Pastor Colin Smith's four-volume masterpiece moves you past Bible stories to understand the Bible as one story--the glorious, unbroken account of Christ's work to redeem a fallen world. With this accompanying Study Guide, you'll be able to make the journey even more rewarding. The Volume 4 Study Guide matches the first volume of the book series, and will help you unlock the Bible Story from Romans to Revelation.
Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guides will help you:
- Focus you or your small group's study time to be as productive and rewarding as it can possibly be
- Enrich your understanding of the book and your comprehension of God's Word
- Apply the book's lessons in ways that will change your life forever
Volume 4 is a perfect follow-up to studying volume 3, which takes you through the beginning books of the New Testament, from Matthew to Acts--you or your small group could move through the entire New Testament by using volume 3 and 4 in less than a year. Then dive into the Old Testament study guides also by using volume 1 and 2!
Pastor Colin Smith's four-volume masterpiece moves you past Bible stories to understand the Bible as one story--the glorious, unbroken account of Christ's work to redeem a fallen world. With this accompanying Study Guide, you'll be able to make the journey even more rewarding. The Volume 4 Study Guide matches the first volume of the book series, and will help you unlock the Bible Story from Romans to Revelation.
Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guides will help you:
- Focus you or your small group's study time to be as productive and rewarding as it can possibly be
- Enrich your understanding of the book and your comprehension of God's Word
- Apply the book's lessons in ways that will change your life forever
Volume 4 is a perfect follow-up to studying volume 3, which takes you through the beginning books of the New Testament, from Matthew to Acts--you or your small group could move through the entire New Testament by using volume 3 and 4 in less than a year. Then dive into the Old Testament study guides also by using volume 1 and 2!
eBookNew Edition (New Edition)
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Pastor Colin Smith's four-volume masterpiece moves you past Bible stories to understand the Bible as one story--the glorious, unbroken account of Christ's work to redeem a fallen world. With this accompanying Study Guide, you'll be able to make the journey even more rewarding. The Volume 4 Study Guide matches the first volume of the book series, and will help you unlock the Bible Story from Romans to Revelation.
Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guides will help you:
- Focus you or your small group's study time to be as productive and rewarding as it can possibly be
- Enrich your understanding of the book and your comprehension of God's Word
- Apply the book's lessons in ways that will change your life forever
Volume 4 is a perfect follow-up to studying volume 3, which takes you through the beginning books of the New Testament, from Matthew to Acts--you or your small group could move through the entire New Testament by using volume 3 and 4 in less than a year. Then dive into the Old Testament study guides also by using volume 1 and 2!
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781575677989 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Moody Publishers |
| Publication date: | 03/01/2004 |
| Series: | Unlocking: Bible Studies , #4 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 80 |
| Sales rank: | 605,919 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guide Volume 4
By Colin S. Smith
Moody Publishers
Copyright © 2004 Colin S. SmithAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57567-798-9
CHAPTER 1
Wrath
Read ROMANS 1
Launching
1. Describe a time someone was very angry with you. How did the person express his or her anger? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What is the wrath of God and how can I avoid it?
Exploring
The God You Cannot Alter
2. Why do you think people create their own concept of God? How do you think most of the non-Christians around you would describe God? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The God Who Loves You
3. In your own words define each of the attributes of God in the chart below. Then describe how this knowledge of God should impact your attitudes and actions. Finally, rate yourself on how much this attribute of God is actually impacting the way you live, with 1 meaning very little and 5 meaning very much.
The God Who Hates Whatever Destroys You
4. What is the relationship between God's love and His holiness? How does this change your view of God's holiness? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The God Who Lets People Go
5. How does God express His wrath now to people who oppose Him? What examples of this do you see in our world today? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6. How have you seen God break the powers of sinful desires, shameful lusts, and a depraved mind in the life of an individual, family, or nation? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Storing Up Wrath
7. How will God express His wrath in the final judgment? How does knowing this affect your view of sin? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
God's Wrath at the Cross
8. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. How did the Cross satisfy God's wrath? How would your relationship with God be different had Jesus not died on the cross? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Applying
9. What new insights about God did you gain from this chapter? How will these insights make a difference in your life this week? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10. For personal reflection: Have sinful desires, shameful lusts, and a depraved mind begun to make inroads in your life? What can you do this week to apply God's power to combat these forces? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
In one of your devotional times, imagine standing before God with all your sins upon you. Now imagine this sin being transferred to the Cross and God's wrath being poured out upon it. Praise God that this is what has truly happened!
Optional Small Group Exercise:
During the week, have each group member ask three people to describe what God is like. Report your findings to the group the next time you are together.
CHAPTER 2Propitiation
Read ROMANS 3
Launching
1. Have you found it difficult to hold and express the view that Jesus is the only way to God? Why or why not? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Why do Christians believe that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ?
Exploring
Going Under
2. What does it mean to be under sin and under the Law? When did you first come to realize this about yourself? Why do you think so many people are unaware that this is their spiritual condition? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Who Makes the Rules?
3. How would you explain what sin is to someone who is not a Christian? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The Law.... and the Lawbreakers
4. Read Isaiah 6:1–5. Why do you think Isaiah had such a dramatic reaction when faced with the holiness of God? When do you feel most aware of the holiness of God? How do you respond? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Time to Pay Up
5. Define redemption in your own words. How is this a picture of our salvation? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. What is an appropriate response to a God who redeemed you? What would it mean to live this out? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Satisfying God
7. Define propitiation in your own words. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8. Why is Jesus' death on the cross uniquely able to satisfy God's demand? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Applying
9. How would you respond to someone who asked how you can believe that Jesus is the only way to God? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10. What new insights into your salvation in Jesus Christ did you gain from this chapter? How will you respond? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
In your devotional times this week, spend a few minutes thanking God for redeeming you from slavery and bondage to sin.
Optional Small Group Exercise:
Have one or two group members try to argue the case that Jesus is the only way to God. Let the rest of the group play the role of the skeptics.
CHAPTER 3Justification
Read ROMANS 3
Launching
1. Have you ever gotten credit for something you didn't do? How did you respond? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can I know that I am right with God?
Exploring
2. Fill in the terms "justifies," "redeems," and "propitiates" on the triangle below and then write a description of what each means in the spaces on the next page.
The Dangers of a Bad Translation
3. Read Romans 5:1 What difference does it make if "justified" is defined as "made righteous" or "declared righteous"? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. Many people today believe peace with God is contingent on being made righteous. What are the pitfalls with that belief? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Confusing the Coach and the Umpire
5. It is important to distinguish between the role of justification and sanctification in the Christian life. Fill out the key points of each in the chart below.
Calling Balls and Strikes
6. What happens to a person when he or she is justified? Why can righteousness only come through Jesus Christ? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
The Importance of Faith
7. Why is faith in Christ essential to being justified? How would you explain to a seeker what it means to put his faith in Christ? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8. How does marriage illustrate the nature of faith? What new insight does this give you into what it means to be a Christian? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Applying
9. Maria believes in Jesus but is never quite sure where she stands with God. She is trying her best to live a godly life but feels she is far from being the kind of person that God wants her to be. If you asked Maria if she has been justified and has peace with God, her response would depend on the kind of day she was having. When she begins her day with a devotion and is aware of Christ, she would say yes. But when she is overwhelmed with life and frustrated with her own behavior, she would say no. How could you counsel Maria using the principles from this chapter? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10. Do you feel that you have to perform well in your Christian life to be acceptable to God? How is your relationship with God affected when you are not "performing up to par"? What misconceptions does this reveal? How can the principles from this chapter help you to gain a new freedom in this area? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 4Rejoicing
Read ROMANS 5:1–11
Launching
1. How do you think God feels about you right now? Why? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can I rejoice in God?
Exploring
Where Do I Stand Before God?
2. How much do feelings and performance impact the way you believe God feels about you? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Why Is This Happening to Me?
3. How have trials impacted your relationship with God in the past? Why? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
4. What is a trial or difficulty in your life right now? How can the truths from Romans 5:3–4 provide a fresh perspective on this situation? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Does God Really Care?
5. At what times are you particularly aware of Christ's love for you? What helps you to comprehend and experience His love? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How Can I Be Sure I Will Make It to Heaven?
6. Using a percentage, how certain are you that you will make it to heaven? What have you based this assurance on in the past? Does your certainty ever waver? If so, when? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Confidence in Christ Alone
7. According to Romans 5:9, on what should we base our assurance of eternal life? Why is this a better basis for our confidence than our faith, feelings, or performance? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Jesus Will Never Leave You
8. Read Romans 5:10. What does it mean that we are "saved through his [Jesus'] life"? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Applying
9. How has this lesson impacted your confidence that you will arrive in heaven? What can you do to maintain this perspective? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
10. What, if anything, has been robbing your joy? What can you do to experience greater joy and rejoicing in your faith? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
One of the keys in the Christian life is to see ourselves the way God sees us. Take a few minutes during a quiet time this week to ponder the truths of Romans 5:1. You may want to post it in a conspicuous place to remind you of these great truths.
CHAPTER 5Grace
Read ROMANS 5:12–21
Launching
1. What is something you have seen God's grace liberate you from? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can I overcome the power of sin?
Exploring
A Choice and a Power
2. Imagine someone who arrived on earth from a planet that had no sin. (Don't bother looking for it; it does not exist!) How would you describe sin and its effects to that individual? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Who's to Blame?
3. How did sin become such a power in the world? How did sin reign in your life before you came to Christ? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Understanding the Newspaper
4. Bob is a moral man who does not know Christ. He sincerely wants to have a strong family and happy, moral children. Despite his hopes and dreams, Bob finds that his family is not what he wants it to be and, even more disappointing, he is not the husband and father he would like to be. How would you explain Bob's real problem to him? What advice would you give to Bob? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
More Than Forgiveness
5. If you had simply been forgiven and told what you should do, what would have been missing? How would your Christian life be different if that is all that you had received? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Grace Rules!
6. How does grace free us from the power of sin? How have you experienced this in your own life? How have you observed it in the lives of others? ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guide Volume 4 by Colin S. Smith. Copyright © 2004 Colin S. Smith. Excerpted by permission of Moody Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Wrath
2. Propitiation
3. Justification
4. Rejoicing
5. Grace
6. Union
7. Nature
8. Heirs
9. Weakness
10. Church
11. Light
12. Battle
13. Profit
14. Peace
15. Death
16. Intercession
17. Works
18. Fellowship
19. Lamb
20. City