Grow
This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. — Philippians 1:9-11
The road
01
Newcomer
You are here, and you are looking.
You do not need to believe anything yet, or explain yourself. Come to whatever gathering suits you, ask whatever you want to ask, and take the time you need. Nobody will hurry you.
I haven't believed yet — I'd like to look first. Then this step is prepared for you. You don't need to believe anything yet, and you don't need to explain yourself.
To seek is simply to come and see. Starting from knowing the Bible, hear the foundations of the faith lesson by lesson, and ask whatever you want to ask.
The enquirers' course in six lessons: Knowing the Bible (introductory) | Creation | Sin | The Birth of Jesus | The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus | Redemption and Justification in Jesus Christ.
To see that the Bible is God's word; to know who Jesus is and what he has done; and to make your own decision about believing.
We suggest starting with the Gospel of Mark — the shortest Gospel, carried by two questions: Who is Jesus? And what does it mean to follow him?
Wednesday 6:30pm Bible study (dinner from 6:00), Sunday service, and the Saturday online Scripture group — come to whichever suits you.
02
Registered Member
You have learned the basics of the faith, and you would like to keep growing here.
This is the point where you stop being a guest and start being part of the household. You are known by name, you are prayed for by name, and someone is paying attention to how you are doing.
I believe, and I want to be baptised. You have learned the basics of the faith and want to keep growing here and prepare for baptism — this step is becoming a registered member.
To be a Christian with a spiritual home. At this step you are no longer a guest, but one of the family.
The registered-member course in nine lessons: Romans 1–8 chapter by chapter — Human sin | God's righteous judgment | Justification by faith | The faith of Abraham and David | The blessings justification brings | Offering the body as an instrument of righteousness | The war of flesh and spirit | Victory and glory in the Holy Spirit; with an overview of the Four Spiritual Principles.
To open the heart to the salvation of Jesus Christ, with assurance; to know the road a Christian will walk; to see the flow of God's history.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Romans 1–8.
Someone knows you by name, prays for you by name, and notices how you are. Preparation for baptism belongs to this stretch of the road too.
03
Committed Member
The life of Jesus has moved you, and you are willing to follow him as a disciple.
A believer may be content with confession. A disciple sets out to follow. Here the question changes from what do I get to what is the Lord asking of me — and the answer is worked out in ordinary weeks, not in a ceremony.
Baptised — I want to take root as a committed member. The life of Jesus has touched you, and you are willing to follow him as a disciple.
To become a disciple given to the Great Commission. A believer may rest in professing; a disciple sets out — the question turns from "what can I receive" to "Lord, what would you have me do".
The committed-member course in twenty-five lessons: Romans 9–16 (eight lessons) | The Four Spiritual Principles series — Creation, Fall, Salvation, the Kingdom of God (eleven lessons) | Genesis — the way of Noah and the four patriarchs of faith (four lessons) | Acts — the coming of the Holy Spirit | The meaning of marriage.
To know the life of Jesus Christ and the way of the disciple; the experience of new birth and a life centred on Christ; to answer the call of the Great Commission and take an active part in world mission.
John, Genesis, Romans 9–16, Exodus, and Acts.
Here the answer is lived out in ordinary weeks, not in a single ceremony. Scripture, prayer, serving and witness become the rhythm of the week.
04
Ministry Leader
You want to give your life to serving God, and to put his calling first.
This is not a title the church hands out. It is a direction you take, which the church then trains you for and confirms. Some are sent from here to other cities and other nations.
I want to begin serving. You are willing to give your life to God and put his calling first.
This is not a title the church hands down; it is a direction you walk, and the church trains and affirms you along it. Some are sent from here to other cities and other nations.
The co-worker course in eight parts: The way of the disciple | The way of the four patriarchs | The Sermon on the Mount | Exodus | Genesis | The Gospels in eighty-six lectures | Romans | Pastoral topics. A further eighty-plus supplementary lectures walk through the Gospels and the Scriptures passage by passage.
Gifts can grow into ministries: at New Hope, every member's trade and gifting can grow into a ministry — some going to the front, others holding up the mission from behind. Yours may be exactly where the next one begins.
The heart of serving: records of service are kept for account before God, not for a leaderboard; authority belongs to God, not to any person. First we walk together; then we serve together.
The church's training, affirmation and sending all happen inside real serving — beginning with one roster, one visit, one morning out with the gospel.
Arrange to Study the Bible
Whether you'd like to start with the enquirers' course or join a Bible study group, tell us where you are, and we will find the right starting point with you.