In the Bible, Jesus said, I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10)

Transcription

1

2 CONGRATS!

3 CONGRATULATIONS! Taking the step of faith to follow Jesus Christ is the greatest step you will ever take. It s the one action that will allow you to experience new opportunities and gain a new perspective on life and what God has in store for you. In the Bible, Jesus said, I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10) That abundant life began the moment you stepped over the line of faith. But that is just the beginning. You ve taken the first step; now what? This book will give you an idea of what s next. You will discover what your next step is. And you ll find out what the Bible, God s Word says about each move. You may still have questions about your decision. You may even have doubts. That s okay. But don t let those doubts stop you from moving forward. Use those things to fuel your walk. And continue to experience the abundant life, one step at a time.

4 UNDERSTANDING YOUR DECISION TO FOLLOW CHRIST Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12 GOD LOVES YOU and has a plan for your life For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11 YOUR SIN CAUSES A COSMIC CHASM between you and God.

5 GOD SENT JESUS CHRIST to die on the cross. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 IT S YOUR CHOICE to receive the gift or not. If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. - Romans 10:9-10

6 THE LOCAL CHURCH When you stepped over the line of faith and chose to follow Jesus, you became part of a movement. But this movement, Christianity, is not a solo sport. That s why the local church exists. Each week, when we gather together as a church, we unite to worship God, discover His plan for our lives and learn how to live out His priorities. As you continue to walk in faith, remain committed to the local church. Because, as we learn from those who first stepped out to follow Christ, the local church is crucial to our growth and experience of the abundant life Christ has in store for us. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25

7 MOVE OGETHER

8 BAPTISM Simply put, baptism is an outward display and celebration of your inward decision to trust Christ with your eternity. It is an act of obedience, a step of acknowledgement that is representative of the fact that Jesus died on a cross, was buried and walked out of the grave, alive, so each of us can have eternal life. When you step into the water, you are letting the world know that you have walked into a new life of faith in Jesus Christ and that you are committing to follow Him down a new path. If you ve made the decision to follow Jesus, baptism is the next step in your spiritual journey. If you would like to take this step of obedience to the Lord, we regularly offer Baptism classes. For dates please see the calendar on our website. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name. - Acts 22:15-16

9 LET US KNOW!

10 SMALL GROUPS One of The MET s core beliefs is intentional community. We believe every Christian needs to be connected with other Christians by way of a small group. We strive to take personal connections and Christian growth beyond a Sunday worship service. There are two major kinds of small groups: Community Groups based in neighbourhoods and Small Groups that are part of our weekly ministries held at The MET. Community Groups are small groups of Christians who live in the same region who meet together regularly to delve into the Word of God, pray together, share meals, serve one another, and reach out in love to their neighbours. We desire to see community groups that transform their neighbourhoods in a way that connects members to Christ and to each other. We wish to live life in community modelled by the early Church in Acts 2: T Our weekly ministry small groups meet at various times, days and locations throughout the city. Small groups of teenagers, young adults and adults

11 meet regularly, and our priorities include: Connections - developing deeper relationships Care - meeting practical needs of others Concentrated Study - focusing on the Word of God Cooperation - serving together and reaching out together Communication - sharing and praying Community - sharing life together For more information: info@metbiblechurch.ca LIFE OGETHER

12 SERVING Most of us want to make a difference; we want to leave our footprint on the world. And God has gifted each of us with a particular set of skills to do just that - through the local church. As a new Christ follower, one of the most powerful lessons you can put into action is serving in the church; it s stepping outside of your comfort level and stepping up to serve others. Jesus himself said that He did not come to be served, but to serve others. When you volunteer your time and talent in the local church, you will discover the key to unlocking a life of influence and change. Read these words from the Bible and take your next step of serving in the church. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. - 1 Peter 4:10

13 OUR CHURCH CITY WORLD

14 GIVING At The MET, we believe we are called to be generous with the resources that God has given us. Your contribution will bring the greatest return on investment changed lives. Your generosity will help spread Christ s message of hope and healing locally and around the world. We believe that giving is: Voluntary, as each person seeks God s direction on the use of His resources (2 Corinthians 9:7) Planned (1 Corinthians 16:2) Proportional to your ability or prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:2) Sacrificial, acknowledging God as the giver of all good gifts (2 Corinthians 9:11) Generously Rewarded (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 and Luke 6:38) A Spiritual Discipline, a habit that develops character (2 Corinthians 9:8) A Step of Faith where you demonstrate trust and dependence on God and show the primary importance of the spiritual and eternal over the material and temporal (Matthew 6:33)

15 SHARE!

16 LIVING A LIFE OF WORSHIP Worship is one of those words that many people think is just a churchy word. But the truth is that we all worship. Everyone has something they focus on, respond to and celebrate. As a new believer, it is vital that you continue to worship. Just make sure you are directing it to the right place. As you step into your new life, remain focused on what Christ has done for you, respond to Him with obedience and celebrate Him daily with your words and actions. Worship isn t something that only happens once a week in a church building. It s a 24/7 deal. It s what happens when you are at work, at the store, in the gym or even at home. And from a Bible study to praying; from weekend services at church to journaling at home, worship is something that will deepen and strengthen your relationship with Jesus as you continue your walk with Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth! - Psalm 96:9

17 MAGNIFY JESUS!

18 NEWCOMERS CLASS Are you ready for something more? Learn how to unite with a movement that is changing lives around the world and discover God s plan for your life. Don t miss the opportunity to experience more of what God wants for you. Our Newcomers Classes are held twice a year. By attending you will have an opportunity to: Connect with MET Staff and Leadership Learn what we believe Learn about our ministries and how you can connect more fully here at The MET To find out when the next Newcomers Class will be held, info@metbiblechurch.ca

19 JUMP IN! a

20 31 DAY READING PLAN on the life of Jesus DAY 01 Birth Luke 2:1-21 DAY 07 Instructions Matt 12:16-42 DAY 02 At the Temple Luke 2:41-5 DAY 08 Cost of Discipleship Matt 16:24-28 DAY 03 Baptism Matt 3:13-17 DAY 09 Vineyard Labourers Matt 20:1-16 DAY 04 Temptations Luke 4:1-13 DAY 10 Marriage Feast Matt 22:1-14 DAY 05 First Miracle John 2:1-12 DAY 11 Christ s Return Matt 24:1-25 DAY 06 Sermon on the Mount Matt 5-7 DAY 12 Sowing Parables Mark 4:1-34

21 DAY 13 Good Samaritian Luke 10:25-37 DAY 19 Good Shepherd John 10 DAY 14 Prayer Luke 11:1-13 DAY 20 Vine and Branches John 15 DAY 15 Lost Parables Luke 15:1-32 DAY 21 Lazarus John 11 DAY 16 Stewardship Luke 16:1-18 DAY 22 Triumphal Entry Mark 11:1-11 DAY 17 New Birth John 3:1-21 DAY 23 Last Supper Matt 26:17-35 DAY 18 Holy Spirit John 14:16-31 and 16:5-15 DAY 24 Washing Feet John 13:5-29

22 31 DAY READING PLAN on the life of Jesus DAY 25 Prayers of Jesus John 17 DAY 29 Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13-35 DAY 26 Trials Luke 22:47-23:25 DAY 30 Great Commission Matt 28:16-20 DAY 27 Crucifixion Luke 23:26-56 DAY 31 Ascension Acts 1:1-11 DAY 28 Resurrection Luke 24:1-12 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. - Hebrews 4:12

23 NOTES My thoughts and questions

24 MORE QUESTIONS? If you have more specific questions or are ready to take the next step as a Christian, contact the Metropolitan Bible Church: hello@metbiblechurch.ca