CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER

START
A GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Name: ________________________
 IINTRODUCTION

When people received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior they
are born into the family of God. As new born children they need to
grow in the Lord or they won't mature. Instead of assets they become
liabilities in the church.

The Apostle Paul admonished the new believers, "And now, just as
you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue 'o follow
him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on
him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught,
and you will overflow with thankfulness. " (Colossians 2:6-7 NLT)

START is a guide for spiritual growth. This answers the question

"What's next?" It's an acronym of Search, Talk, Attend, Relate and
Tell. These are five practical things for a new believer to do in order
to grow in the Lord.

To grow in the Lord one needs to: Search the Scriptures by doing a
daily devotion; Talk to God daily in prayer; Attend Church services
or be committed to a church; Relate with other Christians in the
church through a small group and; Tell others the Gospel of salvation.

Our vision is to Win Souls and Make Disciples. This booklet is a

guide to disciple the new believer in the Lord at the early stage of
their Christian life.

We must make disciples that makes disciples.

BISHOP HERLY MONTES

Davao, Philippines, 2016

01 S EARCH THE SCRIPTURES

 John 5:39 NKJV
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have
eternal life; and these are which testify of Me.

The Bible is no ordinary book it is God's manual to man. It is

the Word of God. Everyday He would like to speak to you
through His Word, the Bible.

The following are some benefits of reading the Bible.

ETERNAL LIFE
The first thing you need to do to start your walk with God, is to
have a Bible and search or study by reading it everyday because
it teaches us how to have eternal life and about Jesus Himself.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of

the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of
God. (1 John 5:13 NKJV)

You can actually know that you have eternal life now because
this is the purpose why the Bible was written. In other words
you can have the assurance of salvation while you're still alive.

THE TRUTH
Jesus said, "Then you will know the truth, and thetruth
willsetyou free."(John8:32 NIV) If you want to know the truth
you must read the Bible and base all your beliefs and doctrines
on it.

The Apostle Paul wrote "All Scripture is given by inspiration of

God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.(2Tim.
3:16,17 NKJV)

Truth hurts and there are truths from the Scriptures that may
hurt you because it corrects the wrong traditions you've been
practicing and teaching that are contrary to your beliefs.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because

when you received the word of God which you heard from us,
you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV)

SPIRITUAL FOOD
It just doesn't teach us about eternal life and what is truth but it
is also our spiritual food. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man
shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.'"( Matthew 4:4 NIV)

The Christian life is a daily walk. Just as in the physical you

don't eat once a week but everyday. You need to read the Bible
everyday because this is our spiritual food.

Peter up in adds, your "Like newborn babies, crave pure

spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation."
1 Peter 2:2 NIV

CHANGES LIVES
The word of God is so powerful and it's alive that we can stand
our faith on its promises. "For the word of God is alive and
active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates
even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges
the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation
is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid
bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
(Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV)
The word of God has a power to change you because its effect
is not only superficial but it penetrates even the deepest part of
your inmost being. It's just like an X-Ray, it reveals when
something is wrong within so you can take care of it before it
gets worst.

For the new believer to experience the power of the Word of

God and to keep the Word of God in their heart and be able to
apply it.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Some practical ways how to search the Scriptures. Choose an
appropriate place and make Bible reading a habit. You may start
reading from the Gospel of John and Proverbs one chapter a
day. Keep a devotional notebook in which you write in it
everyday and look for the following: Message from God for me
today; Promises of God; Commands to obey; Warnings to
heed; Personal application; and a verse verse to memorize.

Another way to search the Scriptures is through the SOAP

method. SOAP is an acronym of Scripture, Observation,
Application and Prayer. After reading, write inyour devotional
notebook the Scripture that becomes alive to you at the moment.
Write your observation or what you've learned and understand.
Also write how can you apply what you've learned. You can
also write your prayers or prayer requests.

Determine to maintain a real relationship with God by listening

to Him everyday through the Bible. Determine to read through a
set number of chapters very day and memorize the texts God
uses to speak to you directly.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
• Do you do have a Bible in your house?
• If no, do you commit to buy or secure a copy of a Bible?
• Will you commit to read the Bible everyday to know what
God wants you to do?
 02 T ALK TO GOD IN PRAYER

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

Praying always with ll prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints.

Now let's take a look at the second secret to spiritual success:

To be a successful Christian, you must have an active prayer
life.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is the ability to communicate with your Heavenly Father

and hear back from Him! Some think of it as a duty. Others
think of it as a quick fix or last resort. Prayer is none of these
things. It is actually the greatest privilege of a Christian.

The whole Bible is filled with the command to pray: "Pray in

the morning", "Pray when you are sick", "Pray when you need
help", "Pray for peace." Why are we told to pray so much? It is
because God wants to answer our requests. Jesus said, "And all
things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matthew
21:22). What a promise!

CALL OUT TO GOD

Think about your relationship with your best friend: you talk to
him, listen to what he has to say, and enjoy spending time
together. This is the essence of prayer, building a relationship
with your Heavenly Father. He loves you very much, wants to
hear what is on your mind and give you direction.
God says, "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you
great and mighty things, which you do not know"
(Jeremiah 33:3).

Your job is to call out and talk to Him, and He promises to

answer-what a wonderful guarantee! Your prayers do not have
to be anything fancy. In fact, God prefers honesty over babbling
on and on. Just start today by telling God what is on your mind
and asking Him to speak to you. You will be amazed at His
response.

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we

ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we
know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we
have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John
5:14-15)

Prayer is actually a conversation with God! When was the last

time you enjoyed this privilege, and what did you talk with God
about? You can ask for prayer from a caring Christian.

WHY PRAY?

What is the point of prayer? Why take time out of your day to
talk with God who you can't see or necessarily hear out loud?
The main reason we pray is because it's what God wants. Why
does God want you to call out to Him? Think of the relationship
between a father and son. A good father wants his son to come
to him with his feelings and needs; it is his desire to provide for
his son and let him know he can be trusted. This is even more
true of God!

Listen to what Jesus said about praying to God: "Or what man
is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give
him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a
snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is
in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
(Matthew 7:9-11).

"The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my

prayer." (Psalm 6:9)

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

PRAYER PLEASES GOD

Have you ever had a friend who wants to hear about your
problems? Probably not. But it makes God happy when you talk
to Him about your thoughts and needs, because it shows Him
that you trust Him.

The Bible says, "And without faith it is impossible to please

Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that
He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Faith
just means that you believe God is who He says He is in the
Bible.

For example, you can ask God what to do in a certain situation

and believe He will guide you because James 1:5 says, "But if
any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all
generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Why don't you take some time today to tell God a pressing need
or thought that has been weighing you down? Relying on your
Heavenly Father will both please Him and build your faith as
you see Him respond to your request.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

• Do you have any need that I can pray with you today?
• Will you commit to talk to God in prayer everyday?
 03 A TTEND CHURCH SERVICES
Hebrews 10:25
"Do not give up meeting together as some people do, but
encourage one another, especially now that the day of his
return is drawing near."

CH_RCH; What is missing? U!

The church is not complete without "U"! Likewise, a Christian's
life can never be complete apart from a healthy, Bible believing,
Spirit filled church. It goes hand in hand.

Can you be a Christian without going to church? A key question

here is, why would a truly Born Again person not want to be
part of the church that his Lord died for? 1 John 3:14 says that
one of the signs of a true believer is love for his Christian
brothers. We naturally want to be around those we love. In
contrast, one sign of a backslider is withdrawing from Christian
fellowship. The Apostle John wrote, "They went out from us,
but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to
us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed
that none of them belonged to us". (1 John 2:19)

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

The Greek word for church is "ekklesia" meaning "called out

ones". That is a very special thing, to be one whom God has
called out of the world, to be part of His Family! "Ekklesia"
also means "assembly" or "congregation". This is how God has
organized His family in the earth, through local congregations
which are to be earthly representations of His Heavenly
Kingdom.

Church is the "body of Christ." It can be a group of two or three

Christians meeting in a house, or an assembly of hundreds or
thousands meeting in a beautiful sanctuary. According to
Matthew 18:19-20, as long as we gather together in Jesus' name,
He will be in our midst.

There are two distinct, but equally important, meanings of

Christ's body, the church. One includes every believer in the
world, and is commonly called The Church. When you became
a Christ-follower, you became part of The Church. But at the
same time, every believer is called to become part of a local
body or church. It's in that context that all these relationships
happen, and it's where personal ministry takes place.

There is a local church where Christians are instructed to meet

together regularly. You must commit to a local church and meet
with other Christians so you can learn, fellowship, train and
work together to teach others about God.

You and your disciples need to physically "show up" at church

or in a fellowship group because we need one another.

THE CHURCH IS YOUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY

Why did God create the Churcg to be like a family? Right

from.the start, Jesus made His followers as special as His own
mom and siblings. "Pointing to his disciples, [Jesus] said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever dpes the
will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and
mither" (Matthew 12:49-50). That is why we can call each other
"brother" and "sister" in Christ.

HOW TO FIND A RIGHT LOCAL CHURCH

Finding a church that is right for you and your family is one of
the most important decisions you will ever make. Ask the Holy
Spirit for guidance, and then consider the following important
factors:

Fellowship.

Most active churches conduct Sunday morning and evening

worship and mid-week services. Life groups or home fellowship
will help you meet other church members and help you to grow
in your faith. Eagerly attend and participate in discipleship
training with a strong emphasis on Christian leadership.

Leadership.

You need a Pastor who will take care of your spiritual needs.
They will speak the word of God to you. Consider the outcome
of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:17).
They should know God and believe and preach the Bible.

Ministry.

How can you minister to others? Look for a place where you
can not only be served, but one where you can serve and
contribute your talents. Aside from teaching and singing, many
churches need people with organizational, leadership and
planning skills.

Doctrine.

Select a church that believes that the Holy Spirit is at work in

the lives ofChristians today. This view includes the power of
prayer for salvation, healing and God's intervention in the lives
of individuals. A time of worship, praise and prayer should be a
central part of the service. Not to be overlooked are a strong
evangelism and discipleship program and outreach to the
disadvantaged.

Ultimately, you should worship in a place where you feel the

presence and the power of God. Through His power, you will
grow and develop into the person God wants you to be, ready to
meet the challenges of daily living. And as an active member of
a church family, your life will also be enriched through the
many blessings and the transforming power of united worship.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS

• Do you attend church services regularly?

• Are you willing to commit to our local church and attend our
services? Are you willing to use your gifts as part of a church
body?
 04 R ELATE WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN

Acts 5:42 NIV

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house,
they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news
that Jesus is the Messiah.

The first century Christians just didn't met in the temple but
they also fellowship from house to house. Now a days we call it
Cell groups, Life group of Small groups. Every Cell group has a
leader that will mentor and disciple you and take care of your
spiritual life. It takes other people to bring out the best in you.
Just like an athlete won't become a champion without a coach.

We believe that our church must become larger and smaller at

the same time.

"You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that

would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from
house to house." (Acts 20:20)

SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE FOUR THINGS:

1. A PLACE TO CONNECT
“ ... yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground
with him so he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ
save him." (1 Corinthians 9:22 LB)

You need to be connected to the body of Christ and it's made

possible through the small group where you could relate with
other Christians. Just like an appliance unit no matter how brand
new and good it is, if is not plugged in or connected to the
power source it won't work. When you're connected you're not
alone and you become part of a community where people could
be with you and pray for in time of needs.

2. A PLACE TO PROTECT

“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for
us. Andsowealso ought to give up our lives for our Christian
brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16 NLT)

There is an aspect of our lives where we are willing to give up

ourselves in protection of someone else. It is an aspect of love.

The enemy of your soul is out to trap you. And if he cannot get
you to turn your back on God, he will try to isolate you and
tempt you to destroy your family. The greatest thing you can do
to protect yourself is get others involved in your life who can
lovingly speak the truth of God into you.

As Christians we are in the greatest danger when we are

isolated.

3. A PLACE TO GROW

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

(Proverbs 27:17)

We are designed with a need for other people. Whether we

realize it or not, we have a need for relationships in our lives. It
is when we are stunted in our development of relationships that
we become unhealthy individuals.

Our lives are made up not only of a personal journey with God,
but with interpersonal relationships formed with other human
beings. God designed us from the very beginning to be social
creatures. He knew that we would need relationships and would
need intimacy with others to fully function the way that he
created us to live.

4. A PLACE TO WORK TOGETHER

"Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one;

they get a better return for their labor. (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT)

Through our relationships we benefit each other. We

accomplish more together. It is encouraging to work alongside a
friend. We get energy and we support in our friendships.

We are called to work for God in winning souls and making

disciples. God gave individuals in the church specific gifts to
help the church function together and support one another.

Too often in life we take things in an individualistic mindset.

We have an idea that we need to accomplish things on our own
and not seek out help. The problem is, when we operate that
way we get burnt out, overwhelmed and frustrated.

We are better together. We accomplish more than we ever

dream or imagine when we stand alongside one another and
build one another up. Today, will you commit to live your life
in honest relationship with God and others? Will you Will you
seek out honest relationships to encourage you, strengthen you
and protect you?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
• Would you like to be a part of a cell group where you can
grow in the Lord?
• Would you like me to be you cell leader and mentor you?
• Are you willing to spend an hour or two for a cell group
fellowship?

05 T ELL OTHERS THE GOSPEL

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name od 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.

How did you first hear about Jesus? Someone told you right? It
is very rare for someone to have heard about Jesus just through
a dream or message from God. For most people, they had to
hear it from someone.

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in

your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV)

Salvation is not only believing in your heart but also declaring

with your mouth. "... For the mouth speaks what the heart is
full of." (Luke 6:45 NIV) So if a person truly believes in the
Lord Jesus and is saved he can't help but tell others about his
faith.
The Great Commission is not an option but is a command of the
Lord because he wants everyone to hear the gospel and receive
salvation just like what you've received.

TELL THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS

This amazing task is called the Great Commission. It's what

Jesus told His followers right before He left earth to go to
Heaven. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the
good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized
will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16:15,16 NIV)

As one of Jesus' followers, you have the privilege and the

responsibility of helping to fulfill the Great Commission. The
goal is that every single person on earth would be given the
chance to hear about Jesus that they might receive eternal life as
you have.

ALL ARE LOST

Think of it this way: Imagine you had cancer and were chosen
to be part of a special test group for a new cure. The treatment
cured all of your cancer completely free of charge. What is the
first thing you would do after you were healed? You would
want to tell all of the other cancer victims about this great cure!
Well, sin is a cancer affecting every single person. And you
have been cured-forgiven of your sins-by Jesus Christ. Do you
remember how you felt before you believed in Jesus? Maybe
you felt lonely, guilty, and without hope.

The entire world is lost without Jesus. That is why Jesus has
sent us to reach them with His love and forgiveness. Will you
obey His command to make disciples of all nations? If so, tell
God right now that you desire to give your life to this. It is the
greatest thing you can do with your life.
"And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to
testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as
Judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10:42)

BRING OTHERS TO JESUS

If you don't know yet how to share the Gospel you can bring
people to Jesus by inviting them to the church. This was the first
thing Andrew did after he heard about Jesus.

John 1:40-42 NIV

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard
what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing
Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We
have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought
him to Jesus ... "

Witnessing is not only telling people about Christ but God

wants us to bring people to his house which the church.

WINNING SOULS IS AN ETERNAL INVESTMENT

The Bible says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And
he who wins souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV) and the
Prophet Daniel said, "Those who are wise will shine as bright
as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine
like the stars forever." (Daniel 12:3 NLT)

Devoted followers of Christ understand and acknowledge that

what God treasures first (and there is no close second) is people.

The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest
are people brought to eternal life, what joy awaits both the
planter and the harvester alike. (John 4:36 NLT)

There is no earthly commodity is going to make it from this

world into the next. Not land, not homes, not bank accounts, not
titles, not achievements. Only SOULS.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
• Can think of a friend right now who needs to hear about
Jesus?
• Will you ask God to give you opportunities and His words to
tell them?
• Will commit to invite that someone to Church and take care of
them just like what I've done to you?