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A 6-WEEK JOURNEY SECTION
S U P P L E M E N T A L S T U D Y
R O O T E DA L I F E S T Y L E O F R A D I C A L D E P E N D E N C E
© 2019 (Original Copyright 1996) Life on Life Ministries and Randy Pope. All rights reserved.
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Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
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For more information contact:
Perimeter Church, 9500 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097. 678.405.2000
C O N T E N T S
C O N T E N T S
INTRODUCTION ROOTED TO FLOURISH 3
ROOTED: A LIFESTYLE OF RADICAL DEPENDENCE 6
Unit 1 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Prayer 7
Unit 2 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Repentance 19
Unit 3 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Self-Denial and Sacrifice 37
Unit 4 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Obedience 53
Unit 5 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Discipleship 67
Unit 6 Rooted – In a Lifestyle of Forgiveness and Generosity 81
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I N T R O
R O O T E D T O F L O U R I S HA L I F E S T Y L E O F R A D I C A L D E P E N D E N C E
JOURNEY ➢ A LIFESTYLE OF RADICAL DEPENDENCE
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I have never claimed to have a green thumb.
Sometimes plants I water grow, sometimes
they don’t. Sometimes I know why they don’t
grow, sometimes I don’t. On one occasion,
it was blatantly obvious why a bush in my
backyard wasn’t growing. It was supposed to
be a beautiful rosebush with large blooms,
rich green foliage, and thick thorny stems.
Instead, it was mostly yellow. Its stems weren’t
thick. Its blooms were few. I assumed it was
a water problem. I don’t know much about
gardening, but I know plants need water. So, I
watered it. A lot. Probably too much. Nothing
changed. If anything, it got worse. The plant
was becoming more and more unhealthy.
Finally, in frustration one day, I decided it was
time to rip the bush out of the ground and start
all over with a new plant. It was a large bush,
so I assumed the roots were somewhat deep.
I grabbed the bush with both hands at its base
and squatted, ready to give it a huge tug to rip
it out of the ground. When I pulled, I was met
with very little resistance and ended up on my
back, having easily pulled the whole bush out
of the ground with way more force than was
needed. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, the bush
had no substantial roots. The plant couldn’t
flourish because the roots were shallow.
The Bible often uses agricultural imagery to
illustrate the critical need for God’s people to
be rooted in Him in order to spiritually grow. But
it’s not just about growth, it’s about flourishing.
God’s design is for His redeemed people to be
in a vibrant love relationship with Him where
their roots of dependence run deep and their
faith flourishes, experiencing the fullness of
His presence and renewal in their lives.
“That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.”
EPHESIANS 3:17B-19 (ESV)
A FAITH THAT FLOURISHES
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ROOTED IN GOD AND HIS LOVE?
That sounds nice on paper and all, but practically speaking, how is this supposed to
look? That’s what these next six weeks are all about. Various members of our staff at
Perimeter have written the following six units to help us begin to dive into what a rooted
life looks like, and it all centers around radical dependence upon the Lord.
If we are going to be Christians who are rooted to flourish, then we must be a people who are radically
dependent on Him to do what only He can do in and through us. With that understanding, there are
several critical “roots” that need to be nurtured in the Christian’s heart. Though not exhaustive, these
roots will serve as rich soil for strong spiritual growth and flourishing in the life of a follower of Christ:
Unit 1: Rooted in Prayer
Unit 2: Rooted in Repentance
Unit 3: Rooted in Self-Denial and Sacrifice
Unit 4: Rooted in Obedience
Unit 5: Rooted in Discipleship
Unit 6: Rooted in Forgiveness and Generosity
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Over the next six weeks, as we focus on these roots, we will be encouraged to take some steps
towards radical dependence. You will notice that in each unit there will be some additional
directed prayer times both in your personal preparation and in your group meeting. Because
prayer is at the core of a lifestyle of radical dependence, I would like to encourage you to not
simply complete the lessons but to engage with them prayerfully, trusting God to do what
only He can do in you and through you during this time. As the Lord continues to lead us and
His Church in triumphal procession, may we be a people who are rooted to flourish!
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UNIT 1 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Prayer 7
UNIT 2 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Repentance 19
UNIT 3 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Self-Denial and Sacrifice 37
UNIT 4 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Obedience 53
UNIT 5 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Discipleship 67
UNIT 6 ROOTED in a Lifestyle of Forgiveness and Generosity 81
T H E J O U R N E Y
A Lifestyle of Radical Dependence
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I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F P R A Y E R
R O O T E D
U N I T O N E
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily
Family Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
PERIMETER.org/b7-1
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
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TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God.”
EPHESIANS 3:17B-19 (ESV) –– option a
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 (ESV) –– option b
IN BIBLE
The natural disposition of my heart and your heart
is to be self-dependent, not God-dependent.
As followers of Christ, we have been redeemed
from sin and death and we have been made new
by the Holy Spirit, having received a new nature
that desires the things of the Spirit. However, we
still battle the sinful nature within us on this side
of heaven; and one of the more palpable and
seemingly relentless tugs of the sinful nature is
the desire to be self-governed, self-sustained,
and self-absorbed. This can all be summed up
in the overarching term, self-dependence. The
natural urge to be self-dependent is so strong in
us, that there must be a counteraction to it that
is so radical it begins to untether the hooks of
self-dependence that have settled so deeply in
the bedrock of our hearts. That counteraction is
a faith-filled, radical dependence upon the Lord.
A life of radical dependence upon the Lord is, first and foremost, a life rooted in prayer.
Prayer is the tangible expression of a dependent heart.
Full disclosure: prayer can be hard for me. Prayer
can be hard for me because dependence upon
the Lord can be hard for me, and I suspect that
it can be hard for you as well. When biblical
imperatives are hard for me, it’s always good
to go to the Word of God to reorient my heart
around God’s heart and remember why He
has structured things the way He has—for His
glory and for the flourishing of His people.
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NEHEMIAH 1:1-2:8 – In this passage, Nehemiah prays before approaching the
king of Persia with a request to be allowed to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
What do you notice about Nehemiah’s prayer life in this passage?
How does He demonstrate radical dependence upon the Lord?
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ACTS 1:12-14; 4:23-31; 12:1-12 – These passages include
several examples of the prayers of the early church.
How did prayer mark the early church? What were the circumstances that the early church
was facing that caused them to be radically dependent upon the Lord in prayer?
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Are there any circumstances in your life right now that God is using to draw
you into deeper dependence upon Him? Share with the group.
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1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 – In Paul’s final instructions to the
Thessalonian church, he calls them to prayer.
What do you think it means to pray without ceasing?
How does this practically look in our everyday lives?
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MATTHEW 6:5-13 – Here Jesus instructs His disciples about how they ought to pray.
According to Jesus, what does He desire prayer to be and not to be? How
do we reconcile what Jesus says in Matthew 5:7 with what the apostle Paul
says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17? Is Paul contradicting Jesus? Why not?
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TO SUMMARIZE
Prayer permeates the pages of Scripture. Page
after page we see God’s people praying in all
sorts of ways: prayers of adoration, thanksgiving,
supplication, intercession, repentance and
consecration. Imprecatory prayers, public and
corporate prayers, private prayers, and many
more. As we read the pages of the Bible, we
see prayers rising up to the throne room of God
from all walks of life, from kings and magistrates
to prostitutes and murderers. “The Lord hears
the cry of the broken-hearted and draws near
to them” (Psalm 34:18). It doesn’t matter who
you are, what you’ve done, or where you come
from, the Lord delights when we call upon
His name and cry out to Him in prayer.
Along with the reading and studying of God’s
Word, prayer is the primary way that we connect
with God, converse with Him, and hear from Him.
In his book on prayer, Tim Keller says it this way:
“Prayer is both conversation and encounter with
God … We must know the awe of praising His
glory, the intimacy of finding His grace, and the
struggle of asking His help, all of which can lead
us to know the spiritual reality of His presence.”
If we are going to know and experience the
spiritual reality of God’s presence in our lives
– or as Paul stated it in Ephesians 3:19,
“… that you may be filled with the fullness of
God …” – we must be a praying people.
A people like Nehemiah, who upon hearing of the
city of Jerusalem lying in ruins, he instinctively
hit his knees and cried out to the Lord, recalling
His awesome character and faithfulness, and
beseeching Him to do what only He can do.
A people like the members of the early church,
who were continually devoting themselves
to prayer, in every circumstance and at every
turn and, as a result, were seeing God show
up time and time again in miraculous ways.
A people like Paul who not only urged God’s
people to pray without ceasing but lived it out
– “And so from the day we hear, we have not
ceased to pray for you …” (Colossians 1:9).
A people like Jesus. Jesus Himself, the Son of God
in human flesh, was a man of prayer. This, in some
ways, perplexes me. Jesus is God. If there’s ever
been anyone who didn’t need to pray it would be
Him, right?! Yet, we see Him praying many times
over in the Gospels. Why? Because Jesus had
known and experienced perfect communion with
the Father and the Holy Spirit in eternity past; and
the primary way to continue that communion
with the Father while on earth was through prayer.
But the prayers of Jesus weren’t just an earthly
thing. Scripture tells us that even now He sits at
the right hand of the Father continually making
intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He prays for us
and with us and invites us to join in with Him. Wow!
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It’s at this point that the guilt sets in. We read and
consider what we should be doing and end in a
place of condemnation and shame for not doing
it well, or perhaps even at all. Please don’t let
yourself end up in the pit of shame and guilt. It’s
certainly not my intention to lead us there! The
hope in taking a quick glance at people from the
Bible and their prayer lives is simply to see and
consider the centrality of prayer in God’s design
for human flourishing and intimacy with Him.
As I stated previously, prayer is hard, especially
considering the rhythms of our lives and culture
in the 21st century. We are a busy and distracted
people. Busyness is glorified in our culture, and
it’s easy for us to fall into the narrative that the
busier we are the more important we are. Then,
to add to it all, we experience the struggle that
if we are going to live in a missionally engaging
way with the culture around us, it often means
that our busy schedules get even busier. So,
what do we do? How do we even begin to
make time for prayer? Part of it is realizing that
our prayerlessness isn’t primarily a busyness
issue, but a heart issue. I love the way that Paul
Miller states it in his book, A Praying Life:
“What do I lose when I have a praying life? Control. Independence. What do I gain? Friendship
with God. A quiet heart. The living work of God in the hearts of those I love. The ability to
roll back the tide of evil. Essentially, I lose my kingdom and get His. I move from being an
independent player to a dependent lover. I move from being an orphan to a child of God.”
As we enter this focused season of prayer as a
church body, may we be a people who gladly
make the trade, giving up our control and
independence, and in so doing, gaining so much
more. It is my prayer that Perimeter be a church
marked by radically dependent prayer. That we
would be a people absolutely convinced that we
can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5). May
we be amazed and enthralled with the reality that
we are invited into communion with the God of
the universe who longs “... to do immeasurably
more than all we could ask or imagine, according
to His power that is at work within us. To Him
be the glory, both in His church and in Christ
Jesus Our Lord, throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Immeasurably more. His power. His glory.
Let’s be a people who are radically
dependent and prayerfully expectant for the
“immeasurably more” to the glory of God!
“Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart.
In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet.”
The world out there is always going to be busy,
and busyness will always present itself as an
annoying deterrent to prayer; but when you
and I realize that our hearts are the primary
issue in this conundrum, it’s then that we find
our footing on the path to a prayer-filled life.
But know this, beloved child of God: there is
grace upon grace in this spiritual discipline. God
is more patient with you than you could ever
dream, and He loves you more than you could
ever imagine. His call to enter in to intimate
prayer with Him isn’t one accompanied with
guilt and shame when we fail to do so, but
one that is always met with grace and patience
that faithfully woos us into His presence over
time. When we delight in the immeasurable
grace of God, our hearts become more
desirous of prayerful communion with Him.
Embracing a lifestyle of radically dependent
prayer can feel like we’re giving up a lot, and in
some ways, we are. But there is no comparison in
the trade off of what we gain. Again, from Miller:
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EQUIPPINGThere is no better place in Scripture to go to learn how to pray than to the Psalms. The book of Psalms
is chalked full of the prayers of God’s people crying out to Him and praising Him. When we don’t know
how to pray or what to pray, the Psalms steer our hearts and our minds in the right direction. With each
of the Psalms below, read through them slowly and then journal your thoughts into a prayer to the Lord
based on that Psalm. You can do this with most all of the Psalms, but here are 3 to get you started.
Psalm 61
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Psalm 62
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Psalm 86
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UNIT ONE
13B LU E Y E A R
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A
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(Orig
inal ©
199
6). A
ll righ
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rved
.
A
ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked any of
these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other
group members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below
so you can jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
How would you characterize your prayer life? If it’s not healthy, be honest. Remember,
no shame or condemnation. Likewise, if you would characterize your prayer life
as thriving or healthy, be honest about that as well and praise God for it.
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What are some practical ways that the people in your group can help
you grow into a more healthy and vibrant prayer life?
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To be radically dependent in prayer can sound daunting. How can you as a group
and as individuals begin to set goals that will help spur one another along towards
a lifestyle of radical dependence? List some of the goals you brainstormed.
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Is there any part of your life that you haven’t been willing to surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit?
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Did you complete your mission assignment this week?
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
14B LU E Y E A R
E
A
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T
©2
019
(O
rig
inal
©19
96
). A
ll ri
gh
ts r
ese
rve
d.
M
MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
MATTHEW 9:35-38 (ESV)
This passage gives us a window into Jesus’ heart
as He carries out his mission. We will be praying
based on portions of this passage each of the
next few weeks. For this week, we will begin with
what Jesus sees. As Jesus preaches and heals, He
sees people as “harassed and helpless like sheep
without a shepherd.” He is seeing the true state
of people’s hearts before the Lord—completely
helpless and vulnerable. The words harassed and
helpless could also be translated as “torn and
thrown down.” Translating in that way may help
us see the word picture that Matthew is painting
in this verse. It is sheep that have no shepherd to
defend them when a predator comes. They are
vulnerable to be torn to pieces and thrown to the
ground to die. It’s a vivid and disturbing picture,
but it’s a picture of our spiritual reality apart from
having Jesus as our Good Shepherd.
It is difficult for most of us to see people the
way Jesus does. We can tend to look at people
and compare ourselves to them socially,
economically, or morally. This can produce
feelings of inferiority or superiority in us that
cause us to see people very differently than Jesus
does. As a result, we can quickly create barriers
that might keep us at a distance from the people
that God has called us to love.
As we enter into this season of radical dependence, we will continually see that dependence on
God’s work is at the very heart of missional living. For the next few weeks, we will look at an episode
in Jesus’ ministry that will show us how He viewed mission and how He calls us to enter into His
mission with Him. As we do this, we will focus on praying in a way that aligns our hearts with His.
UNIT ONE
15B LU E Y E A R
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A
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©2
019
(Orig
inal ©
199
6). A
ll righ
ts rese
rved
.
Take time to pray that God will give you eyes to see people the way Jesus sees them. If it is helpful, use
the space below to journal or write your prayer.
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
16B LU E Y E A R
E
A
M
S
T
©2
019
(O
rig
inal
©19
96
). A
ll ri
gh
ts r
ese
rve
d.
S
SUPPLICATION
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
1 CHRONICLES 16:11 (NIV)
Considering this week’s lesson and focus on radically dependent prayer, take some extended
time as a group to pray. Use the following well known plan as a guide for your prayer time:
ADORATION – Open your prayer time in praise and adoration of God.
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CONFESSION – Then move into a time of confession. Specifically spend some time confessing
the ways in which you have lived in self-dependence rather than dependent upon the Lord.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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THANKSGIVING – Spend time thanking God for who He is and
for all that He has done and will do in your life.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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UNIT ONE
17B LU E Y E A R
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A
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©2
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(Orig
inal ©
199
6). A
ll righ
ts rese
rved
.
SUPPLICATION – Pray for the needs of the people in your group.
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EXPECTATION – Declare to the Lord what you long to see God do in and through you that
would be immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine…by His power…for His glory.
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“We have an allergic reaction to dependency, but this is the state of the heart most necessary for a praying life. A needy heart is a praying heart. Dependency is the heartbeat of prayer.”
PAUL MILLER
UNIT 2©
20
19 (O
rigin
al ©19
96
). All rig
hts re
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d.
19
U N I T T W O
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily
Family Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
R O O T E D
I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F R E P E N T A N C E
PERIMETER.org/b7-2
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
20B LU E Y E A R
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T
TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
ROMANS 2:4 (ESV)
IN BIBLE
Last week, you considered the foundation of a life that is radically dependent on God: a life rooted in
prayer. Though we will be discussing more areas of a life that is rooted in dependence on the Lord,
prayer will still be at the core of each of these roots. This week, you will be considering what it means to
live a lifestyle of repentance. Repentance is more than simply a one-time act when someone becomes
a Christian, it is the continual practice of the believer who is living a life of dependence on God.
MARK 1:15 – This is Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of His ministry.
What two things in this passage are commended for us to do when we become Christians?
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What does it mean to repent?
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Look up a definition of repentance. Repentance defined:
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UNIT TWO
21B LU E Y E A R
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inal ©
199
6). A
ll righ
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rved
.
PSALM 32 – In 2 Samuel we see that King David committed adultery with another
man’s wife (Bathsheba) and effectively had her husband killed in battle after learning
she was pregnant so he could marry her. (If you aren’t familiar with the story, you can
read 2 Samuel 11-12:14). In Psalm 32 David shows the weight of unconfessed sin.
What was David’s experience when he hid his sin? (verses 3-4)
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How did David describe God in this passage? What did God do for David?
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What did David experience as a result of repentance?
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PSALM 51 – This Psalm highlights David’s response after being confronted over his
adultery with Bathsheba. We see in the big picture that God calls David “a man after
His own heart” who will do all His will (Acts 13:22). Yet David had sinned greatly.
What is David’s attitude about his offense? Is he in denial over his sin or owning it? (Note:
This is about a year after he sinned, so there was clearly a time of denial as well.)
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Who has he sinned against? Who is he seeking forgiveness from? How?
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How did he describe the life He longed for after repentance and restoration? verses 6-12
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
22B LU E Y E A R
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What were some of the outward results of repentance? verses 13
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How does it make you feel that though He sinned greatly, God still used Him greatly?
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ACTS 3:19-20 – Peter’s proclamation of the gospel after he and John healed a lame man.
What two things does Luke encourage the people to do?
How are those two things related? What is the result of that?
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ACTS 26:20 – Here Paul shares about his calling from God.
What did he preach? What is the result of repentance?
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UNIT TWO
23B LU E Y E A R
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6). A
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T TO SUMMARIZE
What is repentance? Repentance is a turning—a turning from self and sin towards God. It
involves our minds—knowing and owning our sin. It involves our hearts—grieving and being
remorseful over our sin. It also involves our hands—choosing to turn from sin and choosing
God’s ways over our own. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was written in the 17th century
to summarize some of the Bible’s teachings in a question and answer format. Though the
language may seem antiquated to us today, it remains a rich resource. Questions 87 asks, “What
is repentance unto life?” Answer: “Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of
a true sense of sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred
of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.”
Most of us are familiar with the word repentance
when thinking about how we became Christians.
Our first steps into the kingdom involve
responding to God in repentance and faith
(Mark 1:15). We turned from our sin—choosing
ourselves first—and turned to God—seeking Him
first. Scripture often pairs the word repentance
with the word turning to show that repentance
is not just feeling bad about our sin or
regretting getting caught. It should not lead to
despair or trying harder to do better in our own
strength. True repentance is a turning away from
sin (180 degrees) and turning to the God who
loves, accepts, forgives, and restores us.
When we came to know Jesus, we believed
that we were sinners, undeserving of God’s
grace and mercy and that Jesus’ death on the
cross paid the debt of our sin so that we may
be forgiven and adopted as God’s children.
But the Christian life involves repenting and
believing many times a day for the rest of our
lives as we grow more like Jesus. Repentance
is not just a one-time act but a lifestyle.
Psalm 51 is a beautiful reflection written
by David after his sin with Bathsheba and
the confrontation of the prophet Nathan. A
year likely passed between the sin and the
confession, so there was obviously a season of
denial over his sin. He took baby steps towards
sin as we see in 2 Samuel 11—first by not going
off to war when other kings did. Then, he did not
stop at just watching Bathsheba bathe, he sent
for her. After realizing she was pregnant, instead
of repenting, he slid further by positioning her
husband on the front lines. Then, he withdrew
military support so that not only did Uriah
lose his life, but other innocent men did as
well. David had a season of denial, of a heart
hardened towards sin, and God used another
man in his life to wake him up (Nathan). In Psalm
51, we get a glimpse of David’s broken spirit and
repentant heart—he owns his sin and appeals
to the mercy and grace of God for forgiveness
and restoration. This psalm gives hope to us
all—David has committed grievous sins, and
yet he is not too far that God can’t save and
redeem and use him to further His Kingdom.
ROMANS 2:4 – God’s righteous judgment indicts all people of sin, but He leads us into repentance.
According to this passage, what should lead us towards repentance?
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David’s first step was to own his sin—to see
and take responsibility for the fact that he
is a sinner—and not just that he sinned with
Bathsheba (specific sin) but owning that he is a
sinner in his being (sinful from birth) and is prone
to wander. We see David in Psalm 32 reflecting
on the debilitating effects of hiding his sin from
God. What foolishness to think that God doesn’t
already see and know, but we all do it! He felt like
his bones were wasting away, and his strength
was sapped as in the heat of summer. He felt like
God’s hand was heavy upon him day and night
(without relief). This conviction of sin can feel
like punishment, but in fact it is a gift. It helps
us see our need of grace and should drive us to
God. In Psalm 51, David describes knowing his
transgressions and seeing them clearly. He isn’t
fighting God’s judgment but accepts his guilty
verdict (v 4-5). He acknowledges he is sinful
through and through and in need of cleansing.
The first step in repentance is acknowledging and
owning that we are sinners. “For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). God sees all and He knows our sin. He
longs for us to come to Him for forgiveness and
renewal. Sin is something we can’t fix ourselves.
We can’t clean it up or get rid of it on our own.
There are a few typical responses to seeing sin.
One is to deny or rationalize it, and, over time,
our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s conviction is
dulled and our hearts are hardened (Hebrews
3:13). We may even get to a point that we don’t
care what God’s will is and choose to desire
the fleeting pleasures of sin over God’s good
will and ways. What a blessing that David had
others in his life (Nathan) to encourage him
and call out his sin and point Him to God.
A second typical response to sin is to try to fix
it ourselves—we know sin is bad and doesn’t
please the Lord, so we work harder at being
good. I know that for most of my life, before
and after becoming a Christian, I saw how ugly
my sin was and felt shame over it. So naturally, I
tried to hide it and work harder. Often, we realize
that no matter how hard we try to not sin, we
can’t escape it. This can also lead to despair or
giving up. Or it may be that we feel like our sin
is too great for forgiveness. Or what’s the point
of trying to change because we are just going
to do it again? The beauty of the gospel is that
there is no sin too great to forgive, and you will
likely sin again, and that is why repentance and
gospel-centered accountability are such gifts!
Before becoming a Christian, I knew that God
was a righteous judge and that sin deserved
punishment (Romans 6:23). My response was to
be fearful and to run away from God. Even as
a Christian, I recognized that Christ paid the
penalty for my sin and I was forgiven, but I still
viewed repentance as a bad word. I grieved my
sin, and I regretted it, and I tried to do better.
But who is doing the work here? Me. I grieved.
I regretted. I tried. The beauty of the gospel of
grace is that God is the one who does the saving
work. He knows we are sinners. When there
was NOTHING worthy or lovely about us, God
chose us and loved us and went to the cross to
die for us! And now, in Him, we are forgiven and
free. That is why Romans 2:4 is my favorite verse
about repentance. “Or do you show contempt
for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and
patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads
you toward repentance?” The truth is that God’s
justice isn’t what leads us towards repentance.
It is His kindness. While I was picturing a judge
waiting to punish and correct, I hid my sin and
ran the other way. What a non-biblical picture
that is for His children! When I picture a Father
with arms open wide ready to receive me, I run
to Him and own up to my sin. I am grateful for
His sacrifice on my behalf and turn from my sin
towards Him. He is the one who cleans me up
and makes me worthy. David shares in Psalm
51 that his experience goes from being crushed
by the weight of his sin to joy and gladness.
David brings a broken and contrite heart, and
God brings restoration and forgiveness.
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Another aspect of repentance is that repentance without obedience isn’t true repentance.
David owned his sin and turned from it. He accepts the consequences from God for his sin
and desires to be used in the lives of other “sinners” turning them back to God. Acts 26:20
clearly shows that repentance is not only turning from sin but producing works in keeping with
repentance. It isn’t repentance if we turn 180 degrees to God and then turn back towards sin.
Repentance involves turning to God and listening and following His direction for our life.
Pastor Jack Miller created the diagram below called “The Cross Chart.” It can be a helpful tool for
understanding repentance and growth in the Christian life. When we come to Christ, we see the gap
between our sin and God’s holiness, and we receive His gift of salvation through repentance and faith.
At conversion, our awareness of the depths of our sin and the magnitude of God’s holiness is limited.
As we grow in the faith and knowledge of God, our awareness of God’s holiness and the depth of our
sin increases. As we see more and more of the magnitude of our sin, we also can see the greatness of
God’s holiness and sacrifice for us. He who has been forgiven little loves little, and he who has been
forgiven much loves much (Luke 7:47). As we more clearly see ourselves, we can more clearly see God.
And as our appreciation of that gap grows, so does our appreciation of what God has done for us.
TIME
CONVERSION
GROWING AWARENESS OF GOD’S HOLINESS
GROWING AWARENESS OF MY FLESH AND SINFULNESS
For believers, there is freedom to see, own, and confess our sin because we have a God who knows
that we are sinful from birth. Yet He chose to love and delight in us anyway. The greater our sin, the
greater is God’s work on our behalf. As Tim Keller says, “You are more sinful than you could ever dare
imagine, and you are more loved and accepted than you could ever dare hope—at the same time.”
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Over time, many of us lose that focus on God and subtly minimize or justify our sin. As you
see in the chart, we are minimizing the cross. As we ignore or justify or hide our sin, it also
minimizes our view and experience of God’s work and holiness. Instead of living in the larger
story of redemption, we are content to work it out on our own and miss out on the joy and
wonder we could have of embracing God’s gift and our identity in Him as a result.
TIME
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GROWING AWARENESS OF GOD’S HOLINESS
GROWING AWARENESS OF MY FLESH AND SINFULNESS
A mark of Christian maturity isn’t that we don’t have sin, but that we recognize it for what it is
and then repent more quickly of it and embrace the gospel. Freedom comes when we realize
how amazing the gift of repentance is. Repentance happens when we see the depth of our sin
and the greatness of our Savior and rest in His righteousness. Take some time to marvel about
God’s sacrifice and work in your life. When there was nothing worthy or desirable about us,
He chose us! Spend a few minutes in prayer now, thanking God for His work in your life.
True repentance involves:
• Remorse over our sin, not just regret
over consequences (Psalm 51:3-6)
• Awareness that we can’t do anything to make
God love or forgive us. It is only by God’s grace
(Psalm 51:1, Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Confessing and renouncing our sin
(Psalm 32:5, Isaiah 55:7, 1 John 1:8-9)
• Turning from sin to God (Romans
2:4, Acts 3:19, 26:20, Isaiah 55:7)
• Believing and resting in God’s promise
to forgive and restore because of His Son
(Mark 1;15, Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 55:7)
• Moving toward obedience
(Acts 26:20)
• Joy, cleansing, and refreshing in a
renewed relationship with God
(Ps 32:11, 51:7-12, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
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May you embrace the beauty of repentance and grasp more fully each day that your
sin will never outgrow your Savior’s sacrifice and power to restore. Repentance is a
wonderful thing as it is the first step back to the Father. May your sin move you to repent
to God and rest and believe His promises and finished work on your behalf.
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EQUIPPINGNow that we are in the faith, how do we practice living a lifestyle of repentance?
A great tool for that is the Gospel Waltz. It was created by Bob Flayhart at Oak
Mountain Church, and Monte Starkes has produced a short video explaining it in
more detail. You can access it online here https://vimeo.com/254369145.
Basically, the gospel waltz is like a three-step dance: 1) repent, 2) believe, and 3) obey. As we discussed
in this unit, true repentance should lead us away from our sin to God (believe) and the natural result
is to obey. You can enter the waltz at any place—repent, believe, or obey. As Monte mentions in the
video, Martin Luther’s first of the 95 theses was “The Christian life is a life of repentance.” It is crucial!
True repentance is not running to despair or working harder. It is turning from our sin to Jesus.
The next step is to believe—to believe God’s Word and Truth. It is to believe in God’s
finished work on our behalf and to trust His spirit to work in and through us. It is
to believe we are forgiven and empowered to do what He calls us to do.
The next step is to obey. God will empower us as we listen to His prompting and radically
depend on Him to do what He commands. God can help us to repent. And He can give us the
faith to believe and the power to obey as we rely on and ask for His spirit to work in us.
The truth is that most of us stop short by leaving off one or more of these three steps, and
we miss out on the spiritual richness that comes from doing all three steps together.
If our two-step is to repent of our wrongs and believe God has forgiven, if it stops there—
that is licentiousness. If we believe and obey without repentance, that is legalism. The
Pharisees did a great job of this. If we repent and obey without believing, that is moralism.
The moralist tries to live the Christian life in their own strength (how exhausting!). Only
by doing all three, can we fully experience the empowered life Christ calls us to.
On the next page there are questions to help you as you waltz. Think about a
situation in your life right now that it would benefit you to waltz over.
Obey Repent
Believe
Moralism
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What is the situation?
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What do you need to repent of?
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What do you need to believe?
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How would God call you to obey? What do you need to do?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take some time to commit this to prayer and ask God’s spirit to help. As you meet with your
group this next week, would you be open to sharing your waltz? Or is there some way your
group could come alongside to support you in whatever God is putting on your heart to do?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked any of
these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other
group members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below
so you can jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
Growing up, how did you view repentance? Was it a positive or negative word? Was it
something to be avoided (because it meant you were sinful)? Something you didn’t need
(because Jesus forgives you all your sin? Or did you view it as something beautiful (because in
seeing the depth of our sin we see the greatness of our God)? Journal below about that.
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How do you view repentance today?
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When you think about the Christian Waltz, what is your primary go-to two-step? What area
do you need to trust God with and lean into as you waltz/live the lifestyle of faith.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Is there anything you need to waltz or repent over right now?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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What are your Thoughts about repentance?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Emotions:
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Deep Desires:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Choices:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Can you name one or two people in your life who know you well and to whom you
have given permission to pursue your heart and confront your sin? What a gift it was
for David to have a Nathan, but often we need to seek that out. If not, who could that
be? (Hopefully your discipleship group could be that kind of safe place as well).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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How are you doing in developing a personal worship habit?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Did you give in to any moral compromises this week?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Gospel centered accountability is a gift. God knows we are sinful, and there is nothing to hide
with Him. He welcomes us with open arms, sin and all, and loves to wash us clean and restore
us. Receive His forgiveness and rest in His righteousness as you acknowledge your sin to Him
and receive His cleansing. Be empowered to step out in that righteousness and follow Him.
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MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
MATTHEW 9:35-38 (ESV)
Last week we focused on what Jesus sees when he looks at people: They are
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. This week we will focus
on what happens in Jesus’ heart when He sees people in this way.
The passage says that he has compassion.
The word that we translate as compassion is
the Greek word splagchnizomai (say that three
time fast) which literally means “intestines” or
“bowels.” How do we get compassion from
that? In many languages, including English,
emotional language is often tied to the place in
our body where we actually feel that emotion.
Valentine’s day decor is full of hearts because
the word love in our thinking is associated with
our hearts pounding in excitement when we
see that special someone. The same is true with
the word compassion. Many of us have had
the painful experience of hearing terrible news.
We don’t just hear it, we feel it too. Where? We
often use the phrase, “the pit of my stomach.”
When Jesus sees people as harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd, He
does not respond with a mild, distant pity, He
has a gut-wrenching compassion for them. If
we see people the way Jesus does, it should
evoke a deep compassion in us which, as we
will see next week, should move us to action.
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Take some time to pray, asking that God would give us a heart of compassion for helpless and
harassed people like His. If it is helpful, use the space below to journal or write your prayer.
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That’s what this Greek word is getting at. Compassion evokes a “gut-wrenching” feeling.
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SUPPLICATION
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive
way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
PSALM 139:23 (NIV)
Psalm 51 gives a great example of a repentant heart. In order to repent of our sin,
we must first see our sin. Take time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your sin. Are you
resisting the Holy Spirits work? Do you have any unconfessed sin or idols that you
need to repent of? Take some time in quiet to talk to God and listen to Him.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous person has great power as it is working.”
JAMES 5:16 (ESV)
AS A GROUP
Spend time thanking God for who He is and marvel at the greatness of His
holiness, mercy, and character and His finished work on your behalf. Have each
member pick a different attribute of God to praise Him for together.
Pray that you would be Nathans to one another and that your discipleship group would be
a safe place to share your sin and be pointed back to the gospel, grace, and Jesus.
Pray for one another that by God’s help you all would see your sin, be
quick to repent, and trust and obey God’s prompting.
Pray for whichever of the Gospel Waltz steps you struggle with.
If you feel led, share anything for which you need to repent or any action God
is calling you to take with one another. And pray for each other.
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UNIT TWO
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My prayer request regarding the truth for this week:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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My prayer request regarding a situation in my life:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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My prayer request regarding living a missional life:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Prayer requests from others in my group:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F S E L F - D E N I A L A N D S A C R I F I C E
R O O T E D
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily
Family Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
WATCH
FF Review the Gospel Waltz video.
U N I T T H R E E
PERIMETER.org/b7-3
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TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’”
LUKE 9:23-24 (ESV)
IN BIBLE
Last week, we considered what it looks like to live a life of repentance. We saw that repentance
is more than simply sorrow over wrongdoing, but a turning away from our sin and to Jesus.
In doing so, we live a life of dependence on God’s forgiveness. Resting in that forgiveness
leads us to humility because we must take responsibility for our sin and trust in someone
besides ourselves for salvation. It also leads us into a life of joy and flourishing because
Jesus’ death and resurrection brought us into His family as dearly loved children.
This week, we will consider what it looks like to follow Jesus down the pathway of
self-denial and self-sacrifice. Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow Him may
be calling us to follow Him into difficulty and suffering that we may have otherwise
avoided, but as we will see, this pathway always leads ultimately to life.
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LUKE 9:22-25 – Immediately after Jesus’ disciples confess for the first time that Jesus is the Messiah
they’ve been waiting for, He tells them that He will have to suffer, die, and be raised again. It is likely a
shocking moment for the disciples, but then Jesus calls them to follow Him down the very same road.
What 3 things does Jesus command those who would come after Him?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What does it mean to deny yourself?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What do you think He meant by taking up his cross? How often?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What do you think it means to follow Jesus? Where is Jesus heading (v22)?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How does God say we will be saved?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LUKE 14:33 – In this passage, Jesus is telling the crowds the cost of following Him.
What does Jesus say is required to be his disciple?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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JOHN 12:23-26 – John 12 is a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. From this point on in the book of
John, we see Jesus heading towards the cross and preparing His disciples for what it will mean.
When Jesus talks about his hour coming, He is referring to the cross and his
subsequent glorification. For Him, death was the path to life. But before glory,
what must one do? Can you chart the progression for the kernel of wheat?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Obviously Jesus is using a common analogy that his initial audience would have been
very familiar with. In this analogy, what happens if the kernel refused to die?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What will those who love their lives actually end up doing? What must those who serve Jesus do?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GALATIANS 2:20 – Paul is speaking about the union with Christ we have through the cross.
What could Paul have meant when he said he was crucified with Christ?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PHILIPPIANS 2:3-11 – Here we see a picture of the heart of Jesus as he endured the cross.
What attitude did Jesus have that we are supposed to emulate? (v5-8)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNIT THREE
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What attitude did Jesus have that we are supposed to emulate? (v5-8)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JOHN 15:1-5 – In this passage, Jesus’ tells the parable about the vine and the branches.
In this analogy, how does the Father (vinedresser) care for the vine? If you were a branch
on the vine, how would you feel about pruning? What’s the goal of pruning?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WHAT WAS JESUS’ PATH?
1. Though He was __________
2. He ____________ himself 11. To the __________
of God the Father.
3. Taking the form of a ______________10. and every tongue confess
that _______________________
4. and becoming a ____________9. that at the name of Jesus
___________________ shall bow
5. He became obedient to the
point of ____________
8. and given Him the name
that is _______________________
6. Even death on a _________ 7. God has highly _____________ Him
THEREFORE,
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TO SUMMARIZE
The topic of self-denial and sacrifice probably doesn’t make anyone’s top ten list. Who wants
to choose to sacrifice something they love or treasure? The concept of self-denial goes against
our natural instincts. And yet it’s that self-denial we see so powerfully displayed in Jesus.
Philippians 2 says that though He was in the form of God, He humbled himself, becoming
a man, choosing the form of a servant, obeying His Father even to the point of death, even
a shameful death on a cross. Jesus chose a life of self-denying obedience to the Father and
calls us to do the same. Joyfully, it doesn’t end there. As a Christian, death is always followed
by the experience of resurrection life, even the seemingly inconsequential daily moments of
dying to self. This is not a call to miserable self-loathing, but to joyful, flourishing life.
In Luke 9, Jesus explains what following Him
looks like. To deny oneself is to lay aside self-
interest and live for the sake of Christ rather than
self. This imagery of taking up one’s cross would
have been familiar to Jesus’ followers. The cross
was a sentence of death — the condemned was
no longer in control but on a one-way journey.
He would not be back. The one carrying their
cross was no longer independent and making
their own choices, but subject to another. With
this image, Jesus calls his followers to willingly
lose their lives for Him. More challenging still,
He calls them to do so not just once but daily.
The original language suggests urgency. We
must embrace these realities right now, but we
must do so with all our lives. Jesus is not simply
calling us to do these things on occasion, He
is calling us into a way of life. As God’s people
we are continually and habitually picking up
our crosses and following Jesus. Where the
Shepherd leads, as his sheep, we must follow.
Jesus unpacks this paradox with a play on words.
Whatever schemes we use to “save” our lives,
they all end in the same place: death. They are
all self-serving and futile. But when we “lose”
our lives in self-denial by embracing Jesus, we
find not death but life. Why? Because He is life
itself (John 14:6). We lose our lives FOR HIM, and
while we bring nothing, He gives everything. As
the martyred missionary Jim Elliot said, “He is
no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain
that which he cannot lose.” We see in Matthew
13:44, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field, which a man found and covered
up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he
has and buys that field.” Our attitude should be
like that man who went out and gladly sold ALL
he had to gain this treasure. We are getting so
much more in this deal than we could ever lose.
In John 15, we see another beautiful picture of
this paradox: what may at first seem like loss is
in fact God’s gracious work of bringing greater
growth and flourishing. We bear fruit as we
stay connected to Him, unable to do anything
of eternal value apart from Him because He
is the true vine, the true source of life. The
Gardener cares for the vine in many ways, but
this passage focuses on the pruning process.
Pruning is taking a living branch attached to
a vine and cutting it off. In our lives, it’s often
painful. Yet this pruning brings more fruit, not
less, more life, not death. The Gardener cuts at
the right time and in the right places, allowing
the sap and nutrients to flow where they are
needed most. His cuts limit the number of buds
but protect the vine from overcrowding which
would stunt its potential fruit. In our lives, this
pruning is a gift. As we abide in Christ and submit
to the Father’s care, God does the necessary
work in our lives that we would truly bear fruit.
In John 12, Jesus heads to the cross, telling His
followers that the way to life is death. Before
death, the kernel is alone. But when it falls to
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the ground and is buried in the soil, its death
produces a harvest. How often do we live in
self-protection mode, blind to the reality that to
do so is to remain alone? It has been said that
the smallest package in the world is a person
who is all wrapped up in themselves. Jesus
says that those who love their life will lose it,
and those who hate their life in this world will
keep it for eternity. In this context, loving life
means loving anything more than Jesus. There
are many potential idols: approval, a spouse,
children, success, body image, money, comfort,
and so many more. All of them are God’s good
gifts, but when we love them more than the
Giver, they become distorted, twisted versions
of themselves. This idea of hating one’s life
isn’t self-hatred or self-loathing, but the idea
that he or she is so committed to Christ that
they are prioritizing the Lord and His calling
first, before self. François Fénelon in his book,
The Seeking Heart, says “Many think that ‘dying
to themselves’ is what causes them so much
pain. But it is actually the part of them that still
lives that causes the problem. Death is only
painful to you when you resist it ... Self-love
fights with all of its strength to live.” This is a
hard saying, but the reality is that once we
surrender control of our lives to the One who
made and loves us, we will find new life that
will overflow as a blessing to others as well.
My first decade as a believer, I would have claimed John 12:24 as my life verse. I was so grateful for
all God had done for me that I loved the picture of dying to self so that others may live. And truly, as
we follow Jesus, we will die to our own rights and preferences and comforts, so that we can be used
in the lives of others. But I missed something vital. In my focus on dying to self, I mistakenly thought
the power was my own. Jesus not only gives us an example to follow, but also the power to obey.
As we see in Galatians 2:20, in coming to Christ, we died with Christ and the life we live in the body is
through Him. Only by union with Christ and reliance on Him can we truly die to self and live for God.
Jesus’ path to glory and life came through His death and He calls us to follow Him. Where He is, His
servants will also be, and these faithful servants will also be honored by the Father (John 12:25).
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A
For most of the world today, martyrdom is not our path,
but we must embrace the ‘death sentence’ to our way
and our will. Paul Miller describes it as the “J Curve” and
calls it the norm of the Christian life. “You can’t improve
the flesh; you must kill it. The cross is a place for dying,
not improving.” We are following Jesus not only in
His life but also in His death. Every day, we have “mini”
deaths—deaths to self so that He may live in us. And
as He lives in us, our hearts will beat for what is on His
heart—namely, loving God and loving those around us.
When we come to Christ, we do that initial dying to self, but this call is also a continual one.
Sometimes God leads us to make big decisions that make the smaller ones easier. At one point,
I chose to serve as a long-term missionary in South Africa, and that one big decision made little
decisions to follow Jesus easier. Every day when I awoke to the realities of living in a foreign
country for the sake of the gospel, I had no doubt why I was there. My purpose was clear and
many of my comforts—my friends, family, and familiar places—were gone. Every day I woke
with a clear vision that I was a woman on mission, and it was easier to die to self and be about
my Father’s business. Without those other “treasures,” it was easier to run to Jesus first.
But no matter where I’m at, be it my home or the mission field, the natural trajectory of my heart
is toward comfort and ease. Without intentional daily surrender, my drift is toward self-protection.
There are some days I delight in being that kernel of wheat dying so others can live, and others
where I am fighting against the pruning shears and for my agenda and my wants. No matter the
location, it really is a daily decision to follow Jesus and die to self and live for Him. In Luke 14:33,
Jesus says that anyone who does not give up or renounce all that he has cannot be His disciple.
This word “renounce” is referring to a continual attitude of surrendering all we have. Dying to
self is such a hard path, and impossible on our own. But with God, all things are possible, and He
promises we will gain much more than we could ever lose. As we follow Christ and put Him and His
Kingdom first, may He do more in and through us than we could have ever asked or imagined.
In Roy Hession’s Calvary Road, he sums this idea up well. He writes, “Being broken is both God’s
work and ours. He brings His pressure to bear, but we have to make a choice. If we are really open to
conviction as we seek fellowship with God, God will show us the expressions of this proud, hard self that
cause Him pain. Then it is we [who] can stiffen our necks and refuse to repent, or we can bow the head
and say ‘Yes, Lord.’ Brokenness in daily experience is simply the response of humility to the conviction
of God.” What relief that we aren’t left on our own to work this out! God’s Spirit is committed to making
us more like Jesus because He knows that joy and hope and peace and true life are only found in Him.
JESUS’ J-CURVE
JESUS
RO
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JE
SUS DIED
OUR J-CURVES
WE
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WE DIE
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EQUIPPINGWhat was your main take away or significant insight from this lesson?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In summary, what does the Bible say about denying ourselves / dying to self?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up
his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for my sake will save it.” When you read Jesus’ command to deny yourself,
take up your cross daily and follow Him, what thoughts does that bring to mind?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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What feelings does it stir in you?
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What desires or longings do you have as you think about this?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Are there any action steps or choices that you are prompted to take in response to those longings?
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When is a time in your life that you could clearly see the J Curve? When
have you seen suffering or dying to sin/self bringing life to you?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNIT THREE
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ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked
any of these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other group
members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below so you can
jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
“Many think that ‘dying to themselves’ is what causes them so much pain. But it is actually
part of them that still lives that causes the problem. Death is only painful to you when you
resist it…Self love fights with all of its strength to live.” -The Seeking Heart by Fenelon
What is something that you treasure that may be hindering your walk with Jesus?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
We learned about the Gospel Waltz last week. Is there anything in the lesson or in your life this
week, that prompted you to waltz (repent, believe, or obey?). Practice waltzing over that issue.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are you abiding in the vine and open to God’s pruning? Either describe your time with Jesus this week
or share what is something God is teaching you right now about Him, yourself or His kingdom.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How has God met with you in your times of personal worship this week?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
MATTHEW 9:35-38 (ESV)
Over the last two weeks, we have observed that Jesus sees people in their
harassed and helpless state, and it evokes compassion in Him.
“Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.”
E.M. BOUNDS
For many of us, when we begin to see the people
in the world as harassed and helpless, we may
begin to feel helpless to do anything about it.
We may feel compassion but also a sense of
despair. A realistic, honest view of people can be
a little depressing. Andy Crouch, speaking of the
importance of honesty, has said that cynicism
is honesty without hope, and naïveté is hope
without honesty. Jesus is not cynical about the
brokenness, and He is not naïvely dismissing the
reality faced by some people. Jesus, who can
look more honestly at the world than anyone
else, says there is hope! “The harvest is plentiful!”
He is using a farming illustration to say that
these harassed and helpless people are ready to
hear that there is hope, there is redemption.
Jesus knows the incredible deliverance that He
is bringing to the world. He is not worried that
the world is too far gone. John 1:5 describes
Jesus’ entrance into the world by saying, “The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.” Light always triumphs over
darkness. So we, like Jesus, can take a realistic
look at people and be moved to compassion
but not despair. We can see a plentiful harvest,
just waiting to hear the good news of God’s
redemptive work in Jesus. We have an incredible
hope to accompany our compassion!
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Take some time to pray, asking that God would help you accompany your compassion with
hope. Ask Him to help you see a plentiful harvest the way that Jesus does when He sees harassed
and helpless people. If it is helpful, use the space below to journal or write your prayer.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
50B LU E Y E A R
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SUPPLICATION
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
GALATIANS 2:20 (ESV)
“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11 (ESV)
AS A GROUP
Reflect on Galatians 2:20 and Phil 2:6-11. Spend some time praying and thanking
God for His obedience, His love and His sacrifice on your behalf. Thank Him for being
willing to become less and be humbled that we may have life and be raised.
Spend some time asking God if there is anything in your life that need to be pruned, that you
may be even more fruitful. Ask God for an open and yielded heart to His loving care.
Spend time praying with and for one another - that you may treasure Christ more than anything else.
UNIT THREE
51B LU E Y E A R
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6). A
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rved
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From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified),
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire,
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, O flame of God.
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
52B LU E Y E A R
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My prayer request regarding the truth for this week:
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My prayer request regarding a situation in my life:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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My prayer request regarding living a missional life:
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Prayer requests from others in my group:
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UNIT 4©
20
19 (O
rigin
al ©19
96
). All rig
hts re
serve
d.
53
R O O T E D
I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F O B E D I E N C E
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily
Family Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
U N I T F O U R
PERIMETER.org/b7-4
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
54B LU E Y E A R
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TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
JOHN 14:23 (ESV)
IN BIBLE
Over the last two weeks, you have been practicing the Gospel Waltz to take steps towards
living a life of repentance and self-denial. As you have seen in the Waltz, repentance and faith
do not stand alone, they should always lead us into a lifestyle of obedience. This week you will
look more deeply into what a life rooted in obedience looks like. We will see that obedience
flows out of a forgiven heart and embraces the joy of denying self for the sake of Christ.
UNIT FOUR
55B LU E Y E A R
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(Orig
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ll righ
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rved
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JOHN 14:15-23 – In these verses, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His
impending crucifixion and orienting them to life as His disciples.
What is the relationship between keeping Jesus’ commandments and love in this passage?
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What incentives does Jesus give for keeping His commands?
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Based on the text, what do you think Jesus’ commandments, or words, refer to?
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Look back at John 13:1-24, verses 8 and 31-34 especially. Do they shed light on the
question? Describe what it means to keep Jesus’ commandments in your own words.
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1 JOHN 3:4-10 – In these verses, John describes what separates the children
of God from the children of the devil, the difference between those who
have been born again by God’s Spirit and those who have not.
What feature distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil?
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According to the text, why is this the distinguishing feature?
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When John speaks of this feature, is he calling for perfection? Based on
your understanding of the text, explain why or why not?
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TO SUMMARIZE
Obedience is often something we struggle to talk about. We hear it and images of stiff pews
and angry preachers flood our minds. We think of legalism masquerading as Christianity, a
never-ending cascade of rules and commands governing our every move, demanding that we
follow them or else. For most of us, when someone calls for our obedience, we automatically
resist. Our defenses go up. Our antenna snaps to attention. This is especially true of Christians
wary of anything that would impinge our freedom in Christ. After all, we’ve tasted Jesus’ grace.
We know that it was for freedom that Christ has set us free, not slavery (Galatians 5:1).
But while it’s appropriate to be wary, we should be careful, because obedience to Jesus isn’t
legalism, and it certainly isn’t slavery. While obedience requires radical dependence upon Jesus,
obedience itself isn’t radical. No, for the believing Christian, obedience to Jesus is normal,
even necessary. It’s the fruit of the one who truly loves Him. It’s what Jesus says in John 14.
The one who loves Him is not the one who has warm feelings towards Him or who has deep,
emotional experiences in worship or who weeps at the thought their sin and Jesus’ cross. The
one who loves Jesus is the one who obeys Him. As Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience isn’t the cause of our salvation, but it is the mark. As
Martin Luther famously put it, “We are saved by faith alone, but faith that saves is never alone.”
Obedience to Jesus is the fruit of true salvation, but not only that, it’s an invitation to true life.
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Before we dig into this more, we must understand
what keeping Jesus’ commands means. If we
get this wrong, we’ll get what follows wrong
too. Four times in John 14, Jesus references
keeping His commandments or His words (15,
21, 23, 24), implying in every instance that this is
the mark of true disciples. These are more than
references to Jesus’ moral instruction, though
they are certainly not less. John 14:24 tells us
that the “commandments/words” of Jesus are
the words of His Father who sent Him. They
are God’s revelation in Christ. To obey Jesus is
not first a matter of morals; first, it’s to believe
in the One the Father sent for our salvation, the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the
world (John 1:29; 6:29). It’s to let Jesus love us
and wash us as only He can (John 13:8). It’s not
to trust in ourselves and our works, but to daily
trust in Jesus and His cleansing, sacrificial work,
confident that God loves us in Him. Jesus didn’t
go to the cross to leave us as orphans; He went
to the cross to make us children of the Father
(John 14:18-23; Galatians 4:4-7). He died and was
raised that dead people like you and me would
be made alive (John 14:19). And He so desires
that we drink deeply of those waters that He sent
another Helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with us
forever (John 14:16-17). Before it is anything else,
to obey Jesus is to rest in the love of the Father
expressed in the Son and sealed by the Spirit.
That love drives everything that comes next. “We
love,” 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “because he first
loved us.” His love transforms us. It resurrects our
hearts and propels us out on a new trajectory.
I said earlier that while Jesus’ commandments
refer to more than His moral instruction, they
are not less. You see that here. After calling His
disciples to embrace His love in John 13, Jesus
then says in John 13:34, “A new commandment
I give to you, that you love one another: just as I
have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
1 John 3:23 carries the same refrain, “And this is
his commandment, that we believe in the name
of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just
as he has commanded us.” Notice the pattern in
all of this. Frederick Bruner in his commentary
on John helpfully explains it this way:
This is the fruit in all who are truly saved: we obey
Him in real and tangible ways. 1 John 3 says, “No
one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for
God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep
on sinning, because he has been born of God. By
this, it is evident who are the children of God, and
who are the children of the devil: whoever does
not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is
the one who does not love his brother” (9-10).
The language changes somewhat from John
14, but the idea is the same: the pattern of our
lives reveals the contents of our hearts. It makes
“evident” who we are. We obey what we love and
what we love reveals our identity. If we are God’s
children, raised from the dead and born again
of God’s seed, then the affections of our hearts
change and, with our affections, the direction
of our lives. If, as verse 8 says, Jesus came to
destroy the works of the devil and we have been
born of Him, then our lives reflect that reality.
As those reborn, we increasingly love what God
loves and hate what He hates. This doesn’t mean
we cease to sin, but that the pattern and practice
of our lives change. To steal a line from Eugene
Peterson, the Christian life is “a long, obedience
in the same direction.” As sinner-saints waiting
for glory, we aren’t perfect. We are on a journey
with many stops and starts and detours along the
way, but it is one tethered irrevocably to Christ in
heaven. And if our Head is in heaven do we think
for a moment that we as His body will not follow?
“Our resource in this obedience of loving is Jesus’ prior and continuing love for and washing of
us (13:14-15, 34-35; cf. 1 John 1:7-2:2). The first love…trusted, enables the second love…to come
out…the first always empowering the second; the second always authenticating the first.”
This is what it means to obey Jesus: we believe the gospel, trusting His sacrificial love for us, and then
with all our lives share that love with others, guided by God’s Word and empowered by God’s Spirit.
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This journey of obedience is not a burden;
rather, it’s a delight. It’s more than the mark
of our salvation; it’s an invitation into true life.
One of the things I love about John 14 is the
tenderness of Jesus. His disciples are confused
as to what’s coming. They’re about to abandon
Him in the shadow of the cross, yet Jesus doesn’t
browbeat them. He doesn’t threaten them. He
loves them. He doesn’t want them to miss that
the fruit of true love is obedience, but He also
wants them to experience more deeply the love
with which He has loved them. Look at Jesus’
words in verses 21 and 23. “He who loves me will
be loved by my Father, and I will love him and
manifest myself to him…If anyone loves me, he
will keep my word, and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home
with him.” What’s Jesus promising? We know it
can’t be that His love is dependent upon their
obedience. He loved the disciples first even as
He loved us first. So, what is it? It’s that as we
walk in obedience by faith, our experience of
His love and His Father’s grows. Look at the
language and its intimacy. They love us and
make their home with us. But not only that,
even as God “manifested,” or revealed, Himself
to Moses on Mount Sinai, Jesus will “manifest”
Himself to us. In obedience, we come to know
Him better even than we did before. Do you
hear what Jesus is offering? When we embrace
a life of daily repentance and faith in Jesus, our
comprehension of the depth of our sin grows.
But it does not grow alone. It comes with an
ever-deepening corresponding comprehension
of the one whose love is greater still. When we
follow Him in faith, sometimes obeying with
trembling hearts, He meets us, showing us
His love through His generous provision. Like
pebbles dropped again and again into a dark
well, faithful obedience sounds out the depths of
Christ’s love and character, revealing Him as He
truly is. It reminds me of Lucy’s famous exchange
with Aslan in C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian when
she sees Him again after a long time apart.
“ASLAN,” SAID LUCY “YOU’RE BIGGER”.
“THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE OLDER, LITTLE ONE” ANSWERED HE.
“NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE?”
“I AM NOT. BUT EVERY YEAR YOU GROW, YOU WILL FIND ME BIGGER.”
That’s the invitation of Jesus. Obedience isn’t a codeword for legalism. It’s the mark of true
salvation. The tender Savior who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, graciously invites
us to see and know more of Him, so that every year we would find Him bigger and our
assurance in Him more certain. He is offering you life, because what He offers is Himself.
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EQUIPPINGWhen someone brings up the topic of obedience to God, does that stir up emotions
in you? Which ones? Do those words have a positive or negative connotation?
Do they bring up past experiences? Briefly write down your thoughts.
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Having answered the questions and read the summary in the Truth section,
how have your thoughts on obedience to Christ changed or, if they haven’t
changed, how have they deepened? Write down your thoughts.
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Based on your understanding of what it means to keep Christ’s commandments,
where do you think you stand? Why or why not? Be honest.
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If you are unsure of where you stand, what would Christ call you to do?
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Have you experienced the blessings of obedience seen in Jesus’
invitation in John 14? If so, where? Please explain.
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ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked any of
these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other
group members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below
so you can jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
Are there specific areas of your life where you are not keeping his commands? Write
them down and journal a prayer asking for God’s forgiveness and help.
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Is love a defining characteristic in your life? When you look at Christ’s love, where
do you see the need for growth if you are to love as he has loved you?
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How are you doing in developing a personal worship habit?
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Did you complete the Mission assignment this week?
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
62B LU E Y E A R
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MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
MATTHEW 9:35-38 (ESV)
As we have looked at this passage over the past few weeks, we have seen the way Jesus
sees people, is moved in compassion, and sees incredible opportunity. For most people,
when we see a combination of need and opportunity, our natural instinct is to take action.
If the opportunity is there, why wait? Certainly, Jesus takes action, but first He takes an
accurate assessment of the situation. There is incredible opportunity, but there is a lack
of laborers to reap this harvest. Jesus is saying there is an abundant need for people to
hear the gospel, but not enough people to go and bring the good news to them.
So what is Jesus’ plan to get more laborers into
the harvest? What is His plan to take advantage
of the opportunity before Him? Prayer. The
very first thing He calls His disciples to do when
they see an overwhelming need and a prime
opportunity is not to get busy meeting needs.
He calls them to radical dependence on the
Father—the only One who can meet those
needs. Isn’t Jesus language interesting? “Pray
earnestly to the Lord of the Harvest to send out
laborers into His harvest.” Jesus is showing His
disciples that the harvest is plentiful, but only
the Lord of the Harvest can raise up and send
out laborers. Jesus is emphatic about our need
for dependence on the Lord. He says to pray
earnestly. That word could also be translated
as “ask urgently” or “plead with.” This kind of
urgent prayer is the natural outflow from true
compassion. If we see the world the way Jesus
does, and we are moved to this gut-wrenching
compassion, and we see an opportunity
to bring healing, then this kind of urgent
prayer should become our first response.
No matter how wonderful our plans and
strategies might be, no matter how winsome
or eloquent we might be, only the Lord of the
Harvest can do this work. Let’s go to Him first.
UNIT FOUR
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Take some time now to pray earnestly that God would send laborers into His harvest. Ask
Him to help you see a plentiful harvest the way that Jesus does when He sees harassed and
helpless people. If it is helpful, use the space below to journal or write your prayer.
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
64B LU E Y E A R
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SUPPLICATION
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is
the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God.”
EPHESIANS 3:14-19 (ESV)
AS A GROUP
Our ability to love one another as Christ has loved us is only as strong as our apprehension
of His love for us. Pray as a group that God would root and ground us in His love,
strengthening us to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
Spend some time confessing our failure to keep Christ’s commandments, but
also rejoicing at His faithfulness to wash us clean time and again.
Ask your Heavenly Father to fill you with all the fullness of God, that
you would accomplish His will as obedient children.
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“Prayer does not equip us for the greater works — prayer is the greater work.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
UNIT FOUR
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My prayer request regarding the truth for this week:
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My prayer request regarding a situation in my life:
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My prayer request regarding living a missional life:
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Prayer requests from others in my group:
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UNIT 5©
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I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F D I S C I P L E S H I P
R O O T E D
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily Family
Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
U N I T F I V E
PERIMETER.org/b7-5
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TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
2 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 (ESV)
IN BIBLE
Last week you saw that living a life of obedience is a life that is so rooted in the reality of the
gospel that it moves us to live a God-honoring life in response. This week builds on that idea.
To be a disciple is to be a follower. Following Jesus, first and foremost, is a life that embraces
the gospel and lives in obedience to Him. As we will see this week, obedience to Jesus in a
lifestyle of discipleship is more than simply living a moral life, it is living a life of obedience in
the mission that God has given us to make disciples of all nations. This week we will focus on
what it looks like to carry out this mission in dependence on God’s empowering strength.
UNIT FIVE
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2 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 – Paul, at the end of his life, is writing his final letter to Timothy, a dearly
loved and faithful disciple, with instructions for carrying on their ministry. Though the word term
“discipleing” is not mentioned used in this passage, the pattern described is clearly pointing to the
method of ministry we see in the life of Jesus and Paul that we would describe as discipleship.
How many “generations” of discipleship do you see in this passage? List them.
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What are the characteristics of those to whom these things will be entrusted?
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What is the source of strength for this ministry of discipleship?
How do you think verses 1 and 2 relate to each other?
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1 THESSALONIANS 2:8 – Paul is recounting his time in Thessalonica and describing the
way that he and his companions ministered to the Thessalonians while they was there.
What did they share with the Thessalonian people in their ministry? What is significant about this?
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
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COLOSSIANS 1:28-29 – Paul is again describing what his ministry
looks like, adding to our understanding of his approach.
From these two verses describe Paul’s ministry in these categories.
Content:
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Goal:
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Means:
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How do you think this perspective informs the way we should think about discipleship?
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MATTHEW 28:18-28 – Jesus’ final words to His disciples before He ascended into heaven is often
called The Great Commission. This commission is foundational to our understanding of discipleship.
Summarize Jesus’ commands in The Great Commission in your own words.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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What are Jesus’ promises surrounding these commands? Why
do you think these promises are significant?
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UNIT FIVE
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1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9 – Paul is writing to the church believers in Corinth about
the their conflict within the church over which leader they like thethink is best. Paul
is angry about this, but brings a God-centered perspective to this problem.
What role do people have in the growth of others? What role does God have?
How does that make you feel about helping others grow in their faith?
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TO SUMMARIZE
The word discipleship is a word that the church
has used for decades to describe a practice
foundational to the ministry of Jesus: His
intentional investment into His disciples to
prepare them to carry on His ministry in the
world. Though He only invested in those 12, His
eyes were always set on the world. From His very
first calling of them to follow Him, “Follow me
and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)
to His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane “I do
not ask for these only, but also for those who will
believe in me through their word…” (John 17:20)
to His final words to His disciples in The Great
Commission “…make disciples of all nations…”
(Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus’ vision for a discipling
ministry is one that sees the world reached with
the gospel through investing in a few who would
then invest in a few more and on and on. Jesus’
vision for discipleship is a multiplying vision.
Clearly, Paul had that vision as well. 2 Timothy 2:2
shows four generations of disciples; “and what
you (second generation) have heard from me (first
generation) in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men (third generation), who
will be able to teach others (fourth generation)
also.” His charge to Timothy didn’t just direct
him to equip the next generation but to think
several generations down the road. By following
this model, we are not merely developing
leaders, we are developing leader developers.
As followers of Christ, His commission extends
to us as well. Now, over 2000 years later,
thousands of miles from Jerusalem where
Jesus’ commission was spoken, we are a part
of “all nations” that have been made disciples
and are called to continue this disciple-making
mission. Discipleship, as it is described in the
New Testament, encompasses both bringing
people into the family of God through evangelism
and coming alongside people to bring them
towards maturity in Christ. So how do we do
that? The verses we looked at this week provide
us with the content, goal, and means for living
out our part of the Great Commission.
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THE CONTENT
As you read through the verses for this week,
you probably noticed a consistent theme in
these passages. The core of what is being passed
on from generation to generation through
discipleship is the gospel. You might read this
and be thinking, “That doesn’t seem like a lot of
content.” A gospel presentation may only take a
few minutes to share with someone. The gospel
itself is the historical reality that Jesus, the Son
of God was made incarnate, lived a perfect life,
died a substitutionary death for sinners who
come to Him in repentance and faith, conquered
sin and death, rose from the grave, ascended
into heaven and now sits at the right hand of
God until He comes again to judge and restore
His creation and His people. That’s only one
sentence. It’s a loaded sentence, but can this
really be the whole content of our discipleship?
Shouldn’t this message of the gospel be the
beginning, and then we can move on to more
stuff? Why does Paul repeatedly come back to
the gospel as the core content of discipleship?
There are two reasons I want us to consider.
First, as followers of Christ, we can never move
beyond the gospel. In Romans 1:15, Paul says
something interesting. In verse 1, he addresses
this letter to the church—that is people who
are already followers of Jesus. In verse 15, he
says, “So I am eager to preach the gospel to
you also who are in Rome.” Paul is eager to
preach the gospel to Christians! Paul believed
it was important for Christians to be reminded
over and over again of the truths of the gospel.
Romans is a gospel-saturated book that was
written to believers. We never get past the
gospel. We begin with it, and we continue in it.
Second, when these passages speak of the
gospel as the content of our discipleship, they
are speaking not just of the events of the gospel
in history but also of the implications of the
gospel in our lives. The gospel is the good news
of what Jesus has done, but the implications of
the gospel have far reaching impact in all areas
of our lives. An example may be helpful here. In
2 Corinthians 8, Paul is talking to the Corinthian
church about generosity as an implication of the
gospel. In verse 9, he says: “For you know the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he
was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so
that you by his poverty might become rich.” He
is helping the church understand that the gospel
informs the way that we look at our money
and our generosity. When we begin to grasp
the far-reaching depths of the gospel and its
implications in our lives, it becomes easy to see
how the gospel is the content of our discipleship.
But take note, if the gospel is the core content
of our discipleship, relationships are the
core context. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 makes this
abundantly clear: “So, being affectionately
desirous of you, we were ready to share with
you not only the gospel of God but also our
own selves, because you had become very dear
to us.” Discipleship is not primarily a program—
though structure is helpful—nor is it primarily a
curriculum—though a gospel centered curriculum
is a crucial tool for discipleship. Discipleship is
primarily a relationship between people centered
on the gospel and moving towards maturity.
THE GOAL
The goal of discipleship may be stated in a few
different ways, but from our study of Scripture,
we can think about the goal in three primary,
interweaving goals: bringing people into the
family of God, bringing people in the family of
God to maturity, and equipping followers of
Jesus to do these same things with others.
Disciple means follower or pupil. No one is a
disciple of Jesus unless they actually follow
Him and learn from Him. So by necessity, the
first goal of our discipling is to bring them into
a relationship with the living God. In the Great
Commission, Jesus calls for baptism in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This
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is describing what happens when a person
comes to faith in Christ and becomes a part
of the family of God’s people in the church.
To say it simply, this is conversion. There
is no discipleship without evangelism, but
discipleship does not end at conversion.
The next goal of discipleship is bringing people
to maturity in Christ. Paul makes this abundantly
clear in Colossians 1:28-29a, “Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all
wisdom, that we may present everyone mature
in Christ. For this I toil …” Maturity takes time and
experience. Growth does not happen overnight.
Discipleship is a long-term laboring in the lives
of others to help them grow towards maturity.
But again, individual maturity is crucial, but it is
not the end of a biblical view of discipleship.
The last goal of discipleship that we will consider
is that people will not only become mature, but
will also be equipped to do these same things
in the lives of others. We saw four generations
in 2 Timothy 2:2, we saw Jesus’ call to His first
disciples that He would make them fishers of
men. It can be so easy for us to have a self-
focused or consumeristic view of discipleship,
asking the questions: What can I get? What
can I learn? But discipleship is not meant to
end with our growth in maturity, it is meant to
continue so that all nations would come into
a life-changing encounter with Jesus. God’s
means for accomplishing this expansive plan
is developing within His people an outward
facing view of our discipleship. Maybe it would
be better if our question was not just “what can
I learn?” but also “how can I give this away?”
THE MEANS
With every command that God gives, He always gives an accompanying promise. In the Great
Commission, Jesus promises His presence forever as we carry out His mission of discipleship. In
Colossians, we see that our toil to bring people to maturity is done with “all of His strength that He
powerfully works within us.” It is important for us to remember that the inspirational call to
multi-generational discipleship in 2 Timothy 2 begins with verse 1, “… be strengthened by the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.” The gospel is not just the content of our discipleship, it also provides the
power for discipleship. Not one bit of our vision, strategies, curriculum, methods, or disciplines for
discipleship will ever work unless God is at work in and through us. Regardless of how passionate
and skilled one might be about discipleship, unless our foundation is radical dependence on the
Lord our labors will be exhausting, and many of us will give up or burn out. Remember, it is God who
gives the growth, and we get the incredible opportunity through discipleship to have a front row
seat in His transformative work in the lives of His people. But first, be strengthened by His grace.
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EQUIPPINGHow do the verses you read this week impact your view of discipleship?
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When you think about the content, the goal, and the means of discipleship,
which of those is most challenging for you? Which is most exciting?
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“Be strengthened by grace” is a command that is foundational to discipleship. What
might it look like to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus?
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ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked any of
these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other
group members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below
so you can jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
How do you sense God is calling you to participate in His call to discipleship at this point in your life?
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What are some ways that you could be more dependent on God in your discipleship practices this year?
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Is there any hidden sin in your life that you need to confess to the Lord and your group?
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How are you doing in developing a personal worship habit?
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MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest...’”
“These twelve, Jesus sent out, instructing them, ‘Go…’”
MATTHEW 9:35-38; 10:5A (ESV)
Jesus sees the crowds as harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, and He is moved
with a gut-wrenching compassion. He sees an incredible opportunity—a field ready for harvest—but
also a problem—not enough laborers. He tells His disciples that their first step is earnest, urgent
prayer that God would send out laborers into His harvest field. But Jesus’ call to prayer isn’t the
only step. Matthew 9 ends with this call to prayer, and Matthew 10 opens with a call to go.
In Matthew 10, Jesus calls the 12 disciples
to Him and spends the rest of the chapter
instructing them on how to be laborers in the
harvest field, and then He sends them. Jesus
is answering the prayer He just asked them
to pray, and His immediate answer is to send
them. And who better to go than those who
are seeing people the way Jesus does and
are feeling compassion the way He feels it?
Who knows what God will do with our prayer
to send out laborers? Maybe we will end
up being the answer to our own prayers.
Before we take some time to pray, there
are two important observations to note.
First, this was probably not the only time
that Jesus and His disciples prayed that
God would send laborers. It is likely that as
the Twelve went out, they felt the need for
laborers even more acutely. Keep praying for
laborers. Second, Jesus did not send them
out without first equipping them. The Twelve
had been with Jesus watching and listening
to how He healed and proclaimed the good
news for a long time before He sends them.
Jesus’ life was a model for what it looks like
to be a laborer. Not only did He model this
for them, He also equipped them through
instruction. The entirety of chapter 10 are
His instructions before sending them.
Throughout the rest of the year, you will
have opportunities to be equipped, but
let’s be careful to make sure our first
step is radically dependent prayer.
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Take some time to pray that God would send out laborers into His harvest. Pray that
He would equip you and send you as a laborer into the harvest where you live, work,
and play. If it is helpful, use the space below to journal or write your prayer.
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SUPPLICATION
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the
growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are
God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9 (ESV)
AS A GROUP
Christian maturity can only happen if God brings the growth. Take some time to pray
for God to bring growth towards maturity in each member of your group.
We are God’s fellow workers in making disciples of all nations. Take time to pray that
God would grow each member of your group in their calling to make disciples.
Ask God to strengthen you by His grace.
UNIT FIVE
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My prayer request regarding the truth for this week:
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My prayer request regarding a situation in my life:
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My prayer request regarding living a missional life:
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Prayer requests from others in my group:
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UNIT 6
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I N A L I F E S T Y L E O F F O R G I V E N E S S A N D G E N E R O S I T Y
R O O T E D
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS Find your assignments here:
CONTINUE
FF 21 Days of Personal Worship. Consider using the verses from the Daily Family
Devotional in both your personal worship and family devotions.
ATTEND
FF Plan to attend at least one prayer service in the next few weeks.
FF As a group, discuss what time slots you might adopt for the 24 hours of prayer.
Visit perimeter.org/pray for more information.
THINK
FF As an individual and a group, what will you do to continue in this
posture of dependence and prayer going forward?
U N I T S I X
PERIMETER.org/b7-6
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T
TRUTH
BY MEMORY
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 (ESV)
IN BIBLE
When most of us think about generosity, we tend to think about giving away money or
possession to others. That is certainly a big part of what generosity is, but as we will see in this
unit, generosity is a heart that is so radically dependent on God that we have a freedom and
readiness to give of all that God has given to us in order to be a blessing to others. This includes
our possessions, our time, our gifts and talents, and even our emotions and forgiveness.
We see God’s generosity described repeatedly in Scripture through what He gives. From
the following verses, note some aspects of generosity that you see described …
JAMES 1:16-17
1 CORINTHIANS 2:12
1 PETER 4:10
2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
JOHN 3:16
UNIT SIX
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MATTHEW 18:23-35 – The parable of the unforgiving servant.
What connections do you see between generosity and forgiveness?
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This parable is an example of a wrong response to receiving a gift of forgiveness.
How should God’s people rightly respond to God’s gift of forgiveness?
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1 TIMOTHY 4:4-5 – In this passage we are told of all the good things God has
made for us to enjoy. But there is a right way to receive God’s good gifts?
How does this passage teach that we should receive what God gives?
How might this affect your perspective on what you have?
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JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
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MATTHEW 6:19-34 – Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount
about the treasure of our hearts and trusting in His provision.
Verses 21 and 24 are summary statements of Jesus’ teaching about the treasures of
the heart. In your own words, summarize the key principles of these verses.
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How might verses 25-34 bring comfort after what was said in verse 19-24?
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MARK 12:41-43 – The widow’s offering.
What does this passage show you about a heart of generosity?
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UNIT SIX
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PRINCIPLE ONE
TO SUMMARIZE
The Bible has plenty to say about generosity. We will briefly look at three
principles of a generous heart and two enemies of a heart of generosity.
Holding all the Bible’s teaching on generosity
together is one foundational principle: everything
we have is a gracious, generous gift from God.
We saw this in this week’s study in verses like
James 1:16-17 and 1 Timothy 4:4-5. We have
seen that God’s gifts include our physical
possessions and finances (Matthew 6:19-34), our
talents and abilities (1 Peter 4:10), forgiveness
through Jesus (John 3:16, Matthew 18:23-35),
His Spirit within us (2 Corinthians 2:12), and all
of the riches of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9).
It may be easy to share a list of gifts and affirm
that this is the Bible’s teaching, but do we really
believe this to be the case? For many of us, it’s
easy to say that salvation is a generous gift from
God—a grace that we do not deserve but have
freely received. It may be a bit more stretching
to say that my money, possessions, and vocation
are gifts, too. It’s hard because we tend to
make a one-to-one correlation between our
skilled, hard work and our income. It is part of
the fabric of the economic system we live in.
In the podcast “How I Built This,” the host, Guy
Raz, interviews some of the most successful
“innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists” to
hear stories of the movements they built. The
last question that Guy asks in every interview is,
“How much of your success do you attribute to
your talent and hard work, and how much would
you attribute to luck?” Over and over again,
these incredibly successful business leaders
attribute the greatest portion of their tremendous
success to luck—being in the right place at the
right time, having an unexpected advocate,
having someone support an implausible dream,
funding from an unlikely source. And the list
goes on. Each one of them realized that what
they have accomplished is not simply the result
of their hard work. For them to experience this
success, they needed help from things outside
their control. What they consider to be “luck,” we
know to be God’s hand at work in the world.
Possibly the greatest enemy of a generous heart is
the belief that everything I am and have is a direct
result of my own talent and work ethic. Of course,
many have worked hard for what they have, but
we must understand that God reigns over all of it.
His gifts extend far beyond those situations where
things just seem to fall into place; they include the
ability to work physically or mentally as well. All of
it comes from God. One might have an incredible
mental capacity and a knack for engineering.
Those are gifts from God. One may have skilled
hands able to design and craft beautiful buildings.
That is a gift from God. One may have the
unique ability to bring an organization together
under a shared vision. That is a gift from God!
God knit you together in your mother’s womb
(Psalm 139:13). He assigned the time and places
you would live in history (Acts 17:26). I often
think of my own terrible eyesight and what
my life would have been if I had no access
to corrective lenses. Because I live in a time
where science and medicine has allowed for
corrective lenses, and I have vision insurance to
cover the cost, I am not a completely helpless
blindman like I would have been in the first
century (see Mark 8:22-26). Our talents, our skills,
and our opportunities are all gifts from God.
If this is truly the case and all these things
are gifts from God, if all of life is a gift from
God, it has some significant implications
for how we view what we have.
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
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PRINCIPLE TWO
The second principle for a life rooted in generosity
is that we are not owners of anything; rather we
are stewards of the gifts God has given us. We saw
this clearly in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a
gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards
of God’s varied grace.” A steward is not an owner,
a steward is tasked with wisely managing what his
master gives him to manage. We see this principle
reinforced repeatedly throughout the Bible. In
Genesis 1:28-31, the role of steward is baked into
humanity’s identity: God creates the world and
gives humanity dominion over it—to rule and
subdue. God entrusted people to care for what
He has made. He gives gifts, abilities, and talents
to each of us to fulfill that role. We also saw this
in Jesus’ Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The
servant is forgiven an insurmountable debt. He is
given financial resources that he does not deserve
because of the debt he accrued. Now with this
generous gift there is an implied expectation
that he would be a wise and generous steward of
what he has now. He is not. Rather than seeing
this as a generous gift to steward and pass on to
others, his fear and greed lead him to be merciless
to someone who owed him a far smaller debt
than he himself had just been forgiven. Jesus is
teaching us by a negative illustration that God’s
expectation is that we would see His unbelievable
generosity toward us and extend that generosity
toward others. We are to steward it in our lives
by being a blessing to those around us.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus uses a picture of
financial generosity and stewardship to teach
us about forgiveness? Could it be said that
a heart of generosity leads to the ability to
forgive? Forgiveness and generosity go hand
in hand because both are rooted in a gospel
understanding of how God gives to us. It might
be said that the most necessary of all gifts that
God gives is forgiveness. Without it, we would
not have peace with God. But this forgiveness
was costly. The cost for God the Father was
His Son. The cost for Jesus was the loss of His
Father’s face, the eternal punishment for sin,
and the loss of His own life. But the gift to us
is the payment of a debt we could never pay
ourselves. Colossians 2:13-14 also show us a
picture of God’s forgiveness using a metaphor
of financial generosity: “And you, who were
dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, God made alive together with
him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by
canceling the record of debt that stood against
us with its legal demands. This he set aside,
nailing it to the cross.” Again in 2 Corinthians
8:9, we see the message of the gospel in the
language of financial generosity: “For you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,
so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
Some of us feel our greatest need for a truly
radical dependence on God when it comes to
forgiving someone. When God uses pictures of
financial generosity to explain the gospel, they
are not illustrations of giving a small portion of
His abundance to a “worthy organization,” it is
the forgiveness of an unpaid debt to an enemy
(Romans 5:8). The forgiveness of God is costly
and exhaustive. Forgiveness requires a heart
of generosity, because forgiveness requires
absorbing an outstanding debt. It’s not making
someone pay us back; it’s forgiving them of
something they have taken from us. It is an act of
sheer grace. But it’s one that God has first given to
us on a far greater scale. We are called to forgive
others as God in Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians
4:32). The only way we will be able to have a heart
generous enough to forgive is by looking over and
over again at God’s lavish forgiveness towards us.
This leads to another enemy of a generous
heart: fear. Fear of letting go of something
that I hold dear. In Matthew 6:19-24 , Jesus
challenges us to look out our hearts to
understand our treasures. Where there is fear of
loss, bitterness often follows. Jesus pointedly
tells us that we cannot serve both God and
money, we will hate one and love the other.
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Throughout this lesson, you may have been
feeling some fear or even anger welling up
as you’ve thought about generosity. This
may be pointing to the treasures of your
heart, something you’re afraid to let go of. “I
don’t want to forgive this person!” might be
a fear of letting go of a grudge or moral high
ground. “I don’t want my standard of living
to be affected. I don’t want to miss out on
the purchase of …” might be a fear of losing
status or comfort. “I don’t want to use my
time in that way” might be a fear of losing
control over my leisure. We could go on, but
pay attention to what your heart fears losing
and ask God to help you take a step toward
greater dependence on Him. Interestingly
enough, the very next verses in Matthew 6
show that Jesus understands our fears.
PRINCIPLE THREE
The third principle is that a generous heart trusts
in God’s provision, even when we give. Verse
25 begins with “Therefore … do not be anxious
about your life, what you will eat or drink, nor
about your body, what you will put on.” He knows
there’s fear in trusting God with what we have.
He reassures us in verses 32 and 33 with the
truth that “your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, and all of these things
will be added to you.” Romans 8:32 reinforces
this beautifully: “He who did not spare his own
Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not
also with him graciously give us all things?” One
of my favorite descriptions of being an image
bearer of God is that we reflect His character
into the world. God has granted to each of us
a unique set of gifts, talents, vocations, skills,
finances, life stories, experiences, and salvation
itself that we might steward these gifts in a way
that reflects His generosity to the world, bringing
blessing and flourishing to those around us.
As we saw in the widow’s gift at the temple,
generosity is not so much about how much is
given financially as it is about a heart that sees
God as the owner and giver of all things. A heart
that sees oneself as a recipient and steward
of all that God has given. A heart depending
on Him to continually be our provider.
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EQUIPPINGHow has your view of generosity been impacted this week? Which
passages of Scripture were most helpful for you?
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In what ways have you been a steward of God’s gifts in your life to be a blessing for others?
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Use the space below to brainstorm some ways that you can be a
steward of God’s gifts in your life to be a blessing to others.
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UNIT SIX
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ACCOUNTABILITYBefore your Journey Group meeting, think about the questions below. You may be asked any of
these questions and you may be asking them of another group member. These questions will
help you to examine your life in light of the truth you explored this week. They also give other
group members an opportunity to encourage you to live fully for Christ. Space is provided below
so you can jot down notes during the accountability discussions in your group meeting.
In what areas of your life do you feel most fearful about generosity?
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What do you sense God is telling you specifically regarding these fears?
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In what areas of your life is your generosity most gracious and free?
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What might it look like in your life to take one step towards greater
dependence on God in growing a heart of generosity?
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How has God met with you in your times of personal worship this week?
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MISSION
PERSPECTIVE
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
“These twelve, Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go…”
MATTHEW 9:35-38; 10:5A (ESV)
Over the last several weeks, we have been
focusing on seeing the world and praying as
Jesus does in Matthew 9. This week, we will
be zooming out a bit from this passage to
think about our motivation to be laborers and
about the hope this message of the gospel
brings to a harassed and helpless world.
In this passage, Jesus uses two metaphors.
Let’s take a minute to think about the first one
again. In week one, we learned that harassed
and helpless could be translated as “torn and
thrown down.” This fits in with the word picture
Jesus is painting. If there is no shepherd for these
sheep, a predator has free reign to attack and kill
whatever sheep it pleases. Tearing them apart
and throwing them on the ground to devour.
Jesus picks up on this sheep and shepherd theme
multiple times in His ministry in a way that might
help this passage come to life a bit more for us.
In John 10:11, Jesus calls Himself the Good
Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
This is the exact same metaphor as Matthew 9.
But in John 10, Jesus says that He lays down His
life for the sheep. Is the task of a shepherd really
life threatening? When soon-to-be king David is
trying to convince King Saul that he is competent
to fight Goliath, he says, “Your servant used to
keep sheep for his father. And when there came
a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
I went after him and struck him and delivered
it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me,
I caught him by his beard and struck him and
killed him” (1 Sam 17:34-35). The job of the
shepherd is to be ready to fight, physically fight,
any predator that threatens his flock. Jesus tells
us that He’s willing to lay down His life to protect
His sheep because He is the Good Shepherd.
If we understand Jesus’ view of Himself in this
way and look back at Matthew 9 from this side of
the cross, we realize the good news that Jesus
is bringing. They will no longer be like sheep
without a shepherd. They will not be “torn and
thrown down” because the Good Shepherd
will be torn and thrown down in their place. On
the cross, Jesus let the ultimate predator attack
Him and throw Him down into the grave in our
place. Rising from the grave, He showed that
the evil one, sin, and death are all defeated. Now
as His people, we will never live as harassed
and helpless sheep without a shepherd. This is
good news. This is the message of the gospel.
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Take some time to pray in light of all that we’ve discussed from Matthew 9.
Help me remember the gospel. Let it be the best news in my life day after day.
Open my eyes to see people the way you see them.
Give me a compassionate heart.
Give me hope that sees that the harvest is plentiful.
Send your laborers into your harvest.
Send me.
If it is helpful, use the space below to journal or write your prayer.
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“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him”
HUDSON TAYLOR
JOURNEY ➢ ROOTED
92B LU E Y E A R
E
A
M
T
©2
019
(O
rig
inal
©19
96
). A
ll ri
gh
ts r
ese
rve
d.
S
SUPPLICATION
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
ROMANS 8:32 (ESV)
AS A GROUP
God is the giver of all that we have. Take time thanking God for all that He has given to you. Be specific.
We named two enemies of a generous heart: 1) A belief that we earned what we have
by our own talent and work ethic, and 2) Fear of letting go of something I hold dear.
Take some time to pray for a heart of dependence in the face of these enemies.
Take some time asking God to show you how you can steward
what He has given you to be a blessing to others.
My prayer request regarding the truth for this week:
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My prayer request regarding a situation in my life:
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UNIT SIX
93B LU E Y E A R
E
A
M
T
©2
019
(Orig
inal ©
199
6). A
ll righ
ts rese
rved
.
S
My prayer request regarding living a missional life:
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Prayer requests from others in my group:
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J O U R N E Y | S U P P L E M E N T A L S T U D Y