Basic Bible Christianity

Basic Bible Christianity Lesson Eleven Our spiritual heartbeat

Search the Scriptures • Study Ephesians 6:10-20. • What is the only way we can be spiritually strong? • In the Lord • Why do we need to dress for battle as we face life? • The devil schemes against us. • Whom are we fighting against? • Spiritual forces of evil • What are we to buckle around our waists? • The belt of truth Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

Search the Scriptures • What is the “breastplate of righteousness”? • The “not guilty” verdict God gives us • What fits onto our feet? • The readiness that comes from the gospel • What do we use to extinguish the devil’s flaming arrows? • The shield of faith • What protects our heads? • The helmet of salvation Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

Search the Scriptures • What weapon is both defensive and offensive? • The sword of the Spirit • How are we to pray? • On all occasions with all kinds of prayers • What specific prayers does Paul ask for? • For him to be given the words to fearlessly proclaim the gospel Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

True or false T F T F T A good conversation with God includes listening to his Word. Even though God doesn’t use dreams and visions anymore, he still speaks to us through our feelings. The Old Testament has 39 books and includes history, prophecy, and poetry. The New Testament has 29 books and includes the life of Jesus and the early Christians. Only Christians can pray to God and be heard, for Jesus’ sake. Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

True or false F T T T T/F Much of the Bible is difficult to understand and requires trained theologians to explain it. The primary emphasis in the Lord’s Prayer is on spiritual things, with less emphasis on material things. Our faith needs both feeding (hearing and reading God’s Word) and exercising (praying to God). Jesus makes our prayers acceptable to God the Father. The best translations put the Bible in everyday terms that we can understand. Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

Questions for discussion Identify specific obstacles that get in the way of your prayer and devotional life. For each challenge, identify a potential solution. When we pray, God can respond in a number of ways: He can say, “Yes.” He can say, “No.” He can say, “Not right now.” He can say, “No,” and give us something even better than what we asked for. Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

Questions for discussion You visit a friend who used to be an active church member but lately has not been a regular worshiper in God’s house. When you remind your friend that it’s been a while since you’ve seen him (or her) in church, the person replies, “You don’t have to worry about me. Even though I haven’t been in church, I still pray all the time.” How do you respond? Lesson 10 A Conversation with God

Basic Bible Christianity Lesson Eleven Our spiritual heartbeat

Opening Devotion Read Mark 1:14-20. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Repentance What do you think of when you hear the word repentance? As we talk about repentance, keep the following in mind: Psalm 19:12—Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 2 Corinthians 7:8-10—Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17 Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Step 1: Go and show the person his or her sin privately. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Step 2: Take along one or two others. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Step 3: Tell the church. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Step 4: Treat the person who sinned like an unbeliever. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17—“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Q: In each of the steps above, the overriding goal is to A: Lead the person who sinned to repentance. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Key term Excommunication Ex = out of Communion = the common union held by all who have faith in Jesus Excommunication = the declaration that someone is outside the holy Christian church, that he or she is an unbeliever Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Loving or not? Is church discipline a loving thing to do? Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Discuss One of the most powerful instincts in a human being is guilt avoidance. Identify some of the techniques a person may use to try to deflect or avoid guilt. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

“” Wise Words “It’s a simple matter of truth. Left to ourselves, we make excuses for sin. We tell ourselves we had no choice; others were to blame. Sometimes we create a whole fictitious world of our own, rewriting the script of reality. And in that script we’re always the starring character. In our view of reality, we’re always the hero. The villain is always the other guy. . . . ” “There is nothing pleasant about this kind of honesty. There is nothing more painful than to be brutally frank about sin. But then there is never anything pleasant about death. And telling the truth before God spells the death of our Old Adam.” (Senkbeil, Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness, 85,86) Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance Luke 13:1-5 Luke 13:1-5—Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Q: How important and necessary is repentance? A: Without it we perish. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Sin and repentance 1 Timothy 1:15 1 Timothy 1:15—Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. Q: How did the apostle Paul see himself? A: As the worst of sinners, but one for whom Christ died Q: How are we to see ourselves, by nature? A: As the worst of sinners, but ones for whom Christ died Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Confession and Absolution James 5:16 James 5:16—Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Q: To whom are we instructed to confess our sins? A: One another Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Confession and Absolution John 20:21-23 John 20:21-23—Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Q: What authority did Jesus give to his disciples? A: The authority to forgive and not forgive sins Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Confession and Absolution Matthew 18:18 Matthew 18:18—“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Q: How binding is the authority of the church? A: The church declares what is already true before God in heaven. Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Confession and Absolution Matthew 16:19 Matthew 16:19—“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Q: What is this special authority called? A: The use of the keys Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

Key term The Keys Two keys—the binding (locking) key and the loosing (unlocking) key God wants us to tell repentant sinners that the door to heaven is open to them. God wants us to tell unrepentant sinners that the door to heaven is locked to them. Luther: “The use of the Keys is that special power and right which Christ gave to his church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners but refuse forgiveness to the impenitent as long as they do not repent.” Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

“” Wise Words “When Christians take off their masks and expose their sin to God in the presence of another, there is healing. For the healing of guilt is a matter of honesty before God. And our confessor, that person who hears our confession, is there to keep us honest. He will be with us as we take off our masks to face our sin in all its horror. But he will also give us the honest truth about sins forgiven in the name of Jesus: they are gone!” (Senkbeil, Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness, 87) Lesson 11 Our Spiritual Heartbeat

What’s on your mind? Questions about this week’s class? Questions about next week’s class? Time’s up!!!!

Basic Bible Christianity