Start Here

This page is designed to help you pursue God with your group or a mentor. Here's the picture we're working toward:

The Process

We've created a simple pathway to help you go "full circle" with a group or mentor. We call it the "3E" process:

  1. Engage: Start talking about the "Featured Topics" below, choosing whatever interests you.
  2. Establish: When ready, start "The Pursuit" (see below) to get established in a "full circle" faith.
  3. Empower: After you finish "The Pursuit," look outward and help someone else pursue God.

Your Part

Take ownership of your pursuit of God with four personal commitments:

  1. Come prepared. Make a commitment to preview the video (or audio) before you meet. This will make your conversation more meaningful for everyone.
  2. Talk & listen. Don't just bring your ideas and opinions to the table. Develop a teachable heart, and come ready to hear from God and others.
  3. Discover truth. We believe the Bible has answers to every question. If you keep showing up, you can expect to discover a fresh perspective on just about any topic.
  4. Act on it. The goal in every conversation is transformation, not just information. Be ready to step up and act on what you're learning.

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Featured Topics

Find our newest conversation starters below. Browse index above for even more options.

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The Pursuit

General Edition

Complete this track with a group or mentor to ESTABLISH a full circle faith.

INTRODUCTION

Topic #1: Full Circle

 

Talking Points:

  • If you make a commitment to pursue God, you will find him. Jeremiah 29:11-13
  • A full circle pursuit of God includes three things: Trusting Jesus, Honoring God, and Making Disciples. (See image below.)
  • Take ownership of your pursuit of God with four personal commitments:
    • Come prepared. Make a commitment to watch the video before you meet. This will make your conversation more meaningful for everyone. 
    • Talk & listen. Don’t just bring your ideas and opinions to the table. Develop a teachable heart, and come ready to hear from God and others.
    • Discover truth. We believe the Bible has answers to every question. If you keep showing up, you can expect to discover a fresh perspective on just about any topic.
    • Act on it. The goal in every conversation is transformation, not just information. Be ready to step up and act on what you’re learning.

Image:

Discussion Questions:
  1. What’s your initial reaction to this topic?
  2. Do you have any questions about faith or the Bible right now? Start a list.
  3. Make a list of areas where you would like to make improvements in your daily life.
  4. Read Psalm 139:17. Is this a new concept for you to realize that God uniquely created you? Explain. 
  5. Read Jeremiah 29:11. What do you hope your life looks like in 5 or 10 years? Paint a picture.
  6. Where would you put yourself on the circle above? Explain.
  7. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?

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02 Why the Bible?

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Why the Bible?

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The last lesson appealed to your heart. This lesson will appeal to your head. Before we can pursue the God of the Bible, we need to examine the Bible itself. How do we know that we can trust what it says? Why should we listen to its truth claims? That’s what we’ll cover in this lesson.

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and it’s unlike any other book written in history. It has changed individual lives and shaped entire cultures. It’s an ancient text that claims to have been written by God himself, and the proof of its reliability is surprisingly strong. Here are three reasons we can trust what it teaches:

Historical Evidence 

Ancient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, long before printing presses and modern technology. Manuscript fragments of the biblical text have endured wars and weather throughout the ages, and the scraps that remain represent just a fraction of the originals. Are those remnants enough to provide a reliable testimony for modern-day readers? And how can we be sure that the message hasn’t been corrupted over the millennia? The good news is that the God who inspired the scriptures was also powerful enough to preserve those writings through the ages. 

Consider the manuscript evidence. Manuscript copies in the ancient world were painstakingly hand-written, and not all of them survived the ravages of time. Reliability of ancient writings is determined by the number of copies (or partial copies) of the work in existence. So how does the Bible stack up? See for yourself:

  • Today we have only 49 copies of Aristotle’s writings.
  • Homer’s “The Iliad” does a little better, with 643 copies in existence.
  • The New Testament wins by a landslide, with almost 5700 Greek copies and over 19,000 copies in other languages!

The New Testament clearly has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. But how do we know that those manuscript copies are faithful to the originals? What if human authors changed the message, intentionally or otherwise? Modern archeology helps us answer this question, thanks to the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy discovered some ancient scrolls hidden away in remote caves in the Middle East. This led to even more discoveries in the area, and in the end almost 1000 manuscripts were recovered. Parts of almost every book of the Old Testament were found, and some of those fragments proved to be almost 1000 years older than the oldest manuscripts known at the time. 

This offers a perfect test for the reliability of our modern translations. The book of Isaiah provides the most compelling example, since the Dead Sea Scrolls contained a complete copy of the prophet’s writings. When compared to the Masoretic Text (the oldest copy previously known, dating back to about 800 AD), the Isaiah manuscript from the Dead Sea Scrolls was 95% identical! And the only differences were minor, often just variations in spelling.

So the historical evidence stacks up in favor of the reliability of the Bible. But there’s more:

Textual Evidence 

The Bible is the most impressive writing project in the history of the world. It contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story. Think about it: Moses, a Jewish slave raised in the house of a Pharaoh, wrote the first five books. John, a fisherman-turned-revolutionary, wrote the last four books. In between were books and letters written by shepherds, kings, prophets, tax collectors, doctors, and more. And the most prolific author in the New Testament was Paul – a religious Pharisee who zealously persecuted the Jesus followers before joining them. 

Most of these authors never met each other, and many of them were unaware of the other books and letters that would eventually be included in the Bible. Their writings spanned different cultures and languages over the course of 15 centuries, and yet the Bible amazingly reads as one story. From beginning to end it’s about Jesus, and the fulfilled prophecy is the glue that holds it together. Let’s take just a few examples: 

  • Of the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah was surprisingly predicted to be the one through which Jesus would come – which is exactly what happened. Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:1-3
  • It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and that’s how it happened – even though his mother didn’t even live there. Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1,4
  • Prophets wrote with shocking accuracy about the torture and death of Jesus hundreds of years before it happened – exactly as predicted. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53

It was because of these kinds of prophecies that Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of his day:

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

The Bible amazingly tells one story, centered on Jesus, because it was ultimately inspired by the God of human history.

Personal Evidence 

The Bible is ultimately about Jesus, and the changed lives of his followers is the most compelling proof of its message. Let’s just take three examples from the New Testament, starting with Peter. When Jesus was on trial before his crucifixion, a servant girl noticed Peter and accused him of being a follower of Jesus. Peter denied it three times, walking away with an incredible sense of guilt and shame (Luke 22:56-59). But that’s not the end of his story, because days later the resurrected Jesus sat down to breakfast with Peter and reinstated him – three times (John 21:15-19). Peter went on to be a pillar of the Christian church, eventually giving up his life for Jesus. 

Or consider “doubting” Thomas. He missed out on meeting the resurrected Jesus with the other disciples and expressed his doubt that they really saw the risen Christ. But soon enough he met Jesus for himself and professed his faith in him (John 20:25-28). Thomas, too, ended up dying for his faith. 

And then there’s Paul, a self-righteous Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) whose life mission was to persecute the followers of Jesus. Then he met Jesus and joined that very group of misfit disciples. Paul made it his life’s mission to spread the Good News about Jesus and he, too, died a martyr’s death. 

There’s no way to explain away these changed lives except to conclude that the message about Jesus, along with every word in the Bible, truly is inspired by God.

But no amount of evidence can overcome an unbelieving attitude. At the end of the day, trusting the reliability of the Bible comes down to your willingness to believe in the God behind the Bible. Jesus made this point one day as he taught in the Temple courts:

John 7:16-17 My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.

If you’re unwilling to submit to God’s will, your pursuit is over before it has even started. But if you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you’ll discover the truth. The teachings of Jesus, and indeed all of the teachings in the Bible, are from God, not man. And so we can trust the Bible in our pursuit of God.

Talking Points:
  • Before we can pursue the God of the Bible, we need to examine the Bible itself. How do we know that we can trust what it says? That’s what we’ll cover in this lesson.
  • Ancient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The New Testament has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. 
  • The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story.
  • The Bible is ultimately about Jesus, and the changed lives of his followers is the most compelling proof of its message.
  • If you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you’ll discover the truth. John 7:16-17
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Have you ever wondered about the reliability of the Bible? How big of an issue is it for your pursuit of God?
  3. Which of the three evidences above is most compelling to you, and why?
  4. Why is it surprising that the Bible tells one unified story? Do you agree that it is textually reliable?
  5. If Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead, what do you think his disciples would have done with their lives after his death?
  6. Read John 7:16-17. Are you interested in “doing the will of God”? Why do you think this is a prerequisite for discerning whether Christ’s teachings are true?

See Also:

03 Imago Dei

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How Imago Dei Changes Everything

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Every culture has a value system that is shaped by core beliefs, and western civilization is no exception. Whether you believe in biblical Christianity or not, you have been fundamentally shaped by its ideas. In this lesson we’ll investigate one of those ideas and how it has impacted the freedoms we take for granted. 

Very Good

Of all God’s creation in Genesis 1, human beings seem to stand out the most. Read it for yourself: first God created day and night, land and sea. Later he created plants and trees, followed by fish and birds and animals. After all of this creative work, God declared that “it is good”. But he wasn’t done. On the final day of creation, after everything was in place and the whole world was prepared, God created human beings. That’s when he updated his assessment of his handiwork:

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:31‬ Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

What is it about human beings that got a “very good” from the Creator when everything else was merely called “good”? The answer is found in the latin words Imago Dei, a concept first seen a few verses earlier:

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us….”

In God’s image. Imago Dei. From the first chapter in the Bible, humanity is dignified, not debased. People are different from trees and toads and tadpoles because only human beings are made “in the image of God.” This means we are like God in certain ways, such as mentally (we have the capacity to think and create), relationally (we were designed to be in relationship with others) and spiritually (there’s a part of us that lives forever). Imago Dei is also a reference to humanity’s responsibility to “reign” and represent God to the rest of creation. 

So human beings are the crowning achievement of God’s creation, the masterpiece of his creativity. This gives every human being inherent value and dignity, and it’s the key to understanding God’s attitude toward the world. More than anything else in all of creation, people matter to God. 

Life, Liberty, Happiness

Imago Dei is the basis for blessing all of mankind in the most practical way: it opens the door to the freedoms we have come to expect. The greatest political experiment in history started in 1776 when 56 brave men signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. The inspiration for that moment can be traced to the biblical concept of Imago Dei. Consider those famous words: 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Founding Fathers recognized that there was an authority higher than an English monarch, a human government, or even a group of revolutionaries. God himself was seen as the source of all human rights, and it’s because of Imago Dei that those courageous men made their claim to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Consider the right to life. Where does this come from in the Bible? God makes it clear in his instructions to Noah, and the message should sound familiar:

Genesis 9:6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.

Human life is sacred, according to the Bible, because man is made in the image of God. This concept is built into every one of us, which is why we are moved to compassion and righteous anger when we hear stories of the holocaust or see the senseless murder of innocent victims in our day.

And what about the right to “liberty?” This concept is remarkably new to human history, as the vast majority of civilizations failed to offer individual personal freedoms. Even some modern regimes have overlooked this basic right on their way to brutalizing their own citizens. Yet God himself modeled an open-handed style of leadership toward Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

From the very beginning, God blessed Adam and Eve with every good thing, and then he gave them the liberty to make their own choices, for better or for worse. The self-evident right to individual liberty comes from the God of the Bible.

And then there’s the “pursuit of happiness” – a concept that is uniquely rooted in the Christian ethic. Many people today view God as a cosmic killjoy, a grumpy old man determined to make our lives miserable. Indeed, misery has been the reality for most of humanity, and many religions are built around explaining its existence. But Christianity is a faith filled with optimism, captured best in Paul’s commandment to the church at Philippi:

Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Long before the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, God invited all people to experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And remarkably his invitation extends to all of humanity, not just his followers – because he has made all of us in his image. 

A Purpose in Life

Imago Dei also helps us to answer a timeless question: what is the meaning of life? God’s nature provides a clue. Because God is love (1 John 4:16) – and we are made in his image – our purpose is to love. Jesus himself made this clear one day to a group of spiritual leaders. They asked him to identify the most important of the Ten Commandments, and his answer caught them off guard:

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

In answering their question, Jesus intentionally avoided naming any of the Ten Commandments. Instead, he cited the “Shema” – the framing idea behind all of the commandments. He was making a point: humans are built for relationships, not for rules. The religious leaders were focused on laws; Jesus was focused on love.

Consider the order Jesus prescribes in the verses above: love God, love others, love yourself. This was a radically new religious idea in Jesus’ day, and it flows from Imago Dei. Being created in the image of God means you have the capacity for a real relationship with the God who created you. This relationship transforms your whole way of relating to others, and so you are able to practically love your neighbor. And ultimately you are given permission to love yourself – because your value comes from who you are, not from what you’ve done.  

Imago Dei, then, gives every human dignity. It provides the basis for all human rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And it inspires us with a purpose: to love God, others, and even ourselves.

Talking Points:
  • Whether you believe in biblical Christianity or not, you have been fundamentally shaped by its ideas. In this lesson we’ll investigate one of those ideas and how it has impacted the values we take for granted. 
  • The Bible teaches that humans are created in God’s image (“Imago Dei”). This gives every human inherent dignity, and it’s the key to understanding God’s attitude toward the world. Genesis 1:26
  • “Imago Dei” is the basis for blessing all of mankind in the most practical way: it opens the door to the freedoms we have come to expect. God invites all people to experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
  • Being created in the image of God means you have the capacity for a real relationship with the God who created you. This relationship transforms your whole way of relating, so you are able to love your neighbor and yourself. Matthew 22:37-40
Discussion Questions:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Why is it important to have a framework for where humans derive value and purpose? How do you see our culture wrestling with these ideas today?
  3. Read Genesis 1:1-26. What is the significance of the wording in the creation account?
  4. What does it mean that we were created in God’s image? What doesn’t it mean?
  5. Read Matthew 22:37-39. What does it look like to love the way Jesus describes in this passage?
  6. Read Luke 12:6-7. How do you need to adjust the way you see yourself – or someone else – in this world?

See Also:

TRUSTING JESUS

04 What Is Sin?

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What the Bible Says About Sin

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So far we’ve painted a pretty rosy picture of things: God wants a relationship with us, the Bible is a trustworthy source for learning about that relationship, and every human has intrinsic value as an image-bearer of God. So what’s the problem? Why do so many people feel far from God, and why is the world so broken? 

The biblical answer to this question uses a word that seems out–of-date and almost non-existent these days. That word is “sin,” and in this lesson we’ll tell you all about it. 

Defining  Sin

Sin is going your own way, trusting and acting on your own opinions and feelings instead of on God’s truth. The first series of the Bible illustrates this definition in the story of Adam and Eve, the first two humans. God created them and placed them in the Garden of Eden, generously giving them all of the trees to eat from – except the tree in the very middle of the garden. The tree “of the knowledge of good and evil” was off-limits. That’s where we pick up the story:

Genesis 3:1-6 (NLT) The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

God gave Adam and Eve freedom in the garden, and there was plenty to choose from. But look at how the serpent twisted God’s words, trying to make him look stingy and controlling. And notice that the serpent ended with a bald-faced lie – and so the woman was convinced. Eve turned her back on the Creator and instead trusted the creature. 

At the end of the day, Adam and Eve were trusting their own opinions and feelings over God’s truth. They acted on their “truth” and went their own way, and sin entered the world. And the same basic story has been repeated throughout history ever since. 

Broken In Every Way

Sin is a practical problem, not just a theological one. Sin brings brokenness in every way, keeping us from experiencing the fullness of life that God wants for us. This doesn’t mean we’re all as bad as we possibly could be. But the infection runs deep in all of us, and there’s no getting around its devastating effects.

Think of our sin nature like a glass of lemonade: one drop of poison is enough to contaminate the whole batch. Sin is that poison, and it infects everything it touches: our thinking, our relationships, our physical health, our finances, and everything else.

Because of sin, we cannot keep the Greatest Commandments. Instead of loving God and others, we put ourselves first. This fundamental disordering of our lives has a domino effect, causing brokenness in every way: spiritually, relationally, and emotionally. Pauls spelled out what happens in his letter to Galatia: 

Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Far from a comprehensive list, Paul offers here a sampling of the fallout from sin. Notice the breadth of vices, from sexual immorality to simple envy. When it comes to sin, there’s something for everyone. This verse in Romans make it clear:

Romans 1:30 (NLT) They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

Every generation seems to invent new ways of sinning. Much of what our parents considered to be “sin” is perfectly acceptable in today’s society. Where will the line be drawn for our children’s generation? 

Born Into Sin

So when, exactly, does this sin problem start for us? And does it affect everyone? The biblical teaching is clear: since the fall of Adam and Eve, we have all been born into sin. Every one of us has a sinful nature at birth, no exceptions. 

Romans 3:10-12 (NLT) As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

Romans 3:23 (NLT) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Think about two-year-olds. To one degree or another, they’re all born with a bent toward selfishness – and they never fully grow out of it! We all have a natural bias toward narcissism. We’re all born into sin. That’s why Jesus said this:

John 3:3 (NLT) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

The problem of sin affects all of us from birth. The solution is to start over, to be “born again” to a new life in Christ. This language is meaningful. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Your first birth doomed you to a life of sin. Your re-birth can undo the damage.” 

Jesus isn’t suggesting that you can change your sinful nature. He’s not asking you to stop sinning and start trying to be a better person. He’s saying that something has to happen to you, something beyond your control. That’s how birth works. You don’t earn it; somebody else does all of the work to make it happen. 

Being “born again” works the same way, and Jesus did the work to make it possible for us. That’s the topic of our next lesson.

Talking Points:
  • Sin is going your own way, trusting and acting on your own opinions and feelings instead of on God’s truth. Genesis 3:1-6
  • Sin brings brokenness in every way, keeping us from experiencing the fullness of life that God wants for us. John 10:10, Galatians 5:19-21
  • We’re all born into sin and therefore we all must be “born again”. John 3:3, Romans 3:10-12, Romans 3:23
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. On a scale of 1 (Mother Teresa) to 10 (Hitler), how bad of a “sinner” are you? How would someone else rate you?
  3. Why are feelings not the best barometer for good choices? How have some of your choices negatively impacted your life?
  4. Read Genesis 3:1-3. Why do you think the serpent started with a question?
  5. Read Galatians 5:19-21. Why do you think Paul takes the time to list out a bunch of sins? How have you and others justified some of these sins?
  6. Take an honest look at your own life and identify a few areas of brokenness that you need to address.

See Also:

05 Who Is Jesus?

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5 Teachings About Jesus in the Early Church

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Every problem needs a solution, and when it comes to our sin problem, the solution is Jesus. We are not saved by keeping a bunch of rules or by learning a list of doctrines. We’re saved by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. When we trust Jesus for salvation, we can be “born again” (John 3:3)

Jesus is the most written about, fought over, and misunderstood person in history. But who was he, really? What does the Bible say? Peter’s sermon in Acts 10 – the first sermon preached specifically to non-Jews – shows us five teachings of the early church on who Jesus was and what he did to save us. 

Lord of All

The first teaching about Jesus starts with his identity. Was he just a prophet or priest, or was he something more? Peter answers:

Acts 10:36 (NLT) There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

Peter calls Jesus “Lord,” a reference to his divinity. Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity (John 1:1-4). Jesus himself taught this (John 8:58), and his followers believed it. Scripture affirms that Jesus is fully God, creator and sustainer of all things.   

Colossians 1:15,19-20 (NLT) Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.

But why does this matter? Why is it important to believe that Jesus is fully God instead of just a good man? The answer is that Jesus could not offer us “peace with God” if he were merely human. Jesus is God, and his divinity qualifies him to be our savior.

But let’s not miss the last part of Acts 10:36. Jesus is Lord of “all,” not just Lord of the Israelites. God’s desire from the beginning was that all people would come to know him. That’s why Peter was preaching this sermon in the first place. God had sent him to the house of a Gentile, and this was the inauguration of a new kind of movement. Christianity would be a faith for both Jews and Gentiles, because Jesus is Lord of all. 

Perfectly Good

The next teaching fills us in on Christ’s activity while he was here on the earth. What kind of a person was he? How did he live?

Acts 10:38 (NLT) Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

Jesus was a miracle worker unlike anything the world had ever seen. He cast out demons (Luke 4:40-41) and healed lepers (Luke 5:12-13). He miraculously fed thousands (Matthew 14:13-21), walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33), and even raised a dead guy to life (John 11:38-44).

On top of his miracles, Jesus “went around doing good.” This affirms what we learned about God earlier in this series. God is for you, not against you. He’s a good God, and Jesus proved it by his actions while he walked this earth.

But most important of all was what Jesus didn’t do: he never sinned. Jesus was perfect and sinless from start to finish. During his lifetime Jesus proved his power over sin and its consequences. Read his story for yourself and here’s what you’ll find: Jesus was fully God and fully man, living a sinless life and perfectly modeling the love of God. 

Again, why is this important? Consider this: if Jesus had been a sinner like the rest of us, then he would have had  to die for his own sins. But since he was sinless, he could go to the cross on our behalf. The sin-debt that he paid could be credited to our account, because Jesus didn’t owe on the debt. 

Crucified and Risen

So far we’ve learned that Jesus is fully God and perfectly sinless. That sets us up for the core teaching of the early church on the person and work of Jesus: he died and rose again. The power of faith in Jesus hinges on these two simple, historical facts. 

Acts 10:39-40 (NLT) They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. 

Jesus was about thirty three years old when the Jews put him on trial and the Romans nailed him to the cross (Luke 23:44-46, 24:1-6). From the outside looking in, this was an epic tragedy. But it was God’s plan all along, even though nobody saw it coming (Isaiah 53:8-10).

And here’s the most important part: Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose from the grave after three days, proving once and for all his power over sin and death. This is central to the Christian faith, because a dead savior would be no savior at all: 

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT) And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

But how do we know that the resurrection isn’t just a myth? The simplest proof was the response of his closest followers. Though they abandoned Jesus in fear before the crucifixion, they sold out their lives to his message just three days later. Almost all of  Jesus’ first disciples died for their faith, because they firmly believed that Jesus was raised to life.

Judge of All

The fourth point of Peter’s sermon might come as a surprise to modern listeners. Up until now it has all been good news. But Peter adds a stern warning:

Acts 10:42 (NLT) Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 

The Bible teaches that someday Jesus will judge you for every good and bad thing you’ve ever done. And here’s the bad news: left to yourself, there’s no hope of passing the test at the end of eternity. You were born into sin, remember? The thought of a judgment day should get every person’s attention (Hebrews 10:31). That’s why Peter included it in his sermon.

God is not only loving; he is also fair. And so we can’t blame God for not flippantly dismissing our sins (Romans 2:9,16). God did not cancel his wrath against us – he spent it on his Son. At the cross, the justice of God collides with the love of God in the person of Jesus.

Forgiver of Sins

Thank God that Peter doesn’t end his sermon at judgment! Here’s the final truth he teaches us about Jesus: 

Acts 10:43 (NLT) Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. 

This is the new birth that Jesus offers to sinners. The good news of the Bible is that we can be forgiven – but not through a lifetime of good works. Peace with God comes only through faith in a person: Jesus Christ. This is offered to anyone who believes.

Jesus is Lord of all, perfectly good, crucified and risen, judge of all, and forgiver of sins. This is what Peter preached that day to the Gentile household of Cornelius, and it remains the basic message for seekers of God today.

So we have a choice to make. Will we trust that the price Jesus paid on the cross is enough to cover our sin debt? Will we believe that Jesus is Savior and Lord? That’s what we call “saving faith”, and we’ll show you how to get it in the next lesson.

Talking Points:
  • There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36, Colossians 1:15-17
  • Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. Acts 10:38, Luke 4:40-41
  • They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Luke 10:39-40, Luke 23:44-46, Luke 24:1-6
  • Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. Acts 10:42, Romans 2:9,16
  • Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. Acts 10:43, Romans 3:23-25
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. What, if anything, did you learn about Jesus when you were younger?
  3. Why is it important to believe that Jesus is fully God? How would it impact Christianity if he were something less?
  4. Why did Jesus take the time to do good and heal people? Have you ever seen God perform a miracle?
  5. Why is it important that Jesus rose from the dead? How would it impact the basic Christian message if he hadn’t?
  6. What questions do you still have about Jesus? Make a list.

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06 Saving Faith

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Getting Right With God

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So far we’ve learned about humanity’s problem (sin) and God’s solution (Jesus). But here’s the thing: the fact that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead does not save you from your sins. It’s your personal response to Jesus that opens the door to salvation and makes you “born again.” The Bible calls it “saving faith,” and in this lesson we’ll tell you all about it. 

God’s Love

Saving faith starts with God. What was his motivation for sending Jesus to the cross? Why did he make such a costly sacrifice? The Apostle John gives the answer:

1 John 4:9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

Out of love, God sent Jesus into the world to solve our sin problem. Many religions depict a deity who is full of wrath toward the human race. Other faiths describe a god who requires strict obedience to a list of rules. These ideas generate a picture of a transactional god, a cosmic deity doing business with people who struggle to keep up their end of the bargain.

But the God of the Bible is different. He’s a relational God, proactively reaching out to the human race in spite of their failure to bring anything good to the table. And this God didn’t send Jesus into the world with reluctance or out of obligation; he did it willingly – out of love.

Our Attitude

So God’s heart is the first thing you need to know about saving faith. The second thing has to do with your heart. Saving faith requires more than just the right information about Jesus. It also requires the right attitude toward God, which the Bible calls “repentance.”

When the apostle Peter preached his first sermon after Christ’s death and resurrection, he invited people to respond to the message of salvation. Their response perfectly models the heart attitude necessary for saving faith: 

Acts 2:37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Read the full sermon for yourself (Acts 2:14-36) and you’ll see that Peter covers Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – putting it all in the context of the story of Israel. Then he closes his sermon by pointing out that Israel rejected Jesus and nailed him to the cross. The message should have offended the Jewish listeners. 

But that’s not what happened. Instead, the message “pierced their hearts” and the listeners humbly submitted themselves to God. They didn’t claim to know more than Peter, but instead wanted to know what they had to do in order to be saved. Peter’s response was simple: 

Acts 2:38 Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God….

Repentance is the attitude that says, “I’ve changed my mind and I’m ready to go God’s way now.” It’s an act of the will, a relinquishing of control. It happened to the listeners in Acts 2, and it resulted in their humble response to Peter’s message. And it still happens to people today when they’re ready to respond to Jesus in faith. 

The Confession

When God begins a saving work in your heart, it’s important to express it in words. The Bible calls this “confession.” To confess literally means to “say the same thing.” When we confess our faith, we are repeating what God has already said. We are agreeing with Him that we’re sinners and that Jesus can save us. Here’s how Paul explained it:

Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Believe and declare. That’s how we activate saving faith in Jesus. Have you ever done this? Are you ready to do it now? If so, pray a “sinner’s prayer” like this: 

“Jesus, I recognize I’m a sinner. I know that you died on the cross and rose from the dead so that I could have life. I’m turning from my sin now, and I’m turning to you in faith. I trust in you alone to forgive my sin and give me new life. Thank you for this free gift. Amen.”

There’s nothing magical about these particular words. What matters is that you have the right information (about sin and Jesus) and that you respond to it with the right attitude (repentance). That’s the essence of confession. Once you’ve done it, the Bible says you’re saved: forgiven of your sins and given a new life in Christ. 

Saved by Grace

Some people find this hard to believe. Does the Bible actually teach such a simple pathway to salvation? Is there really nothing more that God requires of me?  It sounds too good to be true! But the Bible makes it clear: 

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

It’s human nature to want to earn our keep. We love the sense of accomplishment that comes from an honest day’s work. In the physical realm this is a good thing and the Bible even commands it (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). But the spiritual realm works differently. In God’s economy, we cannot work for our salvation. God alone can save us, and he alone gets all the credit. 

Jesus did all of the work to save us. The Bible teaches that we are “dead in our sin” – and dead people can’t do anything! That’s why the Bible uses the word “grace”. It literally means “gift”. A gift is freely given, and you can’t work for it. If you try to pay for it, it’s no longer a gift. 

Here’s the point: No level of personal performance can earn God’s approval. We are saved 100% by grace the moment we trust Jesus for salvation.

Everyone Who Believes

So there’s one final question you might have about saving faith: Could it really be true for you? This brings us to one final verse: 

Romans 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Some people are so burdened by their sin or doubts that they feel out of God’s reach. Some may ask, “How could Jesus possibly want a relationship with someone like me? What if I’ve committed the unforgivable sin?” Others question, “I’m not sure my faith is strong enough. I still have questions about the Bible.”

So here’s the good news: the pathway to salvation is simpler than you think. Jesus did the heavy lifting; you just believe. The blood of Jesus is far more powerful than the skeletons in your closet; just believe (Romans 8:1). The message of the cross can overcome your doubts; just believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-21). Those who have trusted Jesus for salvation are made “right with God” in an instant, not in a lifetime of good works. This is what the Bible says about “saving faith” – the most important defining moment of your life. 

Saving faith is an end and a beginning. It’s the end of your old life, and it’s the beginning of a new way to live. That’s what we’ll cover in the next few lessons.

Talking Points:
  • Out of love, God sent Jesus into the world to solve our sin problem. 1 John 4:9
  • Saving faith requires both the right information and the right attitude (“repentance”). Acts 2:37-38
  • We start a relationship with God by personally trusting Jesus for salvation. Romans 10:9
  • We are saved 100% by grace the moment we trust Jesus for salvation. Ephesians 2:8
  • God offers this free gift to everyone, no matter what you’ve done. Romans 3:22
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Read 1 John 4:9. How did God show his love? What was his purpose behind it all?
  3. Make a list of the “right information” we need to be saved. Explain what it means to have the “right attitude”.
  4. Read Ephesians 2:8. Why is it important to see grace as a gift?
  5. Read Romans 3:22. What does the verse say we have to do to receive the gift of salvation? Do you have a hard time believing that God loves you despite your past? Explain.
  6. Read Romans 10:9. Have you made a confession of faith in Jesus yet? If not, what questions do you still need answered? Are you ready to do it today?

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HONORING GOD

07 What is Baptism?

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Everything You Need to Know About Baptism

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So you’re a Christian. Now what? Getting to your defining moment of faith is more than the end of your old life; it’s the beginning of a new one! Here’s how Paul said it to the church in Corinth: 

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Let’s put it in the context of our “full circle” picture of Christianity. Genuine faith (arrow one) leads to a new way to live our lives (arrow two). We’re not in charge anymore; now we want to find out what pleases God and do it (Ephesians 5:10). 

So what does this look like practically in our everyday lives? It would take a lifetime to explore this question fully, but the first answer is surprisingly simple. Read the New Testament and you’ll see that almost every new Christian took the same first step after coming to faith in Jesus: they got baptized. 

Baptism is the ancient Christian ritual of immersing someone in water as a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection. In this lesson we’ll outline five things you need to know about it, and we’ll end with a simple conclusion: you should get baptized!

Baptism Doesn’t Save

Let’s start with the obvious: baptism doesn’t save you. Remember what we learned in the last lesson: we start a relationship with God by trusting Jesus, PERIOD. Baptism is important, and we’ll explain why in the next several points. But it is not required for salvation. Paul made this point clear enough in his letter to the Romans: 

Titus 3:5 [God] saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

If baptism were required for salvation, then our salvation would be dependent in part on our own work. But Jesus did all of the work on the cross to save us! Consider the thief on the cross next to him (Luke 23:39-43), the one who professed his faith in Jesus and begged for his mercy. Jesus’ response was simple: “Today you’ll be with me in paradise.” The thief was moments away from death, and he had no time to get baptized. Not a problem.

Just like the thief on the cross, we are saved by faith in the finished work of Christ. 

Simply Obey

If baptism doesn’t save, then why do it? The obvious reason is this: Jesus said so. Matthew records one of his final commands to his disciples, known today as the “Great Commission”:

Matthew 28:19 (NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told his disciples to go make disciples, and he gave them very simple instructions about what to do next: baptize them. So that’s just what they did. Read the series of Acts for yourself, and pay attention to what happened after someone came to faith in Jesus. They got baptized. 

If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, you should get baptized. If somehow you missed the memo years ago, it’s not too late to obey. Get baptized because Jesus said so; that should be the only reason you need. 

An Early Win 

The Christian life is all about honoring God, and it promises to be a journey filled with plenty of ups and downs. You’ll be challenged to submit to God’s way in the areas of relationships, sexuality, money, marriage, parenting, and more. You’ll be stretched to obey some things that don’t come naturally at first. But baptism is not like that. It’s one of the easiest steps you’ll be asked to take, and God has front-loaded it because he wants to give you an early win. 

Think about how money works. If you’ve got a bunch of debts to eliminate, conventional wisdom says to get rid of the smallest debt first. The reason for this is simple: the sooner you can check off one of your debts, the better you’ll feel about checking off all of your debts. Getting an early win will motivate you to tackle the next thing, and over time the psychological strategy will pay off. 

The Ethiopian eunuch understood this principle. Immediately after Philip shared the gospel with him, he was ready to exercise his “obedience” muscle. 

Acts 8:36 (NLT) As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

The eunuch was baptized right away, and he certainly continued to honor God when he got back to his  homeland of Ethiopia. If you haven’t taken this first step – as easy as it is – then what other steps are you unwilling to take? Why not be baptized? Check that off so you can move on to even bigger things.

An Act of Identification 

When we get baptized, we’re publicly identifying ourselves in a couple of important ways. Paul explained it like this to the Christians in Rome:

Romans 6:3 (NLT) Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?

Two things jump out in this verse. First, Paul says “we”. He was baptized when he came to faith, and so was every other Christian in Rome. Baptism, then, was an important act of unity. It’s not about membership in a local church; it’s much greater than that. Through baptism, you join a movement of Christians across the world and throughout history. You’re doing the same thing that Paul, James, John, and even Jesus did (Mathew 3:13-17). And if your grandparents were Christians, they did it too. Someday your great-grandkids may join you in baptism. That’s a powerful thought.

But baptism is not just about identifying with other believers; we also identify with Jesus. Paul said that we “joined him in his death.” Like everything else in the Christian life, baptism is focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s not an empty religious ritual; it’s a reminder that Jesus is at the center of our lives.

An Outward Symbol 

In simplest terms, baptism is an external symbol of something that has already happened to us on the inside. Remember: baptism doesn’t save you. But the act of baptism is a physical reminder to us and others of a deeper spiritual reality.

When couples get married, they usually exchange wedding rings. Those rings are important, but they’re just symbols of the bigger thing: vows. Just as taking rings off doesn’t nullify wedding vows, failing to get baptized doesn’t nullify faith. But why not wear this important symbol?

When you make the choice to go down into the waters of baptism you are memorializing the death of Jesus. When you come up out of the water you are signifying his resurrection – along with your new life in Christ. That’s how Paul described it:

Romans 6:4 (NLT) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

So, have you trusted Jesus for salvation? Are you ready to start honoring God with your life? The first step is not complicated. Don’t overanalyze it. Get baptized.

Talking Points:
  • Baptism doesn’t save you; we start a relationship with God by trusting Jesus and his finished work on the cross. Romans 3:22
  • Jesus said to get baptized, and that’s the main reason we should do it! Matthew 28:19
  • Baptism is an early act of practical obedience – and it’s one of the easier commandments. Acts 8:36
  • Baptism is an act of identification – both with Christ and his church. Romans 6:3
  • Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward reality. Romans 6:4
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. What has your understanding of baptism been up to now? Is there anything in this chapter that surprised or confused you? Explain.
  3. Read Matthew 28:19. Why do you think some people become Christians and yet never get baptized?
  4. Baptism is one of the easiest steps of obedience. Make a list of some of the harder things you’ll have to do as a Christian.
  5. Read Romans 6:3-4. What does baptism symbolize? What are you declaring to the world when you do it?
  6. Have you been baptized? If so, when – and was it for the right reasons? If not, are you ready to do it? Why or why not?

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08 The Three Keys

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Three Keys for Christian Living

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Following Jesus is a life-long journey of finding out what pleases God and doing it (Ephesians 5:10). Over time, this means our lives are marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This is not a checklist about what we should do; it’s a list of internal qualities that describes the kind of people we are becoming. It’s a word picture of God’s vision for our lives.

So how do we get there? Does it depend on our willpower or good intentions? Not at all. Just as we started a relationship with God by grace, we live every day by grace. Our ability to honor God is a gift from God himself! Peter explained it like this:

2 Peter‬ ‭1:3‬ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. 

Here’s the good news: you already have access to everything you need for living a victorious Christian life! You have the capacity to manifest things like love and joy and peace in increasing measure throughout your life. But in order to do it you’ll need to tap into three keys to victory.

God’s Spirit

God has given us his Spirit to lead us, empowering us from the inside out to live God-honoring lives. The Holy Spirit is not some sort of impersonal force or an add-on feature of God’s nature. He is God himself, the third person of the Trinity. At the point of salvation the Holy Spirit immediately indwells believers and begins empowering them to live to please God (Ephesians 1:13). This was promised long ago through the prophet Ezekiel:s

Ezekiel 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Before you became a Christian, you had one nature: the “flesh” or the sinful nature. You had a “stony, stubborn heart” and trusted your own opinions instead of God’s truth. But when you became a Christian, something happened at the deepest level of your being. God gave you a new heart, one that could be “tender” and “responsive” to God’s ways. This does not mean that God eradicated your old nature. You can still sin, but now you have a choice in the matter. Here’s how Paul explained the battle within:

Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

The Christian life is a journey, not just a destination. When we become Christians, our hearts are changed immediately, but our habits are transformed gradually. That’s why we need God’s Spirit. It changes us from the inside out, step by step aligning our attitudes and actions with the path that leads to life. 

Galatians 5:24-25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

If you struggle to honor God in your daily life, be encouraged: you are not alone! The battle is normal, but over time you can learn to let the Spirit guide your life (Romans 7:21-25). Living to honor God is a process, and God’s Spirit is there to lead you. This is the first key to victory as a Christian.

God’s Word

If God had only given us his Spirit to lead us, the Christian experience would be radically different for everyone. One man could claim that the Spirit led him to monogamy while another claimed that the Spirit prescribed polygamy. One woman could embrace drunkenness while another adopted abstinence, both supposedly led by the same Spirit. Christianity would devolve into an utterly subjective faith, and everyone could claim the moral high ground based on their personal experience with the Spirit. 

But God has not just given us his Spirit; he has also given us his Word, the Bible. Scripture helps us to evaluate everything we believe the Spirit is saying to us. The Bible is our instruction manual, guiding us and showing us the attitudes and actions that please God. The Bible, composed of the sixty-six seriess of the Old and New Testaments, is inspired, authoritative, and infallible in its original manuscripts. It is, therefore, the only complete and final authority in faith and life.

For followers of Jesus, the Bible is not merely a decoration on the shelf. It holds the key to understanding God’s will and it has the power to expose our bad thinking (Hebrews 4:12). More than that, it makes a practical impact on our daily lives:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Let’s take a closer look at this passage. First, the Bible teaches us what’s true; when it comes to beliefs or behaviors, God’s Word gets the final word. Second, scripture rebukes us when we start falling for lies or the subtle half-truths of our culture. Third, the Bible cares enough to correct us when we’re wrong – instead of leaving us confused or abandoned. And fourth, scripture trains us to do what is right, helping us to replace our old habits with new ones. The power behind all of this transforming work is God himself, because “God uses it to prepare and equip his people.” 

When it comes to reading scripture, it’s easy to pick and choose what we want to accept or reject. These days, we can even find preachers who will teach what our itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). Many Christians claim to follow Jesus as Lord of their lives while ignoring his teachings. Jesus called out this kind of hypocrisy:

Luke 6:46-48 So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.

It’s tempting to accept Jesus as Savior of our lives while rejecting him as Lord. That’s why God has given us one more key to victory in our pursuit of genuine faith.

God’s People 

As Christians, we don’t just need a new power source (God’s Spirit) and a new way to think (God’s Word), we also need a new community (God’s people). Other believers help us to live out our calling as Christians – especially when we fail to honor God in our daily lives.

Paul told us in Galatians 5 about the battle between our sinful nature and the Spirit. In the next lesson he told us how God’s people should respond when someone loses that battle and let’s the flesh win out over the Spirit:

Galatians 6:1-2 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Nobody’s perfect. In one way or another, we’ll all occasionally lose that battle between our two natures. The biblical command is clear: the church should respond “gently and humbly.” God’s people exist because of vertical grace, the forgiveness offered through Jesus. In the church, that grace becomes horizontal – Christians offering forgiveness to each other whenever it’s needed.

But the passage above shows us that the response in a biblically functioning community is not just about forgiveness; it’s also about correction. We all need other believers to hold us accountable and help us get back on the “right path” when we fail to honor God. This is why we need God’s people in our lives if we want to truly experience victorious Christian lives.

Go ahead and read 2 Peter 1:3 again. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life: his Spirit, his Word, and his people. This means we live every day as Christians the same way we got started on day one: by God’s grace.

Talking Points:
  • The Spirit leads from the inside out, empowering us to honor God every day. Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2 Peter 1:3
  • The Bible guides us and shows us the attitudes and actions that honor God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 6:46-48
  • Other believers help us stay on the right track, both one-on-one and in the local church. Galatians 6:1-2, Romans 12:6-8
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Share a time when you relied on willpower to accomplish a goal – and it didn’t work. What led to your failure?
  3. Read 2 Peter 1:3. How does this verse encourage you in your desire to honor God with your life?
  4. Read Ezekiel 36:26-27. How has your heart been stony toward God in the past? What does a tender heart for God look like in your life and in others?
  5. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Why is the Bible worth our time? How does the Bible help us to live God-honoring lives?
  6. Read Galatians 6:1-2. In your opinion, what does it look like to bear the burdens of others? Share an example.

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09 The Big Five

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The Big “5” Spiritual Disciplines

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Honoring God is like anything else in everyday life: if you don’t work at it, you probably won’t do it very well. Lots of Christians out there go to the gym every day to train their physical bodies, yet they put almost no thought into training on a spiritual level. Paul had something to say about that to his understudy Timothy:

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

In this lesson we’ll talk about five spiritual disciplines that should mark your life as a Christian. Just like any discipline, these habits are not always easy at first. But over time, if you commit to practicing them, you’ll notice your faith muscles strengthening – and your new nature will start winning regularly over your old, sinful nature.

Prayer 

The discipline of prayer was practiced by Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and even Jesus himself! Prayer is simply talking to God, building a relationship with him like any other person. Imagine the dysfunction in a marriage without conversation, and you’ll begin to understand the anemic lives of so many prayerless Christians. 

Prayer works just like any relationship: set some time apart for focused communication daily. Get up early in the morning like Jesus did, or spend some time with God at the end of the day. If this is a new discipline, try praying for five minutes a day, and double it in a couple of weeks. Keep it up and you’ll soon be connecting with God for 30 minutes or more every day!

And don’t just do all of the talking in prayer. Try using the PRAY acronym for a more balanced approach. First, spend some time praising (P) God for his blessings in your life. Then review your week and repent (R) of the times you failed to honor him. Next, move on to a time of asking (A), praying for people and situations in your life. Finally, end your prayer time by yielding (Y) to God. Remember that prayer is about aligning your will with God’s – not the other way around. 

But prayer isn’t just about the structured times of communion. Like any relationship, leave room for spontaneous connection as well. You can talk to God any time, anywhere. Paul says it best in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Never stop praying.”

Bible Study

While prayer is an ancient spiritual habit, Bible study is a relatively new discipline, given the fact that most Christians throughout history did not have a personal copy of the Bible. But with the invention of the printing press, everything changed. Today, most Christians have easy access to God’s Word. We have no excuse not to open the Bible every day! 

Here’s how to do it. Start by reading the Bible devotionally on a daily basis. Try a Bible reading plan on the YouVersion app or just read a lesson a day from the Old or New Testaments. If you’re new to the Bible, start with the series of John and read all the way through Revelation. 

But devotional reading is just the start. Also try setting aside special times at least once a week for a deeper dive on the Bible. Use a good study Bible or a Bible commentary to pick up on themes and deeper theological truths.

One more thing. Don’t be like the Pharisees – religious leaders in Jesus’ day who knew a lot about scripture but missed the whole point. Jesus called them out:

John 5:39-40 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”

The whole Bible points to Jesus. As you make a habit of reading it, look for the thread of Jesus pulled through every lesson and verse.

Connection

Christianity is a team sport, and you can’t honor God in isolation. God’s people have always connected to each other in three environments: large (church), small (group), and individual (mentoring). Christians who neglect regular community in favor of finding God in the mountains or just staying home to watch TV are actually in violation of a direct mandate from scripture:

Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Connection might not feel like hard work if you’re an extroverted Christian, but if you’re an introvert you might be tempted to avoid this discipline. Don’t do it! Push through the awkward and make a habit of connecting. It’s missing the point to say you don’t need the church, because the church needs you! God has given every believer spiritual gifts for the benefit of other people in the church.

1 Corinthians 12:6-7 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

When God saved you, he wasn’t just thinking about you as an individual. He had a family in mind. Make a regular habit of connecting to that family – for your benefit and theirs.

Giving 

The fourth discipline has to do with your money. Your bank account is not yours; it belongs to God. Every single penny you’ve ever earned comes from him, and he has appointed you to be a steward of it. Do you spend it all on yourself? Stop it!

Mature Christians make a habit of giving generously to the local church and to other Christian missionaries and organizations. Immature Christians ignore the financial needs of the church or just simply never think about it. The dysfunctional church in Corinth had this problem 2,000 years ago, and Paul called it out:

2 Corinthians 8:7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

Apparently the Corinthians didn’t take seriously their responsibility to chip in financially. They left the giving up to other Christians, and the church was suffering for it. The problem has gotten worse in churches today. Fewer and fewer Christians are letting their faith impact their finances. Jesus gives this warning:

Matthew 6:20-21 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Jesus taught that your heart follows your money. If you don’t make a habit of giving, you’ll fall in love with your stuff. Give regularly, and make it the first thing you do with every paycheck. Do it in proportion to your income, and work toward the benchmark of 10%. Sacrifice, and then trust God to provide for your needs.

Mentoring 

Rounding out the top five spiritual disciplines is a habit that most Christians rarely ever think about practicing. We call it “mentoring;” Jesus called it disciple-making. It’s when you personally help someone else in a pursuit of God. It was the final commandment Jesus gave his disciples:

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Most Christians don’t feel qualified to make disciples. They fall for the lies that they don’t know enough about the Bible or they’re not mature enough to share their faith. But the Bible says maturity comes after you make disciples, not before. That’s why it’s a habit that every Christian needs to take seriously. If you don’t start making disciples, your faith will never grow.

So how do you do it? That’s what we’ll explore in the final lesson.

Talking Points:
  • Make a habit of talking to God, building a relationship with him like any other person.
  • Read the Word devotionally every day, and set aside special times for a deeper dive.
  • Connect to God’s people in three environments: large (church), small (group), and individual (mentoring).
  • Giving should be periodic, proportionate, and a little bit painful.
  • Jesus called it disciple-making, and it’s about personally helping someone pursue God.
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Name one good habit you had as a kid. Did you have a habit that was hard to break when you were young?
  3. Give yourself a grade on each of the five habits above. Which one are you most eager to improve? Why?
  4. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17. What does prayer look like in your life? What have you learned about the power of prayer?
  5. Read Hebrews 10:25. How does community help us in our pursuit of God?
  6. Read 2 Corinthians 8:7. What do you think Paul meant by “excel in giving”? What could it mean for you today?

See Also:

MAKING DISCIPLES

10 Commission

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Why Make Disciples?

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So far we have investigated the first two aspects of a “full circle” Christian: trusting Jesus for salvation and honoring God in our thoughts and actions. Visit any Christian church in the world and you’ll find these basic teachings in one form or another. That’s the good news.

But here’s the bad news: that’s as far as it goes for most Christians. If someone attends church, prays “the prayer,” and starts giving financially, all is well! The mission has been accomplished in that person’s life, and he or she can carry on with confidence that they are mature in Christ.

But they are not. Jesus has something more in mind for his true disciples, and the New Testament is full of proof. The follower that Jesus envisioned goes “full circle” to include a third leg of the journey, and that’s what these final three topics are about. Here’s the picture:

Let’s make this personal right from the start: Jesus wants YOU to make disciples. It’s not something reserved for the pastors, and it was never intended to be just for the extroverted Christians who love to talk about Jesus. It’s for everyone in the church. Jesus wants disciple-making to be the norm, not the exception. That means YOU should start making disciples. And here are three reasons why: 

The Commission

We make disciples because Jesus said so. In one of his last speeches to his disciples, Jesus made his expectation plain: 

Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations….”

Jesus wasn’t making a suggestion and he didn’t ask their opinion. He had just spent three years discipling his disciples, and now it was their turn. After his death and resurrection, Jesus was returning to the Father. His task on earth was complete. Now his followers would have to step up and finish the job.

Imagine your dad telling you to take out the garbage. He makes it crystal clear, and yet you willfully disobey. How do you think he would respond? How would YOU respond? 

Jesus commanded us to make disciples, emphasizing its importance by making it one of the last things he said on this earth! Helping people pursue God is a matter of obedience to the Great Commission. This should be reason enough to start doing it. 

The Strategy

Jesus envisioned a church where pastors equip and people do the ministry. His strategy was articulated best by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus:

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Here’s what the average church looks like today: the pastor preps a sermon and the people invite their friends to come and listen. Sunday after Sunday they run the same play: the preacher ministers and the people spectate. For many churches it seems to work, especially if the worship team can put on a great concert! 

But the Apostle Paul prescribed a different strategy. In a biblical-functioning church, the pastors equip the people to do the work of the ministry. This way everybody wins: the pastors don’t get worn out and the people end up actually maturing in their faith. They have moved from consuming a product to producing disciples, and the whole church ends up “healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16). 

The Need

The final reason to make disciples is an appeal to the heart of every genuine follower of Jesus. Look around – people are confused and helpless, and the problem is getting worse every day. We make disciples because people need help on a personal level. Sermons are great, but sermons aren’t enough. Jesus himself made this point after gathering huge crowds to witness his miracles and listen to his teaching.

Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Jesus’ heart broke for the crowd because they needed more help than what he could personally give them. How? Wasn’t he the Great Shepherd? Didn’t they just hear his powerful teaching? 

The fact is, sermons were never intended to be the end-all be-all for a healthy church. A preacher speaks truth to a crowd, and while it’s an important element in the church body, it doesn’t produce mature disciples by itself. People need to process truth in the context of a caring, personal relationship. God wants every follower to have a shepherd to help them along the way. (Matthew 4:19) 

At the end of Matthew 9 Jesus told his disciples to pray for more workers. Then in the next lesson their prayer was answered – when Jesus sent them out to make disciples! Today, YOU are the answer to that prayer. Are you willing to go?

Mature Enough

Maybe you’re willing but you don’t feel qualified to make disciples. So many Christians believe that they are not mature enough to help someone else pursue God. They ask, “What if they ask a question I can’t answer? What if I say the wrong thing?”  These questions linger in the minds of many would-be disciplers, keeping Christians on the sidelines and in the shadows. And that’s just how Satan wants it. 

Jesus wants something different. He wants regular people making disciples, and that’s why he chose fishermen and tax collectors to be his first followers. Those guys weren’t ready for such a big assignment, but Jesus sent them out anyway. They matured as they made disciples, not before. 

This is what Paul explains in his letter to the Ephesians: 

Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Go back and read the entire section to get context for what Paul is teaching here. He’s saying that we’ll grow up, we’ll develop spiritual discernment, and we’ll build a defense against falsehood after we start making disciples. When we go out and “speak the truth in love,” we’ll begin to really understand it. 

Disciple-making comes first and maturity comes second, not the other way around. 

So what are you waiting for? Jesus told you to make disciples. It’s part of his strategy for a healthy church. People need your help at a personal level. And until you start doing it, you’ll never be fully mature as a Christian.

Talking Points:
  • We make disciples because Jesus said so. Matthew 28:18-20
  • We make disciples because Jesus envisioned a church where pastors equip and people do the ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12
  • We make disciples because people need help on a personal level. Matthew 9:36-37
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Share about a person who has encouraged you in your pursuit of God. What did they do that was so impactful?
  3. Read Matthew 4:19. Why do you think Jesus picked fishermen instead of Pharisees as his disciples? Which group of people do you most relate to?
  4. Read Ephesians 4:11-12. What’s the pastor’s job in the church? What’s your job?
  5. Define “full circle” faith in your own words. Where are you on the circle?
  6. Do you think you can help someone else pursue God? Why or why not?

See Also:

11 How It Works

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How to Make Disciples

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If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). But how do you do it? Where do you start? PursueGOD offers a simple approach, modeled after Jesus’ own ministry. He discipled his followers through everyday conversations, helping them discover truth by asking questions and providing answers. 

PursueGOD disciple-making works the same way. If you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple. The process works in three simple steps: 

Step 1: Engage

First, engage the person you’d like to disciple. Ask yourself, “What kinds of conversations does that person want to have? Is there a topic they’d like to talk about?” Disciple-making starts with putting yourself in the shoes of someone else. Where do they need help? How can you add value to their life?

Many Christians make the mistake of getting too spiritual too quickly. We know that the deepest need in everyone’s life is Jesus – and we’re chomping at the bit to talk about it! But not everyone is ready for a spiritual conversation. These things take time, as Paul points out:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

That’s why the first step is to engage. Ask the person where they would like to start, and simply offer to sit down for a conversation. Meet regularly to cover topics together as you build a relationship. If it helps, send them a link to one of these category listings, and invite them to choose where to start:

Step 2: Establish 

Second, establish the person in the Christian faith. When the time is right, be sure to go over the basics of Christianity with the person you’re discipling. Talk about God’s heart for people. Cover the topics of sin and salvation and sanctification. Get specific about what it means to be a true disciple. We’ve put all of these important topics into a 12-part series called The Pursuit

So how do you know if the time is right to move from engaging (Step 1) to establishing (Step 2)? Pray about it! As you meet to talk about topics of interest to them, eventually you’ll start talking about spiritual things. Expect God to show up in your conversations over time, especially if you’re praying for him to reveal himself. Jesus said it himself when he sent out his closest disciples:

Matthew 10:19-20 (NLT) … don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

This is where spiritual discernment comes in, along with a dose of boldness. As you’re covering miscellaneous topics, lay the groundwork for the foundational topics. Don’t be afraid to say, “I think it’s time we go through The Pursuit together. That’s the series that will establish you in the most important relationship of your life.” 

What if they’re already a Christian? Do it anyway! It’s always helpful to go over the basics of the faith, and it will ensure that you get to the final step in the process. The Pursuit introduces the idea of a “full circle” follower of Jesus, someone who makes a commitment  to three basic things in life: 

It’s the last part of that image that leads to the final step in the disciple-making process.

Step 3: Empower 

Third, empower the person to become a disciple-maker. The final three lessons in The Pursuit are training topics, explaining the picture and process of discipleship. This means that once you’ve finished The Pursuit, you’re ready to empower the person you’re discipling to get in the game and start making disciples, too.

But they’ll probably need your help. Most people are intimidated by the thought of becoming a mentor and discipling someone. So you’ll have to convince them that they’re qualified, just like Jesus had to do with his disciples. And you’ll probably also have to help them get connected to someone else who needs a mentor. This is where the local church can come in. Ask a pastor where there’s a need, and then help make the handoff.

Engage, establish, and empower. The whole process is designed to make disciple-making a thing again. It’s the kind of generational discipleship that Paul described to Timothy: 

2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to make disciples. PursueGOD makes it easy. If you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple.

Talking Points:
  • PursueGOD offers a simple 3-step strategy for conversational disciple-making.
  • First, engage the person you’d like to disciple. Meet regularly to cover topics together as you build a relationship.
  • Second, establish the person in the Christian faith. Complete The Pursuit together to learn the essentials of the Christian faith.
  • Third, empower the person to become a disciple-maker. Help them get connected to someone else who needs a mentor.
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Engage, Establish, Empower – which one seems the most difficult to you? Explain.
  3. Describe the three mentoring principles in your own words. Which one resonates most?
  4. Describe the pathway for disciple-making in your own words. What’s the point to taking someone through a discipleship track?
  5. Do you feel qualified to make disciples? If not, what would qualify you?
  6. Make a list of a few people who might be interested in going through a discipleship track with you. Begin praying for those people.
  7. To finish your training, cover this full discipleship track with a training partner or group. Take turns leading each topic, and be sure to track your progress. Then start discipling someone on your list.

See Also:

12 The How

How to Make Disciples

Click for Article

If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). But how do you do it? Where do you start? PursueGOD offers a simple approach, modeled after Jesus’ own ministry. He discipled his followers through everyday conversations, helping them discover truth by asking questions and providing answers. 

PursueGOD disciple-making works the same way. If you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple. The process works in three simple steps: 

Step 1: Engage

First, engage the person you’d like to disciple. Ask yourself, “What kinds of conversations does that person want to have? Is there a topic they’d like to talk about?” Disciple-making starts with putting yourself in the shoes of someone else. Where do they need help? How can you add value to their life?

Many Christians make the mistake of getting too spiritual too quickly. We know that the deepest need in everyone’s life is Jesus – and we’re chomping at the bit to talk about it! But not everyone is ready for a spiritual conversation. These things take time, as Paul points out:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

That’s why the first step is to engage. Ask the person where they would like to start, and simply offer to sit down for a conversation. Meet regularly to cover topics together as you build a relationship. If it helps, send them a link to one of these category listings, and invite them to choose where to start:

Step 2: Establish 

Second, establish the person in the Christian faith. When the time is right, be sure to go over the basics of Christianity with the person you’re discipling. Talk about God’s heart for people. Cover the topics of sin and salvation and sanctification. Get specific about what it means to be a true disciple. We’ve put all of these important topics into a 12-part series called The Pursuit

So how do you know if the time is right to move from engaging (Step 1) to establishing (Step 2)? Pray about it! As you meet to talk about topics of interest to them, eventually you’ll start talking about spiritual things. Expect God to show up in your conversations over time, especially if you’re praying for him to reveal himself. Jesus said it himself when he sent out his closest disciples:

Matthew 10:19-20 (NLT) … don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

This is where spiritual discernment comes in, along with a dose of boldness. As you’re covering miscellaneous topics, lay the groundwork for the foundational topics. Don’t be afraid to say, “I think it’s time we go through The Pursuit together. That’s the series that will establish you in the most important relationship of your life.” 

What if they’re already a Christian? Do it anyway! It’s always helpful to go over the basics of the faith, and it will ensure that you get to the final step in the process. The Pursuit introduces the idea of a “full circle” follower of Jesus, someone who makes a commitment  to three basic things in life: 

It’s the last part of that image that leads to the final step in the disciple-making process.

Step 3: Empower 

Third, empower the person to become a disciple-maker. The final three lessons in The Pursuit are training topics, explaining the picture and process of discipleship. This means that once you’ve finished The Pursuit, you’re ready to empower the person you’re discipling to get in the game and start making disciples, too.

But they’ll probably need your help. Most people are intimidated by the thought of becoming a mentor and discipling someone. So you’ll have to convince them that they’re qualified, just like Jesus had to do with his disciples. And you’ll probably also have to help them get connected to someone else who needs a mentor. This is where the local church can come in. Ask a pastor where there’s a need, and then help make the handoff.

Engage, establish, and empower. The whole process is designed to make disciple-making a thing again. It’s the kind of generational discipleship that Paul described to Timothy: 

2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

If you’re a Christian, Jesus wants you to make disciples. PursueGOD makes it easy. If you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple.

Talking Points:
  • PursueGOD offers a simple 3-step strategy for conversational disciple-making.
  • First, engage the person you’d like to disciple. Meet regularly to cover topics together as you build a relationship.
  • Second, establish the person in the Christian faith. Complete The Pursuit together to learn the essentials of the Christian faith.
  • Third, empower the person to become a disciple-maker. Help them get connected to someone else who needs a mentor.
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Engage, Establish, Empower – which one seems the most difficult to you? Explain.
  3. Describe the three mentoring principles in your own words. Which one resonates most?
  4. Describe the pathway for disciple-making in your own words. What’s the point to taking someone through a discipleship track?
  5. Do you feel qualified to make disciples? If not, what would qualify you?
  6. Make a list of a few people who might be interested in going through a discipleship track with you. Begin praying for those people.
  7. To finish your training, cover this full discipleship track with a training partner or group. Take turns leading each topic, and be sure to track your progress. Then start discipling someone on your list.

See Also: