Week One - Dead
to
Self/Alive to Christ
The churches of
Christ Greet You (Romans
This week you
will be
studying passages in the Scriptures that show us so clearly what the
problem is. The problem is the "self" that lives for itself. Christ
calls us to crucify the old self and He promises to raise
up a new and very different self.
1st Day
1. Read Luke
9:18-26 several times.
2. Now read Luke
18:28-30. Notice carefully the promise that is attached to
discipleship, indeed to the
very decision that you have just made. These two passages will become
more
and more important as you share your life in Christ with others.
3. As you
continue to
go through this study, remember that everything you learn is something
that
you will be responsible for passing on to someone else. Don't skim over
it.
Learn it as you go.
4. Be sure to spend time in prayer at the
end of each study session. Learn to deeply communicate with your
Father in Heaven. He loves you so very much (1 John 4:9).
2nd Day
1. Read carefully
Romans 6:1-14. Now read this passage again, but this time each time you
come to the
word "ye," "we," or "us," substitute your own name.
2. In your
notebook, write down some of the things about your "old self" that
could cause you to
receive the death sentence.
3. Write down
some things
about your "new self" that you really want to express.
4. How do you
specifically plan today to live out verse 13?
3rd Day
1. As you begin
today's study, ask yourself an important question: "Am I staying in
close touch with older Christians?" This is crucial, and all next week
your Bible study will focus in this area. But we cannot wait until next
week to encourage you
along this line. If there is anything in you that is
not wanting to see or be with other disciples, then you can be
sure
that is something that is not of God and must be crucified. It is your
"old"
independent "self," not the "new self" God is giving you.
2. Read Romans
7:14-24. Notice carefully how powerless we are to live this new life
alone. Do you now better understand why we must deny the self? Read
again verse 24.
3. Now read
Romans 8:1-17.
You were taught that you received the gift of the Holy Spirit at your
baptism
(Acts
4th Day
1. As you have
questions about things that you are studying or things that are
happening to you, seek out some of your older brothers and sisters in
Christ and let them help you. They have been through many things you
will go through. Lean on their wisdom and understanding.
2. As a new
Christian, you are now a babe in Jesus Christ. There is much you don't
know and there are some areas where you need correction. All children
need to be taught things
they don't know, and they need to be corrected when they are wrong. How
you
take correction is going to make all the difference in your growth in
Christ.
3. Read Proverbs
12:1-2, 15. Now read Proverbs 10:17.
4. Write down
your own
attitude toward being corrected. Distinguish between those things that
are
left over from your "old self" and those things that Jesus Christ is
putting
in your heart.
5. Read 2 Timothy
3:16-17. Now answer these questions: "Why should older brothers and
sisters in Christ bring the Word of God to you? What is going to be
your attitude when they do?"
1. In your new
life you will find that "attitude" is everything. If you develop a
critical or negative or pessimistic attitude, you will put out the
Spirit's fire in your life. Today the Bible study will focus on the
reason you can keep a great attitude even in the worst of circumstances.
2. Read and
examine carefully each of the following passages: John 16:33; Romans
8:28; Philippians 4:12-13, 19; 1 Thessalonians
3. As you put all
these passages together in your mind, write down what they promise you
about everything in your life. How does this fit with having a good
attitude regardless of what is happening?
4. List anything
that is tending to cause you to have a bad (negative, complaining,
pessimistic) attitude. Confess these right away to another disciple and
ask for their prayers
and encouragement (James
1. By today, you
have certainly realized that you are not doing all for Jesus Christ
that you determined to do five or six days ago. You want to love Him
with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, but you have failed in
some specific areas. What you will study today will be important in
dealing with this for the rest of your life.
2. Read 1 John
1:5-10.
3 Think of the
difference in light and darkness. Think of the difference between being
in an open room with lots of windows and a totally dark basement area.
In one, things are out in the open - you can see them as they really
are. In the other, things are hidden and covered by the darkness. With
this in mind, write down what God means when He calls us to "walk in
the light" (vs. 7). How does this fit
with verse 9 where we are called to confess our sins?
4. Look at the
two results
of walking in the light as described in verse seven. How will these
cause
a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
5. Remember this
trustworthy saying: "Satan's only ground is darkness. When we confess
our sins and bring them out into the light, we take away from him his
only base of operation."
7th Day
1. As you come to
the end of this first week as a committed disciple of Jesus Christ,
let's go back
to the most basic idea in discipleship.
2. Read Galatians
2:20. Put your name in place of the
pronouns.
3. Every time
your old
nature tries to assert itself you should say, "I have been crucified
with
Christ." Write down the things you especially need to say that to today.
4. As you
determine what you should do with each day from this day forward
remember, "I ______________________________________ (your name) no
longer live, but Christ lives in me." Meditate on this great idea and
then determine to let each day of your life be used for the very things
that Jesus Christ is most interested in.
5. Read 1
Corinthians 6:19-20. Believe with all your heart that "You are not your
own!" By His death
on the cross, Jesus Christ has purchased you with His blood for His own
purposes.
Carefully distinguish between your purposes and His purposes, and live
as
one who has been "bought with a price.”
6. An important
reminder: As a new babe, you need to be in
daily touch with others who are ready to give you encouragement and
guidance. If you have been avoiding that contact, determine now to deal
with that wrong attitude that is developing.