Derek finishes this week’s study by presenting four main priorities for the person who has been born of God. The first key is to appropriate spiritual nourishment, by absorbing that which is contained in God’s Word. The second key is to keep in touch with the life source, which is prayer. The third is to confess our faith openly. And the fourth key is to find fellowship with other believers. Appropriating these four keys will help you to grow in God.

Derek gives us several Scriptures to emphasize that this new life in Jesus is personal—to be experienced by each individual. For instance: “For me, to live is Christ.” “Christ lives in me.” This encounter is with Christ and you alone. It involves a decision each individual must make, and then realizing that He is truly living inside of you.

In today’s study Derek looks at three distinctive features of the new birth. First, the new birth is from God. Second, the new birth is from above. And third, the new birth is by the Spirit of God. The new birth makes us God’s children. It is not of blood (natural descent), nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man.

Today Derek looks at how men responded to the One who came into this world to save them. Most people just saw Jesus as a man, not as the Son of God. But all of creation knew and responded to their Creator. Storms, trees, animals, and demons all knew Him for who He really was. How do we respond to that fact today?

Derek begins this study in the first chapter of John looking at the person who is the Word, who was before time began, and who came into the world born as a man, Jesus, the Son of God. He was the very image of God, and came to show mankind what God is like—to reveal God as Father.

Derek closes this week’s study with the assurance that if we have given all we have to the Lord, He will share all that is His with us. We are joint heirs with Jesus, and have the Holy Spirit within us testifying that we are God’s children. As we share in Christ’s sufferings, as well as His glory, we know He will be with us through it all.

In today’s study Derek looks at the story of Elijah and the widow who was called upon to bake him a cake using all the meal and oil that she had left. As she did so, her provision was miraculously multiplied. In this illustration, we can see that as we give up all we have to the Lord in faith, He will return back to us far more than we had.

Derek explains just what opening the door means. When you hear Jesus knocking, you must respond in some way. To not respond is to leave the door closed to Him. Derek shares with us how to respond—to receive and open the door for the new birth.

Today Derek looks at ways God speaks to us—whether it comes by the voice of the Holy Spirit, an illumination of Scripture, through other people, or through God’s creation. God is not limited in how He speaks to us, we just need to have our senses tuned to hear Him.

Derek begins this week’s study from Revelation 3 by highlighting the fact that Jesus is speaking. He points out that whoever hears His voice must be the one to open the door for Him. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice, so those who hear Him knocking are part of His fold. They need to respond with action.