch
• Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
• Alive By His Life by Manley Beasley
• The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life by Evan Hopkins
• Born Crucified by L.E. Maxwell
• Grace Rules by Steve McVey
• Falling for God by Gary Moon
• Not I But Christ by Stephen Olford
• Gospel by J.D. Greear
• Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
• Jesus Changes Everything by Bob George
• To Live is Christ To Die is Gain by Matt Chandler

If you have questions, please contact us at

info@lifebaptistchurch.com
thisistheGospel.com