Taking The Right Shape

SweetAndSour2

What does Jesus actually say about being a follower?  Is it really true that all you have to do is make a declaration in your life, and you’re good?  OR, does Jesus point to something deeper.. Something more.  What is the difference between someone who makes the declaration and someone who actually lives it out?

Life group discussion questions are below!

For these 10 weeks, our life groups are all using Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University as our life group curriculum.  I know, however, that there are others using our materials outside our church, so I will continue to keep these up during our FPU course.  I hope that’s helpful to you. 

Do you remember when you became a Christian?  How did that happen?  What did you do?

So much church teaching centers around making a “public profession of faith.”  Of course, I am in agreement with this teaching.  Are you?  Scripture sure seems to be…

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
-Romans 10:9

So, Romans affirms that notion… But that is not the ONLY notion that is in scripture, is it?

Jesus was pretty clear that it was more than just the words you declare, wasn’t he?

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ 
-Matthew 7:21-23

Isn’t there more to it than just words?

Our words have meanings… The Greek word for “Lord” is “Kyrios.” What is the deeper meaning of that word, as described on Sunday?

On Sunday, I talked about the “pretenders” that Jesus discovered in the temple.  Jesus got really mean and harsh as he kicked them out, didn’t he?  Why do you think that is?

I also talked about how Jesus responds to the temple today.  What is the temple, and what do you think Jesus’ response to ours is?

There is another story about pretenders in Acts…

A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 

The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. 
-Acts 19:13-20

What can we learn from the poor example of these pretenders?

I think it is obvious that God will get his glory… It can either be through my contribution, or at my expense.  Which will it be for you?

How can I become a more authentic Christ Follower?