Lesson one: How to be sure you are a Christian

A. 1. Philippians 2:6-11

a. Jesus is God by natureb. .c. He became man, “taking the form of a bond-servant(ie. Slave)”d. His obedience extended to humble himself “to the point of death, even

death on a cross”.e. Jesus is exalted as the “name above every name”.f. Everyone whom is in the kingdom and under the rule of God(even evil),

will bow the knee, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:3a. He died for our sins(ie, the sins of the elect whom He came to save, for if

He died for everyone’s sins, we would make His blood inefficacious for salvation, because it would mean that God’s death and sacrifice for non-elect was powerless to save them and cleanse them and hence, they would still be steeped in sin. It is also absurd to say that Christ died for all and left it up to the free will of man to chose salvation or not, because in doing so, man’s free will is exalted as being the sovereign choice, and is hence above the will of God, which consequently causes His blood to be inefficacious. For if it were truly for the entire world that He died, would He not complete the good work which He started, and ensure that salvation is for all in the world? The above point also does not take into account the depravity of the human mind, which has been steeped in sin since the fall of the human race into sin, and placing men’s will above that of God is the first error, and in saying that men would chose salvation on their own accord is impossible for him whose mind has been sinfully depraved, that is the second error.)

b. He was buried and rose again after 3 days.c. Yes, He appeared to the 2 ladies at his grave, Cephas and the twelve

apostles, and to more than 500 brethren at that time.B.

1. Romans 3:23a. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of Godb. YES!

2. Romans 6:23a. The wages of sin is deathb. The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

c. This gift comes from God the Father, whom by His great grace and everlasting mercy, through the death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross, who took away our sins, and reconciled us back to God.

3. Romans 2:6-11a. God will judge us by our deedsb. There will be tribulation(catastrophic calamity) and distress for them.c. Those whom are selfishly ambitious, do not obey the truth, obey

unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.d. These characteristics did indeed describe me, because I can’t even

follow God’s law!

II Part Two: God’s promise and your response

A. God promises Eternal life1. John 6:40

a. Everyone who sees Jesus and believes in Him will have eternal life, and will rise from the dead on the day of His return.

b. Behold(see, know Jesus) and believe.2. Romans 10:9-13

a. Confess that Jesus is Lord(3 part: Acknowledge our sins, that we need saving grace, that Jesus is the only Lord), and believe in heart that Jesus rose from the dead(conquered sin, satan never stood a chance)

b. Heart believes – righteousness(refers to blamelessness…can we ever be righteous?). Mouth confesses – salvation(not by works, so that no one may boast)

c. Call on the Lord will not be disappointed. This calling refers not to merely saying, but is composed of 2 parts: asking for forgiveness of sins, and enthroning Christ as Lord in your heart(hence you will desire to stop sinning in obedience to Christ)

B. The gratitude we owe God for salvation1. John 14:15; 15:12

a. Keep His commandsb. Love Jesus the most(Luke 14:25-35 => not to hate parents, honor them,

but we must love Jesus more than even those you deeply love, in comparison to the trials that we will face, we are asked to count the cost, and discern if we really love Jesus, more than these)

c. To love one another, just as Christ loved you. You were undeserving, Christ chose you to save…would you die for someone who makes you sad? Or someone whom you don’t even know? Such great is a love He has given to us…and He asks that we emulate it, not by our own strength, but by His.

2. Matthew 22:37-39a. With all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. With

your entire body, thoughts, words, deeds, actions etc.b. Your neighbor as yourself.(Philippians 2:3-4 “do nothing out of selfish

ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others more significant than yourself. Let us not look to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.)

c. Do to them as you would do to yourself, place them before you. Neighbors = everyone around you!

3. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15a. The love of Christ compels/controls/binds usb. Who would be willing to die for someone whom continuously hurt,

rebelled against him? Only Christ would. His love is just the same as a father who took the blame for a son whom molested or raped someone. We are that unclean, nothing about us is pure, or good, yet God was willing to suffer humiliation for us, to grab us and say “I forgive”, how can you not love a Father who took your place to be punished? Who died to give you life?

c. For Him who died(sacrificial lamb) and rose on our behalf(conquered sin and gave eternal life)

d. Ourselves(ie. Our selfish wants/lusts/conceit etc)4. Ephesians 2:8-10

a. What is sin like?.b. By grace, through faith in God, through the strength of the Holy Spirit.c. Since it is a gift, not that you deserved it or was good enough to receive

it, so that no one has the right to boast of salvation, but to praise and thank God for His precious gift of life and hope!

d. To give glory to God, as His ‘workmanship’, akin to His final product, that when people look at us(product), they may give glory to God (Matt 5:16)

i. To authenticate and allow us to “make our calling and election certain”, by the manifestation of the true desire to do good in obedience to Him.

e. We were created to do good works – it is our purpose! To glorify Him and please Him by doing what was right in His sight! It is our response to the Lord’s love, that we are compelled to love him, as said in John 14:15 “if you love Me, you will keep My commandments”.

C. The benefits of being a Christian1. Colossians 2:13

a. Dead in my sins and transgressions. Dead meaning lifeless, I couldn’t do anything to save myself. Dead because I was destined for eternal damnation if Christ didn’t save me and vindicate me.f. He has forgiven all my sins, by taking my place on Calvary.g. ALL! Even if I sin now, His blood is effectual to cover all sins! Not that His

blood needs to be continuously shed…but rather, because one sacrifice vindicated all my sins on judgement day.

2. Galatians 4:4-7a. To redeem(compensate for the faults/evil/bad things) us from

condemnation under the Law(Romans 8:1-2). For no one is saved by the law, nor can anyone never break it. Note though, there is a difference between redemption and abolishing/put to an end of the law(Matt 5:17)

b. I am adopted as a son of Godc. The Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we should seek not to quench

the Holy Spirit’s work, but to submit to its conviction, and enjoy the Lord’s grace provided to you through Him.

d. Father! Father! Like a needy child, ill-disciplined, questioning, lacking knowledge, when fearful…how comforting is the word “Father”!

3. John 6:40a. Eternal life and being raised on the last day by Christ Himself.b. Nope! Death is but the beginning of a sinless, new life eternally with Jesus

Christ.

LESSON 2: HOW TO PRAY

Part 1: What is God like?

A. God is sovereign(all powerful and in control)1. Jeremiah 32:17, 27

a. The heavens and the earth, everything that we see and that we don’t see.

b. Yes, Himselfc. Nope! Nothing is too difficult for Him

2. Isaiah 46:10-11a. He will do everything He desires, He is God, nothing is done without and

apart from His decretive/secret will.b. No one can! If they/he/she could, then the person must be on the same

plane as God almighty! 3. Psalm 24:1

a. All of itb. Yes! He created the world, and He created me! “the earth is the Lord’s,

and all it contains” -> I am part of this earth and this system He created.c. Creation, time, heavenly and earthly beings.

4. Reflectiona. In awe and respect, I come before God, humbled by His grace showered

so richly upon me, thanking Him for his providence:i. Conservatio –The great I AM(Exo 3:14), source of every created

thing(Jer 32:17), all powerful upholder and sustainer of my life(Ps 54:4) and all creation(Heb 1:3), apart from whom I have no good thing(Ps 16:2).

ii. Concursus – causes all aspects/areas of life to work together in conformity to His will and direction(Eph 1:11), for the good of those who love him(Rom 8:28),

iii. Gubernatio - He will fulfill what He set out to do(Isaiah 46:10-11), allowing me unity of understanding in the midst of diverse situations, and surrendering to His ultimate righteous ways which are higher than my ways and thoughts(Isa 55:9).

b. He does(see above if disbelieving)(:

B. God is Holy(Pure and Righteous)1. Psalm 5:4-6

a. Wickedness, evil.b. Before God,they shall not stand before Him.

c. The Lord hates and abhors them. How fearful is it to have the sustainer of this world, and your life and everything you know, hate you?

2. 1 Peter 1:13-15a. God is holy.

i. What does it mean to be holy? A. To be sacred(set apart for the Lord in our lives,

consecrated as priests to serve Him.B. Sanctified, that we no longer should conform to the

shackles of our past sins.b. We are no longer slave to sin, but do not want to be conformed to our

lusts of the past which were evident in our past. Also because God calls us to be holy, and since I was created by Him for His glory, let me do what pleases and honors Him, for though I am bond-servant, has given me a crown and adopted me as a son.

3. Reflectiona. Only by His holiness do I see my unworthiness. The law shows me how

much I need grace, so His holiness shows me how unworthy I am before Him. With a humble, penitent heart, I should bow before Him in fear and trembling.

C. God is loving(Merciful, Kind, Gracious)1. Romans 5:8

a. Yes. He loves the sinner, but hates the sinb. He died for us, even though we were rebellious, insulters of His glory…

yet He sustained us, yet He told God to forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Why would He die for me? AGAPE love.

2. Romans 9:14-18a. God decides, as the potter decides what to mold the clay into, does the

clay have the right to complain why one was made into an honorable object, and itself made into an object of common use?(Rom 9:20-21). All sovereign will belongs to the Lord –this should not make him who has been saved complacent or proud, but in joyous thanksgiving, praise God for His grace and salvation, and henceforth, spread His word, that those whom He has chosen, may share in your joy.

b. No, we are sinners, we can’t pay God back for what He did for us. Neither can we seek please Him, for daily we sin and grieve the spirit.

c. Because He choses to have mercy on us – sovereign, decretive will; who can understand?

3. Reflection

a. We should always thank Him, because we do not deserve it, yet He chose to save us, love us and grant us such immeasurable mercy. Praying is a way of giving thanks to Him as it is a direct channel of communication between us and God.

b. Yes! As a father wants to hear his children speak, so our Abba Father wants to hear our prayers. He revealed Himself to us, that we may understand Him and praise Him, and it pleases Him when we draw near to Him. How can one have a relationship, if there is no communication?

i. And He will answer prayer, because He can, and He wants to draw near to those who seek Him in His courts!(James 4:8)

ii. Great is His power, so much so that according to His plan, He leads us to pray for things He has already intended. When we pray and our prayers are answered, it is not because God was moved by our prayer, but because from the beginning of time, He decreed that He wanted to do that particular thing, and in our context, led us to pray for that in particular. Whether He answers yes or no, it is His decreed will, and even if we pray according to His moral law, may we submit to His best timing and His higher ways and thoughts.

II: What is prayer?

A. PRAISE: Romans 11:33-361. Paul is praising the Lord2. For :

a. His wisdom and knowledge which is greater than oursb. For the fact that He is the source, that no one can question, doubt or

even repay Him.c. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all thingsd. He deserves all our glory!

3. For:a. His awesome power – nothing is too difficult for Himb. His holiness – that demands that we be holy, being made in His imagec. His saving grace and mercy – the only thing we deserve is death, yet He

gave us life, and forgave us our sins, and even chose to make us heirs to His kingdom!

B. CONFESSION OF SIN:1. He had committed sins and not yet confessed it to the Lord.2. He acknowledged his sin, confessed his iniquity to the Lord and confessed his

sins – lay out his unrighteousness before the Lord, no more excuses or running away

3. He forgave David’s sins, and freed him even from guilt!4. <<open ended>>5. Merciful and gracious, loving to His children – He says he will, so He

will(steadfast and unchanging)C. PETITION

1. Luke 11:2-4a. 5 things:

i. God’s kingdom come – for His return ii. God’s will be done

iii. For what we need daily –only bread which we need, sobriety and temperance; entrusting in His providence to provide for our needs

iv. Forgive us our sins – as we forgive others who wrong us(really do it!)

v. Deliver us from temptation – for we are weak in fleshb. Holy be Your name – desiring that You hear our prayers, that it may all

be for Your glory, we praise Your name(the only one worthy of our praise).

c. What we need daily, only the necessities, not the lusts for this world. We pray remembering that all providence comes only from You alone, that it is by Your grace that we may get what we need. And this bread also is ‘given’ to us, that we need not repay it, but gladly and humbly accept it from You.

2. Luke 11:5-10a. No! if a friend would even, because of one’s persistence give what the

persistent one wants as he is too ‘irritated’ by him, will not the Father, abounding in mercy and lovingkindness, give to His children when they knock on the door? And this Father will not give evil to us!

b. He will! For He who is faithful tells us to “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you”.

3. James 1:5-8a. Ask in faith without any doubting!(ah! Help me Father, to have more

faith in you, and less in myself!)b. Not be double minded and faithless of the One whom has all power,

sovereignty and holds the entire universe together!c. Like the waves of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind(ie the

surrounding circumstances, which make it move in one direction for a moment, and at the next, head the other way!)

d. No! he should not expect God to give him an answer, or anything!

i. Doubting is a sin – it is disbelief that God can do it, if He wants to – confess, and do not sin!

e. Knowing that “from Him and through Him and to Him belong all things”, that He is the provider and sustainer, the loving Father who will not give his son a snake when he asks for a fish. He can, if it pleases Him. To Him be all glory forever and ever.

LESSON 3: How to live by the power of the Holy Spirit

I. Part one: What the Holy Spirit doesA. He unites us to Jesus(Conversion)

1. 1 Corinthians 12:3a. He cannot confess that Jesus is the Lord, unless by the Holy Spirit.(Total

Depravity)b. Nope! The Holy Spirit removes the veil of sin that has so covered our

eyes ever since the advent of original sin. c. You cannot curse Jesus.

2. 1 Corinthians 12:-13a. We are all members of this one body under the headship of Christ.b. Yes! Universal church-that of this one body, there are many members

like parts of the body.3. Ephesians 3:16-17

a. He prays that the Lord may make us strengthened with power through His Spirit for His glory, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, and that we may be rooted and grounded, sure of His great and all-surpassing love.

b. That in the building up and working out of our faith, we may be strengthened in the Holy Spirit in our hearts, to be allotted the strength of perseverance, growth and the ability to do what He has in store for us. That the Holy Spirit may also work within us to help us understand, and be certain and sure of it, that we may truly comprehend the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge.

B. He Assures Us(Witness of the Spirit)1. Romans 8:15-16

a. He is called the ‘Spirit of adoption’b. With the Spirit, our sins have been forgive, we are set free from

bondage to sin, and are vindicated, adopted and grafted onto the true vine(Rom 11:17-25), hence, we are able to recognize God as our Father.

c. That we are “children of God” and hence, “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ”. We have an inheritance in the Holy Kingdom that is yet to come.

2. Ephesians 1:13-14a. We are sealed in Christ(forever, the H/S is God, is sovereign, and no one

can remove the Holy Spirit from us- perseverance of the saints) by the Holy Spirit that He promised to us, and it is also a promise in itself, that He will deliver us/has delivered us from the sin on the day of Judgment.

b. He is the ‘pledge of our inheritance’-the Holy Spirit reassures us that we are children of God, reminding us that we will be resurrected and have eternal life in Christ.

c. We are redeemed as God’s possession, saved from sin and eternal condemnation, that we may look forward one day, to communing with God for all eternity!

C. THE SPIRIT RENEWS US TO BE LIKE JESUS(SANCTIFICATION)

1. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18a. Where ever the Spirit of the Lord is(dwells)-> anthropomorphism there

is no place where God is not at(relationally, and in terms of sovereignty). b. More and more like God, in His imagec. The Holy Spirit does the transformation

2. Galatians 5:22-23a. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

and self controlb. Somec. Hate, fear, anxiety, intolerance, selfishness, devious, untrusting, brutish,

unrestrained3. Romans 8:9

a. The Spirit that dwells in me – I am bought with a price, I am not my ownb. The flesh and its sinful desires and cravings do not bind me.

PART TWO: HOW TO LIVE BY THE SPIRIT

A. Being filled with the Spirit 1. Galatians 5:25

a. The Spirit gives us life, freeing us from being dead in our sins and trespasses

b. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that one is able to walk by the Spirit – the Spirit strengthens, corrects, convicts and teaches us what is

pleasing in God’s eyes, that we may not ‘carry out the desire of the flesh’(Gal 5:16) and what is leading us astray!

c. Nope! We should act, and familiarize ourselves with God’s word, that in conjunction with the Spirit, we may mature in our faith.

2. Ephesians 5:18a. Not to be drunk on wine – on the things of this world, that lead to

nothing productive.b. To be filled with the Holy Spiritc. Being captive and strengthened by the Spirit, let us glorify God in all our

actions by keeping His law and doing His will, not quenching the Spirit.B. How to live by the Spirit(submit and rely on the Spirit – filled)

1. Galatians 2:20a. ‘it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’b. The Spirit of God dwells in me(Rom 8:9) – “If we live by the Spirit, let us

also walk by the Spirit”(Gal 5:25)c. To live by faith in the Son of God – to believe, trust and surrender to the

saving power of Jesus’ blood, believing that whatever He said would come to pass, and surrendering our lives to be subject and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

2. Ephesians 3:16-17a. That the Father may strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit,

that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, and that we may know the fullness and be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love.

b. Often! Daily!c. Memorize Ephesians 3:16-20

LESSON 4: HOW TO PROFIT FROM THE BIBLE

I. Part one: What the bible isA. The Bible’s author

1. II Tim 3:16a. All scripture is inspired by God – God breathed!b. All of it! All scripture

2. II Peter 1:20-21a. No, the revelation of the bible is the mind and will of God – what He

wants us to know. It is written by men “moved by the Holy Spirit” and “[spoken] from God”.

b. A scribe - the Holy Spirit dictates, he writesc. Author of the Bible

B. The Bible’s subject1. Luke 24:44-47

a. God/Jesus – from the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms(Old Testament), to the New testament, which is in essence, a record of what Jesus did, and a fulfillment of the prophecies about Him, His teachings etc.

b. Christ would suffer and die on the cross, after which He would be resurrected and that His name will be proclaimed to all the nations of the world, in the call to repentance and forgiveness of sin through Him, beginning from Jerusalem

C. The Bible’s purpose1. Romans 10:17

a. God’s word produces faith.2. II Timothy 3:15-17

a. Teaching, reproof(rebuke/reprimanding), correction, training in righteousness

b. That we may have adequate to do every good work that God has planned for us to do in this lifetime. The bible is also the means by which we gain wisdom(seeing unity in diversity, seeing and understanding God’s love for us, understanding ourselves better, the mind of God, the wretchedness of man etc etc) that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

i. Crf: Acts 20:32 => the word of God is able to “build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified”

c. NOPE! The bible is like a buffet spread, how can one not eat and still grow?

The Bible is authoritative because God is speaking,

infallible in all it teaches because God is perfect,

completely sufficient for our needs because God is all-wise.

It is understandable because God was pleased to speak to us in human

words.

II Part Two: How the Bible is to be used

A. Public preaching1. Romans 10:13-17

a. That others may believeb. Others hear the gospel and the Holy Spirit may work within those elect

to bring them to God, in His own time.2. I Timothy 4:13-16

a. To emphasize public reading of scripture, exhortation (An address or communication emphatically(forcefully, w/o a doubt) urging someone to do something.) and teaching.

b. Pay close attention to his own conduct, and also to what he teaches, that he may not lead other astray.

c. That he himself may be strengthened in his faith and understanding of God, so that he can ascertain his faith truly, and also ‘save’ others(tho it is the work of the Holy Spirit, not us).

B. Baptism(merged with, filled with, washed, overwhelmed) and the Lord’s Supper (seal us in His love, and

communicate+ confirm His grace to us through physical symbols: ie. Visible word)

1. Baptisma. Luke 3:16

i. The Holy Spirit descending on us, being poured out on us and reigning in our lives.

b. Romans 6:3-5i. We are baptized into His death – merged together, the efficacy

of His death was for us.ii. Unites us with Christ, hence, we are empowered by the Spirit to

fight and triumph against sin.c. Acts 2:38

i. We will receive forgiveness from our sins, and also the gift of the Holy Spirit from God.

ii. We are to repent for our sins.

iii. To those who have faith and truly believe.2. The Lord’s Supper

a. 1 Corinthians 11:23-29i. Bread – body of Christ, broken for us. Cup – blood of Chirst, new

covenant of grace.ii. In remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross for us.

iii. We proclaim the Lord’s death, for in His death, we have life and salvation.

iv. We are to thoroughly examine ourselves(search our hearts if there are any sins that we have yet to confess, and pray for our forgiveness), that we may eat and drink in a worthy manner.

v. If we eat and drink in an unworthy manner, we eat and drink judgment upon ourselves.

b. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17i. We are sharing the Lord’s body and blood

ii. We are united to Chirst and in Christ.

C. Private Bible Study1. Colossians 3:16

a. Dwell in me richly.b. To gain wisdom to teach and admonish one another with the Word of

God(psalms), hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your heart to God.

2. Acts 17:11a. Examine the word with great eagerness.b. To ascertain truth for themselves.c. Yes, that we may not be swayed by false doctrine, that we may know

more about God, and hence ourselves. 3. II Timothy 3:15

a. The sacred writings – the Bibleb. Able to have wisdom, and it also leads us to salvation through faith in

Christ Jesus.

LESSON FIVE: HOW TO OVERCOME SIN – FORGIVENESS

I. Part one: What sin is and doesA. The nature of sin

1. 1 John 3:4a. Sin is lawlessness – disobedience of the divine law and instruction given

by the Lord, creator, sustainer, director. It is rebellion against God.b. His law – the law was given to us so that we may know we are sinful,

and that we need grace.(Romans 3:19-20)c. The Ten Commandments(Exo 20:1-17)

2. James 2:10-11a. Yes, once guilty of one sin, one has already transgressed the entire law.

(v11)b. All of it –but because we are sinful humans, we cannot.

3. Nahum 1:2-3a. He treats them as His enemies, reserving wrath, who being just, will not

let the guilty go unpunished(v3; Ex 34:7)b. Slow to anger, abounding in lovec. Guilty will be punished – guilty, not sinful. Guilt/sin is different – upon

salvation through the blood of Jesus, we are now blameless(Col 1:22)4. Isaiah 59:2

a. Distinction between a Christian and an non-Christian must be made. For a Christian, it ‘separates’ us from God. God is not constricted in the sense that we have the power/sin has the power to separate us from God (Rom 8:38-39), or that God is unable to influence us such that we are kept from sin or that we have blocked God off(still sovereign and all powerful). See notes sketch page 2 for example/illustration. For a non Christian, he has never seen himself as needing a savior, and has already isolated himself

from God. until and unless God works in him, he will always be separated – permanently, not

temporarily like the Christian.

b. He cannot ‘not’ hear, because He is relationally with us always(omniscience), otherwise the sinner will never be able to be saved because He ‘cannot hear’ his heart cry out in repentance. Rather, we have deliberately chosen NOT to listen to Him as an act of rebellion.

i. God may chose to let us be in our own sin till we realize it when something happens to us, or He may intervene to save before we actually meet with that something, but either way, it is His decision and His will.

ii. We must know though, that since we have been given the Holy Spirit, He will never leave us nor forsake us, but will dwell in our hearts and bring us along the path of sanctification. But as a real Christian, the Holy Spirit will work within us to convict us of our sins and let us genuinely seek and desire to please God. If we don’t have that….we are to question if we are indeed a Christian

in the first place…or if we have separated ourselves from God so much so that our rebellion is so great..God is loving, and forgiving, if you return to Him, He will embrace you as He embraced the prodigal son(even to the extent of humiliating Himself by running to the son

in public…awww…the Love of God)(: II. Part Two: God’s solution to our guilt

A. Christ’s work for us: The basis of justification1. 1 John 2:1-2

a. Jesus Christ!b. He is the propitiation for our sins – He died for our sins on the cross.c. He turned away the wrath of God from us.

2. Gal 3:10 -14a. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christb. Any trespass of even the most minute of the law, will be under the curse

of God.c. By the law – for the law is dead, and the law was given to remind people

of their need for God, no one is untainted, everyone will fall.d. He became a curse for us, in our place, that we may not need to suffer

torment in hell and separation from the Father!

B. Our forgiveness, justification by faith1. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

a. Through Jesus Christb. By the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, He died for our sins, in our

place. God placed the trespasses of the world on Jesus, His son, who bore it all on calvary’s cross.

c. No He did not.d. He was the perfect, all-sufficient price for our sins: He took our sins on

our behalf.e. Justified through Christ – set free from the bondage(contract to pay for)

of sin, we become ‘righteous’ in His eyes, in the sense that though we are not perfect law keepers, we are blameless before God now.

2. Romans 3:19-28a. Vindicated, to be declared righteousb. No – the law is the ruler by which we measure and none of us will/are

ever up to mark! (knowledge of sin, Rom 3:20)c. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – see also Psalm 14:1-3d. He died for us! He was the propitiation for our sins!e. We are justified/acquitted/made righteous by FAITH alone.f. We are reconciled to God being now considered righteous.

3. Romans 5:1a. We are at peace with God.b. Through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. Part three: Dealing with sin as a ChristianA. Confess our sins

1. 1 John 1:8-9a. The truth is not in us – only by recognizing that we are sinners do we

recognize the need for grace and a savior – Jesus Chirst.b. We must confess our sins to God.c. He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and forgive us our sins. d. He is faithful(to His promise/covenant through Jesus, as a loving Father)

and righteous(Christ Jesus was the epitome of righteousness as God, and when He sacrificed Himself for us, He was poured out for us, vindicating us and making us righteous- a just God can be satisfied by a just sacrifice).

2. Psalm 32:2-5a. His body wasted away, and he was groaning because of the weight of

God’s hand upon him. He was not in good health, nor at peace, nor had he the energy or the joy of the Lord.

b. No, he was not in this situation.c. He acknowledge his sin to God by confessing his transgressions to the

Lord, and did not hide his iniquity(immoral behavior).d. Forgave the guilt of his sin.

LESSON 6: HOW TO OVERCOME SIN – REPENTANCE

I. Part one: The power of sinA. John 8:34

1. We were all slaves to sin2. Under dominion of, wholly subject to as one’s property.

B. Ephesians 2:1-31. I was dead! ): 2. I could not save myself, I was totally captive to sin, as an inanimate puppet is

moved only by the puppeteer, all I did was subject to satan’s control.3. Satan):4. My sinful lusts of the body and mind, indulging in the desires of the flesh. 5. Children of wrath(only capable of destruction – be it to self, others or of our

own evil desires of the heart!)C. Romans 3:12

1. Cannot do anything good2. Nope. Dead alr):3. Despicable, destined for hell and worthless creation that only infuriates Him!

D. 1 Corinthians 2:141. Cannot accept, nor understand the things of the Lord!2. Foolishness – cannot comprehend their own sin, cannot see a need for a savior,

nor understand the things of the Spirit. Simply because the Spirit does not dwell in them, and they are veiled by sin, to reject God by the inborn evil within them.

3. NO.

II. Part 2: Christ’s victory over sinA. Christ’s work for us

1. John 8:34-36a. Free us from bondage to sin!b. No, there is no middle ground – saved or unsaved, God haters and God

lovers2. 1 Peter 2:24

a. He bore my sins in His bodyb. That we may now be empowered(die to sin) to live righteously – the

focus is on salvation, not on righteousness, cos no one can be righteous(ie. Sinless before God), unless saved by the blood of the Lamb.

B.Our union with Christ1. Colossians 2:12

a. We are arise by Him from the deadb. Buried in baptism – when we are baptized in the body of Christ, we are

sealed in His death(die to sin); as we are sealed in His death, so are we also sealed to life(life of righteousness) when He rose. All this is by faith from God that we are now made a new creation.

2. Romans 6:1-7

a. It shows our union with Christ –inseparably sealed by baptism through Faith given by God.

b. Our former selves were crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with.

c. We are no longer slaves to sin.3. Colossians 3:9-10

a. My old self of immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed(which amounts to idolatry)

b. A new self, setting my mind on the things above(by the true knowledge of Christ), not on the things on earth.

III. Part 3: How to overcome sinA. Our attitude

1. Romans 6:11-13a. We should hate it and think of it as something of our past lifeb. Grateful, thankful! That I am alive in Christ!c. Do not let sin reign in my body such that I obey its lusts! d. Present myself to God as one alive from the dead, and every part of my

body as an instrument of righteousness to God. 2. Colossians 3:5-8, 12-14

a. We are to consider them DEAD – lifeless, no longer apart of us, whom are alive, powerless!

b. <<>>c. Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,

forbearance, forgiveness and love!B. Our means and power

1. The Holy Spirit : Romans 8:12-17a. We are not under obligation to the flesh – we can step out of sin!b. Put to death the deeds of the body, by the power of the Holy Spirit!c. The Holy Spirit!d. We are led to know our sins, and empowered to renounce them; and

according to the moral will of God given in the Bible, bear the fruit of His Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

e. As we suffer against our sins, we must remember that we will one day be glorified in Him, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us”(Rom 8:18-25)

2. The Word of God, John 8:31-32a. We must know the truth

b. The Word of God which is the Bible – understand the teachings that God reveals to us, and apply them, unlike a man who sees his image in a mirror and at the next moment when he walks away, forgets it. The Spirit takes the word and makes it effective in our lives. Remember also the armour of God: Shield of Faith, sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

3. Faith and Prayer: Galatians 2:20a. Christ is my true life, Christ lives in me!b. Live by faith in the Son of God – obeying His word, pleasing Him,

glorifying Him, enjoying Him, looking forward to the day that we will meet Him!--- Faith expresses itself in prayer, because we believe in God, therefore we call out to Him.

4. Christians & Church discipline : Galatians 6:1a. We are to restore(notice ‘restore’ is used, not rebuke. To restore

something is to bring it back to the original, the original truth in Christ) b. Be gentle to him/her (in a spirit of gentleness), prayerfully committing

the brother/sister as well as yourself to Christ, for apart from Him we can do nothing, and we ourselves may fall into sin!

c. Yes!

LESSON SEVEN: HOW TO LOVE OTHERS

I. Part One: Our motive for loveA. God is Love : 1 John 4:7-8

1. We are born of God, love is a characteristic of being born again!

2. They are born of God, and they know God!3. No! if you do not love, you do not know God, if you do not know God, how can

you be a Christian?B. God has shown us love : 1 John 4:9-11

1. He gave us His own son as the sacrifice/atonement for our sins.2. We should love others as God has loved us!

II. Part Two: The character of loveA. Love is an action: 1 John 3:16-18

1. Jesus is the patter for us to love – what are inconveniences, scolding, being looked down upon, when considered to the death Christ paid for our sins? He loved us so much as to die for us.

2. He laid down His life for us3. He commands us that we “ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”(v.16),

and not be stingy with what we can provide for others in need.4. No. actions speak louder than words!5. We are to love in deed and in truth – in actions and with sincerity, not a

hypocritical heart!6. <<>>7. Go out of the way to help others, even when it is clearly not my job. Show care

and concern about them.B. Love is an attitude: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

1. Patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant(humble), does not act unbecomingly(restrained), does not seek its own(selfless), is not provoked(to quick anger), does not remember wrong suffered(forgiving), does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth(is delighted with honesty), bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

a. Bears – does not give up or take the easy way outb. Believes – that God is in control(Isaiah 46), and that He works all things

according for the good of those who love Him,.c. Hopes – does not condemn, but commits to God, knowing that God can

change him/her/the situation etc.d. Endures – while the moment may not yet be right for the Lord’s timing,

so one endures and waits upon the Lord.2. Impatience, stingy, jealous, shows off, arrogant, rude, selfish, easily provoked to

anger(hot tempered), counts the wrongs of others, lies.3. Only Jesus Christ!(: and I think daddy and mommy, and maybe bel!(: hee!

III. Part three: The people we love

A. Loving other Christians(The Church)1. What the Church is

A. Romans 12:4-5i. Members of one body

ii. We are bound together in Christiii. The body cannot function as it is supposed to – in the same way that an

automatic transmission, no matter how refined and sophisticated, even if one gear is missing, the entire can either not function at all, or not function as well.

B. Ephesians 1:19-23i. All rulers, authority, power, dominion, man, beast, nature, satan,

Christians etc –in short, everything! ii. The Church is His body – the King’s kingdom is His church. A king has

nothing to rule over if he does not have his people.C. Ephesians 2:19-22

i. We are fellow citizens within the saints, part of God’s household(family). We are also building blocks of the holy temple in the Lord, built together by the work of the Holy Spirit.

ii. Made up of saints, citizens of God’s household, fitted together to be a holy temple with Christ as cornerstone, built together by the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

D. The apostles and prophets – apostles => new Testament, prophets => old Testament…thus the bible, word of God!

2. Leadership in ChurchA. Ephesians 4:11-13

i. Apostles(ardent supporter with direct contact with Christ), prophets(as in the OT times, to speak forth revelation from God through His messages to them and us), evangelists(preachers), pastors(guides/mini shepherds of His flock in love), teachers(gifted in making known God’s truth to us).

ii. Evangelists, pastors, teachers(Prophets and apostles were only for the foundation of the church –Eph 2:19-20)

iii. To equip us(for our battle is not against flesh and blood, but is a spiritual war –Eph 6:12), to build up(ie. Strengthen) the body of Christ.

iv. That true believers may be united in Christ(genuine faith), and come to possess true knowledge(not speculative, or simple acknowledgement of God as savior, but genuine affection, intimacy and honor of Him) of God through the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit– that we may mature and come to become the perfect man(not in this world)

B. Hebrews 13:17i. We should obey and submit to them

ii. They are like your shepherds, whom are accountable for you. If you keep running away, it is likely an act of arrogance and rebellion, thinking that we know better and that the shepherd is falsely out to get us, or is not up to par, provided what he/she says is according to scripture.

3. Life in the ChurchA. Colossians 3:12-17

i. We are to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love.

ii. We should bear with them, and forgive them, just as the Lord forgave our iniquities.

iii. Love unites Christians – that we may be set apart in this increasingly corrupt and selfish society.

iv. Let the peace of reconciliation rule our hearts – vindicated and blameless before God, reunited with Him by His son’s death. That we may do all things with the objective of glorifying God as His children. Word of God dwell in us, because nothing in the world can satisfy, nothing is worthy of this.

v. Do everything(speech or act) for His glory, giving thanks that we have the opportunity to do so, and can even do so, solely by His grace and reconciliation.

B. Loving non-Christians1. Non Christians in general: Gal 6:10

a. Everyoneb. Nope! They will know we are Christians by the love of Christ that flows from us.c. <<Colleagues>>

2. Those who hate us : Luke 6:27-28 , 36a. We are to love our enemies and do good to those who hate usb. We should pray for them and bless them c. WE should be merciful just as our Father has shown us mercy – even the non

Christians love those whom are good to them, how can our life be a testimony to God if we do not go beyond that? Let us witness for Christ following the example of His love.

IV. Part Four: How to loveA. Knowing God’s love

1. 1 John 4:19-20a. We can love because He first loved us – we cannot love by our own

powerb. No! If we do not love whom He commanded us to love, we do not know

Him, for if we love Him we will obey His commands(Jn 14:15).

c. You are a liar, and must truly ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart if you are truly a new creation in Christ.

2. Romans 5: 5a. The love of God is poured out into us.b. The Holy Spirit

3. Colossians 3:13a. To bear with and forgive one another. b. Because Christ loved us and forgave us our sins.

4. John 15:9-12a. Christ has loved usb. We are to abide in His words, that He may abide in us.c. Keep His commandments – 10 commandments and love your neighbor

as yourselfd. To obey his command to love

B. Trusting God to help!1. Philippians 4:13

a. All things!b. He has more than enough with Christ as His supplier– grace supplied to

him from God, strength to endure whatever he may face, through Christ who strengthens him.

2. Philippians 4:6a. Everything! In all circumstances, we are to pray to God with prayer and

petition/supplication(to humbly beg) with thanksgiving.b. Yes!

LESSON EIGHT : HOW TO ENDURE SUFFERING

I. Part One: Suffering and our sinA. Suffering as discipline for our sin: Hebrews 12:1-11

1. Everyone whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.

2. We should endure it, for it is God caring and loving us, that He wants us to be more like Himself!

3. We should submit to God, humbly repenting for our sins and understanding His best intentions for us.

4. He disciplines us for our good, that we may become more holy – sanctification!5. It yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness – though currently there is physical

pain, it yields spiritual peace in holiness and doing what is right in God’s sight.6. Fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author(beginner) and perfecter(who will see it to

completion) of our faith, remembering the hostility he faced to set us free and purchase pardon for us.

7. We will grow weary and lose heart.B. Suffering as a result of our struggle with sin

1. Romans 7:21-25a. Though Jesus saved our souls from eternal separation from God, hence,

our inner man(spirit concurs with the Law of God), but the body wages war against our spirit – while we are in this body, we are still prisoners to the law of sin in our sinful bodies.

b. Wretched manc. YES! ): I am so evil):

2. Romans 8:12-23a. We are under obligation to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.b. The Spirit leads us to put to death the deeds of the fleshc. The Spirit testifies with our spirit(soul) that we are children of God(He is

our Father), that we are not in bondage to sin.d. We suffer with Christe. Christ has overcome this world! He is to be glorified through His

suffering in the past.f. That we may one day be glorified with Him, this glory that will be

revealed in us surpasses our understanding, and will be greater than the best possible recompense that we can think of! Hence, we must have faith and hope in the Lord, believing what He is saying!

g. Unworthy to be weighed against our present sufferingsh. We wait eagerly to be redeemed, and to have a new, perfect body,

when so, we may be blameless and commune with God as His sons!II. Part Two: Suffering and Our Faith

A. James 1:2-41. We should consider it ALL JOY – all, not just in part, but the whole process, pain,

stings, conclusion etc, all JOY! For we know that God disciplines His children to make them Holy like Him! His discipline is a show of His love for us! Praise God in trials, for He does it for our own good(Heb 12:4-11)

2. That we may become perfect and complete(sanctification process)3. That our faith may be tested, and through perseverance/endurance in trials we

may be made more and more in the image of Christ! That our new man may grow and mature.

4. That we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing – when we have first salvation, and then bear the fruit of the Spirit, we become a holistic, new creation, that when others see the things we do, they give glory to the Father in heaven(Matt 5:16) perfect and complete(holistically), lacking nothing(physical and spiritual reform)

B. Romans 5:3-51. Perseverance(endurance), character(bear fruit of the Spirit), hope(faith in Christ)2. We do not have an empty hope(faith) in God because His love has been poured

out on us(note poured – not sprinkled, not dripped, but poured, LAVISHED) by the Holy Spirit, whom testifies with our souls/spirit that we are children of God, that we may understand with irrefutable certainty that God is whom He said He is, the one true, promise keeping(covenantal), sovereign God our bible is hence true, and hence all that it teaches us and asks us to hope for(suffer now, exceeding glory in Christ later –Rom 8:18) is all credible and true.

C. 1 Peter 1:6-71. Because we have an inheritance that doesn’t perish(v4-5)2. That through temptations and trials we find ourselves changed and sanctified

such that we are able to give praise and glory and honor to God in the circumstances and furthermore when we meet Him in our new bodies!!

3. Salvation of our souls! Glory & honor to God! Pleasing Him!(v8-9), at the revelation of Jesus Christ(resurrection).

III. Part Three: Suffering for Christ and righteousnessA. Suffering for righteousness

1. 1 Peter 2:18-25a. Consider God, for he gives us the conscience to know we are not

suffering in vain.b. The Lord is said to favor (shower grace upon) those whom suffer

unjustly for righteousness sake.c. No, they are not. For we have been called as children of God to live holy

lives, just as our Father is holy(1 Peter 1:16), and in doing so, the flesh is set against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh(Gal 5:17) we are daily putting to death our flesh

d. Christ Jesus, who was without sin, yet took the blame for ALL sin.e. He did not complain, He did not curse, He just endured…

2. 1 Peter 3:13-17a. You are blessed – gaining favor in the sight of God…good((:

b. Do not be intimidated by the dark, foreboding circumstances, do not be troubled, for we are on the side of Him who has overcome all these.

c. Sanctify(set apart) God as Lord in your heart(Set apart – holy, revered, on the throne of your heart, to control, to lead, to command, and to instruct you), and when others question us why we can take it and not complain, why we are so different, we must be prepared to share the hope(gospel) and the source of our strength(Christ) with them with gentleness and respecting them.

d. By always living in a godly manner, that others will not have a chance to slander us, and even if they do, our actions will prove otherwise.

e. They(slanderers) will be put to shame, and God will be honored!B. Suffering for the name of Christ(1 Peter 4:12-19)

1. We participate in Christ’s sufferings too!2. I should keep on rejoicing, for how pale does my suffering seem when compared

to Chirst’s on the cross?3. When we rise again, we will be joyous when He comes again!4. To the revelation of His glory!5. The Spirit of God rests on us, for without the Spirit, we are unable to do anything

good! The Spirit is exceptionally ‘close’ to us, to provide strength and help(spiritually, that we may be able to rejoice!)

6. We are to be glad for He is suffering for the glory of God! We are to entrust our souls entirely to our FAITHFUL CREATOR(Faithful – will not give us more than we can bear, has a purpose for us, loves us etc)(Creator – conservatio(Conserves: Acts 17:24-28),concursus(causes all things to work together: Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11) , gubernatio(Director, everything planned and known: Isaiah 46))

Lesson Nine: How to deal with your emotions

I. Part One: Fear and worryA. Proper and improper fear

1. Ecclesiastes 12:13a. To fear God and to keep His commandsb. No!

c. Godly fear – fear such that we flee from sin!2. Matthew 10:27-31

a. Fear of those or anything who cannot kill your soulb. We need not fear them nor the circumstances because we ourselves are

loved by God, and He has power and dominion over all things, He is in control, and circumstances that we face are in His secret(decretive) will.

c. Fear Him who can both kill the body and the soul in hell.(Jesus Christ)3. 1 Peter 3:13-14(??)

a. The world or anything in it, everything, except the Lord.b. Death!

B. Wrong and legitimate concern1. Matthew 6:25-34

a. What you shall eat, what we need to survive on, what we shall wearb. YES! Not pleasing God =P

2. James 4:13-17a. Yes, to plan it without including God in itb. Yesc. Pray and commit the plan that you have to the Lord, that it may be

honoring to Him, and ensuring that your plan does not go against His commandments, after which, keeping in mind that we do all things for His glory, go ahead!(:

C. God’s solution to improper fear and worry1. God’s sovereignty: Ephesians 1:11

a. Yesb. All thingsc. Nope, none by luck either, all in His pland. Yes, all things are predestined according to His purpose who works all

things after the counsel of His will.2. God’s promise: Romans 8:28

a. He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, and whom are called to His purpose(salvation).

b. Yesc. Nope! Only when we draw far away from God

3. Romans 8:38-39a. No! Christ is all-powerful God, if He chose me, whose power is greater

than His to draw me away from Him?b. Nothing!

4. Matthew 6:32:33a. Yes He does!b. No!

D. Overcoming the habits of fear and worry1. Focusing on God’s promises(Faith)

a. 1 Peter 3:13-15i. We are to sanctify(set apart) God as Christ in our hearts!

ii. To place God as Lord over everything that we think about, always remembering that He is in sovereign control, and that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

b. Psalm 37:1-5i. Trust in the Lord and do good, have faith in Him, delight in the

Lord, commit my way to the Lord, trust in Him.ii. He will give me the desires of my heart, for I desire according to His

will!2. Calling upon God(Prayer)Philippians 4:4-7

a. Pray about everythingb. Humbly beg and thank God c. We will be at peace in knowing that He is in ultimate control – not the

feeling, or just the feeling alone, but we will no longer have anxiety.d. Yes. Knowing that God hears our prayers!

3. Obeying God firsta. Matthew 6:31-34

i. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.ii. Seek to do His will - that the furtherance of His kingdom, that good

may be done to others first, that His gospel may be spread, and His righteousness be lived out in our lives, according to what pleases Him, for He will provide all that we need, according to what He knows we need.

b. Ecclesiastes 12:13i. Fear God and obey His commandments

ii. No!

II. Part two: Anger and bitterness

A. Anger and bitterness are forbidden: Ephesians 4:30-321. Unwholesome words – all bitterness(marked resentment), wrath(vengefully

angry), anger, clamor(unruly protest), slander(falsely/maliciously state something about someone), malice(evil intent to harm)

2. The Holy Spirit ):3. Be kind to one another, tender hearted and forgiving, following in the example

of ChristB. How to deal with anger and bitterness

1. Following the example of Christ: 1 Peter 2:21-23

a. NOb. He did not revile in return, He did not threaten, He just kept entrusting

Himself to God who judges righteously.c. Entrust it to God who judges righteously.d. No, for how different will we be from non Christians if we are?

2. Practical suggestions: Ephesians 4:26-32a. Nope! We will give the devil a foothold!!!b. With patience, grace and not unwholesome words.c. Edify and give grace to others, building them up.d. Yes, as Christ did, so must I do!e. Just as how by grace I have been loved, as God’s child, let me be a chip

off the old block(:

III. Part Three: Depression

A. What depression isB. God’s solution to depression

1. Changing our focus: Philippians 4:4-9a. Rejoice in the Lord!b. Always!c. Whatever is true(Word of God), honorable(decent), right, pure(clean),

lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise.d. Practice what God teaches us through His word.

2. Changing our actions: Genesis 4:2-7a. God looked with favor upon him whom had done right in His sight, to

him whom the Lord did not favor, was miserable.b. To master sin: To do good, not evil, for in doing well, he would be

accepted by Christ, but if he did not, sin was crouching at his door, waiting to devour him.

c. He would be accepted by the Lord.d. Sin and how it is crouching at our door, it desires for us, to make us

rebel against God.

Lesson Ten: How to have a Christian Marriage

I. Part one: The Marriage bondA. God’s plan for marriage: Genesis 2:18-35

1. The beasts of the field were not suitable helpers for Adam2. Get all the beasts to come before him to find a suitable helper.3. A suitable helper.4. From his ribs, he made a woman5. He cherished her as the bone of his bones, the flesh of his flesh.

6. His father and his mother7. Joined together as one flesh.

B. God’s requirement of fidelity: Matthew 19:4-61. God joined together2. Man must not divorce unless there is immorality3. No!

C. Divorce and re-marriage1. Matthew 19:8-9

a. Adulteryb. Immorality

2. 1 Corinthians 7:12-15a. Nopeb. Let her go in peacec. Yes, he or she may remarry

*Divorce is not part of God’s original plan for marriage(Matt 19:4-6), and only under the circumstances of adultery or desertion of a non believing spouse is re-marriage allowed

II. Part Two: The roles of husbands and wives

A. Wives: Ephesians 5:22-241. Wives are to be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord in everything2. When she submits to her husband, she submits to Christ3. As Christ is the head of the Church, the husband is the head of the wife. Just as

the church is subject to Christ, so the wife must also be subject to Christ.B. Husbands: Ephesians 5:25-33

1. Love your wife2. To the same extent as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for Her3. He died for the church that we may be sanctified and cleansed, holy and

blameless such that we may be reconciled to God.4. Husbands ought to love his wife as his own body5. Nope, the husband should care for his wife on the same level, or even deny

himself for his wife. (sacrificially)

III. Part 3: Solving problems in marriage

A. Seeking forgiveness: Matthew 7:1-51. Judge others2. Your own sin!

B. Granting forgiveness: Ephesians 4:31-32

1. Being angry is a motivator to solve problems is acceptable when out of love, though we must be cautious that it is only a righteous anger that is acceptable, and that in your anger, do not sin(ie. Lash out, spite, etc).

2. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other3. As God’s children, we seek to remember Christ’s example, that he has forgiven

you so hefty the weight of your many sins, can you not be more forgiving?C. Attacking problems, not people.

1. Ephesians 4:29a. No unwholesome word at any moment, and speaking sparingly

according only to what is necessary, for where words are many, sin is not absent.

b. Edify according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear it

2. James 1:19a. Quick to listen(instead of jumping to conclusions)b. Slow to anger and slow to speech

LESSON ELEVEN: HOW TO USE YOUR RESOURCES

I. Part One: Perspectives on your resourcesA. God is the owner of all things

1. Psalm 24:1-2a. Godb. Godc. God

d. He is the creator of all things, and even of TIME!2. James 1:17

a. From Godb. God, because every good and perfect gift is from Him.

B.God is the ruler of all things1. Job 14:5

a. God’s will dictates that we live for a set time.b. Godc. Nope, for I do not know when I will die, or be stricken, time is in the

hands of the Lord!2. Isaiah 45:7

a. Godb. Nope! Nothing is by chance! God’s sovereignty owns!c. No! God is in controld. God rules and controls all!

II. Part Two: How to use your time and energy

A. Good stewardship of time and energy1. Ephesians 5:15-16

a. We are to live carefully, not as unwise but as wise because satan wants to tempt us to use our time unwisely in vain persuits

b. No!c. Time probably the most precious resource from God, every second that

is wasted cannot be turned backd. Days are evil! Want to lead us to stray from doing things pleasing to

God!2. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

a. Nope! b. Busybodies, not doing their own work but seeing and thinking about

what others are doingc. Work in humility and eat according to their work! Not to live off others!

B.Priorities in your use of time and energy1. Time with God

a. Psalm 119:9-11(reading the word meditating on commandments)i. By seeking God with all my heart and keeping His commandments

ii. Treasuring the Word of God in heart that we may not sin against God.

b. Colossians 4:2-4(Prayer and sharing the gospel)i. Praying for and in everything, with an attitude of thanksgiving

ii. That we may have a way and opportunity to speak the gospel of Christ, for which is our duty(imprisoned).

2. Time Working: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12a. Lead a quiet life, attend to your own business, work with your handsb. That we may walk decently in the eyes of outsides(whom are always

prying towards Christians’ lives!) and be in need of nothing.3. Time with family: Ephesians 5:22-6:4

a. Respect their husbands and be subject to themb. Love their wives as they love themselves and as Christ loved the churchc. Not to provoke your children but bring them up in discipline and

instruction in the Lordd. Honor your parents

4. Time with the body of Christ: Hebrews 10:25a. Meeting togetherb. Encourage each other and support each other, not be like a brood of

vipers attacking each other!5. Time in service to others

a. Galatians 6:10i. To all people

ii. When we have the breath of life(while we have the opportunity). While we are still able to!

b. James 1:27i. Nope!

ii. Those in needc. Colossians 4:5-6

i. Yes, at every opportunity let us share!ii. Not always =X

III. Part three: How to use your money and possessions

A. The needs of your family1. 1 Timothy 5:8

a. His own familyb. You have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.

2. Titus 3:14a. Learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs(not wants, but

the dire needs of those whom really need)b. Because we are commanded to, and also that through this denying of

ourselves, we learn to love and bear the fruit of the spirit.B. The Elders(ministers, pastors) who instruct you

1. 1 Timothy 5:17-18

a. Elders who rule well, especially those working hard in preaching and teachingb. YES!

2. Galatians 6:6a. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who

teaches him.b. Nope, but we should show our gifts and heart in appreciation of their

guidance, help, and teaching(:A. Those in need

1. 1 Timothy 6:17-18a. He should not be conceited or fix his hope on the riches of this world which are

uncertainb. Fix my hope on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. To do good, to

be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.c. No!!!

2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9a. Nope! He loves a cheerful giver!b. I must decide on my ownc. No! He is able to make all grace abound to you, that I may have sufficiency in

everything, abundance for every good deed(:

LESSON TWELVE: How to witness to others

I. Part One: The motivation to witness – God’s commandA. Our corporate responsibility as God’s people

1. The command of Christ: Matthew 28:18-20a. All authority on heaven and on earthb. Go and make disciples of all nations

c. Teach them to obey all God’s commands2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

a. By word of mouth, and also in power(miracles and signs then at that time) and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction.

b. They welcomed it with much joy though they were persecuted.c. The word of the Lord was spread far and wide

B. The power to witness(The Holy Spirit)1. God’s promise to the Church: Acts 1:8

a. We will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us(the Holy Spirit is poured out upon us when we come to believe in Christ(Pentecost, and Acts 2:37-38)

b. His witnesses c. To all parts of the earth!

2. Acts 4:23-31a. Grant that your servants may speak your word with confidenceb. God filled them with the Holy Spiritc. They began to spread and speak of the gospel with boldness.

II. Part Two: The Message

A. The Basic Message(Christ)1. 1 Corinthians 15:1-7

a. Christb. He died for our sins, and was buried and rose again on the third day

according to the scriptures. And He revealed himself to his 12 disciples and then to all the apostles, and about five hundred people.

2. John 3:16-17a. God’s only sonb. His love for us- that we would not perish but be savedc. Believe in the name of God

B. Necessary background knowledge( Acts17:22-31)1. He began with observations about them – that they were very religious2. Points

a. God made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth.

b. He does not live in temples made with hands, nor is He served by humans, as though He needed anything, since He was the giver of life and breath and all things.

c. He made every nation out of one man, and has determined their history and the things to be, their waking up and their falling asleep.

d. That we might grope around in darkness and try to find Him, though He is not far from any one of us, for we subsist in Him, and He alone sustains us!

e. He is not like any gold, silver or stone, nor an image formed by the art and thought of man(we cannot comprehend Him).

f. He makes a call to all people that they should repent from their ignorance, for there is a date of judgement in righteousness which none without the blood of the perfect sacrificial lamb that will not be damned.

g. His judgement will occur through Jesus Christ in His second coming since He rose from the dead 3 days after He was crucified on the cross!

III. Part 3: The Method

A. General Principles1. Colossians 4:5-6

a. Be wise in the way we deal with them- remember that testimony is not just in speech, but also in works!

b. Every opportunity that the Lord allows us to share the gospel and reap the blossoming fruit

c. Always be gracious, with Christian conduct, and without back biting or putting the other down harshly, showing all manner of wisdom in explaining our points and gently refuting theirs. As a meal seasoned well, that they may be inclined to know and willing to hear more.

d. Always be ready to give a response for the reason of our hope, with meekness and in fear(reverence of the Lord): 1 Peter 3:15

2. 1 Peter 3:15-16a. He should be set apart as Lord in my life!b. To give a defense to everyone who asks me to give an account of the

hope that is in mec. With gentleness and reverence and in good conscience

The great I AM(Exo 3:14), “God of all flesh” for whom “nothing is too difficult”(Jer 32:17). You are my sole “helper”, the “sustainer of my soul”(Ps 54:4) and “[upholder] of all things” (Heb 1:3). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Ps 46:1), who according to His purpose [,works] all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph 1:11), by which “all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).

“[Your] purpose will be established” according to “[Your] good pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10). For just as you “[call] a bird of prey from the east, the man of [Your] purpose from a far country’, so “truly [You] have spoken; truly [You] will bring I to pass”(Isaiah 46:11). As “[Your] ways are higher than [my] ways, and [Your] thoughts than [my] thoughts”(Is 55:9), so I humbly submit to You “my Lord, I have no good besides you”(Ps 16:2).