Knowing God Personally

Lesson 1 Personal Application and Ministry Skills Checklist Copy the titles and key salvation verses below into the back of your Bible so you will be able to answer your or others doubts with the facts of Gods Word. I am forgiven: Heb 10:12-14; Col 1:13,14; Col 2:13 I am a child of God: John 1:12,13; Rom 8:15; 1 John 3:1 I am indwelt by Christ: Gal 2:20; Heb 13:5; John 6:37; Rev 3:20 I have new life: II Cor 5:17; Eph 2:4,5 I have eternal life: John 17:3; I John 5:11-13; John 5:24; John 10:27-29 Apply the How to Have a Quiet Time You Wont Want to Miss method to the 5 groups of verses above. Each day read through one group of verses and choose the one passage that is the most meaningful to you. Apply the Quiet Time method to the verse you choose. Check off the groupings above as you do them. Review the Who I am in Christ card. Thank God for at least one of these truths about you each day during your Quiet Time. Look up the scripture references for any of the truths that you have a hard time believing. Write out the verses on 3x5 cards. Put your verse cards where you can use one of them as your Quiet Time verse any day you do not have time to find a new verse to use as your springboard for praise and meditation. Write out your testimony of how you received Christ and the specific changes that you have experienced since yielding your life to Christ. In order to keep your testimony brief (3-5 sentences), list several adjectives to describe your life before and after you received Christ. For example: Before--angry, insecure, confused; After--forgiven, at peace, more confident. Sample testimony: I struggled with insecurity and anger after being abandoned by my mother. One day I understood that Jesus wanted to come into my life, forgive my anger, and never leave me. I prayed, Lord Jesus, come into my heart, forgive my sins, and make me the person You want me to be. Since yielding my life to Christ, I have experienced peace and security knowing that I am completely forgiven and that Jesus will never leave me. Share your prepared testimony with several Christian friends (in addition to your discipleship partner) if you are not yet ready to share with a non-Christian. If you do not practice sharing with your Christian friends, you will never gain the confidence to share with non-believers. By the time you take your 3 rd person through these introductory discipleship lessons, you should have the confidence to share your testimony naturally with nonbelievers. (over)

Listen for your before and after adjectives in the conversations around you. These are the people who need to hear about the changes Jesus has made in your life according to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Pray for opportunities to share your testimony. For example: I noticed that you mentioned that you are struggling with anger (insecurity, loneliness, etc.) or You mentioned that you wished that you had peace (security, confidence, etc.). I used to struggle with (or wish for) those things too. Could I share with you the changes I have experienced in my life since I came to know God personally? (ALWAYS ask permission to share your story!) If the answer is Yes, BRIEFLY share your life-change testimony in 3-5 sentences. It is best to let them ask you for more information than for you to share too much before they are ready to hear. You are baiting the hook and waiting for them to bite! If the answer is No, let them know that you are available to share with them when they are interested. Allowing them to say No now, may allow them to approach you later when they are ready to say Yes. In the mean time, pray for God to show them that their need for peace, security, etc. can only be met in Him. Practice sharing the green Would You Like to Know God Personally? booklet in your packet (or another gospel tract of your choice) with Christian friends so that you can comfortably share it with non-believers. ALWAYS be prepared to give or share a gospel tract with those who are responsive to your testimony by saying: This booklet explains how you can know God personally. Please let me know what you think about what it says. Later you can ask these questions to discover their response to the gospel booklet: What did you think of the booklet? Did it make sense to you? Have you made the wonderful discovery of knowing God personally? You would like to, wouldnt you? Take your discipleship partner through Lesson 1 and hold her/him accountable for completing all the personal application and ministry skills above. (Remember--You will never hold others accountable for things you are not doing yourself!)

Knowing God Personally

Lesson 2 Personal Application and Ministry Skills Checklist Ask God to reveal any sin in your life. Write your sin list, remembering that resentment, hatred, and bitterness are sins. Confess each sin, thanking God for His complete forgiveness through Christs death on the Cross on your behalf. Remember, your sins are paid in full! List ALL the people God reveals that you need to forgive. For the people that have hurt you repeatedly (family members, friends, employers, co-workers, etc.), I suggest that you put their names on individual sheets of paper that you divide into 3 columns: Persons name The long-term consequences or How the offense made me feel resulting defense mechanisms violated, dirty, unsafe, ashamed, helpless, trapped, afraid promiscuous, distrust of men, low self-esteem, distorted view of God distrusts others, unable to believe Gods promises apply to me

The offense molestation

broken promises unworthy, unloved, excluded rejected, unimportant

When you have written out your forgiveness list/charts, pray through each person separately: Lord, I choose to forgive (name) for (one specific offense that God has brought to mind), even though it made me feel (be specific and thorough) , and it resulted in these (long-term consequences or defense mechanisms I developed as coping skills). Repeat this prayer for each offense by that person. Emotional healing comes by forgiving the pain that others have caused. After you have forgiven each remembered offense, painful feeling, and long-term result caused by that person, pray: Lord, I choose not to hold any of these things against (name) any longer. I thank You for setting me free from my bondage to (bitterness, fear, etc.) toward (name). I trust You to heal my damaged emotions. I now ask You to bless (name). In Jesus name. Amen. Because God may bring other offenses by that person to mind at a later time, I suggest that you draw a line after the last forgiven offense and date it. When Satan tempts you, this will remind you that you chose to forgive each of the above offenses and not hold any of them against that person any longer. When other memories arise or new offenses occur, add these offenses to the list, repeat the forgiveness process above, draw a new line, and date it. When you no longer feel like salt is being poured on an open wound each time you are hurt, it is time to Praise God! and destroy your forgiveness lists. Continue processing each new offense in the same way so that you will never again be in bondage to bitterness and unforgiveness. (over) Apply the How to Have a Quiet Time You Wont Want to Miss method to at least one verse out of these 3 passages. Also answer the questions that pertain to each passage: Luke 15:11-32 Gal 5:16-23 Psalm 32 Quiet Time verse Quiet Time verse Quiet Time verse Questions answered Questions answered Questions answered

Write your two forgiveness testimonies in 2-3 sentences and share them with Christian friends or unbelievers: How you know that you are completely forgiven and free of all condemnation and guilt because of Christs death on the Cross on your behalf. How Gods complete forgiveness of you has enabled you to forgive others so that you are not in

bondage to resentment, hatred or bitterness and emotional pain. Christians and non-Christians need to understand the finished work of the Cross--that Christs death paid the penalty for all sin for all people for all time. Sharing your forgiveness testimonies with several Christian friends will also give you the confidence to share them with non-believers. Listen for words and attitudes like guilt, condemnation, hopelessness, anger, resentment, bitterness and hatred in the conversations around you. These are the people who need to hear your forgiveness testimonies. Pray for opportunities to share your forgiveness testimonies with them. For example: You mentioned that you are struggling with unforgiveness (guilt, bitterness, etc.) or You mentioned that you wished that you could be free from your pain (guilt, anger, fears, etc.). I used to struggle with (or wish for) those things too. Could I share with you how I have been freed from guilt (anger, bitterness, etc.) since I have understood Gods complete forgiveness? (ALWAYS ask permission to share your story!) If their answer is Yes, briefly share your forgiveness testimony in 2-3 sentences. It is best to let them ask you for more information than for you to share too much before they are ready to hear. You are baiting the hook and waiting for them to bite! If their answer is No, let them know that you are available to share with them when they are interested. Allowing them to say No now, may allow them to approach you later when they are ready to say Yes. In the mean time, pray for God to show them their need to be forgiven and to forgive others. Take your discipleship partner through Lesson 2 and hold her/him accountable for completing all the personal application and ministry skills above. (Remember--You will have a hard time holding others accountable for things that you are not doing yourself. So keep having your Quiet Times and sharing your salvation and forgiveness testimonies and gospel tracts with others, too!)

FEELINGS
(Often behind the reaction of anger, frustration, depression, sadness, etc.)

Abandoned Abused Afraid Alone Awkward Betrayed Defenseless Dirty Embarrassed Excluded Guilty Helpless Hopeless Humiliated Ignorant/Stupid Inadequate Invalid Manipulated/Used

Misunderstood Not likable Powerless Rejected Responsible/At fault Shameful Taken advantage of Trapped Ugly Unaccepted/Unacceptable Unappreciated Unlovable/Unloved Untrusting/Untrusted Used Violated Vulnerable Worthless/Unworthy

Knowing God Personally

Lesson 3 Personal Application and Ministry Skills Checklist Consistently live in the power of the Spirit by yielding the control of your life to Christ moment by moment. Review the Exhale--Inhale explanations every day when you do your Quiet Time passages. Pay close attention to the section on The battle for your mind, reviewing the scriptures as needed. Can you read your name in Galatians 2:20 and know it is a reality in your life right now? If not, confess your sin/self-will and yield your life to Christs loving control. Apply the How to Have a Quiet Time You Wont Want to Miss method to at least one verse out of each of these passages. Also answer the questions that pertain to each passage: John 8: 31,32 Eph 5:18-21 Col 3: 12-17 Eph 3: 14-21 Mark 4:35-41 Quiet Time verse Quiet Time verse Quiet Time verse Quiet Time verse Questions answered Questions answered Questions answered Questions answered

Yield every area of your life to Christ by identifying each area and allowing Him to cleanse and rearrange each area according to His priorities. Review and be prepared to share the 3 circles with the transition arrows, statements, and verses on page 7 of the Leaders Guide. Please add John 1:12 and Rev 3:20 which were omitted below the Receive Christ arrow. Share with several Christians friends or non-believers by drawing the 3 circles and explaining the relationship between the natural, spiritual, and carnal persons by placing the transition arrows, statements and verses in the appropriate locations, while saying: (Draw the 3 circles without the transition arrows, statements or verses) These 3 circles illustrate how God views every person on earth at any moment in time. The first distinction is between those who do not have Christ in their lives (point to left circle--non-Christians) and those who do (point to the 2 right circles--both are Christians). The second distinction is between the 2 circles who do have Christ in their lives. The top right circle (point to circle) illustrates those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and are yielding their lives to Christs loving direction and resources as God intended. The lower right circle (point to circle) illustrates those who have chosen to control their own lives rather than yield their lives to Christ love, wisdom, and power. The interesting thing is that in reality, the self-centered Christian life (point to the lower right circle) looks and acts just like the non-Christian self-directed life (point to top left circle). Both of these circles illustrate people who are living independently of God and His supernatural power and resources. Only the Christ-directed life (top right circle) is receiving all the blessings, benefits, and power that God intended for every person to enjoy . (over)

Then ask: Which of these 3 circles best represents your life at this moment? Allow them time to respond. Then ask: Which circle would you like to represent your life? (Now explain the relationship between the 3 circles by adding the transition arrows, statements, and verses as you share) A person without Christ becomes a Christ-directed Christian by acknowledging his/her sin, receiving Christs forgiveness, and asking Jesus Christ to be his/her Savior and Lord. (Remember to add John 1:12, Rev 3:20 below the Receive Christ arrow.) Once a person has become a Christian, there is a moment by moment choice about who will direct and empower his/her life. Every time a person chooses to disobey God (sin) or chooses to rely on his/her own resources (selfwill), Self has taken control, forfeiting all of Christs wisdom, attributes, and power (I John 1:8). Whenever a person recognizes his/her sin or self-will, he/she must specifically confess the sin or self-will, yield control to Christ, and trust Him to direct and empower his/her life with all of His attributes and supernatural resources (I John 1:9). God wants every person to experience the abundant life He has provided in Jesus Christ. However, He has given each person freedom of choice. Will you choose to accept Christs free gift of forgiveness AND/OR yield your life to His Spirits loving direction and power? If the answer is Yes, offer to lead in a prayer of confession and salvation AND/OR yielding to Christs loving control: Dear Jesus, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven all my sin through Your death on the Cross for me. By faith, I now ask You to take Your place on the throne of my life. I now thank You for directing my life and empowering me with the Holy Spirit. Practice sharing the blue Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-filled Life? booklet in your packet with several Christian friends so that you can comfortably share it with other believers and any religious person who thinks he/she is a Christian. Encourage your practice partners to yield their lives to the Holy Spirits power and resources if they are currently directing their own lives. I always share this booklet rather than the Would You Like to Know God Personally? booklet with anyone who would be offended or defensive if they felt that I was implying that they were not a Christian--nominal Christians, sporadic church attenders, Catholics, Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses, etc. If the person did not know Christ as Savior before praying to yield his/her life to Christs loving control, he/she just prayed a salvation prayer! Pray for many opportunities to share the 3 Circles and/or The Spirit-filled Life booklet. Christians are powerless, defeated, and a negative witness until they learn how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit moment by moment. This is the greatest need in the Church today. Take your discipleship partner through Lesson 3 and hold him/her accountable for completing all the personal application and ministry skills above. (Remember--You will have a hard time holding others accountable for things that you are not doing yourself. So keep having your Quiet Times, sharing your testimonies, the 3 circles, and the gospel and Holy Spirit booklets with others, too!)

Knowing God Personally

Lesson 4 Personal Application and Ministry Skills Checklist Consistently live in the power of the Holy Spirit by daily yielding your life to Christs loving direction. Daily ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you have retaken control of your life (throne check) and if there is any sin or selfwill that you need to confess. If you do need to confess, acknowledge that each sin was wrong and thank God for His complete forgiveness through Christs death on the Cross. Ask Him to change your wrong thinking that led to the wrong attitudes or actions as you yield your will to Christs loving control. Apply the How to Have a Quiet Time You Wont Want to Miss method to the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, day after day. Follow the Quiet Time plan: (1 and 2) After opening in prayer, read Ephesians 1:1. Ask God to show you if there is anything He wants you to know, stop, change, or do. If there is, precede with the Quiet Time method; if there is not, read the next verse(s) until He shows you something you need to know, stop, change, or do. (3) Write your verse in your journal, noting what He wants you to know, stop, change, or do. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to obey everything God reveals to you. (4) Praise God for the things your verse: (a) reveals about God and His character (b) says or promises about you (c) says or promises about others: your spouse, children, parents, friends, co-workers, etc. Write your praises in your journal also. (5) Write your verse poetry-style on a 3x5 card, underlining key words or phases. (6) Take your verse card with you so that you can meditate on your verse throughout the day. Using the praise areas above, ask God to reveal anything else He wants you to know, stop, change, or do. (7) Review your verse just before bed so God can use your sleeping hours to renew your mind. In the Witnessing section of the lesson, you made a list of people whom you would like to tell about what Christ has done in your life. Copy that list below. Pray daily for each of those people by name, that God would prepare their hearts to hear your testimony and the Gospel and to respond to Gods free gift of forgiveness through Christs death on the Cross for their sins. (1) (2) (3) (4)

Practice reading the green Would You Like to Know God Personally? booklet (or another gospel tract of your choice) to a friend until you feel confident sharing it with a non-Christian. (over)

Keep listening for your before and after salvation testimony adjectives and attitudes like guilt, condemnation, hopelessness, resentment, bitterness, and hatred that indicate a need to understand Gods forgiveness and how to forgive others. All of these provide opportunities to share your salvation and/or forgiveness testimonies and/or the 3 circles. Ask your discipler to pray with you for opportunities for you to witness to your friends. Prayerfully plan a time to witness to someone who is using the words mentioned above. Ask your discipler to go with you to witness to your friend if that would be helpful. Review and be prepared to draw and explain the Christ-directed life diagram on the 2nd page of the lesson. Share the Christ-directed life diagram with many Christian friends, by saying: This diagram represents the goal of Christian discipleship, a life transformed and empowered by the living Christ. Christians who are yielded to Christ have a constant hunger for the Word and an on-going dialogue through prayer because Jesus is in constant communication with the Father, always seeking to know and do His will. Christ-directed Christians see and interact with other Christians as Jesus does, always desiring the best for them and stimulating them to love and good deeds through fellowship and discipleship. True fellowship is far more than food and fun; it is holding each other accountable to fulfill the one anothers of Scripture. Christ-directed Christians see non-Christians through Jesus loving eyes and are eager to share the wonderful news of Gods love and forgiveness through Christs death on the Cross. This is the only life that can glorify God and encourage spiritual growth and Christian witness. Then ask: Does this diagram represent your life? Allow them time to respond. Would you like this diagram to illustrate your life? You can have Jesus live His life through you moment by moment. Share the Spirit-filled Life booklet and/or invite them to be discipled so they can understand how to live a Christ-directed life, too. Prayerfully select the next people you and your discipleship partner will disciple using the Knowing God Personally lessons. Invite them to be discipled and equipped to disciple others. Ask them to commit to passing on the discipleship lessons to at least 3 people who also have discipleship partners. Explain the value of immediately passing on each lesson to a discipleship partner: discipleship is both receiving and passing on biblical truth; increased confidence while the material is fresh; greater accountability in personal application and ministry skills; models immediate reproduction; the blessings of obeying Jesus command to make disciples. Take your discipleship partner through Lesson 4 and hold him/her accountable for completing all the personal application and ministry skills above. (Remember--You will have a hard time holding others accountable for things that you are not doing yourself. So keep having your Quiet Times, and sharing your testimonies, 3 circles, gospel and Holy Spirit booklets with others!) After completing Lesson 4, schedule a time to get together socially with your discipleship partner. Praise God together for the specific benefits and life changes that you have experienced through your discipling friendship. Agree to hold each other accountable for continuing Quiet Times, witnessing to others, and discipling others, too.

Daily Checklist
Date Throne Check Quiet Time Prayer for Unbelievers Prayer for Witnessing Opportunities