My Life Plan. Name: Date: 2012 Long Hollow Baptist Church

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1 My Life Plan Name: Date: 2012 Long Hollow Baptist Church

2 First Things First 1. God loves you. Because of God s love for all people, He desires that you have an intimate relationship with Him. [John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5] 2. You are a sinner. We all are sinners because disobeying God is our natural tendency. Sin is choosing to do things God says not to do or choosing not to do things God says to do. [Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10] 3. Sin separates you from God. Sin forms a barrier between you and an intimate relationship with God. Because God is holy, He can t be in fellowship with unholy people. Without help, you are destined for eternity in a real place called hell. [Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23] 4. You can t save yourself. Many people think that they can work hard enough or do enough good things to earn a place in heaven. That isn t true. There is nothing you can do to restore the broken relationship with God. You can t earn salvation. [Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21] 5. God sent His Son Jesus to remove the sin barrier. Jesus death on the cross removed the sin barrier between you and God. Jesus died for your sins and took your punishment on Himself. By allowing His Son to die on the cross, God did for you something you could never do for yourself. [1 Peter 2:23; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21] 6. You can receive Jesus Christ through faith. Faith is trusting in what Jesus has done for you rather than trusting your own efforts to restore fellowship with God. Faith is relying on Christ to put you in a right relationship with God, allowing Him to live His life through you. Faith also evokes repentance or genuine sorrow for sin and creates a willingness to turn away from a sinful lifestyle. [John 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 1-:9-10] 7. You can pray asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Admit to God that you are a sinner. Express sorrow or repentance for your sinfulness. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Invite Jesus into your life as Savior and Lord. Commit yourself to live for Him. If you just prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please let us know. We want to help you establish a plan for your personal spiritual growth. This is step one of a lifelong adventure with Christ! Visit longhollow.com/contact_us#askquestion and select I just accepted Christ what s next? to let us know about your decision. [1]

3 Having a vision for your life allows you to live out of hope, rather than out of your fears. Stedman Graham Where do I begin? You might have a plan for your education, career, or finances, but do you have a plan for your life? Do you know what you want others to say about you when your life is over? Are you living so that those words will be true? If we think systematically about specific areas of our lives, we can shape our futures and the futures of everyone we influence. Planning creates a lifestyle characterized by intentionality and purpose. Planning isn t restrictive; it is liberating. When we have a plan, we know what to do and what not to do. Over the next six weeks, you will work together with your small group to create a personal life plan that covers six vital areas: your relationship with God, yourself, your family, your finances, your career, and your personal ministry. Once you learn the planning process, you can use it to establish plans in other areas of life. Having a plan, however, is only part of the solution; you must commit to following the plan. Give it 90 days and then evaluate your progress. At that point, you can adjust your plan as needed. We believe this plan will enable you to discover a new way of life. [2]

4 Life Plan Matthew 4:1 11 GOD What is worship? Is it an event on Sunday morning? A type of music? A place to go while the kids are in their classes? Those are some of the common thoughts about worship, but they paint an inadequate picture. Worship isn t an event on the calendar, it is a way of life for the authentic believer. Matthew s Gospel begins with Jesus family tree, details His birth, reveals a few details about Jesus childhood, and introduces us to John the Baptist. Matthew uses those details to set the stage for the events described in chapter 4. Jesus had not yet called His first disciples or addressed His first crowd. He hadn t encountered the Pharisees or had a controversial dinner with the worst sinner in the community. He had been baptized and God had proclaimed His pleasure with His Son (Matt. 3:17). Immediately, Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (4:1). Jesus faced three temptations and countered each with the Word of God. In doing so, He teaches us that God s Word is a powerful weapon against every kind of temptation. Jesus was tempted to take charge of His life and to live according to His desires rather than God s will. This temptation is common to all people who express a desire to follow Christ. So, what does all of this have to do with worship. Take a look at the third temptation (vv. 8-11). Jesus life would be an expression of worship. Your life is no different. He wanted His life to honor God more than He wanted to please Himself. In standing up against this temptation, He employed the truths presented in Deuteronomy 6 and used the word worship. Think for a moment about that word. Jesus wasn t talking about church. There wasn t a congregation or a schedule in His mind. He was talking about a way of life. We must be honest about this truth our lives reveal the object of our worship. We can attend church every week but never really worship God. Who are you worshipping? Keep It Real In twenty-five words or less, what did God say to you through this week s sermon? [3]

5 Why is it important to recognize the object of your worship? Keep It Focused Read Matthew 4:8-11. The devil wanted Jesus to worship him rather than submit to God s will. What are some things that can redirect your attention away from God s will for your life? Read Ephesians 6: Paul told the Ephesian Christians to prepare themselves to stand against the devil s schemes. What is your strategy for defeating the devil and his attempts to distract you? Keep It Practical Read James 4:7. We submit to or resist God and the devil. When we submit to one, we resist the other. How do you know which one you are submitting to? We understand that worship is a lifestyle. Why, then, is corporate worship so important? [4]

6 If someone said to you, Worship is something you attend, how would you respond and why? If God could change one thing about your life, what would He change and why? Would giving God control of that area of your life be an act of worship? Why or why not? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to your life of worship or devotion to God. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why is a relationship with God important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at the strength of your relationship with God and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a stepby-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not plan to live a life of worship? If you are a Christian, God should come first in your life. If anything else becomes your top priority, your life will show it. This isn t magic; it s biblical. Jesus said, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). A life of worship is characterized by a continual conversation with God. When that happens, you ll want to worship Him with other believers. Take some time to work through the following page. A life of worship makes corporate worship more meaningful. [5]

7 Life Plan My purpose for my relationship with God is GOD Currently, my relationship with God is Over the next six months, I d like to see my relationship with God The Bible verse that encourages me most in my relationship with God is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for my relationship with God become a reality: Other thoughts about my relationship with God: [6]

8 Life Plan Colossians 3:1 17 OTHERS Community is common to all of us. It refers to the sphere within which we perform certain functions. We live, work, play, and socialize in community. So, why is a community of faith so important? Can t we manage our relationship with God on our own? Though that is a popular belief, the Bible teaches that our spiritual health is dependent upon the community we choose. The Bible is full of examples of people who just didn t get it. There are examples of religious people who misunderstood Jesus role on the earth. There are examples of people who knew God but chose to live as if they had never met Him. This story is repeated. It seems to be a theme that is woven throughout the entire Bible. There are plenty of church-going people about whom the following words are true: They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him (Titus 1:6). The city of Colosse was plagued with pagan religion that was almost completely disconnected from everyday life. People could go to the temple, place an offering on the altar, and leave totally unchanged. A person s religion had nothing to do with his life. Some elements of that culture are still present today. Many people have disconnected their everyday lives from their relationship with God. They attend worship, sometimes leave an offering, and leave to live the way they want. Sometimes I wonder if those people really experienced salvation. Connecting matters. This isn t about church membership. After all, no one in the New Testament joined a church. It is all about connecting your life to the lives of other believers through the community of faith the church. When we line up our lives with Christ, we will find ourselves in the company of others with the same desire. As a result, we will take one destructive action and one constructive action. We will put to death the earthly desires (Col. 3:5-9) and strengthen the godly desires (Col. 3:10-17). Are you connected? Keep It Real What is the role of your church family in your everyday life? [7]

9 Why is a community of faith important to you? Keep It Focused Read Colossians 3:5-9. How does your relationship with Christ affect your personal choices? Are there areas of life you have made off-limits to God s standards? If so, how s that working out for you? Read Colossians 3: You can t remove the sinful nature; but you can displace it. What is your personal plan for displacing your tendency to sin? What happens if you have no plan for displacing the sinful nature? Keep It Practical Read Colossians 3:1-2. Paul gave the Colossians instructions about how to focus their lives. How can you apply Paul s instructions to your life? What will change in your life when you follow his instructions? How do your relationships with other believers affect the choices and decisions you make? [8]

10 When you focus your life on glorifying God and serving Him, you will begin making time for those things that are important to Him. How does your list of important things compare to God s list of important things? Why is it so important that God s list get the priority? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to your relationships with others through the family of faith. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why are relationships with other believers important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at the strength of your relationship with others and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a step-by-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not plan to connect with other believers? [9]

11 Life Plan My purpose for my relationship with others is OTHERS Currently, my relationship with others is Over the next six months, I d like to see my relationship with others The Bible verse that encourages me most in my relationship with others is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for my relationship with others become a reality: Other thoughts about my relationship with others: [10]

12 Life Plan 1 Corinthians 3:1 9 SELF There has always been a tension between self-gratification and spiritual growth. To pursue one, you must resist the other. So, the fact that we live in a self-indulgent society paints a clear picture of the real attitude of many believers toward spiritual growth. It s not that they don t want to grow; it s that their obsession with self displaces their desire to grow. No place in the New Testament was more like today s culture than Corinth. It was known for its diversity, culture, and economy. It also was known for its paganism, immorality, and individualism. Paul was responsible for the establishment of the church in Corinth and was deeply concerned about its spiritual health. Immaturity produced divisions within the community of believers. The immorality of the pagan culture was very attractive to many so-called believers, so they compromised their faith in order to gratify their desires. The church was losing ground because many people inside the church made living for themselves more important than growing in their faith. That makes Paul s words to the Corinthians even more relevant today. The culture in which we live is, in many ways, a mirror image of the Corinthian society. Paul got right to the point. In chapter 3, he expressed his disappointment that many people who were affiliated with the church were still spiritual infants. He pointed out that he gave them milk because they weren t ready for meat, but he never expected them to settle into a permanent diet of milk! At the end of verse 3, Paul asks, Are you not acting like mere men? Translation: Why are you acting like lost people? That question is as needed today as it was then. Chuck Swindoll said, It is a tragedy that so many are converted and so few Spirit-filled. Spiritual growth has nothing to do with how many classes you have attended or how big your class is. Lots of people hide out in large groups because they fear what would happen if God found them. He s knows where you are; do you? Keep It Real Think about your spiritual health. Are you healthier today than you were a year ago? Why or why not? [11]

13 What proof do you have that you are growing spiritually? Keep It Focused Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. In what ways are Paul s words applicable to your life? The Corinthian Christians stopped pursuing spiritual growth. As a result, they stopped growing. How should authentic spiritual growth affect your life? Why do some people place more importance on things other than their personal spiritual growth? Keep It Practical What are some things you could eliminate from your life so you could be more intentional about growing spiritually? Who are some people you know who claim to be Christians but are not pursuing spiritual growth? [12]

14 If God impressed upon you His desire that you step out and be used by Him to help others grow spiritually, how would you respond? Is conditional obedience really obedience? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to your personal spiritual growth. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why is spiritual growth important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at your spiritual vitality and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a step-by-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not plan to grow spiritually? [13]

15 Life Plan My purpose for growing spiritually is SELF Currently, my spiritual vitality is Over the next six months, I d like to grow spiritually in these ways: The Bible verse that encourages me most in my desire to grow spiritually is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for growing spiritually become a reality: Other thoughts about my spiritual development: [14]

16 Life Plan Romans 12:1 8 MINISTRY There isn t a shortage of work to be done and there are plenty of people waiting to add to your to do list. Sadly, many believers view serving as a way to earn God s approval or buy His love. Serving isn t supposed to be a substitute for spiritual growth; it is a byproduct. People who serve without growing will get burned out. People who grow without serving will get lazy. Healthy people grow and serve! In the Book of Romans, Paul develops several themes that have become the theological foundation for the Christian faith. Among those themes is a discussion of the relationship between faith and works. There have always been people who live as if God will reward them for their works. So, they get busy real busy! Meanwhile, their work interferes with a healthy desire to grow and mature. As a result, they and the church are weakened, not strengthened. In Romans 12, Paul offers a strategy for healthy service to God discover God s will through a renewing of your mind. In other words, God has something for you to do and He wants you to know it worse than you want to know it. As we begin to embrace God s will for our lives, we will become the living sacrifices described in verse 1. In verse 3, Paul warns believers to keep their egos under control. It s easy to spot believers who have I trouble. They are arrogant, domineering, demanding, and competitive. Their mode of operation is more managerial than ministerial and they will stop at nothing to make themselves known. Paul saw this as a potential problem for the Roman believers and his warning is extended to us. So, how are believers supposed to serve? The Bible teaches us that we are to serve based on the way God has wired us. Salvation refocuses our gifts and abilities toward things that matter to God. We know that every believer has a purpose for being on the earth. Verse 4 reminds us that we are all important pieces of the puzzle. God has shaped you to serve Him and to glorify Him with your life. But serving God is a result of spiritual growth, not a replacement for it! Keep It Real Read Romans 12:1-8. What does is mean to be a living sacrifice? [15]

17 Your mind is being transformed by the media, entertainment, other people, and personal Bible study. What are some influences you need to eliminate? What are some ways you can maximize God s influence in your life? Keep It Focused Ministry is powerful when life is arranged according to God s plan. Every person has a ministry assignment. Some of those assignments will take place within the context of the local church. Others will be in the community or the world. You don t have to do everything you re asked to do; you simply need to do those things that are the right things according to God s design for your life. From God s perspective, for what kind of ministry are you best equipped? What fears and/or hesitations do you have related to getting involved in that ministry? You can discover how God has equipped you to serve Him by answering a few simple questions: What is your primary spiritual gift? What are those things about which you are passionate? What are your natural abilities? How would you describe your personality? For what ministries have your life experiences best prepared you? [16]

18 Keep It Practical As you look around our church and community, you will be drawn to certain ministries and opportunities to serve. Keep in mind that there is no one size fits all assignment. If all of the perceived obstacles were removed, in what ministries do you believe God could best use your gifts and abilities? What is your plan for maintaining your spiritual health while serving God in our church or community? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to your personal ministry. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why is a specific ministry important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at your personal ministry and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a step-by-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not plan to develop your personal ministry? [17]

19 Life Plan My personal ministry purpose is MINISTRY Currently, my personal ministry is Over the next six months, I d like to develop my personal ministry in these ways: The Bible verse that encourages me most in my personal ministry is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for my personal ministry become a reality: Other thoughts about my personal ministry: [18]

20 Life Plan 1 Thessalonians 1:2 10 MISSIONS Christians are famous. Sometimes we make the paper for doing the right thing, but most often we are known for all the wrong reasons. But, we are known. Though some are gifted evangelists, all believers have a God-given responsibility for telling others about their faith in God. The truth is that we have no problem talking about whatever we are passionate about. When we fall passionately in love with God, telling others about Him will be natural. You already are telling the world what God means to you. This was Paul s message to the Christians in Thessalonica. He celebrated the fact that their faith in God became known everywhere (v. 8). When we stop to think about it, that is true of every believer. Our faith (or lack of faith) is known. How? Jesus gave us our orders for life in the Great Commission. Our response to Jesus instructions tells the world what we really think of God. Paul was grateful that the Thessalonians took seriously their commitment to Christ. They became a model for other believers to follow. The Bible is clear being a missionary isn t optional for authentic believers. It is a natural byproduct of spiritual growth. So, why are so many believers not concerned about people who don t know Christ? How can God s people be the undeserving recipients of God s amazing grace and not take advantage of their opportunities to talk about it? Maybe we are selfish or afraid. There was a time in our lives when God used someone to call us to salvation. It might have been a parent, pastor, or a caring neighbor. The point is that God uses people to reach people. In doing so, He reveals His incredible love love that gives us a role in God s plan for redemption. When we refuse to let God use us, God s work doesn t suffer; we do. We miss out on the blessing that comes from seeing people come to know Christ. This is our purpose in our neighborhoods, nation, and world. So, take a close look at Matthew 28:19-20 and find where Jesus made this instruction optional. Rationalized disobedience is still disobedience! Keep It Real Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10. If the salvation of a distant land was dependent upon the strength of your faith, what would happen in that land? [19]

21 Read Matthew 28: Rewrite that passage in your own words. Keep It Focused When you shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking, what will happen to the way you invest your time, money, and talent? How will your priorities change when global thinking replaces local thinking? The Bible encourages us to stop thinking here and now and start thinking eternally. In what areas of life will it be most difficult to employ this strategy? If we are going to live our God-designed purpose, we must replace excuse-making with creative ways to fulfill our God-given commission. What are some things you can do to be more intentional about reaching unsaved people in your neighborhood, nation, and world? [20]

22 Keep It Practical What is one thing you can do to be actively involved in missions through our church and in our community? List the action steps needed to proceed. What is your plan for maintaining your spiritual health while serving God in our church or community? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to missions. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why is a specific mission opportunity important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at your thoughts about missions and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a step-by-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not plan to get involved in a missions opportunity? [21]

23 Life Plan When it comes to missions, my purpose is MISSIONS Currently, my missions involvement can be described as Over the next six months, I d like to get involved in missions in these ways: The Bible verse that encourages me most in regard to missions is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for missions become a reality: Other thoughts about my missions involvement: [22]

24 Life Plan Luke 16:1 13 FINANCES The way we handle money says a lot about the quality of our relationship with God. Jesus talked more about money than He did about any other subject. It was a big deal then and it s still a big deal today. It s a love-hate relationship. The objects are God and money. We can love one or the other, but not both. Make your choice. It s not that easy, is it? No one will choose to hate God. Yet, our choices reflect our real attitudes toward Him. When we put God first, we will honor Him with our resources. We will give, serve, and go. When we put God lower on the list, it shows. We will sit, soak, and sour. People who get their priorities right are delighted to put God s money toward things that are significant to Him. They will give because they love Him and want to let their lives echo throughout eternity. We need to focus on Luke 16:13. This is a familiar verse with great significance in our world. No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. We choose to look at things from one of two perspectives. We either let God determine how we view money or we let money determine how we view God. This is a struggle for many people. In our hearts, we know we should be honoring God by giving. However, in our heads, it doesn t make sense. That s why you have to give with your heart, not your head. We can easily rationalize not giving. We make promises that we will give when things aren t so tight. Yet, our lifestyles tell a different story. When we look closely, we ll see that most of us figure out a way to do what we really want to do. People who want to give will find a way to make it happen. People who don t want to give will have no trouble coming up with excuses. Which kind of person are you? Keep It Real Read Luke 16:1-13. What do you believe is the main message of this story? [23]

25 Read the following passages and briefly list the main point of each one: Proverbs 21:17 Matthew 19:23 Mark 8: Timothy 6:9 Keep It Focused How do you view money? It s mine, hands off! It s all promised to other people, oh well. It s God s, I m just a manager. other: What does it mean to be trustworthy in handling worldly wealth? What is the toughest decision you need to make regarding your finances? A lot of people plan their summer vacations but have no plan for honoring God with their finances. Jesus challenged His audience to get it right and His challenge is in effect today. What financial adjustments do you need to make so that you can honor God with your finances? [24]

26 Keep It Practical The Bible is clear about our priorities. They either line up with God s expectations, or they don t. Here s the thing. If you give back to God what He expects, you can t spend that money somewhere else. However, if you wait until you can afford to give, you will never give. Think about your financial resources. What do you think God wants to do with the resources He entrusts to you? What is your plan for managing your resources according to God s priorities? Make a Plan The following page provides a place for you to create a plan specifically related to finances. You ll begin by identifying a purpose statement for this area of your life. Why is managing your finances God s way important to you? Then, you will take an honest look at your thoughts about finances and identify some specific goals you d like to reach during the next six months. In the last part of the plan, you will select a key Bible verse and make a step-by-step plan for bringing your vision into reality. We know that planning is a key to success. We make plans in most every area of life, so why not create a plan for your finances? [25]

27 Life Plan FINANCES When it comes to the resources God entrusts to me, my purpose is Currently, my financial situation can be described as Over the next six months, I d like to get be more obedient with my finances in these ways: The Bible verse that encourages me most in regard to finances is: It says Here are the action steps I plan to take that will help my vision for finances become a reality: Other thoughts about my financial responsibilities: [26]

28 Life Plan COACHING TIPS Leading a group study This study is important because it guides participants through a process that will bring order and purpose to several areas of life. It might be that this is the first time many people have given much thought to the idea of creating a life plan. Therefore, it is important that you understand the process and use it to create your own life plan. As you work through these sessions, your group will likely engage in some lively discussion. The more familiar you are with the material in this guide, the better you ll be able to keep the discussion on track. Remember, the small group experience is an appetizer that should motivate learners to use their personal Bible study time to dig deeper into God s Word. If the time you spend in small group is all the Bible study people get, they will not grow spiritually. You can t overcome in one hour all of the negative influences that are a part of life. So, take advantage of your role as a spiritual coach and encourage those you lead to make their personal Bible study a priority. SESSION ONE GOD In this session, you ll discuss what it means to live a life of worship. Ask: What comes to mind when you hear the word worship? Discuss responses. Read aloud Matthew 4:1-11 and call attention to the third temptation Jesus faced. Remind learners that Jesus concept of worship had nothing to do with a worship center, music, or a sermon; it was a way of life. As a group, work through the questions on pages 3-5, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to the idea of living a life of worship (p. 6). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their relationship with God. During the coming week, contact your group and remind them to give additional thought to their life plans and to come to the next session prepared to discuss their life plans in the area of their relationships with others. [27]

29 SESSION TWO OTHERS In this session, you ll discuss what it means to live in community with other people. Ask: How do you choose your friends? Discuss responses. Follow-up by asking: What process do you use when choosing friends? Allow time for volunteers to respond. Read aloud Colossians 3:1-17 and discuss the role of other believers in our personal spiritual development. Call specific attention to the concepts of putting to death earthly desires and strengthening godly desires. Point out that these are on opposite ends of a tug-of-war for our hearts and minds. As a group, work through the questions on pages 7-9, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to their relationships with others (p. 10). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their relationships with others. During the coming week, contact your group and remind them to give additional thought to their life plans and to come to the next session prepared to discuss their life plans in the area of their personal lives. SESSION THREE SELF In this session, you ll discuss how to develop a proper perspective of ourselves. Ask: If you had to describe your lifestyle in one word, what would it be? Discuss responses. Follow-up by asking: If you had to describe your spiritual depth in one word, what would it be? Allow time for volunteers to respond. Read aloud 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 and discuss the connection between our spiritual condition and our lifestyles. Explain the similarities between Corinth and our culture. Call attention to the Charles Swindoll quote near the bottom of page 11. Ask: What is the difference between being converted and being spirit-filled? Discuss responses and explain that the degree to which we are being directed by God s Spirit will be revealed in our daily lives. As a group, work through the questions on pages 11-13, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. [28]

30 Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to their spiritual growth and development (p. 14). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their spiritual health. During the coming week, contact your group and remind them to give additional thought to their life plans and to come to the next session prepared to discuss their life plans in the area of their personal ministry. SESSION FOUR MINISTRY In this session, you ll discuss how to develop a proper perspective of our personal ministry. Ask: Why did God leave you on the earth? Discuss responses. Read aloud Romans 12:1-8 and explain the concept of living sacrifices. Remind learners that salvation doesn t change our abilities, it gives them a new focus and purpose. Ask: How are spiritual growth and serving God connected? Discuss responses. Be sure to point out that salvation is the result of faith in God, not works. As a group, work through the questions on pages 15-17, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to their personal ministry (p. 18). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their personal ministry. During the coming week, contact your group and remind them to give additional thought to their life plans and to come to the next session prepared to discuss their life plans in the area of missions. SESSION FIVE MISSIONS In this session, you ll discuss how to develop a plan for personal missions. Say: You already are telling the world what God means to you. Ask: What is your life saying to those who don t know you? Discuss responses. [29]

31 Read aloud 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 and highlight the reasons Paul was grateful for the Thessalonians. The Thessalonians were exceptional simply because they allowed their relationship with God to transform their attitudes toward other people. Read aloud Matthew 28: Discuss the intended audience for this instruction (all believers) and the intended outcome (that all people would know God). Ask: Did someone tell you about God s love or did you just figure it out? Call for responses. As a group, work through the questions on pages 19-21, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to their personal missions involvement (p. 22). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their personal missions involvement. During the coming week, contact your group and remind them to give additional thought to their life plans and to come to the next session prepared to discuss their life plans in the area of finances. SESSION SIX FINANCES In this session, you ll discuss how to develop a plan for personal finances. Ask: What is the connection between the way you handle money and your relationship with God? Discuss responses. Explain that we live in a tension between our attitudes toward money and our attitudes toward God. It s a love-hate relationship. We love one and hate the other. Read aloud Luke 16:1-13 and call attention to verse 13. Point out that we either view money through the lens of God s truth or we view God s truth through the lens of money. Ask: What are the results of these two opposing viewpoints? Discuss responses. As a group, work through the questions on pages 23-25, asking the questions provided and allowing learners in the group to share their responses. Allow time for learners to work together as husbands and wives or in small same-gender groups to develop their life plans related to their personal finances (p. 26). As the session ends, call the group back together for a time of prayer and encourage learners to continue refining their life plan regarding their personal finances. [30]

32 2012 Long Hollow Baptist Church longhollow.com [31]

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