Next Steps with Jesus

Is about equipping people of all ages to grow in…

The Christian faith is not meant to be solely confined to a meeting in a building on a certain day of the week. It is meant to shape your entire life, every day of the week! The “Next Steps with Jesus” is a resource that we’d like to make available to you. It is meant to be a catalyst and reminder that you have been called into a growing relationship with God that is lived out daily.

This journey of relationship with God is a transformative adventure that requires intentionality! Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you…” This tool is not meant to confine you, but encourage you, whatever your age or season of life to continue to go with God.

The “Next Steps with Jesus” card isn’t just another task for you to do. Instead, the hope is that it will become part of an authentic conversation and journey with God. If you are going to grow the way God wants you to grow, then you are going to need His help. Pray, Learn, Practice… and don’t forget to smile. God loves you and has good plans for you. Keep going!

How to use it:

  1. STEP ONE: Pick up the “Next Steps with Jesus” printed card at Portlaoise Life Church (or print your own – pdf printable template)
  2. STEP TWO: Choose 1, or at most 4 categories (Real Relationships, Brave Moves, Better Habits, or New Mindsets) and write down a one word (or one sentence description) of one specific growth area you desire to develop in the current month(s).
  3. STEP THREE: At the top of the card write down the month(s) the card applies to.
  4. STEP FOUR: Review the Card Daily. Pray, Learn, and Practice your growth area.
  5. STEP FIVE: Find someone to talk with about what you have written down.
  6. STEP SIX: At the end of the month(s), write out any progress you made or lessons you learned on the back of the card. Save the card for end-of-year review.
  7. STEP SEVEN: Pick up a new card for the next month(s).

Suggested areas to consider…

You may like to use the suggestions below or you may want to write down commitments that you have come up with through your own reflections, from what you sense God would like you to do, or from conversations with other believers. This is an adventure of going and growing with God and others.

Real Relationships

“Building Relationships That Reach Below The Surface.”

Jesus said, “…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Commit to schedule time in each day in order to intentionally connect with God. Read the “Better habits” sections for ideas of what you may like to fill the time with. It can include things like prayer, listening, gratitude, Bible reading.

It may take some time to develop a relationship like this, but it is worth pursuing.

It is wonderful to be regularly attending a weekly worship service on Sundays. Another vital part of “church” some miss out on is to meet regularly with other believers in a more personal setting. At Portlaoise Life Church we aim to help facilitate this in what we call “Life Groups“. These groups meet throughout the year and you are invited to find and join one. It will take intentionality and commitment on your part to get started, but it is worth the effort. If you have questions about groups or would like help finding one, please don’t hesitate to email us.

Write them a note and include a personally meaningful scripture.

Look someone in the eye and tell them something positive that you appreciate about them. (e.g. “Thank you for being such a generous friend.” “I love your laugh. It makes me smile every time.)

Make a phone call to someone just to say, “I was thinking of you and decided I would ring. How are you?”

Watch this playlist of messages titled, “Not Alone. Keys for Connection” It includes powerful truths and practical tools that when you put them to use they will help you to thrive in all your relationships.

Consider joining us the next time we run “The Marriage Course” at Portlaoise Life Church. This is like a date night for married couples to intentionally develop their relationship in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

For Women Only & For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn

Two six part video studies relevent to both married couples and singles and which includes practical tips and surprising insights for all those who would like to come to a better understanding of the opposite sex. (If you do not have access to RightNowMedia where this content is located, you can get free access here)

Brave Moves

“Daring to walk by faith and leave the familiar route behind.”

At Portlaoise Life Church we water baptise people at various times throughout the year. If you are interested in getting water baptised or would like to find out more about water baptism, send us an email and we’d love to give you more info. info@lifechurch.ie

A great starting point is asking, “Should I be baptised?” Water baptism is an important next step for any follower of Jesus. Here are some descriptions of those who should get baptised along with a few Scriptures to read.
* Those who have repented from their sins, and have a personal faith in Christ (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15, Acts 8:36-37).
* Those who have committed their lives to be disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 14:26-27.)

All of us were created by God to make a difference in the life of another person. God
has a place for you where your unique abilities and passions can touch the lives of
others. We believe that your life will never make sense until you find, develop, and
fulfill your purpose.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish
the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of
testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:24 NIV

“Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities…and there are different
kinds of service to God…All of you together are the one Body of Christ, and
each of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-5, 27 TLB

DISC Personality Assessment (PDF printable download)

Spiritual Gifts Assesment (PDF printable download)

There is a hope and possibility of experiencing incredible freedom and peace that can only come when we walk in total forgiveness. One of the core messages of the gospel is that of total forgiveness…not only that we can be totally forgiven by God, but also that we must, in turn, totally forgive others. Our culture is bound up in bitterness, resentment, and wallowing in wounds inflicted upon us by others, wounds that we all too easily accept and even cling to! This revised and updated best seller lovingly challenges believers to look within and root out those hidden and hardened places where subtle resentments and areas of un-forgiveness have been allowed to remain.

Watch a sermon on Total Forgiveness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaPePGFOB-8

Read the Book: Total Forgivenss

For 24 hours go without food. Use your normal meal time as dedicated time to pray, listen, and read the Bible.

Learn some basics on fasting and prayer here: https://portlaoise.lifechurch.ie/2015/prayer-fasting/

Tell them a story of what you have experienced with Jesus.

Do a kind, loving, generous act that expresses to others what kind of love you have received. (e.g. make them a meal if they are sick, pay for their coffee, write them an encouraging note)

Better Habits

“Establishing habits that build us into who we’re called to be.”

New Testament in a Year: 

Entire Bible in a Year

We know that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life, yet many of us don’t have regular times of prayer. The reason is not so much that we don’t want to pray but that we don’t plan to pray. We have not chosen a place for prayer. We don’t have a set time for prayer. We don’t have a procedure for prayer.

Prayer will change your life, your family, your community, and the world. We must pray, so let’s commit to a plan for prayer that is not just a boring ritual, but the spark to a living relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Check this out: How to Pray? 

Use our “Get Organized Workbook” to help you develop a plan for stewarding your life based on the book of Proverbs. There is also a video message connected to the workbook.

The first step in getting involved on a Serve Team at Portlaoise Life Church is attending a Discovery Session. Discovery Sessions is a one-time, one-hour class designed to help you discover who we are as a church, more about who you are, and how you can be a part of Portlaoise Life Church. Find out more.

Jesus told a story about a hidden treasure that, once discovered, brought life-changing joy. In this video series, The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn unearths a simple yet profound principle that will radically change your concept of stewardship. Short on guilt, Alcorn illuminates the liberating joy of giving and its impact, not only for today but for eternity as well. Click here to watch.

(If you do not have access to RightNowMedia where this content is located, you can get free access here)

New Mindsets

“Pursuing truth that lights up our view of the world.”

Watch: The Bible Series
This video series unpacks 8 central themes woven through the pages of the Biblical stories that make sense of life today. If you want to get more stuck in, read this book alongside the videos. Go through them alone, or use the discussion guides to go through them with others.

Here is a printable document with declarations based on Scriptures that will remind you of who you have become in surrendering of your life to Christ.

The Freedom In Christ Course is for every Christian, from those who have been Christians for a long time to those who have only just made that decision, from those who are progressing steadily to those who feel stuck. (If you do not have access to RightNowMedia where this content is located, you can get free access here)

It is designed to help you:

  • break through to a greater level of spiritual maturity
  • uncover any areas of deception holding you back
  • resolve personal and spiritual conflicts
  • learn strategies to renew your mind and break free from negative thinking and unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

The course does not focus on how to behave but on how to believe. After all, Christ has already set us free (Galatians 5:1) and given us everything we need (2 Peter 1:3). It’s just that sometimes it doesn’t feel like it!

Many sense that they have not reached their full potential for God. Perhaps they feel “stuck” in habitual sin, negative thoughts, fears, unforgiveness or condemnation. Yet they really want to grow and mature. This course will help you grasp the amazing truth of your new identity in Christ, teach you to uncover and resist the enemy’s deception, and help you move on. It’s not a “quick fix”. But it is likely to revolutionize your Christian life.

The Freedom In Christ Course is based on the Biblical teaching of Dr. Neil T. Anderson, best-selling author of Victory Over The Darkness and The Bondage Breaker. It has been used by around 400,000 people and has been translated into over 30 languages. To get the full benefit from the Freedom in Christ Course, you will need the Participant’s Guide and The Steps to Freedom in Christ. Please visit the links below for those materials.

Portlaoise Life Church periodically run a Money Coaching course that will help you to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to improve your financial wellbeing. If you’d like to find out more contact us at info@lifechurch.ie