But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." NKJV

You would think that with such an important job there would be a simple and concise method of making disciples.

But people are so different. Therefore what works with one might not work with another. But as with many things there may be different methods yet the end product is the same. One man might have very expensive and complimented equipment to pick the corn in his field. Another man in another county someone might have a simple two row picker that pulls behind a tractor or he might have to pick the corn by hand. The end product is the same. In many cases there is not a wrong and a right way. Do you remember those years when you took that big combine into the harvest field only to get it stuck in the mud.

It makes no difference the method we use as long as we produce the same product.

This morning I want to show you one way to make disciples. The principles you see here this morning are the basic principles that everyone must use to make disciple. The method of presentation is adaptable as long as you cover the same points and try to skip any steps.

In the book "You Have a Ministry" at the end of the book, there is a simple plan to make disciples. That is what we want to use for our material today.

1. How can I have a relationship with God?
   1. I must believe that God loves me and created me to have a personal relationship with Him.
   2. He created me.
      1. Ps 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. NKJV
   3. He love me.
      1. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
   4. He wants me to know Him.
      1. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJV
   5. He wants me to have an abundant life.
      1. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV
2. If that is the case, then why don't many people have a personal relationship with God?
   1. Because sin separates man from God.
   2. All of us are sinners.
      1. Rom 3:22 For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NKJV
   3. When we sin, we are cut off from God.
      1. Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. NKJV
   4. Sin is not doing what we know we should do.
      1. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. NKJV
3. How can I fix this separation between God and me?
   1. Jesus Christ is the only bridge there is between God and me.
   2. Jesus is the only way.
      1. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
      2. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV
   3. He had to die to make the way.
      1. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, NKJV
   4. He died for us.
      1. Rom 5: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NKJV
   5. He proved He was the way by coming back to life.
      1. 1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. NKJV
4. How do I cross the bridge?
   1. I must personally trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
   2. I must trust Jesus.
      1. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV
   3. I must become willing to turn away from my sin and turn to God.
      1. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, NKJV
   4. I must receive Christ through faith.
      1. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV
      2. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: NKJV
      3. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me NKJV
5. How do I receive Jesus?
   1. The Bible tells me I must become willing to:
   2. Turn to God, and away from my old way of living
      1. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, NKJV
      2. Rom 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." NKJV
   3. Ask Christ to come into my life.
      1. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me NKJV
   4. Trust God to forgive my sins.
      1. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them,"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NKJV
      2. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. NKJV
   5. Be willing to let God direct my life.
      1. John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
      2. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. NKJV
6. I am willing - now what?
   1. I need to pray.
   2. Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and separated from You. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me. Please forgive my sins. I ask that Jesus come into my life to help me change my old habits and to live my life for You. I thank You for giving me eternal life. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Crist. Amen
7. Now What?
   1. I am a child of God.
      1. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." NKJV
   2. He will never leave me.
      1. Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." NKJV
   3. All my sins are forgiven forever.
      1. Col 2: 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV
   4. I will be with Him forever.
      1. 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. NKJV
   5. The Holy Spirit lives in me and helps me.
      1. Gal 5:25 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. NKJV
   6. I am to continue to grow strong and vigorous.
      1. Col 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. NKJV
8. How secure is this new relationship?
   1. The Bible tells me it is forever!
   2. Nothing can separate me from the love of God.
      1. Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV
   3. No one can cause me to lose this relationship.
      1. Isa 43:13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; NKJV
      2. John 10: 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. NKJV
   4. There is nowhere I can go to get away from God
      1. Ps 139:1O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. NKJV
   5. No one will snatch me out of God's hand.
      1. John 10: 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. NKJV

We have had to hurry through this message today but you have the essentials. There are other ways to present the gospel. This is only one. it does not make a difference which one that you use, just as long as you use one.

 This message was preached at FBC Toulon,

by Albert Harmon. See it at http://toulonbaptist.com/