discipleship series - book two

DISCIPLESHIP

SERIES

Grow In The Lord

by Pastor Phtl Ballniaier

•• OK TWO

CALVARY CHAPEL

DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

WALKING WITH GOD

DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO – Walking With God

TABLE OF CONTENTS Book Two Intro Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness The Love of God ............................................................... 1 The Acceptance of God .................................................... 6 The Forgiveness of God .................................................... 7

Memory Verses .............................................................. 11 Notes ........................................................................... 12 Communicating With God The Essentials of Prayer ................................................. 15 What is prayer? ........................................................ 15 Why should we pray? ............................................... 16

Guidelines for Prayer...................................................... 22 Memory Verses .............................................................. 25 Notes ........................................................................... 27

Worship

The Definition Of Worship .............................................. 31 What Biblical Worship Is Not .................................... 31 What Biblical Worship Is ........................................... 32

The Importance of Worship............................................ 36 The Object of Worship ................................................... 36 The Act of Worship ........................................................ 37 Unacceptable Worship ................................................... 38 Acceptable Worship ....................................................... 43

Conclusion ..................................................................... 45 Memory Verses .............................................................. 46 Notes ........................................................................... 47

DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO – Walking With God

TABLE OF CONTENTS Knowing The Will of God

Knowing God’s Will — For Every Believer ....................... 49 Knowing God’s Will in My Life ........................................ 53 Keeping the Channels Clear ............................................ 55 Questions For Discernment ............................................ 57 Memory Verses .............................................................. 58 Notes ........................................................................... 59

Trials and Suffering The Presence of Trials in the World ................................ 62 The Purpose of Trials in Our Life ..................................... 66 Memory Verses .............................................................. 73 Notes ........................................................................... 75

Congratulations on completing Book One! You have learned the basics of your new faith. Book Two in the Calvary Discipleship Series will help you to draw close to God. A close personal walk with God is something that needs to be cultivated everyday.

In this booklet you will learn five new lessons that are designed to enrich your relationship with the Lord. They are:

1. Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness

2. Communicating with God

3. Worship

4. Knowing the Will of God

5. Trials and Suffering

May the grace of the Lord continue to be with you as you walk with Him.

Have questions? Interested in the next Book in our Discipleship Series?

Feel free to contact us via our website at: www.ccelkgrove.com

Or call the church office at: (847) 895-3545

http://www.ccelkgrove.com/

DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER ONE

LOVE, ACCEPTANCE

and FORGIVENESS

DISCIPLESHIP SERIES – BOOK TWO 1

LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, and FORGIVENESS These are three things that are a necessity, for life to have meaning and purpose. Without them life becomes unbearable and unlivable. However, our greatest need for these isn’t from other human beings, but from God. Many people, because of all the sins they have committed and all the people they have hurt, find it hard to believe that God does love them, can accept them, and wants to forgive them regardless of what they have done. If we are ever going to grow in our walk with God, we must come to understand and believe in the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God for His children. THE LOVE OF GOD Love is a word that is used quite often in the English language, for example:

“I love my wife”

“I love my dog” or

“I love hot fudge sundaes” In no way do we love all three equally as much, it’s just that the English language is limited in the expression of the concept of love. The Greek language is much more precise (the New Testament was written in Greek). There are three different words, used in the New Testament, in the Greek for love. ‘EROS’ focuses on sexual desire (lust); ‘PHILEO’ focuses on brotherly love (affection); and ‘AGAPE’ is used to express a deep, abiding, longsuffering, unconditional love toward an unworthy object. Agape love is used in the Bible of God’s love for us.


“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16 “God is love.” It’s not that God just has a lot of love, He is love! He is the very source of all love. What do the following verses tell us about God’s love? Ephesians 2:4

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Jeremiah 31:3

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Jonah 4:2

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Hosea 14:4

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Hebrews 12:6 ______________________________________________________

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We read in the Old Testament that the Israelites were disobedient people, yet God delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. Why? (see Deuteronomy 4:37) ______________________________________________________

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What does the Bible say about God’s love for you? 2 Thessalonians 2:16 ______________________________________________________

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Titus 3:4-5 ______________________________________________________

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Write out John 3:16 but personalize it emphasizing God’s love for you personally. “For God so loved me… ______________________________________________________

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How did God demonstrate His great love for us? Romans 5:8

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Can anything ever separate us from the love of God? Romans 8:35-39 ______________________________________________________

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According to Jesus, what is the greatest expression of love? John 15:13 ______________________________________________________

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Why do we love God? 1 John 4:19

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How are we to love God in return? Matthew 22: 37

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Read John 14:15 and 1 John 2:3-5 and describe how our love for God is outwardly demonstrated in our daily lives. ______________________________________________________

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What does the Bible tell us about those who love the things of the world? 1 John 2:15 ______________________________________________________

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According to 1 John 3:16 and 4:10-11, what should our response be to others in the light of God’s love for us? ______________________________________________________

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What did Jesus say was the distinguishing mark of a disciple of Christ? John 13:35 ______________________________________________________

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1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives the definition of AGAPE love. Write out theses verses and meditate on what they are saying.

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THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOD In John 4:1-26 there is a story of an immoral woman who was a social outcast. Read the story carefully and describe how Jesus dealt with her. Did He condemn her or did He reach out to her? ______________________________________________________

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In John 8:1-11 there is another account of a woman caught in the act of adultery. Explain Jesus’ attitude toward her? ______________________________________________________

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What do you think is God’s attitude toward you regardless of what you’ve done? Matthew 11:28-30

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and Jeremiah 29:11-13

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“Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” St. Augustine What did Jesus promise those who desired to come to Him? John 6:37 ______________________________________________________

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Ephesians 1:6 tells us why God can accept us, because of Who?

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THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD A small classified ad ran in the local newspaper:

That night, dozens of young men named Johnny appeared in the town square to meet one puzzled father.


How many people suffer daily under the burden of guilt, needing to hear the word, “forgiven”? When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Heavenly Father sent us a message in His Word “All is forgiven!” Is God really willing to forgive us our sins? Write out Psalm 86:5 ______________________________________________________

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According to 1 John 1:9 what is required on our part for God to forgive us? ______________________________________________________

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According to Hebrews 9:22 what is essential for sin to be forgiven? ______________________________________________________

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What did John the Baptist refer to Jesus as? John 1:29

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How does Isaiah 53:6 describe us and what the Lord did for us?

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On whose account does God forgive us our sins? Ephesians 1:7 ______________________________________________________

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According to Colossians 2:13-14 how many of our sins did Jesus die to take away? ______________________________________________________

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Jesus took our sins and died in our place, what did we receive in return when we put our faith in Him? 2 Corinthians 5:21 ______________________________________________________

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Will God hold those sins against us ever again? Isaiah 43:25 ______________________________________________________

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As believers in Jesus Christ will we ever be judged for our sins? John 5:24; Romans 8:1 ______________________________________________________

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What did David say is the result of having our sins forgiven? Psalm 32:1-2 ______________________________________________________

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Since God has been so gracious in forgiving our sins, what has He commanded us to do towards those who have sinned against us? Ephesians 4:31-32 ______________________________________________________

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Read Mark 11:25-26 and Matthew 18:21-35 and contemplate the seriousness of an unforgiving heart. Write down your thoughts. ______________________________________________________

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MEMORY VERSES 1 John 4:16 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 22:37 ______________________________________________________

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1 John 3:16 ______________________________________________________

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Psalm 86:5 ______________________________________________________

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1 John 1:9 ______________________________________________________

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NOTES

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DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER TWO

COMMUNICATING WITH GOD


COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

“Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” Allen E. Bartlett

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

THE ESSENTIALS OF PRAYER

What is prayer? Prayer is very simply talking to God. It is communicating with your Heavenly Father. The concept of prayer is profoundly simple and yet it is at the same time simply profound to think that we can talk to the God of the universe! Why should we pray? Matthew 26:41 ______________________________________________________

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Luke 18:1 ______________________________________________________

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James 4:2


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Psalm 34:6 ______________________________________________________

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James 5:16 ______________________________________________________

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1 Samuel 12:23 ______________________________________________________

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When should we pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ______________________________________________________

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1 Thessalonians 3:10 ______________________________________________________

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Psalm 61:2 ______________________________________________________

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Hebrews 4:16 ______________________________________________________

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Who are we to direct our prayers to? John 16:23; ______________________________________________________

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Luke 11:1-4 ______________________________________________________

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When we have a need, what should our attitude be when we come to our Father in prayer? Hebrews 4:16 ______________________________________________________

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Where should we pray? 1 Corinthians 1:2 ______________________________________________________

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Luke 19:46 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 6:6 ______________________________________________________

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What should we pray for? Philippians 4:6 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 6:10 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 9:38 ______________________________________________________

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2 Thessalonians 3:1 ______________________________________________________

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James 5:13-16 ______________________________________________________

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Ephesians 3:14-19 ______________________________________________________

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How should we pray? What did Jesus say was the wrong way to pray? Matthew 6:5 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 6:7 ______________________________________________________

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Jesus taught His disciples how to pray properly. What did He say? Read Matt. 6:9-13 ______________________________________________________

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What are the God-centered requests in this prayer? ______________________________________________________

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What are the personal requests? ______________________________________________________

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Why do you think Jesus used this order? ______________________________________________________

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How did Jesus begin each new day? Mark 1:35 ______________________________________________________

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What is one reason that the Lord wants to give us what we pray for? John 16:24 ______________________________________________________

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How can we pray so that we will be sure God will answer our prayers? 1 John 5:14-15 ______________________________________________________

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When we don’t know what God’s will is or how we should pray about something, who will intercede for us? Romans 8:26-27 ______________________________________________________

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What happens when we pray for something in the will of God in the name of Jesus? John 16:23 ______________________________________________________

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To ask “In the name of Jesus” means to come to the Father based on the righteousness and finished work of Jesus, not on our own righteousness or merits. It also means that we are asking for things that are consistent with Jesus’ character, things that He would be asking for Himself if He were here physically with us.

What three words describe what we need to do to receive good gifts from our Heavenly Father? Matthew 7:7-12 ______________________________________________________

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Verse 7 in the Greek could better be translated “fervently keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking.” In other words, be persistent! Read the parable of persistent prayer in Luke 18:1-8 Sometimes God answers prayer with “WAIT!” If we believe our prayers are in accordance with God’s will and He doesn’t answer with a definite “yes” or “no”, we should be patient and wait for His answer. Keep asking! The Lord not only has the perfect answer, He has the perfect time to give His answer.

Read these verses and write down what will hinder our prayers from being answered.

1 Peter 3:7

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James 4:3

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Isaiah 59:2

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James 1:6-7

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Luke 18:9-14

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Proverbs 28:9

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GUIDELINES FOR PRAYER

In our communication with God there are so many things for us to talk about with Him. We can and should pray to Him at all times (Psalm 119:169; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). There is no requirement to be standing, sitting, kneeling, or having your eyes closed.


The most important aspect of prayer is to involve God in your whole life by praying to Him at all times and for all things. The following is a helpful guideline to use for prayer.

A doration

C onfession

T hanksgiving

S upplication

Many Christians have found the acronym ACTS helpful in prayer. The letters stand for: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (requests). First find a place free from noise and distractions. Take a few minutes to quiet your heart and focus your thoughts on God. Begin to praise and worship the Lord for Who He is and what He has done (in the work of creation and in the work of redemption etc.).

This helps to put things into perspective—He is so awesome and powerful, there is nothing to hard for Him! As we begin to praise Him for Who He is, we begin to see ourselves for who we are. We are brought face to face with our own faults, failures, and inadequacies. This then naturally leads us to a time of confession, where we pour out our hearts to God, confessing our sins, repenting, and asking for His forgiveness. The result is thanksgiving for His grace, goodness and mercy to us! This brings to mind other blessings that God has graciously given to us that cause us to further thank and praise Him. Finally, as the Holy Spirit leads us, we can begin to bring our requests to Him, asking Him to supply our needs and the needs of others.

Keep a prayer journal, record your prayer requests and the answers that the Lord gives you. This will help you to remember how good God has been to you in answering your prayers. It will


also allow your praise and thanksgiving to remain fresh and continual.

When should I pray?

Whenever you so desire! Many have found the morning, before they begin their daily routines, to be the most beneficial time of the day to pray. Many of the Psalms encourage this. Others have found that nighttime may be more suitable for them. There is no right or wrong time to pray—just as long as you make the time to do it! Don’t feel guilty if you miss your prayer time, God wants prayer to be a joy, not an obligation. Consistency comes with growth, practice, and maturity so hang in there! Ask God for the grace to be faithful.

How should I start?

Ten to fifteen minutes is probably a realistic time period to begin with. Your prayer times will lengthen naturally the more you pray, so don’t get legalistic about a time period. It’s not the length of your prayers that God is concerned about, but the love and sincerity with which you pray. This is what pleases Him.

Who should I pray for?

Make a “TEN MOST WANTED” list. Write down the names of those you most want to see saved, and then pray everyday for them. Keep the list in your Bible or with you to remind you to pray. As they get saved, replace their name with someone else’s.

In your prayer journal keep a list of other people and things to pray for. Such as other family members, co-workers, neighbors, friends, Pastors and church members, Governmental authorities, Missionaries and Christian workers, personal needs, etc. Don’t forget to record God’s answers to your prayers.


“The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great effect.” James 5:16

MEMORY VERSES

James 5:16

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Philippians 4:6-7

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Matthew 7:7-8

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1 John 5:14-15

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Matthew 6:9-13

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1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

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DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER THREE

WORSHIP


WORSHIP There are various opinions among Christians as to the reason God created us and the purpose for which He redeemed us. Most believe He saved us to keep us from going to hell. Others simply believe it was because God is love and desires to share His love with others. Of course, both of these are true and yet neither really gets into the primary reason for God creating and saving us. If the primary reason God redeemed us was to keep us from going to hell, then logic would indicate that not creating us at all would have been the best solution. Seeing that Jesus said that the way to destruction was broad and many would travel its path into hell. While narrow is the way that leads to life (eternal) and only a few would find it. And certainly God’s love is the basis upon which everything God does is built. But the primary reason for which God created and redeemed us was so that we, in turn, would worship Him. Everything else is secondary. This was expressed in what Jesus said:

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

John 4:23 This is the purpose for which God created us; the purpose for which He redeemed us, and this is the passion of His heart, that we would worship Him! That makes worship the ultimate priority of the Christian life. Let’s see what biblical worship is all about.


THE DEFINITION OF WORSHIP What Biblical Worship Is Not 1. Music and Singing

While it’s true that music and singing can accompany worship and be a beautiful part of it, these by themselves are not worship. During a time of sin and idolatry in Israel’s history as they continued their “worship” of God, the Lord said:

“Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.” Amos 5:23

Jesus rebuked the hypocritical religious teachers of Israel when He said:

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they do worship Me…” Matthew 15:8-9

As we can see from these verses, music and singing without the proper heart attitude does not constitute acceptable worship in God’s eyes.

2. Emotionalism

Some people see emotionalism as proof that worship is taking place. Certain kinds of worship music because of the beautiful melodies and lyrics give them a rush of emotion; they get goose bumps and perhaps shed a few tears, which makes them feel as though they are worshiping God.


But the fact is that the same style or mood of music with words that are totally unrelated to God could produce in us the same kind of emotional response (certain secular love songs, etc.) Emotionalism by itself is not worship either. While it’s true that many times our worship of God will be done through music and singing and when we are truly worshiping the Lord we might experience a rush of emotion accompanied by tears. These by themselves are not true spiritual worship.

What Biblical Worship Is 1. Reverence

The common Greek word translated “worship” in the New Testament is “proskueno.” This word literally means “to kiss toward.” It came from the ancient custom of kissing the hand of a superior such as a king. It also carried with it the idea of bowing down before a superior being with a sense of respect, reverence, awe, and homage.

In the Christian context we have applied this principle into our relationship with God. We bow before God giving Him honor, respect, adoration, and the glory due His awesome name. He is God and therefore deserves our worship!

2. Sacrifice

The first place in the Bible where the word “worship” appears is in Genesis 22:5. Look at the context carefully and describe what it is associated with?


Write out Romans 12:1. ___________________________________________________

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The phrase “reasonable service” (NKJV) in the Greek literally means “spiritual worship.” Paul the Apostle is telling us that true spiritual worship occurs as we give God our whole life as a living sacrifice to be used by Him for His glory. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (NIV)

3. Praise

What are we commanded to do in Hebrews 13:15? Write out the verse. ___________________________________________________

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What does Colossians 3:16 tell us about what kind of praise to lift to God? ___________________________________________________

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Psalm 150 commands us to praise the Lord:

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”For” (verse 2) ___________________________________________________

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According to verse 6 who should praise the Lord? ___________________________________________________

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4. Giving

In Philippians 4:17-18 what did Paul call the gift of money the church of Philippi sent to him? ___________________________________________________

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What did David say about the worship of giving? 2 Samuel 24:24-25 ___________________________________________________

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Read Luke 21:1-4 and describe in your own words what Jesus is teaching about giving to God. ___________________________________________________

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5. Converts

In Romans 15:16 what did Paul call his Gentile converts to Christ? ___________________________________________________

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When Paul said “I am offering up the Gentiles as an offering to God that is acceptable”, he was saying that he saw the converts he had won to Christ as a form of worship to God.

6. Loving the Body of Christ

Read Romans 14:14-23 and describe briefly what the passage is saying. ___________________________________________________

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The word “serves” in verse 18 is the Greek word “latreo” which is translated often in the N.T. as “worship”. Paul is saying that if we treat our family in Christ with love by putting their needs above our own that this is a form of acceptable worship well pleasing to God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP 1. It is the Father’s Desire—John 4:23 2. It is the Greatest Commandment—Matthew 22:37-38 3. It is Our Eternal Purpose as God’s Children—Revelation 5:9-14 THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP Without the proper understanding of God from His Word we will never be able to worship Him acceptably. In Hosea 6:6 the Lord said:


“I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

This statement elevates the knowledge of God to a position of supreme importance. It means that true worship does not consist in externals like sacrifices, burnt offerings and other outward rituals. True worship is grounded in the crucial matter of knowing and loving the true God. More than God desires the outward acts or rituals that many consider to be worship, He desires that we know Him. The knowledge of the true God provides the intimacy of acceptable worship.

“The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” A.W. Tozer

Note: For further study on the Person of God reference “God the Father” in Book One, “Learning the Basics”.

THE ACT OF WORSHIP When it comes to worship there are only two kinds:

acceptable and

unacceptable worship


God must be worshiped on His terms. To offer up to God self-styled forms of worship that are contrary to the guidelines He has laid down in His Word is to offer Him unacceptable worship. Unacceptable Worship 1. The Worship of False Gods

Read these verses and describe what God says to us about Himself and worship.

Isaiah 44:6 ___________________________________________________

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Exodus 34:14 ___________________________________________________

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The following verses talk about some of the gods that people worship. What are they?

Romans 1:25 ___________________________________________________

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Job 31:24-25, 28 ___________________________________________________

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Philippians 3:19 ___________________________________________________

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James 5:5 ___________________________________________________

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1 Corinthians 10:19-20 ___________________________________________________

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2. The Worship of the True God in an Unacceptable Manner

In His Word, God has given us very explicit instructions on how He is to be properly worshipped. In His Word God has forbidden us to reduce Him to an image, which we then bow down, and worship as God.


Read Exodus 32:1-10 and explain why the Lord got so angry with what the children of Israel were doing. ___________________________________________________

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When the children of Israel said, “This is your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (verse 8) they were saying that the golden calf was their representation of Jehovah God. They had reduced God to an image. Israel was not worshiping a false god; they were worshiping the true God in an unacceptable manner.

What does the Word of God teach us with regard to this kind of thing?

Deuteronomy 4:15-19 ___________________________________________________

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Read Isaiah 40:18-26 and describe in your own words why God feels so strongly against us reducing Him to an image in our worship. ___________________________________________________

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In John 4:24 what did Jesus say that God is? ___________________________________________________

In the light of Psalm 139:7-10 do you think that reducing God to an image limits our perception of His greatness and makes Him less than He really is? _____________________________

Why? ___________________________________________________

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Do you think that things like, statues, icons, crucifixes, medals, etc., bearing the image of God or Jesus would be appropriate for Christians to wear or have in their houses? ___________________________________________________

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3. The Worship of the True God in a Self-Styled Manner

This form of worship is not just reducing God to an image or an idol, but reducing the activity of our worship of Him to our own personal liking or definition. In other words we’re doing


our “own thing”, what we want to do, instead of what God has commanded us to do in the worship of Him.

The Jews were guilty of this. What does Romans 10:3 say about the way they tried to relate to God? ___________________________________________________

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In other words, they refused to worship God according to His guidelines and have established their own system of worship.

Can you think of any other ways that people are worshiping God in a self-styled (“do it yourself” or “homemade”) way that is unbiblical and unacceptable to Him? ___________________________________________________

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(Hint: this would include substituting religion for a relationship “with Christ”, rituals for righteousness “in Christ”, and sacraments for service “for Christ”.

4. The Worship of the True God with the Wrong Attitude

Read these verses and describe what was wrong with their attitude in the worship of God.


Malachi 1:6-14 ___________________________________________________

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Hosea 6:4-6 ___________________________________________________

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Isaiah 1:10-17 ___________________________________________________

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Matthew 15:8-9 ___________________________________________________

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Acceptable Worship Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The following verses will help define what it means to worship God in spirit and truth. Explain in your own words what God is saying.


In Spirit—John 3:1-7 ___________________________________________________

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Romans 8:9-10, 14 ___________________________________________________

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Ephesians 5:8-11 ___________________________________________________

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In Truth—John 17:17 ___________________________________________________

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Psalm 138:2 ___________________________________________________

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We can’t worship God acceptably until we’re first born of the Spirit, which means we’re saved. God only accepts worship from the redeemed. Secondly, God only accepts worship that is consistent with the truth He has revealed in His Word about Who He is and how He desires to be worshipped. CONCLUSION The true worship of God is Three Dimensional. The Outward Dimension consists of:

“Loving the Brethren” (Romans 14:18)

“Saving the Lost” (Romans 15:16) and

“Helping the Poor” (Philippians 4:18). The Inward Dimension consists of:

“Godliness” (1Timothy 2:2-3), and

“Righteousness” (Ephesians 5:8-11; Philippians 1:11). The Upward Dimension consists of:

“Praise” (Hebrews 13:15), and

“Thanksgiving” (Hebrews 13:15). To sum it up, worship that is true and acceptable to God is a way of life! It should affect every area of your life; how you think, what you say, and how you live. The Scriptures admonish us:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies (the sum total of your life) as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1


MEMORY VERSES Romans 12:1 ______________________________________________________

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John 4:24 ______________________________________________________

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Psalm 139:7-10 ______________________________________________________

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Romans 10:3 ______________________________________________________

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Hebrews 13:15 ______________________________________________________

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DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER FOUR

KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD


KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8

“…Not My will, but Yours, be done”. Jesus Christ

One of the questions that young (and even older) Christians constantly ask is, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” Knowing God’s will isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. Some Christians imagine God hiding His will on earth and then sitting in heaven saying, “You’re getting warmer, you’re getting WARMER!” while we run around frantically trying to find the will of God. When it comes to knowing God’s will you can be sure of one thing—God isn’t playing games with us! The Word of God is full of instructions, directions, admonitions and commands, all designed to tell us clearly what the will of God is for our lives. While it’s true that the Bible doesn’t give us personal information like, what job to take, or what person to marry, if we will obey what God has revealed in His Word, He will guide us in everything else that pertains to our lives. That is His promise to us.

“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23

KNOWING GOD’S WILL — FOR EVERY BELIEVER

“Earnest Christians seeking guidance often go wrong. Why is this? Often the reason is that their notion of the nature and method of divine guidance is distorted…They overlook the guidance that is ready at hand and lay themselves open to all sorts of delusions.


Their basic mistake is to think of guidance as essentially inward prompting by the Holy Spirit, apart from the written Word.” J.I. Packer

The following verses give us God’s will for every Christian’s life. It is always God’s will that you…

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

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1 Thessalonians 5:18

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1 Peter 2:13-15

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Matthew 6:33

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Matthew 7:12

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Matthew 28:19-20

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James 1:22

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Romans 12:17

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1 Peter 1:15

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As you can imagine, this list could go on for many pages. When in doubt about God’s will for your own personal life, you can be sure of one thing; it will never conflict or contradict with what He has already commanded in His Word. God never changes. The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the better we will be able to discern the will of God.


KNOWING GOD’S WILL IN MY LIFE

George Mueller, a 19th century English pastor, well-known for his walk of faith, wrote how he maintained a “heart” relationship with God and how he learned to discern God’s voice. These principles sum up what he did to discern the will of God.

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

Thus, (a) through prayer to God, (b) the study of the Word, and (c) reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What three things are we to do before God will direct our lives in His will?

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Read Joshua Chapter 9 and write down what Joshua didn’t do that allowed the enemy to deceive him?

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What does Romans 12:2 tell us to do and not to do in order to prove what the perfect will of God is for our lives?

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According to Jeremiah 29:11-13, God has great plans for our life. What do these verses tell us we must do to discover what they are?

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What does 1 John 5:14-15 tell us is essential for God to answer our prayers?

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KEEPING THE CHANNELS CLEAR

We study God’s Word; we pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as that of other wise Christians. We can then be certain God will guide us along the right paths in His time. However, to keep in close touch with God and discern His will properly, you must keep the channels of communication clear.

How did the Psalmist keep the channels clear, in Psalm 143:8?

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If we draw near to God, and are serious about doing His will, what does He promise us?

Psalm 32:8-9

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What did God say would sever the line of communication with Him? Isaiah 59:1-2

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What does God’s Word say is necessary to restore our fellowship and communication with God? 1 John 1:9

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How can the admonition in Hebrews 10:25 keep us “in line” and “on line” with God?

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Remember; seeking God daily, dealing with sin immediately, and staying accountable to other Christians will allow God to reveal His will to you. He greatly desires to be a part of your life and to do His very best for you.


The following chart presents a few questions that might help you in discerning the will of God when facing a particular decision.

Questions For Discernment

Scriptural Guidelines Yes No

Is my heart’s desire “Not my will, but yours be done?”

Will I love God and others more as a result of this?

Am I waiting patiently on God to teach me and reveal Himself to me through His Word?

Am I being completely honest with myself and others I have sought counsel from?

Will this increase my desire to win and disciple others for Christ?

Will it help me “be holy as He is holy?”

Will it help me grow in my relationship to Jesus and in my training to become more effective for Him?

Am I obeying the verses that clearly state God’s will?

“In everything give thanks…”

“Avoid sexual immorality…”

“Do everything for the glory of God”

Has God shown me His will in some other area that I need to obey before deciding this?

Has God shown me recently in His Word something that relates to this?

Have I prayed about it?

Have I sought counsel from other mature Christians?

Do I have inner peace about making this decision?

Caution: Don’t use this as a “checklist” for finding God’s will. These are only principles to help you examine your heart and evaluate where you are in the process of seeking Him first and foremost in every area of your life, not just in trying to make a decision.


MEMORY VERSES

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Romans 12:2

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Jeremiah 29:11-13

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Psalm 143:8

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Psalm 32:8-9

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NOTES

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DISCIPLESHIP SERIES

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER FIVE

TRIALS and SUFFERING


TRIALS and SUFFERING One of the most important lessons we need to learn, as believers in Jesus Christ, is that walking with God is not always an easy thing. God has never promised His children immunity from trials and suffering. These things are a part of the Christian life.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 4:12-13 Soon after we are born again the Lord begins to test our faith. He often removes many of the emotions and feelings we have been experiencing to cause us to walk by faith and not feelings. This doesn’t mean He has deserted you, nor does it mean He has stopped loving you. God’s desire is that we grow in our walk with Him. This is a life-long process in which along the way God uses trials, struggles, and circumstances to reveal Himself and His character to us. This deepens our understanding of Him and strengthens our faith. Remember, trials can either build us or break us; they can either make us bitter or better. It all depends on how we handle them. THE PRESENCE OF TRIALS IN THE WORLD What did Jesus teach His disciples about how this world would treat them? John 16:33 ______________________________________________________

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What should be our response to these persecutions? James 1:2 ______________________________________________________

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Matthew 5:11-12 ______________________________________________________

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How should we treat those who mistreat and hurt us? ______________________________________________________

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Romans 12:19-21 ______________________________________________________

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Read Matthew 5:43-44 and write out how we are to treat our enemies. ______________________________________________________

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Why? (verse 45) ______________________________________________________

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What reason did Jesus give for this command to us? (verse 46-47) ______________________________________________________

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How should we handle adversity at work, when we’re falsely accused of doing something wrong? 1 Peter 2:18-20 ______________________________________________________

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Whose example are we to follow in this? 1 Peter 2:21-24 ______________________________________________________

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Read Job Chapters 1 and 2 and answer the following questions: Was Job a righteous man or did he deserve what he got? _____________________________________________________

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Do bad things sometimes happen to good people? ______________________________________________________

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Who was behind the suffering of Job? ______________________________________________________

Who is behind many of our sufferings? 1 Peter 5:8 ______________________________________________________

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What was Job’s response toward God in light of these things? Job 1:20-22 ______________________________________________________

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THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS IN OUR LIVES What did Job say was the purpose of God in his adversity? Job 23:10

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Peter had something similar to say about this. What did he say was the purpose of the testing of our faith? 1 Peter 1:6-7 ______________________________________________________

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What did James say was the result of our trials? James 1:2-4 ______________________________________________________


Jesus is our example, what did He learn through His sufferings? Hebrews 5:7-8 ______________________________________________________

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Write out 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ______________________________________________________

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2 Corinthians 4:17-18 tells us three things about trials:

1. They are trivial compared to the sufferings of Christ and the glory that awaits us in heaven.

2. They are temporary compared to the eternity Jesus has prepared for us.

3. They are transforming us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A classic example of how one man handled persecution and injustice in his own life was the story of Joseph. Read Genesis Chapters 37, 39-45. When Jacob finally died, Joseph’s brothers thought for sure he would take revenge on them.


What did Joseph say to them and how did he handle them? Genesis 50:15-21 ______________________________________________________

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What assurance does the Word of God give us concerning every event and circumstance that happens to us in this world? Romans 8:28 ______________________________________________________

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If all things are working together for our good what should we do in all things? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ______________________________________________________

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Why? ______________________________________________________

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How did Paul and Silas handle the persecution they received in Philippi? Acts 16:23-25 ______________________________________________________

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What do the Scriptures promise us about persecution? 2 Timothy 3:12 ______________________________________________________

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Sometimes the difficulties in our lives are the Lord dealing with us for our disobedience. He will allow trials and adversities to come upon us to chasten or discipline us.

To chasten or discipline in the Greek means to train, educate, instruct, correct, reprove, or admonish. It is a positive, loving method of eliminating evil and encouraging good. It is NOT harsh punishment.

When the Lord chastens us, He is demonstrating His relationship to us. What is that relationship? Hebrews 12:5-8 ______________________________________________________

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Why does God discipline us? Hebrews 12:6, 9-10 ______________________________________________________

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What is our Heavenly Father wanting to bring forth in our lives through discipline? Hebrews 12:11 ______________________________________________________

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Read Psalm 119:67, 71. Why did David say God’s discipline was so good in his own life? ______________________________________________________

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What did it accomplish? ______________________________________________________

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Trials and tribulations can cause us to fear and become anxious. What does God’s Word admonish us to do when these things come upon us? Philippians 4:6 ______________________________________________________

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1 Peter 5:7 ______________________________________________________

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And what did God promise us would be the result? Philippians 4:7 ______________________________________________________

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What will God do for us in the midst of our tribulations if we seek Him, and how does this equip us to help others? 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ______________________________________________________

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Read Psalm 27 carefully and meditate on what it is teaching we should do when persecution or adversity strikes. Write down some thoughts. ______________________________________________________

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MEMORY VERSES Matthew 5:10-12 ______________________________________________________

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John 16:33 ______________________________________________________

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James 1:2-4 ______________________________________________________

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discipleship series - book two

Documents

god discipleship series

love of god

acceptance of god

forgiveness of god

biblical worship

god table of contents

definition of worship

importance of worship