{"id":1288,"date":"2020-09-20T19:55:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-20T18:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1288"},"modified":"2020-09-20T19:55:51","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T18:55:51","slug":"10-ways-god-wants-to-bless-you-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=1288","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways God Wants to Bless You – 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unusually this message takes the form of notes rather than a full script. You may like to refer back to it after you have shared in the Zoom gathering, or watched the recording on Facebook which you can find here.
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pbthomas1\/videos\/10158646871063426\/<\/p>\n

Different NEXT STEPS will be appropriate for each of us at different stages in our personal walk with God. This message explains 10 Ways God could bless you as you take your NEXT STEP in following Jesus. Prayerfully consider what will be right for you to do,<\/p>\n

Jesus calls us to be his disciples. But what is the right NEXT STEP God has for you in your walk with him? There is a phrase from the world of education, \u201ccontinuing the learning journey\u201d. As discipkes we should all keep on learning and growing in our faith. We thought last week about seven ways we can all be growing up into Christ.
\n\u2022\tGrowing in our relationship with God
\n\u2022\tGrowing in knowledge and understanding
\n\u2022\tGrowing in witness and service
\n\u2022\tGrowing in the image of Christ
\n\u2022\tGrowing by deeper fellowship
\n\u2022\tGrowing in victory
\n\u2022\tGrowing in passion
\nWhat is the right NEXT STEP for you in your Christian life? HERE ARE 10 Ways God wants to bless you so that you can grow as a Christian \u2013 10 possible next steps.
\nTHREE WAYS OF GROWING BY MEETING TOGETHER
\nLet us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another\u2014and all the more as you see the Day approaching. HEBREWS 10:19-25
\nWay 1 \u2013 All together at Church
\nNot so easy at the moment but in normal situations worshipping together should be our priority.
\nWay 2 \u2013 All together in Homes \u2013 Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings, Draw Near to God
\nWay 3 \u2013 All together Online
\nZoom church on Sundays both morning and evening. Morning gathering and evening message are recorded and posted in the public Facebook Group of North Springfield Baptist Church. There are also other videos, such as from our Morning of Prayer, on Facebook too.
\nTHREE WAYS OF GROWING IN TWOS AND THREES
\n\u201cAgain, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.\u201d (Matthew 18:19-20)
\nWay 4 \u2013 \u201c2s and 3s for NEW CHRISTIANS\u201d
\nA short course for new Christians meeting with an established Christian looking at these topics.
\n1.\tA new life has begun!
\n2.\tBeing sure of our salvation
\n3.\tGetting to know God in Bible study and prayer
\n4.\tBelonging to God\u2019s family, the church
\n5.\tPlaying your part
\n6.\tTug of war \u2013 the battle against temptation
\n7.\tGo and tell \u2013 the challenge of being Christ\u2019s witnesses
\n8.\tThe Holy Spirit \u2013 the Helper
\nWay 5 \u2013 \u201c2s and 3s for ALL CHRISTIANS\u201d
\nMeeting in \u201cSpiritual friendships\u201d, \u201cPrayer pairs and triplets\u201d, \u201cPeer mentors\u201d
\nWay 6 \u2013 \u201c2s and 3s in FAN THE FLAME\u201d
\nFAN THE FLAME is the Guided Course in Discipleship in Peter\u2019s first book Making Disciples One-to-One
\nFan into flame the gift of God (2 Timothy 1:5)
\nNever be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11 NIV)
\nDon\u2019t burn out: keep yourself fueled and aflame. (Romans 12:11 The Message)
\nFive Units each with five Sections with introductory notes, Bible passages for study and reflection. After each Unit you meet with a guide to discuss and pray about what you are learning.
\nThe topics covered in Fan the Flame are:-
\n1) Knowing God better
\na) Loving God and enjoying your relationship with God
\nb) Devotional Bible reading and understanding the Bible, doctrine and ethics
\nc) Worship
\nd) Your devotional prayer life
\ne) Intercessory prayer
\n2) Becoming like Jesus
\na) Repentance and Holiness
\nb) Christian Victory and Overcoming Temptation
\nc) The Renewed Mind
\nd) The Fruit of the Spirit and Mastering your Emotions
\ne) Total surrender to the Lordship of Christ
\n3) Living in Christ\u2019s body
\na) Amazing Grace! Forgiving yourself
\nb) Forgiving other people \u2013 wounds needing healing
\nc) Loving other Christians and sorting out relationships
\nd) Church \u2013 Living in Fellowship and Community
\ne) Belonging and Accountability
\n4) Becoming a servant
\na) The Cross as our example of sacrifice
\nb) Serving in the church
\nc) Being a faithful Steward
\nd) Loving our neighbour
\ne) Our Witness to the World
\n5) Be filled with the Spirit
\na) Sharing Christ\u2019s resurrection life \u2013 the empowering Spirit
\nb) The gifts of the Holy Spirit \u2013 Serving in God\u2019s strength
\nc) Signs and wonders \u2013 the surprising Spirit
\nd) Passion for God
\ne) \u201cBe filled with the Spirit\u201d \u2013 experiencing the Holy Spirit
\nIf you would like to find people to join up with for \u201c2s and 3s for NEW CHRISTIANS\u201d, \u201c2s and 3s for ALL CHRISTIANS\u201d or to sign up for the FAN THE FLAME course, please tell Peter.
\nGROWING AS INDIVIDUALS
\nasking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding \u2026 in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, COLOSSIANS 1:9-12
\nWay 7 \u2013 Individuals in your \u201cPQR\u201d Time of daily Prayer + Bible Reading = Quiet Time
\nWay 8 \u2013 Individuals in Workshops and Courses
\ne.g. Learning to preach, lead worship, run Zoom sessions, help people
\nWay 9 \u2013 Individual Study Plans
\nCollections of sermons, books and other resources for personal study on particular themes \u2013 a list of all of these will be available separately soon.
\nGROWING BY BEING EQUIPPED
\nIt was CHRIST who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip God\u2019s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may
\nbe built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. EPHESIANS 4:11-13
\nWay 10 \u2013 Equipped by the Pastor-Teacher
\nMinisters can be \u201cspiritual trainers\u201d – a one-to-one \u201cspiritual checkup\u201d with your minister. Let Peter know if you would like to arrange this, in person or over Zoom if you prefer.<\/p>\n

So here are 10 Ways God Wants to Bless You
\n1.\tAll together at CHURCH
\n2.\tAll together in HOMES
\n3.\tAll together ONLINE
\n4.\t2s and 3s for NEW CHRISTIANS
\n5.\t2s and 3s for ALL CHRISTIANS
\n6.\t2s and 3s in FAN THE FLAME
\n7.\tIndividuals \u2013 PQR Time
\n8.\tIndividuals \u2013 Workshops and Courses
\n9.\tIndividual Study Plans
\n10.\tEquipped by the Pastor-Teacher
\nWHAT IS GOD\u2019S NEXT STEP FOR YOU?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unusually this message takes the form of notes rather than a full script. You may like to refer back to it after you have…<\/span><\/p>\n

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