Unit1_Session3_PersonalStudyGuide

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FALL 2012: Personal Study GuideEd Stetzer General EditorTrevin Wax Managing Editor



A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L

Tese Christian leaders were part of a team who consulted on the creation of Te Gospel Project.

James MacDonald

Senior Pastor at Harvest BibleChapel, Chicago, IL

Daniel Akin

President of Southeastern BaptistTeological Seminary, WakeForest, NC

J.D. Greear

Pastor at Te Summit Church,Raleigh, NC

Eric Mason

Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship,Philadelphia, PA

Kimberly Thornbury

Dean of Students at UnionUniversity, Jackson, N

Jay Noh

Director of Missional Leadershipand Mobilization, ChicagoBaptist Association

Joe Thorn

Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship,St. Charles, IL

Juan Sanchez

Pastor of High Pointe BaptistChurch, Austin, X

Collin Hansen

Editorial director, Te GospelCoalition / editor-at-large,Christianity oday

THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE, FALL 2012

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1

PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM

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CONTENT EDITOR: Chad Jordan

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MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

DIRECTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY PUBLISHING: Jef Pratt

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The Gospel Project for Students (ISSN 1939-0742; Item 005508013) is

published quarterly by Li feWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza,

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We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for i ts end;

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guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline .

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003,

2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. • Scripture quota -

tions marked (NIV) are f rom the Holy Bible, New International Version,copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

• Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New

Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permi ssion of Tyndale House

Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reser ved.



24 TGP Personal Study Guide

SESSION 3

GOD IS NOT MUTE

FACEBOOK IS A GOOD THING. It makes staying connected

with each other easy. It lets us brag about things we

do and then post or all to see. One downside about

Facebook is it creates another category o relationships

or us. Having Facebook riends is not the same thing as

having real riends. Many times, you don’t even really know your

Facebook riends. You know some ino about them and you can

make some general statements about them by the things they

say and the pictures they post. But do you really know them?

The same can be said about God. We can learn a lot about Him

through His creation. We can even make some general statements

about what He is probably like. But to actually know Him, we have

to dig deeper than what He has revealed generally through His

creation. Thankully He has done more than post some pictures

and leave us guessing. God has given us His actual words and let

us without an excuse. Not only can we learn about Him personally,

He also reveals our purpose. The Bible, God’s special revelation, His

telling o His story, has given us all we need to know about Him.



READY YOUR HEART

2FALL 2012

2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is protable or teaching, or rebuking,

or correcting, or training in righteousness, so that the man o God may be complete,

equipped or every good work.

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.To use the theological word or it, it is an “inspired” book That doesn’t mean that thewriters o the Bible ell into a trance and then woke up several hours later with pages

in ront o them It means instead that God chose to use, as His instrument, these men,complete with their own personalities

Think about it in terms o a text I you want to be really particular and specic inwhat you communicate, you might use an emoticon Or a dierent color Or all capital

letters In the same way, God not only chose the words, He also chose the instrumentsHe would use to communicate those words

Have you ever wondered why there are our gospels? Wouldn’t it be simpler i there

was just one? But think about the dierences in those gospels Matthew was a ormertax collector He had a Jewish background So His gospel includes these elements

Mark appears to write rom a Jewish perspective but to a gentile audienceLuke was a physician by trade He had an organized and logical mind His gospel

displays that organization and logicJohn started ollowing Jesus when he was a teenager His gospel has that mindset

o imagination and creativity to it, complete with the fowery languageFour dierent men Four dierent perspectives on the same story All inspired

by one God There is great hope or us in this act It means, among other things,that God has wired you, too, very specically He has given you talents and abilities,ingraining them into your very DNA I God used these our men, along with the other

writers o Scripture, according to their own personalities, then He’s sure likely to useyou, too He’s likely to use your creativity Your love o sports or animals Your physical

makeup and beingGod can use you He is, ater all, the One who made you

▷

HE INSPIRES

PAUSE AND REFLECT ▷ Have you ever wondered why you have the gits and

abilities you have?

▷ What ability do you secretly wish you had? ▷ How does knowing that God allowed men to write the

Bible and used their uniqueness to accomplish His missionimpact the way you look at how He has gited you?




READY YOUR HEART

Psalm 19:7-11 The instruction o the LORD is perect, renewing one’s lie; the testimony

o the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts o the LORD are

right, making the heart glad; the command o the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light

up. The ear o the LORD is pure, enduring orever; the ordinances o the LORD are reliable

and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance o

pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes rom the honeycomb. In addition, Your

servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

“WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE?”It’s a popular question that most every Christian (hopeully) asks at some point Usually

it’s around a time o big decision—where to go to college, who to seriously date, whatstudies to pursue—something like that

The question is a good one It shows that we really want to do what God wants usto do; otherwise, we wouldn’t really be asking the question The truth is that or most

everything, God has already revealed His will or our livesThere are certain things you can do that you absolutely know are God’s will or your

lie, because they’re the same or every believer These are things like:

★Study and memorize Scripture ★Avoid sexual immorality

★Pray on all occasions ★Seek to make disciples o all nations

No one has to ask about God’s will in these matters; He’s already revealed it In

act, i most o us would seek to commit ourselves ully to the aspects o God’s willthat He has already revealed, then the other aspects o God’s will might not be so

mysterious to usSay, or example, you are trying to choose where to go to college You know that it’s

God’s will or your lie to share the gospel and commit your lie to bringing glory to Himin all contexts The question then becomes “Where can I best live out what I know that

God wants me to do?”The only way we grow in this area is through reading, meditating on, and memorizing

God’s Word This is how we learn God’s will or our lives

PAUSE AND REFLECT ▷ Do you nd God’s ways more desirable than gold or

sweeter than honey? ▷ What areas o your lie right now may be hindering you

rom nding His will or you? ▷ What prevents you rom living out what you already

know to be true?

HE INSTRUCTS



2FALL 2012

READY YOUR HEART

Luke 24:25-27 He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts

all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have to sufer these things and

enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted or

them the things concerning Himsel in all the Scriptures.

BIBLE STUDY WON’T CHANGE YOUR LIFE.OK, that may be a bit o overstatement to get your attention, but just because you know

the Bible doesn’t mean the Word will bear ruit in your lie It is possible to know theScriptures, read the Scriptures, revere the Scriptures, and study the Scriptures and miss

the point entirelyWay too oten Bible study is more about us than Christ We commonly begin with

us at the center and bring God into our world to address our already-dened needs andproblems We look at the Bible as a book o divine instruction, a manual or succeedingin lie, or a map or making sure we get to heaven when we die Studying the Scripture

like this will not result in lie transormation Why? Because it is missing somethingBetter put, it is missing Someone

Bible study alone is not what transorms your lie Jesus transorms your lie It’spossible to amass great amounts o biblical knowledge, to impress people with your

mastery o Bible trivia, to creatively apply the Bible in ways that seem so down to earthand practical, to dot your theological I’s and cross your exegetical T’s – and still miss

Jesus Scary, isn’t it?The purpose o our Bible study is to know God and make Him known The Bible

unveils Jesus Christ as the ocal point o human history All creation exists by Him,through Him, to Him, and or Him Our Bible study should exist or Him too That’s theonly kind o Bible study that will change your lie

HE’S ALWAYS BEEN THERE

PAUSE AND REFLECT ▷ Why is it important that all o the Bible is pointing

to Christ? ▷ What is the diference in knowing things about Jesus

and actually knowing Him? ▷ Which would you say best describes you: Knowing about

Him or actually knowing Him?



The words “complete” and “every” meanthere is nothing necessary or us to know that the Bible lacks toshow. We should neither need nor want to look outside o the

Bible to nd out what God deems as “need to know” knowledge.

▸ In what ways might Christians be tempted to supplementthe Bible’s authority with something else?

▸ How can we demonstrate our belie that the Bible issucient to guide our lives?

▸ The Bible isn’t just a message or us, it isultimately a message about God. All thatGod does in the great history o redemptioHe does chiefy or His own renown.

▸Do you agree with the statement “Inall God does, His rst aim is to gloriyHimsel”? Why or why not?

▸What are some ways that God’s gloriyingHimsel is a benet to us?

Scripture...God has not let us to gure out all we need to know rom His generalrevelation alone. He also gets straight to the point by providing whatwe call special revelation. Special revelation is dierent rom generalrevelation because it reers to the way God reveals specic things aboutHimsel and His plan or the created world—including us—in His written

Word. The general revelation o creation is refecting God’s glory, but inthe special revelation o the Bible, God is proclaiming His glory Himsel.

Is Inspired by God.That God inspired the Scriptures does not mean thatmen wrote the words o the Bible completely o their owndevices merely as an act o honor to God. On the otherhand, the inspiration that the Spirit provided did not turn

the human authors into writing robots. God used men towrite the Bible, but He did so without overriding

their personalities. ▸ What does the truth that God chose not to

override the personalities o the Bible’s authorssay about our own personalities?

▸ In what ways can God use our circumstances andpersonalities in our proclamation o His truth?



★ Reread Psalm 19:11

▸ How is there great reward in keepingGod’s commandments?

▸ How does your answer to the abovequestion relate to the truth that we are

saved by aith, not by works (Eph. 2:8-9)?Many o us are not used to thinking o God’scommandments—and Scripture in general—as“sweeter than honey,” or something that is delicious.How in the world do we get to that perspective?

God does not want us to fumble around in the shadows, trying to fgure out the meaningo lie. He tells us where we stand in relation to Him(sinners deserving wrath), how we got there (throughAdam’s sin, which we both inherit and embrace), andbest o all, how we get out o it into a right standing withHim (through Christ’s sinlessness, culminating in His

sacrifcial death and glorious resurrection).

▸ In what ways can God’s instructions makethe heart glad?

▸ How can God’s commandments make oureyes light up?

▸ Are His ways sweeter than honey to you?

Glorifes ChristThe point o special revelation is to reveal the gospel.God’s written Word points to Jesus, the Living Word. AsJesus claimed implicitly and explicitly throughout Hisearthly ministry that He is the true Messiah long awaitby the people o God, He was asserting Himsel as theculmination o human history.

▸Refecting on Jesus’ revelation to Histraveling companions in Luke 24:25-27,what might have been some o “the thingconcerning Himsel” He showed them rothe Old Testament?

Conclusion Through His Word, God species His

intentions or humanity and His expectations o us. He shows us how the gloryo Christ is the purpose o world history. We are to respond to God’s specialrevelation by aligning ourselves with God’s expressed will.

▸What part o your lie is working counter to God’s intentions?▸Does God’s voice have a presence in your lie? Are you instructed,

rebuked, and corrected by the Word?▸ Is it possible to revere the Word and not read it? How can you discipline

yoursel to spend unhurried time in God’s Word?

Reveals HisExpectationsEven though we see the imprint o the gospel in generarevelation, we do not receive His specic word to us

regarding what He expects rom His relationship withus. In act, while general revelation reveals there is a Gto know, special revelation reveals that God wants to known personally.




ENCORE

1. IS INSPIRED BY GOD (2 TIM. 3:16-17).

Tough the Bible has approximately 40 diferent authors, runs the gamut rom history to law andprophecy to poetry, and includes 66 books written over the span o 1,600 years, it has one Author

who made every word sure and every truth proclaimed.Paul reminds imothy o this vital truth in 2 imothy 3:16-17.Tat God inspired the Scriptures does not mean that men wrote the words o the Bible completely

o their own devices merely as an act o honor to God. Certainly their work in writing the books o the Bible was an act o honor to God, but it was not merely that. So when we say God inspired mento write the Bible, we don’t mean it in the same way that a guy may write a poem because he was

inspired by a beautiul woman. Te inspiration that the Holy Spirit provided in revealing the Wordo God was direct, not indirect.

On the other hand, the inspiration that the Spirit provided in the revelation o the Word o Goddid not turn the human authors into automatic dictation machines. Tey weren’t possessed—at leastnot in the sense o losing control over their own aculties. God used men to write the Bible, but Hedid so without overriding their personalities. When Paul taught that his biblical words were inspiredby God, he meant that God took whatever care determined necessary to make sure that what Pauland all the other biblical writers said was what God wanted said.

God may have used a variety o means to inspire the human authors o the Bible, but Hedetermined that the nal result was His own supreme authorship.

Paul tells imothy that the Word o God contains all that we need to be “complete” and“equipped or every good work.” Te words “complete” and “every” mean there is nothing necessary or us to know that the Bible lacks to show. And since the Bible’s help or us in these areas iscomprehensive and exclusive, it is thereore authoritative. We should neither need nor want to look outside o the Bible to nd out what God deems as “need to know” knowledge.

While the Bible is a message for us, it is ultimately a message about God. All that God does in thegreat history o redemption He does chiey or His own renown.

2. REVEALS HIS EXPECTATIONS (PS. 19:7-11).

In the general revelation o creation, we can discern God’s existence and the shape o some o His

attributes. Tese leave us without excuse in our responsibility to seek God and obey Him. But eventhough we see the imprint o the gospel in general revelation, we do not receive His specic word tous regarding what He expects rom His relationship with us.

We do not worship the deist’s god, who leaves clues about himsel scattered about the universe butthen goes hands-of and leaves us to our own devices. No, we worship the God o Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob. We worship the God who interrupts us when we’re trying to mind our own business, andHe tells us His name, His plan, and His complete set o instructions on what to do with them. Tegreat I AM is not content to be discerned; He wants to be known.

GOD IS NOT MUTE

Scripture...



3FALL 2012

God does not want us to umble around in the shadows, trying to gure out the meaning o lie. He tells us where we stand in relation to Him (sinners deserving wrath), how we got there(through Adam’s sin, which we both inherit and embrace), and best o all, how we get out o it intoa right standing with Him (through Christ’s sinlessness, culminating in His sacricial death and

glorious resurrection). Tanks be to God that He does not expect us to piece these expectationstogether solely through the changing o the seasons or the pervasive injustice in the world or themetamorphosis o a buttery! He tells us straight out.

3. GLORIFIES CHRIST (LUKE 24:25-27).

Many o us are not used to thinking o God’s commandments—and Scripture in general—as“sweeter than honey,” or something that is delicious. Even i we can reckon with the idea o loving God’s law, we may have trouble guring out how not to think o it in the context o a religious duty or a “chore chart” (something ollowed but not particularly enjoyed). But the Psalms speak o God’schildren delighting in God’s law. How in the world do we get to that perspective?

Te way we nd God’s commands delightul and His instruction tasty like honey is by moving beyond what God requires o us and seeing what He has accomplished Himsel. As we learned beore,God Himsel is the Hero o God’s story, and as it pertains to His desire to be known, He Himsel bridges the communication gap we are unable to span ourselves. He does this rst by speaking intothe shadows o general revelation in the special revelation o Scripture. He does this savingly by speaking in the special revelation o Scripture the great announcement o the gospel o Jesus.

Te point o special revelation, then, is to reveal the gospel. God’s written Word points to Jesus, theLiving Word. Ater Jesus was raised rom the dead, He caught up with a couple o disciples making a trek to Emmaus. He walked alongside them and preached the greatest Christ-centered, expository sermon rom the Old estament ever preached in the history o the world. “Te point o all that,”

Jesus essentially said, pointing to the varied wonders o what we call the Old estament, “is Me.” As Jesus claimed implicitly and explicitly throughout His earthly ministry that He is the trueMessiah long awaited by the people o God, He was asserting Himsel as the culmination o humanhistory. Psalm 19:11 tells us there is “great reward” in keeping God’s commands. We can’t do that.But Jesus can, and did. And there is great reward in Christ’s righteousness or all who will repent o their sin, trust in His work, and thereby receive His goodness credited to their account.

CONCLUSION

Trough His Word, God species His intentions or humanity and His expectations o us. Heshows us how the glory o Christ is the purpose o world history. We are to respond to God’s special

revelation by aligning ourselves with God’s expressed will.

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