DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What does faith mean to you?
2. What do you think about the evidence for Christianity?
3. How can you have faith in someone you can’t see?
HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH?
‘… those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old is gone. A new life has begun!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17, New Living Translation)
But experiences vary. Some immediately know the difference, but for others it is more gradual.
• When we receive Christ, we become a child of God
• God wants us to be sure
‘I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life’ (1 JOHN 5:13)
Faith is not a blind leap, but a step forward, based on evidence.
1. THE WORD OF GOD
We must not only trust our feelings, which can be changeable and may even be
deceptive at times, but instead rely on God’s promises.
• ‘I will come in’ (Revelation 3:20)
• ‘I am with you always’ (Matthew 28:20)
• ‘I give them eternal life’ (John 10:28)
Faith = taking God’s promises and daring to believe them.
2. THE WORK OF JESUS
We cannot earn God’s forgiveness, but Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we might be reconciled to God.
• Gift of God (Romans 6:23)
• God loves us and died to prove it (John 3:16)
• He took our sins upon himself (Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
3. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT
When someone becomes a Christian, God comes to live inside them by his Holy Spirit
He transforms us from within
- our characters (Galatians 5:22–23)
- our relationships
- our security
He brings a deep personal conviction that we are God’s children
- (Romans 8:15–16)
Here is a very simple prayer that you can pray and which will be the start of a relationship with God through Jesus:
Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life (take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.
Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What does faith mean to you?
- What do you think about the evidence for Christianity?
- How can you have faith in someone you can’t see?
RECOMMENDED READING
The Reason for God
Tim Keller
Is Faith Irrational?
Nicky Gumbel
One Step Beyond: One Man’s Journey From Near Death to New Life
Gram Seed