MADE ALIVE
Step 1 of Your Faith Journey
Table of Contents
Copyright by E2 Church 2019. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New Living Translation.
Your Decision
Congratulations! You just made the greatest and most important decision of your life! Here’s a few things to know:
1. All of heaven is rejoicing
Jesus tells us in Luke 15:7 that all of heaven throws a party when one sinner comes to salvation! You can rest assured that God and the angels in heaven are celebrating this moment, as are we! You can now rest assured that God is within you and you will spend eternity with Him in heaven. Now that’s something to party about!
Key Scriptures: Luke 15:7, Matt 18:13
2. Your decision is supernatural
Although you made a natural decision to receive the gift of Jesus Christ, it was supernatural. Something happened in you the moment you believed in faith and God began to change you from the inside out. Don’t worry about feelings and emotions, your spirit has received salvation! Over time, you will begin to experience the work of the Holy Spirit in you as He molds you into the image of Jesus!
Key Scriptures: John 3:5, John 14:6 , Eph 2:8
3. You’ve begun your faith journey
Receiving Christ is the first step in your Faith Journey, and you’ve officially begun walking out the calling God has for your life. God promises that He has good plans for you, and desires to see you grow into His image and glorify Him through everything that you do. There are greater things ahead and you can have hope of a better tomorrow.
Key Scriptures: Jer 29:11, Rom 8:29, Prov 3:5-6
4. Redemption requires repentance
The word “repent” means to turn away from the old and change directions. Now that you have received Christ into your life, He is more than just your Savior - He is your King and your Lord! To move forward with God, we must repent of our sinful ways and follow Christ. This requires a daily, conscious decision to deny our old ways of living and pursue the righteousness of God!
Key Scriptures: 2 Chron 7:14, 1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19, Matt 3:8, James 4:8
5. God is with you
You are never alone! God is with you and will never leave you. You can be at peace knowing that the God of the universe is for you. This means that you can talk to Him, engage with Him and spend time with Him anywhere, at any time. He will never leave, and even when you feel distant from God, He promises to be close to you.
Key Scriptures: Deut 31:6-8, Isaiah 41:10-13, 1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 13:6
Your Next Steps
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. -- Colossians 2:6
1. Keep saying, “Yes”
Each one of us is called to do something for God. Maybe you just made a decision to follow Christ. Maybe you want to grow in your faith. But whatever your “next-step” is, make sure you purpose in your heart to answer God with a “YES!” It’s such a simple word, but it has radical implications. When we come to God with a willingness to do whatever He asks of us, miracles can happen. Say Yes to God!
Resource: “Yes: Simple Response | Radical Results” by Pastor Jared Ellis
2. Water baptism
As Christians, we believe that water baptism is a command that we are called to follow through on. It is not something that you get checked off your list when you’re a baby, but a conscious decision to publicly declare your faith in Christ to your friends, family and fellow believers. If you haven’t been baptized yet or want to be re-baptized, please let us know by emailing baptism@e2church.com.
Key Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:21, Matt 28:19-20
3. The 4Gs
Getting involved with Church is a great and simple next-step to growing in your faith. Being surrounded by other Christians and worshipping with other believers will encourage you to continue in God’s path for your life. Submitting to the teaching of your Pastor will grow you in the Scriptures and produce more fruit in your life. Use your Gifts and start volunteering, get in an eGroup, start Giving and Grow the church by bringing someone to church with you!
Resource: Visit www.e2church.com and find out how you can get involved
4. Orange Essentials
The best place to get more connected at E2 Church is through Orange Essentials. Orange Essentials is a brief online course that will help you learn more about the Church and more about God’s plan for your life. You can register for Orange Essentials and take the course online right now by going to: www.learn.e2church.com.
5. Your Faith Journey
Faith Journey is our discipleship program at E2, and we would love to see you continue growing in your walk with God. Faith Journey is broken into 3 Steps:
Step 1: Start with a decision.
Step 2: Grow through the essentials.
Step 3: Activate your faith.
You can learn more about the steps at www.e2church.com/faithjourney. Take your next step today and start moving forward in your Faith Journey.
The Gospel
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. -- 1 John 4:9-10
1. We are all sinners who need a Savior
The term “Original Sin” means that every person was born into a spiritual reality of sin. This means that sin is not just behavior, it was our spiritual identity. Romans tells us that no one met the “righteous requirements” of God to be good enough. This is the foundation for the Gospel Message: all have sinned and desperately need a Savior.
Key Scriptures: Psalm 51:5, Eph 2:3, Prov 22:15, Psalm 14:2-3, Job 15:14
2. God is radically in love with you
Though our sin was displeasing and intolerable to God, His motivation for our salvation was not out of compulsion, but out of love. God has loved us from the very beginning, and our disobedience never stopped Him from loving us. God is not mad at you - He is desperately in love with you and has been working for centuries to get you to see and feel His love.
Key Scriptures: John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, Gal 2:20
3. God solved the sin problem through His son Jesus
Unfortunately, the penalty for sin against God is death. Because all have sinned, there has never been a sacrifice that could actually pay for our penalty. God, out of His love for us, sent His own Son, Jesus to live a sinless life and die an undeserved death. After being buried for three days, Jesus rose again on the third day, successfully conquering the penalty of sin. We can now receive His gift and inherit eternal life.
Key Scriptures: Rom 5:8, 1 John 2:2, John 14:6, Phil 2:6-8
4. Salvation comes by grace through faith
What makes Christianity different than any other religion is that we celebrate the fact that good deeds don’t earn us salvation. The only way to become right with God & begin a real relationship with Him is through faith in Christ’s sacrifice. This means that we trust in HIS ability to save us, not in our own, and give our lives fully over to Him. If he purchased us back with His blood, He deserves everything! This gift of salvation is available to ALL people.
Key Scriptures: Eph 2:8-9, 1 Tim 2:5, Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11
5. You can be sure that you are saved
Being “born again” is a combination of our faith in Christ and His supernatural work in our lives. This is something we can be sure of - and the Presence of the Holy Spirit in us is our guarantee. If your faith is rooted in what Christ did for you, you never have to worry about your salvation. God took care of it - and it is finished! This produces peace, joy and righteousness in the life of the believer.
Key Scriptures: John 5:24, Rom 8:16, John 10:29, Eph 4:30
The Holy Spirit
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. -- Romans 5:5
1. The Holy Spirit is a person
God exists as three in one; one God in three persons. The Father is the first person of the Trinity and the Son (Jesus) is the second person of the Trinity. The third is the Holy Spirit - and He IS a person. He is the Spirit of Christ that was sent into the earth to fill us with God’s presence, character and personhood. And if the Holy Spirit is a person, that means you can have a relationship with Him!
Key Scriptures: John 14:26, Acts 15:28, Eph 4:30, 1 Cor 2:10-11
2. The infilling of the Holy Spirit
The moment you believed in Jesus for salvation, the Bible tells us you were filled with Christ’s Spirit. His work in your life takes time and produces fruit over a process, but God has taken up residence in you. He is not distant from you or in the clouds, God now lives in you through His Spirit. This means that you can learn to hear His voice, recognize Him moving, and yield to His presence.
Key Scriptures: Rom 8:9, Eph 5:18, John 14:16, Eph 1:13-14
3. The baptism of Holy Spirit Power
Just because you are filled with the Spirit, doesn’t mean you can’t be filled again. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want to dwell within you, He wants to rest upon you. The purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to receive His power to be a witness to the world around you. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers you with gifts and abilities to move in God’s power. This is something God desires for every Christian: to be a witness, and to do it with power!
Key Scriptures: Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31, Eph 5:18
4. How the Holy Spirit works
The Holy Spirit works in many ways throughout our Christian lives. His main purpose is to reveal and glorify Jesus. He speaks to us, reveals truth and wisdom, and makes God’s path clear to us. He also empowers us with His gifts to build up other people. He also produces fruit of Christ-like character in us as we grow in God. He convicts us of sin - which means he produces remorse in our hearts when we are living in a way that grieves the heart of God.
Key Scriptures: John 14:26, Acts 15:28, Eph 4:30, 1 Cor 2:10-11
5. Grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit
The best way to grow in the Holy Spirit is to learn and internalize God’s Word. The Scriptures provide us with a grid for being able to understand how the Holy Spirit speaks. If it doesn’t sound like Scripture, it’s not God! A lifestyle led by the Holy Spirit is a lifestyle of faith and obedience. Whenever God speaks to you, do what He says without delay! The more time you spend focused on His presence, the easier it will be to recognize how He moves.
Key Scriptures: Rom 8:26, Gal 5:16
A New Creation
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
1. Regeneration: A new creation in Christ
The Bible illustrates your new life as one being crucified with Christ, buried and risen again in the newness of His life. That means that the “old you” is long gone. Now, we all struggle with old habits and bad patterns, but just because you have moments of weakness doesn’t mean that you are defined by them. You are a new creation in Christ and you can cling to the power in His resurrection.
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:5, Ezekiel 36:26, John 3:5, 2 Cor 5:17
2. Walk in the Spirit: fruit & proof
The litmus test of the Christian life is the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. It’s inaccurate to say, “only God can judge me” if you’re a part of the Body of Christ. We all have a responsibility to keep each other accountable to growing in God. The way we can know that we’re becoming more like Christ (sanctification) is that our lives are producing the fruit of His Spirit. And we grow fruit by walking in His life!
Key Scriptures: Gal 5:16, James 2:18, 1 Cor 5:12
3. Stop sinning & get rid of idols
Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean you stop sinning automatically, but it means you stop enjoying it. The conviction of of the Holy Spirit will start alerting you to the things that don’t please God. The Word makes clear that those who continue to live in sin will not inherit God’s Kingdom. A life that’s been changed must look different - and anything that is exalted above Jesus is an idol. Let go of the old lifestyle and put away the sin that leads you away from God.
Key Scriptures: Gal 5:19-21, 1 Thess 5:22, 2 Tim 2:22
4. Trust God with everything
The Scripture has a lot to say about worry and fear. It also deals with greed and our human tendency to hoard for ourselves. Trusting God with everything means allowing Him the right to hold on to our “stuff.” Our worries and fears must be given over to Him. We must honor him with our financial decisions and live a generous life. We must put Him at the center of our relationships and marriages. And anything that God asks us for - we must give it to Him, trusting that God’s will be done and that He conform our will to His.
Key Scriptures: Prov 3:5, Matt 6:25, Rom 5:13
5. Re-present Christ to the world
The Bible says that your life is hidden in Christ, which means that the only life that truly matters is the life of Christ. The question is, do you re-present Christ? To represent someone, means to literally RE - PRESENT them. Only Jesus can change the world we live in, love those who are difficult to love and bring clarity to confusion. A life that’s been changed by Christ represents Christ wherever it goes. That means on social media, in the workplace, and when no one is looking. We should be walking billboards for Christ by the way we live our lives!
Key Scriptures: Matt 5:16, Acts 1:8, 1 Pet 3:15, Isa 43:10
Living By Faith
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. -- Hebrews 11:6
1. Faith: The only way to please God
If there’s a “secret” to a successful Christ-like life, it’s faith. Faith is described in the Scriptures as “the evidence of things unseen” and the “substance of what we’re hoping for..” This means that faith is less of a feeling and more of a confident decision to believe in who God says He is. This means that if we live our lives from a place of faith, we will be bold, confident and patient.
Key Scriptures: Heb 11:6, Matt 21:22
2. Faith over feelings
Did you know that “do not fear” is one of the most common commands in Scripture? That’s because God’s people are called to be motivated by faith, but we must not confuse faith with our feelings. Faith is hardly “felt” right away. We choose to believe God in the midst of our fears and push forward. This means that when we have to make tough decisions, we don’t back down - we “faith it!”
Key Scriptures: Heb 11:1, Rom 10:17, 2 Cor 5:7
3. Faith is spelled: R-I-S-K
God doesn’t call us to a normal or easy life. He calls us to a life that requires us to trust in Him. By trusting in Him and living from faith, He often asks us to take risks that seem impossible to us in our natural perspective, but with God, all of it is possible. A life of faith means taking risks and doing things that are difficult or impossible in your own strength. But when God comes through, we realize the rewards of faith far outweigh the risks.
Key Scriptures: Matt 25:14-30, Josh 1:9, Prov 29:25
4. Perseverance & endurance
Living from faith doesn’t mean that you’ll automatically or immediately see the outcome you’re believing for. The Bible is clear that the way we inherit God’s promises is by mixing faith with endurance. A life of faith doesn’t believe for the short term and fall off when things don’t go our way. It perseveres until it sees the promise - never failing or wavering in the midst of tough times or disappointments. We must believe - and KEEP believing!
Key Scriptures: Rom 12:12, Col 1:11-12, Gal 6:9, James 1:2-4
5. An adventure with God
A life of faith is a gift from God. We GET to believe Him for miracles. In fact, a life with God is a life of dreams. God calls us to dream big and believe Him for the impossible. If His power is in us, what can stop us? This means that you can dream with God for a better future, and more impactful life and a greater influence to lead people to Christ. There are so many possibilities in God and He calls us to take the adventure with Him! He will never let us down.
Key Scriptures: 2 Cor 2:14, Philippians 4:13
How To Connect With God
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. -- Hebrews 4:16
1. You were made to connect with God
Just because you don’t know how to hear God’s voice yet, doesn’t mean you are unable to. God designed you to connect with Him, and He wants to show you that you can have a real relationship with Him. Like any normal relationship, growth and trust takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you feel a bit lost at times. You’re growing even when you don’t realize it!
Key Scriptures: John 10:27, Jer 33:3, John 8:47
2. Prayer & conversation with God
Jesus taught His disciples that prayer is one of the most important ways we can connect with God. Prayer isn’t a religious “reciting” of memorized lines, it’s simple and real conversation with God. We can bring our thankfulness, our needs, our worries and our praises to God in prayer. The best part is, because the Holy Spirit never leaves us, we can pray anywhere and anytime! Just DO IT!
Key Scriptures: 1 John 5:14-15, 2 Chron 7:14, Jer 29:12, Mark 11:24, James 5:13
3. Worship, praise, & adoration
Worship is a powerful expression of our love, gratitude, trust and desire for God. Praise is when we declare who God is with conviction and faith. Adoration is a way of “loving on” God. This can be done through music, poetic expression, art, acts of service and so much more. The best way we express our worship to God is through a life of obedience and willingness to do whatever God asks of us.
Key Scriptures: John 4:23-24, Psalm 95:6, Rom 12:1, Col 3:14-17
4. The Bible
The Bible is not just a book, it is inspired by God. Though God used human authors to write it, He spoke it and designed it before we were even in existence. This is why the Word of God is referred to as “life” and “vitality.” Whenever we read or speak it, we declare the power of God’s Word and things change. It is the ONLY authority for our truth and it guides us into God’s ways. Read it, memorize it and study it!
Key Scriptures: 1 Peter 1:25, 1 Thess 2:13, 2 Tim 2:15, Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12
5. Walk it out
One of the most impactful ways you can connect with God is by choosing to do whatever He says in prayer or in His Word. The Bible tells us not to simply be “hearers of the Word” but to also be “doers of the Word.” Obedience connects us with God because we please Him when we follow after Him. This may look like making Godly choices instead of doing what’s easy. It may be submitting to leadership or forgiving someone who hurt you. But no matter how much you “learn about God,” there’s no substitution for walking it out in real life.
Key Scriptures: John 14:15, John 15:14, 2 John 1:6, James 1:22
Godly Relationships
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. -- 1 Peter 4:8
1. You weren’t made to do this alone
One of the first things God said was that it was “not good for man to be alone.” This means more than just a romantic relationship - it means community! You were made to do life with other people, and no Christian life will be successful in isolation. Knowing that God created you for relationships will help you start to surround yourself with others who can encourage you in your faith.
Key Scriptures: Gen 2:18, Gal 6:2, Rom 12:5
2. Good friends & a positive circle
It’s been said, “friends are like elevator buttons: they either take you up or bring you down.” Nothing truer could be said about friendships. You need Godly friends to encourage, uplift and keep you accountable. The wrong friends will only give you the wrong advice and can drag your life down into places that lead you away from God. Get into an eGroup and find a good community to connect with.
Key Scriptures: Prov 27:17, 1 Cor 15:33, Prov 13:20, Prov 27:5-6
3. Dating God’s way
God designed the marriage relationship between a man and a woman and He created it as a benefit to us. And since He designed it, He has an opinion about who we join ourselves to. Godly dating means partnering with someone who shares the same spiritual convictions as you and has a life that proves integrity. Don’t settle for something that is convenient, hold out for someone who will push you towards your calling and refuse to compromise when it comes to values.
Key Scriptures: Ecc 4:9-10, 2 Cor 6:14, 1 Cor 7:2
4. A Godly marriage & family
God designed the marriage to represent His relationship to the Church: He is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride. Throughout Scripture, God commands those who are married to prefer the other before themselves. A Godly marriage is one that is centered around Christ and puts His Word into practice. Parents also must love and lead their children to honor God and follow in His ways. If we want to represent Christ well, our marriages should be filled with love, trust and grace.
Key Scriptures: Eph 5:25-33, Col 3:21, Prov 13:24
5. Church: Your new extended family
Getting connected and involved in your church is so important to being able to build relationships with fellow believers. You’ve inherited a whole new family, so don’t skimp out on these incredible relationships. The Church is a place where you can build community, serve with your gifts, contribute to God’s mission and expand His Kingdom. Make church attendance a priority and choose to get involved so God can grow you and you can grow God’s Church!
Key Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Gal 6:10, Psalm 100:2
The Church: Your New Family
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. -- Hebrews 10:25
1. Your calling & commission
Did you know that the Local Church is God’s answer to the world? It’s the only organization He is building, but it’s bigger than just a building or a specific church name; it’s about His Kingdom. Every believer has a calling to be a part of this mission: to reach the lost, make disciples, and honor God. Church is not optional for the Christian, it is a way to connect with the family of God and serve the world.
Key Scriptures: Matt 28:16-20, Gal 5:13
2. Growth: Expand the mission
When you grow, the Church grows. But when you grow, your growth should spill over into reaching other people for Christ. As we develop as believers, we become more convinced of God’s heart for the lost and we join Him in His mission to reach people who are far from Him. Being a part of the church means helping to grow it by bringing people to church and making disciples to help mature the church.
Key Scriptures: Luke 14:23, 2 Cor 5:20, Mark 16:15
3. Groups: Connect with others
The great part about the Body of Christ is its concentrated number of like-minded followers of Jesus. This is the best place to find Godly community, but not just on Sunday morning. We need people in our corner every day of the week - and eGroups are how we make a big church feel small. Getting involved in an eGroup will help build your faith through studying God’s Word & connect with other people through relationship-building.
Key Scriptures: Heb 10:24-25, Acts 2:46, 1 Thess 5:11
4. Giving: Be a contributor
We all benefit from the Church, but we are not just consumers; we are contributors. Tithing is not only a way of trusting God with your finances and honoring Him with the first fruits of your income, but it’s a way of participating and partnering with the mission of the Church. Through your generosity and consistent giving, the Church is able to reach more people and empower others to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Start contributing and be a part of the mission!
Key Scriptures: 2 Cor 9:7, 1 Chron 29:14, Prov 11:25, Prov 3:9, Mal 3:10-12
5. Gifts: Serve one another
God has given you talents and abilities that He can use to impact others through His Church. It’s important that we recognize our gifts as something God gave us. If they are truly gifts, we should use them to glorify Him! The Church is a place where you can serve others with your talents and join with them to be a part of something that is bigger than any one person. Get involved with our eTeam and start serving today.
Key Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Gal 6:10, Psalm 100:2