Nurturing New Believers [Audio and Video]

Learn about nurturing new believers! This message, delivered via Skype in Hyderabad, India on Oct. 25, 2017, deals with one of the most important areas for building the church and making disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ. New believers need love, care and a proper diet in the Word of God. Take time to watch or listen and study the notes. This lesson will bless you and help you to help others to know and walk with the Lord. Notes: Nurturing New Believers Click here to download the Nurturing New Believers Notes (PDF) The purpose of this lesson is to help God’s people to cooperate with God’s plan for nurturing new believers in the church. GOD COMPARES THE CHURCH TO A NURSING MOTHER Isaiah 66:10-13 Amplified Bible (AMP) 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her, 11 That you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breasts, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance and brightness of her glory. 12 For thus says the Lord: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; then you will be nursed, you will be carried on her hip and trotted [lovingly bounced up and down] on her [God’s maternal] knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Jerusalem—a type of the church, a nursing mother. New believers need nourishment from their mother (the church), and affectionate love and care. THE NEEDS OF A NEWBORN CHILD A documentary on hungry children in Africa stated that the first couple of years are the most critical to a child’s development. They need proper nourishment during that time or they will have problems throughout their lives. Because of this it will become very difficult for them to become productive members of society. So this becomes one of the most critical issues in bringing hope for the future for Africa. They need: 1. PROPER FOOD—macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients. Macro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, calories, etc.) are by far the most important, but Micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, etc.) are also important. 2. LOVE AND CARE—The African children that lacked personal attention, love, care and concern were warped emotionally. Likewise, if the spiritual children that are born again in our churches lack vital nutrients and loving care in the beginning days of their walk with God, their growth will be stunted and they will become warped emotionally. It is extremely important that we provide for their needs in the beginning days of their walk with God. Being a nursing mother is not an easy task. It can be demanding, physically and emotionally. New babies and new believers are hungry, demanding, selfish, fussy, sensitive, easily hurt, envious, jealous, and sometimes bite. It can be frustrating and it requires patience. You’ve got to keep loving them, giving them milk, feeding them on the basics until they can grow and begin to feed on the Word themselves. New believers grow through milk. 1 Peter 2:2 Milk is pre-digested food. It’s our job to eat a good diet ourselves so that we can produce adequate milk for the new babies in the church. One of the biggest things is that we need to be an example for new believers and model before them how to live the Christian life. Somethings are more is caught than taught. Paul said, “What you see in me do…” Philippians 4:9 Follow me as I follow Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Tips for caring for new believers and following up on visitors to our churches… We should have a genuine care for them, but also let them breathe. We should give them the basics of the faith. We should progressively teach them how to find answers in t...