F I V E S T A R C H U R C H
E P I C L E A D E R S H I P J O U R N E Y
S T A R O N E
New Beginnings
S T A R TW0
New Life
S T A R THREE
New Purpose
S T A R FOUR
New Opportunities
S T A R FIVE
New Horizons
New Beginnings
CONTENTS
Introduction to beginning a new life
Page 6
Session 1 - Repentance & Assurance of Salvation
Page 11
Session 2 - Baptism in Water
Page 17
Session 3
New Life in Christ - Page 21
Session 4
Living Free - Page 30
Session 5
The Holy Spirit - Page 34
Sunshine Coast Function Centre (RSL Caloundra)
Caloundra, Queensland 4551
Email: helloepicchurch.com.au
Website: www.epicchurch.com.au
INTRODUCTION
God thinks you are awesome; and He wants you to be in relationship with Him.
How can this happen and what does it mean to you?
Inside this booklet you will find keys to understanding what has happened to you, and why God has reached out and touched your life.
Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) Living for God is living the best life.
Read each chapter with a friend, in a group, or even on your own.
Use your Bible to look up the scripture verses quoted and write down your thoughts in the space provided.
Keep an open heart and an open mind, and you will be amazed how your life changes before your very eyes!
GETTING STARTED
Here are some more Bible verses telling us about Jesus.
John 11:32-36 Jesus cried when His friend died - He knew sorrow!
Matthew 4:1-11 He felt hunger and was tempted - He knew crisis!
Matthew 26:47-50 He was betrayed by friends - He knew rejection!
Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father - except through Me.
The Book of John, chapter 14, verse 6. [John 14:6] WOW! Jesus claims to be the only way to God.
How can we know that this is true?
Is the Bible the only proof that Jesus existed?
NO! There is more historical evidence about the existence of Jesus than Rome's most famous emperor- Julius Caesar.
Think about that!
If Jesus is who the Bible says He is, how can He understand what it is like for us to be human?
Look at some of what the Bible says:
Matthew 13:55 He was the son of a carpenter - He knew hard work!
Matthew 13:55+56 He had brothers and sisters - He knew family!
Luke 10:38-42 He had friends: Mary, Martha & Lazarus - He knew companionship!
HOW DO THESE SCRIPTURES MAKE YOU FEEL?
John 11:25
This means that He gives you eternal life.
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
Jesus said ... "I am the light of the world..." John 8:12
In other words, He is the only one who can show the way to God.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
He also said ...
John 6:35 "I am the bread of life..." He sustains us.
John 10:30 "the Father and I are one..." He is God.
John 14:6 "I am the way..." He is the only way to receive eternal life.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS?
Describe how you feel about the fact that God thinks that you are awesome, and He wants you to be in relationship with Him.
The real question for us today is, "is Jesus who He says He is?"
This is a very good question, and it deserves to be considered carefully, as the outcome will make a very big difference in your life. The only options we have are as follows:
1. HE WAS A LIAR! He was wrong and knew that He was wrong, meaning that He was an egomaniac or a conman.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
... if Jesus was a liar, then He was also a hypocrite because He went around telling people to be honest.
He would also have been a fool because He was crucified for saying who He said He was.
If Jesus was a liar, surely, He would have saved His own neck!
YOUR THOUGHTS?
2. HE WAS A LUNATIC! Maybe He was wrong, but genuinely didn't know it, meaning that He was an absolute lunatic!
But if Jesus was a lunatic, why is it that His teaching has had such an incredible effect on the entire world?
Surely the ramblings of a lunatic or someone suffering from a mental delusion couldn't change the course of history!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
3. HE IS LORD! If it is inconceivable that Jesus would continue to lie as He is sentenced to death on a cross, and it seems ridiculous that the thoughts of a madman would impact history in such a way - then surely He is who He said He is! He truly is Lord & God!
Can you think of any other reason why Jesus is who He says He is?
Look what CS Lewis, the author of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' wrote about it:
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said, wouldn't be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the devil of hell."
CS Lewis continues ... YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.
Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. But don't let's come up with any patronising nonsense about Him being a great human teacher.
He hasn't left that open to us. He didn't intend to.
HIS INFLUENCE - it has been said that the famous philosophers, Socrates, and Aristotle each taught for 40 years, and Plato for 50 years, but Jesus only taught for three – YET His influence far surpasses their combined 130 years of teaching.
Jesus painted no pictures - yet the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci received their motivation from Him.
He wrote no poetry - yet Dante and Milton were inspired by Him.
He composed no music - yet Hayden, Handel, Beethoven and Bach reached their highest perfection in hymns, symphonies and oratorios composed in His honour.
He is the most famous human being that ever lived.
So, who is this Jesus?
He is simply the best! He is Lord of history and the Son of God.
I believe that!
MAKE IT COUNT
Now it's up to you!
If you want to take what you have learnt and apply it to your life –
then continue on.
You've read the evidence: liar, lunatic or Lord. Now it's your turn!
WHO DO YOU THINK JESUS IS? Write it down here.
Jesus said, about Himself, "I am the resurrection and the life..."