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).”
10/30/08
How People Change, Chapter 8
Chapter 8 – Heat 2: You in the Real World
1. Read Romans 8:20-22. What are the three ways Paul describes earthly life between creation and the second coming?
2. Each of the three ways above end with a question (p. 108-109). Where do you encounter futility and frustration in your life? Where do you encounter the reality of decay in your life? Where are you experiencing pain right now?
3. How does the enemy use the effects of the fall to his advantage? (p. 109). Also read I Peter 5:8-9.
4. Describe the heat and the response in each of the Wilderness examples. Give an example of how you have responded in similar ways. (Pages 110-113).
a. Bane of Boring Food – Numbers 11:4-23.
b. Fear of Threatening Circumstances – Numbers 14:1-4
c. Blame Game – Numbers 20:1-5
5. Author quote from page 113, “the anger we reveal in the middle of the trial says more about us than it does about the trial. The Bible keeps the focus on us. It confronts the self-righteousness and spiritual blindness that makes us think that the biggest problems are outside us, not inside.” Comments.
6. Read Deuteronomy 8:2-14. Why does God give us wilderness experiences? (p. 114).
The following assignment is quoted from the workbook, How People Change. The workbook is a very simplified version of the book, but does include this very powerful project that we will be using in our studies:
7. Personal Growth Project
This project begins a process of self-examination that will take you through the remainder of the book. What you do with this assignment and those that follow will determine how much you personally benefit from this course and how much it will prepare you to be used by God in the lives of others.
Your assignment is to choose an area of struggle from your own life. From now on, you will work on this area, applying what you learn from the HEAT, THORNS, CROSS, FRUIT model lesson by lesson. For each lesson, you will be given a guided opportunity to take the principles, perspectives, and promises of each lesson and apply it to your particular area of struggle. It is our hope that, as you do this, you will see measurable progress in that area of your life, while you get to know your Lord and his grace more fully and deeply.
Perhaps you are thinking, “I don’t know how to choose the thing I should work on”. Here is some guidance:
a. You may pick a relatively minor habit (biting your fingernails or breaking the speed limit) or you may choose a major pattern of behavior, thinking, speech, or emotions (a tendency to be shy and evasive around people; a tendency to be aggressive and controlling; or a tendency to judge or categorize people).
Either choice has its benefits. Small habits are easily observed bits of life that can lead you to think about more substantial issues. For example, biting your fingernails could lead you to consider how you handle stress and tension in general. Larger, more general themes and problems bring more of your life into God’s light right from the start. If you pick a larger issue, like strained relationships with people, you will find it more helpful to narrow the focus, for example, by focusing on one relationship in particular.
b. Here are some possible choices for a personal growth project:
Driving habits: your driving reveals a lot about your personality and expectations about life.
Money and possessions: Are you obsessed with wealth? Covetous? Continually in debt?
Work and rest: Do you alternate between workaholism and a self-indulgent love of comfort? Are you driven and restless? Do you procrastinate and avoid responsibility? Do you pursue leisure in a way that pleases the Lord?
Grumbling: Do you tend to be negative, pessimistic, complaining, irritable, unhappy, discontent, and dissatisfied? When do you grumble, and about what?
Avoidance: Does fear keep you from people or situations? Are you afraid of what people might think?
Subtle boasting: Do you seek to look good in other’s eyes through your job, your possessions, your children, your spirituality?
Secret sin/addictive behavior: Is there an area of sin and temptation that regularly defeats you? Have you found it difficult to admit it and seek the help of others?
c. Take time to pray. Ask God to give you insight and wisdom as you choose your project. Ask God to help you to resist the temptation to take the easy way out and give you the courage of faith to choose an area that really needs attention. Ask him to make you willing to be honest before him and others.
d. Once you have chosen your project, write down everything you know right now about your struggle. When and where does this problem tend to rear its head? How long have you struggled with it? What have you done to get control or victory over it? What do you think Scripture says about it? How do you think it has affected you and the people around you? What do you think it reveals about you and what is important to you? In what ways right now, do you think God is calling you to change in this area? Turn to the diagram in Chapter 6 and try your best to answer these four questions:
HEAT: In what situations and relationships does this struggle most often reveal itself?
THORNS: How do you respond when the HEAT hits? What do those responses reveal about your heart? What are the everyday consequences of responding in that way?
CROSS: What specific things does Christ offer you in your struggle: What promises can you claim? What passages speak directly to your struggle?
FRUIT: In what ways does God want to change your heart? How will that heart change result in a whole new set of responses to the same old HEAT? If those changes take place, what will be the harvest of good consequences?
Do your best to answer these questions. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t answer all of them, since your understanding will grow with each chapter. Be thankful that God has given you this opportunity to meet him and experience his grace, right in the middle of life’s difficulties. It is our prayer that God will use this project to change and mature you and position you to be used by him in the lives of others.
1. Read Romans 8:20-22. What are the three ways Paul describes earthly life between creation and the second coming?
2. Each of the three ways above end with a question (p. 108-109). Where do you encounter futility and frustration in your life? Where do you encounter the reality of decay in your life? Where are you experiencing pain right now?
3. How does the enemy use the effects of the fall to his advantage? (p. 109). Also read I Peter 5:8-9.
4. Describe the heat and the response in each of the Wilderness examples. Give an example of how you have responded in similar ways. (Pages 110-113).
a. Bane of Boring Food – Numbers 11:4-23.
b. Fear of Threatening Circumstances – Numbers 14:1-4
c. Blame Game – Numbers 20:1-5
5. Author quote from page 113, “the anger we reveal in the middle of the trial says more about us than it does about the trial. The Bible keeps the focus on us. It confronts the self-righteousness and spiritual blindness that makes us think that the biggest problems are outside us, not inside.” Comments.
6. Read Deuteronomy 8:2-14. Why does God give us wilderness experiences? (p. 114).
The following assignment is quoted from the workbook, How People Change. The workbook is a very simplified version of the book, but does include this very powerful project that we will be using in our studies:
7. Personal Growth Project
This project begins a process of self-examination that will take you through the remainder of the book. What you do with this assignment and those that follow will determine how much you personally benefit from this course and how much it will prepare you to be used by God in the lives of others.
Your assignment is to choose an area of struggle from your own life. From now on, you will work on this area, applying what you learn from the HEAT, THORNS, CROSS, FRUIT model lesson by lesson. For each lesson, you will be given a guided opportunity to take the principles, perspectives, and promises of each lesson and apply it to your particular area of struggle. It is our hope that, as you do this, you will see measurable progress in that area of your life, while you get to know your Lord and his grace more fully and deeply.
Perhaps you are thinking, “I don’t know how to choose the thing I should work on”. Here is some guidance:
a. You may pick a relatively minor habit (biting your fingernails or breaking the speed limit) or you may choose a major pattern of behavior, thinking, speech, or emotions (a tendency to be shy and evasive around people; a tendency to be aggressive and controlling; or a tendency to judge or categorize people).
Either choice has its benefits. Small habits are easily observed bits of life that can lead you to think about more substantial issues. For example, biting your fingernails could lead you to consider how you handle stress and tension in general. Larger, more general themes and problems bring more of your life into God’s light right from the start. If you pick a larger issue, like strained relationships with people, you will find it more helpful to narrow the focus, for example, by focusing on one relationship in particular.
b. Here are some possible choices for a personal growth project:
Driving habits: your driving reveals a lot about your personality and expectations about life.
Money and possessions: Are you obsessed with wealth? Covetous? Continually in debt?
Work and rest: Do you alternate between workaholism and a self-indulgent love of comfort? Are you driven and restless? Do you procrastinate and avoid responsibility? Do you pursue leisure in a way that pleases the Lord?
Grumbling: Do you tend to be negative, pessimistic, complaining, irritable, unhappy, discontent, and dissatisfied? When do you grumble, and about what?
Avoidance: Does fear keep you from people or situations? Are you afraid of what people might think?
Subtle boasting: Do you seek to look good in other’s eyes through your job, your possessions, your children, your spirituality?
Secret sin/addictive behavior: Is there an area of sin and temptation that regularly defeats you? Have you found it difficult to admit it and seek the help of others?
c. Take time to pray. Ask God to give you insight and wisdom as you choose your project. Ask God to help you to resist the temptation to take the easy way out and give you the courage of faith to choose an area that really needs attention. Ask him to make you willing to be honest before him and others.
d. Once you have chosen your project, write down everything you know right now about your struggle. When and where does this problem tend to rear its head? How long have you struggled with it? What have you done to get control or victory over it? What do you think Scripture says about it? How do you think it has affected you and the people around you? What do you think it reveals about you and what is important to you? In what ways right now, do you think God is calling you to change in this area? Turn to the diagram in Chapter 6 and try your best to answer these four questions:
HEAT: In what situations and relationships does this struggle most often reveal itself?
THORNS: How do you respond when the HEAT hits? What do those responses reveal about your heart? What are the everyday consequences of responding in that way?
CROSS: What specific things does Christ offer you in your struggle: What promises can you claim? What passages speak directly to your struggle?
FRUIT: In what ways does God want to change your heart? How will that heart change result in a whole new set of responses to the same old HEAT? If those changes take place, what will be the harvest of good consequences?
Do your best to answer these questions. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t answer all of them, since your understanding will grow with each chapter. Be thankful that God has given you this opportunity to meet him and experience his grace, right in the middle of life’s difficulties. It is our prayer that God will use this project to change and mature you and position you to be used by him in the lives of others.
10/21/08
How People Change, Chapter 7
Chapter 7 – Heat 1: God in the Real World
1. How do our life experiences and emotional reactions to these experiences change our theology? (p. 95-96).
2. Read Psalm 88. What is the Psalm writer experiencing? Have you felt this way?
3. What are the lessons from this Psalm? (p. 98).
4. Do you edit your prayer requests? What would it take to be more honest?
5. How does Psalm 88 encourage you?
6. Read James 1:1-15. What is the historical context?
7. What is the truth about trials from James 1, Philippians 1:29, and I Peter 4:12 & 13?
8. How can trials come from blessings? (p. 101).
9. What makes the difference between trials producing thorns or fruit? (p. 102).
10. Read and answer the questions about James 1 on page 103.
11. This series of questions come from page 104 and 105:
– What pressures do you regularly face?
– What are your God-given opportunities?
– What are your everyday responsibilities?
– Where are you facing difficult circumstances?
– What temptations are you facing?
– Who are the difficult people in your life?
– What unexpected blessings have you received?
– In what situations do you feel alone or misunderstood?
– What challenges does the value system of modern culture present?
– In what areas do you feel overwhelmed by the things “assigned” to you (blessing or difficulty)?
– What are the places you are tempted to hide from or avoid?
– What situations tempt you to say you are okay when you are not?
– What is the hardest experience of your past?
– What is your greatest fear about the future?
12. What was the key point for you in this chapter?
13. Action Point:
1. How do our life experiences and emotional reactions to these experiences change our theology? (p. 95-96).
2. Read Psalm 88. What is the Psalm writer experiencing? Have you felt this way?
3. What are the lessons from this Psalm? (p. 98).
4. Do you edit your prayer requests? What would it take to be more honest?
5. How does Psalm 88 encourage you?
6. Read James 1:1-15. What is the historical context?
7. What is the truth about trials from James 1, Philippians 1:29, and I Peter 4:12 & 13?
8. How can trials come from blessings? (p. 101).
9. What makes the difference between trials producing thorns or fruit? (p. 102).
10. Read and answer the questions about James 1 on page 103.
11. This series of questions come from page 104 and 105:
– What pressures do you regularly face?
– What are your God-given opportunities?
– What are your everyday responsibilities?
– Where are you facing difficult circumstances?
– What temptations are you facing?
– Who are the difficult people in your life?
– What unexpected blessings have you received?
– In what situations do you feel alone or misunderstood?
– What challenges does the value system of modern culture present?
– In what areas do you feel overwhelmed by the things “assigned” to you (blessing or difficulty)?
– What are the places you are tempted to hide from or avoid?
– What situations tempt you to say you are okay when you are not?
– What is the hardest experience of your past?
– What is your greatest fear about the future?
12. What was the key point for you in this chapter?
13. Action Point:
10/12/08
How People Change, Chapter 6
Chapter 6 – The Big Picture
Note: This chapter sets up the remainder of the book. The task this week is to understand the concept of the big picture.
1. Explain the difference between the Bible as a ‘big picture’ and the Bible as a ‘set of directions’ (p. 79-81). What are some of the big picture attributes from page 82?
2. Jeremiah 17:5-10 is the key passage summarizing the big picture model. Read the passage and circle the four elements: heat, thorns, cross, fruit. Summarize and comment.
3. Give a written description of the four elements: heat, thorns, cross, fruit (p. 83).
4. Reproduce the drawing on page 84 in your notebook.
5. Read I Corinthians 10:1-13. This passage summarizes Numbers 11-14. Detail the heat, thorns, cross, and fruit in the Israelite’s lives. The thorn element and fruit element will include behavior, heart, and consequences. What comparisons can you see in your own life?
6. For more clarity, reproduce drawing and labels on page 87.
7. Read II Corinthians 1:3-12. This is a personal story of Paul’s life. Detail the heat, thorns, cross, and fruit in this passage. Again, do you see any comparisons in your life?
8. Drawing practice (p. 89).
9. Take a situation in your own life and sort out the situation and your responses using the four elements in the model.
10. How does understanding how God is working through the details of your life give you hope?
11. What were some of the significant author statements in this chapter that you underlined?
12. What was the key point in this chapter for you?
13. Test Question: Explain the ‘big picture’ concept to someone.
Note: This chapter sets up the remainder of the book. The task this week is to understand the concept of the big picture.
1. Explain the difference between the Bible as a ‘big picture’ and the Bible as a ‘set of directions’ (p. 79-81). What are some of the big picture attributes from page 82?
2. Jeremiah 17:5-10 is the key passage summarizing the big picture model. Read the passage and circle the four elements: heat, thorns, cross, fruit. Summarize and comment.
3. Give a written description of the four elements: heat, thorns, cross, fruit (p. 83).
4. Reproduce the drawing on page 84 in your notebook.
5. Read I Corinthians 10:1-13. This passage summarizes Numbers 11-14. Detail the heat, thorns, cross, and fruit in the Israelite’s lives. The thorn element and fruit element will include behavior, heart, and consequences. What comparisons can you see in your own life?
6. For more clarity, reproduce drawing and labels on page 87.
7. Read II Corinthians 1:3-12. This is a personal story of Paul’s life. Detail the heat, thorns, cross, and fruit in this passage. Again, do you see any comparisons in your life?
8. Drawing practice (p. 89).
9. Take a situation in your own life and sort out the situation and your responses using the four elements in the model.
10. How does understanding how God is working through the details of your life give you hope?
11. What were some of the significant author statements in this chapter that you underlined?
12. What was the key point in this chapter for you?
13. Test Question: Explain the ‘big picture’ concept to someone.
10/5/08
How People Change, Chapter 5
Chapter 5 – Change is a Community Project
1. What are some of your positive and negative reactions to the ‘small group’ story at the beginning of this chapter?
2. Why do we want – and not want – friendships? (p. 65). What are some of your fears related to friendship?
3. Why does being made in the image of God make us long for relationship? (p. 67).
4. Read Ephesians 4:1-6 and Ephesians 2:14-22. How are both of these passages a call to community? (p. 68-70).
5. How does the vision that Christianity is corporate as well as individual impact you? (p. 71). Do you have relationships that are deep enough to help you change? Consider the list of obstacles on page 71 that hinder redemptive relationships. Which of these or other reasons keep you from deep, God-based relationships? How can you make changes?
6. What are some of the difficulties with being in close relationship with people? How can these difficulties be turned into positives? (p. 72). Give a personal example.
7. Read Ephesians 3:14 -21. Comment on this passage from a community perspective (p. 73).
8. Read Titus 2:11-14. What are your ideas on how people in community can help each other say ‘no’ to ungodliness?
9. Where are your gifts needed in the body of Christ? The author suggests that we view needs in the church through the lens of our giftedness. What needs do you see that you should be moving towards? (p. 76-77).
10. What was the most important point for you in this chapter?
11. Action point this week:
1. What are some of your positive and negative reactions to the ‘small group’ story at the beginning of this chapter?
2. Why do we want – and not want – friendships? (p. 65). What are some of your fears related to friendship?
3. Why does being made in the image of God make us long for relationship? (p. 67).
4. Read Ephesians 4:1-6 and Ephesians 2:14-22. How are both of these passages a call to community? (p. 68-70).
5. How does the vision that Christianity is corporate as well as individual impact you? (p. 71). Do you have relationships that are deep enough to help you change? Consider the list of obstacles on page 71 that hinder redemptive relationships. Which of these or other reasons keep you from deep, God-based relationships? How can you make changes?
6. What are some of the difficulties with being in close relationship with people? How can these difficulties be turned into positives? (p. 72). Give a personal example.
7. Read Ephesians 3:14 -21. Comment on this passage from a community perspective (p. 73).
8. Read Titus 2:11-14. What are your ideas on how people in community can help each other say ‘no’ to ungodliness?
9. Where are your gifts needed in the body of Christ? The author suggests that we view needs in the church through the lens of our giftedness. What needs do you see that you should be moving towards? (p. 76-77).
10. What was the most important point for you in this chapter?
11. Action point this week:
10/2/08
How People Change, Chapter 4
Chapter 4 – Married to Christ
1. Marriage is used as a metaphor throughout scripture to describe Christ’s relationship with his people. What are some of the qualities of this relationship? (p. 47).
2. Read II Corinthians 11:1-3. What warning is Paul giving and what does this mean?
3. What things function for you as false lovers tempting you to spiritual adultery? (Some examples on page 50).
4. What attracts you to these false ‘lovers’?
5. What are the three ‘profound realities’ that are part of our union with Christ? (p. 51). Elaborate.
6. Read Colossians 1:15-24. What are the qualities of Christ, our bridegroom? Underline and spend time meditating.
7. Read Colossians 1:21-23 and 2:1-15. What are our three deficits and Christ’s three ways of filling those deficits as described on page 55? Why is it so important to understand this?
8. Top of page 56 quote, “The Christian life is built upon the foundation of (1) facing who you really are and (2) trusting who Christ truly is.” Why is this so essential to understand?
9. Which of your strengths and assets have the tendency to become liabilities in your relationship with Christ? (p. 57-end of chapter). Why does this happen?
10. How does your union with Christ shape the way you live in a currently difficult situation?
11. What was the key point for you in this chapter?
12. Action Point.
1. Marriage is used as a metaphor throughout scripture to describe Christ’s relationship with his people. What are some of the qualities of this relationship? (p. 47).
2. Read II Corinthians 11:1-3. What warning is Paul giving and what does this mean?
3. What things function for you as false lovers tempting you to spiritual adultery? (Some examples on page 50).
4. What attracts you to these false ‘lovers’?
5. What are the three ‘profound realities’ that are part of our union with Christ? (p. 51). Elaborate.
6. Read Colossians 1:15-24. What are the qualities of Christ, our bridegroom? Underline and spend time meditating.
7. Read Colossians 1:21-23 and 2:1-15. What are our three deficits and Christ’s three ways of filling those deficits as described on page 55? Why is it so important to understand this?
8. Top of page 56 quote, “The Christian life is built upon the foundation of (1) facing who you really are and (2) trusting who Christ truly is.” Why is this so essential to understand?
9. Which of your strengths and assets have the tendency to become liabilities in your relationship with Christ? (p. 57-end of chapter). Why does this happen?
10. How does your union with Christ shape the way you live in a currently difficult situation?
11. What was the key point for you in this chapter?
12. Action Point.
9/20/08
How People Change, Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Here’s Where God is Taking You
1. Page 33 has a list of “if only”. What might yours be?
2. What is the problem with most of our dreams and desires? (p. 33-34).
3. Read II Corinthians 5:15 and II Peter 1:4. How is God working to change you? (p. 34).
4. What is the dilemma of the Christian life and what is the solution? (p. 34).
5. What do your prayers reveal about you?
6. Read Philippians 1:3-11. What are the main elements? How does this encourage you? (p. 35-36).
7. Convicting question from the author on page 36 – “Do you want what God wants for you, or do you hold tightly onto your own agenda?”
8. Check your perception: do you see your life as a hopeless dump or a quaint fixer upper? (36-37). What does God want you to see? Look at series of questions at the top of page 37.
9. How does knowing where we are going affect our life now? (p. 37 – end of chapter).
10. Read Revelation 7. Comments? What is the celebration about?
11. What does this eternal perspective mean for Joan, Frank, Nikki, and Bo who introduced this chapter? (p. 40-42).
12. What does the eternal perspective mean for you?
13. Page 43 has another series of convicting questions. How does focusing on Christ and our final destination affect you here?
14. What other points in this chapter did you underline?
15. What was most significant for you from this chapter?
16. Action point: (What are you specifically going to do?)
1. Page 33 has a list of “if only”. What might yours be?
2. What is the problem with most of our dreams and desires? (p. 33-34).
3. Read II Corinthians 5:15 and II Peter 1:4. How is God working to change you? (p. 34).
4. What is the dilemma of the Christian life and what is the solution? (p. 34).
5. What do your prayers reveal about you?
6. Read Philippians 1:3-11. What are the main elements? How does this encourage you? (p. 35-36).
7. Convicting question from the author on page 36 – “Do you want what God wants for you, or do you hold tightly onto your own agenda?”
8. Check your perception: do you see your life as a hopeless dump or a quaint fixer upper? (36-37). What does God want you to see? Look at series of questions at the top of page 37.
9. How does knowing where we are going affect our life now? (p. 37 – end of chapter).
10. Read Revelation 7. Comments? What is the celebration about?
11. What does this eternal perspective mean for Joan, Frank, Nikki, and Bo who introduced this chapter? (p. 40-42).
12. What does the eternal perspective mean for you?
13. Page 43 has another series of convicting questions. How does focusing on Christ and our final destination affect you here?
14. What other points in this chapter did you underline?
15. What was most significant for you from this chapter?
16. Action point: (What are you specifically going to do?)
9/14/08
How People Change, Chapter 2
Chapter 2 – Counterfeit Hopes
1. The opening stories of Craig and of John and Cindy show their ways of coping in the world. The author says of John and Cindy that when a crisis came, suddenly ignoring or sidestepping the problem was no longer possible. He says of Craig that one tiny problem on top of everything else put him over the edge (p. 17-18). Do you have experiences of crisis or culmination forcing problems to the surface? Why does this happen?
As you read the chapter, consider the real problem in the above scenarios.
2. Read Colossians 2:6-8. For this week, memorize these verses, read them each day, or write them in a paraphrase personal to you. Comments on verses?
3. The author states that the Colossians verses apply both to big decisions and to little ones. He states, ”It is in the little moments of life that battles are lost or won”(p. 19). Explain and given an example.
4. There are many deceptive theories that “masquerade as biblical wisdom”. List these five common perspectives. For each consider why it seems plausible and seductive, why it doesn’t work, and what the real solution is (p. 21-25).
5. Read Colossians 2:9-15. As you read through the remainder of Chapter 2, write your thoughts on each verse in this Colossians passage.
6. Now, what are the real issues with Craig and with John and Cindy?
7. What is the main thing you learned from this chapter?
8. Action point. (What are you going to do about it?)
1. The opening stories of Craig and of John and Cindy show their ways of coping in the world. The author says of John and Cindy that when a crisis came, suddenly ignoring or sidestepping the problem was no longer possible. He says of Craig that one tiny problem on top of everything else put him over the edge (p. 17-18). Do you have experiences of crisis or culmination forcing problems to the surface? Why does this happen?
As you read the chapter, consider the real problem in the above scenarios.
2. Read Colossians 2:6-8. For this week, memorize these verses, read them each day, or write them in a paraphrase personal to you. Comments on verses?
3. The author states that the Colossians verses apply both to big decisions and to little ones. He states, ”It is in the little moments of life that battles are lost or won”(p. 19). Explain and given an example.
4. There are many deceptive theories that “masquerade as biblical wisdom”. List these five common perspectives. For each consider why it seems plausible and seductive, why it doesn’t work, and what the real solution is (p. 21-25).
5. Read Colossians 2:9-15. As you read through the remainder of Chapter 2, write your thoughts on each verse in this Colossians passage.
6. Now, what are the real issues with Craig and with John and Cindy?
7. What is the main thing you learned from this chapter?
8. Action point. (What are you going to do about it?)
How People Change, Chapter 1
Chapter 1 – The Gospel Gap
1. According to II Peter 1, why are Christians ineffective and unproductive? What is the solution?
2. What does the author mean by ‘gospel gap’? (p. 2-4).
3. Talk about how the gap produces three kinds of blindness and how these can be resolved (p. 4-6).
4. List and briefly describe the Christian “isms” that tend to fill the gospel gap (p. 7-10).
5. Which of these ‘isms’ is the easiest for you to stumble into?
6. What are some of the reasons behind our fall into the “isms”? (p. 11-12).
7. The author proposes five Gospel perspectives that bridge the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live on a daily basis. What are they? (p. 13-16).
8. What were the most significant points in this chapter for you?
9. Action Points: (What are you specifically going to do?)
1. According to II Peter 1, why are Christians ineffective and unproductive? What is the solution?
2. What does the author mean by ‘gospel gap’? (p. 2-4).
3. Talk about how the gap produces three kinds of blindness and how these can be resolved (p. 4-6).
4. List and briefly describe the Christian “isms” that tend to fill the gospel gap (p. 7-10).
5. Which of these ‘isms’ is the easiest for you to stumble into?
6. What are some of the reasons behind our fall into the “isms”? (p. 11-12).
7. The author proposes five Gospel perspectives that bridge the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live on a daily basis. What are they? (p. 13-16).
8. What were the most significant points in this chapter for you?
9. Action Points: (What are you specifically going to do?)
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