How People Change, Chapter 14

Chapter 14 – Fruit 2: New and Surprising Fruit
1. What have been some of your excuses as to why you don’t manifest good Fruit?
2. Read II Samuel 14-18 and Psalms 3 and 4. What are David’s responses as listed by the authors on pages 185-186. Summarize each and examine your own heart.
3. Author quote on page 187: “The point is, God does more than deliver us from Heat. He delivers us from ourselves so that we don’t simply survive the Heat, but bear good Fruit.” Comments?
Do you think it is even possible to bear good Fruit without Heat?
4. Read John 7: 37-39 and Galatians 5:13-6:10. How and what is the Holy Spirit producing in us as described by these passages?
5. The Galatians passage begins with a warning against self-indulgence. Why is this the starting point? (p. 188-189).
6. As the Holy Spirit changes the way we react to Heat, what are visible actions that show the Fruit? (p. 189) Give your reaction to the authors’ statement that this Fruit is not an ideal standard God holds over us, but actual gifts the Spirit produces in us. (p. 189).
7. What does it mean to live with personal integrity in view of the Cross? (p. 190).
8. Read Matthew 18:21-35. What are the steps to giving forgiveness and what are the steps to asking forgiveness as given by the authors on page 192?
9. Reflection questions on page 192: ”Do you hold people to a higher standard than you hold yourself? Do you tend to forget you are a sinner while remembering that others are? Do you fail to overlook minor offenses? Do you spend more time catching people doing wrong than doing right? Do people feel accepted and loved by you or criticized and judged? How do you tend to respond to the weaknesses, sins, and failures of those around you?
10. Read and reflect on the cross-based actions of new Fruit as listed on page 193.
11. Author quote from supporting material: “With all of these wonderful gifts flowing from our union with Christ, sin still remains in us. That’s the reason you need to know that the cross has broken the power of sin – because the presence of sin still remains! We should not be shocked that the war still goes on inside us. We have been changed, we have been empowered, but we have not yet been perfected.
So what do you do when you fail? Do you excuse and rationalize? Do you wallow in self-defeating guilt and regret? God’s grace calls you away from both responses and gives you the freedom to admit your sin because of it. His grace also gives you the freedom to seek and receive forgiveness each time you fall. We do not have to carry the sins Christ took on himself. He paid the price we could not pay so that we would never have to pay it again. When you fail, keep his forgiving grace in view. Run to your Lord, not away from him. Receive his forgiveness, get back up, and follow him once more, knowing that each time you fail, you can experience the glories of your identity as one for whom Christ died. Each failure reminds us of why he had to die; each confession reminds us of the amazing forgiveness that only the cross could provide.” Comments?
12. Personal Growth Project from supporting material:
“Take a final look at yourself in light of what you have learned in this book. List the following:
a. New things you have learned about life in a fallen world (HEAT).
b. New things you have learned about your actions, reactions and words (THORNS).
c. New things you have learned about the thoughts, motives, treasures, idols, desires, and purposes of your heart (THORNS).
d. New things you have learned about Christ’s work, your identity as God’s child, and Christ’s heart-transforming grace (CROSS).
e. New things you have learned about where God is calling you to grow and change (FRUIT).
f. New things you have learned about the struggles of others and how God can use you in their lives (FRUIT”).
g. New ways you can be thankful for Christ and his ongoing work in your life (CROSS).”

How People Change, Chapter 13

Chapter 13 – Fruit 1: Real Heart Change

1. What does the Bible mean by ‘heart’?
2. How do love and obedience intersect? (p. 172).
3. Read Samuel 16:1-13. What does God focus on? Why? What do you focus on in yourself and others? (p. 173-174).
4. Read Ezekiel 36:24-28. How are law and heart connected?
(p. 175).
5. Most of this chapter focuses on a case study of Paul. Carefully answer the questions for the Philippians Bible Study on pages 177-181. Read through the questions, then read Philippians several times before answering. Supplementary material quote: “Good fruit is not just a remote possibility for the believer, but something the Bible assumes can be present in our lives even in the most difficult circumstances.”
6. Personal Growth Project: (Supplementary material from authors)
“In light of the Philippians Bible Study, take the area of struggle you have chosen for your Personal Growth project and ask yourself, ‘What are the things that rule my heart and therefore shape my behavior?’
a. In what concrete ways do you need to embrace the promise of a new heart? How does God want to renew your heart in this area of struggle?
b. How would believing, trusting, and embracing Christ change your actions, reactions, and responses?
c. What new thoughts and desires in your heart would lead to a new harvest of good FRUIT responses?
d. If hope, love, contentment, grace, forgiveness, self-control, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, compassion, humility, and forbearance ruled your heart in this area of struggle, what new behavioral FRUIT would result?
Take time to mediate and pray over each answer asking God to reveal your heart and change it. Embrace the opportunity this assignment gives you to experience the beginnings of the lasting heart change promised to you in Christ.”