Weekly Challenge: SIN

Once again, thanks to everyone for the great discussion last night.  So many great points were made by several different people which deepened my understanding of the subject at hand.  I hope everyone in attendance feels the same way.

In our discussion of 1 John 3:4-10 we talked about the role that sin plays in a Christian's life and how to deal with it.  We understand that sin is not intended to be in a Christian's life, as we continually strive to be like Jesus until the day in which we will see Him as He is and be like Him.


All that said, sin does still tend to creep up in our lives, even habitual or so called "pet" sins.  Through our discussion we came up with a few steps of what to do with sin when it comes up:

1) Know what the sin is

2) Call it out

3) Confess it

And all 3 of these steps are bathed in a "spirit of repentance."

The Challenge:
1) Read and reflect on David's example of this process in Psalm 51.
2) Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal sin in your life.
3) Go through the steps above and include another person in the process.

In Him,
Aaron

Weekly Challenge: Our Born Identity

What a wonderful discussion last night.  I don't know about you but I think I learned more during our 30 minutes of discussion than I did during the whole week of preparation.  Thanks to all for your thoughts and for being willing to share.

Last night we studied 1 John 2:2 - 3:3.  In this passage we learned that those who are born of God naturally practice righteousness.  Additionally, those who are born of God are looking forward in hope to Jesus' return when we will see Him as He is and be like Him.  The result of this hope is that we naturally purify ourselves in anticipation of the future:

FATHER                                    HOLY SPIRIT                                                       SON
BORN OF GOD leads to PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS/PURIFYING SELF in anticipation of SEEING/BEING LIKE JESUS

However, through our discussion we realized that this teaching presents us with a problem.  We seem to very quickly turn practicing righteousness into an  idolized checklist that, when incomplete, results in God's disappointment in us.  We need to recognize this as a lie and bask in the wonder of being called God's children and being considered righteous in His eyes through Jesus' death and resurrection.  Then let that Truth move us naturally into the practice of righteousness and purification.

THE CHALLENGE:
1) Spend time this week reflecting on 1 John 3:1.
2) Spend time in prayer thanking God for calling you His child and loving you unconditionally.
3) Come to class next week prepared to share how the Holy Spirit moved you this week as you basked in the wonder of that Truth.

In Him,
Aaron

Weekly Challenge

Last night we looked at the problem facing the readers of John's first letter in 1 John 2:18-27:  false teaching.  John laid out 3 things that remind us how to combat false teaching.
1) THE PROTECTION:  The Holy Spirit who seals and indwells us all.
2) THE DOCTRINE:  Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ and the Son of God.
3) THE DEFENSE:  Abide in the Truth, the Message, in the Spirit and in the Son.

As we discussed what it means to "abide" in all of these things we listed the following items:
Be a disciple
Continual learning
Pursue the Spirit
Read/Study the Word
Live what you learn
Communal study, worship and fellowship
Surrender
Be real and authentic

THE CHALLENGE:
1) Dwell on the fact that you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have access to Him at all times.
2) Remind someone else his week that THEY are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have access to Him at all times.
3) Determine what area above needs more attention in your life and prayerfully develop a plan to move to the next step in that area.

In Him,
Aaron