CHANGED

This Sunday, we heard another story of life change through Jesus. Have you ever shared your story? Today/night, let's discover what Jesus has done in our life and share how He's changed us.

We're supposed to be different once we commit our lives to Jesus, but what does this mean exactly?

If you were never really a "bad" person before you decided to follow Jesus, what would change if you became a Christian? Do you think you'd probably be about the same? What did Jesus change for you?

Do you want to experience life change through Jesus? Are you willing to do whatever that may take?

(Read Romans 12:1-2) What is a living sacrifice?

(Now read Matthew 16:24-28.) What does Jesus ask people to do with their lives?

Change can only come after surrender. This is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, "Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (v. 25)

Why does life change come after losing your life?

We might look at that statement and think it doesn't make any sense. But it makes perfect sense. To lose your life simply means that you come to the understanding at some point in your life that God's plan is better than the plan you have for yourself.

Are you ready to walk in God's ways? Are you really ready to change?

(Take this time to present the gospel and make sure everyone understands it clearly.)

What has Jesus done for you? What do you need to do right now?

(Ask people what their next step to follow Jesus is. Give people an opportunity to share their story of life change.)

Struggle Bus: The Fair Bus

Recap:

Job's story includes a massive shift in disposition. He moves from an agitated assessment of God as unfair (for having made him suffer) to a contrite and humble repentance for/from his previous assessment. "The Fair Bus" message explored the cause of this shift.

Questions:

1-Do you struggle with feeling like God has been unfair to you or to others you know?


2-What do our feelings that God owes us something reveal about us?
                    -We don't understand who God is in relation to who we are. 
                    -We think far too highly of ourselves than we ought.


3-Review some of Sunday's texts (Gen. 6:5, Ps. 14:2-3, Ps. 51:5, Ps. 130:3, Jer. 17:9). Do you agree that we are as bad as the Bible says we are or does this assessment strike you as harsh? If so, why?                    

4-We noted the shift that occurred in Job from 6:24, 6:30, 7:20 to 42:5-6. To what do you attribute this shift?
                    -Job saw God! When He finally saw and experienced God he no longer viewed himself as worthy of anything. Seeing God brings us low and gives us a more accurate conception of our rights.


5-In thinking about the unfairness of God for us, we noted that we should be the last ones demanding fairness from others. We should extend grace as we've received grace. This is difficult in practice. What are some examples of success and failure in extending grace in your life?

Wrap up:

1-What did this message teach you about God?

2-What did this message teach you about yourself?

3-What do you need to do about it?

The "Do More" Bus

Read Galatians 2:11-21

Briefly summarize the passage. What does Paul confront Peter about?

Understanding God's Word

We have been justified by faith and are no longer under the law. We have been accepted by God. How does God's acceptance help you feel good about who you are?

How were Peter and the other Jews not acting in line with the truth of the gospel?

Why is it wrong to make such customs a basis for fellowship? (vs. 15-17)

Since our faith is in God's grace, does that mean God is cool with sin? How does Paul explain this? (vs 17-19)

How has Christ enabled us to die to the law and to live for God? (v. 20)

Applying God's Word

What is legalism? - Legalism is an attempt to gain favor with God or to impress people by doing certain things (or avoiding other things), without regard to the condition of our hearts before God.

What nonessential customs do Christians sometimes force on each other? (For example, reading your Bible, certain ways of praying, church attendance, lifestyle habits, etc.)

Which of these are you most likely to judge others about? Which of these are you most concerned about keeping up with?

Why does Jesus hate legalism? - Jesus hates legalism because it does not deal with the condition of our hearts before God.

Why is legalism a sin?

What warning signs tell us if we're drifting onto the "performance track" (legalism)?

Is it hypocrisy or legalism to obey God when we don't feel like it? Why?

What does it look like to follow Jesus instead of the performance track?

Turn to God

Confess to God about the areas in which you've put your faith in yourself instead of Him.

Decide to follow Jesus instead of the rules. How does this change everything?

THE SCARY BUS

Understanding God's Word

Read 1 Samuel 17:4-54

Briefly summarize the passage. Why is this story so popular?

Living and Applying God's Word

Goliath proposes a battle of champions–one will represent the Philistines and one the Israelites. The loser's side will become servants to the winners. The Israelites were too afraid to take his challenge.

Why is discouragement so effective? What are you discouraged about? Is discouragement a thought (fear) or reality? Why is encouragement so important? Why does who we hang out with matter so much?

Goliath repeated this challenge for 40 days. He wasn't going to go away until someone finally faced him.

What fear are you avoiding in hopes that it will just go away? Why do you think God won't take it away? What happens when you ignore God's timing and abandon His plan? What prayer has God answered, but you're afraid to be obedient to?

David hears of the challenge and wants to accept it, but is immediately met with discouragement from his brothers and King Saul because of their own fears. Can you imagine how this story would've ended differently if David was concerned about the approval of others?!

If we're honest, we're all approval addicts. Why is this so dangerous? How can this keep you from God's will? Why do we so desperately seek approval of our peers? Is there any conflict between God's plan and others' plans for your own life?

Here's the thing...David's brothers and King Saul were not wrong in doubting David. They were absolutely right about his inability to defeat Goliath. Even David knew this. However, David's courage was not in his own self, but in the Lord. This is how David punched fear in the face!

Turn to God

Do you doubt God can help you with what you're afraid of?

Stop and think about what God has already done for you. Overcome your fears of the future by remembering God's faithfulness in the past. Have faith.

Who/what do you need to remove yourself from in order to be able to listen to the Lord?

Ignore the haters and critics. Find discouragement from the Lord (His goodness, power, promises, faithfulness, character, etc.) Surround yourself with godly community and counsel.

What does God want you to attack today?

David ran at Goliath? He wasn't just a trash talker.

How could a good God allow bad things to happen?

Understanding God’s Word

In Job 1 and 2, we see that acts of terrorism (1:13-15,17), natural disasters (1:16,19) and diseases (2:7-8) are allowed by God. Not only do they happen, but they’re allowed to happen to Job - an honest man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion (1:1-2).

Living and Applying God’s Word

Should Christians expect trials? (1 Peter 4:12-13)

How can we know if a trial is from the Lord, from Satan, or from our own making?

Job didn’t know the conversation God and Satan had about him (Job 1:6-12). So how could Job still see God in this when God was silent?

Life can be hard, even if you’re doing everything right. If you’re a Christian, your faith must be tested and refined through trials. Most of us flatter ourselves into thinking that we’re doing reasonably well in our Christian life and that we don’t need any intense trials to test our faith. But we don’t know ourselves–the depth of our sin, the habit of self-trust, the shallowness of our joy. So God sends trials to test our faith.

Pain and suffering can either make you BITTER or make you BETTER.

Read Job 2:9 to see how Job’s wife became bitter.

Read Job 2:10 to see how Job became better.

What is the secret to Job’s response of becoming better?

Job remained faithful. He kept trusting God. Job’s relationship with God was the same whether God was blessing him or not.

Read Job 2:11,13

Notice how community is important during suffering. What did Job’s friends do? What did they NOT do?

A person who has gone through a horrible trial angrily asks, “How can a good God allow bad things to happen?” Your response?

Suffering in the hands of a loving God can bear great things.

James 5:11 “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.”

Turn to God

Find God’s purpose in your pain and don’t let bitterness, unbelief or discouragement rob you of the treasure God is refining in you.

Pray about the hard times you face in your life, and pray for those around you who are struggling.