Below, find longer passages for study and room for as much (or as little) discussion as you see fit for allowing God to speak. Ask in the end, as a humble former slave, who in the group needs freedom and how the group can help. Make sure it's not just a discussion or just reading, but an environment that actually serves as a vessel for transformation.
Video
- Here is the song "Equally Skilled" by Jon Foreman:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVB_WevG_A
- Here are the lyrics:
- http://www.lyricstime.com/jon-foreman-equally-skilled-lyrics.html
- Here is the passage from the book of Micah that it comes from:
- http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%207&version=NIV
Reading
- Leviticus 18:1-5
- Leviticus 22:31-33
- Ezekiel 37:21-28
- Ephesians 4:11-24
- Romans 6
- Romans 12
- John 8:31-36
Discuss
- What has most stuck with you from Sunday?
- What challenged your previous way of thinking?
- What did you not understand?
- What changes of thought are required going forward?
- What changes of behavior/attitude seem necessary at this point?
- What are the obstacles to embracing freedom?
- What is the appeal of life (or parts of life) lived "outside the temple" (profanely, or Pro Fanus)
- Why is this often easier to see in others than in the self?
- What does discipleship, or real, Biblical sainthood, cost?
- What does the opposite, or slavery, cost?
- What decisions are individuals making based on Christ's invitation for exodus from that which enslaves?
- How is this group being invited into something different where exodus from slavery, and holiness, is concerned?
Leader note: Please consider sharing briefly the kinds of things said/decided/experienced in your group that epitomize individuals (or even the whole group) taking a step. Sharing names and revealing specifics is not appropriate or necessary, but sharing the story of how The Story is changing people, a step at a time, is a great reminder for all of us leading groups week in and week out that the Father is at work in our community. You can email Steve or post comments here.
We just finished our group tonight and we had discussion around this week's sermon. For me, the impression I had of the message was that I felt like it was very relevant for me, but I couldn't put my finger on why. It was like there was a level of abstractness I was not quite connecting with, like I was 5 degrees out of sync with "getting it". For this reason, I wanted our group to dive deeper into this topic. Even though this was only week 3 of Beta for us, I felt like our group was ready to tackle a deep discussion.
ReplyDeleteAfter some additional study, I made the connections between "holiness" and "becoming Christlike", as well as the concept of sanctification, a concept I'd heard many times, but never quite investigated. I listened to the podcast again, and the message was so rich with "highlightable" truths, that I had to stop and take more notes. In our group, we discussed this and talked about how holiness is a journey. We discussed how our salvation is a one time event, but holiness and becoming Christlike is something Christians do over a lifetime, and there will be ups and downs. We talked about not putting on an appearance, but really having a heart that exhibits the essence of Jesus inside and out. One of the most memorable points in this study was about how Rom 6:14 says sin no longer has dominion over you (ASV). And we discussed how this means that while Christians may still sin, we should claim that promise because God has given us tools (bible study, prayer, etc) and helps (holy spirit) to allow us to not be mastered by sin, but be free from it. Again, it doesn't mean we'll ever be sinless on this earth, but that we are free from the bondage of sin. That's a huge promise.