/EDWJextraMJ10

EDWJextra

Session 1: Sanctified and enriched in Christ Icebreaker What might others think you are obsessed with and why (eg football, fashion, fishing, food, family, fame, Formula 1, photography etc)?

Key thought Paul’s writings show that he was obsessed with the concept of the believer being ‘in Christ’.

An understanding of this special position of blessing can release Christ’s dynamic power into our lives as we seek to continually ‘abide in Him’.

Key verse ‘To … those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy …’ 1 Corinthians 1:2 Discussion starters 1. Explain Selwyn’s contrast on 1 May and the difference between sanctification as a doctrine or a dynamic.

2. How do we abide in Christ?

3. Try to agree a definition of the word ‘grace’.

4. Do you concur that grace, guidance and gumption are essential elements of Christian service? Which is most important?

Living in Christ MAy/JUN 2010

Every Day with Jesus group resource

1—7 May

Session 2: Growing into Christ

The example of Jesus ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ 2 Corinthians 8:9

Icebreaker Show some different kinds of seeds and ask people to guess what types of plants they would grow into. What would limit their growth? What may limit our spiritual growth?

Prayer pointers • Pray for the doctrine of being ‘in Christ’ to become a dynamic.

• Pray that your life will leave a trail of light and joy.

Key thought All the potential of God is available to us ‘in Christ’. Just as vast trees grow from tiny seeds, so we can grow into the ‘fullness of Christ’.

Key verse ‘… to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’ Ephesians 4:12—13 Discussion starters

8—15 May

7. Describe the characteristics of a ‘father in Christ’.

8. Which qualities of Christ’s life need to be developed in your own life?

The example of Jesus ‘And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.’

(Luke 2:52, The Message) Prayer pointers • Pray for one another to grow into all the fullness of Christ.

• Pray that Christians will not follow the latest trend, but Christ Himself.

For your next session together, try and bring pictures of each of you when babies or very young.

1. Contrast seeking wisdom and righteousness by attainment rather than obtainment.

2. Why are human attempts at sanctification doomed to failure?

3. What are the signs of spiritual infantilism?

5. List the different types of riches we receive from God.

4. In which areas do you need to grow spiritually and how will you do that?

(See 2 Peter 1:3—11.)

6. Contrast a rich person with a poor soul and a poor person with a rich soul.

5. Why should we develop a varied diet of Christian teaching?

7. How has Christ changed your life and your attitude to others?

6. What are the differences between a father and a manager? www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra Session 3: A changed person Icebreaker As suggested last week, some of you will have brought photographs of yourselves taken when you were babies or very young. Spend time guessing who’s who!

Key thought A Christian is a changed person. You are not who you used to be. You are not simply a better person but a brand-new creation, ‘born again’ in Christ.

Key verse ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.’ 1 Corinthians 6:11 Discussion starters 1. Sensitively describe your life before and after meeting Jesus.

2. How can we be more receptive to the Holy Spirit?

3. How can we avoid a status culture in the Church?

4. What is the nature of true freedom?

5. What advantages do committed Christians have when they marry?

6. Could a modern missionary be regarded as an apostle?

7. What may a lack of conversions in a church signify?

Living in Christ MAy/JUN 2010

Every Day with Jesus group resource

16—25 May 8. Outline the characteristics of an apostle.

9. Could a woman become Archbishop of Canterbury? (See Colossians 4:15b.)

10. How can faith in God and His Word help our relationships?

The example of Jesus ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’ John 13:15 Prayer pointers • Pray that women in the Church might be free to realise their full potential in Christ.

• Pray for Christian marriages to be strong and an example of Christ’s love for His Church.

Session 4: Resurrection life Icebreakers • How did you spend the bank holiday?

• What are you looking forward to in heaven?

Key thought Being in Christ affords us not just life after physical death but a life on earth that is full, fruitful and free from fear and hopelessness.

Key verse ‘And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.’

Romans 8:11 Discussion starters 1. Why should we not fear death?

(See Hebrews 2:14—15.)

2. In what sense are we always present with the Lord, alive or dead?

(See 1 Thessalonians 5:9—10.)

26 May — 5 June 9. Contrast God as an ‘employer’ with a human employer.

10. How can we encourage other Christians not to give up but continue their ‘labour in the Lord’?

11. How can we ensure our love is not exclusive but, like God Himself, includes all mankind?

The example of Jesus ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”’ John 11:25—26 Prayer pointers • Pray for those who are facing difficult issues at work or with their health.

• Pray that we might overflow in love not just to other Christians but to all with whom we come into contact.

3. What does Christ’s resurrection mean for us?

4. How can we leave a spiritual legacy?

5. Read 1 Samuel 12:24 and share some of the great things the Lord has done for you.

6. How is Christian joy different to worldly happiness?

7. Why can Christians boast and be proud?

8. When is boasting right and when is it wrong? www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra

Session 5: Filled with the Holy Spirit Icebreakers • Sing or recite a hymn or chorus with a focus on the Holy Spirit, eg ‘Breathe on me breath of God’.

• What is your favourite symbol of the Holy Spirit and why, eg dove, wind, water, rain, seal, fire, breath, oil?

Key thought The Holy Spirit is not just a theological concept but is a real Person and a member of the Trinity, who loves to help us and reveal Jesus to us.

We cannot have a relationship with a doctrine but we can experience the comforting and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Key verse ‘Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.’

Ephesians 5:18 Discussion starters

Living in Christ MAy/JUN 2010

Every Day with Jesus group resource

6—11 June

6. Is your experience of the Holy Spirit simply a Christian teaching or a personal encounter?

The example of Jesus ‘As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.’ Mark 1:10 Prayer pointers • Pray for a greater understanding and personal awareness of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray for people to be filled with the Spirit.

Session 6: A new creation

12—19 June

Icebreaker What is your favourite aspect of God’s creation, eg an animal, the sky at night, Niagara Falls, moonlit sea, flowers, diamonds etc?

The example of Jesus ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16

Key thought Our own new creation in Christ is as much of a miracle as God’s physical creation and is arguably more beautiful and spectacular than anything else God has created.

Prayer pointers • Pray that the way you live will carry the fragrance of Christ to others.

• Pray for boldness to explain the new birth to people you meet.

• Pray for initiatives such as the Alpha and Christianity Explored courses to be even more effective in introducing people to Christ.

Key verse ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 Discussion starters 1. Share for prayer any issues in which you need God’s help to overcome.

2. How can we always be victorious, even in the face of loss and death?

1. How would you explain the new birth to a visitor to church?

3. Consider how the fragrance of a plant is most pungent when it is crushed. What may that mean for us?

2. How would you explain the Holy Spirit to a visitor to church?

4. Is the character of a teacher more or less important than his or her teaching?

3. What light has Christ given you?

5. How can church leaders avoid both heresy and adulation?

4. In what sense is Jesus not only the way of salvation, but also the way of true life?

5. Why are good doctrines and denominations insufficient for us to be established in the faith?

6. Share the story of your own new creation.

7. Why must we be born again?

8. What difference does becoming a Christian make to us? www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra

EDWJextra

Session 7: The Church of the Lamb Icebreaker What do you most like about your church?

Key thought God was in Christ reconciling us to Himself through the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus on the cross that we together might form the Church of the Lamb.

Key verse ‘And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation … Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain …”’ Revelation 5:9,12 Discussion starters 1. Discuss the phrase, ‘God is not against us for our sin, but for us against our sin’.

Living in Christ MAy/JUN 2010

Every Day with Jesus group resource

20—24 June

The example of Jesus ‘But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.’ Isaiah 53:5 ‘And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.’ Luke 2:52 Prayer pointers • Thank God that He thought of our salvation; thank Jesus that He bought it; thank the Holy Spirit that He wrought it.

• Pray that we might be transparently honest and true representatives of Christ to all we meet.

Session 8: Meekness and majesty Icebreaker What has most impacted you from our studies?

Key thought Meekness is not the same as timidity. Truly meek people have surrendered their own agendas to pursue the agenda of a higher authority and therefore carry the influence and power of that authority. (See Matthew 8:5—13.)

Key verse ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” … That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9—10

25—30 June

The example of Jesus ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus … he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him …’ Philippians 2:5—9 Prayer pointers • Pray a prayer of surrender to God and His purposes for your life.

• Pray that your attitudes and actions will be a true representation of those who are ‘in Christ’.

• Pray that the phrase ‘in Christ’ will not be an empty doctrine but a daily dynamic.

Discussion starters

2. Why do suffering and love often appear together?

1. How can we avoid being proud and have a proper humility when sharing our spiritual experience?’

3. Do you avoid the pain of others or embrace it in order to see them healed?

2. Why should we not always share our spiritual experiences?

4. How can we, like Jesus, have favour with God and men? (See Luke 2:51—52.)

3. How do you cope with unanswered prayers?

5. How should we correct other believers?

4. How can our speech always contain Christ’s emphasis and spirit?

6. Why should we ensure that we are accountable to others?

5. What is the paradox of our weakness in surrender to God? 6. Define ‘meekness’. What is the difference between a meek person and a weak person?

www.cwr.org.uk/edwjextra