Category: MasterLife Training

Disciples Are Servants

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While salvation is personal, it is never to be private. Each disciple has the responsibility to the Christian community and to the unsaved world. At church, seek a place to serve before you seek a place to sit (and soak). This session will help you to…

  1. Contrast the world’s standard of greatness with that of Jesus.
  2. List three characteristics of servanthood.
  3. Evaluate your participation in servant ministry.

WHAT IS GREATNESS?

  1. The world defines greatness in terms of power and influence. If you can demand service from others you have achieved a measure of greatness.
  2. What does Jesus say? (Mark 10:42) Greatness is defined in terms of serving others.
    • Does being someone’s servant appealing to you?
    • Is being a servant different than being a slave?
      • Doulos meaning bondservant or slave (Exodus 21:5-6, Matthew 10:24, 20:27, 25:14-30, Mark 10:44, Luke 12:37, 41-48, 19:17, John 13:16, 15:15, Acts 4:29, 16:17, Galatians 1:10, 4:7, Ephesians 6:6, Philippians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:24, 1 Peter 2:16, Revelation 2:20, 15:3, 22:3).
        • Strong’s G1401: a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):—bond(-man), servant.
        • Because the word slave carries such a negative connotation to our modern sensitivities, we often choose the word servant instead. However, servant does not quite capture the real meaning of doulos. Paul said he was a “slave” to Christ.
      • Diakonos meaning servant, literally “through the dirt.” (Matthew 20:26, 23:11, Mark 9:35, 10:43, John 12:26, Romans 15:8, 16:1, Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 1:23, 25, 1 Timothy 3:8, 12).
        • Strong’s G1249: an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess).
        • Translated deacon, minister, servant.
  3. The title “lord” refers to the relationship between a master and slave.
    • Did Jesus accept this title? (John 13:13)
    • Where did Jesus define true greatness? (Matthew 10:39, Mark 9:35, Luke 13:30, 14:11)
    • True discipleship expresses itself in a caring, loving, servant role.

WHAT IS SERVANTHOOD?

  1. The motivation for service is love.
    • How much did Jesus love his followers? (John 15:12-13)
    • Jesus’ whole life was about love (John 21:15-17) and he calls us to love.
    • Jesus knew that without love, serving others could become a selfish act aimed at self-righteousness (John 13:34, 15:9-10)
  2. The model of leadership is servanthood.
    • Jesus told the disciples to reject the lifestyle of the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 23:8-12)
      • Where do we get our authority? (Matthew 23:11)
      • Jesus linked greatness with humility (Matthew 23:12)
    • The disciples were more comfortable with the world’s style of leadership (John 13:3-16)
      • No respectable master would perform this menial household servant task.
      • Jesus led by example, modeling leadership in the kingdom of God.
  3. The measure of judgment is service.
    • We will all one day be judged (Luke 14:12-14)
    • What does Paul command? (Galatians 5:13)
    • What does this parable tell you about the importance of servanthood? (Matthew 25:31-46)
    • Good intentions are not enough, but actions and follow-through (James 2:15-16)

APPLICATION and EVALUATION:

  1. Are you involved in ministry?
  2. Are you known as one who seeks to meet the needs of others?
  3. Who are you presently serving?
  4. How might you become more involved in serving others?
  5. Do you exhibit an attitude of servanthood?
  6. How would my church be different if…
    • All the members were motivated by love?
    • Leaders were thought of as servants?
    • Members were evaluated on the basis of their service to others?

Vision of Life Purpose and Goals

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The one who aims at nothing will hit it every time, or as the Bible puts it, where there is not vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). Vision and goals help us to accomplish great things for God. This session will help you…

  1. Explain the relationship between life purposes and life goals.
  2. List three life purposes given in Mark 12:29-31.
  3. List three characteristics of life goals.
  4. Evaluate your own life purposes and life goals.

A CHRISTIAN’S PURPOSE FOR LIVING:

  1. Most of life seems to be meaningless. We live some 70-80 years just to die at some point. For what? What is the meaning of life?
    • For the disciple, our purpose is to conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)
    • For the disciple, we find meaning in a life that goes beyond our earthly death.
    • For the disciple, God uses us to build his kingdom (John 4:31-34)
  2. We can adjust our life around the purpose of God (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
    • How can we summarize the whole duty of mankind? (Mark 12:29-31)
      • How can we love God? (worship, prayer, devotion)
      • How can we love others? (evangelism, discipleship, service)
      • How can we love ourselves? (Ephesians 5:29)
        • How is this difference than in the end times (2 Timothy 3:1-3)
        • Proper self-love will cause you to develop yourself to your full potential and becoming all that God designed you to be.
        • What are some good reasons to love yourself? (Romans 8:15-17)
        • Since God loves us, we should also love what he has created.
    • How can we boil this down to even one thing? (Matthew 6:33)
    • How do you want to be remembered after you are gone? (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
    • How can we love God, how can we not want to be more like him and strive to achieve his purposes?

GOALS IN YOUR LIFE:

  1. Discovering God’s will for your life: his will is to bring the world to himself.
    • Salvation (2 Peter 3:9), 1 Timothy 2:4)
    • Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
  2. Purposes versus Goals:
    • Purposes are overarching objectives that you can bank your life on.
    • Goals are needed to achieve those godly purposes; what he would have you do to move in faith to accomplish his purposes.
  3. Jesus had Life Purposes: to bring reconciliation between God and mankind.
  4. Jesus had Life goals:
    • Characteristics:
      • They were God-revealed rather than man-conceived (Mark 8:31-33).
      • They were large enough to be unattainable without God’s power (Colossians 1:28-29).
      • They make possible the achievement of life purposes.
        • Reorder one’s priorities.
        • Choose between good and evil.
    • Specifics:
      • Train disciples to carry on his mission.
      • Suffer and die on the cross.
      • Return to life on the third day.

APPLICATION:

  1. Primary question: will this choice help me to achieve God’s purposes in my life?
    • The person to marry.
    • The vocation in life.
    • The status in life.
    • The possession of life.
  2. An Old Testament example (Joshua 14:6-14)
    • What was Caleb’s life purpose? (Joshua 14:8)
    • What was Caleb’s specific goal? (Joshua 14:14)
    • How do we know his goal was God-ordained? (Joshua 14:9-10)
    • Was the goal attainable without God? (Joshua 14:12)
    • How did the goal fit in with the life purpose? (Joshua 14:14)
  3. What evidence do you have that your present active goals will lead to accomplishing your life purposes?

Spiritual Gifts in the Body

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Jesus calls us to be fully devoted to him. Our call to salvation is also a call to ministry, but how can we get the work accomplished? The Holy Spirit has equipped us for the spiritual work of the kingdom. This session will help you…

  1. Define spiritual gifts.
  2. Recognize the difference between spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, and talents.
  3. Explain how spiritual gifts are distributed.
  4. Explain how spiritual gifts are to be used in the church.

DEFINING SPIRITUAL GIFTS:

  1. Paul uses the word charasmata, meaning grace gift (1 Corinthians 12:4).
    • This gift is based on the love of the giver, not the merit of the one receiving the gift.
    • What did Paul say is the basis for receiving spiritual gifts? (Romans 12:6)
  2. Gifts given are allowing believers to be equipped for ministry or service. What gifts do you read about in these passages?
    • Romans 12:6-8
    • 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30
    • Ephesians 4:11
    • 1 Peter 4:11
  3. Spiritual gifts are not the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). While we will never exhibit all of the gifts, we should seek to develop and manifest all the fruit of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).
    • Spiritual fruit represents the kinds of people we are to be.
    • Spiritual gifts emphasize what we are equipped to do.
  4. Spiritual gifts are different from talents.
    • Talents are given at physical birth, and will be developed throughout life.
      • Believers and unbelievers possess talents.
      • Talents are present where there is no commitment to Christ.
    • Spiritual gifts are given when someone is born again, “from above” (John 3:3, 16).
      • Only believers possess spiritual gifts.
      • Only believers use their gifts in service to God and his church.
    • Every believer has at least one spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10).
    • How spiritual gifts are distributed (1 Corinthians 12:7).
  5. Spiritual gifts are not to be coveted (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).
    • No one should take pride in their gift.
    • No one should envy the gift of another.
    • God knows how best to get his work done, by whom; to work effectively and efficiently.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

  1. Every believer should discover and know their spiritual gifts.
  2. Every believer should know how to serve in the kingdom and the role; to build up (edify) the church (1 Corinthians 14:12).
    • The word is also in Ephesians 4:11-12.
    • The lack of building up would be to accept immaturity and false teaching in the church (Ephesians 4:14).
    • We are to be equipped to do the work we are called to do (Ephesians 4:11).
    • What is our maturity standard? (Ephesians 4:13)
  3. Every believer is called to care for one another in the body (1 Corinthians 12:25-26).
    • We are all in this together and effect one another.
    • When one stubs a toe, it affects the whole body.
    • Interdependence is the key, which is not independence.
    • What was Paul’s charge to Timothy? (2 Timothy 1:6).
    • What warning does John give? (1 John 4:1).
    • What should be present in the life of a believer? (1 Corinthians 14:1)
  4. Every believer should develop the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
    • What might that look like in the church? (Ephesians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 12:25).
    • More on spiritual gifts can be found here.

Righting Wrong Relationships

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Christianity is a community of relationships, and can experience hurt just like all families. What are we to do when relationships go south? This session will help us to…

  1. List three reasons why relationships should be restored immediately.
  2. Explain what action to take if you are the offender.
  3. Identify six steps to take when you are offended.
  4. Describe the role of a peacemaker.

CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS:

Our relationship with Christ is the binding factor among believers; he binds us together.

  1. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin and restored broken relationship to God (Romans 5:1).
  2. Jesus makes it possible to have right relationships with other believers (1 John 4:21).
  3. Jesus confirms that we are saved if we love one another (1 John 3:14, John 13:34-35).
  4. Jesus expects us to love one another in word and in deed (1 John 3:18).

Read Matthew 20:20-24

  1. With whom were the disciples angry?
  2. Why were the disciples angry?

Read 1 John 1:7

  1. What is the source of Christian fellowship?
  2. What cleanses (or restores) that relationship?

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

Why action is needed:

  1. Wrong relationships with others effects our relationship with God.
    • 1 John 4:20-21
    • Matthew 6:14-15
  2. We are commanded to restore broken relationships.
    • Matthew 5:23-24
    • John 15:12
  3. We restore broken relationship to not hinder our witness to the unsaved world.
    • John 13:34-35
    • 2 Corinthians 5:18

The danger of not taking action:

  1. Hebrews 12:15
  2. Matthew 5:23-24

What must the offender do?

  1. 1 John 1:9 – Confession brings forgiveness.
  2. Luke 19:8 – Restitution is a real possibility.

What must the offender do? We may be tempted to put it off (Matthew 18:15-17).

  1. A Christian brother offends you.
  2. Go to the offender and seek reconciliation.
  3. If the two of you agree, the relationship is restored.
  4. If the offender refuses to be reconciled, take two or three friends with you to seek reconciliation.
  5. If the presence of you and witness does not accomplish reconciliation, take the matter to the church.
  6. If the offender still refuses to heed the counsel of the church, treat him as a lost person in need of redemption.

What NOT to do:

  1. Believe the offender is no longer your brother.
  2. Believers in the church can engage in acts of bitterness, vindictiveness, revenge, or alienation.
  3. Believers deserve the benefit of the doubt, rather then face to face condemnation.

Our Attitude should be:

  1. Love for the brother.
  2. Deep concern for the brother and the relationship.
  3. Admit your part of the conflict.
  4. Find a spiritual issue underlying the problem.
  5. Prayerful concern for all involved.
  6. Allow the witnesses to provide wise counsel and observations.

The Peacemaker: a mature believer who is objective and Spirit-led (Galatians 6:1)

When you have exhausted all means at your disposal, you are cleansed and free from guilt. Forgive the other person without reservation. Forgiveness never says what they did is okay, but you will never hold it over them any longer; you are set free from grudges and bitterness.

End the process as you started it, in worship of God. Ask God to reveal to you anyone that you may have offended and need to seek restoration.

The Dimensions of Discipleship

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Let’s take a look at 2 Timothy 2, verse by verse.

  1. One of the aims of discipleship is that you will be what? (2 Timothy 2:1)
  2. A part of the mission of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:2)
  3. A part of the commitment of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:3)
  4. The focus of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:4)
  5. The discipline of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:5)
  6. The teacher in discipleship is whom? (2 Timothy 2:7)
  7. The foundation of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:8)
  8. The potency of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:9)
  9. The fruit and ultimate reason for discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:10)
  10. The challenge of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:15)
  11. The secret of individual usefulness in discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
  12. The finished product of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:21)
  13. The essential nature of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:24-25)
  14. One part of the ministry of discipleship is what? (2 Timothy 2:26)

QUESTIONS FOR DIGGING INTO 2 TIMOTHY 2

  1. What did Paul encourage Timothy to do with what he had been taught? (2 Timothy 2:2)
  2. How was Timothy to endure hardship? (2 Timothy 2:3)
  3. How does a soldier limit himself? Why? (2 Timothy 2:4)
  4. What must an athlete do in order to win? (2 Timothy 2:5)
  5. What should a hardworking farmer receive? Why? (2 Timothy 2:6)
  6. What was Paul’s gospel? (2 Timothy 2:8)
  7. Why was Paul willing to endure anything? (2 Timothy 2:10)
  8. How did Paul encourage Timothy? (2 Timothy 2:11–13)
  9. What “trustworthy saying” did Paul leave with Timothy to encourage him? (2 Timothy 2:11–13)
  10. What results from quarreling about words? (2 Timothy 2:14)
  11. How did Paul encourage Timothy to present himself before God? (2 Timothy 2:15)
  12. Why should we avoid godless chatter? (2 Timothy 2:16)
  13. What had Hymenaeus and Philetus done? (2 Timothy 2:17–18)
  14. What must everyone who confesses the name of the Lord do? (2 Timothy 2:19)
  15. What sort of articles are found in a large house? (2 Timothy 2:20)
  16. How could someone become an instrument used for noble purposes? (2 Timothy 2:21)
  17. What was Timothy encouraged to flee? (2 Timothy 2:22)
  18. What was Timothy encouraged to pursue? (2 Timothy 2:22)
  19. What produces quarrels? (2 Timothy 2:23)
  20. What must the Lord’s servant do and avoid? (2 Timothy 2:24)
  21. How should we deal with those who oppose the Lord’s servants? Why? (2 Timothy 2:25)
  22. What did Paul hope would happen to those who opposed the Lord’s servant? (2 Timothy 2:25–26)

SEEKING APPLICATION OF 2 TIMOTHY 2

  1. What or whose pattern of sound teaching are you following?
  2. When have you felt abandoned by a friend?
  3. When have you been refreshed by another believer?
  4. What example do the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer set for us?
  5. How should God’s faithfulness affect our commitment to Christ?
  6. About what sorts of things do we get into senseless arguments with other Christians?
  7. What does it mean to be approved by God?
  8. How can we please God with our work?
  9. What circumstances make you feel ashamed or embarrassed?
  10. When are you tempted to engage in godless chatter or stupid arguments?
  11. What false doctrines have destroyed the faith of someone you know?
  12. How can we cleanse ourselves from insignificant pursuits?
  13. What evil desires of youth continually tempt us?
  14. How do we usually deal with people who oppose us?
  15. How should we deal with people who oppose us?
  16. In what way have people in society today been taken captive by the devil?

Praying in Faith

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God provides guidance in making decisions, facing problems, and meeting needs.As you base your life on God’s Word, it will become a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). This session will help you to…

  1. Identify occasions when you have linked prayer and the Word.
  2. List three stages in making a covenant with God.
  3. Understand six conditions to praying in faith.
  4. Give examples of people who prayed in faith on the basis of a word from God.
  5. Put faith in action over a problem or need for which you need to pray.

THE DISCIPLES CROSS:

The Disciples Cross diagram shows the prominence of the discipline of prayer.

THREE STAGES IN MAKING A COVENANT:

God’s covenant with people is one of the most basic ideas of the Bible. The three stages are…

  1. God revealed his will and made a promise.
  2. The people met the conditions God laid down.
  3. The people believed God and received a blessing (the opposite was also true).

Examples in the Bible: Genesis 6:17-18, 22, 7:6-7, 12:1-4, 17:9-16, 23, Joshua 23:14, Jeremiah 34:13-16, Luke 19:12-15, 21-22, John 9:6-7

SIX STEPS TO PRAYING IN FAITH:

  1. Abide in Christ – John 15:7, James 4:3
  2. Abide in God’s Word – John 15:7, 8:31, 14:21, Job 23:10-12
  3. Allow the Holy Spirit to Lead – John 16:13-15, 14:26, 2 Peter 1:18-21, Acts 1:16-21
  4. Ask according to God’s will – John 15:7, Matthew 7:7-11, James 4:2-3
  5. Accept God’s will in faith – 1 John 5:14-15
    • Daniel 9:2-3, 16-17
    • Nehemiah 1:8-11, 2:4-5
    • Matthew 26:38-39, Isaiah 50:6, 53:2-11
  6. Act on the basis of God’s Word to you – John 9:7, Luke 17:14, 1 John 5:14-15

Truth and Faith

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Disciples constantly decide what is true. Is truth what the world tells us or what God’s Word tells us? In this session, we will explore…

  1. Our own definition of truth.
  2. Defining faith (Hebrew 11:1).
  3. Developing a plan for showing faith in action.
  4. Understanding the relationship between faith and truth.

HOW TO KNOW THE TRUTH:

  1. Read John 8:31-32 regarding truth.
    • Who is the source of truth?
    • What happens when we know the truth?
    • Apparently we can be disciples through obedience, and then we can be set free!
  2. Truth is God’s revelation of himself to us, most recently in the incarnation.
    • What does the truth do for you? (John 8:32)
    • From what are you set free? (Romans 6:17-18)
  3. Who is the source of lies? (John 8:44) The opposite of truth is error, which the world constantly does all around us; twisting God’s truth into something that he has not said nor intended to communicate (often pulling things out of context, or claiming that the Bible SAYS this, but never asking, “Is that what that passage MEANS”?
    • The physical person makes decision based on the world around them.
    • The spiritual person bring into the conversation, “What does God have to say about this?”
  4. Followers of Jesus must develop a biblical worldview, discerning truth from error (John 16:13).
    • Slavery is certainly biblical (it’s in there and apparently a common practice).
    • But is slavery RIGHT to embrace? (certainly not).
  5. What does Paul write about truth? (2 Timothy 2:15)

TRUTH LEADS TO FAITH:

  1. Once truth is discerned, now we have something into which we may put our faith.
    • Faith is not believing something you find hard to believe, or something that is not true.
    • Faith is not blind allegiance that hopes something is true.
    • Biblical faith is grounded in truth. Truth is found in God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
  2. Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1a.
    • Substance can be translated as assurance.
    • Believing God’s promises as something that is as good as done, even if we cannot see it in our present situation or experience.
  3. Jesus and the lame man (John 5:2-9).
    • Jesus’ promise of healing was a reality waiting to be claimed.
    • The basis of his healing was faith in God’s Word.
  4. Faith is further defined in Hebrews 11:1b.
    • The word evidence refers to conviction.
    • Believe may be something you hold, but conviction is something that holds you.
    • A conviction is what you hold so strongly that no one can easily talk you out of it.
      • A Mormon missionary tells you about another testament of Jesus Christ.
      • A progressive church tells you there are more ways to God than what’s found in the Bible.
  5. Many persons of the Old Testament are affirmed in the their faith, embracing the promises of God but never seeing them fulfilled in their day. They are listed in Hebrews 11 because of what they thought or believed, but for their action (Hebrews 11:13).
    • Able worshiped
    • Enoch walked
    • Noah worked
    • Abraham went
    • Sarah wondered
  6. Faith is not so much intellectual belief or an emotional response, it is acting upon the reveal word and will of God.
    • Ephesians 2:8-9
    • Galatians 2:20
    • 2 Corinthians 5:7
    • Matthew 21:22
    • Hebrews 11:3
  7. Faith in action uses God’s Word to know and do God’s will in God’s ways.
    • How are we going to commit to acting in faith?
    • Once you know what is to be done, your lifestyle will be to walk in faith; to live it out.

Live Victoriously

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Jesus was victorious when he rose from the dead and we are promised to share in that victory (1 John 5:4-5). A victorious Christian life is a Spirit-filled life. This session will…

  1. Explain how the disciple’s personality can be used to bring defeat of achieve victory.
  2. Express how Jesus has assured victory for his disciples.
  3. Evaluate the degree to which I am living this victorious Christian life.

THE WAR WITHIN:

The natural man is made in the image of God, his moral law is stamped into his being, yet in our fallen state we sense the tension to live for God or be driven by our fleshly desires (Romans 7:19-24).

  1. What did Paul write about the carnal mind? (Romans 8:6-8)
  2. While not perfect, we must crucify the flesh that constantly fights the Spirit within.
  3. How does Paul explain how a servant of sin can be made free from sin? (Romans 6:17-18)
  4. Satan has weapons in at his disposal:
    • Galatians 5:17
    • 1 John 2:15
    • 1 Peter 5:8
  5. When we entertain the flesh and give in to temptation, John Claypool used to say that we are playing the lower end of our keyboard.

VICTORY IN JESUS:

  1. What has Jesus done to secure our victory over the forces that fight against the Spirit of God within us?
    • Romans 8:3
    • John 16:33
    • 1 John 3:8
  2. To resist temptation, John Piper once said that he pictured Jesus hanging hanging on the cross, so how can we follow through with our own desires when Jesus has done so much to set us free?
    • Hebrews 9:26
    • Romans 6:11
    • 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
    • 1 John 1:7
  3. The victory of Jesus can be ours (Galatians 2:20). Death to a life of defeat at the hands of the world, the flesh, and the devil produces a life that is victorious over these three powerful enemies.
  4. How is this victory experienced in the middle of a current struggle?
    • Sin begins with temptation (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)
    • Sin is never to strong to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13)
    • Sin can be overcome with prayer (it’s hard to sin while we’re talking with God – Matthew 26:41)
    • Sin is evil thoughts and desire running through one’s mind (Matthew 5:27-28)
      • The carnal Christian “window shops” our sin. The devil comes to the door and invite him in.
      • The Spiritual Christian has a warning when sin approaches (2 Timothy 2:22)
  5. What are we to do after we have failed? (1 John 1:9-10)
  6. Those who suffer with Christ will one day reign with him in the future (2 Timothy 2:11-12)
  7. What step must you take to embrace the victory you already have available to you?

Be Filled With the Spirit

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God wants your personality to be filled and overflowing with his Spirit, so here is the purpose of this session, to be able to…

  1. Explain the relationship between God’s Spirit and the human spirit.
  2. List Four facts about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
  3. Identify two purposes for being filled with the Spirit, and the way God accomplishes each purpose.
  4. Give steps to being filled with the Spirit.

WE ARE SPIRIT AS WELL AS BODY AND SOUL:

  1. As spirit, you are able to be aware of yourself and to fellowship and work with God. Why do humans understand the things of man? (1 Corinthians 2:11)
  2. What relationship with God does the Holy Spirit bear witness to through our human spirit? (Romans 8:16)
  3. Not only does the Spirit work in you to do his will, but gives you the desire to accomplish his will (Philippians 2:13)
  4. Who has received the Spirit? (Romans 8:9)
  5. The Spirit gives you the capacity to be aware of yourself, you can fellowship with God, and you can work to accomplish his purposes.
  6. Human spirit and the divine Spirit are two different things. God’s Spirit enters your personality through your human spirit. You allow him to enter in or may shut him out (Revelation 3:20). Opening the door brings peace to your soul.
  7. If the Spirit is not in control (filling the disciple) this person has an “I problem” as a natural man. The Spirit does not invade a person but must be allowed in.
  8. What does God do to your personality? (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

GOD’S WILL MEANS SURRENDER AND CONTROL:

  1. What does Ephesians 5:18 tell you?
  2. What does it mean to BE filled?
    • Passive voice – something that is done to us, we can’t do it to ourselves.
    • Present tense – you are being filled right now.
    • Continuous action – you are to keep on being filled, it’s not a one-time experience.
    • Imperative mood – it is a command to be filled.
  3. What does John 3:34 tell you about Jesus?
  4. What are the results of being filled?
    • Ephesians 5:19
    • Ephesians 5:20
  5. God has a double purpose for us being filled.
    • God wants to develop Christ-like character in your personality (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
    • God wants to empower you to do his work in the world (Acts 1:8, 4:31)
  6. God growing fruit of the Spirit into your life (building up your character)…
    • Galatians 5:22-23
    • 2 Peter 1:5-8
  7. If God empowers you for his work, how has he gifted you?
    • Romans 12:6-8
    • 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
  8. Jesus said his followers will be channels of living water to the lost (John 7:37-39)
  9. How to be controlled by the Holy Spirit:
    • Confess known sin (1 John 1:9)
    • Present every member of your body to be a righteous instrument in God’s hands (Romans 12:1)
    • Ask God to fill, control, and empower you (Luke 11:13)
  10. What are you next steps to allow God full control? Pray Ephesians 5:19-20 for the gift of his fullness.

Master Your Emotions

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Hedonism tells us that our emotions are our master, but for followers of Jesus, we have dethroned everything else and have exalted Christ to the number one slot. In this session, we will be able to…

  1. Define emotions.
  2. Relate your emotions to your values.
  3. Develop a plan to deal with your emotions.
  4. Apply the plan of action to an emotional experience.

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?

  1. Emotions are essential to the human experience. Even Jesus had emotions: Mark 1:35, John 13:34, 11:35, 17:13.
  2. Emotions are spontaneous responses to our values and beliefs that have been affirmed or challenged.
    • Read Matthew 21:12-13 as an example of the emotions of Jesus and the religious leaders (money changers in the temple).
    • Read Matthew 21:14-16 (the blind and lame man at the temple).
    • Read Luke 10:30-37, (the Levites versus the Samaritan).
    • If you can discern what makes you mad, or sad, or glad, you can know you true values.
      • A carnal Christian places their values on a self-centered life.
      • A committed Christian places their values on a Christ-centered life.
  3. Emotions of jealousy and strife in Christians is called what by Paul? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) Spiritual Christians have strong emotions but are under the control of Christ.

A COURSE OF ACTION:

A = Acknowledge the Emotion – denial or suppression of emotion is not helpful. Read Matthew 26:37-38) What is the first think Jesus did about his emotional grief and distress?

C = Consider the Source – why are you experiencing this emotion? Sometimes it is a trigger from a past experience, even if that thought is deep in your subconscious mind.

T = Thank God That He Will Help You Master Your Emotions – Perhaps you cannot identify the cause of your emotion, so talk to a trusted friend and be sure to pray about it.

  1. David took a series of steps (Psalm 42)
  2. When are we to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18
  3. Why can we give thanks? (Romans 8:28)
  4. How did Paul and Silas prevent their situation from producing negative emotions? (Acts 16:25)

I = Identify the Proper Biblical Response – We are responsible for how we respond to what triggers us.

  1. Hate (Luke 6:27-28)
  2. Anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7)
  3. Joy (Philippians 4:4)
  4. Anger (Ephesians 4:25-26, 31-32)
  5. Envy (1 Peter 2:1, 1 Corinthians 13:4)

O = Obey the Leading of the Spirit – Do not obey your emotions, but let the Spirit lead you regarding your mind, will, and emotions. People don’t make us behave a certain way, but we choose to react in a positive or negative way. Responding in love is not an emotion but an action (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

N = Nurture the Fruit of the Spirit – Each is a stable trait of character, developed by a close relationship with Christ through the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)

How might you apply these steps of action for these extreme emotions?

  1. Loneliness
  2. Anger
  3. Lust
  4. Anxiety
  5. Revenge
  6. Depression
  7. Grief
  8. Greed
  9. Forgiving someone of something like betrayal