The Standard

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. (Romans 3:23-24)

What is God’s “glorious standard"?


How does remembering God's "undeserved kindness" help you relate to others?




- g-ram

YDHWIT 01: You Aren't Good Enough Follow Up

You Aren’t Good Enough - Week 1 


Objective: To reveal the areas in our lives where we feel unworthy and to find confidence in God’s unconditional love.

Read:

When I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's

approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:19 (NLT)

Why do we sometimes feel like we need to earn God’s approval?


What are some things you’ve seen people do in order to try and earn God’s approval?


Read:

Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.

Hebrews 9:15 (The Message)

Are there areas in your life where you have been trying to make yourself feel more acceptable to God? What are they? 


In the previous passage of scripture we are told we have been set free from having to earn God’s love. How does this give you confidence for your daily life?

Does this confidence come from trusting yourself or from trusting God? Why?

Read:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 2:21 (NLT)

As a group pray and ask God to help you accept His unconditional love in every area of your lives.

In your personal time this week read Galatians 2:17-21 and ask God to give you confidence through His unconditional love.

For Further Study - Week 1 
Philippians 3:7-11

Open

If you were to update your resume today, what recent accomplishment would you want to include?

What do you feel are your most valuable skills and gifts?



Explore
In what sense was Paul not boasting, even though he was calling attention to his accomplishments? (3:7-9)

Why did Paul view his former accomplishments as "rubbish"? (3:8)

What was Paul's status in Christ? (3:9)

What longings did Paul admit to the Philippians? (3:10-11)

Reflect

Why do we tend to base our worth as Christians on our performance?

Why should our identity and confidence be in Christ?

Apply
What do you need to start counting as “rubbish” for the sake of Christ?

Ephesians 2:4-9 

Open

What is the best gift you've ever received?

Explore
Why did God make those who were dead alive with Christ? (2:4-5)
What describes God's action in making us alive? (2:5)
What position has God given Christians in Christ by His divine power? (2:6)
How do we receive salvation? (2:8)
Where does salvation come from? (2:8)
Why can no one boast in his own salvation? (2:8-9)

Reflect
How would you describe God's grace to you?
Why doesn’t anyone deserved God's grace, mercy, or riches?

Apply

Who can you share the news of God's mercy with today? How? 


g-ram

High Respect

"Greet Andronicus and Junia...they are highly respected among the apostles."

Romans 16:7

What do other believers say of you?

g-ram

TRUE[ish] 04: As Long As You Don't Hurt Anyone FollowUp

As Long As You Don’t Hurt Anyone Week 4

Share with your group your what your biggest “guilty pleasure” is. Some examples could be a questionable television show you like to watch, a controversial type of music you like to listen to, overeating when it comes to a certain food or maybe just a bad habit.

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)

One of the top virtues promoted in today’s society is tolerance. The virtue of tolerance teaches we can justify almost anything we want to do in our lives. How has the virtue of tolerance affected you (or someone you love)?

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32 (NIV)

What are some questionable activities that you have heard others justify with the claim that “it’s ok if no one is getting hurt?” What sins does our culture tend to excuse with this same logic?

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 (NIV)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags… Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

Even if a sin, in our own life, doesn’t directly impact others, in what ways can it impact others indirectly?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Describe how Christ’s forgiveness has transformed you and resulted in your living a more pure life.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret...2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Is there something in your life right now that may be questionable but you’ve found a justification for it? Take a moment to pray individually. Ask God to help you see that “something” through His eyes and how it is impacting your life. Ask if it is something He wants to purify in your life.

Final thought: With your group As a group share with each other what you sense God may be wanting to purify in your life.

For Further Study

Simply select one or two questions from each category below that you think will help your group discussion. Alternatively, you can use these questions and Scriptures in your own personal devotions during the week.

Open

What are some of the common motives people have when deciding to make major changes in their lives?

Explore
Read Romans 6:1-14 

Why should a forgiven, justified person make a strong effort not to sin? (6:1- 2) 

Why would a person not want to live in sin any longer? (6:2)

What makes it possible for a person to live a new life? (6:4)

Before a person is united to Christ, what are they a slave to? (6:6)

After Christ died and was raised, why did neither sin nor death have any power over Him? (6:7, 9-10)

How will uniting with Christ in His death change the future of our lives? (6:8-10)

In a person’s new relationship with God, what is his or her relationship to sin supposed to be? (6:11-12)

What change in attitude and action toward God happens in a person who follows Christ? (6:11-13)

Reflect

Why would a Christian want to stop sinning even though he or she knows God has forgiven them and will forgive those sins?

How does God help a person discard old habits and tendencies? 

How does God give a person a new self?

What are the symptoms of a person in slavery to sin?

What does it mean to live a new life for God?

In what practical sense is sin no longer the master of a Christian even though he or she might still commit specific sins?

Apply

What are some ways Christ has promised to help you run toward Him and away from your old life and sin.?

Here are some suggestions you may want to use for your time with God this week:

Day 1: Read Romans 1:28-32. Take time today to confess those areas of your life that continue to struggle with sin to God. Ask God for forgiveness and for his healing in those areas of your life.

Day 2: Read Romans 7:7-25. Spend time with God in prayer asking Him to help you recognize and battle the attacks of the enemy in your life.

Day 3: Read Luke 17:1-10. Ask God to make you aware of ways you can show his love to those you impact daily.

Day 4: Read 1 John 1: 5-10. Spend time thanking God for His forgiveness in your life.

Day 5: Read 2 Corinthians 7:2-16. Pray for those in your LifeGroup and other loved ones and for strength and wisdom in the battles they are facing.

g-ram

Kill Shame

The opposite of shame is a sense of honour and confidence. Paul once wrote that he was not ashamed of the good news about Jesus.

Romans 1:16-18

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Paul had confidence in the Good News. He was proud of its power to bring people back to God. The good news is that any of us can be right with God. Through faith in Jesus, we have access to the Father. Honour this news today through your confident obedience to God.


- g-ram

Times of Transition: Thin Spots

Life is not what it once was. Does that mean it is bad? Does that mean it is good? The answer here is like so many others...it depends. It depends on what changed, for who, when and why and probably a dozen other factors. What

Everlasting God

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

TRUE[ish] 03: As Long As You're Sincere Follow Up

As Long As You’re Sincere Week 3

What impressions did you have of Christianity before you became a follower of Christ? Are those different now? If so, how? 

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 16:29-30 (NIV)

• Many people don’t believe they have anything to be “saved” from. Discuss what being “saved” means to you?

• The word “saved” in this passage of scripture can also be translated “rescued.” When you made the decision to follow Christ, what do you believe He rescued you from?

• In what ways has He continued to rescue you?

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

Luke 6:27-29 (NIV)

Has there ever been a time when you showed to love to someone you considered to be an enemy? If so, how did the experience affect you? How did it affect them?

What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!

Mark 6:2 (NIV)

• God continues to perform miracles in our lives today. Discuss a time when you saw a miracle in your own life or in the life of someone you know. How did that affect your relationship with Christ?

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (NIV)

If you’re a follower of Christ, explain how you came to know Him personally. (If you’ve never shared your Christian testimony with your Life Group, take a few minutes to tell your story).

"Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV) 

Who do you say He is? Take a moment and tell the others in the group who Jesus is to you, what He means to you.

Final thought: Spend time in prayer as a group thanking God for all He saved you from when you made the decision to follow Him. Then take time to thank Him and celebrate the ways He continues to rescue you daily.

g-ram