|
This
week you will be studying passages in the scriptures that show us so
clearly what the problem is. The problem is the self that lives
for itself. Christ calls for us to crucify the old self and he
promises to raise up a new and very different self.
|
1. |
Before
you actually begin your Bible study program please take a few
minutes and write down in your own words what your
baptism into Jesus Christ meant to you. Why did you do it? What is
it going to mean? If you will
keep this in a safe place it will mean a great deal to you for years
to come. As the years pass
it will serve as a reminder to you of the serious
commitment that you
made on this day.
|
|
2. |
Turn
to Luke 9:18-26. Read and study this passage several times.
|
|
3. |
Now turn to Luke 18:28-30 and look at the promise that is
attached to discipleship, indeed to the very decision that you
have just made.
|
|
4. |
These
two passages will become very important as you will share your life
in Christ with others. Remember where they are and
what they say. As you
continue to go through this study, remember that
everything you learn is
something you will be responsible for passing on to someone else.
Don't
skim over it. Learn it as you go.
|
Be sure to spend time in prayer at the end of your
study sessions. Learn to
deeply communicate with your Father who loves you so
very much.
|
1. |
Turn
to Romans 6:1-14. Read and study this carefully. Each time you come
to the word "we" or "us," substitute your own name. (For example:
verse 2
"By no means. John died to sin, how can he live in
it any longer?")
|
|
2. |
Write
down some of the things about your old self that caused it to
receive
the death sentence.
|
|
3. |
Write
down some things about your new self that you really want to
express.
|
|
4. |
How do you specifically plan today to live out
verse 13? |
|
1. |
Before
you start today's study, ask yourself a very important question: Am
I
staying in close touch with older Christians? This is
crucial, and all next
week the Bible study will focus on this; but we can't
wait until next week to
say something about it. If there is anything in you
that is not wanting to see
or
be with other disciples, then you can be sure that that is something
that is not of God and must be crucified. It is your old independent self, not
the new self God is giving you.
|
|
2. |
Turn
to Romans 7:14-24 and read how powerless we are to live this new
life
alone. Do you see why we must deny the self?
Especially note verse 24.
|
|
3. |
But now go on to Romans 8 where we see how we can do
the impossible. You were told at your baptism that you could receive
the gift of the Spirit;
now study what some of that Spirit means in your
life. Read and study
verses 1-17, making notes on the things that strike
you the hardest.
Remember to keep substituting your own name for the
pronouns.
|
|
1. |
As you have questions about things that you are studying or things
that are
happening to you,
seek out some of your older brothers and sisters and let them help you. They have been through many things you will go through.
Lean on their wisdom and
understanding.
|
|
2. |
For
this Bible study you will need both an Old Testament and a New
Testament. If you don't have both, make arrangements
to get them right
away.
|
|
3. |
When we are children, we need to be taught things we
don't know; and we
need to be corrected when we are wrong. You are a
baby in Jesus Christ.
There is much you don't know and there are some areas
where you need
correction. We can say that for every new Christian
(and every older one).
How you take correction is going to make all the
difference in your growth
in Christ.
Turn to Proverbs 12:1-2. Next look at Proverbs 12:15. Go back to
chapter 10:17.
|
|
4. |
Write
down your attitude toward being corrected. Distinguish between
those things that are left over from your old self
and those things that Jesus
Christ is putting in your heart.
|
|
5. |
Go
to the New Testament now and read II Timothy 3:16 and answer this
question: Why are older brothers and sisters to bring the word of
God to
you? What is going to be your attitude when they do? |
|
1. |
In
your new life you will find that "attitude is everything." If you
develop a
critical or negative pessimistic attitude, you will
put out the Spirit's fire in
your life. Today the Bible study will focus on the
reason you can keep a
great attitude even in the worst of circumstances.
|
|
2. |
Read
and examine each of the following passages: John 16:33, Romans 8:28,
Philippians 4:12-13 and 19, and James 1:2-4.
|
|
3. |
When these are all put together,
what are they promising you about
everything in your life?
|
|
4. |
How
does this fit with having a good attitude regardless of what is
happening?
|
|
5. |
List
anything that is tending to cause you to have a bad (negative,
complaining, pessimistic) attitude. Confess these
right away to another disciple and ask for their prayers and
encouragement. |
|
1. |
By
today, you have certainly realized that you are not doing all for
Jesus
Christ that you determined to do five or six days
ago. You want to love him
with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. But you have failed
in some specific areas. What you will study today will be very important in
dealing
with this for the rest of your life.
|
|
2. |
Turn
to I John 1:5-10. Read it once carefully.
|
|
3. |
Think
of the difference in light and darkness. Think of the difference
between a bright open room with lots of windows, and
a totally dark
basement area. In one, things are out in the open.
You can see them as they
really are. In the other, things are hidden and covered by the
darkness. With this in mind, what does he mean when he calls us to
"walk in the
light?" Do you see how this fits with verse 9 and the call to
confess our sins?
|
|
4. |
We
all (from the oldest to the youngest in Christ) sin. If we claim
that we
don't, we lie (verse 10). How then are we to handle all this? Do we
cover and hide our sins? Or do we bring them out into the open through
confession?
|
|
5. |
Look
at the two results of walking out in the light as described in verse
7.
How will this cause a deeper fellowship with the
brothers and sisters?
|
|
6. |
Remember
this trustworthy saying: Satan's only ground is darkness. When
we confess our sins and bring them out into light, we
take away from him
his only base of operation. |
|
1. |
As
you come to the end of this first week as a committed disciple of
Jesus
Christ, go back to the most basic idea in
discipleship. Turn to Galatians
2:20.
|
|
2. |
Every
time your old nature tries to assert itself you can say, "/
have been
crucified with Christ."
Concerning what things do you especially need to say
that today? Write
them down.
|
|
3. |
As
you determine what you should do with your day remember: "I,
__________, no
longer live, but Christ lives in me." Meditate
on this
great idea
and then determine to let your life today be used for the very
things that Jesus Christ is most interested in.
|
|
4. |
Focus
on Paul's words today. "You are not your own; you were bought
with a price." (I Corinthians
6:19-20) Believe that with all your heart. You
are not your own. Jesus
Christ has purchased you for his purpose by his death on the cross.
Carefully distinguish between your purposes and his
purposes and live as one who has been "bought with such a
great price."
Important reminder:
As a new baby, you need to be in daily touch with
others who are ready to give you encouragement and
guidance. If you have
been avoiding that contact, determine how to deal
with that wrong attitude
that is developing. |
Back
|
