Baby Steps

(Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.


(Philippians 2:12-13 NLT) Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 


BABY STEPS 


(1 Peter 2:2-3) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 


1. Be water baptized. 


(Acts 2:41) Those who accepted his message were baptized. 


(Acts 8:12) But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.


 (Acts 8:13) Simon himself believed and was baptized. 


2. Join a local church. 


(Ephesians 2:19 LB) …You are a member of God’s very own family… and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian. 


3. Get in a small group. 


(Hebrews 10:24-25) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 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. 


4. Start growing. 


(Hebrews 6:1) Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. 


 5. Find your purpose. 


(Ephesians 2:10) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 


I HAVE DECIDED 


 To follow the example set by Christ. 


(1 Corinthians 11:1) Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 


(1 John 2:4 TLB) Someone may say, “I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.” But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar. 


 To demonstrate my changed life.



(1 Peter 3:21 TLB) In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin. 


 To declare my commitment publicly. 


(Matthew 10:32-33) “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”  


Chris Hodges,  Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/baby-steps
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/4-15-12.pdf