LGC - Deeper Wells Part 1

Deeper Wells (Part 1)

Rhordan Wicks

INTRODUCTION

What is the goal of Christianity? The Bible tells us that while we have been saved by grace, we are also called to walk as ones renewed. The Christian life is a journey of transformation – not for self-improvement’s sake, but to become conformed to the image of Christ.

Like many other goals (losing weight, learning a new skill, breaking a habit), spiritual transformation requires commitment and a willingness to change our lifestyle. Transformation does not take place through passivity.

While spiritual disciplines position us to be transformed, this is not a call to conjure a list of things to do in order to become better Christians. In this LifeGroup curriculum, let us discover God’s heart behind spiritual transformation and in the process, go deeper into the heart of the only One who is able to transform us.

DISCUSSION (PART 1)

Together with your LifeGroup, reflect on the life of either Moses or Paul using the questions below.

Note: Some speculation will be required for the questions below, as the Bible may be silent on certain areas of these individuals’ lives. Pray together and invite the Holy Spirit into this time of creative reflection.

MOSES

(i) Read Exodus 2:11-22, Exodus 3, and Acts 7:23-32.

The author of Acts iterates that 40 years would have passed between Exodus 2 and 3. Where was Moses in those 40 years, and what would his life have looked like during this period?

(ii) Read Hebrews 11:24-26. We know from these verses that even while growing up in Egypt, Moses seemed well aware of his identity as a Hebrew and God’s promise to his people through his forefathers. This would explain his desire to be “set apart” from the Egyptians and to deliver his people from their rule. However, why did God not call him until 40 years later?

(iii) What do you think God is most interested in in your journey as a follower of Christ?
PAUL

(i) Read Acts 9:19-31, Acts 11:26-28, and Acts 13:1-3.

We know the apostle Paul as the one who was dramatically converted and used by God to bring the gospel to the Gentile world. His letters to the church have built and shaped the church through the generations. Yet he was not instantly sent out on divine assignment.

Scholars say that the duration between his first preaching in Damascus and the sending in Antioch sums up to approximately 14 years. His time in Tarsus is often described as the “silent years” for Luke does not record what happens to him during this period.

What do you think was God’s involvement in Paul’s life during the 14 years in Tarsus?

(ii) Paul was not an unschooled man. Having been a Pharisee and student of the law under a renowned teacher in his time (Acts 22:3), he would not be unfamiliar with the Old Testament. Despite possessing so much knowledge, the Holy Spirit did not see him as ‘qualified’ to be a preacher of the gospel to the Gentiles until over a decade later. Why do you think this is so?

(iii) What do you think God is most interested in in your journey as a follower of Christ?

DISCUSSION (PART 2)

An observation of the life of Jesus from the time of His birth gives us a better understanding of God’s interest in the process of formation in one’s life.

JESUS

Read Luke 2:41-52 and Luke 3:21-23. What do you think took place in Jesus’ life between these two passages?
Why was it important for Jesus to go through this process despite being God Himself?
Have you considered why God, omnipotent and able to ‘change the world’ in a breath, allowed Himself to be constrained within the human timeline of birth, maturity, formation, and even suffering and death (Philippians 2:5-8)? What can we learn about God through this?

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Beholding Jesus is the first step to take in the process of being His disciple. What have you learned about Him today that will cause you to love Him more and desire to be like Him? Without rushing this part of your spiritual formation, may you recognise that the process in itself is only worthwhile if we abide in Christ and grow in our love for Him. We can be confident that as we keep our eyes on Him in the centre, He is the One who will cause the transformation to take place to completion.

MEMORY VERSE

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV)

AN E1R1 Reflection

(drawn from Matthew 4:1-11)

40 days of fasting left Jesus weak, vulnerable, and a prime target for the devil to strike with temptation. In this time of testing, He relied on the Word of God and overcame the devil’s schemes.

Even as we make a commitment towards a life fully given to God, which includes positioning ourselves for transformation and being witnesses of the Gospel, we can be sure that the enemy will do all he can to derail and distract us. Let us root ourselves in the Word of God, which we can apply as our defence any time we run into trouble and trial.