Revelation 3:7 (CEV)

• "When I open a door; no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it." 

Romans 8:29 (TLB)

• "From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him-and all along he knew who would-should become like his Son."

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

• “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)

• "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Three Tools God Uses to make you more like Jesus Christ

The first tool is   THE BIBLE     

1. Timothy 3:16(TLB)
2. “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives;it straightens us out and helps us do what is right."

Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

• “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

God will never CONDRADICT HIS WORD

The second tool is   THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

• "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.”

2 Corinthians 3:18(TLB)

• “Is the Spirit of the Lord works toithin us, tee become more and more like him."

The third tool is   CIRCUMSTANCES                     

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

• “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Romans 8:29 (NLT)

• “For God chose them to become like his Son."

Three Choices to Cooperate with God's Spiritual Growth Process

You must choose    WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT

Proverbs 4:23 (GNB)  

• “Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

• "There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes."

Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV)

• “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let mestray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

You must choose   TO DEPEND ON GOD'S SPIRIT MOMENT BY THE DOOR TO A NEW YOU.

John 15:4-5 (TLB)

• "Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in himn shall produce a large crop of fruit.”

You must CHOOSE TO RESPOND TO CIRCIRCUMSTANCES THE WAY JESUS WOULD.           

James 1:2-4 (Phillips)

• "When all kinds of trials crowd into your lives, don't resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends. Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you become people of mature  character."

The Door to Salvation

John 10:9(NCV)

• "I am the door, and the person who enters through me will be saved."

Discovery Questions                                                                              

1. Which of the three tools Pastor Rick mentioned (the Bible,the power of the Holy Spirit, circumstances) has God recently been using in your life?

2. Which of the three choices to cooperate with God's spiritual growth process do you need to focus on this week? Why did you choose thatone?

3. Have a couple of people in your group share their story of 

coming to faith in Jesus. What were inner changes that you 

noticed since you made that decision?

4. Romans 8:29 says

• "For God chose them to become like his Son"(NLT).

What does becoming more "like his Son" mean to you?

Putting It into Practice

Have you been afraid or reluctant to take steps of spiritual growth? Take a bold step of faith through the door of discipleship by intentionally working on the choice you said you needed to focus on this week.

If you said "choosing what I think about," start the habit of having a daily time in God's Word. Begin with just five to ten minutes, and set that time in your calendar each day this week. If you need help getting started with this habit, consider using Saddleback Church's Engage Guide.You can download it for free at www.Saddleback.com/QuietTime.

If you said "choosing to depend on God's Spirit," start the habit of praying every day and inviting God to be a part of your day. If you need help, consider setting alarms on your phone at different time intervals throughout the day to remind you to stop and pray. You can also text “Pray21” to 99000 and receive prayer prompts via text every day for three weeks.

If you said “choosing to respond to circumstances the way Jesus would,"try doing a response reflection this week. Think about some recent difficult circumstances you may have gone through and how you responded. Do you think you responded the way Jesus would?How might he have responded differently? Consider turning this into a journal