Discipleship Matters – Developing Convictions

DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS IN CHURCH:
What is your biggest challenge to building relationships with others in your local church? How have you overcome these challenges?

A STORY:
“I feel all alone.” This statement was expressed by a young man who was brought to a church with some friends. He came reluctantly because his experiences in the past with church was not relational and boring. He wondered if this would work. His friends brought him to the class that was working on developing true discipleship with Jesus. During his time in the class he was able to ask his questions. The group and leaders answered his questions patiently. He began to be faithful in the group and completing his Bible study assignments. He began to experience the love of the group and the acceptance of him. This brought joy and hope for what his purpose in life was. As a disciple of Jesus, he began to feel the love of Christ through the relationships in this gathering. From there more friendships were developed and he began to bring his seeking friend who later trusted Christ and experienced the same love and fellowship.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Let’s look at the verse Hebrews 10:24-25

“Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and more as you see the day approaching.”

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What does it mean to spur one another on toward love and good deeds?
2. Why is meeting together so important?
3. How do you see these meetings happening?
4. What should happen in these meetings? What is the day approaching?

APPLICATION AND ACOUNTABILITY:
5. How have you been encouraged in your commitment so far?
6. What step can you take to find this level of relationship?
7. When would you like to get started?
8. What is hindering you so far from being with other family members in God’s family?
9. How do we overcome that?
10. How can I help?

DIGGING IN DEEPER:
1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

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What is Acceptable to God?…

Read: Proverbs 19-21
Marked: Proverbs 21:3, To do righteousness and justice [Is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

My relationship with God is important to Him. My time in His Word and in prayer build on having Christ at the centre of my life. It’s what I call the vertical relationship.

But my horizontal relationships with other, believers and non-believers, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is as important to God as my vertical relationship with Him is.

The vertical drives the horizontal. The vertical teaches me to act rightly and walk justly towards others. Religious duty to God is never done at the expense of obedience to His Word. I am to love God and love others (Luke 10:27). I can’t say I love God and hate my neighbour. Heinous acts done in the name of God show that the perpetrator never knew God (1 John 4:20).

Observation and Application…

Read: Proverbs 16-18
Marked: Proverbs 16:23, The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

Proverbs is what is known as wisdom literature. In it we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Through the Word of God our thinking is transformed and our heart is changed.

Of course, we can read and read the Bible and not be impacted by it. It must not simple be read, but it must be applied. As the Word changes our thinking and our hearts, let it teach our mouths as well.

Our mouth can be like an open tomb; with our tongues we practice deceit; and the poison of asps can be under our lips (Romans 3:13). Which of us has not gotten into trouble because of something we’ve said?

So, a wise man learns through the application of God’s Word to control his tongue.

The Purpose of the Law…

Read: Proverbs 13-15
Marked: Proverbs 13:14, The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn [one] away from the snares of death.

Because of the sin committed by Adam and Eve, the whole human race is affected. The Bible teaches us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Death came because of sin.

Without the law we wouldn’t know what sin is. Paul says in Romans 7:7b, “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness (for example) unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’”

For the law breaker, a just punishment awaits. For the law keeper, a life free from the penalty of the law. But no one can keep the law perfectly. Breaking one breaks them all (James 2:10).

God gave His law that we might understand transgression. Galatians 3:3 reveals the purpose of the law; it was added because of transgressions. And verse 24 says the law was our tutor (teacher) to bring us to Christ.

In Christ is life and freedom from the penalty of sin, through grace by faith. Not through our own works lest we should boast in our own goodness (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Therefore, the wise will pay attention to the law of God and turn from sin and the snares of death and, in Christ, discover the fountain of life because the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

Discipleship Matters – Developing Convictions

DEVELOPING PRAYER DISCIPLINES AND HABITS:
What is the importance of prayer? In your experience, when is the best time to pray?

A STORY:
“I can’t seem to get my prayer life going.” A woman in our group told the group that she had set aside time and then she said, “I try to pray but it feels like my prayers are just hitting the ceiling.” She sadly said, “I have not experienced a lot of results from prayer. I feel frustrated because I hear about other people praying and getting results. She asked, “what do I do?” It was clarifying that when it comes to prayer, it must be a relationship in which God speaks to us through His Word and then the response is in words of thankfulness, love and worship. It was important for her to grasp that prayer is not a list of requests but a heart connection in which God speaks and in response to his Word and promises we find our confidence he hears our prayers. It was important that she develop some actions in her calendar which would help that process. That requires some disciplines.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Let’s look at the verse I Thessalonians 5:16-18,

“Be joyful always. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What did you discover are the key components in these prayer instructions?
2. How can you be joyful always?
3. How do you think you pray continually?
4. What helps you give thanks in all circumstances?
5. Which one of these three instructions do you have the most trouble with?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
6. What would help you make this area more real in your life?
7. What steps can you take to start working on this?”
8. When would you see yourself working on the other areas?
9. How will you make progress in this area of your life so that it is a conviction?
10. When will you get started and how will you have accountability?

DIGGING IN DEEPER:
1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

What is Your Treasure?…

Read: Proverbs 10-12
Marked: Proverbs 10:2, Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.

Contrary to what some may believe, death is not the end. There is life after death. But Jesus said what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Matthew 16:21). In Matthew 6:19-20 we are warned not to lay up treasures on earth but to lay up treasure in heaven.

Treasures of wickedness only earn us judgment and result in what the Bible calls the second death; eternity in hell. But treasures of righteousness deliver us from this second death.

Jesus said where our treasures are so is our heart (Matthew 6:21). Where is your heart on the matter? What treasure are you storing up?

Discipleship Matters – Developing Convictions

GRASPING THE WORD OF GOD:
What ways do you put Christ first in your life? What things get in the way?

A STORY:
A young man who was a former marine began to attend church after being away from consistent church attendance and Bible study. He came to the Belong class and learned what the qualities of a disciple were. He was impressed by Jesus’ words “If you abide in my Word then you are truly a disciple of mine.” This began to lay the foundation of his conviction about being a man who abides in the word of God. Through his study of the Bible in the Navigator 2:7 series he began to develop habits of reading the Bible, hearing the word of God and taking notes, of studying the Bible and memorizing scripture. He began to meditate on scripture. The deepening conviction was watered by the verses from Psalm 119, 9-11 by the phrase “Thy Word have a I treasured in my heart….”

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Let’s look at the verse Psalm 119:9-11,

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word. I will seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commandments. I have treasured your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What key questions have you had about living a pure life?
2. What progress have you made in your life in keeping pure?
3. What does it mean to live according to His word?
4. Where have you strayed from His commandments?
5. What do you think it means to treasure the Word in your heart?
6. How do you see yourself experiencing the reality of this verse?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
7. What progress have you made in treasuring the Word of God in your life?
8. Give me a situation here you have lived according to God’s Word?
9. What can you do to treasure God’s word in your heart?
10. How will you make progress in this area of your life so that it is a conviction?
11. When will you get started and how will you have accountability?

DIGGING IN DEEPER:
1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Building a House of Wisdom…

Read: Proverbs 7-9
Marked: Proverbs 9:1, Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars;

Verse 10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Wisdom begins and ends with God. Like a completed house the Bible is all that is needed to gain wisdom and understanding. A house of seven pillars is a strong house. Seven is also the number of perfection. It is also the number of rest.

Such a house has many rooms because it is supported by a strong foundation. Those who enter the house of wisdom will find it prepared to feed them (V2). It is a house that all May enter should they choose to (V4).

Looking elsewhere for wisdom is foolish because there is no other way of understanding (V6). In the house of wisdom your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you (V11).

Discipleship Matters – Developing Convictions

PUTTING CHRIST FIRST IN MY LIFE:
What ways do you put Christ first in your life? What things get in the way?

A STORY:
A businessman was exploring his faith and wanted to grow stronger. He had made a commitment to follow Jesus as his savior and Lord but found himself struggling with life decisions. His boss at work was demanding more of his time which was costing his family and other relationships. It especially impacted his time with the Lord. He found himself valuing sports and money. His career was competing for his time. This was having a negative impact on his faith. He was encouraged to remember that God wants to be first in his life. When this occurs in his value system then there is alignment spiritually that takes place. He wanted to know more scripture that would help him.

DIGGING INTO THE BIBLE:
Let’s look at Galatians 2:20:

I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

DISCUSSION AND DISCOVERY:
1. What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
2. What does it mean for Christ to live in me?
3. How can I no longer live?
4. What does it mean the life I now live in the flesh?
5. What does living by faith require?
6. How did Jesus love us and give his life for us?
7. What does this all mean?

APPLICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
8. What steps do I need to take to recognize that I have been crucified with Christ?
9. How do we apply “I no longer live?”
10. What can you do to make Christ lord over the areas of your life?
11. Select an area that he is not Lord. Explain how you can make him Lord.
12. What steps can you take to put him first?
13. When will you get started?
14. Who will keep you accountable to this decision?
15. How will you know this is a conviction?

DIGGING IN DEEPER:
1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.
2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?
3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?
4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?

For further information check out: https://coachthebible.com

Watch for Signs…

Read: Proverbs 4-6
Marked: Proverbs 4:14-15, Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.

When driving a car we have to pay attention to traffic signs; speed limits, merge signs, yield signs, stop signs, all sorts of signs to help us safely navigate the roads. Failing to regard them can result in an accident or worse.

One sign we may not see as often is the, Do Not Enter, sign. We may see it in parkades, sometimes with a warning that damage to our vehicle may occur if disobeyed. But a Do Not Enter sign on a freeway is certainly one we need to pay serious attention to or we may find ourselves inadvertently going the wrong direction and heading straight for oncoming traffic. Disobeying could be fatal.

So it is with God’s Word. In it we find the traffic signs for navigating life. Do not enter the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it. Turn away from it. Pass on. Failing to obey God’s signs leads to death and hell.