Teaching

Christian or Disciple?

• What does it mean to be Christian? Today - and in Biblical times?
  In Biblical times the word Christian (Χριστιανός) meant that you was like Jesus Christ in your behavior; the word was actually used as a nickname for those people who followed the Way, a name that was given the movement of disciples who followed Jesus. 
  Today the word has lost much of this meaning; the word christian kan mean many things, for example that you go to a church once a week, that you are born into a christian family, or that you as a child was baptized into the Swedish state church. In fact the word is used only 3 times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16).
• The word disciple
  A word that is used more often is the word "Disciple” (μαθητής). We find this word more than 250 times in the Bible. Then what does the word disciple means? It means that you follow somebody, and learn to behave, or act as this person does, which is the the meaning of origin of the word Christian. Jesus called his disciples to "follow" him. Some did. Others didn't. (Matt 4:19; 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luk 5:27; John 1:43; John 21:19) How do we go about to learn a new practical skill? For example coock food; ride a bicycle; or drive a car? We have to practice, learn from somebody who already have the skill, somebody we "follow".
• We are called to do the same deeds as Jesus - and even greater ones.
  God promised that We will do the same deeds as Jesus did, and even greater ones (Joh 14:12) The disciples made mistakes, but finally learnt.Matt 17:14-16; Lik 10:17)
  Do we know how to baptize in water, the Holy Spirit, heal the sick, deliver from deamons, and teach other people how to be disciples to Christ?
  If not, where can we practice this? For example around the kitchen table, in a living room, at work, out on the street.
  The Great Commandment(!) sais the following:"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”.”
• Then, how do you become a disciple?
  Yes, by following somebody who already function like this.
• Then, what is the first step if you want to become a disciple to Jesus?
  Yes, to be "Bornagain". (Joh 3:1-8)
• Then what does it mean to be ...born again?
  It means that you, first, Repent towards God - say to God (and mean every word): "God, I believe You hear when I speak to You. I have for a long time been living only for myself and my needs, where I my self have ben the solo lord over my life. I haven't known you, I haven't been living the way You want me to liv, close to You, in relationship with You, with your son Jesus Christ as a role model for my life. I want from this moment on, that You shall be the Lord in my life. God, I now come to You. I need You. I repent towards You. Be the Lord in my life. See me, set me free, right now..”
  What you do from this moment on, is that you choose to walk in a newdirection, now towards/to God and do His will instead and, to the best of your ability, follow and obey what He says/teaches in the Bible. When we do that, the promise from God is, that He forgives us our sins, and "cleanse us" from what causes us to have feelings of guit or shame for this (1 Joh 1:9), and our conscious regain its sensitivity for what is right and wrong. This is what the Bible describe as our ”heart of stone” is switched for a ”heart of flesh”. God will then not any longer remembers these sins (Hes 33:14-16) (Hebr 10:16; Hes 36:26; Rom 2:15).
  Secondly, it means that you get baptized in water (by full emersion) into Jesus Christ.
  Thirdly, it means that you get baptized with the Holy Spirit..
• Why do you need to get ...born again?
  This is explained by Evangeliet.

What is the Gospel?

People want to be loved; failing that admired; failing that feared; failing that hated and despised. They want to evoke some sort of sentiment. The soul shudders before oblivion and seeks connection at any price.Gospel” (ευαγγέλιον) means Good News. In Biblical context it is Gods message to us humans, 
1. about our origin, 
2. about how we as humans got ourselves into the problematic situation we are in today,  
3. about what the solution for this is, and 
a promise about our future.

The core message in the Gospel is the following:
1. Our origin is, that God created us humans into their image, in their likeness, in order to have a close relationship with Him 
(Genesis 1:26-28). We have been given the mission to be fruitful and increase and become stewards on earth and with its resources.

2But, The human "fell in sin", in that she listened to, and followed what Satan invited her to do, in conflict with what God had told them (Adam and Eve).Genesis 3; Rom 3:23) This was a rebellious behavior towards God, which led to that the human came under influence and control under Satan. The punishment and the consequence of this was that the human as a being was changed spiritually - the direct spiritual communication with God was broken; and in addition to this she started to age so that physical death now became a reality. 
This is the root cause to all the problems we see in the world today, with for example environmental disaster, greed, jealousness, criminality as for example fraud, rape and murder. And this will only get worse. The punishment for this is eternal punishment and eternal death.(Deut 32:35; Ps 135:14; Matt 25:46; John 3:17-18; 2 These 1:6-10; Hebr 10:30-31)

3. But God chose Not to leave us here in this situation; God sent Jesus, to rescue people, from their enemies - but above all from their own sins (Ps 2; Luk 1:67-79).
Jesus is a "bridge" back to God (Mark 10:45; Joh 1:14; Hebr 7:26; Rom 3:21-26; 5:12-21; Acts 2:24; Rom 4:25).
God calls us back into a Relationship with Him., by becoming bornagain (Joh 3:5-8), which starts with that we turn away from our sins and to God - Repentance - and set our faith to Jesus (Acts 17:30; Joh 1:12) True repentance and true faith (deeds of faith) that you get baptized in water into Christ and get baptized with the Holy Spirit with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38). Then we receive the promise of eternal lifeJoh 3:16)

4. Jesus will one day return and punish all sin ((Rev 19:11-20:10; Rom 2:5-8)
A new heaven and a new earth will be created and God will finally destroy/remove all evilness(Rev 21:1-8)
If you continue to read what's under next heading then you will find a few different presentations of the Gospel - three short videos (the first in Swedish and the other two in English), and two "napkin pictures".

A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

As a Disciple to Christ it's important to know a few different ways to share the Gospel with people. The reasons for this is, that people are different, for example:  

- they take in information in different ways, and thus need to be approached with the Gospel in a way in which they are most prone to receive it in. 
can absorb.
- they have different amount of time of attention they are willing to give you.
- they might have a need to hear certain parts of the Gospel more emphasized than others, perhaps depending on how their situation in life look like. 
depending on their current life situation.

Jesus approached people in different ways:
Certain people He called right away to Follow Him…the twelve disciples he called to follow Him. (Matt 4:19; 9:9; Mark 1:17; Luk 5:27; Luk 1:43)
Other people He gave a Challenge to do first… the rich man he told to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor.Matt 19:16-22)

Still others He sent away... the man who was freed from demons by Jesus command and which instead went into the pig herd. When this man afterwards wanted to follow Jesus, Jesus told him to go home instead and tell everybody about what the Lord had done to him.Mark 5:18-19)

1. Share the Gospel with three Circles

Share the Gospel with "Chess to Salvation"

Napkin presentation - The Gospel with three Circles

"Napkin presentation" - Bornagain

WHAT IS CHURCH?

• It is NOT about the building.
  – Acts 7:48-50 (God didn´t want us to build Temples)
  It's about Fellowship.
  - 1, 2, 3. UP, IN, OUT
  - The presence of God in my life. (Luk 6:12); Spiritual family (1 Cor 14:6); on mission (Mark 16:15-20)
• It is NOT about the building.
  - It's NOT about a program
  It's NOT about employees
  It's NOT about budget
  ... in a Box.
• It is portrayed as Organic Church (Simpel Church) in Acts 2:42-47.
  "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.".”
• Why do we do church?
  - To Build up
  - To Learn
  - To Serve
  - To have Fellowship
  - To share the Communion
  1 Cor 14:26
  People want to be loved; failing that admired; failing that feared; failing that hated and despised. They want to evoke some sort of sentiment. The soul shudders before oblivion and seeks connection at any price.What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up..”
• The Simple Church, is defined by that it is:
  1. Jesus centered - a church where Jesus is the beginning, the end, the purpose, the means and the goal. Everything is about 
  making disciples of Christ and give Him the glory.
  2. Missional - a church with the goal to not to gather but to send. Jesus said "Go and make disciples of all nations!"
  3. Small - a church that intentionally is small, often with no more than 3-12 people.
  4. Anywhere - a church that can meet wherever people live their lives; in a home, in a cafe, in a
  restaurant, in a workplace, or somewhere else. When the Bible speak about a church it doesn't speak of a building. A church, according to the Bible, is a gathering of believers, which meet and have 
  fellowship together.
  5. Relational- a church whose foundation is close fellowships and fellowships instead of programs,
  collection talks and activities.
  6. Organic - a church that functions as a living organism formed by its DNA. The values and the basic principles present from the beginning in the church are passed on to the next generation of disciples).
  7. Multiplicating - a church that grow through multiplication. When it grows to big to function as a spiritual family people are sent out to start more churches.
  8. Everyone are Priests - a church where every believer is a priest and have something to offer. All believers have an ability to serve each other and other people. This includes to baptize new believers and have Communion together.
  - Why are we all Priests?
  The Old Covenant - Only a few special people had close contact with God - pure hearts.
  The New Covenant - All people can hear from God, through the Holy Spirit, through the new heart you get when you become bornagain. 
  you receive when you become born again.
  
  9. Serving leaders - a church with unpaid leaders that functions as spiritual parents in a spiritual 
  family.
  Leadership is never a position but an important function in a simple church and works when
  we serve other people.
  10. Connected - a church that doesn´t isolate itself from others but stay in connection with other simple churches locally, regionally and nationally.
• A network of simple churches often functions like this:
  1. A group with its own identity (independent) - The different churches in a network are independent and 
  self-functioning groups, but is also dependent on each other.
  2. Built on relations - A network built on personal relations between people in the different groups. 
  Without relations - no network.
  3. Non-hierarchical - A network of simple churches on different locations that strive for to be decentralized and that are defined as non-hierarchical.
  4. Leadership - In a network there are different leadership functions. In the different groups there are unpaid elders/church leaders that often work in pairs in a team. In a network the teams often are set up by a leader with an overseer responsibility for the network. Some of the leaders that functions as apostles, prophets or evangelists, are sent out to serve in several different locations. Network leaders that are sent out in this way sometimes have financial support and backing and sometimes not.
  5. The network meets - The churches in the network sometimes meet. In many cases once a month or more often. When you meet the purpose is training, broader fellowship and the possibility to see the variety in the Kingdom of God in a way which sometimes is hard to do in a separate small group. - The churches in the network meet sometimes. Often once a month or more often. In these meetings the agenda is training, broader fellowship and a possibility to see the diversity in Gods Kingdom in a way that more difficult to do in a separate small group. 

What is church - (in Swedish)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KuHgiVmuoHLnlkh1uLWBqArKHGydRtxx/view?usp=sharing

What is church (in English)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19qjs0DGEn7NeXQm8xUC-ODtQlWCH9cL5/view?usp=sharing

HOW TO SHARE YOUR OWN TESTIMONY

How to share your testimony with other people ...in an effective way?

What perhaps most influences people to hopefully begin to approach Jesus, 
is the testimony of an other person, when he/she tells about what Jesus has done in his/her life.  
But as we all know, most people are very busy, and we always prioritize what we spend our time on. For this reason, we need to tell the most important in our testimony when we share it with another person, so that it can change them, to perhaps themselves want start to follow Jesus.

Then what is the most important in our own testimony?
it is:
1. How was my life before I met Jesus/Earlier I used to...

2. What happened when I met Jesus; How did it happen?

3. How is my life now?; What changes do I see in my life now?

Besides this you can add something from the Gospel when you share your testimony, because it is above all to desire it that changes people, especially when it is connected to an other persons testimony.

I will give an example here of this by sharing my own "short" testimony:
1. My life before/I used to + the Gospel

I was brought in a non-christian family, and my contact with God came through different activities in the church as a child. My first real experience of Christ came through a class mate in school when I was about 20 years old. I noticed the joy and peace he seemed to have in his life, and I wanted that, for this was something I lacked. He told me he had a relationship with God. That interested me.

2. Then God showed me/met me/revealed himself to me...How? + the Gospel

So I started to search for such a relationship. I asked God: if you are real, show yourself to me. My first meeting with God, was once home in the sofa; when I read some christian literature a thought crossed my mind: "Maybe God is already with me and speaking to me although I havn't realized it.". Then, I felt an enormous joy flow through my body. :-) A short time after this experience I started to read the Bible, and now it felt like the pages "spoke" to me, like I hadn't eaten in many years.

For many years I still struggled with a certain sin in my life, which I fell into repeatedly. To God this was a lifestyle of a rebellion, I have come to realize later, and something God cannot aprove.

Then finally I heard about the close connection between repentance (to turn away from sin) and baptism in/by submersion under water and baptism with the Holy Spirit.. Then I understood that I probably hadn't done a real repentance before my earlier baptism, so then I decided to do a real repentance and after that water baptism, which I also did. At that moment I felt I was filled by the Holy Spirit.

3. Now my life have a purpose/I understand what life is about/God guides me daily... + the Gospel

Directly after my baptism I felt lighter, as if something had left me, and since that time, after my repentance and following water baptism and baptism with the Holy Spirit, I no longer feel bound to that particular sin anymore as before; jag also feel a lot more peace and courage than before when it comes to walk up to people on the street and offer prayer for healing. I have also understood that the holy dimension is available for Gods people/his children today, and that is why I since that time have started to practice these things myself. Today is God is real to me and I and I experience that He guides me inin those situations I face in life.

Advice for sharing your testimony

Pray: Let God lead you in your words.

Explain what the Problem is - Sin: What made you see your need of a savior? What made you "repent"? People need to know the reason to why they need Jesus isn't to make them happy, but because they are sinners and that he is ready to forgives them and save them from their sin.

Share the Solution - Jesus Christ: Everybody need to know that the answer to their problem is sin. Your salvation in not what you can do on your own but what Jesus did on the cross.

Avoid Church-words: Remember that non-believers won't understand "church" language. Use everyday words.

Be focused: Summarize the most important parts of your testimony clearly. If you have time you can give more information that helps to clarify or illustrate what you want to say, but don't waste important time on telling stories that still won't help people to get to know Him.

Be Honest: Share your testimony in an honest way. There is no point in presenting the story about what has happened in your life in a sensational way. People can relate to your "real" story. When you are honest, God can really use you to reach other people with the Gospel.

Share your present situation: Where is God active in your life today? Your journey maybe started a year ago, or even 30 years ago, but people will want to know what God does in your life today.

Be aware of the Time: Discern the situation you are in at the moment, show respect to those who listen to you. Don't just continue to talk to them - allow them to come with a response and genuinely listen to them.

It can be a good idea to learn one short, a average length an a long version of your own testimony, as the time a person gives you to share your testimony might vary. You also need to "package" your story. The Holy Spirit of course can help you with that, but He wants to cooperate with us.

BAPTISM IN WATER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

Some thoughts about baptism and what the Bible says about Baptism.

The baptism has caused conflicts and different views in people throughout church history. But in the early church as described in the New Testament there were no conflicting views about the meaning and importance of baptism.  
Here are som Bible passages that show the biblical meaning of baptism, and after that I share some of my own thoughts about this.

Bible passage:

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

Joh 3:5
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 

Joh 3:3-7 REPENTANCE TOWARDS GOD:
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 

Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

Rom 6:3-8
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,a that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Tit 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Col 2.11-12
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the fleshb was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

Gal 2:19-20
“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 

Gal 3:27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

1 Pet 3:(18-19)20-21
(For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits)— 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 

Ok, what do we find in these Bible passages?
1. The baptism IS part of what leads to salvation. (Mark 16:16; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21)

2. You need to be "born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the kingdom of God. 
    (Joh 3:3-7 REPENTANCE TOWARDS GOD:)

3. We are encouraged to repent, be baptized, receive (be baptized with) the Holy 
     Spirit; these three parts seems to go together (Acts 2:38); is this what Jesus points at in Joh 
     3:3-7?

4. The baptism washes us clean from sins, but not by cleaning us from dirt, but 
    by "a clear conscience toward God." (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21). Can we here see a connection between the previous repentance and after that baptism in water? We see in 
    koppling  mellan en föregående omvändelse och därefter dop i vatten? Vi ser i Acts 2:38 that this in 
connection with a previous repentance, gives forgiveness for sins.

5. Baptism is a burial into a death with Christ; we are "buried with him through 
    baptism... in order that, we may live a new life." We are "united with him in a death like his", and    
    raised "in a resurrection like his". We become "crucified with Christ so that the body ruled by sin 
    might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died 
    has been set free from sin. (Rom 6:3-8). This is explained in Rom 6:12-14 where we find that 
    "sin shall no longer be (our) master, because (we) are not under the law, but 
    under grace.

    What is all this about? 
    Is this about that there is a parallel between the death of Jesus on the cross and our baptism in water 
    after a genuin repentance, by which the sin is deprived of its power so that we no 
    longer are slaves under it, or what? 
Is there also another parallel between resurrection from the grave and our emergence above  
the water surface again, now free from the power of sin, so that we now can live the new life, together with 
Jesus, in which no longer I myself (my being ruled by desires) lives but instead Christ lives in me? 
(Rom 6:3-8; Col 2:11-12; Gal 2:19-20)).

    Compare the following Bible passages and discern for yourself: 
    Jesus died on the cross (1 Cor 15:1-3)); We need to die from ourselves (Rom 6:2). Is it this 
    that happens in our genuin repentance, away from the sin in our life?) 
Jesus was buried (1 Cor 15:4); We need to be buried (our old self ruled by desires) (Rom 6:3-4). Is it this 
what happens in our baptism in water? 
Jesus was resurrected again (1 Cor 15:4); We need to be resurrected again from death (meaning: our new self need to 
come to life, free from the power and slavery of sin (Rom 6:4, 8:2) (see the clarifying pictures 
below). It seems as if we at the same time have "clothed yourselves with Christ."Gal 3:27).

   I hope this has provided a more clear picture of the meaning and importance of how the Life with Christ as his 
followers start: first bornagain, and how it happens, according to the Bible.