Created to Be Like Christ

Our third purpose is to be like Christ. We are the only creations made in "God's image". What does the image and likeness of God look like? Christ.

If you are a believer, are you reflecting Christ's character to the world? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to work with and in you to produce Christ-likeness?  It cannot be accomplished in our own strength and requires us to want, decide, make an effort and commit to becoming like Christ = spiritual maturity.

This week's lesson shows us how we grow, what our responsiblity is and what God's role is. Know that God is far more interested in building our character than He is in anything else! God cares more about what we are than in what we do.

Share: Do you agree with the idea that "the way you think affects the way you feel which influences the way you act"?  Do you have an example of this?

Experiencing Life Together

Life is meant to be shared! Real fellowship is more than just showing up for services. It's experiencing life together and it includes many "one another" commands.

When it comes to fellowship, smaller is better. You can worship in a crowd, but you can't fellowship in one! Even Jesus ministered in the context of a small group with his disciples.

Day 18 - To experience real fellowship among a small group, there must be:

• authenticity: realness, honesty, sometimes gut-level sharing.
• mutuality: the art of give and take; depending on each other.
• sympathy: entering in and sharing the pain with others.
• mercy: something we all need for we all stumble and fall and need help getting back on track.

We are also called to cultivate our community and that requires commitment. It takes both God's power and our effort to produce a loving Christian community of God's family.

Day 19 - Cultivating community takes:

• honesty
• humility
• courtesy
• confidentiality
• frequency

Join our online class by downloading this week's lesson here!

Share with us: What factor(s) of real fellowship and/or cultivating community means the most to you?

Have a Happy Easter! (no class next week)

Formed for God's Family

You were formed for God's family! When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become His children, other believers become our brothers and sisters and the church becomes our spiritual family.

The moment you are spiritually born into God's family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts! The family name, likeness, privileges, intimate access and an awesome inheritance. Do you know what your "benefit package" is by being a child of God? Don't miss it in this week's lesson!

As part of God's family, He created us for community and fellowship. We are called to belong, not just believe. None of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves. While our relationship with Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. We are made to need each other!

Are you part of a living, growing Body of Christ (church)? Is it really that important? Can you really live the Christian life alone - just between you and God? This week's lesson looks at why we need a church family.

Download lesson handout and audio link HERE!

Remember: The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other believers. The first decision brings salvation; the second brings fellowship!

Share: What part of your inheritance as a daughter of God, are you most looking forward to?

Becoming Friends with God

 

One of God's greatest desires is to be your friend! Yes, He is your Creator, Lord, Judge, Redeemer and Savior, but He also wants you to consider Him your best friend! Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege. Being known and loved by God is our greatest pleasure.

 

This week's lesson looks at how we become and develop our friendship with God. It's really no different than our earthly relationships. It doesn't happen by accident or overnight. It takes work, time, energy and focus.

 

God wants to be a part of all our activities, conversations, thoughts and problems. Our challenge is to be aware of His presence and not allow the Enemy to distract us with the craziness going on around us. God doesn't expect perfection..if that were the case, no one would be able to call Him friend!

 

Download the lesson and audio link here. Start today to do whatever it takes to develop your friendship and deepen your relationship with God. Recognize that there is nothing - absolutely nothing - more important than developing a friendship with God.

 

Share with us: your ideas of how we can keep our conversation with God constant and our meditation continual.

 

Next Week: Purpose #2 - Formed for God's Family (Day 15) and A Place to Belong (Day 17)

 

 

 

 

What Makes God Smile?

 

The smile of God should be the goal of your life! Yet, do you struggle with picturing God smiling at you? Do you  think He's only disappointed in your failures and defeats?

 

In this week's lesson, we see an example from that Bible of a man we can learn from. Noah found favor in God's eyes; God smiled on his life and chose him for an unusual mission!

 

We look at five acts of worship from Noah's life that make God smile:

 

1) God smiles when we love Him supremely.

 

2) God smiles when we trust Him completely.

 

3) God smiles when we obey Him wholeheartedly.

 

4) God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually.

 

5) God smiles when we use our abilities.

 

Don't miss this lesson! Download the handout and audio link here.

 

Share with us: What have you done lately that you know made God smile? :)

 

Next Week: Becoming Best Friends with God / Developing Your Friendship with God (Days 11&12)

Planned for God's Pleasure

Bringing God pleasure is the first purpose of your life! He chose to create you for His enjoyment. Know that you are a child of God and you bring Him pleasure like nothing else He has ever created. He considers you valuable enough to keep with Him for eternity!

Bringing God pleasure is called worship..and you may be surprised what that actually looks like. It may challenge what you've always thought about worship.

At the heart of worship is surrender - not a popular or positively implied word in our culture - but what is required of us in order to please God.

There are three barriers that block our total surrender to God...are you struggling with any of them yourself?  Just as there are things that keep us from surrender, we can know that there are blessings when we worship God by surrendering - peace, freedom and power.

Download today's lesson and listen to the audio recording for notes.

Challenge: Share how a common, everyday task, can become an act of worship to God and in turn, bring Him enjoyment and pleasure.

Next Week: What Makes God Smile?

The Reason for Everything

The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. It is the reason for everything that exists, including you! God made it all for His glory - without it, there would be nothing.

In this week's lesson, we learn that when anything in creation fulfills its purpose, God is glorified. Why is this important? Because God made all things and deserves all glory! We can't and should not try to take credit for anything.

What does glorifying God look like? Listen to this week's lesson and find out five ways we can bring glory to God.

To join our study, simply download the lesson handout & audio link and listen at your convenience.

This week's challenge: Do a word search on glory/glorified, then share one of your favorite verses.

Next Week: Planned for God's Pleasure