New Believer’s Class

LOVE GOD

The Vision of Church on the Rock is to…

Love God

Love People

Live Life to the Full

This vision is not just for one isolated church in South Plains Texas, but a vision for every believer in Jesus Christ as they learn to live by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).

As we go through this class we will look at each part of the vision and see what it means for you as a new believer in Jesus Christ.

“The most important thing about you is what comes to your mind when you think about God”. - A.W. Tozer

When you hear the word God, what are your thoughts?

LOVE GOD:

Who is God?

He knows everything:

Psalms 139:2-4 (The psalmist talking to God)

2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say even beforeI say it, Lord.

What does that mean for you?

It means the plans He has for your life are fool proof.

It means nothing in your life surprises Him.

It means He is never unsure about what He is doing in your life.

He is always there:

Jeremiah 23:24

Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.

What does that mean for you?

It means you are never alone.

It means you can call on Him anywhere and at anytime.

He is unlimited in power:

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

What does that mean for you?

It means when you feel helpless He remains helpful.

It means when you are overwhelmed you can turn to someone who never gets overwhelmed.

It means He is capable to work in any area of your life.

His love is perfect:

1 John 4:8

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

What does that mean for you?

It means His love towards you will never change.

It means He will never fail in His love towards you.

When you are around someone who…

Knows you better than you know yourself (All-Knowing).

Is always there with you no matter the circumstances of life (All-Present)

Is capable of meeting your needs (All-Powerful)

Loves you unconditionally (All-Loving)

How could you not want to extend that love in return?

The Problem of Sin

Sin is what has caused separation in this relationship between you and God.

Romans 3:23 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

While the basic idea of “missing the mark” or “making a mistake” is behind the Jewish and Graeco-Roman use of the term, biblically the issue of sin goes much deeper.

What is sin?

A condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined towards evil (Moral Issue).

A violation of God’s standard for human behavior (Legal Issue) .

A lack of conformity to the character of God (Control Issue).

A separation between you and God (Relationship Issue).

Sin has been an issue from the start:

Psalms 51:5

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Romans 6:23 (First half)

For the wages of sin is death,

The Message bible says, “Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension (pay)  is death.”

John 10:10 says the Enemy (Satan) wants to steal, kill, and destroy you and His favorite weapon of choice is to use your own sins against you!

If this was the end of your story it would be a tragedy, but we should all be thankful that Romans 6:23 has a second half:

Romans 6:23 (Second half)

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 (A Great Verse)

For God (The Greatest Love)

so loved (The Greatest Degree)

the world (The Greatest Number)

that He gave (The Greatest Act)

His one and only Son (The Greatest Gift)

that whoever believes (The Greatest Invitation)

in Him (The Greatest Person)

shall not perish (The Greatest Deliverance)

but have eternal life (The Greatest Possession)

How Do I Show Love to God?

Pray from the heart:

Matthew 6:5- 8

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer is not for show, it’s for sincerity.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Prayer is not about expressing words, it’s about experiencing worship.

Good model to follow when you pray:

Adoration - Praise God for who He is.

Confession - Tell Him what you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness.

Thanksgiving - Express gratitude for what He has done and will do in your life.

Supplication - Bring your request (What are you needing the Lord to do).

Trade your Love:

Our love towards what the world (A system of thoughts and actions that do not seek to honor God) offers is traded for the love of God.

1 John 2:15-17 

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Read and Obey God’s Word:

Psalms 119:10 

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

John 14:15 (Jesus says)

“If you love me, keep my commands.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Quick Summary of the Bible:

The Bible is a total of 66 books.

Divided into two sections:

Old Testament (39 books):

LAW BOOKS (History is mixed in)

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

HISTORY BOOKS

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

WISDOM AND POERTY BOOKS

Job (Wisdom/Poetry/History)

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)

PROPHECY BOOKS (History)

Major Prophets

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Minor Prophets

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

New Testament (27 books):

LIFE OF JESUS (Gospels)

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

HISTORY

Acts

LETTERS TO THE CHURCH

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

PROPHECY

Revelation

How do you read the bible?

Read Consistently (Read it through like any other book)

Read Expectantly (Expect God to speak to you through His Word)

Read Conversationally (Take time to pray as you read through the Word of God)

Read Obediently (Be a doer of the word and not a reader/hearer only)

LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS:

John 13:34-35 

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Philippians 2:3-4

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

A greater love for God should naturally be manifested in a greater desire to love and serve others.

More on this when we dive into Love People and Live Life to the Full.