Bethany Baptist Church

The Good News of Jesus Christ was adapted from the Navigators discipleship tool. Courtesy:www.navigators.org. All lines in Red are verses from the Holy Bible.

Step 1: God

God created us with a purpose, to be in a relationship with Him and to enjoy all the fullness of life with Him.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

• What does God desire you to know in the first part of the verse? (God loves us)
• What does God want you to have? (God wants to give us eternal life)

John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

• What type of life does Jesus want to give you on earth? (Abundant life)
• What do you think would be some inner characteristics of this full, abundant life that Jesus wants to give you? (Purpose, impact, meaning, peace, joy, love & acceptance)
• Do you think everyone you know is experiencing this abundant life? Let’s see what the Bible says about what prevents it.

Step 2: Our Problem

We have a problem we can’t fix on our own.

Romans 3:23 - Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard (NLT)

• What is humanity’s problem? (All have sinned)
• What is sin? Like an arrow missing its target, we fall short of God’s intent for us. All of us have done what we should not do and left undone what we should have done.  Sin is not merely the bad actions we do but it is a condition in which we all are born and living. It is not learning to unlearn or to stop some bad actions but a state from which we ought to be delivered by God himself. Our heart is the root of our problem which needs to be transformed by God himself. Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander". We pay undue attention to changing our actions forgetting the fact that it all has to do with our heart and the change must begin inside and then be seen outside. 
• What is the result of sin? (Separation from God)

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Wages are what we earn by our actions. What do we earn by our sin? (Death)
• There are two types of death. What are they? (Physical and Spiritual)

Our sin separates us from God for eternity unless somehow we are released from paying the price for it.

Hebrews 9:27 - ...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

• What happens after we die? (We face judgment for the sin we commit)
• This looks bleak for us. What are some ways you or others you know have tried to get to God’s side? (Going to church, praying, helping people, being religious, etc. However, none of these acts in themselves could save us from our sins or get us to find favor with God). 

God sees the hopeless situation we’re in and provides a way out.

Step 3: God’s Solution

We can’t build a bridge to God, but Jesus Christ is God’s bridge to us. God sees the hopeless situation we're in and provides a way out.

Romans 5:8 - God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

• How did God show He loves us even though we’re sinners? (Jesus died for us to pay the penalty for our sin)

1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ suffered for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that he may bring us to God...

• Why is Jesus dying on the Cross and rising again such good news for us? (It allows us to be with God now on Earth and forever in Heaven because Jesus conquered both our sin and death by dying and rising again. That is the Christian gospel!)

​Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.

• Can our best efforts bridge the separation between us and God? (No, we are saved by grace, which is unmerited love. Good works are not enough). If salvation could be attained by our good works then that results in human boasting but because it is a gift of God it results in humble surrender to the amazing love of God.

Step 4: Our Response

Each of us needs to respond to what God is offering us.

John 1:12 - For as many as have believed in him, to them, he(God) gave the right to become the children of God.

• How does one become a child of God? (By believing and receiving Jesus, trusting in his sacrifice as the payment for your own personal sin.)

Revelation 3:20 - Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into that person...

• What is Jesus trying to show here, when he offers to come in and eat with us? (That he longs to have a personal relationship with us)

Next Steps

Accept Jesus, Which is as Simple as A-B-C

Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and ask God to forgive you and help you turn from sin.

Believe Jesus died for you and rose again, conquering sin and death.

Commit your life to follow Jesus, putting your total trust in Him, and giving Him decision-making authority as Lord of your life.

Talk to Jesus Right Now

You can talk to Jesus right now to receive him. You can repeat after me or put this in your own words:

“Father God, I know that I am a sinner and that I need you to forgive me. I believe that Jesus died a painful death and rose again so that I could be delivered from the penalty of my sin. I want to make you the Lord of my life, and I will trust and follow You. Accept me as your child now and you take control of my life from hereon. In the name of Jesus, amen.”

Please feel free to contact us if you wish to know more about this truth. Write to us at info@bethanybaptistchurch.in