Chapter 12 – Cross 2: The Cross and Daily Living
1. What happens when we come to Christ? (p. 155).
2. Read I Corinthians 2:6-16 and John 16:5-15. How does the believer understand spiritual truth?
3. What is the cross-centered life? (p. 158-159). How are you personally applying this amazing truth?
4. From the story of Andy on pages 160 and 161, what is the core reason he does not live a victorious Christian life and what are the two ways this lack manifests?
5. How do you avoid the cross-less life of pride and despair? (p. 161-162).
6. Read I John 2:1-2. What does it mean to be justified?
7. Read I John 3:1-3. What does it mean to be adopted?
8. Read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. The author gives the three ingredients of repentance in this story told by Jesus as ‘Wake Up’, ‘Own Up’, and ‘Shift Weight’ (p. 165-167).
a. What are the components of ‘Wake Up’?
b. Under ‘Own Up’, what is the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow?
c. What is the sin beneath the sin?
d. Why do we need to repent of sin and (self)‘righteousness’?
e. What does it mean to ‘Shift Weight’?
f. What parts of these three ingredients hit home for you?
9. Personalize the author’s questions on page 168 from Philippians 2:1-11 regarding the sin you struggle with.
10. As God leads you, spend time in repentance.
11. Personal Growth Project:
a. “With your Personal Growth Project before you and in light of your typical ruling idolatries, what specifically about Christ do you need to see and believe as you engage in faith and repentance? What about Christ is more attractive than what you have settled for? What about Christ do you need to worship and adore? Be specific.
b. In light of your answer to the previous question, what passages of Scripture will help you see what you need to see about Christ? Avoid picking single verses. Instead, choose larger portions of Scripture that address both what you need to see about Christ and what new behavior should follow.”
11/16/08
How People Change, Chapter 11
Chapter 11 – Cross 1: New Identity and New Potential
1. Why do the authors say they did not start the book with this chapter?
(p. 147-148).
2. Why are past experiences or talents not a good indicator of our potential as a Christian? (p. 149).
3. Read Galatians 2:20. How does the cross dramatically change our life right now? (p. 149).
4. Read Romans 8:9-10. Contrast those who have Christ and those who do not (p. 150).
5. Summarize each of the redemptive truths from the Galatians passage (p. 150-151). These are “wow” truths. Underline what is significant to you and let it sink into your heart.
6. How will your life be different because of these redemptive truths? Look at the three redemptive implications on p. 152- 153.
7. What if you fail? (p. 153-154).
8. Personal Growth Project: (from supplementary material)
Quote: “Here is another opportunity to examine the area you chose as your Personal Growth Project. Think about what you have learned about life in this fallen world, your own heart and behavior, the consequences of your choices and actions, and now, the amazing heart and life changing grace of the Lord Jesus. As you reflect on what you have learned, begin thinking about how the CROSS equips you to deal with your struggle. Use these questions to guide your thoughts.
a. Where have you failed to recognize that sin’s power over you has been broken, and you do not have to give in to it any longer? How would embracing this truth change the way you think and respond?
b. Where have you failed to live up to your full potential as a child of God? Where have you failed to take advantage of the wisdom, strength, and character that is yours because Christ lives within you? In what specific situations and relationships do you have God-given opportunities to exercise the new things that are yours in Christ?
c. Where have you been repeatedly tempted to forget that the CROSS has fundamentally changed you, which has led you to give in to old temptations and patterns? How would remembering the CROSS lead to new ways of dealing with these old things?
d. Where specifically would a CROSS-centered perspective change your relationships? (Forgiveness? Patience and grace? Compassion and gentleness? Making peace? Speaking the truth? Humble service? Saying “no?”).
Where is God calling you to new ways of living in the middle of the same old stuff? Where do you need to say, “I do not have to give in to that!” or “I have greater potential than that!””
1. Why do the authors say they did not start the book with this chapter?
(p. 147-148).
2. Why are past experiences or talents not a good indicator of our potential as a Christian? (p. 149).
3. Read Galatians 2:20. How does the cross dramatically change our life right now? (p. 149).
4. Read Romans 8:9-10. Contrast those who have Christ and those who do not (p. 150).
5. Summarize each of the redemptive truths from the Galatians passage (p. 150-151). These are “wow” truths. Underline what is significant to you and let it sink into your heart.
6. How will your life be different because of these redemptive truths? Look at the three redemptive implications on p. 152- 153.
7. What if you fail? (p. 153-154).
8. Personal Growth Project: (from supplementary material)
Quote: “Here is another opportunity to examine the area you chose as your Personal Growth Project. Think about what you have learned about life in this fallen world, your own heart and behavior, the consequences of your choices and actions, and now, the amazing heart and life changing grace of the Lord Jesus. As you reflect on what you have learned, begin thinking about how the CROSS equips you to deal with your struggle. Use these questions to guide your thoughts.
a. Where have you failed to recognize that sin’s power over you has been broken, and you do not have to give in to it any longer? How would embracing this truth change the way you think and respond?
b. Where have you failed to live up to your full potential as a child of God? Where have you failed to take advantage of the wisdom, strength, and character that is yours because Christ lives within you? In what specific situations and relationships do you have God-given opportunities to exercise the new things that are yours in Christ?
c. Where have you been repeatedly tempted to forget that the CROSS has fundamentally changed you, which has led you to give in to old temptations and patterns? How would remembering the CROSS lead to new ways of dealing with these old things?
d. Where specifically would a CROSS-centered perspective change your relationships? (Forgiveness? Patience and grace? Compassion and gentleness? Making peace? Speaking the truth? Humble service? Saying “no?”).
Where is God calling you to new ways of living in the middle of the same old stuff? Where do you need to say, “I do not have to give in to that!” or “I have greater potential than that!””
11/9/08
How People Change, Chapter 10
Chapter 10 – Thorns 2: Why Do You Get Entangled?
1. What are some of the popular diagnoses and cures for problems in our society? (p. 130-132). Why don’t these cures work?
2. What is our real problem? (p. 133-134).
3. Read Deuteronomy 5:6-21. How do the first three commands dealing with worship relate to the last seven commands?
4. What does the author say is the core of each commandment? (p. 136-137).
5. As you read the story of Joe and Mary in this chapter and consider the heart issue, why is Joe really so angry?
6. How do even good things become idols? Read Romans 1:25. (p. 138-139).
7. Read James 4:1-10. What is God teaching you in this passage about idolatrous worship relating to anger and conflict? (p. 141-142).
8. To begin identifying your own objects of false worship, read through the ‘x-ray’ questions on pages 142-145. Have courage. Answer and process these as best you can.
9. Personal Growth Project: (supplementary material from author)
a. Quote: “Another way to identify idolatry in your life as you work on your Personal Growth Project is to look for places where you evidence strong emotions like anger, fear, worry, and despair. In each case, ask yourself questions that will get you below the surface of your emotions. Ask yourself, ‘Is there something I want too much?’ Is there something I am afraid of losing?’ Is there something I am afraid of getting?’ Take a recent situation when you experienced any of these strong emotions and write down what you might have wanted more than Christ. Do this in several different situations to determine if there is a theme evident your life.
b. Answer the following questions and look for common themes:
– What things tend to function as replacements for God in my life?
– What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about most?
– What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I didn’t even want to live? What keeps me going?
– What do I rely on to comfort myself with when things go bad or get difficult?
– What do I think most easily about? What does my mind go to when I am free? What preoccupies me?
– What unanswered prayer would make me seriously think about turning away from God?
– What makes me feel the most self-worth? What am I proudest of?
– What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?
c. Look back at chapters 3 and 4 and reflect on the promises taught there about God’s faithful and persistent love for us in Christ. Take a moment to give thanks for the gospel and its specific application to your answers to questions 1 and 2!”
1. What are some of the popular diagnoses and cures for problems in our society? (p. 130-132). Why don’t these cures work?
2. What is our real problem? (p. 133-134).
3. Read Deuteronomy 5:6-21. How do the first three commands dealing with worship relate to the last seven commands?
4. What does the author say is the core of each commandment? (p. 136-137).
5. As you read the story of Joe and Mary in this chapter and consider the heart issue, why is Joe really so angry?
6. How do even good things become idols? Read Romans 1:25. (p. 138-139).
7. Read James 4:1-10. What is God teaching you in this passage about idolatrous worship relating to anger and conflict? (p. 141-142).
8. To begin identifying your own objects of false worship, read through the ‘x-ray’ questions on pages 142-145. Have courage. Answer and process these as best you can.
9. Personal Growth Project: (supplementary material from author)
a. Quote: “Another way to identify idolatry in your life as you work on your Personal Growth Project is to look for places where you evidence strong emotions like anger, fear, worry, and despair. In each case, ask yourself questions that will get you below the surface of your emotions. Ask yourself, ‘Is there something I want too much?’ Is there something I am afraid of losing?’ Is there something I am afraid of getting?’ Take a recent situation when you experienced any of these strong emotions and write down what you might have wanted more than Christ. Do this in several different situations to determine if there is a theme evident your life.
b. Answer the following questions and look for common themes:
– What things tend to function as replacements for God in my life?
– What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about most?
– What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I didn’t even want to live? What keeps me going?
– What do I rely on to comfort myself with when things go bad or get difficult?
– What do I think most easily about? What does my mind go to when I am free? What preoccupies me?
– What unanswered prayer would make me seriously think about turning away from God?
– What makes me feel the most self-worth? What am I proudest of?
– What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?
c. Look back at chapters 3 and 4 and reflect on the promises taught there about God’s faithful and persistent love for us in Christ. Take a moment to give thanks for the gospel and its specific application to your answers to questions 1 and 2!”
11/7/08
How People Change, Chapter 9
Chapter 9 – Thorns 1: What Entangles You?
1. What does it mean to have “thankful discontent” or “joyful dissatisfaction” What does it not mean? (p. 118-119).
2. Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10. What can you learn from this passage? (p. 120). Anything else?
3. Read Ephesians 4:17-5:20. What are the thorns and fruit in this passage? What are the roots? As you prayerfully examine yourself, what do you see? How does this new fruit work out in the everyday world? (Ephesians 5:21 – 6:9).
4. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What is the war? What are your resources and how can you specifically use them?
5. Continue to have the courage for thorn self-examination by pondering the list of questions on page 123.
6. What does the author say are some typical thorn bush responses and which ones are you most likely to fall into? (124-125).
7. What are some ways to replace the thorns with fruit? (126-127).
8. Personal Growth Project
“Think about the struggle you chose last week for your Personal Growth Project. Use the categories from this lesson to identify where you may be responding to life in THORN bush ways.
a. Where do you see patterns of denial, avoidance, or escape?
b. When or where have you magnified, expanded, or catastrophized your struggle?
c. Are there situations or relationships where you are prickly and hypersensitive?
d. Are there situations where you are tempted to return evil for evil?
e. As you face this struggle, do you feel bogged down, paralyzed, captured?
f. Where do you tend to be self-righteous or self-excusing?
Be humble and honest as you answer these questions, but don’t allow yourself to become discouraged and overwhelmed. Remember, there is already evidence of good FRUIT in your life. The One who calls you to change has already given you everything you need so that those changes can actually take place (2 Peter 1:3,4).”
1. What does it mean to have “thankful discontent” or “joyful dissatisfaction” What does it not mean? (p. 118-119).
2. Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10. What can you learn from this passage? (p. 120). Anything else?
3. Read Ephesians 4:17-5:20. What are the thorns and fruit in this passage? What are the roots? As you prayerfully examine yourself, what do you see? How does this new fruit work out in the everyday world? (Ephesians 5:21 – 6:9).
4. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. What is the war? What are your resources and how can you specifically use them?
5. Continue to have the courage for thorn self-examination by pondering the list of questions on page 123.
6. What does the author say are some typical thorn bush responses and which ones are you most likely to fall into? (124-125).
7. What are some ways to replace the thorns with fruit? (126-127).
8. Personal Growth Project
“Think about the struggle you chose last week for your Personal Growth Project. Use the categories from this lesson to identify where you may be responding to life in THORN bush ways.
a. Where do you see patterns of denial, avoidance, or escape?
b. When or where have you magnified, expanded, or catastrophized your struggle?
c. Are there situations or relationships where you are prickly and hypersensitive?
d. Are there situations where you are tempted to return evil for evil?
e. As you face this struggle, do you feel bogged down, paralyzed, captured?
f. Where do you tend to be self-righteous or self-excusing?
Be humble and honest as you answer these questions, but don’t allow yourself to become discouraged and overwhelmed. Remember, there is already evidence of good FRUIT in your life. The One who calls you to change has already given you everything you need so that those changes can actually take place (2 Peter 1:3,4).”
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