The Story, Part 1 | The Greatest Story

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

Did the person who told you about Jesus do a good job of being like Jesus?

Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.

And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 NLT

How does “Christ’s love” control you?

In what ways do you see Jesus differently than you did in the past?

How are you participating in God’s plan to reconcile the world to himself through Jesus?

Some people have to repent and turn to God from being purposefully sinful. Others have to repent and turn to God humbly from a lifestyle of trying to be a good person—with the associated pride and self-sufficiency that causes many “religious” people to reject the power of Jesus in their lives. How are you continuing to pursue humility and admit your need for Jesus?

Lord, thank you for clothing me with Jesus’ righteousness because I could not provide any goodness on my own. Help me to humbly love others and participate in your grand and loving plan of reconciling the world to yourself through Jesus’ blood!

When was a time in your life when you felt trapped? When was a time in your life when you felt the most free?

Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Galatians 3:21–29 NLT

When you followed the “law” (rule-keeping through religion or your own moral code of “being a good person”), did it develop in you the character and peace of Jesus?

What is another word for “faith” and why is it a rejection of your ability to “be a good person”?

Why is your most important role in life to be a “child of God” through faith in Christ Jesus?

Lord, thank you for not assessing me the way the world around me labels and judges me. You created me, you alone judge me according to truth, and you alone hold the key to my freedom through forgiving my sins. I struggle with accepting your unconditional love and sometimes believe I am unworthy of your grace because I feel unworthy and know I have brokenness in my life. Teach me to TRUST your word and live in your peace.

You can alter the color of some flowers by altering the PH balance in the soil. What choices do you make that directly affect your attitudes and actions?

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:17–32 NLT

What lies are you telling the people closest to you?

What in this passage directly speaks to you at this time in your life?

Did you realize you can bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live? What identity and guarantee does Paul urge you to remember so you do not bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit?

Lord, I am truly humbled by the life you have given me. Strengthen me against temptation so I can live fully in your ways!

What helps you be truly grateful?

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:1–11 NLT

What is a healthy response towards being given “undeserved privilege” from God?

Why can we rejoice when we run into problems and trials? Do you? Will you?

Take a moment to think about how when you were at your worst, that was when God loved you the most by sending Christ to die while you were a sinner. If someone were to ask, “What kind of God do you follow?” what would you say?

Paul says we will “share God’s glory” and are “friends of God.” How amazing is that?!

Lord, thank you for giving me life and forgiveness I don’t deserve, calling me to share your glory, and making me your friend. You deserve my deepest gratitude forever!

What is an amazing gift you received that was totally undeserved?

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:1–10 NLT

What is one thing that genuinely scares you in this passage?

What is one thing you are truly grateful for in this passage?

Can God point at YOU as an example of his love? Why or why not?

God gives you ultimate security before he empowers you to be ultra significant—two of the greatest needs in the human experience. If you are a Christian, God created you NEW in Christ Jesus…for what purpose? Do you realize God prepared things for you to do before you were born?

Lord, I stand in complete awe of you. You are so good to me. When you get your way, everybody wins—you are glorified, I am secure and significant, and the people I serve are empowered to know you better. You are a good God!

The Story, Part 1 | The Greatest Story

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