Becoming Who We Are:

Lesson 1 Becoming Who We Are: Called to Be Saints A study by Jonathan Mohr Personal Discipleship Guide Read I Corinthians 6:9-11. What is an identity crisis? Do you remember struggling with your identity during your teenage years? What made it so difficult for you? When we experience salvation, God gives us a new. What does it mean to be a saint? NOTES 1 Beta Learners Guide.indd 1

As a saint, my have changed. I am now guided by a new set of beliefs. What are some popular product slogans that either disagree with or could be used to help illustrate biblical truth? How would the Bible agree or disagree with this slogan from this ice cream maker? Häagen-Dazs: Pleasure is the path to joy. As a saint, my has been altered. I now see the world differently. My primary source of guidance must be God s. What are some voices in your life that are making it difficult to focus on the good voices? As a saint, I have new prerogatives. I possess spiritual,, and. Prerogative: an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege. What are some promises in Scripture that have encouraged you during difficult times? Prayer Focus Lord, help me to find my complete identity in You. Allow me to see myself as You see me. Lord, transform my mind and my thoughts so my beliefs more closely reflect Your Word. 2 Scripture Focus Reflection I Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 2:1-5 Can you recall a time in your life when you struggled with your identity? What feelings did you battle during that time? How did you eventually find your way through that trying time? I Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2 How have advertisements, company slogans, and societal attitudes affected your thinking? Why do some of your values clash with those who live with a worldly mindset? What values do you find clash most often? Beta Learners Guide.indd 2

As a saint, I have new. God s kingdom is more important than personal comfort or self-preservation. What actions or habits should you consider changing in your life? What past labels are holding you back? NOTES Lord, give me wisdom and spiritual discernment to make the right choices in my daily life. Let my decisions please and honor You. James 1:5; Psalm 1:1-2; 119:27, 125 Why is godly wisdom so important to the believer? In what areas of your life do you need more wisdom right now? How could a lack of discernment cause someone to be easily led astray? Lord, help me to better understand the power, promises, and privileges I have in You. Increase my faith and confidence in Your plan for my life. II Peter 1:4; Philippians 4:19 How has the Holy Spirit empowered you to handle life s difficulties? What are some ways the Lord has demonstrated His love and provision for you? What testimony could you share with friends that might encourage them in their faith? Lord, help me to order my priorities so they better reflect Your priorities for my life. Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:27 What are some actions or habits you should probably consider changing in your life? Why do you think those actions or habits should be changed? What are some good habits that you think you might need to develop? 3 Beta Learners Guide.indd 3

Series Big Idea: God has declared us holy, and our lives should demonstrate this reality. Use the conversation starters below to help create spiritual discussions with your family. I Corinthians 6:11; I Peter 2:9 Lesson Big Idea: God made me special. What did Moses see in the desert? Bring It Home: Help your child memorize the series verse, I Peter 2:9. Play the Magic Hand game on the activity paper and have fun while memorizing. Compete the activity paper by assisting your child in drawing and coloring how special they are to God. I Corinthians 6:11 Lesson Big Idea: God has called us and our lives should reflect His calling. Did God listen to Moses? Did God agree with Moses? Bring It Home: Discuss how your child will carry out this week s assignment. Assist your child in choosing a respected elder to interview and fill in the spaces in the activity paper. Please return it to class next week! I Corinthians 6:9-11 What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? What was your life like before and after Jesus Christ? How are you like our family? How are you different? What could we do as a family to better understand each other? Bring It Home: Today in the Student class, we talked about the new identity Jesus gives us. This week we encourage you to spend time as a family talking about your identity. It is possible to live in the same house as someone and not know who they really are. Take this week s challenge of spending some time together to reflect on who you are. 4 Beta Learners Guide.indd 4

Lesson 2 Becoming Who We Are: Empowered by the Spirit A study by Jonathan Mohr Personal Discipleship Guide Read Galatians 5:24-26. Why do you think people feel they can become holy through their own efforts? Be careful that you are not running the. Religious people around the world, including some Christians, easily fall into the trap of assuming of devotion will bring us into right standing with God. What are the motives for your spiritual activities? Why do you do what you do? To move forward, in the right direction, you must in the Spirit. always pulls us off course. NOTES 5 Beta Learners Guide.indd 5

How does one walk in the Spirit? How do you know when you are walking in the Spirit? How does the Spirit empower our daily lives? Our behavior will eventually reflect how we feel. God planned to transform Israel into a holy nation of. What happened in you during the last service you attended? How has the Holy Spirit changed your life? (Be as specific as possible.) How may our actions indicate when we are just following a set of rules? 6 Prayer Focus Scripture Focus Reflection Lord, search my heart and make sure I am not headed in the wrong direction. Galatians 5:1; Psalm 51:10-12 Why do you think people feel they can become holy through their own efforts? What are some things inside your heart that could end up leading you in the wrong direction, away from God? How can you better surrender to God and allow the Spirit to work within you? Lord, saturate my mind and my thoughts and protect me from the lies of the enemy. II Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:7 What lies have you believed that have hurt your relationship with Jesus Christ? What words of encouragement would you share with someone struggling with some of these same lies? What is your motivation for living the way you do? Beta Learners Guide.indd 6

How do your thoughts, activities, and lifestyle reflect the transformation of the Holy Spirit? How are you daily surrendered to the leading of the Spirit? Real holiness is produced when we allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead in of our lives. NOTES Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit, following after Your will each and every day. Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:1 What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? How is your life different now that you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you? What are some important spiritual disciplines that would enable you to walk in the Spirit more consistently? Lord, change me from the inside out and make me to better reflect You and Your holiness. Exodus 19:6; Revelation 1:6 Why does changing someone s outside not always result in changing the inside? Why do you think the Israelites had a hard time obeying all the commandments they were given by God? What are some changes God is trying to make in you right now? Lord, order my steps and direct my actions so all I do pleases You. Mark 12:28-34; Galatians 5:22-23 How do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? How do you love your neighbor as yourself? How can you allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead in every part of your life? 7 Beta Learners Guide.indd 7

Series Big Idea: God has declared us holy, and our lives should demonstrate this reality. Use the conversation starters below to help create spiritual discussions with your family. Galatians 5:25 Lesson Big Idea: God gives me power. Which power is greater, God s power or human power? Bring It Home: God s power is needed in our lives and in our neighbors lives. Take a prayer walk around your town this week. Walk with your family and pray for your neighbors. Use the activity paper to illustrate your prayer walk to your child. Pray that each home and each person will be drawn by the Spirit of God. Galatians 5:25 Lesson Big Idea: We can rely on God s spirit to help us reflect His power in our lives. What is a vessel? Explain how we can be vessels for God. Bring It Home: Choose a vessel (soup pot) in your house and let your child choose which items go into the soup for dinner one night this week. Anything edible is fair game! Who should you invite to your soup-fest? Try inviting neighbors and relatives to enjoy the soup created by your child. 8 Galatians 5:24-26 Why is it important to do good works? Many people do nice things for others so that they can be recognized or because it makes them feel good about themselves. As vessels of the Holy Spirit, what should our attitudes be as we perform these tasks? What are the potential problems of doing good things with wrong motives? Bring It Home: This week students talked about being empowered by the Spirit to live holy lives that honor Jesus and bless others. As a family, come up with a project that will help someone in need and shine Christ s light. Do you know of anyone lonely? Hurting? Facing a problem? Decide how you can be a blessing. Beta Learners Guide.indd 8

Lesson 3 Becoming Who We Are: Separated from the World A study by Jonathan Mohr Personal Discipleship Guide Read I Peter 2:9. God called Israel to be a, separate from the people around them. How do we submit to the lordship of Jesus in our daily lives? In what ways do people conform to the culture around them? We are to live separate as a chosen. We have been by God. What does rejection feel like? NOTES 9 Beta Learners Guide.indd 9

What does acceptance feel like? Why will we seldom find approval from both God and the world? We have been chosen to be a part of God s. What does it mean to be a part of God s family? We are to live separate as a priesthood. about us must be submitted to God. How do we facilitate relationship between God and man? What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? 10 Prayer Focus Scripture Focus Reflection Lord, I submit every part of my daily life to You. Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 14:2 How can you make sure your daily life is submitted to the lordship of Jesus? In what ways do people conform to the culture around them? Why is it so easy to allow culture s influence to affect your daily decisions? Lord, thank You for choosing me and placing Your Spirit within me. John 15:16; I Samuel 8:6-7 When were you ever not chosen for something? How did that make you feel? In contrast, how does being chosen make you feel? What do you think the Lord meant when He told Samuel that it was Him they had rejected and not Samuel (I Samuel 8:7)? Beta Learners Guide.indd 10

What does it mean not to be conformed to this world? We are to live separate as a nation. We are to live separate as a people. We are called to live and, so we can make a difference. We are called to show forth. How does your life reflect the marvelous light of Jesus Christ? NOTES Lord, I want my life to be lived in submission to You. Lord, help me to be an instrument of unity in my church. Lord, I am Your very own possession. I want to glorify You in my body and in my spirit. I Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1-2 Galatians 3:26-28; I Corinthians 10:24 I Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 6:18 e What does it mean to be a royal priesthood? How do we offer up spiritual sacrifices? What are some ways you can live a life of service and submission to the Lord? How can we make sure we are seeking the good of others? What are some things we can do to encourage unity, instead of the ethnic, social, and gender divisions that easily appear even in the church? What does it mean to walk in someone else s shoes? Why do you think both Peter and Paul described themselves as slaves of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1; II Peter 1:1)? How should we live as a slave of Jesus Christ? How do we show forth the praises of God in our lives? 11 Beta Learners Guide.indd 11

Explanation of how to use the page or overview of the church scope. The sections can expand/contract as needed. Series Big Idea: God has declared us holy, and our lives should demonstrate this reality. Use the conversation starters below to help create spiritual discussions with your family. John 15:16 Lesson Big Idea: God chose me. Who are we special to? Bring It Home: Take a few minutes to play a game that makes your child feel special and chosen. Play flashlight tag. Let your child be it! John 15:16 Lesson Big Idea: God chose us to be separate from the world. In what ways do we go against the flow as Christians? Bring It Home: Young students are often busy, and as parents, we can overlook spending time with them. Include your child in a game of flashlight tag and let your child be it! Make your child feel special. Share your fun with your child s teacher next week. I Peter 2:9 What are some things our family does to honor Christ that others may not do? What are some things we have decided not to do as a matter of being separate from the world? What is the point of being different from the world? How are these decisions we have made as a family making a difference? Bring It Home: This week students talked about being set apart as God s people. Plan a special evening with your family this week. Take a walk together or have a picnic or game night. 12 Beta Learners Guide.indd 12

Lesson 4 Becoming Who We Are: For His Purpose A study by Jonathan Mohr Personal Discipleship Guide Read Ephesians 2:10. God always has a purpose behind His. He calls us to be so we can accomplish His purpose. We are the of God Himself. If we are God s masterpiece, what does that say about how we ought to live? If we are God s masterpiece, what does that say about how we ought to treat our fellow man? We were created for a : to do good works. Our culture measures self-worth almost solely on metrics. NOTES 13 Beta Learners Guide.indd 13

What are some of the things our culture values that affect our sense of self-worth? What are some good works God has called you to do? What is the world s definition of failure and how does that differ from the biblical view? Have you ever made a decision to do something or not do something based solely on your commitment to God, and people thought you were wasting your time, money, or talent? We have been prepared for a work. What is a specific work God has prepared you for? God has a specific for your life. Prayer Focus Lord, thank You for the wonderful plan You have for my life. Lord, help me to see myself and others as the handiwork of Your creation. 14 Scripture Focus Reflection Ephesians 2:8-10; Jeremiah 29:11 Why is it so easy to boast about things God has done in our lives? Has someone ever taken credit for something you should have received the credit for? When? How should we respond to God s free gift of grace? Psalm 8:4-6; I Peter 1:15 Why are humans the pinnacle of God s creative work? What does the way we treat others reveal about how we feel concerning ourselves? What are some lies Satan wants us to believe about ourselves? What do you think God would say about these lies? Beta Learners Guide.indd 14

How does God reveal His purpose to us? Separation is a part of God s. What keeps people from reaching their potential in God or finding their purpose? God s call often requires us to give up what we wanted to be so we can become who He us to be. What has been one of the most fulfilling things you have done while living for the Lord? What are some areas where you struggle to surrender fully to God? s Lord, help me to understand Your purpose for my life. Lord, I am grateful that I have been designed for a specific work. Lord, help me to be willing to surrender whatever I must in order to become all You have created me to be. II Timothy 2:21; Psalm 40:8 Isaiah 49:5; Matthew 25:14-30 Matthew 4:19; Hebrews 11:23-26 l How does cleansing ourselves make us more useful for the Lord s work? How does striving for holiness help us to better understand God s purpose for our lives? How does having the law within our hearts affect our desire to do God s will? Why do you believe when God formed you in your mother s womb, you were being formed for a specific work? Why do you think the master in the Matthew 25 parable was upset with the servant who hid his money? What are some abilities you may be hiding and not using for the Kingdom? Why do you think Peter and Andrew left their livelihood to follow Jesus? What role did faith play in Moses decision to leave Egypt? What role will faith play in your decision to surrender everything and become all God has created you to be? 15 Beta Learners Guide.indd 15

Series Big Idea: God has declared us holy, and our lives should demonstrate this reality. Use the conversation starters below to help create spiritual discussions with your family. Ephesians 2:10 Lesson Big Idea: I am important to God. What was Moses purpose? Bring It Home: Your pre-school child may not yet understand, or is just beginning to understand, others are important to his or her life. Use the Home Connection paper chart to illustrate the purpose of the important people in your child s life. Ephesians 2:10 Lesson Big Idea: God has a purpose for our lives. What benefits did Moses find when he followed God s purpose for his life? Bring It Home: Young students are often unsure of their purpose in life. However, we all have a basic responsibility to be kind, giving, loyal, and helpful. In order to start your child thinking about a purpose for his or her life, give your child an index card. Help your child write down good works to start doing this week. Take the card and place it on your child s mirror as a reminder. Ephesians 2:10 Growing up, what did you think was your purpose in life? Are you pleased with how you ve spent your life until now? Bring It Home: This week students discussed how God s call to holiness prepares us for the purpose He has designed for our lives. Take some time as a family to reflect on God s purpose for your family. Consider how you can encourage your family members to develop their talents and keep their priorities Christ-focused. 16 Beta Learners Guide.indd 16