Lesson Seven: Discussion Guide for Group or Individual Use (click more)
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time you have provided for us to come together to hear from you and have fellowship in your Word and to learn and apply your Word to our hearts. We need you, Lord. We need your grace all the time. We praise you for your goodness and your love and mercy. Please open our hearts to you and to one another and lead our discussion. Help us not to fear, but to put all of our hope in Christ. Help us to remember there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May you be glorified in all our thoughts and words and deeds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I. LECTURE
Will someone share how the Lord used the lecture to speak to your heart? Did anyone have any questions or concerns about the lecture? If you ever have a question or something is unclear, please let us know. We want to serve you in any way we can!
II. PLEASE READ THE MAIN POINT FROM THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK
Repentance means we must stop doing what we are doing and turn from our sinful ways to his righteous ways. But it also means we must go forward in the path of righteousness. Holy transformation doesn’t mean that we just stop doing something; it means that we stop doing things our way, and instead, do them God’s way. We want our hearts to be like a magnificent garden. This lush garden will bloom in our hearts when we put off the old, repent from our sin, and allow the Holy Spirit to deeply till the soil within our hearts and plant the character and righteousness of Christ.
Our goal, our desire, and our vision should be to be a vessel that God uses to cause others to want to know Him more, to be brought to their knees in worship, to believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, their Savior! As our sinfulness is replaced by His righteousness, as our flesh is put to death and we are filled more with His Spirit, we will be blessed, and we will be a blessing to others. We will be the sweet aroma of Christ, a garden of righteousness and holiness that may draw others closer to Christ. This is the gospel - “Not I, but Christ.” We must labor for the harvest of righteousness!
III. QUESTIONS FROM THE HOMEWORK
Go through the homework, occasionally calling on women. Read scriptures aloud. After asking a question, remember to allow a brief period of quiet “wait-time” to give women a chance to think before answering. After pausing, if no one shares, go ahead with your answer, rephrase question, and/or move on.
DAY ONE
1. Repentance means we must stop what we are doing and turn from our sinful ways to God’s righteous ways. Will someone share a scripture you are using to replace your ungodly thinking with righteous thinking? What sin does this address?
2. Did you ask for help from a fellow sister in Christ, your husband, or family member? Did you share with a friend the truth you desire to plant in place of the old lie that you are uprooting as instructed to do?
DAY TWO
3. What scriptures did you find that speak to the righteous response to your sin?
DAY THREE
4. Read Psalm 25:4, 8-10. We were encouraged to make this Psalm our own prayer, asking God to lead us in His righteousness and being as specific as possible. How has the Lord loved you and instructed you?
5. Where have you been encouraged as He has helped you put off your sin-corrupt flesh and put on the Spirit of Christ?
6. What new heart attitudes and actions are blooming and sprouting forth from the new truths that have been planted in your heart?
DAY FOUR
7. Read Psalm 119:1-6. Who does this scripture say is blessed and how are they blessed?
8. As you read through more of this psalm, how did you answer the question, “Are my eyes fixed on His commandments? Are they always before me, a measurement for all I do?”
DAY FIVE
9. Read Psalm 119: 33-36. Can you say that you delight in His testimonies? Are they your focus and great desire? Why or why not?
IV. PLEASE RECITE YOUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES TOGETHER
V. TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART TIME
We will now focus on taking God’s truth to our hearts and bringing it to life. James 5:16a states; “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” And 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Please turn to the Taking the Truth to Heart and Bringing it to Life page on Day Six. We will each have 3 minutes so that everyone will have a chance to share. Please record one another’s confessions on the Taking the Truth to Heart Guide on the following page so that you can pray for each other throughout the week. Leaders, please set the example by going first.
VI. PLEASE CLOSE IN PRAYER
