Lesson 6 Daily Christian Living

1. Into Your History

Suggested Ice Breakers:

· As a Christian, what are some of the things that you struggle with on a regular basis?

· What do you find most difficult about your walk with God?

· If you were to identify your spiritual age, would you be an infant, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, or mature adult?

2. Into the Bible

a. Fighting Temptation

“I can resist everything except temptation”

- Anonymous

“Marc Anthony was known the silver-throated orator of Rome. He was a brilliant statesman, magnificent in battle, courageous, strong. He was handsome. He had all the qualities of becoming a ruler of the world. However, he had the vulnerable flaw of moral weakness. On one occasion his personal tutor shouted in his face, “O Marcus, O colossal child, able to conquer the world but unable to resist temptation”

1. The “Beauty” of Sin

a. Temptation is powerful precisely because sin is attractive to us.

In the Australian bush country grows a little plant called the "sundew." It has a slender stem and tiny round leaves fringed with hairs that glisten with right drops of liquid as delicate as fine dew. Woe to the insect, however, that dares to dance around it in the sunny air. For while its attractive clusters of red, white, and pink blossoms are harmless, the leaves are deadly. The shiny moisture on each leaf is sticky, and will hold any bug prisoner that touches it. The struggle to get free is often futile, for the movement of the insect causes the leaves to close even more tightly. This innocent- looking plant actually feeds upon its victims if they do not quickly wriggle out of the entanglement.

b. Can you think of examples of something beautiful yet quite dangerous? How is this like temptation?

2. The Hideousness of Sin

· Temptation can lead to sin (James 1:13-15)

· Tempted is universal (1 Corinthians 10:13a)

· Sin gets in the way of our communion with God (Isaiah 59:2)

· God hates sin (Psalm 5:4-5)

3. The Remedy for Temptation.

· God understands our temptation (Hebrews 2:18)

· God is with us when we are tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13b)

· God forgives sin when we confess (acknowledge) sin (1 John 1:9)

· God will use temptation to mature me (James 1:12)

· We must determine to love the Lord above all else (Colossians 3:1-2)

· We must avail ourselves to the Spirit’s power (Romans 8:5-6, 13-14; 2 Timothy 2:22).

b. Developing Spiritual Disciplines

1. Discussion:

· What are some the negative ideas we have when we hear the word “discipline”?

· Why are disciplines necessary for spiritual growth? The answer is the same to why disciple is necessary for professional athletes. Consider the following quote:

“Those exquisite responses we see, the amazing timing and strength [athletes display], aren’t produced and maintained by the short hours of the game itself. They are available to the athlete for those short and all-important hours because of a daily regimen no one sees [emphasis mine]” (Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, 4).

Question: How does what Willard says relate to Christian living?

2. Disciplines of the Early Church (Acts 2:42).

According to Acts 2:42, what spiritual disciplines do we see fueling their spiritual vibrancy?

3. Disciplines of Grace

· Pray regularly (Matthew 26:21)

· Fast occasionally (Isaiah 58:5-8)

· Love always (John 5:12)

· Care for others (Philippians 2:3-4)

· Mediate on God’s word daily (Joshua 1:8)

· Spend quality time with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25)

3. Into Our Lives

• How can I develop my prayer life this week? What are some practical steps?
• How might we avoid places or things that subject us to temptation?
• Make a commitment to read through the New Testament in a year.
• Make an appointment to have lunch or breakfast periodically with a fellow Christian of the same sex.