( Step I — Growth Track )

ENCOUNTER

Discover what it truly means to encounter God regularly — through the Gospel, the Word, and the disciplines that grow your walk with Jesus.

In this class, we explore the genuine meaning of salvation, examine the factors that distance us from God, and step into the spiritual disciplines outlined in Scripture that guide our spiritual growth.

( Watch the class )

ENCOUNTER · CLASS RECORDING

( Step I · Encounter )
Class Recording · Growth Track Watch on YouTube ↗
( Welcome )

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

We're thrilled that you've chosen to deepen your journey with Jesus. This course will explore what it means to follow Him, dive into the core values of Essential Church, and help you find your community and purpose.

As you embark on this path, you can expect to engage with others on the same journey — support, belonging, and friendships that go the distance.

You'll gain practical tools and guidance to identify and develop your unique gifts, enabling you to serve effectively.

We look forward to walking with you on this transformative journey.

( I )   The Gospel

THE GOSPEL.

I · The Problem

We've all erred in ways the Bible calls sin — falling short of God's standards. So how do you build a relationship with a flawless God? Perfection is essential, but we know we don't meet that standard.

Sin caused eternal separation from God. Most people feel distant from God. There's a reason.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

Colossians 1:21

For the wages of sin is death.

Romans 6:23
II · God's Solution

God sent His Son Jesus to save us from sin.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.

1 Timothy 1:15

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.

Romans 5:10
III · What Must I Do?

  1. Repent

    Turn from sin, change direction, and ask God for forgiveness. Repentance opens the door.

  2. Be Born Again

    Receive new spiritual life in Christ. No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they're born again.

  3. Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior

    Declare with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.

( A Simple Prayer of Salvation )

IF YOU'RE READY, PRAY THIS.

Pray with us

Jesus, I come to You as a sinner. I need a Savior and a Lord. I have failed to obey You and gone my own way. Forgive me of my sins. Thank You for shedding Your blood for me at the cross. Thank You for making a way for me to be reconciled to You. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died, were buried, and rose again so that I can be free. I choose to follow You. I receive by faith now what You did for me then.

Thank You, God. Amen.

( II )   Salvation

SALVATION.

Salvation is a gift from God. You're saved from the eternal consequences of sin and given eternal life — about what God has already done for you, not what you can do for Him.

I · How am I saved?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8

You've been saved by the grace of Jesus through faith — not because of anything you've done, but because of what He did when He died on the cross and rose again.

II · What do I need?

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Turn from sin, repent, and believe — confess Jesus as Lord. You don't have to work for salvation; you can simply believe.

III · Why is this the most important decision?

You are a new creation.

Surrendering your life to Jesus is the greatest decision you can ever make. Through Him you're given a living hope. Your sin is forgiven and your relationship with God is restored.

Salvation begins the process we call sanctification.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible is the living word of God.

Every part is divinely inspired and written. It is how He speaks to us. It tells us His story — and our part within it.

( III )   The Kingdom

THE KINGDOM.

For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.

Colossians 1:13

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

  1. Repent

    Repentance is more than feeling sorry — it's changing direction. Turn away from the kingdom of darkness and submit to the rule of King Jesus.

  2. Be Transformed

    When you're born again, the Holy Spirit begins teaching a new way of living — thinking, speaking, and acting by the culture of Heaven, not the customs of this world.

  3. Live as Citizens of Heaven

    As sons and daughters of God, you now live under Heaven's government — carrying His presence, power, and purpose into the earth.

Here as it is in heaven.

( IV )   Word of God

WORD OF GOD.

The Bible is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and God-breathed. It is the written Word of God, recorded by faithful men under divine guidance. Though written through human hands, it carries Heaven's authority — every word alive with the breath of God.

The Bible reveals God's identity, His nature, and His divine plan for all humankind. It is our foundation for truth, correction, instruction, and transformation.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

2 Timothy 3:16

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the Beginning

All that exists — everything seen and unseen — was spoken into being by God. Humanity was formed with special purpose: God breathed His own life into man and gave him dominion over creation.

From the start, God intended for humanity to share in His royal authority — to rule with His wisdom and walk in close relationship with Him. Yet He gave us free will: the choice to trust His ways or to follow our own understanding.

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person…

Genesis 2:7
The Fall

They chose their way over God's.

Tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil — the one tree God commanded them not to eat from. In doing so, they chose their own wisdom over God's, introducing sin into the world and breaking perfect fellowship with Him. (Genesis 3:1–6)

The Word of God realigns our hearts with Heaven's truth. It renews our minds and restores what sin distorted. When we read Scripture, we don't just study information — we receive transformation.

( V )   Sin

SIN.

I · What is sin?

Sin is an immoral act that goes against divine law. Biblically, sin is anything that falls out of alignment with the perfect character and direction of God. It's not just wrongdoing — it's rebellion against His nature, breaking the relationship between Creator and creation.

II · The Tempter

The serpent in Genesis 3 was the tempter — Satan, the opposer of God. He deceived Eve, convincing her to question God's Word and act in disobedience. Scripture warns us to resist the devil so we don't fall into the same trap.

Because He loved the world, He made a plan to save us.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16
The Power of Grace

Your salvation is secure because of Jesus and Jesus alone. There's nothing you could ever do to make God love you more, and nothing you've ever done that could make Him love you less.

Once you are saved, you become a child of God. When the Father looks at you, He no longer sees your sin or mistakes — He sees Jesus.

  • Because of His grace, you are forgiven.
  • Because of His blood, you are free.
  • Because of His resurrection, you are alive.

Your past is paid for. Your present is covered. Your future is secure in Christ.

( VI )   Sanctification

SANCTIFICATION.

After salvation comes the ongoing process of becoming more like Jesus. It's not about perfection — it's about progression.

I · God's Work, Our Response

Sanctification is a divine partnership. God does the work of making us more like Christ, but we participate actively by:

  • Turning away from sin
  • Surrendering to His will
  • Obeying His Word
  • Trusting His process

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6
II · Disciplines for Sanctification

GROWTH HAPPENS THROUGH DISCIPLINE.

  1. Read the Bible

    God's Word is the foundation for transformation. As you study Scripture, the Holy Spirit renews your mind and reveals God's heart. Schedule it, plan it, find a quiet place, and ask Him to illuminate what you read.

  2. Pray to God

    Prayer is communion with God — how you speak to Him, listen to Him, and grow in intimacy with Him.

  3. Connect to Church

    You were never meant to walk this journey alone. Spiritual growth happens best in community — relationships, teaching, serving, like the early believers.

From glory to glory.

You are being made new, day by day, from glory to glory, until Christ is fully formed in you.

( VII )   Water Baptism

WATER BAPTISM.

Baptism is an outward confession of an inward transformation. The public declaration that your old life is gone and your new life in Christ has begun.

I · What baptism represents

  1. A Command

    Every believer who confesses Christ should be baptized.

  2. Immersion

    From the Greek baptizo, meaning to immerse.

  3. Burial & Resurrection

    Going under the water symbolizes the death of your old life and mindset. Coming up signifies resurrection to new life in Christ.

II · What baptism is not

Baptism does not save you; it publicly declares that you are saved. It doesn't get you to heaven — it announces that you're headed there.

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:4

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.

Matthew 28:19
( VIII )   Communion

COMMUNION.

A sacred celebration practiced by followers of Jesus since the earliest days of the Church — an act of remembrance that keeps our hearts anchored in the sacrifice that purchased our salvation.

I · From Passover to the Cross

Passover commemorated how God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. When death swept through the land, the Israelites were spared because they marked their doorposts with the blood of a spotless lamb.

That ancient sign pointed forward to Jesus — the true Lamb of God, whose blood saves us from eternal separation from God.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take it; this is My body."

Mark 14:22

Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them. "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many."

Mark 14:23–24
II · The New Covenant

In that final meal, Jesus redefined the Passover symbols:

  • The Bread represented His body, broken for our healing.
  • The Cup represented His blood, shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Through these symbols, Jesus declared a new covenant — a new way to relate to God, no longer through sacrifice, but through grace.

Where Moses led God's people out of slavery in Egypt, Jesus leads us out of slavery to sin.

( IX )   Prayer

PRAYER.

Prayer is the heartbeat of our relationship with God. It deepens dependence on Him and sharpens our faith.

Prayer is a rhythm of intimacy.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

Philippians 4:6–7
I · The Posture of Prayer

There are no levels in prayer — only hearts willing to come before God in trust and surrender. It's not about your circumstance; it's about your heart stance.

When we pray with faith, honesty, and humility, we discover that prayer doesn't just change things — it changes us.

II · Why we pray

  1. Prayer sharpens faith

    Strengthens trust in God's character and reminds us He is faithful in every season.

  2. Prayer creates intimacy

    Connects us to His presence and helps us hear His voice more clearly.

  3. Prayer brings change

    When we pray, heaven moves — because God still responds to the cries of His people.

( X )   Fasting

FASTING.

The ancient practice of abstaining from food (or other comforts) for a set time to pursue God with greater focus and devotion. It's not denial for its own sake — it's a discipline that trains your heart to depend more deeply on God.

Not about getting from God — about getting to God.

I · What Fasting Is

A way to quiet distractions, humble ourselves, and seek His presence above all else. Fasting creates space for His voice to be louder than our appetites, our screens, and our schedules.

When you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do… Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 6:16–18
II · Types of Fasting

  1. Liquid Fast

    Consuming only liquids for a specific period of time.

  2. Partial Fast

    Abstaining from certain foods — for example, the Daniel Fast.

  3. Media / Technology Fast

    Choosing to abstain from TV, social media, or other digital distractions.

III · Why We Fast
  • Fasting breaks the power of the flesh. It teaches our bodies to serve our spirits, not the other way around.
  • Fasting draws us closer to God. It shifts our focus from what we crave to Who we need.
  • Fasting is an invitation to intimacy, dependence, and renewal.
( Your next step )

CONTINUE TO STEP II.

You've started the journey. Next, get rooted in the rhythms that establish a strong walk with Jesus — community, the Word, and a life built to last.

( Continue to ESTABLISH ↗ )

Step II · Growth Track