THE STUDY
LAUNCH
If you have the capability to in your group, show one of the “I’m not famous” videos and then ask these questions: What drew that person to know Jesus? What about their story stuck with you/impacted you?
To find the videos, go to youtube.com/cruimnotfamous/videos. You might want to watch Phoebe’s story which is much like the woman at the well’s story. You can find her video quickly by googling “cruimnotfamous phoebe”.
OR
Have someone in the group prepared to share briefly how they met Jesus and the before and after change he made in his/her life. Then ask the group, “what about his/her story stuck with you/impacted you?”
Today we are going to look at a woman in the Bible who encounters Jesus, and see how her experience with him changes the whole town.
EXPLORE
1. Read John 4:7-9. Why do you think the Samaritan woman was surprised by Jesus’ request for a drink? What kind of barriers did Jesus have to cross to pursue you?
2. Read verses 10-26. Who is Jesus and what is the gift of God he is offering to the woman? What do you think Jesus means by “living water”?
3. What is the woman’s response to his offer of water? Where is she currently trying to find life?
4. In what people, things, or activities are you trying to find life (meaning, fulfillment, purpose)?
5. Instead of trying to understand every word that Jesus says, what do you notice about who he is and how he interacts with this woman?
6. How do you see the woman responding to his interactions with her?
7. Read verses 28-30, 39-42. What is the testimony the woman shares with her town about her encounter with Christ? What happens as a result?
APPLY
Many people’s lives were changed because the woman at the well simply shared how Jesus impacted her life. God can use our stories, or testimonies, in the same way. Today, we are going to work on putting together our own testimonies so we can share with others how Jesus has changed our lives.
8. Cardboard Testimony:
Write your story of what your life was like before and after you met Jesus. I Am Second (www.iamsecond.org) gives the following instruction on how to write a cardboard testimony:
If all you had was a small piece of cardboard, what one word would you use for your before and after experiences with Jesus? This is your story in a few words. Try several of them, and pick the ones you like best. Boldly print the best before and after words/phrases in permanent marker on each side of a piece of cardboard and share this at the next group meeting. Or take an Instagram photo of both sides of the cardboard and post it online.
(For example, watch cardboard testimonies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg7GTHZxxl4 and stop after 2:35.)
TESTIMONY WORKSHEET
Use this worksheet to write out your three-minute personal testimony
Write out your testimony: Now that you have the few words or phrases of before and after from your cardboard, you want to expand on it. Use the back of this sheet to work through these steps and then share your story with a friend.
BEFORE:
Describe how your life was before you invited Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Describe how you thought about life and some areas where you had a need or struggle.
HOW:
Describe how you became a Christian. Be very specific, even how you prayed to receive Christ, if you remember. It helps people understand how they can receive Christ.
AFTER:
Describe how your life is different now that you have received Christ. List three or four areas, referring back to your points in A.
Share your story with your friends. If you want, you can have someone video your story and post it to youtube and share it on social media!
Some Tips
- If you received Christ when you were really young and it is difficult to remember your life before Christ, identify one area where you have had a struggle and Jesus has made a difference, like family problems, a tragedy, personal issues, etc.
- When you write your answers to these questions, write as though you were talking to a friend.
- Avoid using religious words that most people would not understand, like “saved” and names of specific church denominations.
- Use “for example” type of illustrations when you share. It will help others relate.
- Make your story short, like a couple of minutes.
- If you think your story is boring, it’s not. Identify how Christ has helped you, and tell it with excitement.
THE STUDY
LAUNCH
Imagine you’re walking down the street and you find a lottery ticket on the ground. This is the powerball jackpot winning ticket. You are instantly a millionaire! How would this change your life? What would happen if when you picked up the ticket you didn’t know it was real, so you never redeemed it?
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that if anyone is in Christ they are a new person – the old is gone and the new is come. They have a whole new identity and that is far better than winning the lottery! But sometimes we don’t know what is true about us. Today we are going to look at some of the things God says about the new you.
EXPLORE
1. Read Ephesians 2:1-3. What does this passage say about what is true of us before we know Christ? In what way can you relate to this?
2. Read Ephesians 2:4-10. What does this passage say happens to us after we come to know Christ?
3. In verse 10, how does God describe us and his purpose for us?
4. What does it mean to you that God thinks of you as a masterpiece?
5. Read Ezekiel 36:25-27. What are some changes that happen when we come to know God?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. What does this passage say?
APPLY
7. Take a look at the “Who I Am In Christ” sheet. It lists the truths we looked at today and many others. Which of these are hard for you to believe? Which ones mean the most to you?
8. How does it affect your life if you’re a follower of Jesus but don’t believe the truths of your new identity like those we’ve looked at?
9. Conclude the lesson by watching this video on identity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsDQEb-qlyM
WHO I AM IN CHRIST
If you are a Christian, then the statements below are true of you.
In Christ, I am accepted…
John 1:12 — I am God’s child.
John 15:15 — As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 — I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 — I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 — I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 — I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 — I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 — I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 — I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
In Christ, I am secure…
Romans 8:1-2 — I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 — I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 — I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 — I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 — I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 — I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 — I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 — I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 — I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
In Christ, I am significant…
John 15:5 — I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 — I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 — I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 — I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 — I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 — I am God’s workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 — I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
THE STUDY
LAUNCH
You’re waiting for the bus and drop your phone in the street just as the bus comes around the corner. Before you can grab it, you hear a crunch as the front wheel of the bus meets your phone. How do you feel?
How would your response be different if you already knew you were getting the brand new phone you wanted in two days for your birthday? Why?
Would you spend a large amount of money to fix your broken phone? Why or why not?
EXPLORE
Paul and Timothy are writing to the believers in the city of Corinth. They have been suffering a lot of hardship and persecution. Paul has been in danger from people he once considered his friends and also from his enemies. He has been imprisoned, beaten, stoned with rocks, and shipwrecked 3 times among other things. (You can read how they describe it in 2 Corinthians 1:8, 4:8-9, and 11:25 if you want).
1. Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-18. According to verse 14 what does Paul say they know?
2. Have you ever thought about what it will be like to be with Jesus in his presence? Revelation 21:1-7tells us a little of what it will be like. What in the description sounds most appealing to you?
3. In the situations Paul and Timothy are facing it would be very tempting to be discouraged and give up, but verse 16 says they don’t lose heart. What do they give as reasons for this (verses 16-18)?
4. According to verse 18, what is their focus on? What are examples of these “unseen” things?
5. What are they not focusing on? What might be some of the seen things in Paul’s life at this time?
6. Why are they focusing on the unseen rather than the seen?
APPLY
7. How would it make a difference in facing hard times if you know they are only temporary?
8. Consider a line representing eternity. It would be infinite (without end) in both directions. Now think about your life compared to eternity? If this line represented all of history behind us and all of eternity in front of us, how much of this line would represent your life here on earth?
9. Read Matthew 6:19-21. In what kinds of temporary treasures do people invest their time, talents, and finances?
10. What kinds of things are eternal?
11. As you look back at the line representing eternity, are you investing most of your life for the dot or the line? How is putting too much investment in temporary things like pouring money into a broken phone when you are going to get a new one in a few days?
12. Why is it so difficult to keep our minds on things that are eternal?
13. Are there any changes you need to make in order to live more for eternity in your everyday life? Changes in what you value? Changes in how you spend your time? Changes in your priorities?
FOR FURTHER STUDY
For other illustrations of the concept and further study, check out Roger Hershey’s article http://crupressgreen.com/an-eternal-perspective
THE STUDY
LAUNCH
Have you ever known anyone who has received a transplant from an organ donor? What is that person’s attitude toward life and the person who donated the organ? Often they don’t know who that person was, but if they had a chance to meet or speak to that person, what do you think they would want to say or do? Why?
EXPLORE
1. Read Luke 8:27-39. According to verses 28-29 what are some of the ways the man’s life is described before his encounter with Jesus?
2. How is the man described in verse 35 after his encounter with Jesus?
3. How does the man respond to Jesus after Jesus sets him free? (What does he ask for?) Why do you think he responds this way?
4. What specific assignment does Jesus give him and how does he respond?
5. The other people in the story ask Jesus for something. What do they ask? Why do you think what they ask is so different from what the man asked?
APPLY
6. If you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, what are some things from which you been set free?
7. In your experience, how does someone who has experienced Christ’s power and love personally respond to Jesus differently than friends who have not experienced Jesus’s power and love or have only seen Jesus at a distance?There are many verses in the Bible that talk about how we respond to God based on our gratitude.
8. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. What is the motivation in these verses? What is the response? What do you think it looks like to no longer live for ourselves but for Christ?
9. How do you think no longer living for yourself but for Christ, impacts your decision-making process?
10. How do you determine what Jesus wants you to do?
11. In the story we read, the man had an idea of how he wanted to serve Christ. He wanted to go with him. Jesus gave him another assignment instead. Sometimes the assignments Jesus gives us are different than our preconceived notions of how we want to serve. How do you respond when that is the case?
12. Is there anything in your life right now that you need to stop doing or start doing in order to live fully surrendered to Christ?
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Some great passages for further personal study: Romans 6:15-18, Philippians 2:1-11, 1 Peter 1:13-21
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