First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
Intro, break first study.
Very serious, about God, faith, commitment to Christ. If you are going to live by the word of God, you
need to know the Word of God. Study at least as hard as we go after our school studies.
What is the purpose of the class?
Heb 6:1-3
6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again
the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about
baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God
permitting, we will do so.
 If we are going to be mature - we have to know the FP, the elementary truth.
 Don't become mature, because don't get into the Word of God.
Purpose - lead you on to maturity.
Back to 5:11
Heb 5:11-14
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact,
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an
infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who
by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 Goal, now, to teach you - however, in time, as you learn, as you study with yourself and with
others, you will be able to break the scriptures down, and truly become mature.
First purpose - solidify your conviction and faith in the word of God.
John 13:34-35
Denominational churches, even people in them believe different things. Church of sold out disciples,
can be unified on the word of God.
 Love is the sign to the lost world.
 First thing that hit most of us, incredible intensity of the fellowship. The love of the brothers
and sisters. Magically happens because we get baptized. This is something we have to work on,
not natural.
 FP are indisputable, accepted by anyone that studies the word.
 We all need to come to an individual deep conviction - when we do that, we will be very unified.
Second purpose is to unify.
Matt 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age."
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
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To the 11 apostles. Many churches miss this.
1 - make disciples, 2 - baptize them, 3 - teach them to obey everything I've commanded.
Going and making disciples of all nations is for every single true Christian.
First of all to Solidify our faith, second to unify us as a church, thirdly to multiply as a church.
Brief notes - what it takes to win people to Christ. Make us solid, unified...yes...but need to use these
studies to multiply.
(1) Build a great friendship, a great relationship.
- Learn to love unconditionally. From God. From each other - people are taken aback by people who
really love them despite what they are like, what they've been into.
- Reaching out to people, 2 -3 weeks, open, deep, spiritual matters. Powerful opportunity we have to
minister to people.
(2) Go out and buy them a bible.
- Don't have a bible, archaic translation.
- NIV84 is the most accurate translation in phrase by phrase.
- NASB is the most accurate word for word.
- Give them a bible and write an inscription in it.
Account of Kip and Elena's hotel...wrong place. Turns out. Taxi driver - shared with him. Got his name.
Amazingly. When we came back, Milo came to church, two months later, was baptized into Christ. Milo
brought with him the bible he'd given him...seek first the kingdom.
People appreciate someone giving them such a priceless gift.
As mentioned - you do get deep with people quickly.
Before you study, you need to know where is this person coming from? What is their faith? Buddhist?
Denomination Christian? Where are they at. Makes a world of difference where you start.
Start with the regular studies...makes sense pending on where they are at. Some don't have a real faith
in Jesus - like died, buried, raised from the dead.
Jewish, uh...not open. Anyone can become a disciple. Need to be equipped to study with them...how
do you study with someone who does not even believe in Jesus yet.
John 20:30
The purpose for the writing of the book of John was to bring people to faith. For those of us who have
had the opportunity to do that. To see someone who has no faith in Jesus at all to get into John and to
see their faith grow.
I've found that people are intimidated by the bible. Break down the barriers, thinking that someone
super-spiritual [priests] can read it...help them see that it is for everyone.
NIV84 - have a more mature study lead the study. Have the younger disciple in the study, to train them,
and the non-Christian guy himself. Let's call the non-Christian Guy Ralph. The Christian, we'll call Bob.
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
Ralph is eating by himself at work. Bob is fired up - hey, anyone eating with you? Can I? Establish a
friendship. Hang out together with some of the other guys in the church. You've got to come and visit
our church. I don't know if I even belief in Jesus...Ralph came to church...met me.
Give me a little time every week. We'll read one section at a time.
Read 1 -18 and ask "what does this say?" Which John was this...remember - this is an eyewitness
account. I'll read the next section. They may not understand all the things.
Verse 29-34. Ralph, can you read? Anyone can read the bible the bible.
Bob, please read...
Verse 35
John 1:35-42
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he
said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them
following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"
39 "Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had
followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found
the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when
translated, is Peter).
 Jesus the lamb of God. Spends the day with them.
 The first one is Andrew...got to be, he gets his brother.
 Eyewitness account? It is John...
 Exciting, right here - Peter. Means Rock. Rocky. Barjonah. "Son of John" - "Johnson."
 Rocky Johnson. Becomes a follower of Jesus Christ.
 Don't hang any longer there.
 Get about 4 chapters at a time.
 Get together in a couple of days.
 Builds a faith. Reiterating, bottom-line, an eyewitness account.
 Come to a deep and saving faith in Christ.
 Get up and encourage each other in the LORD.
First two scriptures.
Responsible for, what is the purpose of the FP class.
Solidify
Unify
Multiply
Pick out a book to study with someone who does not have faith? John.
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
Questions you might have on your quiz. Responsible for the seeking God study.
One of my favorites. Immediately goes to someone's heart and gets them focused on God.
Mistakes - not getting God involved.
Very first thing you need to do is to PRAY. We want God to move in this guys heart - want to see Bob
become a disciple.
Going through the studies, need to trade off. Keep on going around. Keeps everyone's head in the
game. Read and share a bit or zone out.
Trying to build faith, getting them to read.
Bring a note pad. Write out the scriptures. For the person who is leading the study, write out the
scripture. Psalm 119:1-2.
Download these booklets - it will be all up here. Impresses people that we know the word of God. This
study needs to be your study.
Why give them the notes - so they can go back and study it, so they can have their own deep
convictions.
To do a bible study and to do it boring is SIN. If you are tired, had a tough day, need to focus on the
LORD.
We are talking about someone's eternal destiny, the word is not boring, it is not-fired up disciples that
make it boring. SIN.
A lot of us like to talk. If you are going to help them learn, too long in the study, hurt the study. All of
the studies, except L&D should be under an hour. Crisply. Sense of order. Done in a way that teaches
the person.
Wait to the end of the study - to call them to a decision on each one. Don't wait until last scripture.
Now, covered John with Ralph, come to faith. Starting with Seeking God. If they believe in Jesus, then
start with Seeking God.
Ps 119:1-2
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
What hits you right here Ralph? What does this mean?
Blessed - in the Hebrew, literally means, superlatively happy. (Reread, replace)
The bible says, that superlatively happy are the people who follow God.
Many make happiness their goal. If it is your goal in life, never find it.
The way to happiness (God wants that) is to obey God's statues (commands) and to seek God with all
your heart. What does it mean to do something "with all your heart."
Seek something 100% with reckless abandon!
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
Sports, girlfriend...never reallty given myself to anything. At the end of the day, if you want to me
happy, (who does not) you must seek God with all your heart.
Young Christians - "why am I not happy" - forgotten this. When you seek God with all your heart.
Major in College was Chemistry. Two compounds come together...to form a new one.
We are trying to get our hearts in tune with the Spirit of God - they by product of it. It is not the goal,
but it comes.
When Christians become unhappy, instead of seeking God with all your heart...tonight if you are a
disciple who is seeking happiness, you are not happy. Decided, seek God with all your heart, you will be
happy.
What do you think...Ralph, do you want to go after this. I don't know how - that's what the rest of the
study is about.
Matt 6:25-34
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a
single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how
God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What
shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Here - there is so much that speaks to everyday life that people in the world and even disciples have to
trudge through.
Do not worry. They chase after clothes, food, money, all these different things. Bible teaches, God
knows we need them. He is not dumb. Knows what he needs.
We chase things we want - God does not give them to us, because it is not a need.
Seek first his kingdom - everything you need will be given to you if you seek after God first.
Challenge you, make God #1 priority over next few weeks, God will give you everything you need.
There is the challenge of faith. Do we beleive that scripture!?
Challenge others when you believe it and know, God will give them everything they need.
Do not dwell too long...talk about it for a little bit...writing them down.
Acts 17:26 (Ralph, Bob, and now myself.)
Acts 17:25-28
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he
determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that
men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of
us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are
his offspring.'
What does this mean. Careful - don't just tell them, "here is what it means." They may be wrong or
stumped, when you ask them, hey what does this mean. Wrestle with the scriptures, teach them how
to do that.
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
Bible says, God determined our exact time/place for a set purpose - a reason, living in this time, 2013 in
Phoenix. Exact place where we live, we work. God does not have accidents, the wrong house, job,
place. Put some real faith into someone.
It was not by chance that you work where you work, lunch when you lunch, and bob works there. God
appointed the places where we live and work...
Was not by chance. Smoot. Orlando. Bible talk. Dave Kish.
Faith in God, awe of God. When they get in awe of God, they become drawn to him.
John 4 (Note, crispness)
John 4:22-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must
worship in spirit and in truth."
Go after Ralph. What does this mean?
Neat - title of this lesson? Seeking God.
What does this talk about? When we seek - then God starts seeking us.
Wouldn't it be pathetic. Busy shopping at the store...and the kid wanders off...freaking out.
What if the mom went about his business. That is hope people think about God. He's just going about
his business.
When he knows someone is seeking him...he won't leave the grocery store...
yes, calling them to seek God. God is going to be seeking them.
God will find them.
(More practical here)
Acts 17:10-12
10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went
to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for
they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what
Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and
many Greek men.
They were open here in Berea. What do we find (Ralph) that stands out about seeking God? Noble,
because they studied the scriptures. Breaking it down...
Don't we all want to be noble in the eyes of God? Ralph? Bob? In the eyes of God - a noble person
firstly, Eagerly and excitingly wants to hear it.
Learn to compliment and build their faith.
Why taking notes? Part of it is checking what you hear. Don't just take what leaders say, even me.
Review the notes, check the scriptures, God says it is noble! Say something different than what we've
been teaching you, trash it. If what we are saying does line up...
Why at our church, everybody brings our bible. Write down what scriptures...seriously, we have got to
have a deep conviction here - disciples, and we take notes...check out what the speaker says.
If I were to lead you astray, it is your fault, you are to called to examine the scriptures.
The noble person, Eagerly, Examines, Everyday.
Seek 100% start studying every day. Start with these notes, every day.
Many of the Jews beleive - they made decisions. What is God saying to me...
That is how you have a quiet time.
Jeremiah 29:11 (Know very well by next week)
Jer 29:11
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
God has a plan, a great Father.
Jer 29:12-14
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and
find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD,
NIV
Amazing promise - you seek me, I will be found by you. God has a plan for your life.
Wants to share it with you. Can't tell you that plan until you come to know him.
God has a destiny for each person. What do you think the plan is for my life. God asked us to live by
Faith. Disciples tonight. Written to Jews living in the most desperate time in their life.
Know some of the disciples in here tonight are struggling.
I have a plan for your life. So tonight, don't just learn this for Ralph, it is for you.
Reading an account of a man who sought after God.
Acts 8:26-31
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an
important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone
to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the
prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand
what you are reading?" Philip asked.
31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with
him.
The Angles and the Holy Spirit guide us to where we are to go share our faith.
Every had that feeling...I got to share my faith, we are the ones holding back the H.S.
Very committed convert to Judiaism. Mid-Africa, all the way up to Jerusalem. Coming back down
towards Egypt.
Just by chance he meets Phillip? No - GOD brings them together.
This guy was an incredible person. Servant of the queen.
Eunuch is a man whose masculine parts have been taken off. At a young age. Raised to become a
powerful official. Very dedicated, very committed.
We get upset when we got to travel 35 minutes to church. Hard-lined, not even a disciple yet.
In his chariot reading the book of Isaiah.
Do you understand what you are reading? OT can be a little tough to understand.
Everyone needs someone to teach them about the Word of God.
He was humble, needed someone to teach him.
Put this in there - the Spirit of learning, I want to learn, I want to be taught the word of God, what
pleases him.
Acts 8:32-33
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth."
Who is this talking about? Jesus! Did Jesus say anything during his whole passion!? Was his crucifixtion
just? Did he have any kids?
Acts 8:34-39
34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone
else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water.
Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the
eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way
rejoicing.
This is not the time to get into a detailed study or discussion abopout baptism.
You are planting seeds, in reading, sees his need to have someone help him (put that in Rob)
Help them understnad, "why so excited abouit water?" Gaza stripe is desert.
There is water, why can'tI get baptized.
Goes on his way what? Rejocicing! When someone makesGod their first prionity. Respond to the
scriptures. Then they rejoice, and are happy.
Matt 7:7-8
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For
everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Awesome promise from God Ralph!
Promise in this scripture. In all these other ones.
If we seek him with all of our heart - we will find him. If we seek him first, you will find him.
Review to close out.
Pslam Matthew 6
Acts 17 - It was not by chance, God put him there.
John 4 - God is seeking after me.
Acts 17 - "I got to read my bible every day..." hopefully you want to.
Jeremy 29 - God has a plan.
Acts 8 - Fired up when he found God.
Matt 7:7-8 - Seek and you will find, a promise.
These notes are yours. Strike while the iron is hot. When would you like to meet again. A persons
heart, revealed at this point. "When can we get together." Prayerfully you are fired up about seeking
God.
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First Principles Session 1 - Introduction and Seeking God
Phoenix International Christian Church - Jeremy Ciaramella, 9/11/2013
In closing, we have a prayer. If this is the first study...usually the experienced disciple starts (short
focused prayer.) Closing - asking Bob...some of the most incredible prayers...to hear their very first
words to God. They may be nervous...super short what they pray.. Then have Bob close it out.
Decision to seek God, and now I've just talked with him.
We meet next wednesday! Let's help each other out!
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