Review of Week 46: 

COMMITTED: We really need to move from interest to commitment - to God.

NEW LIFE: The old must pass away. God gives new life.

CHRIST’S LIFE: The life of faith is Christ is living in us, presenting us holy and blameless, beyond reproach.

SUCCESS: God sends us. God grants success. We worship.

OUR STORY: It’s our story that we live with Christ. Follow Him.

EVERY DAY FAITH: The spectacular is interesting, but we need to be committed to every day faith.

SIMPLY OBEY: every single act of obedience draws us closer to God.

Nov. 18 - FREEDOM

John 8:36 “...So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed...”

Context:

- Jesus claims to be the light of the world.

- Jesus claims to be from above.

- Jesus claims to always do what pleases the Father.

- Jesus claims that true disciples abide in His word.

- True disciples know the truth, and the truth sets them free.

- If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

What is the opposite of freedom? [bondage]

What types of bondage keep people from being free? [sin, habits, addictions]

Why do we accept our bondage?

- we don’t see the potential God has placed in us.

- we don’t really believe God cares enough about us to liberate us.

How is a person set free from sin? [by being crucified with Christ]

How is a person freed to be all God intends? [by the resurrected life of Christ]

How does the world’s idea of freedom differ from God’s?

- freedom from responsibility leads to anarchy.

- freedom from the corruption of this world leads to something entirely different.

Do we want the freedom Christ offers or the freedom the world promotes?

Do we prefer the “knowns” of our bondage over the “unknowns” of Christ’s freedom? [remember the Israelites wanting to go back to Egypt]

Why do people love darkness? [John 3:19 “...because their works are evil...”]

Nov. 19 - SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUDGMENT

John 16:8 “...And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;...”

Context:

- There is danger of falling away.

- Religion will persecute Christ’s disciples because it doesn’t know Christ.

- Jesus must go, and it is an advantage for His followers.

- The helper will come to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

What does it mean to be convicted of sin?

- not just a “whoops I shouldn’t have done that”.

- what goes through a person’s mind in our courts of law when they are convicted, when after all the deliberations, they are found guilty.

- realization that the price MUST be paid.

Do we know how much we’ve transgressed in God’s kingdom?

- why is the Holy Spirit making it clear.

- the process increases our belief and understanding of the sacrifice of Christ.

What does it mean to be convicted of righteousness?

- realization of the resurrected, glorified, righteous Son of God.

- the process increases His life in us.

What does it mean to be convicted of judgment?

- realization of the judgment of the ruler of this world.

- the process should move us from friendship with this world and its ruler, to relationship with God.

Nov. 20 - FORGIVENESS

Eph.1:7 “...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace...”

Context:

- every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ.

- saints “are chosen before the foundation of the world”

- chosen to be holy and blameless.

- predestined for adoption according to His purposes.

What is the ‘pleasant view’ of forgiveness? [God is kind and loving, so he accepts us]

What does this view devalue? [the extreme cost of forgiveness]

How does human forgiveness usually differ from God’s forgiveness?

- does God ever say “that’s okay, we’ll just pretend it never happened”?

- are there consequences for actions that are mandated by God’s holiness?

- did Christ have to take these consequences for forgiveness to become available?

Do we tend to undervalue, or trivialize forgiveness?

How can a proper understanding of the atonement capture our allegiance and propel us through the salvation process?

Nov. 21 - FINISHED WORK

John 17:4 “...I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do...”

Context:

Chapter 16 - Jesus warned His disciples about their upcoming persecution, He promised them the Holy Spirit was coming, and He assured them that He had overcome the world.

Chapter 17 - Jesus’ high priestly prayer.

Eternal life is knowing God, and Jesus Christ.

What is a martyr?

- martyrs willingly die rather than deny that for which they stand.

- martyrs lives are taken from them.

Was Jesus a martyr?

- Jesus gave His life, it wasn’t taken.

Did Jesus accomplish the work that God gave Him to do?

- He came to die for mankind.

- His death was the historical plan of God.

What is our part in accomplishing God’s intentions?

- the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

- we repent and are crucified with Christ.

- Christ lives in us and we become coworkers.

Was Christ serious about fulfilling His purpose?

Are we part of God’s historical plan?

Nov. 22 - ORDINARY

1 Corinthians 10:31 “...Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God...”

Context:

v33 clarifies the position we are to take.

- we are not to seek our own advantage.

- we are to seek other’s advantage, that many may be saved.

Life exists in two different categories.

- Profound (big) things.

- Ordinary (little) things.

Which type are important? [both]

Which are ordained by God? [both]

Which make you feel more important?

Which feels more God ordained?

What is a prig? [a person who is bold, impudent, conceited]

What is a spiritual prig? [a person who is proud of his profound importance]

Did God create us for the ‘ordinary’ things of life?

Why are the ordinary things usually a great place to reveal the glory of God to others?

- it’s where we spend most of our life.

- it’s God ordained reality and we can easily reveal His reality in the ordinary.

Nov. 23 - GRACE and MERCY

Psalms 123:3 “...Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us, For we are greatly filled with contempt...”

Context:

- Looking to the Lord for mercy.

- The world offers plenty of scorn and contempt.

What is the difference between belief in God and faith in God.

- there are a lot more people who say they believe in God than there are people who truly have faith in God.

- faith in God is demonstrated in every day responses to every day situations.

Are we more confident in our human ingenuity or in our God?

How can the cares of the world shift our focus and our attitudes?

- political, job, family situations?

How can the ‘need to be right’ shift our focus and our attitudes?

How do we typically react to the world’s scorn and contempt? [cynical, critical, judgment]

How does a life of faith change these reactions? [mercy and grace]

Why does God give us discernment?

- not so we can criticize.

- so we can intercede.

- so we can care.

Nov. 24 - LEAKAGE

Psalms 123:2 “...Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us...”

When do you become aware of a leak?

- usually not until there’s a big problem.

- even a small leak eventually results in a big problem.

What happens to a balloon that has a slow leak?

- loses volume.

- loses firmness.

- eventually becomes worthless and dangerous.

What is spiritual leakage?

- less walking in the Spirit, more walking in the flesh.

What happens to a Christian with a slow leak?

- stands for less.

- loses firmness.

- eventually becomes worthless and dangerous.

How can leakage be prevented?

- maintain a consistent, healthy relationship with the Almighty.

- quickly repair any areas that lack holiness.

- when the Holy Spirit convicts in a problem areas, repent and strengthen that which remains.