“God’s Plan in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:1-10 Bible Study 07/13/14
I. Who we are not. (2:1-3)
II. Who God is and What He did. (2:4-6)
III. The Nature of God’s Grace and the Purposes for What He has done. (2:7-10)
“Grow Up” 1 Corinthian 3:1-9 Bible Study 07/06/14
1 Cor. 3:1-4 – Spiritual Infants
Spiritual maturity = moving from worldly attitudes, perspectives and behaviors to spiritual ones; process by which we begin to look more and more like Christ.
Grow up individually
• List 2 or 3 ways you want to grow in Christ (examples: Bible Reading, prayer, serving, tithing, Scripture memory, sharing your faith, etc.)
_______________________________________________________
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1 Cor. 3:5-9 – Spiritual Plants
Discipleship = Christians helping one another grow toward spiritual maturity.
Grow up in community
• Name 2 or 3 people who have been spiritual mentors in your life:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
• Name 2 or 3 people God could use you to disciple:
_______________________________________________________
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“What Does God Say?” 1 John 5:6-12 Bible Study 06/29/14
After addressing the victorious nature of faith in Jesus as the Son of God, John turns his attention to the reliability of the testimony concerning Him. Our text this morning has an intended two-fold effect. The first intention is to refute false teaching concerning the person and work of Jesus. The second intention is to reassure believers bombarded by false teachings that their faith in Jesus is well-grounded and has the Father’s divine stamp of approval. Jesus is the Son of God who provides eternal life to all who believe in Him. Because Jesus is who the Father says He is, rely on Him as your priceless treasure and sole source of life now and forever.
I. Introduction
-key term: witness/testimony
-key issue: person and work of Jesus
II. Grasp the character of the testimony (6-9)
-external: baptism and death
-internal: Holy Spirit
III. Recognize the consequences of response to the testimony (10)
-belief affirms
-unbelief assaults
IV. Confirm the content of the testimony (11-12)
-a granted gift, a present possession, a sole source
-to have the Son is to have life
V. So what?
-The “last” word on the Son proceeds from the Father who knows Him best.
-“Unbelief is not a misfortune to be pitied; it is a sin to be deplored.” -J. Stott
-“Do we long to see Jesus receive the honor due His name? Are we caught up into the gladness
that God has in the glory of the Son?” -J. Piper
-Unapologetically and lovingly declare the exclusivity of Jesus!
“The Fellowship of Overcomers” 1 John 5:1-5 Bible Study 06/22/14
In 1 John one may observe a repeated emphasis on faith, love and obedience. In this morning’s text, John puts these three concepts together and asserts that their proper application enables believers to be overcomers rather than underachievers. When your faith is fixed on Jesus, you can experience overwhelming conquest in the midst of ongoing conflict.
I. Confirm the truth about Jesus (1,5)
-remember the Lord’s initiative
-assent and embrace
II. Convey compassion for God’s people (2)
-common origin
-consistent obedience
III. Comply with God’s commands (3-4)
-structural observation: ABCCBA
-moral obedience and emotional experience
-What in the world is the “world”?
-the principle of victory: nikao
IV. So what?
-Rev. 12:10-11
-not “for” but “from” victory…
-Pursue accurate doctrine and overwhelming delight!
“Love in the House” 1 John 4:19-21 Bible Study 06/15/14
After stressing that maturing love for God removes dread and gives confidence for the day of judgment, John turns his attention to the matter of how this maturing love has a profound impact on our relationships with other believers. Selfishness always backfires. It hurts individuals and churches. Most of all, it dishonors the Lord. This morning’s text clearly indicates that what honors the Lord is a love for others in the family of faith that flows out of His first love for us.
I. Practical love flows from prior love (19)
-expression
-enablement
-activity
II. Visible disdain invalidates the verbal claim (20)
-contradiction
-confirmation
-consideration
III. Christ’s commandment confirms the connection (21)
-obedience
-obligation
IV. So what?
-Remember that “membership” has its privileges and obligations.
-“What comes into a person’s mind when he thinks about God is the most important thing about that person.” (J. I. Packer)
-Celebrate the Lord’s initiative.
-Seize every opportunity to “testify to love.”
“Dread or Delight?” 1 John 4:17-18 Bible Study 06/08/14
After addressing repeatedly the staggering reality of God’s love for His children, John proceeds to focus on the believer’s love for God. In our text this morning, he asserts that maturing love for God meets the future day of judgment with confident assurance. When you are advancing in love, you can anticipate the future day of judgment with confident assurance.
I. Confidence flows out of your standing and sharing (17)
-a matter of rejoicing
-a matter of resembling
II. The love that displays confidence dispels fear (18)
-distinguish between prescribed fear and prohibited fear
-bask in the light of pardon
-banish the dread of punishment
-stand on the promises
III. So what?
-“O the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend.” (Fanny Crosby)
-What do others learn from your worship?
-How are you related to the Judge?
-Treasure His appearing and trust His atonement.
Never Too Far Gone – Jonah 2:1-9
Outline
• There is no depth __________________
for the grace of God v. 1-2
• Even if you’re experiencing God’s ______________________
v. 3-4
• Even as the darkness ______________________________
you v. 5-6
• ___________________________________________ v. 7-8
• belongs to the ______________________________
Lord v. 9
Main Idea:
No one has fallen too far to experience the salvation of
God. Call out to the Lord and you will be saved.
“Where God Is” 1 John 4:12-16 Bible Study 05/25/14
This morning’s text addresses the realm in which God resides. Of course, we know that God is omnipresent. However, the repeated use of the term “abide” in our text signals the specific concept of abiding/dwelling/being at home. It addresses the environment in which God is actively at work and particularly manifesting His supernatural power and presence. His heart beats with love for us and with the deep desire that we love one another. Because God is love, He resides where the atmosphere and activity of His love abound.
I. Connect the concepts
-believe (4:1-6)
-love (4:7-11)
II. Confirm the functions of love (12)
-furnishing proof
-fulfilling purpose
III. Consider the evidence (13-16)
-confirmation of the Holy Spirit
-confession of the truth
-continuance in love
IV. So what?
-“O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.” (R. Robinson)
-A reminder from Amy Carmichael: “Beloved, let us love!”
-Acknowledge the stewardship issue of love.
-Keep this question at the forefront: How has God treated me?
-What contact do I need to make this week for the purpose of affirming love, extending forgiveness or showing grace?
“Amazing Love” 1 John 4:7-11 Bible Study 05/18/14
The term “amazing” regularly is overworked and overused in our culture. However, some matters remain truly amazing. We come to one of those matters in this morning’s text. God’s love for us is so amazing that it defies tangible linguistic expression. In 4:7-11, John returns for the third time in his letter to the subject of love. Here, he intensifies the discussion and elaborates on love’s source and supernatural accomplishment. God’s amazing love is the foundation and motivation for loving one another. Because God’s love is truly amazing, transmit it to others passionately.
I. Trace love to its source (7-8)
-definite origin
-distinctive attribute
-determining factor
II. Treasure love in its expression (9-10)
-preciousness
-purpose
-provision
III. Transmit love to others (11)
-magnitude
-moral obligation
IV. So what?
-Those greatly loved love greatly.
-“And Can It Be” -Charles Wesley
-“As the bridegroom to His chosen, as the King unto His realm, as the keeper to the castle, as the pilot to the helm, as the captain to his soldiers, as the shepherd to his lambs; as the fountain in the garden, as the candle in the dark, as the treasure in the coffer, as the manna in the ark, as the firelight in the winter, as the sunlight in the spring, so Lord, art Thou to me.” -John Tauler
-“The bottom line is always red for the believer.” Lloyd Ogilvie
“The Truth Test” 1 John 4:1-6 Bible Study 05/11/14
Building off of His reference to the Spirit in 3:24, John offers readers of every age some indispensable insights for distinguishing the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error. In 4:1-6, he not only exhorts readers to exercise discernment but also gives them standards by which to do it. Because truth is a matter of life and death, we are called to exercise careful discernment. The merit of any message must be measured by the standard of Jesus Christ.
I. Obey the commands (1)
-stop believing and start testing
-objective: to determine origin/source
-urgency: presence of pseudo-prophets
-obligation: for all believers
-recognition: behind every statement is a spirit…
II. Apply the test (2-6)
-not your own invention
-message content: Christological, confessional and comprehensive
-audience character: from the world/from God…
-a striking contrast
-cause for confidence
III. So what?
-Affirm the existence of absolute truth.
-Refuse to let toleration trump truth.
-Recognize the error of minimizing the exclusivity of Jesus.
-Make the connection between biblical literacy and truth discernment.
-Don’t let false teaching pick your spiritual pocket.
-“Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight; Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.”
(Be Thou My Vision, attributed to Dallan Forgaill)