Chapter 2: Obedient

These discussion questions come from Chapter 2 of Ray Comfort’s book, “Anyone But Me.” THANK YOU to Susan Farnham for providing these good discussion questions.


A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT:

Since we’ve added several “Questions” classes, we’ve pushed our “Apologetics” class back until April. It is really a great problem to have!

If you haven’t signed up for the Conversations class yet, you can do so right here:


Did you guys read chapter two this week? What are some things that stood out to you, that spoke to you?

What was the root of Samson’s strength?

How does obedience to God help us overcome our human nature? Cite Mr Comfort’s Scripture references in your answers, as well as other verses you might reference.

“We have the same strength that Samson had. His was physical, ours is mental. We are to be strong -That is, obedient -in the Lord.v (P.29) What is meant by rin the Lord? Cite Scripture.

Do you believe that the strength of the Almighty God who raised Jesus from the dead abides in the believer, and that the sinner who dies in sin spends an eternity in hell? Considering the open aggressive hostility towards Christians and blatant rebellion against a Holy God in today’s culture, how do you think this should affect our obedience to the Great Commission?
And, how important is your tone of voice in this outreach?

Everyone who thinks the idea of dog evangelism is awesome raise your hand!

Choosing obedience over selfish fear – what did you learn from Mr. Comfort’s encounter with ‘Duke?’ On what Scripture does Mr. Comfort base his approach?

Loving: Always Ready

These discussion questions come from chapter ONE of Ray Comfort’s book, “Anyone But Me.”
Special thank you to Susan Farnham for writing our questions this week.

Can fear of our circumstances coexist with faith in God?

35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”  
37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” 
40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. 

Mark 5:35-43 NLT

How do Jesus’ own words answer the above question?

What do you hope to gain from this study?

In chapter one, Ray Comfort asks several good questions. As you read each chapter, underline the questions and discuss them in your lifegroup.

Take a few minutes to discuss the times you have evangelized, whether to non-believers, friends, or neighbors.

Was there a consistent pattern of statements and questions that you heard? If so, what were the statements/questions? Did they include ‘burden of proof’ questions, ‘science vs religion’ questions, or perhaps statements concerning ‘subjective truth and moral relativism’ as opposed to God’s objective truth?

What have you learned from your encounters?

Did God expose some of your weaknesses to you?

Did God accentuate your strengths?

How have you sought to improve your outreach?

In Chapter one, the author gives examples of different circumstances in which he has evangelized, as well as the different kinds of personalities to whom he has evangelized in his outreach.

Were there any particular circumstances you could relate to, and if so, what methods and strategies did you use in your outreach?

What about those who responded with antagonism or outright hatred? How did you respond?

Mr Comfort provides several Scriptural references in regard to ‘good works’ and ‘doing good to all.’ He then states “When I do something nice for an unsaved person, I am saying ‘I love you,’ but I have another motive, too. I desperately want to bring you to the cross so that you will escape hell. That’s my deepest desire.”
Read what Paul writes about this in 1 Timothy…

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you

-Jesus, Luke 6:27-28 NLT

How does Mr Comfort, by showing Christ’s love, deal with those whose worldview is steeped in self-righteousness and rooted in idolatry? Please reference scripture cited by the author, as well as any verses you find helpful when faced with the same circumstances.

Discuss the author’s concept of ‘evidential love,’ how he uses it in his witnessing, and the power that it has to immediately dissipate anger.

How can you use evidential love when witnessing?

“We preach Moses before we preach Jesus.” (p. 23)

Why?

How does this relate to the cross?

What does Mr Comfort say to do if you have a bad witnessing experience and why?

What is the basis for being both an effective evangelist and being effective in evangelism?

It’s Been a While!

With Super Sunday, we’re kicking off a new Lifegroup Season… It’s been a while! Be sure to take some time to welcome everyone back, and to spend some time catching up.

Super Sunday just happened! I hope everyone had the chance to partner together with us this year in Making the Gospel Relevant. If you didn’t do so yet, take a moment to partner with us right now!

On Sunday, we cast the vision for lighting our world in 2023. This means we will be learning, growing, and becoming evangelists in Gilmer County, and wherever we find ourselves. What did you think of this new year direction?

What does it mean to be an evangelist?

Is evangelism for me? Is it for certain gifted believers, or is it for all followers of Christ?

What should personal evangelism look like?

As Jesus begins to call his first disciples, something really exciting happens…

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 
38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. 
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 
39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). 
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” 
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 

John 1:35-46 NLT

How far along in their walk with Jesus were Andrew and Philip at this point?

How much evangelism training had they received from Jesus?

How would you describe what Andrew and Philip did?

What was their motivation?

These guys were super pumped about following Jesus. They knew He would change everything, and they just had to bring people they cared about along with them for this incredible ride.

How is this like Christ followers today? How is it unlike Christ followers today? Why are/aren’t we like this?

Should we do something about this? Why or why not?

This season, our book study will be about this very topic. “Anyone But Me” by Ray Comfort is a great read, and we’ll be discussing chapter one NEXT WEEK, so get your copy quickly!

Get the book in paper, Kindle, and audio versions here!

Also, seating is available for the “Conversations” evangelism training right now. Space is very limited, so we are offering it twice. This session isn’t about memorizing an outline, but learning how to leverage your existing conversations for the sake of Christ. Come together with your group!

For your reference, here is the “Light Your World” timeline that I presented (sort of) on Super Sunday… Just so you get the idea of how we are building this year of lighting our world.

Okay.. I also just want to make sure that everyone has one more chance to sign up for our Israel trip this coming June. You can still sign up later, but the trip is now just 19 weeks away… That is a short time for such a big trip. Justin Chadwick is fond of saying that “this trip won’t cost you anything. It is a priceless investment that will pay spiritual dividends for the rest of your life.” Go to Israel with me this summer!

Loving Others

Other than your family, who are some of the most important relationships in your life right now?

Depending on what’s going on in our life, different people become more important to us at different times and different ways. For example, if you’ve ever cared for a loved one who was chronically or terminally ill, then your relationship with certain doctors and nurses deepened and became more meaningful. Or if you’re a parent, the relationship with your child changes as the two of you age and experience different things. Before you know it, the child is caring for the parent! All of that to say that the people who are most important to us in our lives can vary, and often are tied to a specific purpose.

In some ways, the same is true for those people in our lives who, like us, are Christians. The nature of our relationship with such people is that they help us in our walk with Jesus, and vice versa, because nothing or no one matters more to either of us than Him. This is why small groups are so important. Regardless of what we’re going through, a small group meeting regularly insures that we are keeping our relationship with Jesus front and center. As God would have it, relationships with others in a relationship with God are crucial for our relationship with God.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. 

Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT

Paul use three metaphors to describe what it means to be a Christian. What are they, and what is significant about each of them?

All three of Paul’s metaphors speak to the importance of our relationship to other Christians. In verse 19, he states that Christians are “citizens with the saints.” In the same way that one might identify with others from the same country or state, so Paul says Christians relate to one another.

The second metaphor in verse 19 is a little more intense: we are “members of God’s household.” That means that Biblically, we’re a family.

Verses 20-22 really drive it home. The sentence starts off with the Greek word epoikodomeo, which literally means “together we are built.” We are literally building this house with each other as Christ has cemented us together.

That’s why we do lifegroups in the first place. We are emulating those early believers who knew the value of cultivating love between believers as Christ commanded. Do you feel like your lifegroup is your family? Why or why not?

What makes this relationship (in lifegroups) different from other relationships outside our groups?

Church and small group relationships are not dependent on circumstances, experiences, race, gender, or any other natural factor. While these things might separate people in other situations, our differences in church and church small groups only serve to highlight the greatness of what we have in common.

HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ EPHESIANS 4:12-16.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT

What is Christ’s intention in giving spiritual gifts to His people? 

In what ways are we each gift important to the life and growth of other Christians (vv. 15-16)?

Using the gifts God has equipped us with, we should help each other grow in Christ—speaking the truth in love and supporting each other. For ministry to be effective we need the gifts of others and others need us to use our gifts. That’s the beauty of the church body God created. Each person is gifted to benefit those around them. Strength is created within the body when each part works in conjunction with the others.

How can being a faithful member of a small group help bring about the unity this passage emphasizes and protects from the chaos mentioned in v. 14?

How have you seen Christian community suffer when certain parts are too weak or missing? On the other hand, how have you seen it thrive when everyone is using their gifts and serving one another?

What steps can you take to minimize unresolved differences in your community?

How can we help each other understand our individual functions within the body of Christ? What opportunities are you aware of at our church that would give people in our group the opportunities to exercise their specific gifts?

Next month, we’ll be starting our new book study. Your lifegroup leader has all the details. You will want to talk through what that will look like a little bit.

Part two: Zoom In

What are some of your favorite stories? What is it about them that you like?

Why do you think people are fascinated by stories?

From our earliest years, we’re telling stories to our parents, to our friends and eventually to our own children. Why are we like this? Because our God is a storytelling God. And in the Bible, is telling a story—a story filled with amazing characters, astounding events, terrible tragedy and unspeakable joy. It’s the story of an earthly dilemma that’s begging for a heavenly solution.

Read Genesis 1:1 – Genesis 2:3 together

Who is the first character, the hero, in the story? 

What does this story tell us about God? 

Genesis chapter one makes it clear: the Bible is a story about God. The Christian faith begins and ends with God. Here in the very first verse, God is pulling back the curtain; He’s revealing something about Himself, His glory, His majesty, His power, and authority. Our goal and purpose as Christians is to know and love our Creator God. 

Why do you think the Bible tells us that God created but does not tell us exactly how He created?

Why is it important for us to remember God’s power and glory? What happens when we forget these aspects of His nature and character?

Every great story builds to a climax—the most important, most exciting, or most intense moment that changes everything. The story of creation is no different—all throughout these verses, as God creates and says “it is good,” the story is building to an important event. And the climax of the creation story is the creation of the first man and first woman.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26-27 NLT

In what ways were humans set apart from the rest of God’s creation? What comes to mind when you hear the word image or likeness?

What does it mean to be made in God’s image or likeness?

The term “image” refers to the aspects of reason, personality, the ability to make value judgments, and other qualities that cause a human being to resemble God. Just as family members take on the qualities and personality traits of one another, God created people in His own image to reflect some of His qualities.

How do these verses reflect the unique relationship between God and man?

How should knowing that we are made in God’s image affect your relationship with God and with other people?

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

Genesis 1:28-31 NLT

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:18-25 NLT

What responsibilities did God give to men and women?

What might the blessing and responsibilities God gave man and woman tell us about His view of them?

Creating human beings in His image so they would enjoy a unique relationship with Him and a distinct role in the world, God determined to make them male and female. Once God created the man and woman, He blessed them. By blessing the man and the woman, God implied that He looked with special favor on them. By speaking directly to them, He showed once more the unique place they occupied in His heart.

What specific command did He give both men and women?

When God made the man and woman, He gave them “dominion” over the earth. They were to live as His representatives in creation. They had the freedom to do whatever they wanted, go wherever they wanted, eat whatever they wanted—with one exception. He commanded them, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:16-17). This was the only rule that existed in creation.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Genesis 3:1-7 NLT

Eve knew the command to not eat of the tree’s fruit, so why do you think she was there? 

What are some of the ways sin continues to tempt us to go our own way? 

What do we tell ourselves when we face temptation?

Eve had the opportunity to make a choice—to obey the Lord’s command or to believe the serpent. She chose to believe the serpent. She saw the fruit as good for food and delightful to look at, and so she ate. And then she gave some to her husband who was right there with her. The choices of both Adam and Eve were disastrous. God had created all things and called them good, but their sin caused everything to fall apart.

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 NLT

Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

Genesis 3:20-21 NLT

What promise do these two passages point to?

Think about your own life. Where do you see Satan trying to convince you to taste the fruit of sin? How does this promise strengthen you to resist sin?

How does the purpose behind this story give you a solid superstructure in your life?

Superstructure: Reading the Bible

This week we’re in part two of the Superstructure series, and I just wanted to help you understand how valuable and important the Word of God is when building your house… Let’s start by thinking about things that last.

What item from your childhood still works today? (I bet not everything does!)

Why does that thing still work?

O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments. Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.

Psalm 119:137-144 NLT

For the Psalmist, the Word of God was the only reliable thing, right? Why is that?

Do you find that to be true?

What are some reasons people question the reliability of the Bible? 

Do you ever question the reliability of the Bible? When does that tend to happen?

What do these verses teach us about God and His Word?

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

Psalm 119:1-8 NLT

The author recognizes that God’s regulations are “righteous.” How does the author thank God in response?

When have you seen the Bible’s instruction work? 

What obstacles often hinder people from heeding the Bible’s instructions? Why? 

Why do we as a group follow God’s Word? Why do you personally follow God’s Word? 

What steps will you take in the near future to increasingly build your life on God’s Word? 

What steps can we take as a group to support each other in this goal?

Do you have a scheduled time to read God’s Word? If not, will you create time this week to do so? 

What practical steps will you take this week in order to dig deeper into God’s Word? 

Is there a specific Scripture verse that you could memorize this week? 

Super Tailgate Sunday is a way we can help others dive a little deeper into God’s Word, buy celebrating Lifegroups. Does your group have their plans in line yet? (now would be a good time to talk about that!)

The Big Picture

This message was NOT like normal. It was more of a class session than a sermon, wasn’t it? I know it was long, and I thought it might be like “drinking from a firehose.” Was I right about that? What did you think?

What, if anything, did you walk away with from Sunday? Did it cause you to think? Did it put you to sleep?

We’re doing this series in light of the current storm, and our nation’s cultural collapse. One of the signs of this collapse is the deconstruction of everything. Nothing seems to be true any more. Nothing means what it used to mean any more. This is not just a symptom. This is a deep deep problem for us that we need to talk about.

How would you define “truth”? What are some beliefs our culture has about the concept of truth?

How does our culture feel about someone who claims to know truth?

Our culture teaches that truth is relative. What is good and right for one person may not necessarily be good and right for someone else; therefore, everyone is free to choose their own “truth.”

Absolute truth seems restrictive. Absolute truth seems judgmental. But if truth is relative, an individual has the freedom to behave as he pleases. That’s great until someone else’s “truth” harms or hurts him. Then he suddenly believes in right and wrong, truth and falsehood. When the point is pressed, most people will acknowledge there is a basic moral standard all humanity should follow. For instance, most civilizations agree one should not take another’s property or kill another human. So what is the foundation for this truth? And if truth exists, how can we know it?

For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.
“Gather together and come, you fugitives from surrounding nations. What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save! Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”

Isaiah 45:18-23 NLT

What facts do we learn about the LORD in this passage? Why does God have the power and authority to “speak the truth” and “declare what is right”?

According to verse 22, the bold part above, why does God reveal His truth to mankind?

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 1:18-20 NLT

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

-Jesus, John 17:17 NLT

For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 NLT

Based on these verses, in what ways does the God of truth reveal His truth?

The LORD God created everything that exists. There is no other god. He has no rival or equal. He is the one true God, the only Maker. Because of who He is and what He has done, He alone has the power and authority to determine what is right, what is wrong, and what is true.

The Greek noun translated as “truth” in Romans 1, John 1, and John 17 refers to “objective reality, the veritable essence of a matter.” The Bible clearly teaches that God not only established reality, but that He also revealed this truth to mankind through creation, the Bible, and ultimately through the person of Jesus Christ. God chose to reveal His truth to us in order that we might know Him, experience His salvation through Jesus Christ, and worship Him for all eternity.

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 NLT

Do people today chase after myths? In what way?

When people listen to and accept myths, how are they treating the truth? Does an individual’s rejection of the truth change the truth?

According to Paul’s advice to Timothy, how do we as God’s people preserve and promote God’s truth?

Every world religion claims exclusivity on one or more points of belief. While all religions contain some elements of God’s truth, each religion refuses to compromise on “truths” that stand in direct opposition to “truths” of other religions. In this respect, all religions are “closed-minded.” But all these opposing “truths” cannot be correct. If one thing is true, the opposite must therefore be false. While Christianity holds firmly to truth as revealed by God the Creator, Christianity is not “exclusive.” God wants all people “to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:4-5).

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT

How did the author of Hebrews define faith? What words in the passage above help us understand that faith is not “blind”?

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

John 20:30-31 NLT

According to John, an eyewitness to Jesus, how did Jesus prove Himself and His message of salvation?

Christians are not blindly and naively following what some believe to be a “cleverly devised story” (2 Peter 1:16). True Christian faith is following the One who claimed to be truth (John 14:6) and also proved His claim. In Hebrews 11:1, the author defines “faith” as a solid confidence, a firm conviction of the truth. Saving faith is like sitting in a chair after looking at the quality of construction and being convinced it will hold your weight. Presented with the evidence of salvation in Jesus, we accept it as truth, and place our trust in Him.

But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

1 John 2:20-23 NLT

On what basis did the apostle John identify a “liar”?

Based on this passage, is it possible for anyone to “have” God the Father without Jesus the Son?

This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

1 Timothy 2:3-6 NLT

Why is Jesus the only way of salvation? Does this passage identify this as relative, or as absolute truth?

Many in our world today sincerely believe “salvation through Jesus alone” to be false and narrow-minded. In fact, a LifeWay Research study on “Doctrinal Positions” shows that even 26% of churchgoers agree with this statement: “If a person is sincerely seeking God, he/she can obtain eternal life through religions other than Christianity.”

Yet according to God’s Word, the Son cannot be separated from the Father. A saving relationship with God is not possible without faith in the Son. Anyone who denies the Son also denies the Father. While people who deny this truth—the one that God Himself established—may be sincere, this kind of sincerity is sincerely wrong. Sincerity does not equal salvation. However, sincerity about matters of faith is a good starting point to being open to accepting the truth of God found only in Jesus.

Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives.

What are some things we can do personally to ensure we are not accepting “myths” from the world or compromising on God’s truth?

What is our personal obligation regarding the truth God has established and revealed?

How should we respond to non-Christians who don’t believe in absolute truth? How should we respond to another Christian who believes some truths are relative?

Pray that we as a group will continue to build our house on the Firm Foundation, and that we will install every brick of the superstructure in absolute truth. Ask God to examine your heart and mind and reveal to you if you have compromised on His truth in any area. Ask Him to give you discernment to recognize lies from the world and wisdom to embrace His truth. Pray that He would fill you with grace to lovingly interact with those in your life who reject God’s truth. Pray that your life would be a beautiful, compelling testimony to the world of the truth of Christ.

Stand Up Sunday

I am posting this on the day before Stand Up Sunday. Typically, we will have “Super Sunday” at the High School Gym. This year, we are cramming ourselves all into one service at 11am, where we’ll celebrate our birthday, have baptisms, sing, and more together. How did we do on that? What was good about Stand Up Sunday?

Since the beginning of the year, I have called us to a demanding task.. To build our house for standing through the storm.

Do you think people in our church see this as a demanding task worth taking on, or do you think they see it as overly difficult, and not worth pursuing?

When we look back at the way Paul wrote to his close partners in Philippi, what sense do you get from his challenge to them?

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

-Paul, Philippians 1:27 NLT

It has been said that the New Testament knows of no believers detached from participation in the local church. How is that different from American christians in the 21st century?

Why is it more important now than ever for us to be partnered together on purpose for Him?

We are in this struggle together.

-Paul, Philippians 1:30 NLT

Nobody builds their house alone. It takes a team. Look around the room. This is your team. These are your co-builders together.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

-Paul, Philippians 2:1-2 NLT

Talk about those three characteristics that Paul lists and discuss what that would look like for our group, our church.

  • agreeing wholeheartedly with each other
  • loving one another
  • working together with one mind and purpose

We’re taking this NEW APPROACH to lifegroups for the next few months. We’ll be working through Francis Chan’s excellent book, Until Unity, and discussing what we’re learning.

Watch the three-minute Until Unity Video Series Introduction together.

https://untilunitybook.com/videos/

Let’s talk about this together. How do you feel about doing this together as a group? Do you think it will be easy? Hard? Do you have time to read a chapter each week?

(let me just say that the INTRODUCTION ALONE will knock your socks off!! Worth the price of the entire book! Read it over and over again!)

So, what do you think… Are we all in on this together? Are we willing to work through this book from now to the third week in April? What would keep any of us from doing this? What kinds of things should we put into place to be sure this happens?

Are we in?

Get the book in paper, Kindle, and Audible versions right here:

Don’t be afraid to pick up the study guide as well!

Your assignment is to read the Introduction this week. (Man, is it good!) We will watch the next video next week, and discuss what we read together. It will be awesome.

Build on Purpose

On Sunday, I talked about how badly a world full of christians desperately needs disciples.

When you thought about what it meant to be a christian, vs what it meant to be a disciple… How did you contrast that in your mind? How did you feel about that contrast?

I also said “disciple is what we want to be, but christian is what we settle for.” Have you felt that way? What does that mean in your life?

I think one of the main ways our world full of christians so desperately needs disciples is because there are so very many false teachers all around us, parading around as if they were actually speaking for God. Have you seen this?

Disciples can discern truth from lies. Often, however, the lies are subtle. Perhaps we have even devoutly believed some things about God or His Word that are simply not true. It’s also possible that we have believed some things true about ourselves that are actually false. Second Peter 2 reminds us that false prophets and teachers are always around spreading dangerous lies, and reminds us that we ought to be wary.

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

2 Peter 2:1-3 NLT

How would you respond to the statement, “There is no such thing as absolute truth”?

Why do you think false teachers would want the Christians Peter was addressing to deny that there is absolute truth?

According to Peter in verse 3, what was the false teachers’ real motivation for deceiving Christians with false teachings?

Peter warned that false teachers would take advantage of believers out of greed—either a selfish desire for money or for a large company of followers. The Greek term rendered “exploit” means “make gain of; deceive for (their own) advantage.” With deceptive (carefully crafted, false) words, the misleading merchants of error would use believers for their own gain. Awaiting the false teachers, however, was a day of reckoning. The verdict or sentence had been announced long ago in Old Testament references to false prophets.

Why do you think Peter was so motivated to work urgently to help Christians have confidence in the truth of the gospel?

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

2 Peter 2:4-10 NLT

These verses give three illustrations to prove that God has judged in the past and will judge again in the future. The examples gradually reduce in scale, from the cosmic (angels), through the worldwide (flood), to the local (cities of Sodom and Gomorrah). These illustrations concentrate on the pride and rebellion of the angels, the apathy and disobedience of the people of Noah’s day, and the sheer sensuality of the men of Sodom, precisely the characteristics of these false teachers. They are demonstrative proof that there will be a final judgment.

Why do you think false teachers would spread the lie that there is no final judgment?

How does the truth of God’s judgment help us as believers to stand on the firm foundation?

What hope is there in this passage for disciples?

Consistently, the New Testament views the second coming of Christ as the final test. At that time, the Lord will rescue His true followers, but the ungodly will face judgment, for the Lord knows how to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment. “To hold” (verse 9) literally means “to keep or to guard.” It suggests that God is in control of judgment and people; He will have the final say. We can be confident in that truth, dismissing the lie that there is no final judgment.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.
12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

2 Peter 2:10-16 NLT

What indications do we have in these verses that false prophets lived and taught the lie that it doesn’t matter how we live?

Are there any subtle ways in which we believe this lie today?

Why do you think they are labeled as greedy so often? How does the illustration of Balaam reaffirm this?

These false teachers had trained themselves well. They had worked out for long periods of time. They had exercised to the point of exhaustion in an effort to become well-toned experts in “greed,” which simply means “a desire to have more.” An Old Testament story illustrates this. Balaam, who was supposed to be a prophet of God, loved money more than God. He was willing to pursue fame and fortune instead of obeying God. He also taught immorality. As a result, he was rebuked by God through a donkey. For a donkey to rebuke the prophet’s madness reflects not only on the foolishness of Balaam but also on that of all false teachers.

These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

2 Peter 2:17-22 NLT

Which of the spiritual errors given in these verses are present today?

Why might new Christians be more prone to believing the lies of false teachers?

The empty, boastful words of these false teachers were enticing enough for some believers to be ensnared by them. This was particularly true of new Christians who were just emerging from the clutches of sexual license practiced in the non-Christian culture. The false teachers, aware of this, twisted the concept of Christian freedom into something it was not.

What are some examples of absolute truth we see in Scripture? How can these truths help us fight the lies? Practically speaking, how can we avoid being taken in by the lies of false teachers?

Where are you most likely to be tempted to blur the lines of a sinful lifestyle or even believe a dangerous lie that redefines sin as something other than sin? How can you respond to that tendency in light of this study?

What does it look like to affirm one another in following Christ with our lives?

Close your time in prayer, thanking God that in His wisdom He gave us the power to fight the lies of false teachers. Thank God for the blood of Christ that saved us and is the only way to fight against the lies of Satan. Pray that your group would be discerning of false voices and lies in their lives.

Equally Important

Stand Up Sunday is just two Sundays from now! I am really excited about this big day, because we always have people ready to join lifegroups, and I am sure people will be investigating yours.

Do you have your table plan in place for that day? Maybe you should talk about that right now.

Do you have capacity in your group? Some have expressed that their group is “full,” and can’t handle any more people. (I’m looking at you, Breshears group!) Is that really a Christlike, or a Biblical position to take? How do you think they handled this issue in Acts 2, when literally thousands of people were coming to Christ at a time? Maybe your table plan isn’t as important as how we are going to “love others,” and “make disciples?” Maybe your group should talk about that right now?

On Stand Up Sunday, we’ll be asking people to partner with us for one year. You can partner early online right now! (Is that called “pre-partner?”)

Who is all this for, anyway?

What is your goal for coming to lifegroup? What do you hope to get out of it?

Does everyone in your group have the same goal?

Some people seem to get involved with groups out of very immature, selfish reasons. You know these people, right? They seem to love getting with others to gossip, to incite, to create drama. They just love to “stir the pot.” Have you seen this?

Let’s look at a different set of expectations for being involved with others:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

This is a very different type of stirring one another up, isn’t it? How is this stirring different from the immature, selfish way of stirring?

Look at this next verse to see a description of what those acts of “love and good works” might be characterized…

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

That might just produce a whole different set of results. What would it look like to stir each other up in THAT direction, rather than the drama and gossip direction?

I had lunch with a friend who works in a pretty high-stress manufacturing job. When the manager quit out of stress, my friend was promoted into his now-open difficult job position.
Apparently, everyone in the plant was pulling their hair out over the ongoing pressure and strain of the looking deadlines, lack of resources, and employee shortages. Stress was very high, and morale was very poor.
My friend decided that he would be intentional every day to interact with people in a positive, affirming way. He says he spends much of his time pointing at individuals on his team, and saying, “you are awesome.”
After doing this for several months, he found that when his day is difficult, and the pressure weighs on him, his employees will often go out of their way to stop him in the hallway, just to point at him and say “you are awesome.”

It sounds to me like he has stirred his people up to good works!

Isn’t that so much better than stirring people up in the wrong direction?

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:25 NLT

So, you may be thinking… How can I do this in my home? At my workplace, and in my lifegroup? The Apostle Paul gave Timothy some advice on this…

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT

Paul urges Timothy to “fan into flames” his spiritual gift. The word here is not the same as “stir up,” but it does have similar meaning… It means to “rekindle,” to “revitalize,” or “renew.”

I think we stir up others to good works by rekindling or revitalizing the gifts that God has given us! In other words, you and I serve each other the way God designed us to, and it will be contagious.

How should that change your goals for being involved with lifegroup?

If you sit and soak without serving, then your faith will sour and your life will suffer.

-Doug Fields

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT

It sounds like the best way to defeat immaturity is for us to all serve with our gifts together.

Do you know your spiritual gifts? You have them! Here is a free, simple Spiritual Gifts Assessment that you can take online.

Do you have your Until Unity book yet? We’ll start this together the week of February 13. It is an awesome book about this very same topic.

You can get yours in paperback, Kindle, and Audible version on Amazon right here:

I HIGHLY recommend getting the study guide as well. Sure, it is a little more of an expense, but what an investment this will be as we do it together! Get yours in paperback or Kindle right here: