The basis of Christianity is recorded in the Bible.  The Bible is the word of God, recorded to be used as a PRIMARY resource by us all.  The Bible is “God Breathed” and can be used for many different purposes (2 Timothy 3:16).  The Disciple studies/consults The Word regularly, learning what God has to say about a specific situation or concern.   In order for the disciple to maximize time in The Word, there are three ingredients to follow:

• Observation, which requires an open mind and a willing spirit. Accurate observation is the result of reading with diligence, purposefulness, thoughtfulness, and inquiry. The question to ask is “What is it saying?”
• Interpretation – What Does It Mean? The step of determining the author’s meaning, clarifying the meaning of a passage.  Interpretation takes into account the context of the surrounding passages, genre (ie. poetry, historical, prophecy, etc) and intended audience.
• Application – Putting God’s Word into Practice in your life. The benefit of Bible Study is in obeying the voice of God and putting it into practice.  Application starts with a willing acceptance of truth. “What should I do?” The application should be a S.M.A.R.T. goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Sensitive.

Prayer is the way we communicate and build a meaningful relationship with God.  Prayer can be done at anytime and anywhere.  Prayer can be a short, “breath prayer” or a longer prayer.  Jesus encouraged his Disciples to pray and showed them how (Matthew 6: 9-13) in The Lord’s Prayer.  Paul encouraged constant/continued prayer (I Thessalonians 5: 17).  A guide of how to pray is the “ACTS method”.  Simply follow the A.C.T.S. acronym.

 

“A” stands for ADORATION.  Focus on who God is, His attributes, and character.

“C” stands for CONFESSION.  Tell God of your sins.  Don’t be afraid to name them and be specific understanding that there’s complete forgiveness through Jesus.    I John 1:9 tells us that He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

“T” stands for THANKSGIVING.  Thank God for forgiving you of your sins.  Thank Him for the basics of life, as well as the big and little things.

“S” stands for SUPPLICATION.  Submit your “requests” to God.  Lay down all of your concerns, worries, and troubles and ASK Him to move in a mighty way so that the peace of God may come upon you.

 

Prayer also involves “listening”.  Always be aware of God “speaking” to you through opportunities, words of others to you, and even miraculous happenings in your everyday life.

Sharing Your Faith: A Seven-Step Guide

Step 1: Start with Prayer

Prayer is the foundation of sharing your faith. Begin by praying for the person you want to share with. Ask God to open their heart, guide your words, and give you the wisdom and courage to speak the truth in love.

Step 2: Love the Person Well

Demonstrate genuine care and love for the person. Your actions often speak louder than words. Show kindness, be patient, and serve them selflessly. Building a foundation of love helps the person see the authenticity of your faith.

Step 3: Build Relational Trust

Establish a relationship based on trust. Spend time together, listen to their concerns, and share your life with them. Trust is crucial because it creates a safe environment for deeper conversations.

Step 4: Normalize Spiritual Conversation

Integrate spiritual topics naturally into your everyday conversations. Share your own experiences and how your faith impacts your life. By making spiritual discussions a normal part of your relationship, you pave the way for more meaningful dialogues.

Step 5: Read the Bible Together

Invite the person to read the Bible with you. Choose passages that are relevant to their life or questions they might have. Reading the Bible together allows them to encounter God’s Word personally and see its relevance.

Step 6: Explain the Gospel

Clearly and simply explain the core message of the Gospel: God’s love for humanity, our separation from God due to sin, Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, and the offer of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Him. Use relatable language and personal anecdotes to make the message understandable.

Step 7: Let the Person Respond

After sharing the Gospel, give the person space to respond. Respect their journey and timing. They may have questions, need time to process, or be ready to make a decision. Be supportive and continue to pray for them regardless of their response.

Conclusion

Sharing your faith is a journey that involves patience, love, and persistence. By following these seven steps, you can create meaningful opportunities to share the hope and love found in Jesus Christ with those around you.

We have heard the phrase “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).  Money is an important tool that allows us to “transact” in today’s world.  However, money can test our integrity (Luke 16: 10-11) and also seem to make us less dependent on God (Mark 10:23).   It is important for the Disciple to gain a proper perspective of money, using it wisely to function in the world, while also using it as a resource to honor God and care for others.  Proper money management allows us be at peace by controlling the resource, rather than the resource controlling us.  We recommend to give first, save second, and then live off the rest, if possible.

Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” 

Our relationship with Jesus marks us as Satan’s enemy. The choice is not whether war is upon us, but whether we will engage the enemy or not. Or whether we want to experience the victory Christ has won on Calvary or not.

Our struggle is against rulers, powers, present darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness and we are instructed to stand firm against the devil and his schemes by using the power given to us in the armor of God.

• The Helmet of Salvation: The helmet is the main source of protection for the soldier’s head. A priority target. The helmet of salvation protects the believer’s mind from Satan’s attacks. 
• Breastplate of Righteousness: The breastplate was a protective second skin designed to protect the torso of the soldier. The breastplate is the righteousness of God that covers and protects us. 
• The Sword of the Spirit: The sword was the soldier’s precision-oriented offensive weapon designed for close combat. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, our only offensive weapon. 
• The Shield of Faith: The shield was covered in metal and thick leather to block incoming projectiles. The shield of faith is the key to all spiritual armor. Faith shields us from the darts of Satan. 
• The Girdle of Truth: The belt enabled the soldier to carry all their needed equipment in combat conditions. The girdle of the truth protects us from the lies of Satan. 
• The Shoes of Peace: The shoes gave the soldier better traction and protected their feet from injury. The shoes of peace are a solid foundation of trust in God.