1 Growing To Please Him by Keith Glasgow 8th Edition (Revised 2003) Copyright 1981 - Keith Glasgow ISBN 0-949786-10-1 Published & Distributed by LIVING HOPE PUBLICATIONS 22 Chamberlain Drive, Kilsyth Vic 3137 Australia www.keithglasgow.com O c2 Keith grew up in Brisbane and Melbourne, and spent his last 2 years of schooling in India where his father took a teaching position at a Christian school. He gave his life fully to Christ at age 21 and spent many years in New Zealand where he met and married Marg. For eighteen years Keith served the Lord in itinerant evangelism. In 1996 he returned to Australia to take up a position as Senior Pastor at Canterbury Gardens Community Church and then, after 10 years they moved to Edge Church where Keith served as Senior Pastor for 5 years.3 C O N T E N T S SECTION 1 Week 1 1. A New Direction 2. Valuable Sheep 3. Dealing With Doubt 4. Lord, I’ve Failed You! 5. Prayer 6. With You Always 7. Fellowship Thinking it Through #1 Week 2 8. Honesty 9. Baptism 10. Today’s Temple 11. Secret to Success 12. Praise 13. Sharing Christ 14. True Religion Thinking it Through #2 Week 3 15. Trouble And Pain 16. Friends 17. The Lord’s Supper 18. On The Job 19. Your Mind 20. Criticising Others 21. “Lord” Thinking it Through #3 Week 4 22. Temptation 23. Fruit 24. The Church - The Body 25. The Bible 26. Two Masters? 27. Maintaining Fellowship 28. Talents Thinking it Through #4 Week 5 29. Husbands and Wives 30. Children and Parents 31. Spot Check 32. Pride 33. One on the Rocks 34. Coming Soon! 35. Crowns Thinking it Through #5 Pg. 9 Pg. 10 Pg. 11 Pg. 12 Pg. 13 Pg. 14 Pg. 15 Pg. 16 Pg. 17 Pg. 18 Pg. 19 Pg. 20 Pg. 21 Pg. 22 Pg. 23 Pg. 24 Pg. 25 Pg. 26 Pg. 27 Pg. 28 Pg. 29 Pg. 30 Pg. 31 Pg. 32 Pg. 33 Pg. 34 Pg. 35 Pg. 36 Pg. 37 Pg. 38 Pg. 39 Pg. 40 Pg. 41 Pg. 42 Pg. 43 Pg. 44 Pg. 45 Pg. 46 Pg. 47 Pg. 484 Pg. 49 Pg. 50 Pg. 51 Pg. 52 Pg. 53 Pg. 54 Pg. 55 Pg. 56 Pg. 57 Pg. 58 Pg. 59 Pg. 60 Pg. 61 Pg. 62 Pg. 63 Pg. 64 Pg. 65 Week 6 36. God’s Will 37. Your Purse 38. Reactions 39. Daily Sacrifice 40. Careful For Others 41. Love 42. Resurrection Thinking it Through #6 Week 7 43. Motivation 44. Unanswered Prayer 45. A Curse From God 46. The cost of Discipleship 47. Dynamic Discipleship 48. In The Battle 49. That Little Big Member! Thinking it Through #7 Week 8 50. Overcoming SECTION 2 OUTLINE STUDIES The Gospel according to Mark Chapters 1 to 6 Thinking it Through #8 Week 9 The Gospel according to Mark Chapters 7 to 13 Thinking it Through #9 Week 10 The Gospel according to Mark Chapters 14 to 16 Acts of the Apostles Chapters 1 to 3 Thinking it Through #10 Week 11 Acts of the Apostles Chapters 4 to 10 Thinking it Through #11 Week 12 Acts of the Apostles Chapters 12 - 18 Thinking it Through #12 Week 13 Acts of the Apostles Chapters 19 - 28 2 Peter - Chapter 1 Thinking it Through #13 Memory Verses Pg. 67 - 72 Pg. 73 Pg. 74 - 80 Pg. 81 Pg. 82 - 84 Pg. 85 - 88 Pg. 89 Pg. 90 - 96 Pg. 97 Pg. 106 - 112 Pg. 113 Pg. 114 Pg. 115 Pg. 98 - 104 Pg. 1055 BECOMING A CHRISTIAN Being brought up in a Christian home does not make you a Christian. Going to church does not make you a Christian. Being baptised, con- firmed, or taking communion does not make you a Christian. Believing in the existence of God and of the Lord Jesus does not make you a Christian. How then do I become a Christian? Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). The only way you can enter the Christian life is by being born again. You must receive God's gift of eternal life. The only One who can give you that life is the Lord Jesus: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). Whoever trusts Jesus Christ personally to be their own Lord and Saviour is immediately born again and receives the gift of eternal life. By nature we are sinful and under God's holy judgment: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23); "gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature...we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3). But God in His great love and mercy has sent His Son to take upon Himself the penalty for our sins. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He died on the cross for us, so that by trusting in Him we can be freely forgiven. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). HOW CAN I BECOME A REAL CHRISTIAN? Pray sincerely to God using the following outline:- Admit to Him your guilt as a sinner (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Acknowledge that you cannot save yourself (Eph.2:8,9). Be willing to turn from your sin (Acts 2:37, 38). Trust Jesus Christ to save you * (Acts 16:31). Invite Jesus Christ to come and live within you as your Master and Lord (Rev.3:20). * Note: Why can we trust Jesus Christ to save us? 1. Because He is God (the Son) - John 20:30,31. 2. Because He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin - 1 Cor.15:3. 3. Because He rose again from the dead to become a living Saviour - 1 Cor.15:467 I N T R O D U C T I O N You have just made the most important decision of your life. You may or may not feel any different, but that does not change God’s promises to you. Promise: “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12) Promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13) Promise: “Whoever comes to Me I will never drive away” (John 6:37) The Bible describes new Christians as ‘new born babies’. Peter says “ Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). Babies are born to grown, not to stay infants forever. Just as a baby needs nourishment in order to grow into a mature person, there are three essentials for Christian growth: 1. Food - Thoughtful Bible reading 2. Air - Prayer and thanksgiving 3. Exercise - Practical obedience to what the Bible teaches Growth is often slow. There are things you will not understand; there may be some habits or ways that you feel you are not able to change. You must regard your whole life as an apprenticeship for heaven, and your Bible as a manual. God wants you to spend the remainder of your life changing gradually into a person with all the character and moral beauty of His own Son, Jesus Christ. I remember my daughter Kim looking forward to her third birth- day. We had told her that when she turned three she would “be a big girl”, and would be allowed to do things which previously had been denied her. On the morning of her third birthday she came out of her room with tears in her eyes. I asked her why she was so upset on her birthday morning, and her reply was: “But Daddy, I’m not big, I’m not big!” Many young Christians have been discouraged and upset, sim- ply by expecting to develop overnight into mature Christians and finding that they can’t. Our natural growth depends on regular food, air and exercise. In the same way, a Christian will develop fast, if a time each day is set aside to read the Bible and pray. Think of prayer as you speaking to God, and reading the Bible as God speaking to you.8 When you have finished your time with God and go to work or school or to your daily housework, then you can exercise your spiritual muscles by being obedient to what you have learned from God’s Word, the Bible. Remember: Keep feeding! Keep fit! You’ll be surprised at how fast you can grow! This book contains Bible readings for your first three months as a new Christian. Each day, before reading one, pray and ask the Lord to speak to you. Be open to Him and let Him search your mind and judge your thoughts. Read the Bible passage indicated at the top of every page and think about it. Ask yourself two questions: 1. WHAT IS IT SAYING? 2. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? Don’t read the comments written in this book until you have meditated on the Bible passage. When you have finished reading, speak to God about the Bible verses you have read. Give God worship, praise and thanksgiv- ing for what you have learned about Him. Then speak to the Lord about your own needs, problems and requests. Don’t forget to thank Him when He answers. Over the next few months you would be wise to meet regularly with an established Christian, so you can talk through any difficulties and also pray for one another. This early part of your Christian life is a crucial time. You may need to make some big changes in the way you think and the way you live, and so the support of another person can be a great encouragement. Each week there is a REVIEW page designed for when you get together with another Christian. If you do not have a person to meet with in this way, speak to your pastor or a leader in a local church. They will find someone suitable who would love to help you. Today or Tonight: It is a good idea to tell someone that you have become a Christian immediately. Say it in your own way, but share the news now!Next >