The One Behind The BookSample

The One behind the Book - An invitation from God to you

THE STORY SO FAR...

God’s original intent for humanity was for us to have a perfect and everlasting relationship with him. Although we rejected his love, God made a way for us to be saved from the punishment of our sin. As the Bible comes to a close, God extends to you a personal and life changing invitation.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

What happens next is up to you...

The Bible is the story of how God created an amazing world so that he could share his perfect and unending love and kindness with us. Although we have all sinned and deserve to be separated from his goodness, God loves us all so much that he refused to leave us without hope. He decided to rescue us. Through his death on the cross, Jesus took all the punishment for your sin upon himself. He was willing to go through it all because it would be the only way for you to be completely forgiven, so there would no longer need to be any separation between you and God.

As a result, God now presents you with the most wonderful invitation.

He asks if you would like to start a relationship with him; forgiven, loved, restored, accepted and promised eternal life with him to enjoy forever. There is nothing you need to do in order to earn God’s love and forgiveness. It is a gift freely given to you by God. All he asks is that you receive this gift by believing that Jesus died to forgive your sins and rose from dead to give you eternal life with him.

When you trust in Jesus, you are completely forgiven and accepted by God. You step onto the pathway that God has planned just for you. Jesus becomes your Lord, which means that you now live your life for him and follow his ways because he loves you and knows what is best for you and for others. God helps us do this in our lives by giving us his very own Spirit. When you believe in Jesus, God the Holy Spirit comes and lives in you! The Holy Spirit helps you to know God’s love and guides you in your life. He is your great Friend who empowers you to live for God and know what God is saying to you. He is with you everywhere you go and loves when you pray and desire to grow closer to him and become more like him. He delights in you!

God wants us to show his love and tell his story to everyone so that they too will put their trust in him. Loving God and loving others are the most important things we can do in our lives. It is what we were designed for. God invites you to start this relationship with him today! If you do, he will be with you throughout your life, and you will have eternal life with him in heaven. This is the promise of The One Behind the Book. God’s desire is that you would experience his amazing goodness and perfect love in your life right now and enjoy the greatest relationship possible with him forever.

30 Word Recap

Jesus has done everything we need to be forgiven and have a loving relationship with God again forever. It’s a free gift to everyone who puts their trust in Jesus.

Questions

1. Read John 3:16-17. Why did God send his Son Jesus?

2. Read Romans 10:9-10. How do you become a Christian, receive forgiveness for your sins and start your relationship with God?

Personal reflection

• Before you started this study, what did you think the Bible was about? What did you think God was like? Have your thoughts changed in any way?
• Is there anything you would like to say to God? If there is, you can speak to him right now! He always hears you and loves when you talk to him!
• If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, be forgiven of your sin and start an amazing relationship with God, you can find a prayer after this study that gives you an example of what you could pray.

A prayer to receive Jesus

As we have discovered in this study, the Bible tells us that the great gift of God’s love and forgiveness is available to you. You can receive this gift by believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died and rose again to deal with the issue of sin and to give you a relationship with God. If you would like to accept Jesus as your very own personal Lord and Saviour, you can do so right now by praying a prayer just like the one below. You could say it word for word if you like, or pray something similar in your own words.

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me and making a way for me to have a relationship with you.

I’m sorry for all the times I have disobeyed you. Please forgive me.

I believe that Jesus died so that I can be forgiven and that he rose again to give me eternal life with you.

Please come into my life Jesus. You are my Lord, Saviour and Friend! Thank you that your Holy Spirit now lives in me. Please help me to live for you from this day forward.

Amen.

Learn more about the Camps, Family Missions + School Groups run by Scripture Union NSW www.sunsw.org.au