Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street

Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ

NEW CONVERTS
BASIC COURSE

Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ

Basic Curriculum

Chapter I The Salvation.

Chapter II The Savior.
Chapter III The New Life in Christ.
The Conflicts of the New Life.
Chapter IV The New Life in Christ.
The Signs of the New Life.
Chapter V The Development of the New Being in Christ.
Chapter VI Resources for growth.
Talking to God
How Should We Pray?
Where to Pray?
Chapter VII Resources for Growth
The Word of God.
The influence of the Bible on the Transformation of Lives.
The Purpose of the Bible.
Chapter VIII - Resources for Growth
Service.
Chapter IX - Resources for Growth.
Worship.
Chapter X What is an Assembly of God Church.
Chapter XI The origin of the Assembly of God.
Chapter XII The Structure of the Assembly of God.
Chapter XIII The customs in the Assembly of God.
Chap. XIV Know Your Local Church.
The objectives of the Church
Why should I go to church?
Chapter XV - The ordinances.
Chapter XVI - Financial Support.
Chapter XVII - Water Baptism: Immersion or Sprinkling?
Chapter XVIII - Sanctification.
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
I

You have decided to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. Let's start our
course studying about Salvation.

1.Allhuman beings need Salvation (Rom 3:23 and 5:12).

the result of the personal sin of each creature is spiritual death, death
from the soul, which is the separation from God in this life and in eternity (Eph 4:18)
.
2. Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to the world to save the soul.
humanity from eternal death (John 3:16). Note that Salvation is for those
who believe in Jesus.

3.Personalfaith exclusively in Jesus Christ is the only means by which

we can be saved. Not by our efforts, virtues, or desires; not by
ceremonies or tradition; nor by the mediation of another person who is in
on earth or in heaven, but only through Jesus Christ can we be saved
(Ephesians 2:8-9)

4.Salvation is a transformation carried out by God through the Spirit.

Holy is the inner self of the person who repents of their sins and receives the
Lord Jesus. (John 16:8). Repentance is not just remorse for
sins committed or discomfort due to their consequences, but it is
a radical change of mind and feelings towards sin
and the understanding that sin makes us unhappy because it offends God and
it separates us from him and the change from an attitude of acceptance to another of
opposition to sin through the change of heart. O
true repentance involves not only the disapproval of acts
sinful, but the rejection of one's own inclination to sin. By the genuine
regret removes the sin from our heart and makes way for
Jesus Christ, which is equivalent to saying that we have a new heart,
that is, a new inner nature. (II Peter 3:9).

5. Every person who repents of their sins and believes in Jesus Christ
has eternal life and therefore has firm certainty of his Salvation (John 11:25-
26). Our security and permanence in Christ after being saved, not
depend on our ability, but on our submission to Jesus, for he
He takes care of us. According to the words of Jesus in John 6:47, there is
place for questions regarding the experience of Salvation?

Chapter II _ The Savior

The second lesson of this series comprises a study

light about the savior.

1.The coming of a savior was promised by God as soon as our

the first parents sinned and as a consequence were expelled from the presence
of God (I John 3:8).
For thousands of years, the promised one by God to free the
the humanity of sin was eagerly awaited by all races,
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
especially by the Jews, whose prophets dealt a lot with this
hope. (Isaiah 53)

2.About 2,000 years ago, the Savior came into the world. He was born of
a virgin named Mary, in the Jewish city of Bethlehem, and her
birth was announced and greeted by the angels as the birth of
Promised Savior (Matthew 1:21). He was not just a messenger of
God, a prophet or a martyr, but God himself who came into the world, and
thus he declared himself and was understood by those who witnessed
your earthly life. (John 10:30; John 1:1 and 14).

3.The Jews, however, did not accept that Jesus was the Messiah.
they created in him (John 1:11 and Acts 3:13-15), because they distorted the
messianic hope of its prophets, desiring an earthly kingdom
material and Jesus came to establish a spiritual, eternal kingdom. Jesus
was killed on a cross in Jerusalem. He made a conscious sacrifice and
volunteer to pay, with his death, for the guilt of our sins
before divine justice (Galatians 1:4 and I Peter 2:24).

4.Having been killed and guilty, Jesus rose alive from the tomb in
Sunday and lived with his disciples for 40 days, giving them
instructions for spreading your message around the world. In
his resurrection is that we have the guarantee of eternal life. (I Corinthians
15:1-8

5. Now Jesus is with the Father in heaven, He returned to His place, but
will come again to this world to judge the peoples and to take the saved
(John 14:3 and Acts 1:8-11). The most important thing is that you will be able to know the
the respect for Jesus will be the result of your own experience, your own
communion with him day by day until he takes you to heaven.

Chapter III - THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

The new life that the converted person enjoys is a life in the spirit of
God. This implies that your behavior is characterized by
righteousness and by love. (1 Peter 1:15; Ephesians 4:25 and 5:5).

The Bible provides safe guidance for the believer to lead their steps in this
world. Through its pages you will find everything you need
to be aware of attitudes and motives for your conduct.

THE CONFLICTS OF THE NEW LIFE

1. The Christian can expect violent opposition (read John)

16:33). What the Lord Jesus said about our attitude when we are
persecuted?
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - Street 21
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
2.THERE IS OPPOSITION FROM AN IMPIOUS WORLD. This opposition
can take the form of financial hardships, mockery from friends and, in
in some cases, personal advantages. Hostile persecution also occurs.
(I Peter 4:12). It is for this reason that Paul wrote to Timothy: "Suffer
suffer with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3).

2.SATAN DOES NOT GIVE UP: The Bible teaches about the existence of
Satan as an undeniable and powerful reality. He is the enemy of Christ.
and all of his followers. To accept Jesus Christ as Savior
it is the same as declaring war on him. Read (I Peter 5:8). He sends
all efforts to frustrate and defeat the disciples of Jesus.

3.A NEW LIFE INVOLVES AN INTENSE STRUGGLE: Living the new life in
the terms of fulfilling God's will is to compete in a race where all
things are set aside to focus only on a final goal
Hebrews 12:1-2 The Christian needs to achieve victory over the
feelings of pride, jealousy, prejudice, lies, and others
similar. Make a list of some areas of your life, about which
you need to achieve victory.

4.THE RESULTS MAY DISAPPOINT: Be honest in

recognize this fact. The new life in Christ has its ups and downs.
Failures and defeats can happen in some aspects; depression,
disappointment and lack of courage on other occasions, but also
There will be moments of immense victories, joy, and satisfaction. A
temptation conquered once will return other times. Holiness does not mean
absolute perfection. Read (I John 1: 8-10). The believer must accept the
reality of your own weakness and nurture the willingness to forgive yourself.
even, based on the fact that God forgives and pursues the goal
of obedience and likeness in Christ.
CHAPTER IV - THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

THE SIGNS OF THE NEW LIFE

1. A NEW LIFE IS DIFFERENT - The primitive Christians demonstrate

through a different way of living that they had been with Jesus Christ. This
fact must be a reality in the Christian experience. Something new enters into
our existence when we accept Christ ( read and meditate on II Corinthians
New goals, new standards, new sense of values and a
new modification. This new nature must be expressed in all the
spheres of life.

2.IT IS A LIFECONTROLLED BY CHRIST - Christ must be the Lord

of the new Life, the central figure to whom we must obey ( read
Philippians 2:5-11

3.IT IS A LIFE WHERE THE ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS OF THE NEW BEING
REFLECT THE LOVE OF CHRIST - (read I John 3: 17-18) Christian love
genuine ignores any prejudice of race or social class, for God
In your love, there is no distinction of any kind. Love encompasses even
even your enemies, as the Lord Jesus Christ taught (Matthew 5:44).
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
Love is forgiving and does not feed a spirit of revenge. It is good that it
one of the striking characteristics of love is that it always
concretizes. In this way, the new life must be a constant.
demonstration of love.

4.A LIFE MARKED BY THE EVIDENCE OF DEDICATION TO

PURPOSES OF GOD IN CHRIST AND FOR AN INVOLVEMENT
ACTIVE IN THEM - Involvement in the life and work of a church,
must come first. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it
she. (Ephesians 5:25). The concern to save the lost and the
participation in the kingdom of God are characteristics of people who
they were resurrected with Christ to a newness of life. It is a desire
ardent that the name of God be sanctified is evident in these
people.

IMPACT OF THE NEW LIFE - The believer who has a new life in Christ
produces such an impact on others that it always results in blessings.
Jesus said, 'you are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world ...'
(Matthew 5:13-14). Salt and light prefigure qualities that help to
preserve and save the believer. The new being in Christ must be characterized by
a life that helps people return from darkness to the wonderful
Light of God.

FOR YOU TO THINK

a) The new life in Christ is different. (II Corinthians 5:17). Try to do

a comparison between your life before and after accepting Christ.
Were there any modifications?
b) The new life is characterized by the control of the spirit. In Galatians 5:
22-26 you will find a series of attitudes that characterize the new
behavior shaped by Christ. Try to develop these aspects
in your life.

CHAPTER V - THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW BEING IN CHRIST

The new life is an experience of growth until maturity.

in Christ. This growth is the responsibility of each person who has accepted
Jesus Christ as Savior. The development of Christian character is a
distinctive characteristic of the Christian faith. We can compare Christian life to life
Physics. After birth comes growth, it is not merely an option. It is a
essential condition. Read II Peter 3:18 and respond: What is the
What is the responsibility of each believer towards Christ? To grow in grace and
in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, means that the Christian must always be
walking towards the goal. The target will only be reached in the
eternity, but it is our duty to move towards the target. ( leia
Philippians 3:14

THE DISCIPLESHIP IS ESSENTIAL - The development of character is

achieved through true discipleship. Matthew 11:29 - Learn from me
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
Christ is an imperative given by the Lord Himself; the disciple is a
learner; being a disciple of Jesus consists of being integrated into a
learning experience that lasts a lifetime, in harmony with
Jesus as Lord and master par excellence. It is the obedience to
commandments of the master that characterize the true disciple of Jesus.
Read John 15:14 - the disciple needs to learn to trust and obey, to
to love and to forgive, to suffer and to serve. The life of a disciple should be the most
authentic manifestation of the person of Jesus Christ in the world.

THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT - The disciple of Jesus finds in the

Holy Spirit an inexhaustible source of power that will help you grow.
image of Christ. The disciple now lives no longer according to the flesh, but
is called a spiritual man (I Cor. 2:14-15); his life far from producing
the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), is a constant flow of
presence of the Holy Spirit. This presence is manifested by attitudes and
actions, which Paul calls "Fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-26).
The presence of the Spirit in our lives is indispensable for our
growth, until we can understand the person of Christ and the
will of God. Our inner man is strengthened when the Spirit
lives in us. We can know the presence of Christ in our
hearts through faith.

TARGET OF THE NEW LIFE - The target, the final goal of the new life is the
likeness of Christ. We are children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-
17). We share in the Divine nature. The supreme purpose of God is that
let us be conformed to the image of his Son (read Romans 8:29). This
the purpose is achieved, in a sense, by our becoming the new being in
Christ (II Cor. 5:17). Thus, we lead a life that is entirely pleasing.
to the Lord, "bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge
of God" (Colossians 1:10).We are in the midst of
transformation; the development of our character according to the stature of
Christ must be sought with all the strength we have. To be a Christian
it requires, therefore, a renewed determination to live the life of the new being in
Christ (Galatians 2:20).

CHAPTER VI - RESOURCES FOR GROWTH

1) TALKING TO GOD:
Talking to God is essential. Reading the Bible, God speaks to our heart.
Through prayer, we can talk to God. The believer in Jesus Christ has
in prayer an extraordinary source of nourishment for your new life. Read
James 5:6

At first, it is a bit difficult to make a prayer, but don't get discouraged. Our
The heavenly father does not expect from us long and correct prayers at all
senses. Once, Jesus praised a man who prayed like this: "he has
mercy on me, a sinner”. Just this. This man did not know how to utter
eloquent words, but knew how to present her heart to God in spirit
of humility, repentance, and contrition. Jesus left us the following
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
example for our prayers: Read Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus does not want that
we decorate prayers or make other 'vain repetitions', but He left this
example to guide us in a general way. Here are some conditions
established by Jesus so that we can reach the answers to our
orações: João 14 : 14, Mateus 21 : 22 e I João 5: 14.

Praying is not just saying prayers. Praying is talking to God, it is dialoguing with Him. It is a
process that flows normally and spontaneously. The Holy Spirit inspires us the
words that are said in each prayer we make.

1. How should we pray?

Kneeling: many consider this the best way to have a conversation.
with God, for it is a demonstration of submission, reverence and
humility. Thus prayed Solomon (1 Kings 8:54), Elijah (1 Kings 18:42), Ezra
(Es 9.5), Daniel (Dn 6.10), Jesus (Lc 22.41). And they all achieved great
victories.
Standing: We usually pray while standing, at the beginning, during, and at the end of the
cults, and we have received great victories. But do not forget that the
the best way to seek God is on your knees.
Lying: In 2 Kings 20:2-3, it records the illness of Hezekiah, king of
Judah, bedridden, received a visit from the prophet Isaiah who conveyed to him the
God's message regarding your imminent death. Lying down, Hezekiah turned.
he faced the wall and prayed. The Lord heard him and granted him 15 more.
years of life.

Where to Pray?
In the temple, in particular, with family. Believers should gather to
seek the presence of God and receive His blessings. Our church
they have consecrations, prayer circles, vigils, occasions when Jesus
he baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, heals our diseases and resolves the
our problems.

If we ask for something and do not receive it immediately, we should

lose our faith? There are several explanations:
First, we pray many times without believing with all our heart. Therefore,
The fault is ours and not God's.
Secondly, God, who knows all things, sometimes takes a long time to
answer our prayers. One time, an Italian lady prayed a lot to
God so that he would not let his son be a sailor. The son was not
believer and she thought that the boy would be completely lost if he followed
the maritime career. Consequently, the mother was very sad when her
The son surrendered to the sea's career. He thought that God had not understood.
his supplications. Meanwhile, on the first trip that the young man took,
he disembarked in New York, and at the docks someone gave him a Bible and
he became interested in the gospel, even going so far as to convert.
Naturally, when the mother received this news, in addition to giving thanks to
God asked the Lord to forgive his impatience.
In third place, God sometimes gives us a better answer, although
different from what we asked for. The apostle Paul had an illness that he
I called it a 'thorn in the flesh' about which I prayed to God three times to
that He would take it away from him, but the Lord's answer was the following: 'My
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21 Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
Instead of removing the difficulty, he granted him grace.
grace is enough for you.
to endure all afflictions. Later, the apostle Paul said: 'I can
all things through him who strengthens me.

Constant and fervent prayer is undoubtedly one of the key elements.

important for your victorious life.

CHAPTER VII - RESOURCES FOR GROWTH

2- WORD OF GOD:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path
the psalmist wrote. He declared again: "I have hidden your word in my
heart, so as not to sin against you.” The Bible is of Greek origin and means
books. Although we consider the Bible as one single book, in reality it is
consisting of a collection of smaller books. In total, there are 66 books, 39
the New Testament consists of 27 books, and the Old Testament consists of 27 books. The Bible was written

by approximately 40 men, over a period of about 1,500 years.

These men were helped by the Holy Spirit to write the word of
God. This is the reason why, despite having been written by men, it is
called 'word of God'.

The books of the Bible were a unity, even though they were written by men.
different customs and also lived in different times
different. For example: Amos was a cattle herder; David was a king; Paul, in addition
of intellectual, he had the profession of tent maker; Lucas was a doctor;
Pedro and João were fishermen. These books harmonize with each other
precisely because the Holy Spirit helped each writer.
themselves.

The Bible contains truths that men could not have discovered by themselves.
yourself. No one could have written about the creation of the universe, without
God had revealed to you. We know through history that certain facts
they started. But when we read the Bible, we see that several of these
events were prophesied many years before. (read Luke 4:21).
God will help us recognize that the Bible is true if we wish.
sincerely follow your ways. In John 7:17 there is a wonderful
promise regarding this. Jesus bore witness to the inspiration of the
Bible. Read Luke 24:27.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE ON LIFE TRANSFORMATION -A

the message of the Bible transforms man. One can personally feel the
its transformative influence every day; when we are sad, its
reading brings comfort; when we are afraid, it inspires confidence;
when we are in despair, she infuses hope. It contains the
balsam, the right word for the needs of each individual.

God speaks to you through the Bible. By reading it, you begin to know God, the
understand and obey his guidance for your personal life, and the
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
participation in the church you attend. The first part of the Bible that
It starts with the book of Genesis and ends with the book of Malachi, it is the Old
Testament or simply OT. The Old Testament starts with the creation of the
Universe and man, continuing with the flood and the history of the people of
God, Israel. The Old Testament it has five divisions: Law, Books
Historical, Poetic, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. After
Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, begins the New Testament,
with twenty-seven books thus divided: Gospels, History, Letters of
Paul, General Letters and Poetic Books. The New Testament is known for
initial letter NT.
The Bibles that are in the hands of believers in the church for reading and study are
written in various versions. The versions are the result of updates of
a translation. The translation means to convey everything that has been written in a
language for another; in the case of the Bible, everything written in
Hebrew and in Greek to Portuguese. The most used translation is that of
João Ferreira de Almeida. The main versions of the Bible in Portuguese are:
ARC - Almeida Revised and Corrected.
ARA - Revised and Updated Almeida.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE - We can say that the purpose of the Bible is to
Salvation of all men. To give consequence to this purpose it
begins by revealing God to man. This revelation is made at the initiative of the
God himself, and by receiving him, man also receives the revelation of the plan.
what God has for your salvation (John 20:30-31). But once saved, it is
necessary to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:
18). Here are five practical suggestions on how we can and should use the
Bible as a program for spiritual growth:

1) LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD: (read Romans 10:17) in what way

Can someone have faith in their heart? Listening is important. (read Luke 8:15).

2) READ THE WORD OF GOD: consult John 5:39

3) STUDY THE WORD OF GOD: Studying makes us more aware, it helps us

participants of the word. Read II Timothy 2:15.

4) MEMORIZE THE WORD OF GOD: we are encouraged to memorize the

word of God, to better apply it in our lives.

5) MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD: Compare the differences between life

of a righteous and God-fearing man and of a wicked one, according to the Psalm
1. Read Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:1-5 and answer: what is the
the secret of victory in Christian life.

CHAPTER VIII - RESOURCES FOR GROWTH

3 - Service
The new life in Christ is a life of action in the work of the Lord. God has us
given talent and aptitude that must be used for the glorification of your
name on the face of the earth and for the edification of the believers. The utility is a
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
the most important keys to a happy life. To be content, man
needs to work, needs to be useful to someone.

Try to discover something you can do as a service to Jesus.

Christ. Talk to your pastor, who will point out areas in which your
acting is necessary: " serving one another, according to the gift that each
as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10

Jesus Christ expressed himself like this: You are the salt of the earth; and if the salt is
insipid, with what shall it be salted? It is of no use if not to be thrown away
to be thrown out and trampled by men (Matthew 5:13). The salt that becomes tasteless,
it does no harm to anyone, it is not poisonous, it does not harm health, but to the
at the same time, it is worthless, it is a failure. One finds oneself in the same situation.
the man who is happy to say to me: "I have never harmed anyone"
like the priest in the parable of the Good Samaritan, will not be condemned for
that which he did not do, but for that which he failed to do. Jesus, knowing that
He who knows how to do good and does not do it commits sin, he reprimanded.
both laziness and uselessness as the lust of the flesh.

The sincere and happy believer always cooperates with the works of their church, in
obedience to the order of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). There are people who
They say: "I don't want to be a member of any church, I want to appreciate them all."
They have already met someone who fulfilled Jesus' order by acting in this way.
way? The successful believer is the one who strives to be diligent
attender of the services. Pastor J.C. Varetto wrote: "If you get used to
going to church only occasionally, you will end up not going at all and
your Christian life will be a sad failure.

Serving also with our material goods is also a task from which God
It pleases. As administrators of all spiritual and material goods
what God has entrusted to us, we have great opportunities before us to
to serve the one who saved us.

Our Christian testimony is a service we can provide in every

places where we walk. (read Acts 1:8b) and try to meditate on them
privileges that you have as a witness in active service in the kingdom of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER IX - RESOURCES FOR GROWTH

4. WORSHIP

We were created to have communion with God. The Bible says that the Lord,
after creating the first man and to form a beautiful garden, where
they built their home, walked with them in the garden during the twilight of the day.
We can imagine the satisfaction they felt in being able to walk in communion.
intimate with their creator. Unfortunately, they heeded the voice of the tempter and
they disobeyed God. They lost the great privilege of living in
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
communion with God, the heavenly father. Since those times, men in
Generally, they have been far from God.

Although most men do not recognize it, the lack of communion with
God has left a great void in their hearts. They are thirsty, but do not
We know that this headquarters is the lack of communion with God. The Bible lists
many blessings that will pile up on those who worship God in
spirit and truth.

A) Let's look at the benefits we receive from God (read Psalm 103:1-4)

B) Let us keep the joy of belonging to the Lord as creation (Psalm

100: 1-4)

C) How did Jesus define true worship? (read John 4:23)

D) Let us meditate on the teaching of Paul and Timothy (1 Timothy 2:8)

Finally, we must cultivate the habit of attending services regularly.

The writer to the Hebrews chapter 10:25 warns believers that
were despising the congregation and invites them to help one another
others due to the approaching day of the return of Jesus Christ.

We are in an era of Sunday believers. The new believer needs to be

awakened to love God's work and fight valiantly by the side of the
Sir. Not just going to church, but participating in the worship, praising, adoring and
listening attentively to God's message.

CHAPTER X - WHAT IS AN ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

1. The church is not the house where believers gather. Churches are people.
The Assembly of God Church is a congregation, a gathering of people.
who repent of their sins, believe in Jesus Christ as their
Salvador and were baptized biblically. There are thousands of churches.
Assemblies of God in Brazil are all autonomous and democratic.
not being subject to any human authority, but
obeying directly and exclusively to Jesus Christ through the
Bible.

The word church means 'a gathering of people called out.'

That is, a group of people who left the world (not
physically) to together follow Christ. These people who make up the
the church is called, by the Bible, believer, brothers, Christians, saints,
the elected and those on the path. All believers scattered around the world form
the Church.

3. The Assembly of God churches have the Bible as the only source of
authority and foundation of doctrine. Neither traditions, nor councils, nor
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
leaders can alter or oppose what is in the sacred scriptures
(Mark 13:31 and 1 John 2:3-5).

4. In our churches, we do not admit or worship images (Exodus 20: 4-6)

1 Corinthians 10:14; We believe in the divine trinity, which means that we believe
that Jesus Christ is God Himself, as God is also the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:19 / John 1:1); we believe that Jesus is the only mediator between
God and man, the only savior that exists for the human soul (John
14 : 6 ); we keep our bodies free from the contamination of vices and
harmful practices because our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (II Cor. 3
We repudiate superstitions and witchcraft, which we will not have anyway.
(Rev. 22:15). We believe that every person who repents of their
sins and accept the Savior Jesus, you have eternal life at that very moment
of your regeneration, and inspiration for the understanding and practice of
truth (John 7:38-39; Ephesians 1:13). We believe that all those who
believe in Jesus, when leaving this life will go to heaven, and all those who
those who reject will go to hell, which is the place of eternal torment (Matt. 25:
46; John 14:1-3; Rev. 20:15.

5. The Assemblies of God churches are supported by tithes,

contributions and voluntary offerings from its members (Malachi 3:10;
II Cor. 9:6-10). By worshiping God with their tithes, the believer is
always providing the means for the message of the gospel
continue to be announced through your church, in your state, in Brazil and
in the world.

CHAPTER XI - THE ORIGIN OF THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD

Becoming a member and attending an evangelical church is of vital importance.

for growth in the Christian life. Therefore, it is good that you know, in
synthesis, a bit of the history of the Assembly of God, which you are part of
taking his first steps as a disciple of Christ.
The pioneers of the Assembly of God in Brazil were the missionaries Gunnar
Vingren and Daniel Berg, both from the Baptist Church.
Gunnar Vingren and Daniel Berg were Swedes, children of Baptist parents. In 1909,
in a prayer meeting, Gunnar Vingren was baptized with the Holy Spirit and
with fire (Mt 3:11).
For this reason, he was disconnected from the Baptist Church in Michigan, USA. Later
joined the Baptist Church of Indiana, where he was well accepted, and there he began to
promote Pentecostal meetings, which gave rise to a great revival.
One day in a meeting, the Holy Spirit used a brother who revealed-
he should go to a distant land and also revealed the place:
Wait, the Holy Spirit spoke to him in the very language of that people: the
portuguese.
Gunnar was trying to find out where this place was, he searched in
libraries and found out that the place existed and was located in a northern state
from Brazil.
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
In the year 1909, Berg received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. His life
changed, taking new directions.
They arrived in Brazil on November 19, 1910, in the State of Pará,
young missionaries - Gunnar Vingren and DanielBerg, coming from the
United States of America. They were initially housed in the dirty basement and
uncomfortable with the local Baptist Church.
From then on, the meetings became revival gatherings, with many
conversions, divine healing. In May 1911, there was the first
experience of baptism with the Holy Spirit, Sister Celina de Albuquerque,
received this wonderful blessing. As a consequence of the revival
initiated, with the healings performed by the power of God, and with the baptism with the
The Holy Spirit received by many believers, reactions began to emerge.
Most of the church officials and some of its members rejected the
movement. On June 13, 1911, a group of brothers was disconnected
from the church. This group numbered eighteen. And so it began
effectively the Pentecostal work in Brazil.
The movement was then named 'Apostolic Faith Mission'. But in
1918, was officially registered with the name 'Assembly of God',
name that remains to this day.
Its main means of communication is the newspaper 'Messenger of Peace', edited
by the Publishing House of the Assembly of God (CPAD). The hymnal used is
the 'Christian Harp,' which contains the hymns of congregational songs, there is
more than 50 years. your Sunday School magazine is 'Christian Maturity'.

CHAPTER XII - THE STRUCTURE OF THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD.

The Assembly of God in Brazil has no established dogmas. They have

as a rule of faith the fundamental doctrines of the Holy Bible. Your
the main representative body at the national level is the 'National Convention'
which meets every two years to deliberate.
The board is elected during the plenary meetings. At the state level, it organizes itself,
similarly, through State Conventions, which in turn are affiliated with
National Convention.
At the municipal or regional level, ministries or fields are organized
work.
These organisms consist of a headquarters church and other churches.
affiliated, without quantitative limitation.

As far as leadership is concerned, the Assemblies of God present themselves as

next way:

1. The Pastor is the anointed man by God to shepherd the flock (church).
1.The Evangelist is the man, as the term itself indicates, responsible
by the evangelization of the field or area affecting the local church.
1. The Elder is the direct assistant of the pastor, in some cases. In the absence of the
The pastor or the elder can take on the leadership of the church.
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
1.The Deacon is the element that is primarily concerned with the material part.
from the church:
arrangement, works, distribution of the Last Supper, assistance to widows, etc...
5. Work Assistants are the elements that cooperate with the deacons in
general services, at preaching points, etc.

CHAPTER XIII - THE CUSTOMS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD

When we start this subject, we want first to establish the
difference between customs in the Assembly of God in Brazil and doctrines
fundamental biblical doctrines imply
directly in the Salvation of man, the customs in the church are placed
in the temporal context, not being directly committed to the
salvation. They are more related to the believer's conduct before the world, if
approved or not by God: 'You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its flavor,'
with what shall it be salted?..." (Mt 5:13a). Doctrine is the set of principles
that serve as the basis for a religious system, it should be the same in
any place or time. Customs, it is a habit or practice generally
observed by a group, which may be different, depending on the time and
place. There are certain doctrines that are preserved by the Assemblies of
God is to be obeyed and followed by its members, such as: the
women not cutting their hair; men not wearing long hair;
the clothing should be modest and decent; no outfit is allowed
masculine in a woman and neither feminine in a man, nor mixed marriage, this
it's, between believers and non-believers, not even accepted that the believer takes part in
mundane pleasures: nightclubs, cinemas, samba schools, carnival parties.

Women should not cut their hair.

Hair is the glory of a woman and a mark of her femininity. Hair
the woman's breasts are one of the points that stand out the most visually, so that
so that it may be distinguished from man (1 Cor 11:15).

Men should not have long hair.

There was only one situation in the Bible where men wore hair.
long-haired, it was the case of the Nazireans. They were individuals who, by vow
particulars were separated, for an indeterminate time, for special service
of God (Num 6:5). Also check in 1 Cor 11:14.

3. The clothing must be with modesty and decency.

As for the believer's clothing, the Bible does not establish strict standards.
Meanwhile, according to the customs of the Assembly of God in Brazil, based on
In biblical principles, its members should dress modestly,
decency and good taste. (1 Tim 2:9; Zeph 1:8).
According to the doctrine adopted by the Assembly of God in Brazil, the
marriage is a divine institution (Gen 2:18).
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - Street 21
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
In marriage, spouses become one flesh (Gn 2:24). This implies
in the intimate communion of the couple. Thus, it becomes difficult the communion of
believer with the unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14).

CHAPTER XIV - GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

Now you are part of the Assembly of God Evangelical Church. It is a

an organism is an organization that has the very life of Christ. Who does
part of the Church (of Christ), is now continuing the work of Christ in
earth. In addition to Salvation, He granted you the privilege of being the means
through which He saves other people. Like any other organization,
they have their leadership, board, departments, everything being part of a
organism. All of this is managed by the Pastor-President, who leads the
Ministry.

This congregation is best known as: 'Assembly of God of 21st Street.'

Leading the local leadership is Evangelist Sebastião Braúlio and as
second leader or Presbyter Nivaldo Lopes dos Santos. There is in his body
ministerial: Presbyters, Deacons, and Work Assistants. Has the
departamentos de:Mocidade, Senhoras, Crianças e Adolescente, Escolas
Sundays and Evangelization. Existing services in this local church: Services
of Youth, Ladies' Services, Children's Services, Services of
Consagração, Cultos de Libertação, Cultos de Membros, Cultos Públicos,
Prayer Circles and Vigil Services. Having as a sub-congregation: "Source"
of Jacob", on the same street 21; "Valley of the Lily", on street 22; "Bethesda Pool",
no Ipiranga; “Spring of Living Water”, on 60 street; and as a congregation “Rock
Eterna, in San Francisco.
1. The Objectives of the Church

Through the Bible you discover that the Church was founded by Christ to
fulfill the following purposes:
a) Evangelize the world (Mt 28:19-20).
b) Place for the believer to worship God (Rom 12:1).

The Lord established His church, and it is not a club, an association,

a school or meeting place. The church exists to worship God (Cl
3.16). The church exists to build each other up (Col 1:12-13). And all of this,
because Jesus placed the church in the world to announce the Gospel: 'But
you will receive the virtue of the Holy Spirit, which will come upon you; and you will be
you are witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Why should I go to church?

Because in the church the believers gather to offer worship to God. The worship is
a moment of prayer, praise, worship, Bible study, and edification of
believers. In the service, all believers can unite in prayer, whether in
petition, thanksgiving and intercession. Prayer is also a way of
you praise God. When believers gather to worship God,
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
there is an opportunity for them to practice communion. It is more than
simple friendship. Communion is the result of a spiritual experience
common - all earthly differences are eliminated and men and
women become brothers and sisters in Christ.

CHAPTER XV - THE ORDINANCES

Jesus left two ordinances to be observed by his churches: The

baptism and the Lord's Supper.

1. Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ, to

the converted person willingly submits as a testimony
of your regeneration (Matt. 28:19).

2. Christian baptism is the immersion in water, in the name of the Trinity.

Most Holy, of the people who repent of their sins and believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ as their savior and are therefore willing to
they will follow Jesus and obey Him (Mark 16:16). The immersion
symbolizes the death and burial of the old lost nature with the
your sins, the end of a life separated from God. The emergence (to leave
from within the water) symbolizes the spiritual fact of the birth of a
new nature, ready and prepared to live a new life,
according to the will of God. Through baptism, you will become part of the
church (Acts 2: 41).

3. After being baptized, you will be able to participate in the Lord's Supper,
what is a ceremony instituted by Jesus Christ for remembrance and
testimony of your death. The Lord's Supper also represents the
union and the fraternity of the body of Christ, which is the church and sanctification
of our soul through communion with the Lord. Through this simple
ceremony. We are also announcing the return of Christ.

4. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are external symbols of reality.

interiors; material symbols of spiritual realities. Not us
material elements in themselves - water, bread, wine, not even the words
uttered during the ceremony, have the power to save or bless. It is
Jesus who saves and blesses the sinner through his spirit. Christ
it is not in the water, nor in the bread, nor in the wine, but in the heart of whoever
trust in him as your savior and lord.

5. The Supper is a memorial rite. It announces the vicarious death of Christ, which
delivers us from the bondage of sin. The Supper still contains the element
hope, for it points to the return of Christ, in such a way that the
disgraceful participation becomes an irreverence to the sacrifice of
Christ, causing the offender to suffer the penalties of his spiritual neglect (1
For 11.27-30). The Lord's Supper is rich in its symbols, for in us
we transport throughout the Bible, in its message of hope and life
eternal. The Wine is the memorial of the soul poured out for sin; the Bread the
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
memorial of a body wounded by sin. The Bread, a symbol of the body
of Christ. The Wine, a symbol of the blood of Christ.

6. The Lord's Supper in Our Church.

In our church, the Lord's Supper is held once a month;
alternating: once on the first Sunday of the month, after Sunday School
Dominical and once again on the first Monday of the month, during the Worship service.
as a Member. Always in the week prior, the church enters a period of
prayer of preparation for the Holy Communion.

CHAPTER XVI - FINANCIAL SUPPORT

THE GRACE OF CONTRIBUTION - In the text of II Corinthians 8: 1-5, Paul uses 6

times the word grace in relation to the act of contributing. Grace is charm,
sweetness, kindness, undeserved favor but freely granted, by
will, protection, and kindness. Paul teaches that contribution is a favor
what God does for us and not a favor that we do for Him. While the believer
not understanding and not feeling that the contribution is a divine grace, he does not
will have completed your Christian life.

FIRST FRUITS AND NOT LEFTOVERS - Nevertheless, the Bible teaches that we must
putting God first, the majority of believers do not practice this:
(read Matthew 6:33). It was not so with the Macedonians. Read II Corinthians 8:
2 - 5. In the edifying and moving example of the believers from Macedonia,
No one is too poor to contribute to the cause of God.

HOW TO RECEIVE GOD'S BLESSINGS - Read Genesis 28:20-22

I wanted to study the life of Jacob and you will see that upon returning, twenty years after this vow,
he was much richer than Esau who was left with all his father's inheritance.
All the believers who made Jacob's vow also received blessings
like him.

PRIVILEGE OF GIVING - Far from being seen through the lens of obligation,
financial participation is considered a high privilege of the new life
in Christ. Instead of financial contribution, the believer acknowledges that Jesus
is the Lord of your life, and at the same time demonstrates the degree of your
identification with Christ.

The Tithe is a regular act through which the faithful believer sets aside ten percent.
one hundred of your income, and offers to the Lord as recognition for the
received blessings. Giving the tithe is not an attitude that one takes as a
imposition. However, when we stop observing this biblical practice,
Are we robbing God? Yet, you...
You robbed, and you say: in what have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.
"alçadas" (Ml 3.8).
It is worth being faithful in tithing, because we will not only be fulfilling the
Word of God, being blessed, both materially and
spiritually (Mal 3:10).
 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
FOR YOU TO THINK - The new life in Christ is an abundant life. It is
full of privileges. Each privilege implies a responsibility. That
we can all live in a new life, enjoying, responsibly, the
privileges that God grants us through His grace and love.

CHAPTER XVII - WATER BAPTISM: IMMERSION OR SPRINKLING?

Water baptism is the means for the new believer to fully integrate into the
body of Christ, the Church. Through this baptism, the believer becomes a member
effective of the church. Baptism in water is not for salvation, but it is
her consequence (At 8.36-38).

1.Requirements for someone to be baptized:

The candidate for baptism must be aware that by doing so,
from now on. he needs to produce in the work of God. conscious baptism
produces in the believer a desire for the work of God and leads him to a life of
testimony.
The candidate for baptism must be willing to lead a life 'worthy' of
Christian. When in Acts 8:36 the eunuch asked: "Here is water, which..."
impede that I be baptized?”, Philip answered: “It is lawful, if you believe wholeheartedly.
heart”. Let's note that believing in Jesus is the main requirement. Therefore, the
The Bible does not authorize baptizing children, as they cannot yet believe (Acts 16:31). It is
I need to believe wholeheartedly (Mark 7:6), for God does not accept a divided heart: "And
you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart
heart"(Jer 29:13).

2. The form of Baptism

Any good dictionary of the Portuguese language will say that baptism
It means immersion, diving. Anything different from that is not baptism. Even
What bears the name 'baptism' is not baptism, if there is no immersion.

3. Biblical Examples
... all were baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
... Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
baptized 'inside of' the Jordan river. What does it mean to say 'inside of'. For what
Yes, if it weren't for diving? In Mark 1:10: 'And as soon as Jesus came up out of the water...'.
At 8:39: when they left the water... "No one leaves the water, unless they have to"
entered the water. This is immersion.
Surely you have already made the decision to be baptized. After all, you
Now it is well clarified about this very important teaching, BAPTISM.
May each new convert be able to fulfill in their life, the commandment that
it is in Acts 22:16. God bless you!

CHAPTER XVIII - SANCTIFICATION

 Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street
Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
Although it comes last in these textbooks, holiness is not at all
some, the least important key of Christian life; on the contrary, it is likely
that the lack of holiness is the greatest cause of defeats,
disappointment, and failures that are evident among those who call themselves
Christians. Try to read carefully the 10 commandments found in
Exodus 20 and the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 to 7.

1. The
believer is freed from sin to produce fruits of holiness (Read
Romans 6:22 - 23

2.The believer is a new creature, and consequently, their nature is new.

(See II Corinthians 5:17)

3. The words and actions of the new creature in Christ prove, before the
world, the transformation brought about by the power of the gospel (Read Ephesians 4
25 - 32 and 5 : 1- 5

Be assured, my dear brother, that it is not easy to live according to the

gospel standards, but we are confident that we will be victorious
because the Holy Spirit accompanies us, step by step, in our paths.
I am sure that you will overcome all difficulties and, when you finish the
pilgrimage here on earth, I can say like the apostle Paul: “I have fought the
good fight, I finished the race and kept the faith. From now on, the crown of
justice is stored up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day; and
not only to me, but also to all who love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8

This is the church "Assembly of God", of which

now, you are part.
The Peace of the Lord!

And I, indeed, baptize you with water, for the

regret; but he who comes after me is
more powerful than I; whose shoes I am not
worthy of bearing; he will baptize you with the Spirit
Holy, and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Evangelical Church Assembly of God - 21st Street

Preparing New Believers for the Harvest of Christ
Adapted by:
Presbyter Edmilson Soares - July 1997.