PVBC: 40 Days Purpose Driven (Week 4) - Discipleship

Friday Night Bible Study June 30, 2010 @ 7:30pm

DISCIPLESHIP – WE ARE MADE TO BE LIKE HIM

Philippians 2:5-8 ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Memory Verse:
Philippians 2:8

How does God train you to be more Christ-like? –

Through a Partnership

GOD'S PART	OUR PART
Working IN	Working OUT
Bible	Choose to cooperate with God's plan
Holy Spirit	Depend on God's Spirit
Circumstances	Respond Christ-like to Circumstances

GOD's PART

BIBLE

2 Timothy 3:16-17
¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 10:17 ¹⁷Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ

• God's Will is ALWAYS FOUND in God's Word
  
• God's Will will NEVER CONTRADICT God's Word
  

HOLY SPIRIT

2 Peter 1:3
³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Corinthians 3:8 ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

• HOW to change – By his WORDS
  
• The POWER to change – by the HOLY SPIRT.
  

CIRCUMSTANCES

Romans 8:28-29 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

• God cares more about your CHARACTER than your COMFORT
  
• God cares more about your HOLINESS than your HAPPINESS
  

OUR PART

CHOOSE WHAT YOU THINK

Proverbs 4:23
²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Ephesians 4:23
²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

• Think à Feel à Act
  
• Begins with mind-transformation: replace old ways of thinking with God's truth by repentance
  
• Shear will power seldom last but rather create tension and stress. You're fighting to change but yet fall back to your old ways. That is because you're trying to control your own life. Change your automatic pilot in your life by letting Jesus have that seat
  

Psalm 119:9-11 ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. ¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

DEPEND ON GOD'S SPIRIT

John 15:4-5 ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

• Depend on God for everything through PRAYERS.
  

RESPOND TO CIRCUMSTANCES

James 1:2-4 ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• "You cannot change the cards that you are dealt but only how you play the hands" - from The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
  

EXERCISE:

• In what way does working out your Faith similar to the physical working out? (For me it's exhausted at first, but after I get into a habit of it, I feel good, and I get 'in shape', as in I have it together)
  
• How can we distinguish between working out our faith and not to work for our salvation?
  

  Ephesians 2:8-9
  ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.
  

  Philippians 2:12 ¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
  

• Fill out this chart below. List the 5 categories and create a plan on how to sharpen your purposeful life. (These are just my examples). I focus on the being part of myself. You can choose to focus on possibilities for projects that can help strengthen your 5 purposes for God.
  

  
  

HOW CAN I	POSIBILITIES (BE)	ACTION PLAN (DO)
WORSHIP (Live for God's Pleasure)	LIVE IN PURITY, CLEAN THOUGHTS, FEEL THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD	Keep a Book of prayers – Constant prayers, No self-indulgence
FELLOWSHIP (Deepen my relationship with others)	CHARISMATIC, ENERGETIC, KIND, HOSPITABLE	Smile, ask how people are doing and LISTEN, Mutual encouragements, honoring, and accountability.
DISCIPLESHIP (Be more Christ-like)	HUMBLE, DISCIPLINE, OBEDIENT, SUBMISSIVE	Read Bible, write notes
MINISTRY (Serve God)	ORGANIZE, WISE, MERCIFUL	Write notes, review class materials, help out with church activities
EVANGELISM (Share my faith Regularly)	CONFIDENT, BOLD, SPIRITUAL, APOLOGETIC	Toastmasters, be knowledgeable about the Bible, study it well and be equipped.