Foundations For Christian Living - Lesson Four Discipler's Notes

The Lessons (continued)

Lesson Four - You and Your Changing Life Discipler's Notes

How to Live As a Christian in a Sinful World

God did not save you simply to take you to heaven but to make you "conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29). The greatest privilege you now have in your new life is the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and to have fellowship with God. If you will yield yourself to Him and obey Him, He will change your life to accomplish this purpose. Review last week's memory verse, Matthew 7:7. See if the disciple had any specific answers to prayer this past week. If so, thank God for these as you open the session in prayer.

The Believer's Different Life

1 Your life before you were saved is repeatedly contrasted with your life after your salvation. List the contrasts in the following verses:
II Corinthians 5:17 - old things contrasted with things becoming new.
Ephesians 5:8 - darkness contrasted with light in the Lord or children of light.
1 John 3:10 - the children of the devil contrasted with the children of God.

2 Difference is a key aspect of holiness! Conversation in the old English language meant lifestyle. To what extent does God intend for your new life to be different, according to I Peter 1:15? God intends my life to be holy in every area.

3 We should reflect outwardly what we are inwardly. What do the following verses say about a Christian's appearance?
I Corinthians 11:14 For a man to have long hair is a shaine.
Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Peter 3:3-4 A woman shoud not dress in man's clothing or seek to attrack attention with excessive jewelry, etc.

4 In II Corinthians 6:14-17, what promise is given to those who decide to obey God by separating from evil?
Believers who separate from evil are promised the privilege of enjoying being a child of God. "All things are become new" could better be rendered, "all things are becoming new" pointing to a continual process which will go on until the day we see Jesus.

See also I Thessalonians 5:5 and I Peter 2:9.

See also John 8:44 and Romans 8: 16.

If the disciple hasn't, you may need to bring up music, entertainment, relationships at home and/or work, and other aspects of personal separation.

To be externally correct and internally corrupt is hypocrisy.

For internal righteousness to never affect the "externals" is impossible.

The Believer's Destructive Enemies

5 Your primary enemy is an invisible spirit, nevertheless a real person.
What is his name? (I Peter 5:8; John 8:44) His name is the devil.
What two terms describe his character and indicate his methods according to John 8:44? The devil is described as a murderer and a liar and the father of it.

6 Your second enemy is internal. It is your own sinful nature, which the Bible calls "the flesh."
Your flesh is a servant to what? (Romans 7:25) My flesh serves the "law of sin."
Why is it impossible for the "carnal," or fleshly, mind to ever be right with God? (Romans 8:7) The carnal mind is hostile toward God.

7 Your third enemy is external, but it is organized by the devil to appeal to your flesh. The Bible calls this enemy the world. Notice the three components of worldliness in I John 2:16:
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eyes
The pride of life

The Believer's Devotion to Christ

8 What must you deny to follow Christ? (Matthew 16:24)
I must deny myself to follow Christ.

9 What are you told not to love? (I John2:15)
I am commanded not to love the world

10 How can you avoid being pressed into the mold of the world? (Romans 12:1-2)
I can avoid conformity to the world by having my mind renewed.

11 To whom do you belong now? (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
I belong to God.

12 How do you demonstrate your love for God? (John 14:15)
My love is demonstrated through my obedience to Christ's commands. In I Peter 5:8 stress "adversary" - opponent in legal battle; "lion walking about"- fierceness and tireless energy.

The name Satan means, slanderer or false accuser.

Our only hope is to "hear the Spirit" (Rev. 2:7), be controlled by the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), and "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16). Praise the Lord we are assured of victory if we do! Note especially Galatians 5:16.

Deception is one of Satan's main tools used to destroy Christians (Gen. 3; II Cor 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14; Rev. 20:10). He shows us the pleasures of sin but not the consequences.

The "pride of life" is the self congratulation of a person who has obtained what he wanted without God. "I got what I wanted, and I didn't need God to get it" is the boasting of the pride of life.

Explain the term world. We are to love the people of this earth, but we are to hate the godless system which lures us from devotion to Christ.

If you have time, you may want to examine the process of temptation at this point by looking at James 1.13-15. The words "drawn away" and "enticed" in verse 14 are hunting/fishing terms. Our own desires lure us away from the right path until we are caught.

The Believer's Deliverance from Temptation

13 What does God promise to those who are tempted? (I Corinthians 10:13) Christians are guaranteed the opportunity to escape any temptation.

14 How can you avoid many temptations? (Romans 13:14)
I can avoid many temptations by not planning ways to fulfill my fleshly desires.

15 When Satan tempted Jesus, what did Jesus use to defeat Satan?
(Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Christ used scripture.

16 What is your spiritual weapon against sin and Satan? (Ephesians 6:17)
The Word of God is my weapon.

17 Has there been a noticeable difference in your life since you accepted Christ? Explain. - (Relate how your life changed after you were saved.)

18 Check any area(s) in which you now fail to bring glory to God because you are being pressured by the world, drawn away by your own desires, or tempted by Satan:
[ ] Attitudes [ ] Drugs [ ] Entertainment [ ] Sexual Conduct [ ] Music
[ ] Language [ ] Appearance [ ] Other

19 Should you wait for some "special conviction" by God before you obey what His Word says about your attitudes, appearance, and actions? (James 1:22; 4:17)
No, I should obey God's Word immediately.

MEMORIZE
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Remind the disciple here about the importance of memorizing his weekly Bible verse. In Ephesians 6:18, prayer could also be considered a spiritual weapon against sin.

Deal with any areas that the disciple has checked. Refer him to the pastor if there is any area in which you do not feel you can give biblical counsel.

To refuse to let God change us is to require that He chasten us! (Hebrews 12:6)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Give the disciple the brochure, How Can I Decide What Is Right for Me? by Dr. David Innes.

Give the disciple Lesson 5. Make an appointment for your next session. Complete a Progress Report and submit it to the church office.

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Lesson Four - You and Your Changing Life	Discipler's Notes
How to Live As a Christian in a Sinful World God did not save you simply to take you to heaven but to make you "conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29). The greatest privilege you now have in your new life is the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and to have fellowship with God. If you will yield yourself to Him and obey Him, He will change your life to accomplish this purpose.	Review last week's memory verse, Matthew 7:7. See if the disciple had any specific answers to prayer this past week. If so, thank God for these as you open the session in prayer.
The Believer's Different Life 1 Your life before you were saved is repeatedly contrasted with your life after your salvation. List the contrasts in the following verses: II Corinthians 5:17 - old things contrasted with things becoming new. Ephesians 5:8 - darkness contrasted with light in the Lord or children of light. 1 John 3:10 - the children of the devil contrasted with the children of God. 2 Difference is a key aspect of holiness! Conversation in the old English language meant lifestyle. To what extent does God intend for your new life to be different, according to I Peter 1:15? God intends my life to be holy in every area. 3 We should reflect outwardly what we are inwardly. What do the following verses say about a Christian's appearance? I Corinthians 11:14 For a man to have long hair is a shaine. Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Peter 3:3-4 A woman shoud not dress in man's clothing or seek to attrack attention with excessive jewelry, etc. 4 In II Corinthians 6:14-17, what promise is given to those who decide to obey God by separating from evil? Believers who separate from evil are promised the privilege of enjoying being a child of God.	"All things are become new" could better be rendered, "all things are becoming new" pointing to a continual process which will go on until the day we see Jesus. See also I Thessalonians 5:5 and I Peter 2:9. See also John 8:44 and Romans 8: 16. If the disciple hasn't, you may need to bring up music, entertainment, relationships at home and/or work, and other aspects of personal separation. To be externally correct and internally corrupt is hypocrisy. For internal righteousness to never affect the "externals" is impossible.
The Believer's Destructive Enemies 5 Your primary enemy is an invisible spirit, nevertheless a real person. What is his name? (I Peter 5:8; John 8:44) His name is the devil. What two terms describe his character and indicate his methods according to John 8:44? The devil is described as a murderer and a liar and the father of it. 6 Your second enemy is internal. It is your own sinful nature, which the Bible calls "the flesh." Your flesh is a servant to what? (Romans 7:25) My flesh serves the "law of sin." Why is it impossible for the "carnal," or fleshly, mind to ever be right with God? (Romans 8:7) The carnal mind is hostile toward God. 7 Your third enemy is external, but it is organized by the devil to appeal to your flesh. The Bible calls this enemy the world. Notice the three components of worldliness in I John 2:16: The lust of the flesh The lust of the eyes The pride of life The Believer's Devotion to Christ 8 What must you deny to follow Christ? (Matthew 16:24) I must deny myself to follow Christ. 9 What are you told not to love? (I John2:15) I am commanded not to love the world 10 How can you avoid being pressed into the mold of the world? (Romans 12:1-2) I can avoid conformity to the world by having my mind renewed. 11 To whom do you belong now? (I Corinthians 6:19-20) I belong to God. 12 How do you demonstrate your love for God? (John 14:15) My love is demonstrated through my obedience to Christ's commands.	In I Peter 5:8 stress "adversary" - opponent in legal battle; "lion walking about"- fierceness and tireless energy. The name Satan means, slanderer or false accuser. Our only hope is to "hear the Spirit" (Rev. 2:7), be controlled by the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), and "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16). Praise the Lord we are assured of victory if we do! Note especially Galatians 5:16. Deception is one of Satan's main tools used to destroy Christians (Gen. 3; II Cor 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14; Rev. 20:10). He shows us the pleasures of sin but not the consequences. The "pride of life" is the self congratulation of a person who has obtained what he wanted without God. "I got what I wanted, and I didn't need God to get it" is the boasting of the pride of life. Explain the term world. We are to love the people of this earth, but we are to hate the godless system which lures us from devotion to Christ. If you have time, you may want to examine the process of temptation at this point by looking at James 1.13-15. The words "drawn away" and "enticed" in verse 14 are hunting/fishing terms. Our own desires lure us away from the right path until we are caught.
The Believer's Deliverance from Temptation 13 What does God promise to those who are tempted? (I Corinthians 10:13) Christians are guaranteed the opportunity to escape any temptation. 14 How can you avoid many temptations? (Romans 13:14) I can avoid many temptations by not planning ways to fulfill my fleshly desires. 15 When Satan tempted Jesus, what did Jesus use to defeat Satan? (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Christ used scripture. 16 What is your spiritual weapon against sin and Satan? (Ephesians 6:17) The Word of God is my weapon. 17 Has there been a noticeable difference in your life since you accepted Christ? Explain. - (Relate how your life changed after you were saved.) 18 Check any area(s) in which you now fail to bring glory to God because you are being pressured by the world, drawn away by your own desires, or tempted by Satan: [ ] Attitudes [ ] Drugs [ ] Entertainment [ ] Sexual Conduct [ ] Music [ ] Language [ ] Appearance [ ] Other 19 Should you wait for some "special conviction" by God before you obey what His Word says about your attitudes, appearance, and actions? (James 1:22; 4:17) No, I should obey God's Word immediately. MEMORIZE 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.	Remind the disciple here about the importance of memorizing his weekly Bible verse. In Ephesians 6:18, prayer could also be considered a spiritual weapon against sin. Deal with any areas that the disciple has checked. Refer him to the pastor if there is any area in which you do not feel you can give biblical counsel. To refuse to let God change us is to require that He chasten us! (Hebrews 12:6) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Give the disciple the brochure, How Can I Decide What Is Right for Me? by Dr. David Innes.