Category: Winning for Christ

Proverbs 20:6-7

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity – How blessed are his sons after him.”

Q: Why is the unimpaired devotion to trustworthiness essential to a healthy relationship?

Q: Where do you struggle with being trustworthy?

Proverbs 20:11

“It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself if his conduct is pure and right.”

Q: It has been said “it takes time to develop trust but can be broken by one bad decision.” Why do you think this is so true?

Psalms 119:97-98, 119:127-129

“O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.”

“Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.”

Q: How does a deep love and respect for God’s Word develop your trustworthiness?

 

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Luke 16:10

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little things is unrighteous also in much.”

Q: Jesus’ principle of “being faithful in the little things, and I will entrust you with great things” (paraphrased) is great wisdom for a trustworthy person. In your own words, what is Jesus communicating here?

Q: How does this principle speak to you about the things that you have been entrusted with today?

 

Paul

1 Timothy 1:18

“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight…”

Q: As Paul entrusted Timothy with the task of carrying the baton of faith, what is he communicating when he says, “Fight the good fight?”

 

2 Timothy 1:5

“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that is is in you as well.”

Q: What is “sincere faith,” and why is it so key to becoming a faithful believer?

 

Peter

1 Peter 1:6 & 7

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Q: How do you and God turn your trials into precious gold? How do you stay faithful in trials of all kinds?

 

Proverbs 17:12

“Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.”

Q: What does this verse declare about the severity of the practice of sin?

Psalms 32:3-4

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.”

Q: How does unconfessed sin defeat you?

Psalm 32:5

“I acknowledge my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Q: Describe confession that leads to forgiveness, repentance and victory.

 

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Proverbs 26:11 – “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

Q: What is Jesus saying about sin? How can you personally relate?

Luke 5:31

“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.’”

Mark 1:15

“…and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”

Q: If “repent” means “turn 180 degrees” and walk away, what is Jesus asking you to do today?

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Q: What does Jesus want from you today?

 

Paul

Romans 8:1-2

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Q: What is Jesus saying to you in this passage?

Hebrews 9:22

“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Q: How did Jesus obtain the forgiveness he offers you? Why was His crucifixion necessary?

 

Peter

1 Peter 1:14-16

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Q: What is your goal regarding the practice of sin?

1 Peter 1:17-19

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

Q: Describe the motivation for avoiding sin that this passage brings to your heart.

 

APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?

LOCKER ROOM: Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?

Duty is defined as “a moral obligation or responsibility.”

Proverbs 21:3

“To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.”

Q: What does it mean to you personally “to do righteousness and justice?”

Q: What are some of your standards for conduct in duty?

Psalms 37:4 & 5

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Q: What attitude turns your “duty” into your “delight?”

Q: Why does this golden attitude reap benefits and blessings from the Lord?

 

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Hebrews 12:1 & 2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Q: How does Jesus’ amazing attitude towards His duty on earth inspire you?

2 Corinthians 5:14

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines constraint as “to compel someone towards a practical course of action.

Q: “How does Jesus’ love “constrain” you to keep the moral standards you live by speaking of words you say and maintaining the attitude of Christ?

 

Paul

2 Timothy 2:2

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3 & 4

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”

Q: What is God communicating to you about your duty in this passage? What is your standard to be able to fulfill this all important duty?

2 Timothy 2:15

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Q: What is your duty in terms of your reading and acting upon the Word of God. How can you turn this duty into a delight?

 

APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today?

What changes do they bring to my life?

LOCKER ROOM:

Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?

Proverbs 10:28

“The hope of the righteous is joy,

But the expectation of the wicked perishes.”

Q: What is the hope of the righteous? What is joy?

Psalm 16:2, 4 & 11

“I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good besides You.”

“The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.”

“You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Q: What happens when people seek happiness/joy from other gods? Where do Christians find their joy?

 

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John 16:24

“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

Q: How can you receive the joy of the Lord? Why does God want to make your joy full?

Luke 15:10

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Q: Why is there such joy in Heaven when one sinner repents and gives his/her life to Christ?

 

Paul

Galatians 5:22

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

Acts 13:52

“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Q: If joy is a fruit of the Spirit, how then do you experience joy? How can you continually be filled with joy?

 

Peter

1 Peter 1:8

“…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…”

Q: How can you find “joy inexpressible” in your life? What takes away your joy?

 

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?

LOCKER ROOM:

Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?