Friday, September 3, 2010

 

Welcome to Asbury’s Study Tools Page! By using the links, resources and ideas on this webpage, we pray you will be encouraged in your relationship with the Lord and grow stronger in your faith!

How to Become a Follower of Christ
All of us are in need of a Savior! Jesus Christ has provided the way and means whereby we can come into the presence of God. The Lord Jesus is the perfect Son of God—He is without sin and blameless in every way. Therefore, through His sacrificial death and His resurrection, those who receive by faith His sufferings for their sins, men and women CAN be born again into the new life God desires for them!

If YOU have not yet received the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please take time right now to pray this simple prayer and ask Him to come and cleanse you from all your sins and failures. You can become a new person TODAY!

Lord Jesus,

I know that You love me and died for me.

I ask You to forgive me of my sins and failures.

I ask You to come live Your life in me.

Thank You for forgiving me and for saving me.

Amen.

The Infilling of the Spirit

As Methodists, as spiritual descendents of John Wesley and most of all, as believers in Christ and the Scriptures, we believe in the distinct work of the Holy Spirit known as “the Infilling of the Spirit” (sometimes called “the Second Baptism” or “the Second Blessing). We believe God truly wants you to experience the Abundant Life He has promised! We are assured that the Lord wants us filled NOT with the things of the world but with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). At Asbury Church, we also believe that what is MOST important in this matter is not the manifestation of any particular Spiritual Gift, but rather the presence and fruit of the Spirit in a believer’s life. Therefore, we encourage all believers to ask the Lord for His Holy Spirit to fill them entirely. We pray the power that raised Jesus from the dead will fill YOUR body and life completely (Romans 8:11)!

Lord Jesus,

I love You with my whole heart and want you to fill me with Your Spirit.

I confess my sins to You and know that You died on the cross to save me.

Thank You for loving me so much that you have withheld nothing from me, not even Your Holy Spirit!

Please come and fill me now, completely and totally.

Let me live the rest of my life in Your Spirit’s power, presence and fullness.

Amen.

If you would like to speak with someone individually about becoming a follower of Christ or a Spirit-filled believer, please call our Asbury Church Office Complex at 316-942-1491 and we would be more than happy to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with you!

Living as a Follower of Christ

The Bible tells us that those who are followers of Christ are expected to grow—to mature, develop and become strong—in all areas of their lives and relationship with Him:

  • • In their understanding of the Scriptures
  • • In their relationships in and outside of the church
  • • In how they handle their finances
  • • In the use of their time and talents
  • • In how they view current and world events

As you can see, being a follower of Jesus is MEANT to transform your life!

The Faith Development Ministry of Asbury Church is here to help you do just that. We encourage you to not only be an active member of a LifeGroup and/or a Sunday Morning Class, but to also serve in a meaningful area of ministry.

Even more, we know that maturity in Christ also comes as you strengthen your own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus through a daily Quiet Time/Devotional Time.

How to Have a Daily Quiet Time

  • • Set a specific time of day, preferably in the morning
  • • Set a specific place, one that is easily accessible and where you have the least chance of being interrupted
  • • Set aside specific resources: a Bible, a Notebook, Devotional Books, Music (optional) and a Journal
  • • Set aside a specific plan:

–1-5 minutes to relax and come into the presence of God

–4-15 minutes to read the Bible (see optional Reading Plans for more information)

–4-10 minutes to reflect and meditate on what you have read

–2-15 minutes to record what understanding and revelation has come to you

–4-15 minutes to request your needs before the Lord

For more information on how to have a Quiet Time, we encourage you to participate in the Core Class that is offered throughout the year at all campuses.

How to Study the Bible for Yourself

Remember S-P-A-C-E-P-E-T-S! This is an acronym to help you study God’s Word! As you read a passage, ask yourself if there is any:

  • Sin to confess?
  • Promise to claim?
  • Attitude to change?
  • Command to keep?
  • Example to follow?
  • Prayer to pray?
  • Error to avoid?
  • Truth to believe?
  • Something to give thanks for?

There are also three questions to ask for applying what you read each day:

  1. 1. What did this mean to the original hearers?
  2. 2. What is the underlying, timeless principle?
  3. 3. Where or how could I practice this today (or this week)?

As you study the Scriptures, there will be times when what you read may not seem to make sense, or sound strange to you as a person living in the 21st century. It is important to note these confusing passages and ask the Lord for understanding and insight, then keep at it! You will be amazed at what the Lord teaches you over time.

Also, don’t be afraid to do your “due diligence!” The Lord is pleased when we search out truth. Below are some websites that you can access that can help you gain deeper understanding of the Scriptures, Bible times, geography of the area etc. So dig in!

www.biblos.com

www.bible.org

www.executableoutlines.org

www.biblestudy.crosswalk.com

www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies www.wesley.nnu.edu/index.html

www.lamar.colostate.edu/~grjan/wesley_theology.html

www.new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/arminian

Study with the Asbury Sermon Series

Asbury Church is blessed by the preaching ministry God has given us. Each week, all our campuses hear a relevant message based on the Word of God with practical application for everyone. Our campus pastors and those on the preaching staff seek the Lord’s leading in forming each series to insure we declare the whole counsel of God while seeking to reach those who need Him.

Sunday sermons from all four campuses are recorded and posted on our website. Click this link to hear more. Study questions for each week’s messages are available for personal or group use. Using these questions are another way to develop your understanding of God’s Word and will give you opportunities to explore His message to you!

Asbury Resource Centers

Asbury Church has two Resource Centers—at the Central Campus and at the Linwood Campus. Both are packed with great books you can check out, videos, Computer/Internet access and more!

Some of the latest Reference Volumes we have purchased are available for you to borrow:

Wesley Study Bible

Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods

The Chronological Study Bible

Strong’s Concordance

Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary

HarperCollins Bible Dictionary

Each Resource Center also has special selections highlighted which are supplemental to the current Sermon Series.