November 5, 2017 – Bible Doctrine # 10 – The Christian Life

Survey of Bible Doctrine, Week 10 – The Christian Life: Our Worship, Work, and Walk

OUTLINE OF THE LESSON:

1. The Christian’s Worship
   • Prayer – Colossians 4:2
   • Bible Study – 2 Timothy 2:15
   • Church Attendance – Hebrews 10:25
2. The Christian’s Work
   • Witnessing – Acts 1:8
   • Loving One Another – John 13:34
   • Good Works – Matthew 25:34-40
3. The Christian’s Walk
   • Sanctification – 2 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 John 3:3
   • Assurance – 1 John 5:13

Lesson Date: November 5, 2017

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 25:34-40; John 13:34; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 10:25; 1 John 3:3; 5:13

AIM: To lead students to discover what the Bible says about the Christian’s worship, work, and walk, and to confess their shortcomings so they can recommit themselves to doing the things God expects of His children.

Before class: Get enough copies of the lesson outline handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Tell the following story to the class:

A man and his 13-year-old son went on a camping trip to the mountains of the western United States. They were looking forward to this special time together, hiking, mountain climbing, and enjoying God’s creation.

One day while hiking they heard some distant cries for help. Following the sound, they discovered a lone mountain climber who had fallen down a cliff and been injured. The climber was cut, losing lots of blood, and one of his legs appeared to be broken. It was obvious he had to be rescued quickly or he would die. Since the man and his son were experienced mountain climbers, they decided to try to reach the man and get him to safety. It would be risky, but they knew it had to be done: there wasn’t time to go for help.

While the man and his son were trying to rescue the hurt climber, the son lost his footing, fell down an embankment, and struck his head on a rock. He was killed instantly. The heartbroken father and the injured climber eventually made it to safety. The father was devastated by the loss of his son, but he was proud of his son’s unselfishness – his son died to save another person’s life.

Two years later the father happened to notice the name of the man he had rescued in the newspaper. He had made a full recovery, but the article said he had been convicted of brutally raping and murdering a teenage girl. Since this was his third conviction for a violent crime, he was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Ask: “How do you think the father felt when he read this newspaper article?” (probably sick at heart). Ask: “How do you think he felt about his son’s sacrifice?” (he may have felt that it was a waste to save such a wicked man or that his son had died in vain). Ask: “Would he have felt differently about his son’s death if the injured man had made a valuable contribution to society, rather than being a violent criminal?” (certainly).

Tell the class God sacrificed His beloved Son to pay for our salvation. We now live because of the blood of Jesus Christ, so God has a deep interest in how we use the life His Son paid for. Tell the class today’s lesson is about the Christian life. Give each student a copy of the lesson outline handout. Tell them we will learn about our worship, work, and walk. We hope to answer the question: “Now that I’m saved, what am I supposed to do?”

HEART OF THE LESSON (Central Truth):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that we are in a study of a “Survey of Bible Doctrine.”
   • Review the first eight lessons by reading the lesson titles found on page 3 of the Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (the results of salvation).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Phil. 1:6)
2. The Christian’s Worship.
   • Tell the class that the Christian life can be summed up under three headings. The first of these is the Christian’s WORSHIP.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Colossians 4:2.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (continue in prayer with an attitude of thankfulness).
   • Read 2 Timothy 2:15.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (study the Bible).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 10:25.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (don’t forsake the assembling of the body of Christ; in other words, don’t lay out of church).
   • Direct everyone’s attention to his or her lesson outline handout. Tell them that the Christian’s worship consists of prayer, Bible study, and church attendance.
   • Ask some diagnostic questions such as the following:
     • “Do you pray as much as you should?”
     • “What are some challenges to your prayer life?”
     • “What are some practical things that have helped your prayer life to be better?”
     • “Do you study the Bible as much as you should?”
     • “What are some things that prevent you from studying the Bible?
     • “Have you found any methods that help you have meaningful Bible study?”
     • “What does the word ‘forsake’ mean to you?”
     • “What are some reasons people give for forsaking church?”
     • “Are you as faithful to church as you should be?”
   • Offer some practical ideas about how to have meaningful prayer and Bible study. Tell the students how much prayer, Bible study, and church attendance mean to you.
   • Briefly remind the class of the introductory story. Remind them that Jesus purchased us with His blood.
   • Ask: “In light of this fact, how should we live out our Christian life?”
   • State that when a Christian neglects prayer, Bible study, or church attendance, he or she is telling God by their actions that they don’t care that Jesus died for them on the cross.
3. The Christian’s Work.
   • Tell the class the second aspect of the Christian life is the Christian’s WORK.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Acts 1:8.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (witness; in other words, tell others about Jesus Christ).
   • Ask a volunteer to read John 13:34.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (love one another).
   • Read Matthew 25:34-40.
   • Ask: “What activities did Jesus commend in these verses?” (ministering to the physical needs of others; in other words, doing good works).
   • Direct everyone’s attention to his or her lesson outline handout. Tell them that the Christian’s work consists of witnessing, loving one another, and good works.
   • Ask: “When was the last time you told someone about Jesus Christ?”
   • Ask: “Who do you know that is unsaved?”
   • Tell them witnessing is sometimes scary, but the best way to learn is to take part in regular visitation. Invite the students to come with you on visitation this afternoon.
   • Ask: “Does your life give evidence that you love other believers?”
   • Ask: “What are some practical ways we can show love to one another?”
   • Remind the class that salvation is totally God’s work and not the result of any good thing we did. We are not saved by doing good works, but after we are saved we will do good works (Eph. 2:8-10). Good works are an evidence of our salvation.
   • Remind the class of the introductory story. Remind them that Jesus purchased us with His blood.
   • Ask: “In light of this fact, what are some things we should do?”
   • State that when a Christian neglects witnessing, loving one another, or good works, he or she is telling God by their actions that they don’t care that Jesus died for them on the cross.
4. The Christian’s Walk.
   • Tell the class the third aspect of the Christian life involves the Christian’s WALK.
   • Read 2 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1.
   • Ask: “What does verse 16 say we are?” (the temple of the living God).
   • Ask: “What do verses 17 and 1 tell us to do?” (come out and be separate from the wickedness of the world, don’t touch unclean things, and cleanse ourselves).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell us?” (it is God’s will for us to grow in sanctification, so we should abstain from fornication).
   • Read 1 John 3:3.
   • Ask: “What does this verse tell Christians to do?” (purify ourselves).
   • Tell the class that these verses speak of our sanctification: the life-long process of turning from the sins of the flesh to be more and more Christ-like. Simply put, Christians are to grow in holiness.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 John 5:13.
   • Ask: “What does this verse say we can know?” (that we have eternal life).
   • Direct everyone’s attention to his or her lesson outline handout. Tell them that the Christian’s walk consists of sanctification and assurance of one’s salvation.
   • Ask some diagnostic questions such as the following:
     • “Are you more separate from the world and its uncleanness than you used to be?”
     • “Are you abstaining from fleshly lusts more than you used to?”
     • “Are you trying to purify yourself and live more like Jesus wants you to?”
   • Stress the fact that sanctification is a continuing process from the time of salvation until the Lord takes us home to heaven. We still have flaws and commit sins, but it should be evident that we are more Christ-like than we used to be. Offer some practical advice on how to grow in Christ-likeness.
   • Remind the class of the introductory story. Remind them that Jesus purchased us with His blood.
   • Ask: “In light of this fact, how should we live the Christian life?”
   • Sanctification involves work on our part, in both resisting temptation to sin and purposely seeking to live holy.
   • Some people are plagued by doubts about their salvation because they refuse to take God at His Word and trust His completed work of salvation.
   • State that when a Christian neglects his or her sanctification, or refuses to trust God and accept His assurance of salvation, he or she is telling God by their actions that they don’t care that Jesus died for them on the cross.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention to the lesson outline handout. Using that outline, briefly review what the students have discovered today about the Christian life. Ask: “In what areas of the Christian life are you weak or lacking? Are you weak in your prayer life, Bible study, church attendance, witnessing, loving one another, good works, sanctification, or assurance?” Tell the class that in a moment you will lead a brief time of prayer. The first steps toward correcting any area of weakness in our spiritual life are to admit it to God, confess it as sin, and commit to God to improve (asking for His help). Encourage the students to privately deal with God over these issues. Lead a closing prayer, admitting weaknesses, confessing sins, and committing to improve.

CONCLUSION: Remind the class that God began the good work in them and He will perform it (Phil. 1:6). He wants to help us live right. Offer to meet personally with any who need help and encouragement. Ask everyone to memorize Hebrews 10:25. Tell them next week’s study is about the doctrine of the church. What is a church and what does it do? They will learn the answers to those questions next Sunday.