true spirituality A ROMANS 12 GUIDE TO LIVE AS AUTHENTIC DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST 1. In every big decision you need.

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1 true spirituality A ROMANS 12 GUIDE TO LIVE AS AUTHENTIC DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST SESSION 3 How to Give God What He Wants the Most Take It In Watch the video Introduction Risk, Reason, and the Decision-Making Process Case Study #1 John s Civil War Coins Case Study #2 Sheila s Picasso Questions to Ponder: 1. What are the risks? 2. What are the potential rewards? 3. What would you do? 4. Why 3 Principles for Making Big Decisions 1. In every big decision you need. 2. In every big decision you need. 3. In every big decision you need. Case Study #3 The Ancient Treasure Jesus in Matthew 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

2 Observations 1. A man finds a treasure. 2. He hides it again. 3. He has an emotional response. 4. He sells everything he has so he can get the treasure. Thesis The total commitment is the through which God s biggest and best blessings flow. Definition Total commitment is the alignment of one s motives, resources, priorities, and goals to fulfill a specific mission, accomplish a specific task, or follow a specific person. Spiritual Insight Through which lens do you view total commitment? Positive vs. Negative Wise Logical Shrewd Re-evaluation Sacrifice Self-denial Noble, martyr Renunciation Talk it Over 1. When you think of surrender or total commitment, do you see it through the lens negatively or positively? Why? 2. What is your biggest barrier to surrender? In the past, what was the number one fear that kept you from surrendering to Christ? Is there anything now that keeps you from surrendering? 3. Chip said that total commitment is the channel through which God s best and biggest blessings flow. How have you experienced the truth of this statement?

3 4. Who is the most committed Christian you know? What is it about their life that is different? Live it Out B.I.O. Bio is a word that is synonymous with life. Found in those three simple letters B.I.O. is the key to helping you become the person God wants you to be. B = Come Before God Daily Meet with Him personally through prayer and His word to enjoy His presence, receive His direction, and follow His will. I = Do Life In Community Weekly Structure your week to personally connect in safe relationships that provide love, support, transparency, challenge, and accountability. O Be On Mission 24/7 Cultivate a mindset to live out Jesus love for others through acts of sacrifice as well as service at home, work, play, and church. Come Before God 5. Romans 6:16-18 (NLT) says, Don t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves to sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. What does this passage teach us about surrender? Do Life in Community 6. One of the problems with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. Share your biggest challenge in staying surrendered (totally committed). Spend a little time praying for one another, asking God to help each of those in our group to be all in.

4 Be On Mission 7. If you were all in, how would your life be different this next month? How would it impact you being on mission? Accelerate (20 minutes that turns concepts into convictions) Inspiration comes from hearing God s Word. Motivation grows by discussing God s Word. Transformation occurs when you study it for yourself. If you want to accelerate your growth, here is an assignment you can do at home each week. Our convictions become even stronger when we dig into Scripture and discover truth for ourselves. To help you get the most out of this exercise, consider partnering up with somebody in your group who will also commit to do the assignment this week. Then, after you have each done the assignment, agree to spend 10 minutes by phone sharing what you learned and what you are applying. Come Before God 1. Carefully and slowly read the following passage a couple of times. Philippians 3:5-11 (NLT) 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 2. In Philippians 3:5-6 what are some potential barriers that could have kept Paul from being all in? 3. In Philippians 3:7-8, circle the words that reflect Paul s view of his past credentials.

5 4. Write out a prayer of surrender. Set aside enough time to carefully consider your prayer in your won words, let God know that you are all in. Do Life in Community 5. Get together with a friend or someone in our group and have a discussion about surrender (total commitment). Discuss the following questions: What fears have kept you from total surrender? How does your view of God impact surrender? What are the practical implications of surrender in your life? 6. How does surrender impact your perspective on the purpose of your life? Is there a next step you need to take to be obedient to God s purpose for your life?