New

Friends
New Friends
A course to introduce the Christian faith

A MULTIPLY Lets
n

talk booklet for

io

those wanting to
it
Ed

experience living
d

Christianity
on
ec
S
New Friends
A course to introduce the Christian faith
Second Edition

Seven friendly sessions helping

you to experience the life-changing
love and power of Jesus Christ

A MULTIPLY Lets Talk book

for those wanting to experience living Christianity
 New Friends is designed both for those enquiring into
the Christian faith and for new believers and Christians
seeking assurance and commitment.

All New Friends sessions include a light meal, followed

by the session topic, table discussion and prayer and
ending with drinks and biscuits.

There is a series of short f ilms available on DVD which

may be shown as part of each New Friends session.

Administrative Guidelines are available to help those

planning and running New Friends. They cover the
responsibilities of the working groups required, and of
the key staff running each session.

The Guidelines also give a week by week format for

New Friends, from Session One to the celebration at
the end of New Friends.

ISBN: 978 1 990878 20 6

New Friends second edition 2009 Jesus Fellowship Church. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced,
copied or transmitted in any form without written permission. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Whea-
ton, Illinois 60189, United States of America. All right reserved. Published by Multiply Publications, Jesus
Fellowship Central Offices, Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB
Contents
Page
Foreword ................................................................................................. 2

New Friends sessions

Session 1 This is Jesus (opening party) ................................................... 3

Session 2 Friend of sinners . .................................................................. 5

Session 3 New birth for me .................................................................. 7

Session 4 Here is water ........................................................................ 9

Session 5 Welcome Holy Spirit! ............................................................ 11

Session 6 The Church is us . ................................................................ 13

Session 7 Im saying Yes! .................................................................. 15

The next steps

Grow stronger . ................................................................................... 17

Church membership ............................................................................ 18

Be a witness ....................................................................................... 19

Further helpful information

Celebrating new friends . ...................................................................... 20

Water baptism in the Jesus Fellowship..................................................... 21

Please sign your name here to claim this book

..........................................................................................

New Friends 
 Foreword
New Friends is an opportunity for anyone to explore the
Christian faith in a relaxed setting over seven thought-
provoking weekly sessions. Many of us have questions
about life, its purpose and its meaning. New Friends
provides an opportunity to voice some of these deeper
searching questions in a relaxed atmosphere.

The format is an enjoyable, relaxed meal followed by a talk

and then discussion around the table. It is an opportunity
to find out what Christians believe. Hear, first-hand, other
peoples real experience of Jesus. It helps to make Christi-
anity relevant and can help us become real Christians.

There is a spiritual dimension to life which we can start

to understand as we begin to believe in Jesus Christ. We
can feel his love and power change us and heal us. Its like
a new start in life.

New Friends is for everyone, whether a Christian believer

or not. Its friendly and completely non-threatening. It will
help many of us find answers in our search, light in our
darkness and friends in our loneliness. The friendships we
make at New Friends will often become deep and last
long after the course has finished.

Youll enjoy this booklet and youll enjoy New Friends.

Mick Haines
Jesus Fellowship

 New Friends
This is Jesus

1
Session One

Jesus is the most alive man in the

universe - and hes still gathering
people: people who need no
qualifications except that they want
to be with him and follow him.

Table discussion
: Jesus is very famous, but a lot of people arent really
sure why. For some he is just a picture on a stained glass
window or a Christmas card.
What do you believe about Jesus?

: More was written about Jesus than any other person

who lived in those times even kings. The part of the Bible
called the New Testament contains what some of the
first Christians wrote about Jesus. They describe Jesus as a
real man who got tired, got angry, loved, wept, had a sense
of humour and so on. But they also say that he was Gods
Son God in human form, who lived a perfect life.
What do you think of this? TESTIMONY
I was desperate. I typed
: It has been said that Jesus must have been mad, bad,
or God, because anyone who claimed to be God like Jesus into Google What must I
did must either be crazy, lying or telling the truth. do to be saved? and got to
Which of these three do you think makes the most a website that gave me a
sense about Jesus? prayer. I clicked on prayed
it and the screen told me
: Christians believe that Jesus is not just someone who angels were rejoicing. I
lived a long time ago. They believe that he rose from the started to cry. God healed
dead, and that he is alive now in heaven.They look forward me on the inside. He wants
to the day when he will return to rule with perfect love. And
to be found. He found me
until that happens, Christians aim, with his help, to live the
now I want to help many
life of love as they follow him.
others to f ind him.
Do you long for a better world?Would you like to follow
Jesus and join him in living for his way of love? Jon
New Friends 
 Going deeper...
God created the whole Father.
world in love and joy. Churches are groups of
The world has fallen away those who trust in and follow
from God because human Jesus. They should express
beings rejected God. Gods love by joining together
God loves the world so in love and justice.
much that he gave Jesus, his God gives us a new life: fully
Son, to rescue us. alive in spirit, mind and body,
F R O M G o d f o r g i v e s u s a n d God brings healing to us,
THE BIBLE removes the guilt and shame spiritually and physically.
of our sin through Jesus. Though our bodies still
Ever since the world was
Jesus died to take on himself die, we will live on spiritually
created, people have seen
the weight of the evil that was with Jesus in heaven, until
the earth and sky. Through
crushing us. the final resurrection when
everything God made, they
can clearly see his invis- God loves us, his Son gives we will get new, transformed
ible qualities his eternal himself for us, and his Spirit bodies.
power and divine nature. comes to live in us as we trust God will make the whole
Romans 1:20 in Jesus. We become Gods world new and perfect and we
No one has ever seen God. children and know him as our will live with him for ever.
But the one and only Son,
who is himself God, is near
to the Fathers heart. he
has revealed God to us.
John 1:18
MY PRAYER
(Jesus said) I am the light
GOD, youve shown yourself in your Son, Jesus. Please
of the world. If you follow
answer my questions, meet my needs, and save and heal
me, you wont have to
me. I need your help to know you and trust you.
walk in darkness, because
you will have the light that
leads to life.
John 8:12

 New Friends
 2
Friend of Sinners Session Two

An amazing opportunity has opened up

before us. Jesus has bridged the gulf
between us and God, and us and each
other. Theres a new life, a new start.

Table discussion
: Jesus came to restore broken relationships to mend
friendships.
How important is friendship to you?

: The heart of the human problem is the problem of the

human heart we are affected by sin, the selfishness which
shows in our attitudes, thoughts, words and actions and
which takes us far away from God and from each other.
Why are human beings so easily selfish? Is there any-
thing we can do about sin or do we need Gods help?

: The cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith.

What does the cross mean to you? Would you wear
a cross? Why or why not? TESTIMONY
: Jesus death on the cross has overcome sin. his death takes I struggled with love. When
away sins pollution (guilt and dirt inside us), sins power people said I love you, I
(deep-rooted habits of selfishness), sins penalty (death and couldnt accept it. But God
hell, the punishment we deserve for sin) and bridges the has shown me that love
separation between us and God. stands by what it believes
Is it just morbid and depressing to concentrate on in, even when feelings
Jesus death or is there a reason? arent there.
Ive found I can let go of
: Jesus resurrection both proves that his death saves and
guilt Ive held for years. I can
breaks through into a new life beyond deaths reach we
ask for peoples forgiveness
can follow Jesus into this new life.
and start to love myself.
Are you ready to accept the forgiveness, friendship,
family, and new life that Jesus is offering you? Art
New Friends 
 Going deeper...
God created the human into the human race as Jesus
race to know him to love and Christ who lived a sinless
worship him. life, but was the friend of
An angel, created good, sinners.
t u r n e d away f r o m G o d , Jesus shows what a human
becoming evil the Bible calls life can be like when it is not
this angel Satan which means ruined by sin.
enemy or accuser. Jesus died on the cross in our
Satan has deceived the place, taking our sin, releasing
human race into turning away us from its punishment, freeing
from God into the rebellion us from Satans rebellion and
and selfishness which the Bible from sins guilt and power.
calls sin. Jesus rose from the dead
Because of sin, the entire to be our living Lord, Saviour
human race (including us) and representative at Gods
has lost its friendship with throne.
God, though we still have a The Bible calls Jesus a new
conscience through which we Adam. Adam was the name
sense what is right and wrong. of the very first man and now
We are born trapped in a Jesus leads a new, saved human
selfish nature and we all sin race.
and die because of it. Gods Spirit causes us to see
F R O M God still loves human the truth concerning Jesus and
THE BIBLE beings and has made a way to believe in him.
for us to be saved from sin and As we believe and ask Jesus
Christ Jesus came into the Satan even though none of us to save us, God declares us not
world to save sinners.
deserve it. guilty and we receive a sense
1Timothy 1:15
The Son of God was born of being forgiven and saved.
God paid a ransom to save
you from the empty life you
inherited from your ances-
tors. And the ransom he
paid was not mere gold or
MY PRAYER
silver. It was the precious
blood of Christ, the sinless, LORD JESUS, you have died for me, given yourself in my
spotless Lamb of God. place to save me from my sin. I now give myself to you and
1 Peter 1:18-19 receive you as my friend, Saviour and Lord. Forgive me and
Believe in the Lord Jesus save me. Thank you, Lord.
and you will be saved. Prayer cards, with a prayer you can pray on your own
Acts 16:31 or with someone else, are available on request.

 New Friends
 3
New Birth for Me
Session Three

When were born again, the spirit

inside us the unseen part, deep
inside us, that loves and longs and
feels comes fully alive.

Table discussion
: Peoples first experiences of God are often different for
different people. Some say they have a deep sense of their
need for forgiveness; others sense his love or peace; still others
see a vision or have a powerful dream and so on.
Have you ever experienced God? If so what was it like,
how did it happen?

: Jesus said that we need to be born from above, born again,

spiritually. This happens when we are re-united with God by
receiving the forgiveness available because of Jesus.
Why do we need to believe in Jesus and be forgiven in
order to be born again? Have you been born again?

: Being born again is not only about feelings. It is based

on: Gods word (the Bible and more important still, Jesus
himself faith trusts in what God has said through Jesus as
written down in the Bible); Jesus work (dying on the cross
and rising from the dead) and the Spirits witness (Gods
Spirit enables us to experience now the life-changing power TESTIMONY
of what Jesus has done). These are like the three legs of a
stool with less than all three your faith will be wobbly! One night I heard Jesus
God loved the people of this world so much that he speaking to me for the first
gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in time, telling me to read
him will have eternal life and never really die (John a verse from the Psalms
3:16). Are you able to accept this promise? which really spoke to me.

This brought home to me
: There are four basic stages on the journey into full
that God cared about me. It
Christian faith and new birth: repent (turn away from selfish
stripped away my cockiness
sin); believe (turn towards God in faith); be baptised in water
(more on this in session 4); receive the Spirit (more on this and I began trusting
in session 5). Jesus.
Where are you in this process? Donna
New Friends 
 F R O M
THE BIBLE
I tell you the truth, unless
you are born again, you
cannot see the kingdom
of God.
John 3:3
Humans can reproduce Going deeper...
only human life, but the Through natural birth we we become Gods children and
Holy Spirit gives birth to are born in Adam basically Gods Spirit comes and lives
spiritual life. selfish, spiritually dead, and within us and helps us to know
John 3:6
separated from God. God as our Father.
I tell you the truth, unless
you turn from your sins and Although we are separated The New Testament calls
become like little children, from God, we were made for this going from death to life.
you will never get into the him and still have a longing to We see things differently,
kingdom of heaven. know him deep inside us. our eyes are opened to the true
Matthew 18:3 As we believe in Jesus Christ, nature of things we see Gods
Even though we were dead we come alive spiritually this rulership of heaven and earth.
because of our sins, he is what Jesus called being born We are humbled, becoming
gave us life when he raised from above or born again. like little children in order to
Christ from the dead. (It
Faith joins us to Jesus, enter Gods kingdom.
is only by Gods grace that
the new Adam. Through his We live a new life of love,
you have been saved!)
death and resurrection we belonging together with Gods
Ephesians 2:5
receive new life, eternal life. other children in a loving
You received Gods Spirit
When we are born again, brotherhood.
when he adopted you as
his own children. Now we
call him, Abba, Father.
For his Spirit joins with our
spirit to affirm that we are MY PRAYER
Gods children.
Romans 8:15-16 O GOD, I want to be born again, to know you are my Father
If we love our Christian and I am your child. Thank you for powerfully bringing me
brothers and sisters, from spiritual death to spiritual life. Thank you for giving
it proves that we have me your Spirit to live in me and for the cry of Father which
passed from death to life. now rises from me. Thank you, Father, that you have made
But a person who has no me a member of your family.

love is still dead.

1 John 3:14

 New Friends
Here is Water

4
Session Four

Up you come, splashing water

everywhere! You join Jesus in his
resurrection. The Spirit fills you.
Youre alive, living a new life full of
vision and purpose. Youre part of
the new humanity.
Table discussion
: In water baptism you are plunged in water as a sign that
you are beginning a new life as a Christian. (For more on
how we baptise people in the Jesus Fellowship, see Water
baptism in the Jesus Fellowship later in this booklet.)
Ask someone at your table to describe their baptism.

: Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan. He led the way,

identifying with us in his baptism, which pointed towards
his death on the cross for us. Jesus died, was buried, and rose
from the dead.We now join with him in his death, burial and
resurrection as we are baptised in water.
Are there things in your life which you need to bury
with Jesus in the waters of baptism?

: Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ

Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For 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,
TESTIMONY
now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:3-4. On the day of my baptism,
What does this passage from the New Testament tell I was nervous, but as soon
us about baptism? as I got into the water, all
my worries disappeared.
: Baptism is like a bath. Our sins have been washed away
Coming up out of the water,
by Jesus and baptism helps us know that we are clean from
I felt full of Gods power. It
sin on the inside.
Baptism is like a door. Its an exit from an old life lived for overflowed in worship and

self and an entry to a new life lived for Jesus. tears. My baptism was a key
Which of these statements about baptism do you find the moment for me. It helped
most helpful?Why? Do you want to be baptised?What is me to find freedom.
most exciting or scary about the thought of baptism? Beth
New Friends 
 Going deeper...
To decide to be baptised is encouraging and prophetic
a free decision made by adult words spoken to the person
believers those who make their being baptised, and celebration
own decision to follow Jesus as someone is accepted into the
declaring Jesus is Lord! church family.
The words spoken when In baptism God affirms his
someone is baptised are not love for us and his acceptance
magic words but they do declare of us in Christ.
authoritatively what is happen- In baptism we leave behind
ing. Phrases like baptised into an old, sinful system and enter
the death, burial and resurrection into Gods new society.
F R O M of Jesus, baptised in the name of Baptism gives us power over
THE BIBLE the Father, the Son and the Holy the sinful urges of our old nature
Spirit, baptised by the Spirit into spiritually, they are now dead
(Jesus said) Anyone who the Body of Christ and baptised and buried and we are living a
believes and is baptised
in the name of the Lord Jesus new life with Jesus.
will be saved.
Mark 16:16 Christ sum up New Testament We must believe in the power
(Jesus said) Therefore, teaching about baptism. that baptism brings us and learn
go and make disciples of Baptism can take place any- how to put off our old nature
all the nations, baptising where, indoors or outdoors, and put on our new nature.
them in the name of the where there is enough water! We rise in resurrection life
Father and the Son and the Those baptising should be full of pure Holy Spirit released
Holy Spirit. respected as men of God. in praise, promising to believe in
Matthew 28:19
Each of you must repent Baptism is a joyful occasion Jesus for the rest of our lives.
of your sins and turn to which will involve worship,
God, and be baptised in
For more on baptism see Your Baptism by Noel Stanton, pub-
the name of Jesus Christ
lished by Multiply Publlications, availiable from Jesus People Shop
for the forgiveness of your (www.jesuspeople.biz)
sins. Then you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
For you were buried with MY PRAYER
Christ when you were
baptised. And with him LORD JESUS, I must follow you in baptism. I need to obey
you were raised to new you and be baptised into the name of the Father, the Son
life because you trusted and the Holy Spirit. My sinful, old life needs to be joined to
the mighty power of God, your death and burial. And I want to rise in
who raised Christ from you to live a new life.
the dead
Colossians 2:12

10 New Friends
 5
Welcome Holy Spirit
Session Five

Youll experience power changing you,

charging you up to live as a Christian.
And youll be filled with love for your
Christian brothers and sisters.

Table discussion
: The Holy Spirit brings reality to our experience of a real,
living, active God.
Have you ever experienced a miracle or the obvious,
supernatural working of God?

: The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force like electricity.

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a counsellor or
comforter who strengthens those who follow Jesus.
In what ways might the Holy Spirit help you to follow
Jesus?

: As well as the Holy Spirit being alongside us, he also

fills us on the inside. The New Testament calls this being
baptised in the Holy Spirit. This results in spiritual gifts
like the gift of tongues (speaking in a new spiritual language)
and in powerful love for God, for brothers and sisters and
for people generally. TESTIMONY
Have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit? Would
you like to be? God filled me with his Spirit
at a time in my life when
: Once you have been baptised in the Spirit, you will need Id found forgiveness in my
to keep on being filled with the Spirit day by day. You will heart. The more I prayed,
need to grow in your relationship with the Holy Spirit (the the more God filled me. I
New Testament calls this walking in the Spirit). fell to the ground, crying
Practically speaking, what does it mean to walk or out to God, knowing his
live in the Spirit?
overwhelming love. Every
emotion was taken over by
: Suggested steps to being filled with the Spirit:
him tears and laughter
- Get a Spirit-filled Christian who you trust to pray with
you and lay hands on you. all mingled together. It was
- Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. awesome.
- Begin to praise and thank God. Kerry
continued over > New Friends 11
 > continued from previous page
- Begin to praise God in your new tongue (remember,
you speak, the Holy Spirit will make the sounds into
language).
- You may feel heat or the sensation of something flowing
within you; you may find emotions well up (tears or
laughter); you may fall down or shake; or you may just
quietly soak in the presence of God.
Now you could pray for each other to be filled with
the Holy Spirit.

F R O M
THE BIBLE
He will baptise you with the Going deeper...
Holy Spirit and with fire. The Holy Spirit is the or breath, living water, holy
Matthew 3:11 fire, and anointing oil.
Life-giver; along with the
If you sinful people know
Father and the Son, he is God the Father has prom-
how to give good gifts to
creator and rescuer of the ised to give the Spirit to those
your children, how much
world. who ask him.
more will your heavenly
The Holy Spirit honours Jesus loves to give the Spirit
Father give the Holy Spirit
Jesus and points people to him to those who are spiritually
to those who ask him.
Luke 11:13 always. thirsty.
Anyone who believes in The Holy Spirit is often It is the Holy Spirit who
me may come and drink! described in the Bible using joins us together as the church,
...Rivers of living water will picture language such as wind the body of Christ.
flow from his heart.
Many people will be baptised with the Holy Spirit (or filled, or anointed)
John 7:38
and speak in tongues at this session.
You will be baptised with
the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:5
And everyone present
was filled with the Holy
MY PRAYER
Spirit and began speaking
in other tongues, as the
LORD JESUS, I long to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. Come,
Holy Spirit gave them this
Holy Spirit, and fill me. I thirst for the living water. Come,
ability.
Acts 2:4 Holy Spirit, and burn in me. Set me on fire with love. Now
The gift of the Holy Spirit I receive the gift. Come, Holy Spirit! Bring power, love, joy,
had been poured out... For and purity. Free me and overwhelm me. I love and worship
they heard them speaking in you, Lord. I praise you with a new tongue.
tongues and praising God. Prayer cards, with a prayer you can pray on your own
Acts 10:45-46 or with someone else, are available on request.

12 New Friends
The church is us

6
Session Six

Real church is the most exciting thing

on earth because its a group of
people who are being changed by the
power of God and the truth of Jesus in
their lives: changed to being a people
who really love one another.

Table discussion
: Church is exciting! The church is not about ancient
buildings or religious professionals like priests and vicars.
Living churches are certainly not dull or boring!
Has tonight (or New Friends generally) changed your
view of what church is?

: Church is people! The church is a people called to be

different from the society around and to show Gods new
society.
Do you find the idea of living a different lifestyle as
part of Gods people exciting or scary or both?

: Church is family! We are joined together to form the

church, the body of Christ. God gives us real, true, deep
love for each other.
Do you feel you belong to the church, not just because
its nice but because you have been changed inside?
TESTIMONY
: Often when the church meets, bread and wine are shared
(this is sometimes called holy communion). The broken If it wasnt for the church, I
bread is a symbol of Jesus body broken on the cross; the would never have learnt to
wine is a symbol of Jesus blood shed on the cross. Through love people who are different
Jesus death we have been united into one body; when we from me. In the church we
share bread and wine, we share in his life together.
become real, true friends.
Talk about what this simple meal means for
Church is relationships. God
Christians.
is real I cant deny it. And

: Jesus loves the church. He died for the church and the he joins people together in

Bible describes the church as his bride. real love.

How important is the church to you? Ian
New Friends 13
 Going deeper...
and tell others about Jesus.
F R O M T h e N e w Te s t a m e n t
C h u r c h e s w i l l m e e t
THE BIBLE describes church in many ways:
a spiritual family of brothers together often, to worship,
I will build my church, and and sisters; a spiritual building pray, share bread and wine
all the powers of hell will built with people and filled (holy communion) together.
not conquer it. with God; a spiritual flock with Members of the church
Matthew 16:18 elders as shepherds and Jesus share their lives and possessions
We have all been baptised and learn to live for Christs
as chief shepherd; the body of
into one body by one Spirit,
Christ with each part having a cause.
and we all share the same
role; the bride of Christ that he Every member has a part to
Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13 loves and died for. play in growing and strengthen-
Just as our bodies have Churches are made up of ing their church.
many parts and each part people who have been born Churches bring praise and
has a special function, so again, baptised in water and worship to God.
it is with Christs body. Jesus is the head of the
Spirit, and who love each other
We are many parts of one
as brothers and sisters. church, which is his great body,
body, and we all belong to
In the church barriers such made up of churches through-
each other.
as race or class are broken down out the nations.
Romans 12:4-5
between people. The church has a mission
Christ loved the church. He
gave up his life for her to When people are new disci- from Jesus: to make disciples
make her holy and clean. ples, babes in Christ, they will and grow the church.
Ephesians 5:25-26 need help to grow strong in God. Jesus will come again, bring-
You are a chosen people. More mature Christians can help ing all his people together to be
You are royal priests, a holy them learn to pray, read the Bible his triumphant church forever.
nation, Gods very own
possession. As a result,
you can show others the
goodness of God, for
MY PRAYER
he called you out of the
darkness into his wonderful
LORD JESUS, you have saved me and, through your Spirit, I
light. Once you had no
am baptised into your church. Thank you for the love which
identity as a people; now
joins us together. Thank you that each one of us belongs
you are Gods people.
and strengthens the church through our life and work. Thank
1Peter 2:9-10
you that your Spirit lives in us, the church.
Love your Christian
brothers and sisters
1 Peter 2:17

14 New Friends
Im saying Yes!

7
Session Seven

When you say yes to God, you open

yourself up to his power. When you
say yes to God, he can get to work
in your life. When you say yes to
God he can pour his life and strength
and grace and hope into you.
Table discussion
: God gives us the power to say Yes to Jesus and No! to
sin, selfishness and Satan.

: Talk through this checklist:

YES to God, my Father.
YES to God, who loves me.
YES to God, who made the world.
YES to God, who gave his Son for me.
YES to Jesus, my Saviour who died for me.
YES to Jesus, my Lord who is alive.
YES to Jesus, who baptises me with the Holy Spirit.
YES to Jesus, who heals and frees me.
YES to Jesus, who prays for me in heaven.
YES to Jesus, and his church.
YES to Jesus, who will return from heaven. TESTIMONY
YES to the Holy Spirit who brings me new birth.
YES to the Holy Spirit who fills me with love and power. Ive found myself getting
YES to the Holy Spirit who joins me to the church. restored and healed and
YES to the Holy Spirit who gives me spiritual gifts. deepening in faith towards
YES to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit my God! Jesus. I dont trust quick,
NO to the guilt and power of sin. sudden dramatic changes.
NO to selfishness. T h e y c a n b e q u i c k l y,
NO to the wrong around me in the world. suddenly reversed! But I
NO to Satan and demons.
know that Jesus is a friend
How did you do? Are you saying a big Yes! to God and
who is for you even if you
a strong No! to sin and Satan?
mess up. Now I have a new

: The Christian life is all about making these choices, again chance to get life the right
and again, by the power of the Holy Spirit. way round!
Will you carry on saying Yes to God with his help? Trudy
New Friends 15
 F R O M
THE BIBLE
For Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, does not waver
between Yes and No.
As Gods ultimate Yes, he
always does what he says.
For all of Gods promises
have been fulfilled in Christ
with a resounding Yes!
2 Corinthians 1:19-20
Going deeper...
Each of you must repent
The Holy Spirit gives us kill our selfish or sinful desires.
of your sins and turn to
the strength and power to live Youre not on our own!
God, and be baptised in
as Christians. It is important Fellowship, friendship and
the name of Jesus Christ
that Christians go on being help from other Christians is
for the forgiveness of your
sins. Then you will receive filled and refreshed by the Holy vital and helps us live a healthy
the gift of the Holy Spirit. Spirit day by day. Christian life.
This promise is to you... Jesus call to his followers Spiritual disciplines like
Acts 2:37-39 is: take up your cross daily. prayer and reading the Bible
It is God who enables us Every day we must choose help us to grow and mature as
to stand firm for Christ. to follow him and choose to Christians.
He has commissioned us,
and he has identified us
as his own by placing the
Holy Spirit in our hearts
MY PRAYER
as the first instalment that
guarantees everything he
LORD GOD, Im saying Yes to you: I need you. Thank you
has promised us.
for rescuing me from sin and Satan. Lord Jesus, I am yours:
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I choose to be your disciple, your servant and your friend.
I am certain that God,
I want to be like you, even when it is hard. I want to love
who began the good work
your people and build up our church. Come, Holy Spirit,
within you, will continue
fill me, and join me forever to the Lord Jesus Christ and to
his work until it is finally
God my Father.
finished on the day when
Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6

16 New Friends
Grow stronger
So youve begun! Born again, baptised, and belonging to
the Christian church, Gods family.

Now you will grow stronger through your friendship

with other Christians, through prayer and worship and
through being discipled, taught, trained, as the New
Testament says.

In your church there will be leaders (sometimes called

pastors, shepherds or elders). They are there to help you.
In the Jesus Fellowship we also appoint caring brothers or
caring sisters to each new disciple. Some churches have
cell groups or other mid-week groups meeting regularly.

Talk to leaders of your church. Continue the journey

youve begun. Theres more to receive from Jesus!

New Friends 17
 Church membership
As this handbook has made clear, all who receive Jesus
as Saviour and are born again and fully baptised belong
to his church.

However, churches differ as to how they see

membership.

Some have a variety of membership categories. Some do

not have a structured membership at all.

The Jesus Fellowship has a variety of membership styles

suited to the different commitment levels of those who
join the church. Recognition of new members usually
takes place at large meetings.

There are four main categories of membership in the

Jesus Fellowship:
Covenant membership (these members form the
committed heart of the church and are active as the Jesus
Army).
Baptised membership.
Congregational membership.
Cell-church membership.
Please talk to the leaders of the church responsible for this
New Friends course to share on your own position.

18 New Friends
Be a witness!
We live at a time when there is great interest in the
Christian faith, if it is presented as up-to-date, relevant
and alive.

Friendship and openness to the good news of Jesus is

growing everywhere. All kinds of barriers are being broken
down. There is a flowing of the river of the Holy Spirit
around a loving, joyful, powerful and godly movement
among people.

Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit is received we become

his witnesses. Now is the time for you to talk about what
youve found, to help others in their search.They, too, need
a living experience of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Lets pray for our families, relatives, neighbours and others

we know or meet. Lets witness through our new lives
relaxed, confident and non-religious. Lets witness by
who we are, showing Jesus in our lives and lifestyle.

Feel able to invite people to your home. Take them out

for a meal. You may be able to start a little group in your
home.

Be a witness!

New Friends 19
Celebrating New Friends
Celebration
It is good to finish New Friends by celebrating with those who
have completed the course. It may be appropriate to run a
celebration event some time during the week after New Friends
is completed or, alternatively, to celebrate over a special weekend
or just on a Sunday.

Meal
This celebration should include a celebration meal for all who
have attended the course. This meal can be a friendly, joyful
occasion, possibly including worship, prayer for people to receive
the Holy Spirit and testimonies. All who have attended New
Friends can be asked to bring another friend with them. These
friends may want to be enrolled for the next New Friends course!
A good target would be for twice as many people to attend the
celebration meal as have attended New Friends.

Sunday
All those who have attended New Friends are given a personal
invitation to take part in local church events on the Sunday
following New Friends. There they should be introduced and
welcomed. This is a time of celebration suitable for all kinds of
people, including those interested, but not yet believers. Include
a response time with prayer for those wanting to receive.

20 New Friends
Water baptism in the Jesus Fellowship
Preparation
Everyone who is to be baptised should have been given basic teaching
about baptism, either by reading a booklet like Your Baptism
(availiable from the Jesus People Shop: www.jesuspeople.biz)
or by a leader perhaps someone they have got to know during
New Friends.

Location
Baptism can take place anywhere, indoors or outdoors, where
there is enough water. Jesus Fellowship baptisms should always
follow as closely as possible to the procedure described here,
though, inevitably, there will be some differences between indoor
and outdoor baptisms, so some adaptation may be necessary.

The health of those to be baptised must be considered, too. It may

be best in some cases (such as elderly, sick or disabled people)
to baptise by pouring water over the person while they are in a
standing or seated position.

Occasion
There is a need for life and power wherever baptisms take place.
Whoever is leading must be inspirational, anointed with the
Spirits power. Time should be given for worship. Before each
baptism, anointed body ministry, when people speak out words
from God, should be encouraged.

Introduction
Each baptismal candidate should be briefly introduced (name,
background, testimony) by their particular leader. This can take
place before all the baptisms or before each baptism.

Invocation
The person about to be baptised should declare Jesus Christ is
Lord before being baptised.

Baptism
Before each baptism the baptising leader should pray powerfully,
lay hands on the head and say these words: We baptise you
into the death, the burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and
New Friends 21
the Holy Spirit. By that Spirit, you are baptised together with us
into the body of Christ, the church. In the name that is higher
than any other name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we now
baptise you!

Then the candidate is taken fully under the water and then lifted
up to stand glistening with water and glowing with the Spirit!

After Baptism
When the newly-baptised person rises from the water, expect a
release in the Spirit, with tongues, worship and even prophecy.
The spiritual baptism of praise and love at this time is vital.

Either straightaway or shortly afterwards the newly-baptised

person will be prayed with to ensure that they have a full release
in the Holy Spirit.

Before the person who has been baptised leaves the water, they
are asked, Will you be true to Jesus your Saviour and Lord? and
Will you be true to your brothers and sisters in the church? Then
the people around them are asked, Will you be true to him/her?
The expected answer to all these questions is yes!

The newly-baptised person is asked Who is your leader/elder?

and Who is your caring brother/sister? to ensure that they will
have the pastoral support they will need in the future.

22 New Friends
New Friends
A MULTIPLY Lets talk
booklet for those wanting to
experience living Christianity

N ew Friends is for everyone,

whether a Christian
believer or not. Its friendly and
completely non-threatening.
It will help many of us find
answers in our search, light in
our darkness and friends in our
loneliness.

- Mick Haines, from his foreword

By believing in
him you will have
life in his name |

John 20:31, The Bible

To accompany New Friends

there is a series of seven
short films, available on DVD.

If you would like a free subscription

to Jesus Life magazine and modern 1.00
Jesus army Streetpaper, write to:
Jesus Fellowship, Nether Heyford,
Northampton NN7 3LB
Tel: 0845 123 5550 www.jesus.org.uk
email: info@jesus.org.uk