Freedom in Christ

The Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course (FICC) is in progress in Stockport Centre Church. Click here to download an information leaflet.

What is FICC about?

Most church leaders agree that far too few Christians reach their potential. Some simply drop out. Why? Usually because they don't have a real understanding of their new identity in Christ.

Traditional discipleship teaching can sound like this to them: "do this every day", "don't do that any more", "successful Christians behave like this". So they end up simply acting like Christians. Some manage to do and say the right things but don't necessarily live fruitful lives. Others constantly require help with the same old issues. Some just drift away.

Read any of Paul's letters and you'll get half way through before you find instructions on how to behave. First he concentrates on what's already been done; the "riches" we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:18). Because it's not what we do that determines who we are - it's who we are that determines what we do.

The course first helps people grasp all that happened the moment they became Christians: who we are in Christ; the truth of God's unconditional love; why there is no condemnation; why we don't have to languish in cycles of sin, negative thinking and hopelessness.

But good teaching on its own is not enough. Although the key to freedom is knowing the truth (John 8:32), simply telling people the truth doesn't mean that they really know it. The course also includes a kind and gentle ministry process to help people repent of past sin and resist the devil. For many this "clearing out of rubbish" is the key to the teaching falling into place.

The three basic components to the course are:

1. Discipleship teaching that helps Christians understand who they are in Christ, the nature of the spiritual battle, and how to move on to maturity.
2. A ministry process called Steps To Freedom In Christ which helps Christians deal with negative influences and unresolved spiritual conflicts in their lives.
3. Help to stand firm in the freedom gained.

Why do this course?

Take FICC if you want to...

• Find out what it means to live out your new identity in Christ rather than constantly trying to “act like a Christian”
• Understand how what happened when you became a Christian enables you to walk in freedom from sin and mature more quickly than before
• Gain a clear understanding of the battle you are in and how to win it
• Learn how to resolve completely the negative effects of the past by repenting and submitting to God (James 4:7)
• Identify strongholds and lies you have been believing and adopt a clear strategy for renewing your mind and standing firm in the freedom gained
• See that we already have everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)
• Learn how to get out of cycles of sin and hopelessness
• Bring your goals for your life into line with God’s goals for you.

Who is it for?

Over 100,000 people have already experienced the Freedom in Christ Discipleship course in over 3000 UK churches.