Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

God, Our Reliance

Series Title is I-Am Tunes (The logo used in worship let you know that this is a knockoff of Apple’s Itunes)

2008 May 4

Dr. Les Hughes, Senior Pastor

Focus Scripture: Phil. 3:7-11

Meeting Schedule

1. Fellowship time & snacks

2. Share prayer requests

3. Pray (taking turns with short sentence prayers is good if group members are comfortable).

4. Begin the lesson.

a. Share the title (above)

b. Ask the Opening Question

c. Follow the guide, reading the Scripture and asking the questions.

Opening Question

What do you think is the foundation of most people’s lives?

(New groups: Share your name and….question above.)

Focus Passage: Philippians 3:7-11

(As you read the passage, remind the group that this was written by Paul from a prison cell.)

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Digging for Truth

1. Distribute copies of the song “In Christ Alone.” Have members read the song. What similarities do you see in today’s scripture and verse one of “In Christ Alone”?

2. If you could choose one phrase of the song to be true for you, what would it be?

3. 2 Cor 4:8-9 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” What causes the most “pressure” on you at this point in your life? What hope does this verse provide?

4. 1 Cor 3:12-15 tells us, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

How do we as believers build our foundation on Christ so that we will survive the pressures of life?

5. You don’t have to answer this one out loud, but Pastor Les said that our foundation shouldn’t be job, family, or other substitutes. Are you guilty of building a foundation on something other than Christ?

You can answer this one out loud. If we have built our foundation on something else, how do we transfer to a foundation in Christ? (The answer may end up being the same as #4.)

6. Col 3:2-4 tells us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

What does it mean when it says “you died”? How do we accomplish that?

7. Les said that “Jesus paid the debt of my sin, therefore I don’t have to live in guilt.” People all over the world make the mistake of depending on themselves to be right with God. We try to work our way to heaven. What does the following verse say about being justified by our own efforts?

“Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.” Galatians 2:16

If you have depended on yourself for righteousness, stop today and accept what Jesus has done for you! (You may come back to this at the end of the lesson.)

8. Sometimes we carry around guilt and therefore keep punishing ourselves for our sin. That is another way of saying “What Christ did is not enough!” It doesn’t please God when we continue to beat ourselves up over sin. How can we accept the forgiveness of God and move on with thanksgiving?

Focus on the second verse of the song. It reminds us that the wrath of God was satisfied.

9. Les told a story about a young boy who killed his gradmom’s rooster with a slingshot. His sister saw him and made him promise to do anything she said and in exchange she wouldn’t tell on him. He became her slave until he couldn’t take it anymore. The grandmom knew all the time and forgave him when he confessed. Are we being slaves and carrying around guilt like this? God wants us to be free.

10. Les said, “Jesus defeated death, therefore my life is changed.” How does our life look different from others because of our reliance on Christ for the forgiveness of sin?

Closing Thought

God desires that we confess our sin and rely fully upon Him. He knows our lives. He sent Christ to die for us so that our sin doesn’t cause separation. We need to live like we are forgiven.

Application

As a result of today’s lesson, what does God want you to give to Him?

What can you do this week to reflect reliance on Christ in your life?

Handout: Feature Song

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.