First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
This is a thought provoking lesson in the fact that many people (Christians included) don't see the connection of these two words - work & worship. Work is secular, worship is spiritual. If you are retired, please share how you looked at this understanding before, and if you are still working, please share how you might still be wrestling with this connection.
From the opening pages of Scripture, work is
presented as a good gift from God. Before sin entered the world, God created
humanity in His image and entrusted them with meaningful responsibility.
Genesis 1–2 shows us that work is not accidental nor merely a means of
survival; it is part of God’s original design.
God calls His people to steward what He has
made, to cultivate creation, and to reflect His character through faithful
labor. When our work is connected to God’s mission and aimed at God’s pleasure; it becomes an act of worship. Our vocation (wherever God has placed us) is one
of the primary ways we live out our identity as image-bearers and participants
in God’s ongoing work in the world.
Genesis 1:26-31 & Genesis 2:15
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He
created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and
to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for
food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in
the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that
work is a curse or a necessary evil?
Why is it important to remember that we are
stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
In what ways has your view of work been
shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
How does seeing your work as worship change
your motivation or attitude?
What might it look like to view your job, or
daily responsibilities as a mission field?
Closing Thoughts
Work Where God Has Placed You.
God has intentionally placed you where you
are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one
of the primary ways you reflect Christ.
Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.
Living on mission often looks ordinary:
working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily
responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary
worship.
Every human life has inestimable value
because it is formed, known, and loved by God from the womb.
In a culture that treats life as accidental,
disposable, or self-defined, Psalm 139 reminds us that human life is sacred
because it originates with God Himself. David reflects on God’s intimate
involvement in every stage of human life, especially in the hidden place of the
womb.
Where do you see culture challenging or
redefining the value of human life today?
Why is it important that God defines life
rather than individuals or society?
How does believing that God determines your
worth affect insecurity, comparison, or pride?
What does Psalm 139 teach us about God’s
presence in places we cannot see or control?
How should the belief that God directs every
life shape the way Christians speak about and live out the sanctity of life?
Closing Thoughts
Believing that every life is fearfully and
wonderfully made changes the way we live, speak, and love. To affirm the
sanctity of life is not only a conviction we hold — it is a mission we live out
together as the people of God.
Live with Gospel Conviction and Gospel
Compassion.
We must hold firmly to the truth that life
begins in the womb and is sacred to God, while also extending grace to those
who carry wounds, regrets, or guilt related to abortion. Our posture is not one
of condemnation, but of Christlike compassion and redemptive hope. The same God
who forms life also forgives sin and restores the broken.
Be a Voice for the Vulnerable.
God repeatedly calls His people to speak up
for those who cannot speak for themselves. This means advocating for the
unborn, the marginalized, and the forgotten — through prayer, support,
generosity, and presence. We do not remain silent in the face of injustice; we
respond with courage rooted in love.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be
constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show
hospitality.
What
tends to dull your spiritual passion the most — comfort, distraction,
discouragement, busyness?
What are
the dangers of apathy in our lives and in the life of the Church?
How do prayers
and community help protect us from growing spiritually cold?
Closing Thoughts
Spiritual slothfulness and apathy lead us
into a multitude of sins and destroys our relationship with God and the church.
One of the ways we kill apathy in our lives is by living in community with
other believers.
Identify one area in your life where you have
become apathetic to the things of God and confess it to another brother or
sister in Christ.
Pray daily for God’s help in killing apathy
in your life; pray for other believers as we seek to be zealous for the gospel.
Identify one person in your life who is far
from God, who has embraced an apathetic spirit. Pray for them, invite them to
our church, and seek to share the gospel with them.
END
Teacher Notes:
Culture Wars
How can we possibly engage the culture if we
don’t care?
Apathy?
Romans 12:11-12
How would you explain it? What can we do about it?
In Romans 12:11, Paul addresses one of the
most subtle threats to the Christian life: apathy.
When was a time in your life that you felt
most passionate about serving the Lord?
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:11
Click Play to Watch
Rocky shows us that a passion to win is built
on daily discipline.
Romans 12 shows us that spiritual passion is
built on constant prayer and dependence on God. This too is a daily discipline!
Paul warns us about a cooling devotion that
can take place in our lives, and we may not even recognize it.
Romans 12:11-13
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant
in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
How would you explain?
Slothful can mean lazy – lack of motivation,
or apathy – you just don’t care
Zeal or zealous means great energy or
enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause
Spiritual apathy is a settled indifference toward
God – what’s that mean
To be lethargic, low energy, run down, weary,
dull, sluggish, lacking enthusiasm, half-hearted, and lazy. And to no longer
really care. Another common phrase would be, “To be in a funk!”
Wayne said we shrink back or we lean-out vs
leaning-in to what God wants us to do. Examples Adam/Eve, and David. Never win the
“Culture War” if Christians lean-out to what God calls us to do.
Dustin – We neglect the things that matter
the most – God’s Word, our relationship with Jesus, our family – And we are
proactive to the things that matter the least – like buying a new grill or our
fantasy football.
Not a rebellion against God, but a neglect of
God.
A quiet drift where God remains acknowledged
but no longer eagerly sought.
How does this play out in the life of a
Christian and what are the dangers?
Wayne – Shrink back from engagement with the
culture. Legalism: Christians either isolate – withdraw from the conversation or escalate – fight with
self-righteousness (say right things the wrong way)
Relationship with God becomes functional, not
relational
Spiritual growth stalls or is wasted
completely
Ministry becomes mechanical
Love grows cold – Matthew 24:12 “the love of
many will grow cold”
Prayer loses priority
What tends to dull your spiritual passion
the
most:
comfort, distraction, discouragement,
busyness?
What would you tell a person that you believe
is in spiritual apathy?
Wayne – don’t waste your life.
Dustin – you are going to do less for God,
and you are going to miss out on blessings that God wants to do through you.
People not leaned-in in the bible – Lot and
Sodom & Gomorrah
Person leaned-in in the bible – the Good
Samaritan
You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. This
is something every believer experiences.
God is not surprised by your coldness. He
already knows the temperature of your heart, and He’s still inviting you.
Don’t wait to feel warm before you come to
Christ. Psalm 23:3, Matthew 11:28, James 4:8.
Go back to the gospel, not just your
disciplines. Remember how you came into this life. Revisit the mercy of God,
not just the mechanics of obedience.
Hey it’s Biblical…
Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost that Loving
Feeling
“… You don’t love Me or each other as you did
at first!” – Rev 2:4 NLT
How do prayers and community help protect us
from growing spiritually cold?
Prayers and community are God’s primary
safeguards against spiritual coldness because they keep us connected — to God
and to one another.
Quiet time with God, Sunday school class, and
bible studies, and men’s accountability groups
What does it mean to be fervent in spirit?
Fervent means a passionate intensity
The apostle Paul encourages believers to love
and serve one another not only sacrificially but also enthusiastically
Be emotionally inflamed, enthusiastic, or
excited.
Hearts eager to do good and serve God with
enthusiasm
On fire for the Lord
on the boil – making tea
Godly zeal must be tempered with a solid
foundation in biblical truth, discernment, and spiritual perception (Romans
10:1–4). Without knowledge, spiritual enthusiasm can become seriously misguided.
The apostle Peter describes those who are
fervent in spirit as having an eagerness to “turn from evil and do good” and
“seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10–13).
When you think of a Christian on fire for
Jesus – what do you think of?
Dustin – Intentional: time we spend on
certain things (with God)
Wayne – Centered: on the Word of God
Dallas – on fire for the church and
God’s Word - 10 Love one
another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Christians
competing for honoring one another – they are on fire for Jesus!
How can we self-examine ourselves for
spiritual apathy?
We are passionate about the things we care
about.
How passionate are we about Jesus?
11 Stay excited about your faith as you serve
the Lord. 12 When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you
pray, be faithful. - New International Reader's Version
Conclusion
Romans 12:11–13 calls us to wake up from
spiritual complacency. The Christian life is not a passive wait for heaven, but
an active, disciplined daily pursuit of God. When we resist apathy and rely on
the Spirit, our lives can become a powerful engagement to the Culture War.
What voices most consistently shape your
worldview right now — Scripture, community, media — and how can you
intentionally reorder those influences this week?
How does the way you speak about moral issues
— especially online — reflect whether your mind is being renewed by the gospel
or shaped by the anger and anxiety of the world?
Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Why is
living sacrificially for God described as “true and proper worship”?
What does
it mean to not be conformed to this world? What are some examples of ways the
world pressures us to conform?
What do
you think “the renewing of your mind” looks like in daily life? How does this
help in resisting worldliness?
What does
it mean to live in alignment with God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will?
How can
we tell if we’re being transformed by the renewing of our minds? What does that
transformation look like?
What part
of this passage challenges you the most personally? Why?
Closing Thoughts
As believers, we are called to live out our
faith within the community of other believers and actively show the world what
it looks like to follow Christ. The transformation that happens in our lives by
renewing our minds will affect not just our relationship with God, but our
relationships with others.
Identify one area where you can live out your
faith more boldly this week. Maybe it’s choosing not to conform to a specific
worldly pressure, or offering your time or energy to someone in need.
Pray daily for God’s help in renewing your
mind, and for the strength to resist the pull of conformity to the world.
Identify one person in your life who is far
from God, who has embraced the pattern of this world. Pray for them, invite
them to our church, and seek to share the gospel with them.
END
Teacher' Notes:
How is the world different now than it was
ten years ago?
Click Play to Watch
At what age do you think conformity to the
world is at its strongest?
Mr. Keating whispers to ‘seize the day, make
your lives extraordinary’. His message is one of nonconformity – but is it?
Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What does it mean to present your bodies as a
living sacrifice?
The dictionary defines sacrifice as “anything
consecrated and offered to God.” As believers, how do we consecrate and offer
ourselves to God as a living sacrifice?
For those who are in Christ by virtue of
saving faith, the only acceptable worship is to offer ourselves completely to
the Lord.
What does a living sacrifice look like in the
practical sense? The following verse (Romans 12:2) helps us to understand. We
are a living sacrifice for God by not being conformed to this world.
Romans 12:2
Do not
be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What does it mean to not be conformed to this
world? What are some examples of ways the world pressures us to conform?
Romans 12:1-2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what
is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What is Paul referring to by this world?
Someone lookup 1 John 2:15-16 and read what the world is according to John.
World defined in 1 John 2:15-16
1.Cravings of
sinful man - gratifying our physical desires.
2.Lust of his
eyes - materialism and coveting.
3.The pride of
life - boasting of what he has and does.
All that the world has to offer can be
reduced to these three things.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what
is good and acceptable and perfect.
How can we tell if we’re being transformed by
the renewing of our minds?
We know we’re being transformed when our
thoughts, desires, and decisions increasingly reflect the mind of Christ.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will
of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What patterns of cultural influence do we
conform to without testing or questioning?
Success
Pattern: Always bigger, better, and faster
Career advancement at any cost
Comparing lifestyles, not character
Measuring life by milestones
Our Assumption: “If I don’t keep up, I’m
falling behind.”
Technology & Attention
Pattern: Constant connection
Checking phones as a reflex
Filling silence with noise
Allowing algorithms to disciple us
Our Assumption: “I can’t afford to unplug.”
Conflict Avoidance
Pattern: Peace at any price
Silence instead of truth
Compromise to avoid discomfort
Redefining love as agreement
Our Assumption: “Truth is unloving if it
causes tension.”
Reactionary Living
Pattern: Responding instead of discerning
News cycles shaping emotions
Outrage without prayer
Echo chambers in our mind reinforcing
opinions
Our Assumption: “If I feel strongly, I must
be right.”
How does the way we speak about moral issues
— especially online — reflect whether our mind is being renewed by the gospel
or shaped by the anger and anxiety of the world?
Should we even speak to moral issues online?
What's the point?
Conformity often hides in habits we’ve never
examined.
The Moving Walkway
Have you ever gotten on one of those moving
walkways at an airport? At first, it feels helpful — you’re moving forward
without much effort. But if you stop paying attention, you’re being carried
along whether you choose it or not.
Now imagine stepping onto one going the wrong
direction. You might not notice at first. You’re still moving. Everyone else is
moving too. But unless you intentionally turn around and walk against it,
you’ll end up somewhere you never meant to go.
Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this
world.”
In other words, don’t let life’s moving
walkways carry you along without thinking.
“Test everything; hold fast what is good.”
(1 Thess. 5:21)
Consider this: Are there things that feel
“normal” in my life that Scripture might question?
The most powerful molds are the ones we don’t
realize we’re in.
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and
murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked
him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any
belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now
as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven
shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the
city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling
with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose
from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So, they
led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was
without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at
Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he
said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the
street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus
named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man
named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his
sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man,
how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has
authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the
Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry Ny name
before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show
him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.” 17 So Ananias departed
and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the
Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And
immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his
sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For some days he was with the disciples at
Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He
is the Son of God.”
Why do
you think Saul believed he was serving God while opposing Him?
What
stands out to you about how Jesus confronts Saul on the road to Damascus?
How does
Saul’s story challenge the idea that sincerity in religion is enough?
Why do
you think God chose to use Ananias in Saul’s conversion story?
In what
ways does encountering Jesus still disrupt and redirect lives today?
Closing Thoughts
Acts 9 reminds us that encountering Jesus is
not about gaining information — it is about transformation. Christ still opens
blind eyes, interrupts self-directed lives, and redirects people toward His
mission. As a gospel-shaped community, we are both recipients of grace and
participants in God’s work. God often uses ordinary, obedient believers — like
Ananias — to help others take their next step toward Jesus.
END
Teacher Notes:
Video: Sorry Too Long to Post
This is the story of Saul of Tarsus
What stands out to you about how Jesus
confronts Saul on the road to Damascus?
Why did Saul believe he was serving God while
opposing Him?
Saul equated religious sincerity and
tradition with faithfulness, without truly knowing Jesus.
Saul was deeply trained in the Law and
sincerely committed to protecting Jewish identity and purity. From his
perspective, the message about Jesus threatened everything he believed about
God, the Law, and Israel. Because Jesus did not fit his expectations of the
Messiah, Saul concluded that the early Christians were dangerous heretics. In
persecuting them, he thought he was defending God’s honor.
Saul’s mistake was not a lack of passion, but
misplaced devotion. He knew Scripture but missed its fulfillment in Christ. His
story reminds us that it is possible to be deeply religious, morally driven,
and even well-intentioned — yet still oppose God — when zeal is not shaped by
truth and a personal relationship with Jesus.
How can we fall into Paul's religious
sincerity today?
When devotion replaces dependence on Christ
and activity replaces relationship.
When we confuse knowledge about God with
knowing God. When information becomes the goal instead of transformation,
sincerity can mask spiritual blindness.
When we measure faithfulness by behavior
rather than by submission. Doing the “right” things — serving, giving,
attending — can slowly become a way to justify ourselves instead of trusting
Christ.
When we defend our beliefs more than we seek
truth. Saul was sincere because he was certain he was right.
When we serve God without surrendering to
Jesus as Lord. It is possible to be active in religious work while resisting
Christ’s authority over our priorities, attitudes, or relationships.
Why do you think God chose to use Ananias in
Saul’s conversion story?
Ananias represents ordinary believers. He is
not an apostle or public leader, yet God entrusts him with a crucial role in
Saul’s transformation.
Ananias bridges Saul’s past and future. Saul
had been a feared persecutor of the church. When Ananias addresses him as
“Brother Saul,” it powerfully demonstrates forgiveness, acceptance, and the
reconciling power of the gospel.
God uses Ananias to confirm Saul’s calling
and restore his sight, showing that transformation happens within Christian
community, not isolation. Saul’s encounter with Jesus was personal, but his
commissioning came through the body of Christ.
Ananias’ obedience reminds us that God’s
mission often advances through small acts of faithfulness and that our “yes” to
God may play a life-changing role in someone else’s story.
How does encountering Jesus still disrupt and
redirect lives today?
Jesus disrupts how people see themselves.
When we truly encounter Christ, self-righteousness, pride, and self-sufficiency
are exposed.
Jesus disrupts how people live. Careers,
habits, relationships, and goals often come under His lordship. Following Jesus
may mean letting go of sinful patterns, unhealthy ambitions, or identities
built on success, comfort, or approval. The gospel interrupts life as usual.
Jesus redirects what people live for.
Encountering Christ gives new purpose — living for God’s glory and the good of
others. People move from self-directed lives to Christ-centered mission, using
their gifts, influence, and story to point others to Him.
Why is Saul’s conversion such a powerful
picture of grace?
It shows that God saves people not because
they deserve mercy, but precisely when they don’t. Saul was not searching for
Jesus — he was actively opposing Him. If anyone seemed beyond redemption, it
was Saul. Yet Jesus met him in the middle of his rebellion, not with judgment,
but with mercy.
Grace is also seen in who initiates the
encounter. Saul does not cry out for forgiveness; Jesus takes the first step.
The risen Christ confronts Saul, reveals the truth, and then invites him into
obedience and purpose. This shows that salvation begins with God’s initiative,
not human effort.
Grace is evident in the complete
transformation that follows. Saul is forgiven, restored, filled with the Holy
Spirit, welcomed into the community of believers, and commissioned for mission.
God does not merely pardon Saul — He redeems his past and repurposes his life.
Saul’s story reminds us that no one is too
far gone, no past too dark, and no sin too great for the grace of Jesus. Grace
doesn’t just erase guilt; it creates a new future.
From a theological perspective, shouldn’t
salvation always lead to mission?
Yes — from a biblical and theological
perspective, salvation is inseparable from mission, even though the form of
that mission may differ from person to person.
In Scripture, salvation is never the finish
line — it is the starting point.
