In Faith (Leader's Manual)

’s IN FAITH {leader manual } we believe

IN FAITH

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SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: Holiness Unwrapped.

What and Why We Believe.

IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following, remembering to include reference to the suggested Scripture and how it relates to the topic (see page 03 of the In Faith book): 1. Discuss mankind’s tendency to stray from what God tells us is best for us.

Genesis 3:6; Romans 7:19, 20 2. What are the consequences of going our own way rather than obeying God? Genesis 2:15-17; Matthew 7:13, 14; Philippians 3:18, 19 3. What ways or procedures did people in the Old Testament devise for showing their repentance? What arguments might we put forward to avoid admitting our guilt for wrongdoing?

Genesis 3:12-14; Genesis 4:9; Isaiah 1:10-17; Matthew 25:24, 25 4. John 3:16 indicates that God acted out of love when he ‘gave’ us his Son. Try to consider how costly this may have been.

John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15 Activity Ideas •• Read the passage from What and Why We Believe (written in 1955, revised 2009, see text on page 08).

•• Read the passage from Holiness Unwrapped (see text on page 08).

•• Give the group one minute to come up with as many examples as possible of ways in which relationships can be damaged or run into difficulties. This can include relationships between family members, between two individuals, in a neighbourhood or community, within a nation, or between nations. What are in faith

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IN FAITH

FAITH – ITS HEART

some of the consequences of damaged relationships?

•• The main text speaks of problems occurring ‘within individuals’. What kind of problems could this refer to?

•• Being disobedient to God can involve not only doing and saying what is wrong, but also failing to do or say what is right. Give some examples of this and 01 the consequences that might follow.

IN PRAYER Pray that God will help us see the link between our wilfulness, the need for his action to save us, and the total self-giving this required.

Father God, we recognise that in our own strength we often follow our own desires and go our own way instead of your way.

We know we cannot change by our own efforts. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for us, so that our relationship with you can be put right.

SESSION OUTCOMES •• Recognising that people have always turned away from God and gone their own way.

•• Understanding that human efforts have never been able to restore a right relationship with God. •• Understanding that God sent Jesus to put things right.

•• Recognising that the self-giving of God in Jesus was very costly.

– faith – its heart one

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IN FAITH

THE ATONEMENT SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine.

What and Why We Believe.

IN DISCUSSION 02 Take time to discuss the following (see page 05 of the In Faith book): 1. The great act of reconciliation has been accomplished by Jesus. What part do we have to play to enjoy its benefits and make it personally effective?

1 John 2:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts 2:38, 39; Hebrews 3:12-15 2. When we speak of Jesus as our Redeemer, what does this mean?

Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 1:13 3. ‘Jesus gave all that he was to rescue us from our hopelessness’ (see the main script). We are urged to give him our ‘all’ in return. What does this mean and how can we do it?

Mark 12:41-44; Matthew 13:44-46; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 10:27 4. The phrase ‘whosoever will’ in our sixth doctrine implies we are given the choice to accept reconciliation or turn away from it. Why is it important that we have this choice?

John 3:16; Revelation 22:17 Activity Ideas •• It is hard for our human minds to fully understand the Atonement. Depending on your group, it may be helpful to in faith

– the atonement one

share the following extract from The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine (see text on page 09). There is more material in the section ‘For further exploration 6’ on pages 134-144 of the Handbook.

•• Read the passage from What and Why We Believe (see text on page 09).

•• Think of some of the ways the words ‘atonement’, ‘ransom’ and ‘redeem’ are used in ordinary language outside the Church. Consider whether this is helpful in understanding the work of Jesus.

•• Look at the section in your Salvation Army Song Book that relates to the death of Jesus on the Cross. Find descriptions of his death as sacrifice, redemption, ransom and atonement.

•• Perform a role play in which two people have a serious quarrel. In the play, show how it takes both people to effect reconciliation. This would be suitable as an introduction to the module.

•• Find an example from current news bulletins/newspapers of two people/ groups/ countries where there is separation/conflict following

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disagreement. What steps are being taken, or could be taken, to bring about reconciliation? This would also be suitable as an introduction to the module.

IN PRAYER Bring your ‘all’ to the Lord in prayer and ask him to receive and bless you Lord Jesus, we are deeply thankful that you gave your life for us, so that we can be reconciled to God. In return, we give our lives to you and pray that you will receive us and give us the assurance that we belong to you.

03 SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding the meaning of ‘atonement’ in the context of the sixth doctrine.

•• Understanding that reconciliation between God and man is only possible because of the death of Jesus.

•• Understanding that we have to play our part in order for reconciliation to be effective in our lives.

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IN FAITH

SUPPORTING RESOURCES Book: The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine.

IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 07 of the In Faith book): 1. Compare someone being brought back to life and the resurrection of Jesus. What is the difference? Why is it significant?

Matthew 28:5-7, 11-15; Acts 2:32; Romans 6:4 2. Discuss our need to ‘die to self ’ in 04 order to discover ‘resurrection life’.

John 12:23-25; Philippians 3:10, 11; Ephesians 2:4-7 3. Reading the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection shows there was much confusion and bewilderment at first.

How might the different accounts help us share in the reality of this unique event – something beyond anyone’s full comprehension?

John 20:1-9; Mark 16:1-8 4. Why does resurrection life bring ‘life in all its fullness’?

John 10:10; Acts 3:15; 1 John 5:11, 12 Activity Ideas •• Read the passage from The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine (see text on page 10).

•• Depending on your group, you may want to look at the other accounts of the Resurrection in Matthew 28:1-10 and Luke 24:1-49.

•• Ask each member of the group to write one sentence describing ‘life in all its fullness’. Share what has been written.

This should give an idea of the richness of this life.

•• Ask each member to draw something in faith

– the resurrection one

that illustrates the meaning of ‘life in all its fullness’.

•• Consider the words of the chorus: Because he lives I can face tomorrow, Because he lives all fear is gone; Because I know he holds the future, And life is worth the living just because he lives.

William J. Gaither (Happiness and Harmony No 7) IN PRAYER Thank God for the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Ask that you may know and experience the eternal quality of life it brings.

Father God, we rejoice to know that Jesus rose from the dead and so conquered sin and death. We thank you that because of this we can enjoy fullness of life here and now. May we experience daily your life in us.

SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that the resurrection of Jesus was the climax of his saving work.

•• Understanding that the resurrection of Jesus made it possible for everyone to receive a new quality of life.

•• Understanding that for this new life to be received, it is necessary to die to self.

•• Understanding that resurrection power is eternal.

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FAITH AND DOUBT SUPPORTING RESOURCES Book: Called to be God’s People.

IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 09 of the In Faith book): 1. Discuss the three main reasons listed in the War Cry survey for people finding it hard to believe in God. How well do you identify with them?

Psalm 22:1, 2; Matthew 27:46; Psalm 10:1; Psalm 12:1, 2; Psalm 14:1-3 2. Discuss the three main reasons listed in the War Cry survey that helped people believe in God. How well do you identify with them?

1 Timothy 4:12; Matthew 6:8; Job 19:25-27 3. Read the story in Luke’s Gospel (16:19-31) of the rich man who wanted his self-indulgent brothers warned about the torment awaiting them, then discuss why Jesus considered it to be a pointless exercise.

Luke 16:19-31; 1 Corinthians 2:14 4. Jesus was understanding about Thomas’s doubts. How understanding do you think he is to those today who find faith in God difficult?

John 20:24-29; 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 10 Activity Ideas •• Jesus said of John the Baptist: ‘Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist’ (Matthew 11:11), yet he had doubts about who Jesus was. Read Matthew 11:2-5 and consider how Jesus answered John’s doubts.

•• The book by C.S. Lewis Surprised by Joy is an old Christian classic describing one man’s spiritual search which eventually in faith

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IN FAITH

THE RESURRECTION

led him to Christ. It is worth reading if you have access to a copy.

•• Discuss with the group whether they think it is acceptable for someone to testify in a meeting that they have doubts about their faith. How should the situation be handled?

•• Consider the statement ‘Faith is not faith until it is all you have’. What is it saying?

05 Do you agree with it?

•• Talk about any doubts that may have come to you. Why did they come? What helps them go?

•• Read the ‘Call to Cultivate Faith’ chapter of Called to be God’s People, and then discuss this passage (see introductory text on page 11).

IN PRAYER Pray for those whose doubts may outweigh their faith. Ask for guidance to help build up one another in faith.

Dear God, we pray for those who are struggling with doubts on their faith journey. As they continue to seek, may they find you. Help us to be sensitive to each other’s needs and to speak helpful words that will encourage others in their faith.

SESSION OUTCOMES •• Acknowledging that some people find it difficult to believe in God. •• Understanding that there are many different reasons why a person may not come to faith.

•• Understanding that faith is about trust and trusting.

– faith and doubt one

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FAITH – THE DIFFERENCE SUPPORTING RESOURCES Books: In God We Doubt.

Heroes of the Faith.

IN DISCUSSION Take time to discuss the following (see page 11 of the In Faith book): 1. Discuss the fact that ‘faith’ and ‘sight’ are different. What implications does 06 this have for Christians?

2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; 1 Corinthians 13:12 2. Discuss the truth that the things that last for ever – such as faith, hope and love – are unseen. How much care do we take to develop them?

1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 1:5-8 3. Compare the statement, ‘There is no mathematical equation that will prove God’s existence’, with ‘It is by trusting God – and only by trusting – that we discover him to be true’.

Isaiah 26:3, 4; Proverbs 3:5-7; John 20:31 4. What difference does faith in God make to your life?

Romans 5:1; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:22, 23; Galatians 5:6 Activity Ideas •• Depending on your group, you could try the following exercise: Divide into pairs. One person stands behind the other. The person in front, without looking round, allows himself to fall backwards, trusting that the other person will catch him. It is a very in faith

– faith – the difference one

good illustration of acting by faith, not sight!

•• Read Hebrews 11 – the whole chapter or selected verses. It is a list of people who demonstrated remarkable faith in God. Think of Christians in your own country – past or present – who have shown great faith, and talk about some of their stories.

•• Read the story of Joel Mbambo Matunjwa in Heroes of the Faith.

IN PRAYER Reflect in prayer on the difference faith in God makes to your life – and what further difference it could make.

REFERENCED RESOURCES FOR THIS UNIT This unit relates in particular to doctrines 5, 6 and 7, and also to doctrines 8, 9, 10 and 11.

BOOKS The Introduction to Holiness Unwrapped (with DVD), Australia Eastern Territory, Robert Street, indicates that Jesus – as holiness unwrapped – shows us by means of human relationship what God is like.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, Salvation Books, chapter 6, p 135, explains how Tyndale came to ‘invent’ the English word ‘atonement’.

As noted in the In Purpose book, The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, chapter 1, p 3, outlines the centrality of the grace of God to Christian belief and teaching.

The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine, chapter 6, p 131.

In God We Doubt, by John Humphreys, Hodder and Stoughton, discusses reasons why people both believe and don’t believe in God.

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IN FAITH

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES What and Why We Believe, Harry Dean, Salvation Books, IHQ. WEBSITES www.salvationarmy.org/onearmy www.salvationarmyspirituallife.org

Father God, we thank you for the way our lives have changed since we put our faith in you. We thank you too for ongoing opportunities to grow in faith. Help us to continue to put our trust in you in all circumstances.

SESSION OUTCOMES •• Understanding that faith is different from sight.

•• Understanding the consequences that follow from putting faith in God. •• Acknowledging that although faith in God cannot be scientifically measured, those who trust in God find a deeper quality of life.

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@TSAOneArmy What resources would you add?

Let us know by emailing OneArmy@salvationarmy.org or visit www.salvationarmy.org/ onearmy/resources

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CHAPTER FIVE ‘The Sin of Man’, pp 4547 in What and Why We Believe.

INTRODUCTION ‘Jesus – Holiness Unwrapped’, p 1 in Holiness Unwrapped.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the use of the terms ‘fall of man’ and ‘original sin’ would have caused sceptical smiles in many high-brow circles. Those people nurtured a belief in the ‘inevitable progress of mankind’. Today, however, living as we do in the wake of two world wars, there are evidences of greater realism. And indeed some of these ‘intellectuals’ have turned to the Christian faith primarily because it does declare these very truths.

There’s no better aim for a Christian than to be like Jesus – and there’s no better way to become more like him than to let him live his life in us.

If man is not ‘fallen’ how is it that he is ‘down’? Can anyone today doubt that he is ‘down’? Recall what this century has 08 produced: the most brutal savagery in concentration and slave-labour camps; racial hatreds; a divorce rate that leads some sociologists to despair of marriage as an enduring institution; and the horrors of napalm, cluster bombs and so on – not to mention atom and hydrogen bombs.

Man’s own record of progress is mainly along one line, that of scientific research – certainly not along moral and spiritual lines – and the stages of such progress are marked by the advent of new and more destructive weapons. Undoubtedly, man is ‘down’ and many fear that before long he will be ‘out’ as well, for now he has power completely to destroy himself. Salvationists believe that his only hope lies in the clear recognition of his standing as a sinner before a holy, loving, personal God. Hence the relevance and validity of our fifth doctrine.

Man has always been his own biggest problem and greatest enemy…

Man’s greatest need is a way of deliverance from sin and its consequences.

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Jesus exemplifies everything we could hope to be and what we ought to be. His goodness shines like a beacon in a world darkened by wrongdoing and self-interest.

So it’s no surprise that in our complex fastmoving era, which often has no clear cut solutions, many Christians find themselves frequently asking the question ‘What would Jesus do?’ Faced with challenging or difficult situations, people the world over look to Jesus for guidance and direction – wanting their actions to reflect him.

Significantly, he left in the Gospels guidelines for daily living and lived by them himself. He proved their worth and set us an example. He showed by his own life that what he taught could be successfully embraced. What would be the point of giving us directions if they couldn’t be followed?…the call to holy living runs throughout Scripture and is both worthwhile and workable. In Old Testament times, the holy God could seem to be so far above us that he was in ‘splendid isolation’. Then Jesus came. He literally brought God down to earth. And he showed us, in human form, what a holy life was really like. Jesus was holiness unwrapped.

As we see in him what we would like to be, he is more than willing to help us.

CHAPTER 6 ‘Understanding the Atonement’, pp 129-130, The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine.

There is no single comprehensive way to interpret the Atonement through the sacrifice of Christ. But in the New Testament, helpful analogies and images, when taken together, provide insight into its meaning: 1. Ransom Jesus himself indicated that he had come as a redeemer to give his life as a ransom (Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:6). The term ‘ransom’ was used in the slave markets of the ancient world where a slave was set free through the payment, by another person, of a redemptive price. This picture illustrates our captivity to sin and shows there is a price to be paid if we are to be set free. Our redemption is costly.

2. The law courts Another concept was borrowed from the law courts: anyone who breaks the law, which is given for our good, deserves punishment. In God’s morally ordered world sin has consequences. Jesus paid the penalty and bore the cost of sin on our behalf: ‘He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities’ (Isaiah 53:5). Christ voluntarily accepted punishment as a substitute for us (John 10:11-18; 15:13).

3. Redemptive sacrifice Another New Testament picture of the Atonement emphasises that Christ became the once-for-all sacrifice which buys our salvation (Hebrews 10:10-14). He gave himself for our sin and so fulfilled the purpose of the great sacrifices of the Hebrew faith, to restore the fellowship between God and human beings (Matthew 26:28).

The death of Christ provides a way

by which all people can be reconciled to God (Ephesians 1:7). His was a vicarious sacrifice, that is to say a sacrifice made on behalf of others. It was not made for his own sin, for he was sinless: it was made for us – on behalf of humanity (Romans 3:25, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

4. Victory over sin The New Testament describes Christ’s sacrifice as a victory over sin and over the powers of evil which imprison humanity. By our faith in what he has done for us we participate in the achievement of Christ’s sacrifice. The Cross, the place of seeming defeat, is actually the place of triumph. Christ’s victory on the Cross becomes our victory (Colossians 2:13-15).

5. Self-giving love The Cross of Jesus is at the heart of the reconciling work of God. It is also the most effective picture of self-giving love (Romans 5:8). We can be drawn to it or repelled by it, but, when acknowledged, few can remain indifferent to the God it reveals. It is a call to be reconciled to the God of the Cross, and to love as he loved us (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19).

CHAPTER SIX ‘The Atonement’, pp 49-51 in What and Why We Believe.

This statement [Doctrine 6], which is at the heart of the Christian message, prompts a number of questions, but the two most important are: how did the death of Jesus make atonement, and how am I saved as a result of his death?

In facing the first of these questions we must be careful not to divorce the Cross from the revelation of God which Jesus brought. Too often the Cross has been fitted into a ‘Judge-prisoner’ rather than a leader’s manual

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‘Father-child’ relationship, which was the essence of Jesus’ teaching about God. Our relation to God is not a legal one, but a personal one.

Jesus and God are one. There can be no conflict in the Godhead. The death of Jesus did not alter God’s attitude to us, it simply revealed it. The early Christians saw in his death the love of God. It was the grace of God that erected the Cross of Christ.

But why was the Cross necessary? One answer to this question, though by no means the only one, is that Jesus had to die so that sinful man might know the final truth about God. Truth is conveyed by words and deeds, and words are such 10 inadequate things with which to describe God. Even had they been adequate, they need not be believed. They can but tell the truth; they cannot convey it, for they lack compelling power. If words had been equal to the task of conveying to man the truth about God, a book could have saved mankind. But no, the Word had to become flesh. And even Jesus’ words were open to misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

So the truth about God had to be unmistakably demonstrated. His love had to be put beyond all shadow of doubt.

Now Jesus knew the final truth about God. He knew that as soon as sin entered the world sorrow entered God’s heart. ‘He saw an infinite holiness bearing all sin’s consequences, and fighting it with love and love alone.’ In other words, he saw a Cross.

His problem was this: how was mankind to see that Cross unless he brought it out of the invisible heart of God into the midst of this sinning world? ‘The Cross was the most stupendous of all Christ’s parables – a parable in flesh and blood.’ It speaks the unutterable truth about God… How then does the Cross save man from his leader’s manual

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sin? The deadly thing about our past sins is not that they are past, but that they have become part of ourselves. Our sins have become our sinfulness. The only way to be saved is to be changed from what we are. It follows that we cannot be saved by anything that is merely external to ourselves, nor anything that is merely in the past.

Salvationists believe that the life of Jesus, poured out in the sacrifice of death and released by the Resurrection, is available to all who accept the condemnation that the Cross brings and see in it the visible pledge of what God is, and what he does for ever.

By faith we can ‘prove his death each day more healing’.

A final word: it is not our view of the atonement that saves, for there have been many and varied theories. It is the fact of the atonement that saves, and the history and existence of the Christian Church, in spite of its many failings and weaknesses, bear adequate testimony to its abiding efficacy.

For that reason the Resurrection provides the triumphant climax to the gospel proclamation of the earliest Christians.

The obedient self-giving of Jesus has opened the way to his exaltation and to our salvation (Philippians 2:6-11).

‘Call to Cultivate Faith’ p 74, Called to be God’s People.

There are some exciting words in the Call to Cultivate Faith. Take note of them – explore, develop, create, encourage. There are some challenging phrases – new ways, training people, spiritually mature, educationally competent, biblically informed, culturally relevant, educationally sound. This Call cries out to be noticed, to be taken to heart, to be taken seriously, to be put into operation.

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CHAPTER 6 ‘Atonement through Christ – C. Our crucified and risen Lord’, pp 130-131, The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine.

It is through the death of Jesus that our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from death is the ultimate confirmation of God’s work of salvation through him (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). The Resurrection is God’s great life-affirming act which transcends the boundary between life and death. God’s creative power at work here reveals his glory and greatness. In his resurrection Jesus Christ passed through death to a new life in which he reigns with God the Father in Heaven (Ephesians 1:19b-21). By the Resurrection his people are led to worship him as Lord and follow him into eternal life (Acts 2:32-36). leader’s manual

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