Here is the full outline for Lesson 7. This structured guide will help you navigate the lesson content, understand key themes, and formulate your thoughts for discussion. We recommend reviewing it before class and using it as a reference for your ongoing study.

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  Lesson #5: Chair 2 — The Believer (Established in the Faith)

  Lesson Overview

  Having crossed Gap #2 (The Tipping Point) through personal surrender to King Jesus, we step through the Narrow Gate and into Chair 2: The Believer.

  Crossing the gate is a glorious moment of new birth, but salvation is the doorway—not the final destination. In this lesson, we will explore what it means to be a newly born member of God's family, examine what Scripture says about spiritual infancy and growth, identify the core essentials needed to build deep roots, and discuss how we can spiritually "parent" new believers so they do not experience stunted growth.

  Section 1: God's Observation Lens (Leading Out from Scripture)

  Primary Passages: Colossians 2:6–7 & 1 Peter 2:2

  "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." — Colossians 2:6–7

  "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation..." — 1 Peter 2:2

  Key Scriptural Observations:

  1. The Identity of the Believer (1 John 2:12–13): Apostle John writes that a newborn believer is characterized by two essential realities: their sins are forgiven and they know the Father.

  2. The Command to Walk & Root (Colossians 2:6–7): Receiving Christ is a moment, but walking in Him is an ongoing lifestyle. Salvation requires being "rooted and built up" so the believer isn't easily knocked over by trials or false teaching.

  3. The Appetite for Milk (1 Peter 2:2): A healthy baby has a natural hunger for nourishment. Spiritual growth in Chair 2 depends on developing a daily appetite for the "pure spiritual milk" of God's Word.

  Section 2: Defining the Landscape of Chair 2

  Understanding the heart posture and needs of someone sitting in Chair 2:

  • Primary Posture: Receiving grace, learning the basics, and putting down deep spiritual roots.

  • Relation to Jesus: Savior, Lord, and Heavenly Father.

  • The Shift in Invitation: Moving from "Come and see" (John 1:39) to "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19).

  • Primary Need: Spiritual parenting, protection, and basic nourishment.

  Section 3: The 4 Core Essentials for Establishment

  To help a new believer grow strong roots, four foundational habits must be established:

  1. Spiritual Nourishment (Feeding on the Word): Learning how to read, understand, and apply Scripture personally rather than relying solely on spoon-fed teaching.

  2. Divine Communication (Prayer): Moving prayer from a formal religious ritual into an ongoing, relational conversation with their heavenly Father.

  3. Corporate Belonging (Fellowship): Sinking roots into a local community of faith for protection, encouragement, and accountability.

  4. Public Identification (Baptism): Publicly declaring allegiance to King Jesus, drawing a clear boundary line between their old life and new identity.

  Section 4: The Great Danger in Chair 2 — Stunted Growth

  • Treating the Gate as the Finish Line: The greatest threat in Chair 2 is believing that passing the Tipping Point is all there is to Christianity, leading to passive pew-sitting.

  • Spiritual Infant Mortality: When a church fails to nurture new believers, they remain spiritual infants for decades—dependent on others for basic nutrition and highly vulnerable to spiritual confusion.

  • The Goal of Growth: Chair 2 is designed to be a healthy, vibrant season of growth that leads naturally toward Chair 3 (The Worker) and Chair 4 (The Disciple-Maker).

  Section 5: The Mirror Lens (Personal Humility)

  Before we help others grow, we must examine our own walk:

  • Diagnostic Question #1: "When I look back at my own time in Chair 2, who were the spiritual parents who took time to feed, protect, and guide me?"

  • Diagnostic Question #2: "Are there areas in my life today where I have stopped growing and allowed myself to slip back into basic spiritual infancy?"

  Section 6: The Window Lens (Strategic Love & Guidance)

  How do we strategically love and parent someone in Chair 2?

  1. Adopt a Spiritual Infant: Look around your sphere of influence for someone who has recently trusted Christ and needs a mentor.

  2. Provide Milk, Not Meat: Patiently walk them through the foundational basics of faith without overwhelming them with complex theological debates.

  3. Protect the Roots: Help new believers navigate early doubts, spiritual warfare, and old habits with radical grace and gentle accountability.

  Personal Reflection for the Week

  Salvation brings us through the door, but grace invites us to make our home in Christ. Who in your life has recently stepped through the door, and how can you help them sink their roots deep into Him this week?