These Five Important Concepts give the highlights of what will help a believer understand and abundantly live the normal Christian life. These concepts are centered around Salvation, Lordship / Surrender, and Abiding, which form the basis for Phases 1 and 3 of A Tool for Personal Discipleship. .
- Use this tool (also available to print as a handout) when you have only 30-60 minutes with someone you may never see again, such as on a mission trip or in jail ministry.
- Prayerfully read the scriptures and discuss with them.
- Be sure to show them how to access this and the other DTI lessons on their device, and hand them a printed copy.
- OR, you may be a new believer "going it alone" without a more spiritually mature believer to mentor you.
- Prayerfully read these concepts, then begin going through Phase 1 on your own, writing down questions that come to mind that you can ask your pastor or "contact us".
1) As my Savior – Jesus wants me to know that all my sins have been forgiven, and I now have eternal life.
John 5:24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
Romans 4:7-8 How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How joyful is the man the Lord will never charge with sin!
Romans 8:1 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
1 John 3:24 … the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
2) As my Lord – Jesus wants me to know that I have been bought with a price, and I am no longer my own.
John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am.
Romans 11:33-12:1 … For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things… Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 7:22-23 … he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price;
2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.
Note: Concept #2 could be threatening, if it were not for the absolute truth that God loves me and will always do what is in my best interest.
So, if God loves me, can only do what is in my best interest, and never makes mistakes, what would be a logical reason for not embracing Him as my Master?
Listen to the live class discussion of Concepts 1 & 2:
3) I am very special and God has a marvelous, unique design for my entire life, and He wants to manage His plan for me.
Psalms 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about [acknowledge] Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus said) “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Romans 8:31-32 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
4) God wants me to know that the Holy Spirit alone is capable of guiding me and revealing God’s plan to me.
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Jeremiah 10:23 … a man’s way of life is not his own; no one who walks determines his own steps.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
John 16:13-15 … the Spirit of truth … will guide you into all the truth.… He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.…
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 … What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind—God prepared this for those who love Him. … no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
Listen to the live class discussion of Concepts 3 & 4:
5) God wants me to know that the Holy Spirit will train me to recognize, follow and obey His guidance.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
Luke 9:23-24 Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.…”
John 10:27 (Jesus said) “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.”
John 12:24-26 (Jesus said) “… If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be.…”
Romans 11:36-12:2 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Listen to the live class discussion of Concept #5:
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