LESSON 8: Growing together in Christ.

WHAT WE COVERED IN LESSON 7: What must I do to be saved?

Summary: Follow the examples set forth in the book of Acts. Hear the Word. Believe the Word. Repent of your sins. Confess Jesus as Lord, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins by immersion. After last week's lesson you now know what God requires of you in order to be saved. The question is: are you willing to obey? If your answer is YES, great! You can be baptized immediately! If NO, then what are you waiting for?

If you live in the Mesquite or surrounding areas and desire to be baptized please call us at 972-279-6186. If you do not live in our community, but want to be baptized, click here to find a Church of Christ near you! http://church-of-christ.org/churches .

WHAT WE WANT TO COVER IN LESSON 8:

Love one another.
You will be hated.
Don't be troubled.
How are we to live after becoming a Christian?
Spread the Word.
As Christians, what should we do now?
Sections of this series.

LOVE ON ANOTHER.

1 John 3:11-20 "This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."

YOU WILL BE HATED.

John 15:18-21 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."

DON'T BE TROUBLED

John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

HOW ARE WE TO LIVE AFTER BECOMING A CHRISTIAN?

Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

1 Peter 2:1-3 "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

Colossians 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

1 Thessalonians 5:21,22 "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil." Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

SPREAD THE WORD.

Matthew 28:19,20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 8:4 "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."

Finally... In the end, I pray that both you and I can say what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7,8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

AS CHRISTIANS, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

Matthew 28:18-20 Make followers, baptize them, teach them to obey.

Acts 8:4 Tell others the good news about Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:13 Read the Scriptures publicly, comfort others and teach them.

Ephesians 4:12-16 Build up the body of Christ.

Galatians 6:10 Do good to everyone, especially other believers.

James 1:26,27 Take care of orphans, help widows, keep yourself pure from the filth of the world.

Colossians 3:17 Everything you say or do should be done by the authority of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer that you will make the Bible your guide for life and do your absolute best to follow what God says. If I don't ever meet here on earth, I hope to see you in Heaven! Questions? Call me. My phone number is 972-279-6186, or you can reach me via E-mail at rbuch@meadowview.org

God bless.

SECTIONS OF THIS SERIES:

Lesson 1: Does God exist?
Lesson 2 Overview of the Bible/Church History.
Lesson 3 How God Deals With Man?
Lesson 4 Who Is Jesus?
Lesson 5 The Message of the New Testament.
Lesson 6 Understanding Faith and Obedience.
Lesson 7 What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Lesson 8 Growing Together in Christ.