Class Lesson July 17, 2011

Hey Gang,

What a powerful series this has been on Freedom in Christ: Make it Personal! 

 

Our first lesson on Personal Rights opened us up to the age old temptation of self-indulgence. You know, the idea that my personal rights mean my uninhibited right to do whatever I want to whenever I want to. We can see this in almost every facet of society today. We see children wanting to do their own thing without any restrictions from parents or any other authority figures. We see people wanting the right to free sexual expression with whomever they chose. Some want to be free to make their own choices about life and death, whether it be their own or that of another person. With freedom comes responsibility and accountability. According to the first amendment of the Constitution, I have the right to free speech. However, that freedom must be tempered with responsibility. I am not free to say whatever I want about anyone or speak in such a way as to disrupt order, for example, yelling fire in a crowded theater. The fourth amendment allows a person the right to bear arms. However, he can't just walk into a store and obtain a gun and shoot it whenever and wherever. Parents give their children certain freedoms. A child wants to go to his friend's house; the parent grants the child the freedom to do so. Yet, the parent establishes a curfew. If the child violates the curfew, the freedom to visit his friend is taken away. In all these realms we understand the relationship between law and freedom. Yet, in the realm of the word of God most people do not understand it. So, the first lesson in attaining freedom in Christ was to learn and understand how to reject self-indulgence or wanting to be free from being so all about me!

Last week's lesson had to do with Personal Checklists. This lesson centered on a freedom attained only by keeping the law - legalism, is another name for this. Paul explained that there is nothing you can do to earn your freedom in Christ. First of all there is no way anyone can keep the entire law! Paul said that freedom comes by living by God's grace. Yes the law has an important place in your daily walk - it protects you from yourself! But your salvation and freedom in Christ is not based on your ability to keep the law. You should feel a sense of freedom in knowing this!

 

What does freedom really mean to you? Does that meaning change if I ask about spiritual freedom?

 

Here is a hard one - did you know that there is freedom in forgiveness? I'm talking about you being able to forgive someone else. 

 

Personal Luggage 

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In the two previous lessons we have seen two ways that produce slavery rather than the freedom they promised. Living with revenge toward someone is another form of slavery - God wants you to be free from all of this! How, by having a personal relationship with God.

Our lesson this week says you can live free, you can live in the light, and you can live having been loved by God! This is what freedom is all about – it’s a personal relationship with God.

I. LIVE FREE! – GALATIANS 4:1-7

Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba , Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.


How would you describe your relationship with your adult kids? How has it changed over time?





What does freedom mean to you? Does that meaning change if I ask about spiritual freedom?





What does it mean to live spiritually free?

 

 

 

 

II. LIVE IN THE LIGHT! – 1 JOHN 1:5-9

Fellowship with God

Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, "We have fellowship with Him," and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



How do you relate freedom with walking in the light versus darkness?





According to John, what cures living in darkness?





How do we know confession really makes a difference?



How do we move from darkness to light according to verses 7-8?

 

 

 

III. LIVE LOVED! – 1 JOHN 3:1-3

Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him. Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.




Why is there no freedom outside of Christ?



How can you find more freedom in Christ?





Our lesson this week focuses on one crucial aspect of finding freedom – personal relationship with Christ. His purpose in coming was to provide the forgiveness that makes possible life in Christ. Through faith in Him our sins are forgiven.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me grow in gratitude for my freedom in Christ. help me never to take it for granted or abuse it. Amen.

 

 

We have missed you these past two Sundays! Let's prepare ourselves for God's personal message to each of us this week about true freedom in Christ.

 

In His Love,

 

David & Susan

Class Lesson July 10, 2011

Hey Gang,

This is a powerful series we began last week. Imagine what it would be like to experience true freedom! Last week it was important for us to understand that with personal rights come the temptation to self-indulge. The first lesson in freedom in Christ is to understand and learn how to reject self-indulgence.  It takes a lot to be free from self. 

This week our focus is on what the law is for and what it is not for!

Good News … It doesn’t have to be that way! God already loves you. Your list can be a freeing process, not a shackling master. You can be free! Galatians 3 gives us three choices we can make to live in a loving, fulfilling, liberating relationship with Christ.

I. FORGET OR FOCUS? – GALATIANS 3:1-3

Justification through Faith

You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?


How did the Galatians begin their walk with Christ?



How were they trying to continue that walk?



What are you doing to mature in your walk with Christ?



When have you chosen to forget faith and chain yourself to a checklist? Do you define the rules?



Who do you know that is bound up by a list of do’s and don’ts? How can you vividly portray freedom through Christ? Will this most help you or help that person?

II. RELY OR RECEIVE? – GALATIANS 3:10-14

Law and Promise
For all who [rely on] the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.  But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

What logical argument did Paul use to prove that people who rely on a religious checklist are cursed?



How have you discovered that trying to meet yours and other’s religious expectations is a curse? What expectations are worth meeting?





Have you more often chosen to rely on what you do to earn abundant life or to receive life by faithfully following Jesus Christ?





III. CONFINE OR CONFIDENT? – GALATIANS 3:19-26

The Purpose of the Law
 

Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. [The law] was ordered through angels by means of a mediator.  Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.  Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.  But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.  The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.  But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,  for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.


So, what does Paul say is the purpose of the law?

Whole New Relationship

Many boomers enjoy relating with their children who have matured into young adults. Real conversations replace scoldings, and there are no more bedtime battles since we go to bed before they do! Rules no longer govern the relationship. By faith, you are free to relate to God like His confident adult child rather than a confined, sullen teenager!

I Want To Enjoy the Freedom of Living by God’s Grace

I hope that everyone has had a blessed week as we prepare this week for more on our series of Freedom In Christ.

In His Love,

David & Susan 

Class Lesson July 3, 2011

Hey Gang,

We begin a whole new series this week that's entitled Freedom: Make It Personal. This 5-week study theme looks at how we gain true freedom and how we are to live out that freedom. Now many churches will be focused on patriotism and God and country celebrations this weekend and we will applaud our freedom as Americans. But inwardly, many people wonder what it really means to be free on a personal level. We can look for freedom in different ways - political, religious, relational, financial - but still miss the mark on really feeling truly free. Only Christ offers us a permanent and lasting freedom, a freedom that touches every other aspect of our lives. We will discover over the next 5-weeks through each lesson that to be free in Christ is to be truly free!

Our first lesson in this series is about how to overcome ungodly, self-serving, enslaving, and ultimately destructive behavior that mimics freedom - we call it Personal Rights!

Really? That means I’m free to do whatever I want whenever I want with whomever I want, right?



Wrong. That’s not liberty; that’s self-indulgent slavery. There’s only one way to truly be free and enjoy the rights endowed to you by your Creator. Our lesson this week explains how this can be your “Independence Day.”  

I. WHY NOT SELF-INDULGE? – 2 PETER 2:10b-14

Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones; however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord. But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—speak blasphemies about things they don't understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed, suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions as they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and always looking for sin, seducing unstable people, and with hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

How does Peter describe self-indulgent people?

How might you treat the holy things of God flippantly? Are you aligned with anyone who does so? How carefully do you honor God with your speaking, spending, and behaving? Are you self-indulgent? 

What has happened in the past week to reveal the present state of your self-indulgence or self-giving?

II. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO? – 2 PETER 2:15-19

By abandoning the straight path, they have gone astray and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but received a rebuke for his transgression: a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them. For uttering bombastic, empty words, they seduce, by fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.

1 Corinthians 1:27

Instead, God has chosen the world's foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world's weak things to shame the strong.


What foolish things has God used to rebuke you? How well have you listened?

Whom would you consider to be vulnerable to self-indulgence as a promised path to freedom?

III. WHO WILL YOU BE INSTEAD? – PHILIPPIANS 3:17-21

Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.



Where do we find examples of rejecting self-indulgence?




Who would benefit from following your example?

How can we offer that example in a humble rather than arrogant attitude?

 

I Want To Be Free From Being So All About Me

The first lesson in attaining true freedom in Christ is to understand and learn how to reject self-indulgence.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me practice self-denial instead of self-indulgence. Amen.

I hope everyone has a blessed week as we prepare for God's message on true freedom in Christ.  Happy 4th of July!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson June 26, 2011

Hey Gang,

This month’s series has been on putting money and possessions in their proper place. It has been humbling, but also freeing to know that God owns and gives us everything we have. Everything we have whether it's money, clothes, cars, homes, jobs, relationships, family, even the very air we breath is simply on loan to us to take care of while we are here on earth. 

Could I be “a fool” in my preparation for my financial future - is my treasure here on earth or in heaven? Can I honestly say that God and not money is my master? 

Last week we read that people have the propensity to live for the next thing – the next weekend, the next vacation, the next purchase, and the next experience. They never seem to be satisfied – never content. We learned that ambition is a fine line we walk because our focus is on us and not on Him. Paul says, “In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] – whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” The secret of contentment is to find our sufficiency in Christ, and not in material things.

This week we wrap up this series with the importance of GENEROSITY.

If you were to read all the verses in the Bible dealing with money, you would find that a vast number of them are about giving to the work of the Lord and helping people in need. Over and over, God tells us to be generous people.

The reason God gives us wealth is so we can be generous.

Many people don't understand the importance of generosity. They hold on tightly to what they own, unaware that selfishness often causes financial difficulties.


You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11).

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty (Proverbs 11:24).

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6).
 

Give of your time and talents.

Whether or not you have a lot of money or material possessions, be a generous person with your time, looking for ways to help your church, other ministries or people in need. Follow Christ’s example by showing a passionate concern for others. 

 
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:5-7). 

Be especially generous if you are well off.

Although everyone is called to be generous, you should be especially so if you are wealthy. Do not be embarrassed by your wealth, but remember it is not your money. Use it to bless others.
 

Command those who are rich ... to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Ask Yourself This - Is Giving The Purpose Of Living? Our lesson says that some people have learned that GIVING is the purpose of LIVING!

Why Be Generous?

I. SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY PAST ( GRACE ) – Luke 19:1-10

Jesus Visits Zacchaeus

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, because today I must stay at your house." 6 So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, "He's gone to lodge with a sinful man!" 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much!" 9 "Today salvation has come to this house," Jesus told him, "because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

Do you have a generous heart? Are you a generous person? Is there selfishness in your past?

II. SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY PRESENT ( LOVE ) – 1 JOHN 3:16-18

Love in Action

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him—how can God's love reside in him? 18 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;

Do you really show generosity to poor and needy people today? How can we open our eyes to needs we see today?

III. SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY YET TO COME ( EXAMPLE ) – 2 CORINTHIANS 8:3-4
3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,

Do you make generous donations to your church? Do you think God is pleased with your level of giving? When have you begged to help? Will people say you were generous after you’re gone?

Do you need to make any changes in how you approach giving?

Is My Purpose Of Living To Give?

Prepare yourselves this week for our final lesson on putting our possessions in perspective.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me be generous in my giving. Amen

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan 

Class Lesson June 19, 2011

Hey Gang,

What a series this has been - What do you really own? Where is your true treasure? and this week, How much is enough? 

I think this cartoon hits the nail on the head don’t you? Once a year we take some time to focus on the concept of thanksgiving. And yet, we have so much for which we should be thankful. Why is it that it’s so hard for us to think on the concept of thanksgiving more?

 
Why do we always feel like we need something more. More money, more gadgets, better furniture, a better house, a better car, more clothes, more shoes, more success. And what happens when we get more? We still aren’t satisfied, because there are new ads for new iPods, for new laptops, for new iPhones, for new cars, for new clothes and we have to have the newest and greatest. It’s impossible to satisfy that hunger for more, because our culture is not satisfied with what we have, but is geared to wanting more. It’s consumerism, and it’s the official religion of the industrialized world.

Our series has tried to get us to really think about this possession thing. We have been told throughout, that we should avoid greed and embrace the freedom that comes from using possessions the way God intended - how do we do that? Well, this week's lesson says that the answer is a hidden secret - it all centers around contentment. 

So, what does that mean?

Is it happiness?

Many people see “contentment” and “happiness” as one and the same. In many ways, they are, but it’s really a matter of focus. When you’re happy, it’s really a state of being, influenced by a number of factors, including contentment.

Contentment, on the other hand, is a matter of being satisfied with what you have. It focuses on what you have and don’t have instead of just being a state of being. It influences happiness. However, you can choose to be content, just as you can choose to be happy, and if you choose to be content, most of the time - you will be happy.

There are many ways to become happy — you can become happy by doing certain things (running, exercising, accomplishing a task), you can become happy because you are loved or in love, you can become happy because you just won a competition or a million dollars. Being content is another way to be happy, and it’s God's way.

Don't Worry Be Happy

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Is it simplicity?

Simplicity, of course, means many things to many people, but for me contentment is at the core of simplicity. It’s about being content with less, with a simpler life, rather than always wanting more, always acquiring more, and never being satisfied.

Simplicity means examining why you want more, and solving that issue at its core. At the core of wanting more is not being content with what you have. Once you’ve learned to be content, you don’t need more. You can stop acquiring, and start enjoying.

Now, I'm not saying that we will become immune to wants, but we can learned to catch ourselves and examine why we want something. And then try to tell  ourselves that we already have everything we could possibly want and need. And that contentment leads to simplicity.

Is it finances?

Really this is the same as simplicity, but I wanted to show it from a financial angle. The reason we get into financial trouble, oftentimes, is that we buy more than we can afford. And the root of that buying is buying things we want instead of only things we need, and the root of that is not being content with what we already have.

Finding contentment with the stuff you have and with a simpler life can lead to buying less, to buying things we need instead of want, and to only spending what we can afford.

Is it my job?

Should we be content with our jobs? Well, I won’t say that you should stick with a dead-end job and a boss that treats you like dirt. If you’re unhappy with your job, change it.  But change it with God's direction and guidance. Maybe you are in a job that pays you very well and  affords you plenty, but at the sacrifice of time with your family - is it worth it? 

Getting to Contentment

So if contentment is the answer, how do you get there? Well, our lesson this week says that first we must choose it, (1 Timothy 6:6-8) then we must push away the greed in our life, (1 Timothy 6:9-12) and finally, we must have faith in Christ for the answer (Philippians 4:10-20).

“God’s gifts put man’s best dreams to shame.” 

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Prayer

Lord, help me to find the contentment that comes when You are my sufficiency. Amen

This is a needed lesson for us all! Keep it in prayer this week as we prepare for more on God's perspective of our possessions.

In His Love,

David & Susan