CHANGE
“Change” – is to pass from one
state to another. Another word for
change is to “grow”. To grow means to
increase.
Eph.
[According to The Bible
Knowledge Commentary, “We should have as our goal to be like Christ in all
our character. As Christ was loving, forgiving, kind, patient, giving, selfless,
diligent, obedient, righteous, etc. so should we.”].
Do you have as your goal to be like Christ in all of your character, or are you content with your present state, and why?
What changes do you need to make in your character so that it is Christ-like?
For example, do you need to change being jealous, stubborn, prideful, impatient, hot-tempered, selfish, greedy, lazy, self-centered, prejudiced, bitter, gossiping, hateful, immoral in thought and/or actions, mismanagement of time and/or money, or being a liar?
And how will you go about making those changes (Eph.
Rom.
Because we know that it’s God’s
ultimate will that we be conformed to the image of Christ, what should you
begin doing about it now (Gal.
How does a Christian know what to
change in his/her life so that his/her character is Christ-like (see Gal.
Is this what you are doing, and why?
1 Pet. 1:15, 16 What command is given to Christians in verse 15?
Why should we be holy (separated from sin to be morally pure)?
[The Bible Knowledge Commentary states
that Christians are, “to reflect not their former ignorance but the holy nature
of their heavenly father who gave them new birth and called them to be His
own.”].
Does your character reflect the former ignorance of your unsaved state, or does it reflect the holy nature of God, and why?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you are obeying this command?
When will you start, and how?
Matt. 22:36-38 What is the greatest commandment?
How do we show
our love for God (Jn.
How do you show your love for God? Why?
Do you love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, and how do you know?
Are God’s commands burdensome to you (especially the commands to build up believers – 1 Thes. 5:11; Rom. 14:19 and aggressively share the gospel or evangelize – Matt. 28:19, 20; Eph. 4:5, 11, 12; Phil. 2:2 with 1:27; 4:9)?
Why (1 Jn. 5:3)?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you are loving God with all of your heart (will or sincerity of choice), soul (intensity of feeling), and mind (thoughtfully or with understanding of intellect)?
Rev. 3:15, 16 What will Jesus Christ do to the lukewarm Christian?
[“spit out of mouth” – be very disgusted with.].
What would Christ like for us to be?
Why do you think that Christ hates
lukewarmness (see Prov. 16:5; Lk.
How does this make you feel?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you are a hot Christian (or obedient Christian)?
1 Jn. 2:15-17 What are we not to love?
What happens if someone loves the world (i.e., all that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, impulses, aims, aspirations at any time current among humanity alienated from and hostile to God; it can be religious, refined, and intellectual, but it is anti-biblical and anti-Christ – Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, “Romans”, p. 207)?
What is in the world?
“lust of the flesh” – includes the sins of gluttony, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and illicit drugs.
“lust of the eyes” – includes the sins of coveting: things, objects, possessions, riches, or people.
“boastful pride of life” – is arrogance, self importance, and pre-eminence because of a person’s: position, office, power, wealth, prestige, popularity, abilities, talents, intelligence, achievements, possessions, associations, etc.
What will happen to the one who does the will of God?
“abide
forever” – have eternal fellowship with God. Non-Christians cannot do the will of God (do good/right from God’s perspective)
of their own choice (Rom.
Are you a friend of the world (Jas. 4:4), and why?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you’re not a friend of the world?
1 Pet. 2:21, 22 Jesus Christ suffered for us leaving an example for us to do what?
[The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that, “Christians are called to follow Christ to emulate His character and conduct because He suffered for them.”].
Are you imitating the character of Christ because He died to pay for your sins, give you a new nature, and the ability to live Christ-like, and why?
How will you specifically go about making the needed changes in your life?
Jn. 13:5, 14, 15 What did Jesus do?
Are you willing to do humbling acts of service to/for your fellow believer, and why?
What should anyone who wants to be
first do (Mk.
Is this your attitude? Why?
What changes in your life do you need to make so that you are a better servant to others?
1 Thes.
Are you a patient person? How do you know?
How much do you love a person if you are impatient with him/her (1 Cor. 13:4)?
According to 1 Corinthians 13:4, are you a loving person?
How does a person change and become
a patient person (1 Jn.
Prov. 16:5 Who is an abomination/extremely disgusting to the Lord?
[Pride – showing oneself above others, pre-eminent; it is always used in Scripture in the bad sense of arrogant, self-important, and disdainful.].
Is this what you want to be in God’s eyes? If not, what and how will you change so as to not be an abomination?
Prov. 27:2 Who should praise you? Is this what you do?
Who should we praise or boast in (2 Cor.
How much praise do you give the Lord, or do you take all the credit for all the good things that happen?
How does a person change from being boastful and praising of himself to giving all the credit to the Lord?
Jas.
How well do you control your speech (e.g., gossip, slander, sarcasm, lying, vulgarity)?
What should our speech or words be used for (Eph.
What percentage of your words are edifying (building up spiritually)?
Who is wise (Prov.
Do you need to change your speech patterns so that your words are edifying? How will you go about doing so?
Eph.
How kind are you to the people who are not your closest friends or to the people that you may not get along with (e.g., co-workers, family, former friends, etc.)?
What is kind (1 Cor. 13:4)?
What do you need to do or remember so that you are kind to the people who are not your closest friends?
Eph. 4:26, 27 What are we commanded to do?
When you are angry, is it for the right reasons [directed at sin, such as toward: injustice (e.g., harming orphans, Ex. 22:24); religious pride (Mk. 3:5); religious greed and corruption (Jn. 2:14-17); rebellion toward God (Ex. 15:7); idolatry (Num. 32:7-10, 13, 14); complaints about doing God’s will (Num. 11:1, 10); rebellion toward God-appointed authority (Num. 12:9); discouraging others from doing God’s will (Ex. 32:10);disobedience to God’s commands (Ex. 4:14); etc. – Rom. 12:9]?
Or, is your anger for selfish reasons (someone didn’t do or say what you would have wanted or preferred)?
What do you need to remember so that you don’t sin when you get angry?
1 Cor. 13:4 What is not jealous (having an unfriendly to hostile attitude toward someone because of some advantage he/she has or some possession of good that is his/hers, and it desires to have the same advantage or good for itself)?
What are we doing when we are jealous or envious toward someone?
How does a person overcome being
jealous (Eph.
There is such a thing as godly jealousy (2 Cor. 11:2), but it is defined differently.
[“Godly
jealousy” is a fierce desire for what is best for people – Richard’s
Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words.].
Heb.
Is this what you are doing? Why?
Do you appreciate the work that
your spiritual leader is doing (1 Thes.
Do you obey your leader without grumbling or
complaining even when he asks you to do something you don’t particularly like
to do? What happened
when the Jews grumbled against Moses (1
Cor.
Do you need to make any changes in your life so that you will obey your spiritual leader as long as what he asks isn’t sin?
If so, what, and how will you achieve it?
2 Cor.
What will happen there?
[This means that we will receive or lose rewards in heaven for how much we obeyed God or did not obey while we lived on earth.].
Are you ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and to give an account of your life to God, and why?
What does 1 Corinthians 3:14, 15 say about the Christian whose works are burnt up?
[The
judgment seat of Christ: “The purpose of this judgment is to make a public
revelation of the essential character and motivation of the Christian to determine
what service done in Christianity is acceptable and, therefore, rewarded or is
worthless and, therefore, is not rewarded.
The result will either be a reward received or a reward lost” – Things
to Come, by Dwight Pentecost.].
What can a person do to insure that he gains rewards in heaven instead of losing rewards?
1 Cor.
[“In
all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honoring Him” – Matthew
Henry’s Commentary.].
How much of what you do is to the glory of God?
Do you need to change any of your motives or actions so that they’re glorifying/bringing honor to God? If so, what?
Matt. 6:19-21 Where should we store up our treasures?
Is this what you are doing, and how?
Where is a person’s heart? Where is your heart, and why?
[To be materialistic is to have as your highest value or objective in life that of your material well-being.].
Do you need to make any changes in your life so that you aren’t materialistic (having as your highest value and/or objective in life that of your material well-being)? If so, what, and how?
Jas.
Would you say that this is how you view your life, and why?
Before you know it, your life will be over, and you will be giving an account of your life to the Lord – are you ready to do so?
Who do you live your life for, God or yourself? Why, and how?
What changes do you need to make in your life so that you will be ready to stand before God?
Psa. 119:11 What did the Psalmist do?
Do you have your quiet time (Bible reading and meditation) daily? If not, why?
Why is it so important for a Christian to have a daily time of Bible reading and meditation set aside?
Do you need to make any changes in your daily schedule so that you have your quiet time everyday?
What are some things that you can do to make it easier to have a daily quiet time?
2 Tim. 1:7 What has and has not God given us?
What prevents you from evangelizing or sharing your faith aggressively?
Why is Psalm 118:6 so encouraging?
[It
is a command for all Christians to evangelize, share the gospel – Matt. 28:19,
20; 2 Tim. 4:5; Eph. 4:11, 12; Phil. 2:2 with 1:27; 4:9.].
Do you need to change anything in your life so that you are not afraid to be outspoken about your faith in Jesus Christ?
Explain.
Hosea 6:6 What does the Lord delight in?
Have you ever substituted doing the good works you like to do in place of obeying the specific commands of God (e.g., Matt. 28:19, 20; Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11; 1 Pet. 1:15)? If so, why?
[Though there
is nothing wrong with doing good works such as singing in the choir, being a
youth group leader, building homes for the poor, helping out at an old folks
facility, these things should never be a substitute for obeying God regarding
your purpose in life, that of: aggressively evangelizing (seeking to save the
spiritually lost), which can additionally be achieved by building up Christians
spiritually through teaching and training them (Eph. 4:11-13) and pursuing holy
or Christ-like character.].
Are there any changes that you need to make in your life so that you will have the desire to obey God in Christ-like character and mission? If so, what?
Jas.
How can a Christian avoid this situation?
How can we know what to obey God in?
What should we do (Jas.
Do you need to make any changes in your life so that you are a doer of God’s word and not just a hearer of it?
If so, what?
No one can make you change. Either you want to obey God or disobey God; it’s up to you. Choose as an act of your will to totally obey God in all areas of your life, including the things you may not like to do. If you are faithful and obedient, God will reward you, if not here, then certainly in heaven.