Day 27

27 - Establishing In The Faith 

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 3:18 

I did a little work for a farmer during my teenage years putting up hay in the loft of a barn. After the hay was cut down and harvested, the work wasn't done yet. It still needed to be baled, loaded on a wagon, and stacked in the barn. If you've ever "done hay," you'll never forget the hot, dusty and sneezy job of stacking hay in the barn on a hot, humid summer day.

The work of harvesting doesn't stop when you "reap" and lead your friend to faith in Christ. There is still "baling, loading, and stacking" to be done. You still need to work at growing and establishing them in their walk with Jesus. You still need to help them "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." You need to help them learn to "walk as Jesus."

Read John 4:39-42.

After Jesus led the Samaritan woman to become a believer, she led many in her town of Sychar to faith in Christ.

• What did Jesus then do with those people in verse 40?
• What do you think He was doing with them during that time?
• If you had two days with Jesus, what would you want to do? 

* * * * *

Read John 2:1-12.

This account is when Jesus first started spending time with his initial disciples. What did He do to help them grow? How would this deepen their faith in Him?

This was Jesus' first miracle, and it most likely helped strengthen His disciple's belief in His identity as the Messiah. I'm guessing that during the two days He spent with the new Samaritan believers in John 4:39-42, Jesus was helping them deepen their faith in Him too.

Read Ephesians 1 & 2.

• Write down some things about the identity of Jesus and your identity in Jesus. These are things you can share with new believers to help them "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 

Ephesians 1:3.

Ephesians 1:4.

Ephesians 1:5.

Ephesians 1:7.

Ephesians 1:11.

Ephesians 1:13-14.

Ephesians 1:22-23.

Ephesians 2:4-5.

Ephesians 2:6-7.

Ephesians 2:10.

Ephesians 2:12-13.

Ephesians 2:18.

Ephesians 2:19.

Ephesians 2:22. 

* * * * *

Apart From Him…

• Pick out three truths about the identity of Jesus and/or your identity in Jesus from Ephesians 1 & 2. Spend some time meditating on them and praising God for them. 

* * * * *

Walking As Jesus…

• Share these three truths with a new believing friend to encourage them and help them grow. 

* * * * *

• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: