Class Lesson September 25, 2011

Hey Gang,

This week's lesson concludes our series on a balanced spiritual growth and takes a look at the simplicity of bringing others to Christ. Now, I know what you are thinking, "What's simple about bringing others to Christ?" Well, as Philip says to Nathanael in our lesson this week, "Come and see."

People Need The Lord

Kirk Cameron Witnessing on the Street

Here are some common things we hear about sharing our faith: 

1. My friends think there are other ways to God besides Jesus. Is this possible?
2. I get nervous whenever I start to share about my faith. Why?
3. I have relatives who aren’t saved, nor are they interested. What should I do?
4. I’m not sure what to say when I share about Jesus. I’m afraid I won’t have the answers.

Who had the greatest impact on your decision to become a Christian?

• Parent
• Sunday school teacher
• Coworker
• Neighbor
• Pastor/staff member
• Grandparent
• Other family member
• Friend
• Someone you don't know
• Other

Who has had the greatest influence on your spiritual growth since then?

Looking back helps you see how certain people impact how you follow Jesus. Each matters: the person who first introduced you to Jesus; ones who walked with you through difficult times; ones who thought enough of you and of Jesus to know the two of you can do life together really well and affirmed you for it.

You and I have also done this for others, maybe without realizing it. Let's be intentional about being ones who help others know and obey Christ with delight. 

John the Baptist pointed the crowd to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Andrew and John were disciples of John the Baptist, but when John repeated to them the same message he had proclaimed publicly, they followed Jesus. Andrew went to his brother Simon and told him what had happened. When Simon met Jesus, Jesus gave him a new name, Cephas. Jesus called Philip to follow Him. Philip in turn sought out his friend Nathanael and told him that he had found the One foretold by the prophets - Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael asked, "Can there be any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip challenged him to "come and see." Meeting Jesus convinced Nathanael to follow Him.

I. WHY WE GO – JOHN 1:29, 35-39

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


………………………………………………………………………………………


35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look! The Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, "What are you looking for?" They said to Him, " Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are You staying?" 39 "Come and you'll see," He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning.

We need to take John the Baptist as an example of a witness for Jesus. John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was privileged to see that Jesus was the Lamb of God, but he did not live to witness how He did it. Like many prophets, John the Baptist spoke of something he did not fully understand; but God led him to make this proclamation of what Jesus' followers saw later in Hid death and resurrection. 

Think of a positive experience you’ve had (a doctor, a vacation spot, a new restaurant) only because someone recommended it. What made you trust this person’s recommendation? Would you trust them again?



What makes it easy for you to share about Jesus? What makes you hesitate? What should we do about each situation?

Lasting points from these verses:

1. Jesus is the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world.
2. All people need to find forgiveness through Him.
3. All Christians need to tell of Him publicly and privately.
4. Thus we should develop the skill of telling others about Christ.

II. WHOM TO TELL – JOHN 1:40-46


40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which means "Anointed One"), 42 and he brought [Simon] to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, He said, "You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which means "Rock").


Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day He decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip and told him, "Follow Me!" 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets ): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!" 46 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathanael asked him. "Come and see," Philip answered.

Following Jesus means more than walking with Him down a road. it means commitment and obedience. As we go about our work, our schooling, and our lives in our homes, we are to tell those we know or meet about the Lord.

Is it easier to share Jesus with a relative, a friend, or a stranger?




How is sharing about Jesus different with someone who is genuinely interested compared to someone who is indifferent or resistant?

Lasting points from these verses:

1. If God leads you to go as a missionary, be ready to go and tell.
2. As we go about our lives, we should be sensitive to opportunities to tell others about Jesus.
3. Ignorance and prejudice often thwart the words of witnesses.

III. WHAT RESULTS – JOHN 1:49-51

49 " Rabbi," Nathanael replied, "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus responded to him, "Do you believe [only] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." 51 Then He said, " I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."


What convinced Nathanael? Was Nathanael wise, skeptical, cautious, curious, or what?




If you had to choose one word to describe how Andrew and Philip felt about sharing Jesus with Peter and Nathanael, what would it be?

Lasting points from these verses:

1. We should go to our friends and tell them of Jesus.
2. We can use biblical titles to provide a foundation for what we say.
3. We need to recognize that the Lord Himself will use our testimony to speak to the person to whom we are witnessing.
4. Don't be surprised if some people make excuses.
5. Challenge people to give Jesus a chance.
6. We should rejoice with those who receive Christ.

Go and tell the good news of Jesus. Tell of His coming, of His ministry and life, tell of His death to take away sin, and tell of His resurrection. Tell what He has done in your life. Don't limit your witness to one time or place. As you go about each day, tell the good news. Tell your family, tell your friends, and tell strangers you meet. Live a good life, but be sure to give God the glory for what good is in your life. People need to see His good works in you.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me to go where You want me to go and tell others what You want me to say. Amen



I hope you have enjoyed this series on spiritual growth. It's always good to see where we measure up to God's plan. Continue to be in prayer for what God will reveal through this week's lesson on sharing our faith.

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson September 18, 2011

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our series on balancing your spiritual growth. 

This week we look at how we grow spiritually, by serving people. One of the things we are going to do when we get to heaven is serve God. So guess what God wants us to do while we’re here on earth? He wants us to practice serving. We should encourage our children to start serving others in God’s name at an early age. If we don’t know how to serve him here, how will we be prepared to serve him in heaven? It's important that our children understand that God put them here to make a contribution, not just take up space watching TV or playing video games. It is only in giving our lives away that we find out what life’s all about.

What will be your contribution? What will be your children’s contribution? You need to help your kids answer this question. How will they give back? How will they use their God-given talents? Will they use them just to benefit themselves or will they use them to help others?

Everything in our society teaches us to use our talents for ourselves – make a lot of money, retire, be comfortable and die. That’s the dream. But deep down inside we know we were made for more than that. We know instinctively that there is a bigger purpose in life. It’s that deep desire inside us. We may have covered it up with our fear of failure, but it’s still there, the desire to make a difference.

What will be the contribution of your life? The Bible says, “God has given each of you some special abilities. Be sure to use them to help each other, passing on God’s many kind of blessing” (1 Peter 4:10 LB).

 

It’s only in giving our lives away that we find out what life’s all about.

John 13:1-17

Scripture says that God allows us 70 years and some beyond.

• First 15 are spent in childhood and early adolescence.
• 20 years are spent in bed
• Last 5, physical limitations start to curtail our activities.
• That gives us about 30 years in which to live as adults.
• We take time out for eating, recreation, and for figuring our taxes, and we are down to perhaps 15 years.
• Now suppose we spend 8 of those years watching television. That cuts us down to 7 years. Our time is short! The time we can invest for God, in creative things, in reaching people for Christ, is short!

What is your Calling? – Video – You are expected to contribute something in life!

Two major points to today's lesson:

1. God saved you to serve! In 2 Timothy 1:9 it says, “It is God who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan.” (LB)

• You were put here on earth to make a contribution. You weren’t created just to consume resources – to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life.

• If you have been born again and Christ is at the center of your life then your priority in life is to love Him in everything that you do. You are also expected to commit to other believers just as much as you do to Christ in fellowship. And together we are expected to mature in our spiritual walk to develop a character like that of Christ. All of this provides us with a means and motivation to serve God and others here on earth.

1. God has SHAPED you to serve Him and others! · God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play, based on the way it was shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed, or “shaped,” to do certain things.

• Remember the Rick Warren acrostic for SHAPE – Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences.

What is your understanding of Spiritual gifts? What are they, where do they come from and what are they for?



The four major lists of gifts are found in Romans 12:3-8, 1 Cor. 12:1-11, 27 -31, Eph. 4:11- 12, and 1 Peter 4:9-11, and there are other passages that mention or illustrate gifts not included in these lists.

A SHORT LIST OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

(From 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 4, Rom. 12, 1 Pet. 4)

1. ADMINISTRATION I Cor. 12 (This is sometimes called “Organization”) The ability to recognize the gifts of others and recruit them to a ministry. The ability to organize and manage people, resources, and time for effective ministry.



2. APOSTLE I Cor. 12 The ability to start new churches/ventures and oversee their development.



3. DISCERNMENT 1 Cor. 12 The ability to distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. The ability to detect inconsistencies in another’s life and confront in love.



4. ENCOURAGEMENT Rom. 12 (This is sometimes called “Exhortation”) The ability to motivate God’s people to apply and act on biblical principles, especially when they are discouraged or wavering in their faith. The ability to bring out the best in others and challenge them to develop their potential.



5. EVANGELISM Eph. 4 The ability to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to unbelievers in a positive, non-threatening way. The ability to sense opportunities to share Christ and lead people to respond with faith.



6. FAITH I Cor. 12 The ability to trust God for what cannot be seen and to act on God’s promise, regardless of what the circumstances indicate. The willingness to risk failure in pursuit of a God-given vision, expecting God to handle the obstacles.



7. GIVING Rom. 12 The ability to generously contribute material resources and/or money beyond the 10% tithe so that the Body may grow and be strengthened. The ability to manage money so it may be given to support the ministry of others.



8. HEALING I Cor. 12 The ability to pray, in faith, specifically for people who need physical, emotional, or spiritual healing and see God answer. The ability to sense when God is prompting you to pray this kind of prayer.



9. HOSPITALITY 1 Peter 4:9-10 The ability to make others, especially strangers, feel warmly welcomed, accepted, and comfortable in the church family. The ability to coordinate factors that promote fellowship.



10. LEADERSHIP Rom. 12 The ability to clarify and communicate the purpose and direction (“vision”) of a ministry in a way that attracts others to get involved. The ability to motivate others, by example, to work together in accomplishing a ministry goal.



11. MERCY Rom. 12 The ability to manifest practical, compassionate, cheerful love toward suffering members of the Body of Christ.



12. MIRACLES I Cor. 12 The ability to pray, in faith, specifically for God’s supernatural intervention into an impossible situation and see God answer. The ability to sense when God is prompting you to pray this kind of prayer.



13. PASTORING Eph. 4 (This is sometimes called “Shepherding”) The ability to care for the spiritual needs of a group of believers and equip them for ministry. The ability to nurture a small group in spiritual growth and assume responsibility for their welfare.



14. PRAYING WITH MY SPIRIT I Cor. 12 (This is sometimes called “Tongues/Interpretation”) The ability to pray in a language understood only by God or one who is given the gift of interpretation at that time.



15. PREACHING Rom. 12 (This is sometimes called “Prophecy”) The ability to publicly communicate God’s Word in an inspired way that convinces unbelievers and both challenges and comforts believers. The ability to persuasively declare God’s will.



16. SERVICE Rom. 12 The ability to recognize unmet needs in the church family, and take the initiative to provide practical assistance quickly, cheerfully, and without a need for recognition.



17. TEACHING Eph. 4 The ability to educate God’s people by clearly explaining and applying the Bible in a way that causes them to learn. The ability to equip and train other believers for ministry.



18. WISDOM 1 Cor. 12 The ability to understand God’s perspective on life situations and share those insights in a simple, understandable way. The ability to explain what to do and how to do it.

I may have this gift - I’m pretty sure I have this gift - I don’t think I have this gift

 

Your Life Is Part Of A Plan!

Before architects design any new building they first ask, “What will be its purpose? How will it be used?” Before God created you, He decided what role He wanted you to play on earth. He planned exactly how He wanted you to serve Him, and then He shaped you for those tasks. You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry.


David said, “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16) This means that nothing that happens in your life is insignificant. God uses all of it to mold you for your ministry to others and shape you for your service to Him.



Paul tells us this morning in Romans that God called each of us and gave us these gifts so that we would serve Him by working together.

I. WORK TOGETHER – ROMANS 12:3-5

For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.


There are a multitude of gifted people who may never be named serving for the love of serving Christ! Unfortunately our society has completely misunderstood what the Bible teaches about service in God's kingdom. To be gifted by the Holy Spirit is not a cognitive but an actionable experience by which we work for the common good of the body of believers. Christ Himself said He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). We are designed to serve, and godly attitudes make that process delightful.

Paul's letter to the Romans outlines the essence of the gospel more clearly and succinctly than perhaps any other book in the New Testament. Rome was the cosmopolitan city by which all other cities in the first-century Greco-Roman world were judged. With no less than 80 temples to various gods and the ever popular Circus Maximus, the city was one of both ancient splendor and privileged debauchery. Roman Christians were the fledging church God had established in a dark city. Jews and Gentiles alike made up this church - a unique bridge of the old and new dedicated to God. It was to these Christians that Paul wrote Romans so that he might establish them in their faith.

Why can’t we just attend church and study Scripture to grow healthy spiritual lives? Why find a place of service within the church?



How would it impact a believer to connect and grow but not to serve?



How would it impact a church to connect and grow but not to serve?




2 main reasons people don’t serve:

1. We have become too busy to serve – Luke 14:16-26 Jesus tells His disciples that many would be called to serve in God’s kingdom, but most would give excuses why they couldn’t. Too many obligations.

2. We have too many distractions to serve – the more we accumulate, the more distractions they cause: 2 cars break down twice as often, 2 computers cause twice the errors, 2 mortgages cost 2 times the interest and so on. Jesus said in Matt. 6:24 “No one can serve two masters…”



Paul goes on to say that we have been gifted to serve.


II. SERVE THROUGH GIFTEDNESS – ROMANS 12:6-8

According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.


The word gifts here denotes a special endowment or bestowal by God upon the believer. These gifts are to be used in the service of Christ and of the church in general. Each and every believer has been entrusted with at least one spiritual gift. Each gift any believer has received is the result of God's grace and riches poured out on the church.



Can we earn our Spiritual gift(s)?

• You can't earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them -- that's why they are called gifts! They're an expression of God's grace to you: "Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us." (Ephesians 4:7, CEV)

Can we choose our Spiritual gift(s)?

• Nor do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have. Paul explains that God determines that, "It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have." (1 Corinthians 12:11, NLT).

• Because God loves variety, and he wants us to be special, there's no one single gift given to everyone, and no individual receives all the gifts. If you had them all, you'd have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God's purposes -- to teach us to depend on each other.

Why were we given Spiritual gift(s)?

• Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church" (1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT). When we use our gifts together, we all benefit. If others don't use their gifts, you get cheated, but if you don't use your gifts, they get cheated. This is why God wants us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

Whenever we forget these basic truths about gifts, it always causes trouble in the church.



Two common problems are:


1. Gift Envy - The first occurs when we compare our gifts to others, feel dissatisfied with what God gave us, and become resentful or jealous of how God uses others.

2. Gift Protection - The second problem happens when you expect everyone else to have your gifts, do what you're called to do, and feel as passionate about it as you do. The Bible says, "There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving" (1 Corinthians 12:5, NLT).



Many of us have heard of spiritual gifts, but we are not quite sure we understand them. A spiritual gift is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer at their conversion, to be used to minister to others and therefore build up the Body of Christ. Although spiritual gifts are given when the Holy Spirit enters new believers, their use and purpose need to be understood and developed as we grow spiritually.

A spiritual gift is much like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

A Few Truths about Spiritual Gifts

1. Only believers have spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 2:14)

2. You can’t earn or work for a spiritual gift. (Eph 4:7)

3. The Holy Spirit decides what gifts I get. (1 Cor 12:11)

4. I am to develop the gifts God gives me. (Rom 11:29)

5. It’s a sin to waste the gifts God gave me. (1 Cor 4:1-2 and Mt 25:14-30)

6. Using my gifts honors God and expands me. (John 15:8)

Some try to find the greatest spiritual gift, but any gift empowered by the Holy Spirit with expressed love is great. We do damage in our churches when we elevate one spiritual gift over another. Instead serve alongside God with the gifts that He has given. If you don't know your spiritual gift(s), prayerfully ask God to show you. Consult with trustworthy Christians. Once you know your gift, put it to use in the church. Do so out of love for Him, His church, and our fellow believers.



III. GROW GOOD CHARACTER – ROMANS 12:9-15


Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.


What does it look like to use gifts of prophesy, service, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and mercy without love? Are some gifts easier to use selfishly?

Spirituality is not measured by giftedness; it is measured by love, God's love!

Paul makes an important statement about love when he says that "without love I am nothing!" – Not stated as "I have nothing," but rather, "I AM NOTHING!" A church or believer cannot be healthy without love no matter how gifted! Without love all sacrifices made by us gain us nothing! Love is foundational even for the gifts!

God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play, based on the way it was shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed, or “shaped,” to do certain things.

What a powerful series on measuring our growth in Christ - how tall are you today? Please continue to study our lesson this week as we prepare to discuss the importance of each believer's God given gift to the church - serve people!

Have a blessed week and we'll see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

 







 

Class Lesson September 11, 2011

Hey Gang,

We continue this week in our series on balancing your spiritual growth. Last week we learned that a healthy Christian connects with God in prayer and worship, relates to others in positive relationships, and connects to the church. We watched how Andy handled a delicate situation with a fellow church member (Barney) that didn't have the gift of singing - not a lick! 

This week we look at how we grow in biblical understanding and the importance of this to our overall balance of spiritual maturity. The importance is that we REMEMBER!

REMEMBER (ING)  9-11

Little Did She Know

Click Here to Watch

Where were you the morning of 9-11 when you first heard the news?


What have we learned from the events of 9-11?

• Are we willing to say and think that this is what happens when a nation turns it's back on God?
• Are we willing to say or think that maybe God removed His hand of protection over America that day?
• Are we willing to fall down on our knees and ask God to forgive our nation and to heal and restore us once again?

Do you believe that we are living in "the last days?"

• Paul called the last days the time period between Jesus' ascension into heaven and His return. He spoke of his day and time as well as ours.

 

 

To grow spiritually, means knowing and obeying God’s Word so it makes a daily difference in our lives. Gaining knowledge is vital, but we need more than information. These are some of Paul's last words written to Timothy. Paul was in prison in Rome and facing execution. Think about the last words spoken by the innocent victims of the highjacked planes to their loved ones the morning of 9-11. Think about what you would want to say to your son or daughter if you knew you were going to die. Paul saw Timothy as a son and he wanted to warn him of the perilous times that were ahead. 


I. MAKE GOOD CHOICES – 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-9

But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of religion but denying its power. Avoid these people! For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.


Paul paints a real picture of moral decay and the foundation of that decay is that people will be lovers of self. But as sad as this sounds, in verse 5 Paul says that to especially avoid those that hold to a form of religion but deny its power - he's talking about the church!


When your children were young, what type of people did you want them to avoid?

• Strangers and troublemakers - Wouldn't this advice hold true for adults as well?

Are there certain people that we as adults should avoid? Why should we avoid certain influences? How can we identify them?





How do people mask these character traits? What makes them acceptable or respectable? Can we imitate them without realizing it?

• Going to church, knowing Christian doctrine, using Christian cliches, and following a community's Christian traditions.
• Yes, we can imitate them without realizing it.
• Daily behavior will always give them or us away.

A healthy Christian grows in spiritual maturity by exercising discernment.


Paul goes on to prepare Timothy for these perilous times ahead with instructions to be careful who you follow!



II. PICK WHO YOU FOLLOW – 2 TIMOTHY 3:10-13

But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.



What mannerisms – such as gestures, sayings, habits, etc. – that you do that resemble those of your parents? How did you learn these? In what other ways are you becoming more and more like your parents? How do you see your children becoming more like you?

• Verses 10-13 are a basic principle based on the truth that we become like the people we associate with. If we follow the ungodly, then we will become like them.

If Timothy was going to grow spiritually during “difficult times” then he needed to do more than avoid certain people. He needed to find and follow godly examples. Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him the scriptures, and Timothy had followed in Paul’s footsteps as he traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys.

How can you tell when you are easily influenced to follow the wrong way?

• When you begin to turn away from God's Word.

A healthy Christian grows in spiritual maturity by picking carefully who he or she follows.

Paul's final advice is very practical - stay the course! Don't be distracted by clever sounding religious hucksters and don't believe everyone who knocks at your door. There are absolutes to your faith and you should be ready to defend them. Stay away from those that:

• don't believe the Bible and don't accept it's authority over every area of their life.
• don't believe Jesus is Savior and Lord and that He is the ONLY way to salvation.
• don't believe in salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ.

III. LIVE WHAT YOU KNOW – 2 TIMOTHY 3: 14-17

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned, and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Remember both what you have learned and also who taught you.


What struggles do children have when others act differently or are permitted to do things they aren’t allowed to do?

• They are tempted to follow.

What led you to discover that it’s okay and wise to choose what you will and won’t do rather than do as others do?




A healthy Christian grows in spiritual maturity by living out what they already know from the Bible. 

It's called the doctrine of the sufficiency of Holy Scripture. The Bible brings wisdom that leads to salvation, that comes to us through Christ and is received by faith. God's Word saves us. Our understanding of this is critical to our Spiritual Growth! We must never forget the truths of the Bible. 

I hope that everyone has had a blessed week as we continue in this week's lesson on how we grow in our spiritual journey through life.

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan