Lesson 9 Your Spiritual Family The Local Church, By Jean Gibson

The Writings of Jean Gibson.
Follow-Up Guide for New Christians.
Follow-up means helping someone who has made a profession of faith in Christ to get started. It is very important to firmly establish a new believer in the faith.

What: Spiritual encouragement and practical counsel by a more mature believer of the same sex following a profession of faith in Christ; involves a series of simple Bible lessons for beginners but also includes prayer, counsel, and other needed help; usually takes an hour one day of the week, supplemented by telephone contact.

Why: Good follow-up conserves the fruit of an evangelistic contact by helpful assistance to the newly regenerated person. It may also reveal a premature or false profession that needs to be converted into a true relationship with Christ.

How: The responsible follow-up helper needs to be a friend and encourager, not just someone who checks up on answers. The lessons are merely tools to use. Quality work by the helper is the most important factor. It will help you to bear in mind the following suggestions:

1. Be interested in them as a person, not a work project.

2. Strengthen your relationship so the professed convert can trust you.

3. Pray aloud with them, showing them how to pray.

4. Show them your confidence in God’s Word as trustworthy and vital to growth by example.

5.
Plan ahead for your meetings to use the time to your best advantage.

6. Be sure you have reviewed the lesson to be studied.

7. Make clear that faithfulness in completing these lessons and meeting with you as scheduled is an indication of their serious attitude toward the Lord.