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Devotional Thoughts

7/24/2021

Community Group Discussion Guide: Devotional Thoughts
(This devotional guide is somewhat different than the usual fare. The questions and scriptures are based on three devotionals that RJ wrote)

Where I Live:
Matthew 5:14-20 NASB95 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; [15] nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Excerpt from Devotional: Before you start a quest of changing the world, you should consider giving Christ the opportunity to change you—then, and only then, will you be ready to make a difference in “your” corner of the world. Before you lash me with the criticism of not speaking to the issues happening on the big stage of American Culture, please know that change does not occur through more unwanted rhetoric; change happens when people change, and people change through the influence and love of the people who happen to live in “their” world. So, in the words of Christ, be the salt, be the light, where you live.

What would you say is the spiritual impact that your life is making in your sphere of influence?
Do you think that being a light in the darkness is more about confronting the darkness or simply being the light?
How can you be a more effective light for Christ?

True North: 1 Corinthians 13:2-8a NASB95 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, [5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, [6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails... Excerpt from Devotional: So, what does that even look like…you know, having Jesus as your True North? It means that I live life trying not to worry or calculate about what the outcome of my actions might be. I will make compromises and be compromised if I worry about the outcome; instead, I try to live by an ancient code. Love God—love your neighbors—love yourself—love your family—love your friends—and even love your enemies. In this age of political turmoil, misinformation, disinformation, vitriol and confusion; I have refused to enter the fray with carnal weapons. (Fighting fire with fire) Though tempted, I refuse to turn away from my True North. If I have not been called to fight against flesh and blood, but against powers of darkness; then I will strive to walk in love when it comes to my fellow humans. Make no mistake about it—I speak the truth, but not unless I can speak it in love.

So, let's start with the most obvious question, do you have a "True North" in your life? (What is your "True North?"
Are there any values that Jesus taught that you are resistant to live out?
How can I live for Christ without "losing" myself? (Or is losing myself the point?)

Self-Mortification: Romans 8:1-6 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Excerpt from Devotional: Most people do not know what "self-mortification" means, but whatever it is, it does not sound like fun. So, what is self-mortification? Self-mortification is best defined as "you" taking steps to crucify "your" own flesh. The idea emanates from the brilliant and spiritually attuned minds of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul. Jesus started the ball rolling with the call to be His disciples: Matthew 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" The Apostle Paul cuts to the chase with this short declaration of fact: Galatians 5:24 "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Do you have any sin that has become habitual? (Do you have a plan in motion to deal with it?)
What are some of the advantages of living "free" from sin?
Do you think of self-mortification as something that you are doing to yourself or something that you are doing for yourself?

Matthew 5:14-20 NASB95 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; [15] nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-20 NASB95 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; [15] nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-20 NASB95 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; [15] nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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Be a Doer

7/18/2021

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Community Group Discussion Guide: Be a Doer
Read: James 1:21-25 NASB95 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. [22] But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; [24] for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. [25] But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Icebreakers:

When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? (What one feature would you like to change in your appearance?)
Perhaps the most prevalent sin in the post-modern world is vanity. This is certainly the case of our culture's preoccupation with celebrities. Why do you think that famous people tend to be "stuck" on themselves?
What do you think Solomon was referring to when he stated that "all is vanity?

Big Idea: When it comes to "living out" the Gospel (the word implanted, which is able to save you) many Christians struggle with doing and living what they clearly understand. That said, if we understand and believe the Word of God, and do not put it into practice, we are living in deception. In other words, it is not "OK" to be a hearer of the word and not apply it to our lives.

Scripture Exploration: James pulls no punches as he challenges "us" to live what we proclaim we believe. He calls Believers to eliminate the gulf between the aspirations of how we think we should live and how we are actually living.
James 1:21-22 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. [22] But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Why is humility necessary in our pursuit of God?
How is it to our benefit to lay aside all filthiness and wickedness?
How would you describe "the word implanted?" (Greek - Logos)
Why is it important to live what we say we believe?

James 1:23,24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; [24] for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

What makes the man in the mirror such an unreliable measure of who we are and who God wants us to be?
What are some of the advantages of building our identity on Christ rather than on ourselves?

Wrap-up: James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

I think that most people would like to live a life where they are being blessed. James indicates that the "doer" who is living out the Word of God will be blessed. Why do you think that some, who even believe this, still choose to be hearers only?

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"Such Were Some of You"

7/5/2021

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Community Group Discussion Guide: "Such Were Some of You"

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Icebreakers:

Share one of the worst experiences or conflicts have you had with another church person. How did that experience affect you?
How important and encouraging is it for you to hear someone's testimony of salvation?

Big Idea: In 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Paul is addressing the disunity in the church at Corinth and how there are church members who are suing one another because of wrongs committed. He doesn't understand how there are believers going outside of the church to unbelievers for legal counsel, who are then bringing those unbelievers into the church to deal with wrongs and fraudulent activity. At the end of his rebuke he brings up the fact of who they were before Christ and how they also were unrighteous, fraudulent and wrong toward God. He sums it all up by reminding them of who they are now after Christ.
Read: Verses 1-6
1Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

How are believers called to deal with conflict with one another? Read: Matthew 18:15-20
What does Paul mean in verse 2 & 3 when he speaks about believers judging the world and the angels? Read: Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:21 and 2 Timothy 2:12 for further discussion and context. (It's important to note that how believers will judge angels or the world is not fully revealed elsewhere in scripture, it's a glorious mystery!).
Does the world system have anything to offer the church? What are your thoughts about the separation between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world?

Read: Verses 7-8
7Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.

Paul asks two questions in verse 7-- "why not be wronged" and "why not be defrauded"? Paul is suggesting that it is better to be wronged and defrauded in order to maintain unity. Would you agree with that? Why or why not?
Paul does not address those who are defrauding and wronging; instead he addresses those who have been wronged and are suing their brothers. why do you think this is?

Read: Verses 9-10
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

This list of sins that Paul provides are not the entirety of all sinful activity. We could probably list off many more. But out of these listed, what would be the one (or few) that would define your life before Christ?
Why do you think it is that Paul lists off the title of these unrighteous people who will not inherit the kingdom of God, and not the sins that they are committing? Example: Paul does not say "those who steal will not inherit the kingdom of God" or, "those drink alcohol to excess will not inherit the kingdom of God". He calls them for what they are, thieves and drunkards. Follow up question: What gets thrown into hell, sin or sinners?
In verse 10, Paul uses the word "inherit" when speaking about the kingdom of God. What does the word "inherit" personally mean to you?

Read: Verse 11
11Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
For verse 11, read Titus 3:3-6 for more context and details of what Paul means by washed, sanctified and justified.

Paul reminds the church that some of those who were suing their brothers were also one (or a few) off of the list he just mentioned. Why do you think Paul is reminding the church of who they were before Christ in the context of the previous verses?
What does Paul mean by washed? (Titus 3:5-- washing of regeneration), what does it mean to be born-again? How do we now walk on this earth once we are washed and made new?
What does Paul mean by sanctified? (Titus 3:7-- made heirs) Sanctified means to be set apart from something and unto something. Set apart from the family of the world we were a part of, and made heirs with Christ in the family of God. What does this look like in your life?
What does Paul mean by Justified? (Titus 3:7-- Justified by His grace) Justification is a legal term, therefore it takes place in a court room. Justification takes place in the courtroom of heaven with the Judge of all the earth presiding. We are justified the moment we believe in Christ; when God declares us righteous based upon the blood of Jesus that we have placed our faith in. Read Romans 5:9 How does our walk on earth change after being justified?

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