Mechanics of Follow Up

Summary

This session covers the essential steps for nurturing new Christians in their spiritual growth. It explores the stages of justification, sanctification, and glorification in a believer's journey. The speaker emphasizes the importance of follow-up, providing guidance on how to establish new believers in their faith through biblical teaching, spiritual discipline, and community support. Practical tips are offered for setting up follow-up meetings, building rapport, and encouraging growth in Christ. The session concludes with a call to dedicate efforts towards helping others achieve spiritual maturity.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The process of spiritual growth in Christianity involves three key stages: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
• ✝️ Justification is the moment when a believer is declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, breaking the penalty of sin.
• 💪 Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more Christ-like, where the power of sin is broken, and believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• 🌟 Glorification is the final stage at Christ's second coming, where believers are fully sanctified and free from the presence of sin.
• 👥 Follow-up with new believers is crucial for their growth in sanctification, helping them build a strong foundation in their faith.
• ❤️ New believers need nurturing, community, and spiritual discipline to grow in their relationship with Christ.
• 📖 One key goal in follow-up is to help new believers establish confidence in the Bible as the foundation of their faith.
• 🛤️ Teaching new believers involves guiding them on the path of righteousness, correcting them when they stray, and training them to stay on course.
• 🤲 Building relationships with new believers through fellowship is essential for their spiritual growth and integration into the Christian community.
• 🎯 The ultimate aim of follow-up is to help new believers become multiplying disciples, sharing their faith and leading others to Christ.

Q & A

What is the significance of justification in the Christian faith?

Justification is the stage in Christian growth where God declares believers as righteous due to Christ's righteousness being imputed to them. It signifies the moment when the penalty of sin is broken, and believers are at peace with God, no longer subject to His wrath.

How does sanctification differ from justification?

Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more Christ-like, involving the growth towards holiness. Unlike justification, which is a one-time event declaring righteousness, sanctification is a continuous journey where the power of sin is progressively broken, allowing believers to live victorious lives through the Holy Spirit.

What is glorification, and when does it occur?

Glorification is the final stage of Christian growth, occurring at the second coming of Christ. It represents the ultimate state of holiness where believers are in eternal holy communion with God, completely free from the presence of sin.

Why is follow-up important for new believers?

Follow-up is crucial for new believers because it helps them begin their journey of sanctification. It provides the nurturing, community, and spiritual discipline they need to grow in their faith and avoid confusion or discouragement after making the significant decision to follow Christ.

What are the key goals of follow-up with a new believer?

The key goals of follow-up include helping new believers establish confidence in the Bible, understand biblical principles of spiritual growth, develop spiritual disciplines, build relationships within the Christian community, and begin their journey as disciples who can eventually multiply by leading others to Christ.

How can one effectively motivate a new believer to attend the first follow-up session?

To motivate a new believer, it’s important to seek an appointment within 48 hours, emphasize the importance of growing in their relationship with Christ, use relatable examples like friendship or a baby’s needs, and clearly communicate the time and place for the meeting. Additionally, expressing genuine care and ensuring the new believer doesn’t feel abandoned are crucial.

What role does prayer play in the follow-up process?

Prayer is essential in the follow-up process. It involves thanking God for the opportunity to guide the new believer, asking for protection against spiritual attacks, and seeking wisdom to effectively help the new believer grow in Christ. Consistent prayer fosters a dependence on God’s guidance throughout the follow-up.

What is the importance of building rapport during follow-up sessions?

Building rapport is vital because it helps new believers feel cared for and understood. By asking questions, actively listening, and being genuinely interested, the follow-up leader can establish a trustful relationship, making the new believer more receptive to learning and growth.

Why is it important to balance between studying the word and meeting personal needs during follow-up?

Balancing between studying the word and addressing personal needs is crucial because while spiritual growth is important, new believers also have immediate felt needs. By addressing these needs, the follow-up leader shows genuine care, which strengthens the relationship and makes the study of the word more impactful.

What are the 'three hearings' and 'seven touches' principles mentioned in the script?

The 'three hearings' principle suggests that a person typically attends church 3.4 times before making a significant decision for Christ, similar to making an informed purchase decision. The 'seven touches' principle emphasizes the importance of multiple contacts (at least seven) with a new believer to encourage continued engagement with the church and solidify their decision for Christ.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Christian Growth Mechanics

This paragraph introduces the concept of progressive growth in a Christian's spiritual journey. It begins with justification, where believers are declared righteous by God through faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 5:18-19. Sanctification is the next stage, where believers grow in holiness and become more Christ-like, starting at conversion and culminating in glorification at Christ's second coming. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of follow-up with new believers to support their sanctification process, quoting Oxford theologian Dr. Michael Green on the need for guidance during this critical life transition.

05:01

🛡️ The Role of Follow-Up in Christian Discipleship

The second paragraph delves into the role of follow-up with new believers, highlighting the necessity of nurturing, community, and spiritual discipline. It defines follow-up as a process to establish and equip new believers with the basics of Christianity for spiritual maturity and multiplication. Apostle Paul's teachings from Colossians 1:28-29 are cited to emphasize the goal of bringing every believer to full maturity in Christ. The paragraph outlines the goals of basic follow-up, which include building confidence in the Bible, understanding biblical principles of spiritual growth, and fostering relationships and witnessing opportunities.

10:01

📅 Motivating New Believers for Follow-Up

This paragraph focuses on strategies to motivate new believers for their first follow-up appointment. It stresses the importance of prompt follow-up within 48 hours of a person's decision to follow Christ, referencing Mark 4:14-15 to illustrate the risk of losing the seed of faith if not tended to quickly. The paragraph suggests using relatable examples to convey the necessity of growing in the relationship with Christ and emphasizes the importance of arranging a specific time and place for the follow-up meeting, as well as encouraging new believers to review evangelistic materials beforehand.

15:02

🤝 Principles of Effective Follow-Up

The final paragraph discusses key principles for effective follow-up with new believers. It emphasizes establishing rapport, avoiding rushing through materials, being flexible to meet needs, maintaining a balance between studying the word and meeting means, and applying the Gobar principle to ensure clarity in teaching. The paragraph also advises bringing new believers to church or cell groups to witness the application of biblical principles in community, and stresses the importance of a prayerful heart in the follow-up process. It concludes with the reminder of the importance of multiple contacts, as per the 'law of the seven touches,' to solidify a new believer's commitment to Christ.

Keywords

💡Justification

Justification is a theological concept that refers to the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous based on the righteousness of Christ. In the video, it is described as the moment when believers are 'being saved' and 'declared righteous' by God because of Christ’s righteousness being imputed to them. This is the foundational step in the progressive growth of a Christian, marking the beginning of their spiritual journey.

💡Sanctification

Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ, or being 'set apart' for God's purposes. It is a continuous, lifelong process that begins after justification. The video describes sanctification as a 'progressive growth towards holiness,' emphasizing the importance of spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and reading God’s Word, to aid believers in this journey.

💡Glorification

Glorification refers to the final stage in the Christian spiritual journey, where believers are fully transformed and made perfect in holiness at the second coming of Christ. The video highlights this as the ultimate state of holiness, where the 'presence of sin is gone,' and believers enjoy eternal communion with God. This concept completes the progression from justification to sanctification, and finally, to glorification.

💡Follow-up

Follow-up is the process of guiding and supporting new believers as they begin their Christian journey. The video stresses the importance of follow-up as the 'first critical important start to a life of sanctification.' It involves nurturing, providing community, and instilling spiritual disciplines to help new believers grow in their faith and avoid confusion or stagnation in their spiritual development.

💡Spiritual Discipline

Spiritual discipline refers to practices that promote spiritual growth, such as prayer, Bible reading, and quiet time. The video emphasizes the need to teach new believers these disciplines as part of the follow-up process. These practices are crucial for maintaining a close relationship with God and growing in holiness during the sanctification phase.

💡Biblical Principles

Biblical principles are the foundational truths and teachings found in Scripture that guide a believer’s life and faith. The video discusses the importance of helping new believers understand these principles, particularly those related to spiritual growth, such as the importance of Scripture in teaching and correcting believers. Understanding and applying these principles is key to progressing in the Christian faith.

💡Community

Community refers to the fellowship and support system provided by other believers. The video underscores the importance of community for new believers, as it helps them see how others live out their faith and provides encouragement and accountability. Community is essential for growth and for avoiding isolation, which can hinder spiritual development.

💡Multiplying Disciples

Multiplying disciples refers to the process of making new disciples who, in turn, make more disciples, creating a ripple effect of spiritual growth and evangelism. The video highlights this as a goal of follow-up, encouraging new believers to share their faith with others and become 'spiritual multipliers.' This concept is vital for the spread of Christianity and the growth of the Church.

💡Prayer

Prayer is a fundamental spiritual practice and a key element of the Christian faith. The video emphasizes the importance of prayer both in the follow-up process and in the personal spiritual growth of believers. Prayer is portrayed as a means of communication with God, essential for seeking guidance, expressing gratitude, and asking for protection and wisdom.

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of sharing the Christian gospel with others, inviting them to accept Christ and begin their spiritual journey. The video mentions evangelism as a responsibility for all Christians, including new believers, and illustrates its impact through personal testimonies. Evangelism is presented as a natural outcome of a vibrant faith and an essential part of discipleship.

Highlights

Understanding the three stages of Christian growth: justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Justification means being declared righteous through faith in Jesus, breaking the penalty of sin.

Sanctification is the process of becoming more Christ-like, growing in holiness.

Glorification is the future state of ultimate holiness at Christ's second coming.

The importance of follow-up with new believers to nurture their spiritual growth.

Key needs of new believers: nurturing, community, and spiritual discipline.

The significance of the Bible as the foundation of faith for new believers.

Teaching new believers to develop spiritual habits like prayer and reading God's word.

Using diagrams to explain biblical concepts, such as 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

The role of follow-up in helping new believers become spiritual multipliers.

The importance of meeting with new believers within 48 hours after conversion.

Motivating new believers for follow-up by emphasizing the need for spiritual growth.

Building rapport and establishing relationships through active listening and genuine care.

Balancing the study of the word with addressing personal needs during follow-up sessions.

Creating a sense of excitement and joy in the Christian life through personal testimony.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi everyone welcome back to building

spiritual movement

for this session we're going to cover

the mechanics of follow-up

first of all let's leverage the basic

understanding of the progressive growth

of a christian

at a point we accepted jesus we are

being saved and god declared us as

righteous

because of christ's righteousness being

imputed to us

2nd corinthians chapter 5 21 says

for our sake he made him to be sin who

knew knows him

so that in him we might become the

righteousness of god

the theological term for this is

justification

we have justified true faith in jesus

god

sees christ's righteousness in us and

declares us

as righteous

romans 5 verse 18 to 19 says

therefore as one trempass led to

condemnation

for all men so one act of righteousness

leads to justification

and life for all men for as by the one

man's disobedience

the man it will make sinners so by the

one man's

obedience the many will be made

righteous

and because of justification you and i

can be assured of our salvation

after we became a christian we entered

into the process of sanctification

the journey of being more christ-like

the word

sandify means to set your part for

special use

to signify a person is to make him holy

certification is a translation of the

greek word

hagiasmos meaning holiness

or separation this is a progressive

growth towards holiness

sanctification begins at the moment of

our conversion

finally at the second coming of christ

god will give us

qualification which is the eternal state

of ultimate holiness

paul says in romans chapter 8 verse 18

for i consider

that the suffering of this present time

are not worth

comparing with the glory that is to be

revealed to us

in philippians chapter 3 verse 20

but our citizenship is in heaven and

from

it we awake a savior the lord jesus

christ

who will transform our lowly body to be

like his glorious body

by the power that enables him even to

subject

all things to himself

so now you might ask so what is the key

difference between these three stages of

progressive christian growth

at justification the penalty of sin is

broken

we are at peace with god and not

subjected to god's worth

as sanctification the power of sin is

broken

when we have the presence of the holy

spirit in us and empowered by the holy

spirit

we are victorious over the temptations

of sin whether in the flesh

in the world or from the devil a

glorification

the presence of sin is god we are

eternal holy communion

with god himself

so with this basic understanding of the

progressive growth of

christian what is the role of a

follow-up with a new believer

it is the first critical important start

to a life

of sanctification

oxford theologian cannon reverend dr

michael green

in his book evangelism to the local

church

put this across very well he says

people need a lot of help at this

watershed or important stage of their

lives

when they may have entrusted themselves

to christ but are very confused about

what they have done

and unclear about what it will involve

to live as

his disciples in the world which is

little time for him

so what do new believers really need

they need first of all nurturing someone

to show them tender loving care

to help them to grow second community

a community of believers that will show

him or her

how to live up the christian faith third

discipline the discipline here refers to

spiritual discipline

this includes spiritual habits like

quiet time reading god's word

or prayer for example

when my parents became christian the

first thing they asked me to do is to

call up my

aunt who is a christian and ask how to

say grace before a meal

i was seven years old then and i had to

climb up a stool to make the phone call

and just relate whatever i heard from my

aunt over the phone

and sentence my sentence to my parents

who were sitting at the dining table

which i still remember be really today

that was my

first prayer dear god

thank you for giving me food today in

jesus name i pray

amen

and so how do we define follow-up

the definition of follow-up is the

process by which new believers are

established and equipped with the basics

of christianity

so they grow towards spiritual maturity

and become

multiplying disciples

in colossians chapter 1 verse 28 to 29

apostle paul explained this very clearly

to us

he says we teach everyone

we can't all that we know about him so

that if possible

we bring everyone up to his full

maturity in christ

this is what i'm working at all the time

with all the strength

that god gives me

now let us establish the goals of a

basic follow-up with a new believer

first the most important goal is to help

them to establish confidence

in their bible as the basis of the faith

2nd timothy chapter 3 verse 16-17

it says that all scripture is god breath

and is

useful for teaching rebuking correcting

and teaching in righteousness so that

the servant of god

may be thoroughly equipped for every

good work

in helping our new believers to

understand god's word

i find it very helpful to use a diagram

for example second timothy chapter 3

verse 16 to 17

i will draw a simple diagram like this

i'll explain to that

new believer that the word of god

teaches us

teach us the way the right way of

righteousness

but sometimes we go our own detour and

we decided to

wander off the right path and the word

will rebuild us

attempting to bring us back to the right

path again

you will correct us bring us back so

that we can continue

our training in righteousness

so teaching is to show us the path

rebuild is to show us how we have gotten

off the path

and correction show us how to get back

to the path

and training show us how to stay on the

path

another goal of basic follow-up is to

help them understand

the biblical principles of spiritual

growth

this includes helping them to build

spiritual discipline

like prayer reading god's word having

quiet time

and to have fellowship with other

christians

another goal is to begin building

relationship with them through this

fellowship time

doing the basic follow-up is also an

excellent opportunity

for us to introduce to them god's desire

that all christians

to witness in other words we are born

to reproduce one of my co-workers

when i was serving overseas her name is

apple

when she first become a christian during

her university days

she was so excited and immediately she

took the courage to share the gospel

with her roommates

and lead on to her classmates one by one

many of her classmates became believers

because of her testimony

some of them eventually became full-time

christian workers

serving as pastors and missionaries

so never underestimate how god can use

the life of a new believer

the excitement that new believer has to

bring the gospel

to good news to other people just around

them

in other words we also need to help them

to grow as disciples

and to become spiritual multipliers

now that you understand the goals of

following up with a new believer

let's talk about how to motivate new

believers for the first full up

appointment

first seek an appointment within 48

hours after someone received christ

mark chapter 4 verse 14-15 says the

sowers

sows the word and these are the ones who

are beside the road where the word is so

and when they hear immediately satan

comes and takes the seat away

the word which has been sown in them

this is very important to follow up with

the new believer as soon as possible

if the person is unable to meet at least

follow up with a phone call

you do not want the new believer to feel

like orphan after making such an

important

life decision

another aspect of motivating new

believers for the first follow-up

is to make them aware of the need to

grow in the relationship with christ

you can use an example like friendship

you can ask a question like

will our friendship grow if we do not

meet each other anymore

or you can use the idea of a baby

and what will happen to the baby if he

or she is left alone

or simply you can use mark iv using the

parables of the soy and say in which soy

would you prefer or

you can use simply take out the

handphone and say hey when can we meet

to discuss the first

lesson the idea of connecting with him

so pause for a while right now and think

of one

question or an example which you can use

to motivate the new believer

to meet up for follow-up with you

now after the new believers is willing

to meet up with you

remember to arrange a specific times and

place to meet

make sure that both of you are clear of

where you are meeting

if you can't decide a place then you can

choose to meet at the same place which

you share with the gospel with that new

believer now

ask him to review through the

evangelistic booklet before you meet

again

to thank christ once more for coming

into their lives

if you're using a mobile tools like

god's tools you can send the person

the link to download the app

now before we look at the principles

that we need to take note of in

following someone

i want to remind us to keep praying for

the new believer every day

thank the lord for giving you the

opportunity to bring this person to

christ

and ask the lord to protect this person

from the evil one

also pray to god to give you the wisdom

to know how to help this new believer

grow in christ now let's look at some of

the key principles of follow-up

first we need to establish rapport

people do not care how much you know

until they know how much you care so use

the skills you have learned earlier on

asking questions and active listening to

build up relationship with this new

member

of god's family well ask questions

that will help to felt uh to raise felt

needs and listen attentively

and be genuinely interested

watch your body language remember

we mentioned now earlier this session

that 55 percent of our communication

is done through our body language

another principle is that do not just

cover materials

this is one of the biggest problem if

you are task oriented or the

goal-oriented person

you need to avoid the temptation of

trying to rush through the materials for

every follow-up meeting

remember people are more important than

accomplishing a goal

be flexible to meet important needs

listen attentively

when they are sharing their hearts their

struggles with you

when they share their health issue or

their family prom

listen to them learn the balance between

studying the word and meeting means

the key word here is balance do not go

the other extreme of turning

every follow-up session into a chit-chat

session

in this way you are not helping to build

a spiritual foundation

in the life of the new believer

if you are using any follow-up materials

understand the objective of

each blocker or chapter understanding

the objective will help you stay sharp

in focus

apply the gobar principle meaning that

the main focus of the lesson has to be

very clear

and stood out to the new believer

there's no way the believer will miss it

help the new believer to understand and

apply typical principles

bring them to church or cell group so

that in a community of believers

and they can see for themselves how

other believers are applying

biblical principles in their daily life

so that they know

that the christian life is real and

livable

and go with a prayerful heart attitude

pray before and after meeting with a new

believer

learn to give thanks for all

circumstances

without god i can do nothing we need

god to be with us pray

another principle of follow-up is seek

to create

a need in the new believers to grow in

christ

recognizing the need is half a better

one

you can do so by sharing your personal

testimony

not only does it help you to reconnect

with the new believer

it also gives a new believer a glimpse

of confidence and hope in the lord

the sense of excitement enthusiasm and

joy in the lord can drop

on the new believer christian life is

not a boring life

filled with rules and rituals to follow

is an exciting faith journey

with the king of kings and the lord of

lords

we so need to know how to motivate

believers to come for next appointment

by learn the art of promoting others and

know the condition of your flock

be sure you know the condition on your

flock give

careful attention to your herbs proverbs

27

23

last but not least though god causes the

growth

we need to exercise responsibility god

sovereignty comes with man's

responsibility

and our responsibility includes make

prayer an issue

if you are serious about building up

people

be a sincere friend and a big brother or

sister

apply the principle of three hearings

and the seven touches

and what do you mean by that you see

research has shown

that the average guest to your church

does not decide to accept christ

or join the church the first time he or

she visits

dr elmer towns actually wrote about two

foundational principles

in his practical encyclopedia of

evangelism

and church growth the

three hearings shows that a person will

usually

attend a church 3.4 times before making

a meaningful decision

to become a christian it's similar to a

person

purchasing something the more

significant the purchase the longer it

takes to make a decision

you'll probably take more time to decide

which computer to buy

compared to buying a pen but this does

not mean that some

are not safe the first time they visit a

church

the time it takes for someone to be safe

depends on the person's receptivity to

the gospel

and the responsiveness of the church

besides the true hearing we also have

the law of the seven touches

but to get a permanent response to the

gospel it is important

that they have multiple contact

the unsaved must be connected to the

church if they will remain

true to the decision they make for

christ

this means that the law of the seven

touches must be put into practice

research shows that people are more

likely to return for the second or the

third visit

if they are contacted seven times after

their first

prison

my dear brother and sisters in

conclusion

i want to bring us back to paul's

heartbeat in colossians chapter 1 verse

28-29

it says that we teach everyone we can

all that we know about him

so that if possible we bring everyone

up to his full maturity in christ is

what i'm looking at all the time

with all the strength that god gives me

may we also have the same aspiration

to give all out all the effort that we

have

all the strength to help someone to grow

in full maturity in christ