ISI 2: In the World, Not Of the World

[This Bible Study starts here.  And remember that my answers to some of the questions are in [brackets].]

Icebreaker Question:

What are some of your all-time favorite movies or books, and why?  Which have made you cry?  And what are some that you dislike the most, and why? 

Open With Prayer

Read Lesson:

            Philippians 3:18-20:  “. . . many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven. . . .”

            As Christians, we are citizens of two different worlds – the world (including our own country and society) and God’s Kingdom.  Oftentimes, these worlds are in conflict, such as when it comes to their purposes and goals, what they rely on and consider important, how they define “success,” and how they value people.  So given all of this conflict and difference, how can we as Christians best live out this verse about being in the world but not of it?     

            Let’s break down some of the challenges and differences we face.

Iron Sharpens Iron (ISI) 1: A Full, Abundant Life

[This Bible Study starts here.  And remember that my answers to some of the questions are in [brackets].]

Icebreaker Question:

Briefly describe your life/spiritual life up to now.  And what are some of the most exciting or memorable times in your life so far?   

Have someone open the meeting with prayer

Read Lesson:

            In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

            We hear all different kinds of things today about the kind of life God wants for us.  I have heard preachers say that God wants us to wear fine clothes and live in big homes because we are the “children of the King.”  And so we shouldn’t be living like paupers.  [And this notion probably appeals to a lot of us because we would love to believe that we should be getting all we want on this side of eternity.  Isn’t that what life is about, after all?  Rack up as many toys and as much happiness as you can before the final trumpet blows?  (Note the sarcasm.)]

            But I have also read that we should basically live as paupers, giving no thought to our needs while we take care of God’s Kingdom and the poor.  [And while this thought appeals to very few people, these “sacrificial givers” are the ones that we admire the most.  They are the ones that make us say, “I wish I could be more like them.  They are so inspiring.”  But then we get back in our fancy cars, sipping our $5 coffee, and go back to our full homes and play with our many toys.]  And we shouldn’t do anything special for ourselves or worry at all about our appearance or happiness because that stems from vanity, pride, and self-centeredness.  

            So which is it?  What kind of a life does God want for us?  What does Jesus mean when He says that He wants to give us a “full life”?  One female "minister" recently made the claim before the Senate Judiciary Committee that when Jesus said He came to give us a "full life," He was advocating for social rights that would allow us to have the life we want, which includes having access to birth-control.  (And I say ... "What!?!")  

            Is that what Jesus means, that we should be able to have the life we want?  Is the "full life" about our happiness and comfort and ease?  About living fancy or plain lives?  Does the “full life” even relate to physical life on this earth, or is it talking about our spiritual lives and eternity?  Or is it both?  And what does all of this mean for how we live our lives today?  Do Christians today even look any different from the world, or are we pursuing the same things they are?

"Iron Sharpens Iron" Bible Study Intro

            For all of May, I am going to post a series that I have on my other blog.  It’s a free Bible Study that I put together.  Basically what I did was write one that I would love to do with other people.  But in case that never happens, I wanted to a chance to answer some of the questions that I asked.  They are the kind of questions that I love to think about.  I won’t answer all of them, just the ones that I felt like answering.  My answers will be in [brackets].  
            And if you want to check out the full Bible Study without my answers, go to sweetlybrokengirl.blogspot.com.  
            This Bible Study is also on its own blogspot (with my answers) at ironsharpensironbiblestudy.blogspot.com.
            

            Well, here goes . . .

   

 The “Iron Sharpens Iron” Bible Study

            Proverbs 27:17:  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

            Have you been a Christian for a long time?  Do you have a good grasp on the basics of Christianity and Scripture?  Do you like to spend time with other people discussing what you’ve learned about Scripture and how to apply it to your life?  Do you like wrestling with the more challenging verses and issues? 

            I would love to have a Bible study that would take me deeper into my faith, that would make me wrestle with some of the harder things of Scripture, and that would help me build a deeper relationship with others as we explored these hard things together.  But most Bible studies that I come across go over the basics of Christianity.  And that’s great, but I’ve already done many of those throughout the decades that I have been a believer.  And so since I couldn’t seem to find one that went beyond the basics, I decided to write my own. 

"I love You! Always!"

            “How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me? . . . But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”  (Psalm 13:1, 5-6)

            “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him, . . .”  (Job 13:15)

            “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”  (Job 1:21)

                       

            Years ago, I saw the movie Facing the Giants.  And it was a good movie.  Last night (April 16, 2015), I saw it again . . . and it was a great movie.  It touched my heart in ways it didn’t before.  And I pretty much cried through the whole thing.  (Good thing the lights were off so my family couldn’t tell.) 

Do You Believe?

     One of my all-favorite Christian movies is Do You Believe?  It is an excellent movie.  But it's very emotional.  I cry through the whole thing.  (Have tissues ready!)

     The whole movie is great.  But when I first watched it, one part stood out to me more than the others.  A lost, hurting, confused man was in a hotel room when he found a Bible.  And I thought about how sad it is that, nowadays in America, people are trying to get Bibles out of hotel rooms and to erase all references to God in public areas.

     What about the hurting person who needs help?  The lost person who needs to be found?  The hopeless person who needs the Truth, Love, and Healing that only God can give?  How will they find the answers they are looking for (even if they don’t know they are looking for them) if we eradicate God from our society?  (Another reason I love this movie is that it shows that no one is beyond the grace of God.  Everyone has a chance for salvation because Jesus loves and died for everyone!)

NBA #23, 24, 25: Living our Faith!

(This advice starts at #1, beginning of February)
New Believer Advice #23:  You will face persecution and criticism for being a Christian!

            The very fact that we choose to live differently than other people will make us stand out.  And since we are choosing to not live as the world lives, it will make them feel like we do not approve of their lives and choices.  This will make them want to lash out at us, criticize us, mock us, and discredit us in any way they can. 

            Not everyone will do this, but just look at the way the media portrays Christians and those with a strong sense of right and wrong.  The very fact that we say there is “right and wrong” will make us unpopular in this day and age of moral relativity. 

NBA #22: Long Waits

New Believer Advice #22:  As I just said, if God is making you wait, there is a reason.

            As I reflect back on my spiritual journey so far, I have to say that the most growth seemed to happen during the times of God’s deafening silence, the long waits.  These usually started with me praying about some request.  And then, when the answer wasn’t coming and I couldn’t even feel His presence anymore, I would end up desperate, pleading to just have any sense that He was even there, that He cared and was listening, and that He hadn’t abandoned me.  What started out as a request for something I wanted or “needed” became a search for knowing that God really cared about me.  God’s silence forced me to move from wanting my request to just wanting Him. 

NBA #21: Pray instead of worry!

New Believer Advice #21:  Don’t just wish or worry.  Pray! 

            God does not force us to seek His help, guidance, and input.  He allows us to try to handle things in our own wisdom.  And when we do, we oftentimes make a mess of our situation.  But He is willing to step in and guide.  He is just waiting for us to ask Him, to invite Him into our situation. 

            Do not just daydream, hope, wish, or worry.  Put your thoughts into words and pray them over to God, giving Him the right to answer as He will and to direct your path.  Pray about your hopes and dreams and concerns in the faith that He can do what you are asking Him to do, but also in the willingness to have faith in Him even if He doesn’t.  (And search Scripture for guidance and wisdom.)

NBA #20: Spiritual Battles

New Believer Advice #20:  Remember that there is a spiritual battle going on around us all the time.

            “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8) 

            “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  (Ephesians 6:13)

            And according to Ephesians 6:10-18, our spiritual armor includes: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, a readiness to share the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God - and prayer.

NBA #17,18,19: Stripped!

New Believer Advice #17:  God will upset your “nice, little, comfortable life.”

            The more you grow in the faith, the more you will be rocked by other people’s pain and by injustices, the more compassion you will have for the hurting and weak and needy, and the less comfortable you will be with building up treasures on earth when people around you are in so much need.  You will become more concerned with other people’s souls.  You will seek righteousness more and you will feel more and more convicted when you stray from it.  This is the painful process of being molded to be more like Christ . . . of learning to put His Kingdom, righteousness, and priorities first . . . of learning to build treasures in heaven instead of treasures on earth . . . of dying to self and living for Him.  Your heart will begin to ache for the things that make His heart ache.  And this ache is good.  Let it move you to do His work on earth!  Let God upset your “nice, little, comfortable life.”