Awesome Life of Christ

Welcome to the journey of a lifetime! We are stoked to have you here, taking this awesome step to get to know Jesus better. Seriously, it’s going to be life-changing! You rock for being open to discovering more about God and faith. It’s a big deal, and I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

During these 21 days, we’re going to dive into some foundational stuff about God, His love, and what it means to follow Jesus. My prayer for you is that as you engage with the daily prompts, you’ll encounter God in a personal and real way. Let His love and grace blow your mind! And hey, don’t hesitate to bring your doubts and questions along for the ride. We’re all learning together.

By the time you finish this journal, I believe you’ll see things differently even if just a little. You’ll be more connected to Jesus, and that will overflow into your relationships with others.

You’re not alone on this ride. Our Flatirons

fam is here for you! We’re all about growing together, supporting one another, and making a difference in our community and world.

So, get ready for a wild ride! Get cozy with your journal, dive into the Word, and be open to the incredible ways God will work in your life.

Remember, we’re all a work in progress, and that’s perfectly cool. Let’s keep it real, be kind to ourselves, and love others with all our hearts. That’s what following Jesus is all about!

Feel free to reach out if you need anything along the way. We got your back, and we’re praying for you.

I’m fired up! The best is yet to come.

JIM BURGEN LEAD PASTOR

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

1. WRITE IN YOUR INFORMATION.

Add your contact info below so that if you lose your journal, someone can return it to you.

NAME

PHONE E-MAIL

2. GET INTO IT.

Use it and bend it. Get it dirty, wet, crinkled, or all of the above. Crack the spine. Keep it with you all the time so you can dive into it any time the moment strikes you.

3. BE HONEST.

No one has to know what’s inside—it’s between you and God! Plus, if you’re not honest with yourself, you won’t get as much out of the activities.

4. SPEAKING OF ACTIVITIES—DO THEM!

We didn’t just create a devotional for you to read—it’s a journal you can write in. Seriously, the exercises are designed to be fun and sometimes weird. Enjoy the experience.

5. DON’T FORGET:

You’re reading this because you’re interested in taking your new relationship with God to the next level. That’s awesome! Write what you’d like to get out of this book all over the pages. Don’t be afraid to read more of a chapter in the Bible or go longer with writing your answers and thoughts.

DON’T RUSH.

No timed responses here.

OPEN YOUR MIND.

Be ready to change your heart.

Keep at it, and don’t give up. 21 days is all it takes for our brains to form a good habit.

We’ve strategically included 3 weeks of thought-provoking, hard-hitting content for you to consider when exploring what it means to follow Jesus.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FAQ | i

DAY 1 | 1

The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make

DAY 2 | 5

Brand New Identity

DAY 3 | 11

Save Me From Myself

DAY 4 | 17

What Is Prayer?

DAY 5 | 21

How Do I Pray?

DAY 6 | 25

What Is Salvation?

DAY 7 | 35

God’s Holiness, My Sin

WEEK 1 RECAP | 38

DAY 8 | 43

The Cross

DAY 9 | 49

The Daily Battle

DAY 10 | 53

Baptism: A Pledge of Loyalty

DAY 11 | 59

A New Beginning

DAY 12 | 65

Child of God

DAY 13 | 69

Eternal Certainty

DAY 14 | 73

Your New Family

WEEK 2 RECAP | 76

DAY 15 | 79

The Holy Spirit

DAY 16 | 83

His Word Is Sweet

DAY 17 | 89

How Do I Use The Bible?

DAY 18 | 93

What Is Worship?

DAY 19 | 97

Serving Others

DAY 20 | 101

Shouldering A New Mission

DAY 21 | 105

Final Thought

SIX PLAN CATEGORIES AND SUGGESTIONS | 106

SPIRITUAL GROWTH PLAN | 109

WEEK 3 RECAP | 110

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW OR GIVE MY LIFE TO JESUS?

Following Jesus is a life-altering journey of surrender and devotion. It means recognizing Him as your Lord and Savior and inviting Him to be at the helm of your life. Giving your life to Jesus involves acknowledging your need for God’s grace, accepting His forgiveness, and choosing to turn away from a life of sin. This decision starts a journey in deepening a relationship with God through prayer, worship, studying His Word and embracing authentic community. As you follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers you to live a life that reflects His love and compassion. Though challenges may arise, you find strength in knowing that Jesus walks with you through every circumstance. This journey leads to purpose and fulfillment as you use your gifts to serve others and impact the world around you. Following Jesus means discovering a profound sense of belonging in the arms of the One who loves you unconditionally. If you feel ready to embrace Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can say a simple prayer like this (P.S. It’s not about the words, but the posture of your heart as you say these words.)

SALVATION PRAYER EXAMPLE: “Dear Jesus, I come to you with an open heart, acknowledging my need for Your love and forgiveness. I believe that You are the Son of God, who died for my sins and rose again. Today, I choose to turn away from my old ways and embrace You as my Lord and Savior. Please come into my life, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and guide me on this journey of following You. I want to love You and love others as You have loved me. Thank you for the gift of salvation and eternal life. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.”

I ASKED JESUS TO BE MY SAVIOR. WHAT IF I DON’T REALLY FEEL ANY DIFFERENT?

Your salvation isn’t based on feelings. People react in lots of different ways to their new faith. Some get very emotional or excited, but others don’t. As long as you were honest in your heart when you accepted Jesus, you’re saved completely…Also tell someone about your choice to follow Jesus! Let us and others celebrate with you!

NOW THAT I’M A CHRISTIAN, WILL I STOP SINNING?

It would be great if we never sinned again after accepting Jesus as our Savior, but that isn’t how it works. Our “flesh” (the old nature inside us) will still be tempted to do wrong things. Temptation is just part of being human. But when we mess up (and we will) the Bible clearly tells us that we can ask God to forgive us and help us to resist temptation next time. It’s a daily battle to do what’s right instead of what our old nature wants to do. Don’t give up.

I’M EXCITED TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS, BUT I’M NO BIBLE EXPERT. WHAT IF THEY ASK QUESTIONS THAT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER?

You don’t need to know all the answers right now. It’s okay to share what you’ve experienced with others in whatever terms you feel comfortable using. There will likely be people who are skeptical, who don’t understand, and who have lots of questions. It’s perfectly fine to say, “I don’t know yet. I’m still learning about my new faith.” And remember, for some people, seeing your changed life can be so much more convincing than quoting a Bible verse ever could be.

SHOULD I GET BAPTIZED?

Absolutely! Jesus was baptized, and He wants us to be, too! Check out the Baptism chapter of this journal to find out what it’s all about and why it’s so important. Find more information about baptisms here:

https://www.flatironschurch.com/baptism/

AM I SUPPOSED TO GIVE MONEY TO THE CHURCH?

The Bible tells us that we are to give a portion of our income back to God. It’s a form of worship and a way for us to live out our faith. By tithing, we are expressing our thanks to God for all that He has given to us. Check out the “What is Worship?” Chapter of this journal for more information.

SOMETIMES CHURCH HAS “COMMUNION” AS PART OF THE SERVICE. WHAT IS THAT, AND AM I SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE?

Communion (sometimes called “The Lord’s Supper”) is a symbolic way of remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us when He died for our sins. Jesus instructed His followers to do this, and other verses in the New Testament explain that it’s an act of remembrance appropriate for Christians only. Jesus explains the symbolism in Matthew 26:26-29, and the “What Is Worship?” section of this journal can tell you more, too.

DOES BEING A CHRISTIAN MEAN THAT I CAN’T HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN’T CHRISTIANS? WHAT IF MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY AREN’T CHRISTIANS?

Jesus hung out with a lot of people who didn’t follow or obey God’s commandments in their lives. You don’t have to stop being friends with people who don’t know Jesus. God wants your family and friends to come to know Him, so the best thing would be for you to help introduce them to Jesus just by demonstrating your changed life to them. But, sometimes it’s wise to spend less time in situations that are tempting or bad for your walk with Christ. Occasionally, that can mean breaking ties from an environment you know is unhealthy. Just know that God is for your friends as much as He is for you.

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE

For those of you who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have received Him into your life, we want you to know that accepting Him was absolutely the best decision you have ever made and will ever make. Your life will now begin to change as you start following Jesus and are obedient to what the scriptures teach. Here are a few truths that will help you understand what has already happened in your new life.

YOUR SINS ARE TOTALLY WASHED AWAY.

Psalm 103:12 says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” How far is that? Did you know that if you travel due north and continue as far as you can, you will eventually start facing south? The same is not true for east and west —if you begin traveling east, you will always continue facing east. East can never meet west, and this is how

far God has removed our sins: completely and forever!

Psalm 51:7 says, “Purify me from my sins and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” Before, when God looked at you, He saw your sin, but now He sees you whiter than snow. Imagine if all of your sinful thoughts and actions were kept on a computer hard drive, in full view on a giant monitor. What God did is press the delete key. Then He emptied the recycle bin.

Then He erased all the backup files and burned the hard drive. There is no longer any record of your sins! No matter what your past has been, from this point on, you can rejoice that your sins are 100% gone – forever!

GOD SEES YOU AS HE SEES HIS OWN SON OR DAUGHTER.

God the Father loves His Son and is in an eternal relationship with Him. The great news is that for all those who

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!”

1 JOHN 3:1

believe in and have received Jesus Christ, He sees us the exact same way! Jesus lived a life without sin. He was the perfect sacrifice. Because Jesus paid the price for our sins through shedding His blood and dying on the cross, we can become children of God, too.

John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” And 1 John 3:1 echoes with, “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” To be loved uncondi-

tionally is a very challenging truth for us to accept, and yet it is absolutely true.

Part of this 21-day journey involves refection, prayer, journeying, or other activities to help you grow in your faith. For today, we invite you to use the space below to write a list of things you are grateful for and then spend a few minutes thanking and talking to God about these things. Express deep gratitude for the many blessings you have, including making a way through Jesus to become His child.

BRAND NEW IDENTITY

Since we know that our sins are forgiven and washed away, and we know that when God sees us He sees His own sons and daughters, we need to also begin to see ourselves in this brand new way.

Our identities have been completely changed; we are now God’s children. When you look into a mirror, what

do you see? Do you see the old you? If so, you can smash that mirror with a hammer (not really). But when you look into the mirror, see the new you!

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

MY IDENTITY IN JESUS

In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This profound verse highlights the transformative power of our faith in Jesus Christ, giving us a brand-new identity grounded in these eternal truths.

CHILDREN OF GOD

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

John 1:12

DELIGHTED IN

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

FORGIVEN

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so thatwe might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

WASHED CLEAN

“...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shallbe like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

FREE

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:1

RIGHTEOUS

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21

NEW

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians5:17

WHOLE IN CHRIST

“...in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

Colossians 2:10

AN AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

2 Corinthians 5:20

NEVER ALONE

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

A MASTERPIECE

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he plannedfor us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10

WONDERFULLY MADE

“...I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Psalm 139:14

OVERCOMER

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith”

1 John 5:4

HAVING GUARANTEED VICTORY

“You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.”

Psalm 18:35

SET APART

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:9

HOLDING A SECURED FUTURE

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11

I am an awesome spirit being of magnificent worth as a person.

I am deeply, deeply loved by God, totally pleasing to God, completely accepted by God, and when my inward person is reflected through my own outward performance, I am dynamically unique.

There is nobody like me.

There never has been and never will be.

I am one of a kind. I am rescued. I am free. I belong to Jesus.

SAVE ME FROM MYSELF

We wish to emphasize to you how fragile life is. It is illogical. We are frequently caught off guard when abrupt turns occur.

Unbelievers perceive life as being based solely on chance, with good or bad luck determined by nothing more significant than the toss of a coin or the roll of a die. Although some people have lucky streaks, luck must eventually run out for everyone.

Even devout believers with deep faith can be suspicious of life’s happenings. They are conscious of God’s power and presence. They are aware of His resourcefulness. But for them and us sometimes the question is: Does God care about what happens to us? Does He disregard our individual needs, worries, desires, and need for His presence?

David in the Bible found himself wrestling with those vexing questions that wrench

and strain the minds of believers in Psalm 13. “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart... Look on me and answer O Lord my God.”

The Bible teaches that we need salvation, but from what? Is it salvation from being overweight, from confusion, from addiction, or from

being lonely? What do we need to be saved from? Why do we need to be rescued? And how do we know if we are saved?

A staple truth to remember is that there is nothing so lost that God cannot find, nothing so broken that God cannot mend and nothing so dead in your life that He cannot redeem and bring back to life. He makes dead things alive!

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

ROMANS 8:31

You’ve been REDEEMED. REDEEM

/rə·dēm/ verb

to free from captivity by payment of ransom; to release from blame or debt; to free from the consequences of sin.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

We all have areas in our lives where we struggle, whether it’s certain sins, habits, or past experiences that weigh us down. Let’s take a moment to reflect on these areas and write them down here. Remember, you don’t need to clean up your life before coming to Jesus. He wants you just as you are.

Now, make it a new habit to talk to God about these struggles regularly. Approach Him with honesty and vulnerability, knowing that His grace and mercy are available to you. Ask for His help and guidance in overcoming these challenges, for

with Jesus, transformation is possible.

As you begin this journey of faith, remember that it’s not about perfection but about progress. Jesus is here to walk with you every step of the way.

Today, use the following page to list any hurts, habits, struggles or lies that you have believed about yourself. Then spend some quite time talking with God about these and asking Him to help you embrace your new life in Christ and live in the freedom that is promised as a redeemed child of God.

If you need help with addictions, counseling, or just want to talk with someone, find out how we can serve you here: www.flatironschurch.com/care/

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Talking with God. That’s the short answer.

Prayer is simply our direct line of communication with our God.

He wants us to talk with Him just like we would have a personal conversation with our best friend.

It’s easy to talk to someone when you know they love you completely and unconditionally, right? Check out this insight into how God

feels about you in Ephesians 3:12: “Because of Christ and our faith in Him, We can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of His glad welcome.”

God already knows you completely: inside and out, every second of your life, every hair on your head, every thought before it rolls off your tongue, and even the very motives of your heart.

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM HIM.

WHY SHOULD I PRAY?

Prayer develops our relationships with God. Like all healthy relationships, communication is vital.

If we never spoke to our spouse, parents, or friends or never listened to anything anyone had to say to us, our relationships would quickly deteriorate. A relationship can never grow without all parties communicating with one another.

It’s the same way with God. Prayer helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with Him. He desires for you to know Him and learn about His nature and the things that make Him happy.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU PRAY?

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “never stop praying.”

You probably shouldn’t close your eyes while you’re driving (though it couldn’t hurt to say a prayer before the 5 PM commute) but we should pray as often as possible.

You can pray out loud or silently, anywhere and anytime. Eyes open or closed. Head bowed or not. God just wants to talk to you about everything in your life on an ongoing basis. You are the apple of His eye, and he is more in love with you than you could ever realize!

JUST DO IT.

Sometimes we get into the habit of talking about prayer more than actually praying. It’s like always discussing the best techniques for fishing, researching all the equipment, mapping out spots on the lake, and then never actually fishing.

We would love to pray for you as well! Let us know how here: my.flatironschurch.com/prayer/

Today’s activity is simple, but it’s one of the most powerful things you can do as a Christ follower.

Pray for your family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and maybe for someone you don’t like that much.

The Bible says that God even wants us to pray for our enemies.

There’s no right or wrong way to pray or amount of time that is required. Take as long as you’d like and just simply talk to God.

READY, STEADY, PRAY!

HOW DO I PRAY?

Jesus’ followers asked Him that question, and Jesus’ answer turned into what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” It’s an example straight from Jesus about how to pray.

Just remember, this prayer was a model for us of HOW to pray. Use your own words. No “art” or “thou” required. Jesus spoke to God as His Father, and so can we.

SAY HELLO!

When a friend enters a room, the first thing most peo-

ple do is say hello. In many ways, this is the beginning of prayer. It’s recognizing God’s immediate presence. He’s always with you, but prayer should start with you acknowledging Him.

BE YOURSELF.

Prayer isn’t a practice in perfect, eloquent speech. God already knows and understands exactly who you are. He created you. Use the words that you would with someone who loves you dearly and come to him just as you are.

TAKE TIME TO QUIET YOURSELF.

The world we live in today constantly blasts us with media, information, ads, and noise from every possible direction. All these things bombard our peace of mind and compete for our attention. But if you really want to know someone, you have to slow down and take the time to understand what they are saying to you. Get quiet, focus your attention solely on God, and let Him talk to you.

The Bible says it this way in Psalm 46:11: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

KEEP IT FRESH.

A prayer life that isn’t kept up is like a pond with no water flowing in or out. It becomes lifeless and stagnant. A person who cultivates their relationship with God in prayer finds fresh water flowing in and out of the pond.

LET PRAYER WORK ON YOU.

Practice makes perfect. The entire Christian life, including prayer, is something that we have to work on to become better at. God can do amazing things in us through our reaching out to Him in prayer!

The next page illustrates a good way to remember the key elements of prayer.

Today, ask God to help you commit to becoming a person of prayer. Ask him for help to set aside timely daily for prayer. Whether it’s a quick before-you-roll-out-ofbed prayer, or maybe as you start your commute. Commit to starting a daily prayer time. Then set a reminder to pray on your phone or calendar.

A C T S

IS FOR ADORATION

Tell God how much you love Him.

IS FOR CONFESSION

Ask God for forgiveness from your mess-ups.

IS FOR THANKSGIVING

Thank God for all the things He’s done for you and given to you.

IS FOR SUPPLICATION

Tell God what you need and ask Him for those things, no matter how small. Pray for your family, friends, community, your church, our leaders, and our country.

Jesus gave us a great example of how to pray. We call it the Lord’s prayer.

HERE’S THE KING JAMES VERSION:

Our Father which art in heaven

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom

The power and the glory

Forever and ever.

Amen.

HERE’S THE SAME PASSAGE IN MODERN ENGLISH:

Our father who is in heaven, Holy is your name.

Until your kingdom comes, Let your will be done on earth

As it is in heaven.

Give us everything we need for today, And forgive us our offenses

Because we forgive those who offend us.

Help us resist temptation, And protect us from evil. The kingdom, the power, and the glory Are yours forever and ever!

Amen.

WHAT IS SALVATION?

The word salvation means “to be rescued from injury or harm.”

The term can be used to describe any kind of rescue: physical, emotional, or spiritual. Yet, it takes on a very specific meaning in the Bible.

On one occasion, the apostle Paul was in jail in a town called Philippi. During the night, an earthquake shook the city, and the doors were opened to the jail cells. The Philippian jailer, who had been listening to Paul sing

and talk all night, was certain that the prisoners had escaped. Normally, he would be held responsible, since the escape occurred on his watch. He pulled out his sword and was preparing to kill himself when out of the darkness Paul and his group called out that they were still there. Full of gratitude and fear, the jailer grabbed a torch and fell before Paul. He asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along

with everyone in your household,” (Acts 16:30-31).

What was the jailer asking about? Did he want to be saved from his dead-end job as a prison guard? Was he, at the same time, concerned about losing that same job due to imagined negligence? Was he concerned about the aftershocks from the earthquake? Had he heard enough of the Gospel in the night to want spiritual salvation? The answer is probably, yes. He was concerned about all of the above. But Paul addressed only one of the issues raised, the most

important one—spiritual and eternal salvation in Christ.

The apostle Paul invited the jailer to “believe.” Then the man and his family were baptized (Read Acts 16:32-34). Everyone in the household was saved. They were spiritually rescued from God’s judgment because they came to believe in Jesus.

Today’s activity is to read the story on the following pages and complete the letter writing activity. Our hope is God will reveal a new level of love and sacrifice that our Heavenly Father has for you!

It was a typical hot and sweltering Chicago day in August 1972 when the emergency call came over the radio for Jacob’s firefighting crew to handle a fire that had broken out in a downtown apartment building.

In the few minutes it took them to weave through the afternoon traffic, the small fire had engulfed the entire building.

By the time the firemen arrived on the scene, most of the hundred or so residents had already made it out of the blazing seven-story inferno. But the firefighters had to be sure everyone was safe. Ladders enabled the firefighters to rescue residents on the top floors, but the fifth floor was too far gone to risk entering.

They heard no screams or sounds, but they had no way of knowing without physically checking if there was anyone left on the fifth floor. “It was unreasonable for any firefighters to enter the fifth floor at that point,” says Jacob. “But I had a nagging feeling that there was still someone left inside.”

Suddenly, as Jacob and his colleagues came out of the front of the building, a young, frantic woman came running up to them yelling at the top of her lungs, “My baby, where is my Kris?” Jacob’s instincts had been correct. The woman who lived in Apartment 529 explained that she had left her 7-year-old son alone for just a few minutes while she went down the street. Ground personnel could not account for Kris anywhere.

“I knew he was still in there,”

says Jacob “I could just feel it. And the fact that I hadn’t heard him screaming or calling out signaled to me he was either in shock or had passed out from smoke inhalation. Either way I knew we didn’t have time to waste.”

Apartment 529 was engulfed in flames at the other end of the hall, and most of the floor was already impassable. “My partner looked at me and gave me the thumbs-down,” says Jacob. “as a fireman I knew he was right. The chances of us surviving if we went down that hall were slim, let alone anyone finding that boy.

I had been in situations like that before where I had to accept the loss, and I dealt with it. But I just couldn’t walk away from this one.” Impulsively, Jacob darted down the hall, disappearing into the flames. “The instant I made the decision to run down that hallway, a second later I was in front of

the door, and it was already ajar...I didn’t even have time to figure out if he was alive or dead,” says Jacob. “I just grabbed him and rushed out.” Jacob and the boy cleared the fifth floor landing just as the fireman could hear the sound of the floor above crumbling. The tense crowd below broke into cheers as they saw Jacob emerge with Kris pressed up against his chest. Jacob could feel the boy’s heart pounding, and when he coughed from the smoke, Jacob knew Kris would survive. Jacob was a hero, but little did he know how his unselfish decision on that memorable day would affect his own life some 20 years later. Two weeks after the rescue, Jacob had two visitors appear at the station —Kris and his mother, Maria. They had come to thank him and told him they were forever in his debt. “They said they would repay me a life,” says Jacob. “I was pretty stunned. It was

a nice gesture, but I figured they would soon go about their lives and forget about me.” But Kris and Maria never did forget. Maria made sure her son visited Jacob at least one day every week after school. “He would bring me food from his mom or a candy bar, just something to say thanks,” recalls Jacob. “But he did it just about every week, which amazed me. He didn’t have a father so I guess I kind of became a good influence on his life, as well. After a few months, we really became friends.”

A few years later Jacob married, started his own family and left the fire department to start his own insurance company. Kris joined the Army and went to college, but the two remained in touch.

At age 37, Jacob was diagnosed with diabetes. Despite treatments and diet, the disease began to deteriorate his kidneys until, by age 43 he was diagnosed with end-

stage kidney failure. With two children in high school and his wife pregnant with a third, it was not a good situation. “I was really devastated,” says Jacob. “I’d saved a lot of people in my years as a firefighter and was a pretty good husband and provider. But for the first time in my life I was really scared, and I didn’t know what to do.” With no brothers or sisters and his wife the wrong blood type, Jacob was forced to depend on a donor kidney from the bank of available kidneys, but none were available. “I really didn’t know where to turn. That’s when I got Kris’s call.”

I was talking to him, and I remember thinking I didn’t want to tell Kris what happened. But my wife said it would be wrong to keep it from him. I barely got the words out when he asked me what my blood type was. I told him, and he said he’d call me right back.” As Kris contemplated his friend’s

unfortunate situation, his thoughts kept returning to that fateful moment years earlier when he looked up and saw his hero Jacob’s face as the flames roared all around him. He knew had it not been for Jacob, he would not be alive today. Now Kris could finally repay the favor. He knew what he had to do.

Within an hour, Kris was at Jacob’s doorstep with a lifesaving message. “He comes to the door and says, ‘It’s your lucky day, I’m the same blood type, and I’ll bail you out of this one.’” When medical tests confirmed Kris would be the perfect donor and with time running out, Jacob accepted his generous offer.

“I really had nowhere else to turn. He told me he loved me like a father and it was the least he could do for me.”

“Jacob says we’re even now,” says Kris. “But the truth is he was there all my life to help me make decisions and give me guidance and support. I’m just glad there was something I could do to pay him back for saving my life.” Jacob and Kris both went on to live happy, healthy lives in Chicago. Kris became an English teacher. Jacob retired and devoted many years to volunteering his time as a counselor for inner-city programs for underprivileged children until he passed several years ago.

Excerpt

The story you just read really happened. The firefighter was willing to potentially sacrifice his own life to rescue someone he had never met before.

That’s exactly what Jesus chose to do when He gave His life to rescue you from an eternity apart from God.

On the next 2 pages, write a letter to Jesus letting Him know how you feel about the great love He showed you when He endured the cross so that you could be saved and find a new life in Him.

GOD’S HOLINESS, MY SIN

You may still be wondering, why does sin necessitate salvation?

The Bible teaches that God is holy. He’s the source of holiness, an absolutely perfect being without sin. God is also just. He is always right and never wrong. He does everything perfectly, and He judges everything perfectly. His nature demands that He justly expose and condemn sin. He cannot allow disobedience and unrighteousness to go unpunished. That

would be contrary to His holy nature.

God’s justice is the practical expression of His holiness. The consequence of our un-holiness is that our sin has to be punished. And there lies the problem, because as much as God is perfect, we are not. We need to be saved because sin separates us from God.

In Genesis, we read that God gave Adam and Eve the priv-

ilege of free moral choice. They were faced with the opportunity to obey God or to disregard God’s instructions. Sadly, they made the fatal mistake of disobeying God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They rebelled against God, and the result was the invasion of sin into paradise. Un-holiness crashed into creation, and it has tainted our DNA ever since.

This original event is known as The Fall of Man, which actually sounds pretty tame, like Adam and Eve tripped over a tree root or something. But The Fall is more like the cataclysmic plunge that absolutely destroyed Adam and Eve’s innocence— and consequently ours. Along with the crucifixion of Christ, this was one of the greatest catastrophes of all time. At that moment, recorded in Genesis 3, everything changed for the human race. In that instant, sin entered the world.

The Bible presents Adam

and Eve as flesh-and-blood people and the Fall as an actual occurrence...not as myths and legend. In this act of disobedience, humankind fell and things spiraled out of control fast. By Genesis Chapter 6, we’re already ready about murder, jealousy, anger, and polygamy. Only a couple of chapters later in life, and humanity is in dire straits.

Sin can be defined as “missing the mark.” If you have ever tried your hand at archery or darts, you know how difficult it is to hit the bull’s eye. The point of this expression is that not only do you miss the bull’s eye, but in fact you miss the target entirely! Sin has devastated our ability to reach out to God and to receive His favor for ourselves.

The Bible is clear about our situation after The Fall. In Romans 3:10-12, Paul concurs with what one Old Testament writer said in Psalm 14:3.

“As the Scriptures say, ‘No One is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.’”

“No even one.” That has to include present-day ‘us’ don’t you think?God is just and will punish sin. So if we are all born sinners, don’t we all deserve eternal punishment?

Check out how things get real in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.” Notice the full consequences of sin: separation from God. Sin separates people and God, incurs God’s punishment, and leaves us in bondage to our desires. If the story ended here, things would seem pretty bleak. But, it doesn’t. God

is for you, and He has great things in store for you!

What areas of your life make you feel a little off target right now? In what areas do you feel like you’re missing the mark completely? Spending some time praying to God and asking him to show you these areas.

Lastly, as you reflect, we want you to know that you’re not alone in your imperfection. Every one of us has areas we need to improve in. The good news is that God’s not done with you! He is shaping and sharpening you into an arrow that will hit the mark every single time because of your power through Jesus.

Today, read 1 John 1:9 and spend a moment thanking God for making a way for your sins to be forgiven. Then confess any sins to him in prayer and believe in faith, that God is working to purify you from the inside out.

WEEK 1 RECAP

You’ve finished the first 7 days of your new spiritual adventure.

Here’s a recap of some big things we’ve learned:

My sins are washed away, and God sees me as a brand new creation. I am a new person with a new identity in Christ. God has saved me from my old self.

God has rescued me, and I am thankful to Him.

Prayer is how we communicate with God. He wants us to talk with Him often.

Jesus gave us a great example of how to pray, and we don’t have to be experts to start.

I may miss the mark in areas of my life, but God is still working on me.

2 CORINTHIANS

THE CROSS

At the cross, Jesus’ death accomplished the full scope of salvation for us because Jesus endured that death willingly and on our behalf. Bible scholar Wayne Grudem summarizes the triumph of the cross with four biblical terms: sacrifice (surrendering, offering); propitiation (peace-making, accommodating); reconciliation (making compatible, being in agreement); and redemption (deliverance, rescue from).

These terms correspond to four of our needs that are met only Christ’s work on the cross.

First, Jesus’ death is a sacrifice because the debt owed by our sin requires a sacrifice, in keeping with the Old Testament’s system. We can’t make this SACRIFICE ourselves because it requires a perfect sacrifice (a “spotless lamb,” as noted in the Old Testament). But Jesus,

being sinless God incarnate, was perfect. Jesus was even called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” at the beginning of His ministry (by John the Baptist in John 1:29).

Second, Jesus’ death is propitiation for sin on the cross—a PAYMENT to alleviate the wrath of God. Propitiation speaks to offering payment as in paying off a debt. We know that our sin has us way ‘off the mark’ of God’s standard set by His holiness. That’s us missing the target, remember? Well, Jesus’ work is like pressing a do-over button and asking God to let Jesus fire that arrow for us. This time, we get to nail a perfect bull’s eye as if we’d done it ourselves. Jesus’ propitiation is the payment made to cover the debt we couldn’t cover on our own. We just don’t have the funds.

Third, the work of Christ on the cross also created reconciliation between sinners and God, BRIDGING THE SEPARATION the Fall caused. This

reconciliation was physically symbolized when, as Christ breathed His last, the veil in the temple was torn top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). In the work of Christ’s crucifixion, we are reunited with God as our Father. The atonement in this sense is an at-onement, making sinners one with God.

Finally, Jesus’ work on the cross was a work of redemption, as it RESCUED us from sin and death. The concept of redemption involves a person being brought back. It implies at least three things: one, that a person is in slavery or bondage to another master; two, that to redeem a person out of bondage a price or ransom must be paid; and three, that a human liaison must act to secure the redemption.

As we move into the New Testament, the language of redemption is everywhere. For instance, Paul wrote in Romans 3:22-25, “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified free-

ly by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.” All of the key ingredients are in this text.

First, Paul pointed out that everyone has sinned and is therefore in slavery or bondage to sin. In our own way, we all failed and missed God’s mark for our lives.

Second, a price had to be paid to free us from the slavery of sin.

Third, Jesus is both the price that was paid and the mediator between God and people.

Redemption proves the perfect provision of Christ because it’s through faith in his blood that our sins are made right. We can’t fix our own situations and buy ourselves out of slavery.We are dependent upon the price being paid for by Jesus on the cross.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

ISAIAH 53:5-6

Take a moment to reflect on the incredible sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. As you contemplate what He did to pay for your sins, as well as the sins of everyone who calls on Him as Lord and Savior, it’s natural to be filled with various thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

You might feel overwhelming gratitude for His boundless love and mercy. You may also sense a deep sense of awe and humility, realizing the magnitude of His sacri-

fice. It’s okay to experience a mix of emotions during this reflection.

Now, let’s spend a few minutes in prayer, talking to God about these thoughts and feelings. Thank Him for His amazing grace and the gift of salvation through Jesus. Share your gratitude, awe, and any concerns or questions you may have. Remember that God is always ready to listen and guide you on your faith journey.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

JOHN 3:16

THE DAILY BATTLE

You have entered into a relationship with God and are a new creation! Jesus has washed all your sins away. So you’ll never sin again, right? That would be great, but unfortunately that’s not the case.

The Bible tells us that there are two natures now at war within each of us: the spirit and the flesh. And it’s a daily battle between the two. Your spirit (the inner & external part of who you are)

wants to follow God and to be pleasing to Him; to live a life that is pure and holy, like God. But your flesh, that old nature inside you, wants just the opposite. It’s an ongoing tug-of-war that all Christians deal with every day. So how do we keep the fleshly desires under control so that we can live a life that’s pleasing to God? The Bible tells us to seek God and we will find Him.

Check out what it says in Psalm 119:10-12:

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that i might not sin against you. Praise be to you, lord; teach me your ways.”

That means that we should learn what the Bible says so that we can know what God expects of us and use it to get our strength to fight against the old sinful desires. The reality is that you are going to mess up. But the amazing thing about God’s love for us is that Jesus died once for all of our sins – past, present, and future. Sin is never okay, so Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to be forgiven from our mess-ups forever.

He loves you even if you fail over and over again...even on the same day.

Matthew 18:22 tells us to forgive others over and over. This is because God does

that for us. His grace and forgiveness have no limit. Go to Him and ask forgiveness when you fail and do all you can to be better next time. That’s all God expects.

He will always forgive you. Today, set aside some time to seek the guidance of the Lord. Approach Him with a humble heart, asking Him to reveal the areas in your life that need to be surrendered to His will, so you can align your life more closely with the teachings of the Bible. As you spend this time in prayer and reflection, consider any thoughts, habits, or attitudes that may be out of alignment with God’s Word. Trust in His wisdom and grace to show you the way forward.

Remember that God’s desire is not to condemn, but to transform and renew you. Allow Him to lead you towards a life that reflects His love, grace, and truth as found in the Bible.

BAPTISM: A PLEDGE OF LOYALTY

In Scripture, baptism is included as part of the faith response of those who accept God’s gift, and baptism is vitally important to one’s acceptance of salvation. It depicts our repentance and identifies us with Christ. Jesus himself was baptized, so that alone should be reason enough for us to follow suit.

Baptism speaks to the reality of the victory of Jesus in our lives. Baptism is proof of our salvation and part of our public profession of faith

and repentance from sin. But baptism is no more ‘saving’ in itself than saying a particular prayer or walking up an aisle or going to church or studying the Bible or feeding the poor. Some of those things are explicit commands for people who are saved, but that doesn’t make those acts the things that save us.

Salvation is the work of God alone. There were times when Jesus attached baptism to the proclamation of His gospel and times when

He did not. What we can say is that the Bible commands baptism. We can’t under-emphasize the importance of baptism in the process of becoming a sold-out follower of Jesus.

Paul wrote, “We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives,” (Romans 6:3-4).

When Jesus died, they placed Him in a tomb, and on the third day He rose again. When we become followers of Christ, we enter into new relationships with Him. We are buried with Him in baptism, just as He died and was buried, and then we are raised from the water just as He was raised from the dead. This illustrates our new life in Jesus.

SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH GOING UNDERWATER FOR A SECOND?

Water baptism is to immerse, or cover completely in water. Another way to say this is to “submerge”. This is because the word for “baptize” in the New Testament means to immerse or to plunge. Therefore water baptism is a total covering or submersion into water.

As we go under the water, it is like our very own “burial”. Then, as we raise up out of the water all that remains is the “new man”. This mimics the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, our physical baptism in water symbolizes uniting with Jesus.

A NEW COMMITMENT!

The one who claims to be a follower of Christ must be one who commits everything to him. Remember from Romans 6, this involves a part of you dying. Water baptism is your proclamation to God you have put to death the old life in favor of the new life reigning in you. So

a commitment is taking the reins of your life and directing and handing them over to Christ.

When we are baptized, we are in effect stating, “I’ve made my decision. I submit to God. I stand with Jesus Christ. From this moment on, I pledge to put him above everything else—money, achievement, family, pleasure, “other gods”, etc..”

After Peter spoke about Jesus in the early days of the church, the people were moved and they asked the question, “Now what do we do?” Here’s how Peter responded to them: “Change your life. Turn to God and be

baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 2:38).

Three thousand people were baptized that day. They didn’t have all their questions answered. They didn’t have their lives worked out. Most had only just heard the message of Jesus that day, but they came to follow Him and be baptized immediately. You don’t need to get your life worked out to get baptized—you get baptized as part of working your life out and leaning into the power of God and your new identity in Christ.

TODAY, make the decision to be baptized.

Pull out your phone and go to

https://www.flatironschurch.com/baptism/ or scan the QR code below.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

ROMANS 6:4

A NEW BEGINNING

The result of salvation is a new person, a sinner saved by grace and ready for a new life in Jesus. You are not simply a ‘more religious’ form of the same person, but an entirely new creature (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Several things happen following the experience of “being saved.” These are normal changes for a person’s new life in Christ!

YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.

Judgment is lifted forever and is replaced by nurturing father-child relationship. Your sins are forgiven. God’s grace is greater than any sin, and at the moment of salvation, that grace is lavished on us. Every sin ever committed in attitude or in act is cast away and forgiven. We are justified before God.

YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY CHANGES.

A believer has certainty about the after-life. Heav-

en is the final destination of every believer. The bondage to sin is broken. A believer is still a sinner, but he or she now has the power of Christ to walk away from temptation, break habits, and renew the mind from negative and destructive thinking.

THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN YOU.

At the moment of a person’s decision, the Spirit of God takes up residence in the new believer. The Christian’s physical body is now a temple for the Holy Spirit. From within, the Spirit can seal, fill, convict, and comfort. He helps the believer grow to be like Christ. One of the things that will not change is the nature of life. The rain falls on the good and the bad. Disease is found in both Christian and non-Christian. Tragedy occurs to both believer and non-believer. In fact, Jesus promises suffering to those who follow Him.

But what does change is your attitude and your hope. Life is now worth living in a completely different way. You have purpose. You have faith that God will be there for you in any and all situations.

YOU JOIN A NEW FAMILY.

A newborn baby should never be left alone; there should be a family to take care of him or her. Now that you are a child of God, you have brothers and sisters in Christ. The family of God is called the Church. It’s not a place or a building, but rather it’s a community of people who love God and connect with one another for support and encouragement. In truth, every believer is part of the universal Church. In practice, believers need to align themselves with a local church and plug into authentic community. At Flatirons,

we call these Groups, and encourage you to find your people by going to the website in the footnote.

YOU SHOULDER A NEW MISSION.

Jesus left us with a job to do. God’s plan of salvation doesn’t end with you. Now that we enjoy peace with God, it is our honor to influence others to the same end. Through godly example and loving conversation, we can be a witness of the Good News. To use a metaphor, now that we are pulled safe upon the shore, we are able to help rescue those still drowning in the water who need to be saved by a loving God.

Wouldn’t it be great to get a second chance at life? We all have things we regret or would do differently if we could. What would you do differently? Take back a particularly unkind word?

Choose to take a different path? Different relationships?

Of course we don’t get an actual do-over in life, but we can start anew in Christ.

WE ARE ALL PRODUCTS OF OUR PAST, BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO BE PRISONERS OF OUR PAST.

Grab a suitcase or backpack (or use your imagination).

Empty it out. If it’s already empty, imagine taking out all the junk you don’t need from it.

Take some time to let go of past mistakes. No matter how big or small, God wants to free you from your hurts, habits, and hang-ups. The forgiveness part is already done. You may need to work on stuff and may still be affected by the past in ways you can’t change, but realize that today is a new day as far

as He is concerned.

Your empty suitcase is just like you when you allow God to take the junk out of your life. Let go of guilt, shame, regret, hardness, unforgiveness and any other junk that weighs you down. Get rid of your baggage.

HERE’S

THE GREAT NEWS!

God doesn’t want you to re-

main empty. He wants to fill your life with healthy, wonderful things.

Take some time to ask God for the right things you need when beginning your new journey.

Maybe it’s starting healthier relationships, help with addiction, making amends, committing to attend church consistently, joining a Group, or serving at church.

CHILD OF GOD

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is widely used as an example of God’s faithfulness to us as His children. Even though the relationships people have with their earthly parents may vary, the way God sees us is a constant: He always loves us!

The parable starts off with a man’s son asking for his share of his inheritance. This inheritance is something that was only supposed to be

collected at the time of his father’s passing, but the son wanted it anyway. The story then goes on to say that the son took his share and all of his belongings and went off to a distant land.

By taking such measures, the son was communicating to his dad that he didn’t want anything to do with his family and had no intent of coming back after he left home. He quickly blew through all his money and a huge famine

struck. The son was hungry and desperate. So desperate that he started thinking the scraps being fed to the pigs back home sounded appetizing! He realized that even his father’s servants lived in better conditions than he did. That’s when he decided to go back home. He rehearsed what he was going to tell his father—he would apologize and beg to at least be one of his household’s servants. Almost finished with his journey home, the father notices his son returning in the distance. Not only was he not angry with his son after his hasty departure, but he didn’t hesitate to actually rejoice and throw a big party with the fattest calf as a celebration of his return. To the father, all he cared about was that his son was lost, but now he was found.

It’s easy to read this story and think, “he doesn’t deserve any of that, he ruined his own life!” But when you think about it, we all ruin our own lives in one way or another. Even on this new journey as a Christian, you will have moments where you will turn your back and attempt to go to your own distant land. We all do. But it’s in that brokenness and desperation that God reveals his faithfulness, love, and grace. This story paints a beautiful picture of God’s love for us as His children. We were all once lost, but now we are found! And no matter how far we go, there is always a celebration waiting for us when we return to Him—He always welcomes us with open arms.

Make some time to read Luke 15:11-32 and write down anything that stands out you.

No matter what age, you are a child of the one true God. That means that you get to have a loving parent-child relationship with an all-powerful, all-knowing heavenly Father.

ETERNAL CERTAINTY

Romans 10:9 says that if we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, we will be saved. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by paying off a debt that we could never afford. God’s grace is what He DID for us, and God’s mercy is what He DIDN’T do to us. This beautiful gift is ours without any strings attached. We’ve all seen the dreaded asterisk* when it comes to a deal that

sounds too good to be true— advertisements promise you the world but take it all away in the fine print.

However, with the gift of salvation, there is no fine print and there is definitely no asterisk*. Ephesians 2:9 says that salvation is not a reward for our good works, so no one can actually brag about it. But that’s good news: a gift that we didn’t earn can’t be lost because we did nothing to receive it in the first place.

This doesn’t mean that since Jesus paid the price for your sin, you might as well “get your money’s worth.” Jesus gave us this amazing gift, and we should do our best to honor Him and His sacrifice for us with the life we choose to lead. Not only that, but we’re never promised our next breath—the one we may have been planning to use to ask for forgiveness.

God doesn’t see us in our sin. He sees us through the cross and through the perfect life that Jesus lived. Eternal certainty is God maintaining us, not us maintaining ourselves. Our eternal security is based on God’s love for those whom He has redeemed. Our eternal certainty is purchased by Christ, promised by the Father, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. This renews our mind and changes our perspective.

The Bible says that Jesus is the rock of our salvation. He is the foundation on which our entire faith is built.

Never forget—even when you mess up, or when life gets inevitably crazy—that God is always with you and that one day you will see Jesus face to face. Heaven is a real place that is beyond our wildest imaginations.

Take a look around for a small rock, one with a cool shape that you’d want to keep. Place it next to your bed or on your windowsill, your desk at work, or in your car. Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day so it can always be a reminder that the rock of your salvation is with you and your future will be with Him in the most wonderful place in exsitence.

YOUR NEW FAMILY

What comes to mind when you hear the word church? Do you think of stained-glass windows, pristine buildings topped with steeples, or Gothic architecture? Or maybe you picture converted industrial warehouses or storefront churches in strip malls. Do you hear organ music, bubblegum-pop praise songs, or rock and roll? Do you smell incense or coffee or moldy carpeting? Do you see Maude Flanders from The Simpsons or the “Church

Lady” from Saturday Night Live? Our perceptions are as varied as our experiences.

A person on the street may stand and watch people go in and out of a church’s doors. He may wonder – why is church so important to them? What is at the church that they want to see?

What he doesn’t realize is that he is actually watching the Church come and go. The building isn’t the church. The people are the Church.

They come to worship, serve, connect with one another, sing, give, and pray together, and then they scatter into their community and leave the building behind.

The Church is an organism. The living Church of God has included all believers in Christ from all over the globe since the time of the Resurrection. The New Testament describes the Church as the bride of Christ, and the body of Christ, and the family of God. There are truths and principles that apply across the board to the Church organism. Every believer belongs to the body of Christ. We also call this body the universal Church. It includes Christians from every walk of life and culture, within every nation and tribe, and

of all races and ethnicities. The universal church crosses the borders of Christian religious traditions and denominations. Inclusion is based on a relationship with God through Christ, not denominational preferences, worship styles or cultures, or religious affiliations.

Today, commit to praying and asking God to help you become a more active part of the church. Maybe even write down some of the things in your life that may be keeping you from authentic community, serving, and making church a priority in your week. Then ask God to show you to better align your schedule to embrace the gift that is God’s family and church and the strength to follow where he leads you.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awecame upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

ACTS 2:42-47

WEEK 2 RECAP

You’re through Day 14 now.

Here’s some highlights of the incredible truths you’ve discovered:

Jesus went to the cross for me, and His sacrifice has set me free.

There’s a daily battle going on inside of me, but God is for me.

Baptism is vitally important to our acceptance of salvation because it identifies us with Christ.

When you choose salvation, you become a new person, not just a new version of your old self—your destiny is forever.

You’re a child of God, which means that no matter how far you stray, He will always welcome you back, just like a parent always welcomes their lost child home.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by paying off a debt that we could never afford, and that gift is given to us with no strings attached.

The New testament describes the church and the bride of Christ and the family of God. As part of the church, you have a new family.

ROMANS 10:9

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Bible tells us that there is only one true God, but that He is comprised of three parts or “persons.” This is where the word “trinity” comes from— “Tri” means three. We don’t serve three different gods but just One who is made up of three unique but inclusive parts. That may sound confusing at first; it is to most people.

Here’s what we know: The Bible tells us that there is

John 16:5-15 is a great passage on the Holy Spirit. In these verses, Jesus has just finished telling the disciples that things are going to get DAY

God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a thing, He is a person just like the Father and Son are, and He is also a helper. He is the power of God and also that “still, small voice” inside us that leads us as followers of Christ.

difficult when He leaves and that people are going to hate them. So He comforts them with words on the Holy Spirit: He tells them it’s to their advantage that He leaves because He’s going to send the Helper (the Holy Spirit part of God).

THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOWS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES.

The Holy Spirit not only knows us, but He helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). He helps us do things that we cannot do in our own strength, like resist the urge to do wrong.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US.

The Holy Spirit works through Scripture and people to change our hearts (John 14:26, Romans 8:14, and 1 Corinthians 2:6-14). When we struggle with a passage of the Bible, the Holy Spirit will teach us what it means and how it can be applied to our lives.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS THROUGH PRAYER.

The Holy Spirit will act as a representative for us through prayer (Romans 8:26). If you don’t know what to pray, ask the Holy Spirit for help. After all, He is “the Helper” who will help those who love him.

THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS JESUS’ PURPOSE FOR US.

God gives good gifts. He gave us Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins. He gave us the Holy Spirit. He also gave us instruction in the Bible for living this life (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The purpose of your life is to live for Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit inside you to know God, love others, and impact the world.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF SIN.

John 15:8-11 teaches us that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin to conform us to Jesus’

likeness. As we lean more about the Holy Spirit, our sin becomes more apparent in our lives (Galatians 5:16, 18). This allows us to turn away from sin and seek change in Jesus so that we can become more like Him.

When you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you.

Jesus calls Him the Helper for good reason (John 15:2627).

THE TRINITY IS LIKE AN EGG.

If you separate the egg into three parts, you get the shell, the yolk, and the white.

How many eggs do you have?

Still just one.

Each of its parts have specific functions, specific reasons for being there to make up one complete egg.

God is similar. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are still just one God. Obviously, this isn’t the most perfect depiction of God because He is so much more complex than an egg, but it serves as a decent metaphor to get your mind going in the right direction.

Today, spend time in prayer thanking the Holy Spirit for being your Counselor of Truth, teacher, and helper.

Let the power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit help you.

HIS WORD IS SWEET DAY 16

“One of my favorite drinks on a hot summer day is an iced green tea. I will often pour a big glass and squeeze in some honey to make the drink just right. The honey makes it especially good.

The ancient world prized honey; it was their chief sweetener. Jewish rabbis (teachers) would sometimes take honey and put it on the fingers of their students so they could taste it and be reminded that God’s words are magnificent and attractive, like honey. Here’s what one psalmist declared in Psalm 119:103, ‘How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.’

The psalmist’s word for sweet means literally ‘to be smooth and pleasant.’ God’s Word is more smooth and pleasant than honey!

Is that how the Bible strikes you? It is like exquisite honey on

your lips? Or has reading the Bible felt more like eating Brussels sprouts?

I remember growing up in south Texas, where BBQ, baseball, and the Bible were the BIG B’s and what most people cared about. And like a good Texan I jumped on board with the BBQ and Baseball, but the Bible always seemed hard to understand. Tie that to the fact I was the son of a preacher, and I felt a unique pressure to understand the Scriptures, but it seemed like a jumbled collection of stories without any coherent order. I struggled to grasp how people could read the Bible daily and find something new each time.

Fast-forward to when, after a broken marriage and ongoing battles with pride, addictions, and uncertainty, I surrendered my life to Christ at the age of 27. One of the first things I started doing was going to a small group, and it helped me realize that I wasn’t the only one who struggled with failure and uncertainty, and that the Bible was more of a grand love story than a collection of disconnected tales. You may say that I started to discover sweetness inside its pages.

During some of the lowest and confusing moments in my life after that, I sought solace in the Bible and stumbled upon these comforting words: ‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.’ Titus 2:11–15 (ESV)

This passage served as a constant reminder that God’s grace is offered to all people including me, and He is training and helping me navigate this life as I wait for the day, I get to see Him face to face. Also, I am encouraged by knowing God has a plan for me and wants to use me to make a difference in this world. (Want to hear some good news? These words apply to you as well!)

Through the ups and downs, struggles, and triumphs, the Bible has become my guide and refuge. Despite the initial confusion, it now holds a special place in my heart. I continue to explore its depths, finding new revelations and inspiration with each encounter. My journey with the Bible reflects my faith journey—a path filled with love, grace, hope, and the assurance that God is always by my side, guiding me every step of the way.”

MARK JENKINS SPIRITUAL FORMATION PASTOR

The Bible tells us a lot of stories about people—people that did both awesome and not-so-awesome things in their lifetimes. Each of these stories help us to learn what God wants so that our life can be filled with the good and sweet things He desires for us.

Make time to pray and ask God to make the word sweet to you.

Here are some well-known people from the Bible and what you can learn from their lives.

THE SWEET

DAVID MOSES ABRAHAM

NOAH RAHAB

HEART FOR GOD

FREED GOD’S PEOPLE

GREAT FAITH

BUILT THE ARK

RESCUED GOD’S SERVANTS

THE SOUR ADULTERER/ MURDERER KILLED A MAN IN ANGER

STOPPED WAITING ON GOD

GOT DRUNK WAS A PROSTITUE

DAY 17

HOW DO I USE THE BIBLE?

The Bible is the most amazing book ever written. It’s a road map for your life, a guide to what’s good and bad for you, and most importantly, the way that we grow closer to God. The Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and that means every verse is His voice.

Without the Bible, there would be no Christian faith. We would all be wandering aimlessly in the dark, oblivious to what God desires for us.

It can be intimidating at first, but as you learn God’s Word, you will notice your mind, your heart, and your life will begin to transform into what God wants you to become.

Think of yourself as a caterpillar in a cocoon, and the Bible is the transforming force that will help you grow into an awesome butterfly!

Here are some facts about the Bible you may not know. The Bible is one book composed of 66 smaller “books”

by different authors, all divinely inspired by God.

These books have been organized and numbered so that we can find passages more easily. That’s why the chapter and verse numbers are there. (For example John 3:16 is the book of John, Chapter 3, verse 16.)

It takes time to learn how to look things up in the Bible, but with technology it’s way easier than it once was. There are lots of Bible sites and apps you can use for free to help you jump right to the book you’re looking for.

The Bible is divided into two major parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament tells us about the time before Jesus was born as a baby to Mary & Joseph, as well as sets the framework for the promise of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to come. It even

tells us about things that will happen in our lifetime and in the future.

There are a lot of ways to learn what the Bible says. Study guides, reading from cover to cover, randomly picking chapters or books, and lots of variations are all great ways to do it.

Unlike most books, you don’t have to read it from cover to cover. In fact, the way the books are ordered isn’t even chronological. Genesis to Revelation happens all out of order, so it’s okay if you jump around. Many people like to start with the New Testament to learn about the life of Jesus and the early Church.

In both the Old and New Testament you will see everything from stories to parables, to warnings, to promises, and many other lessons for your life. The main thing to remember is that God provided His Word to you so that you can grow spiritually

and get to know Him more.

The Bible is life-giving and your very best resource to find out what the heart of God is all about.

Remember, the Bible is God’s Word and the best way to approach it is as a life-giving guide to knowing God more.

Let’s try out some different ways that you can find things in the Bible (find a way to read the Bible that works for you lifestyle and season of life…there is no perfect way, only good ways that work for you!)

LOOK IN THE BOOK

Many Bibles have a helpful list of popular verses or subjects. See if your Bible has a glossary in the back that will guide you to specific passages. Pick a subject or verse and look it up.

BUY A STUDY BIBLE

If you haven’t already…invest in a good study Bible. You can buy these online (Amazon is great.) We recommend ether an ESV, NIV, or NLT study Bible, but if you don’t understand a certain translation find one that you do! Then bring it with you each week to church!

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Several free Bible apps and Internet sites are available and are great for searching for specific key words. Search the app market on your device for the Bible App (free), Blue Letter Bible (free) or BibleGateway (Free) and read the Bible in the palm of your hand! You can also easily do lots of other cool stuff like find reading plans and devotionals in some of these all geared to help you understand and live out the Bible more! The task today is to download the Bible App and search for a plan to start.

DAY 18

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Did you notice from the passage in Acts 2 that the early Church gathered in order to praise God and to pray?

These gatherings often included the Communion experience, or “breaking bread together,” as part of their worship. The Church specifically gathered to turn its attention to God.

Of course, it’s possible to worship alone, and we should each find person-

al time alone with God, but worship is also meant to be a shared experience in God’s family.

In a worship gathering, you are not the audience, God is. You gather with the Church to honor Him and express your love. This sort of corporate worship is done primarily through praying, singing songs of praise, reading Scripture, and hearing a Scriptural message together in a community and led by a designated person.

COMMUNION & GENEROSITY

Communion is a part of this worship, too. Jesus initiated this experience at His last Passover meal with His disciples. He explained that the cup of wine represented His blood and the bread represented His body. In this way, He was asking His disciples to always remember the sacrifice He made for them (and all of us).

Christ died for us, and so by regularly celebrating Communion—sometimes called the Lord’s Supper – we are working at never forgetting Jesus’ work on the cross.

Giving is also a part of the worship experience. The early Church gave a percentage of their resources to benefit the community in general and especially to help others. They offered their tithes (‘tithe’ means ‘ten percent’) and offerings to God with a joyful heart. Giving is an act of worship because it acknowledges that God is the original Giver and that all of our gifts come from Him. Giving back to God also submits to His authority how our gifts are used. God doesn’t need our money, but He does want our faithfulness.

As you can see, worship is a major theme of Christianity and a pattern throughout the Bible even though it shows up in so many different ways.

Worship is our response to who God is. On the next page are a few ways we can worship God and express thanks for who He is.

Think about an activity you could do that would make you feel closer to God. Here are some examples, but think of your own, too.

Take a quiet drive with no music, noise, or other distractions. Talk to God openly and honestly about your life.

Blare some worship music and really tunein to what the lyrics are saying. Can you relate to any of the ideas?

Venture out into nature and sit in peace. Read John 15 and ask God to reveal Himself to you.

Take some time and ask God in prayer, what ways can you worship him through the generosity of your time, talents, and resources moving forward?

SERVING OTHERS

One of the coolest things about the God we serve is that He chose to serve us well.

Jesus Christ came to earth to minister to (serve the needs of) everyone. He came to heal people from sickness and disease, to change society, to spread the message of God’s grace and forgiveness and to teach us about how we should live and treat other people.

DAY 1

DAY 19

There are numerous examples of how Jesus chose to serve people in His circle of influence. Some He knew well, and others were complete strangers. In one famous Bible story, He even chose to wash the dirty, smelly feet of His followers as an example that we should humble ourselves to help meet even the lowliest of needs for people in our life.

JOHN 13:1-14

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. The evening meal was in progress, and Satan had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that, but He also knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. So He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not

realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” (He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said ‘not everyone’ was clean.)

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand

what I have done for you?”

He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

This doesn’t mean that you should let people take advantage of you or walk on you like a doormat. But it does mean that you should have a humble attitude towards your fellow man and do what you can—when you can—to reflect the same serving nature that God showed us.

The most awesome example of how Jesus served others was when He gave His own life for our sins.

SHOULDERING A NEW MISSION

God has a unique plan for you. You have a new life mission, whether you realize it or not. Your life will be affected by the activity of the Holy Spirit, who will also aid in bringing you closer to God. As a result, you will desire to tell other people in your life about the wonderful news of God’s love.

Our vision at Flatirons is to Bring the awesome life of

Christ to a people in a lost and broken world.

This vision is focused on the three areas that Jesus exemplified when he was on Earth. These three things—Knowing God, Loving Others, and Impacting the world—are what we think everyone should be doing.

Tie that to the fact that, Jesus gave all of His followers a great command in Mat-

thew 22:36-39. One day a man asked Him: “‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’ Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

He also gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.

“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.’”

You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to love people into heaven and make an impact. Just do your best to grow or know God better and live a life that is pleasing to God, where you show kindness, grace, and forgiveness to people in your life. Your actions are often the greatest evidence of the change that has happened inside of you and the thing that will cause others to want to know Him, too.

God wants us to make an impact in our world and share the message of His love, forgiveness, and grace with the people in our lives

Many times, the best way to do that is just by living a life that reflects how God has changed you. Forgiving others, being kind, generous, and a great friend. God will often open up moments of opportunity for you to tell others about Him. When

you have invested in relationships with others, these “divine appointments” will occur.

You probably know people in your life that need to know the Good News of

God’s love. Write the names of these people in below. You won’t know the date or time, but you can set aside a moment to pray for them and simply share how much God loves them when He provides the opening.

NAME 1

NAME 2

NAME 3

FINAL THOUGHT

A popular Latin saying goes, “Perseverantia vincit.” Translated it means “perseverance wins.”

I hope these last 21 days have been eye-opening for you, and that it’s got you thinking about making more time for God in your daily life. But you know what? Good intentions alone won’t cut it. We need to put some real action into this by creating a plan to keep it going or persevere when life gets hard or busy, because this is just the start to a lifelong journey to know God better.

Now, speaking of plans I know that one plan might not fit your style perfectly, but that’s totally fine! The main thing I want to encourage you to do is to come up with your own goals and a plan that works for you. Keep it simple, nothing too overwhelming. The key is to make it achievable and something you can stick to without it becoming a chore. Basically, we want you to create a plan that daily helps bring you closer to our loving Heavenly Father.

Because as you dig into His Word and choose to make worship and time with him a priority, you’ll find it really enriches your life. The Holy Spirit will be working in you, helping you grow stronger in your faith. And as you pour your heart out to God in prayer, you’ll experience His presence filling every corner of your mind and soul. It’s an amazing thing that’ll prepare you to take on whatever life throws your way.

I want to help you get started, so on the next few pages you will see a basic outline for your plan. You can take this and add your own touches to it or create your own. And don’t worry if you’re not sure about everything right now; plans can always be tweaked as we go along. Remember, this is your plan, and you can make it fit your life just right. It doesn’t have to be perfect from the get-go. The important thing is to get started and keep going (persevere). And hey, your Flatirons staff and family would love to chat and bounce ideas off each other as we journey together in this spiritual adventure…so never be afraid to reach out!

HERE ARE SIX PLAN CATEGORIES WITH SOME POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS:

BIBLE

The best thing to do is just start. Just try something out and see if it works. I recommend the book of John as a starting place or download the Bible App on your phone and find a devotional series to start. Think about what time of the day would work best for you. Many people prefer the morning since you start your day orienting your mind towards God. Others are not morning people, so a lunch time or evening works better. Don’t read so much that you get saturated. You want to be able to think and meditate about what you read during the day.

PRAYER

You want to have a time to pray every day. It is OK to have some prayer that is organized and scheduled. For example, I have different prayer journals for each day of the week that help me pray. In addition, you want unscripted time to talk with God and enjoy His presence. The Holy Spirit will guide you. An extended time of silence, just being quiet before God, also helps to slow us down and quiet our souls. You also want to develop the habit of praying throughout the day, as a way of living.

WORSHIP & THANKSGIVING

Worship and thanksgiving are crucial to our relationship with Jesus because they express our deep reverence and adoration for Him as our Savior and Lord. Through worship, we acknowledge His divinity, sovereignty, and love, fostering a profound spiritual connection with Him. Additionally, thanksgiving allows us to cultivate a heart of gratitude, recognizing the countless blessings and grace He bestows upon us, leading to a more intimate and transformative relationship with Jesus. Carve out time to listen to worship music and find ways to express thanksgiving to God and others daily. Is attending church on the weekend a priority?

COMMUNITY

What changes in your life can you make in order to live in intentional community? This can be as simple as opening up your home and inviting people for a meal. It can mean joining a small Group or going to the men’s or women’s retreat. There are many opportunities, both inside and outside Flatirons, and you need to be sensitive to work and family. But, as a follower of Jesus, you benefit from living in community with other believers. You grow more as a Christian and live a more balanced spiritual life.

SHARE

What steps can you take to bring Jesus’ grace and truth to your family, neighborhood, friends, and work? Do you seek to love and serve your neighbors and stop and talk when they are outside? Are you praying for the people in your neighborhood and work? Whatever you do, don’t be weird or force the conversation to be about Jesus. Just love people. Serve them and treat them like Jesus treated people. Who knows? Someday the door might open for you to talk to them about Jesus or invite them to Flatirons. Even if that never happens, we are still called to love and serve people.

SERVICE & GENEROSITY

Start this category with prayer. Ask God to show you where he wants you to serve other people, especially the most vulnerable. How can you embrace a lifestyle of generosity? Ask Him to give you desires. He will hear you and direct your path. For ideas, go to the Flatirons website and click the “Get Involved” or “Give” tab. Then look around to see where you can get involved.

NOW GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND PRAYERFULLY MAKE A PLAN.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH PLAN

(Tear this page out and keep it where you can see it daily)

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

2 PETER 3:18

BIBLE PRAYER

WORSHIP & THANKSGIVING

COMMUNITY

SHARE

SERVICE & GENEROSITY

INCREDIBLE!

You’ve just completed a 21-day journey gaining valuable insights from the Bible. We trust this journal has deepened your self-awareness and provided a clear vision of the foundational principles of being a follower of Jesus. Your journey doesn’t end here; it’s just the beginning! Remember, your past doesn’t define you; but what matters is what you do From Now On!

Dive into your Spiritual Growth Plan and fully embrace your new life in Christ.

Here are the big things we explored this past week:

The Trinity is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—all are separate beings but also one at the same time. God’s Word is SWEET and we can use it as a guide and help manual for life.

The Bible is life-giving and a great way to find out what the heart of God is like.

Worship is a major theme throughout the Bible and it means living for God in all areas of my life.

God wants me to serve others because Jesus came to serve us.

Jesus gave us The Great Commission, which is to go and make disciples of all nations. Go and share what you’ve learned!

First step is a great way to continue your growth in Jesus and build relationships through Groups.

We hope this journal has helped in your journey to know God and walk with him your life.

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

If we can help you at all with questions or just to let us know you completed this journal. We would love to hear from you!

https://www.flatironschurch.com/contact-us/ or scan the QR code below.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

ROMANS 12:2

SPECIAL THANKS!

We would like to say a special thank you to Pastor Larry Davis at Northgate church for providing the foundation and a lot of the core work to this awesome journal. It’s great to have partners in the Kingdom of God to see the good news of Jesus shared everywhere.