Beyond Sunday - Week 12
Beyond Sunday
Week of April 7, 2024
“You’re Not the Boss of Me!” When In Rome-Week 11, Romans 6:1-14
Thought: Have you ever witnessed a small child proclaim to someone, “You’re not the boss of me!” Usually that is to an older sibling or a friend who is trying to convince the child to do something. The outcome most likely will be determined by whether the child actually KNOWS it to be true, really BELIEVES it to be true, and chooses to ACT in accordance with that truth.
Our passage of Scripture this week from The Message version of the Bible reads in part, “Sin can’t tell you how to live.” So, we as Christ-followers can proclaim to Sin, “You’re not the boss of me!” But what does that look like; how do I know what to do and how to live? The answers are found in Scripture, and in listening for God’s voice—the Holy Spirit.
As you read this week’s Scripture passages, you may want to consider using the S.O.A.P. method of Bible study taught by Pastor Lacey on First Wednesday to deepen your understanding and application of these verses (an explanation and example journal entry can be found at the bottom portion of this blog).
Read: Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 4:20-24, Colossians 3:1-17
Discussion Questions:
•In our passage from Romans we read, “When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us.” Try your hand at writing out, in your own words, what that one sentence reveals about God.
•Troy referred to the story of Jesus bringing His friend Lazarus back to life (John 11:1-44) and instructing others to “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Even though you were physically alive before you accepted Christ, “…you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1). Describe what your pile of discarded grave clothes looks like.
•Galatians tells us “…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…”, so now describe what your new clothes look like, and how that makes you feel.
•Colossians gives examples (not an exhaustive list) of what our old life attitudes and actions might have been, and a list of some (again, not an all-inclusive list) of our new life attitudes and actions. None of us can live that way without help from the Holy Spirit. Old habits die hard. Which, if any, old habits or behaviors do you have trouble defeating? Which of the new do you need the most help to live out consistently?
Pray: Pray to Jesus and tell Him some of His character traits you need help imitating. Ask Him to heal your heart and mind of the past hurts and thought habits that interfere with your living in freedom. Ask Him to replace those old thoughts with new patterns of thought.
Next Steps:
•If you haven’t already, start your faith journey today by accepting Jesus as your Savior(1). If you want more info or help with taking that step, reach out to the church by calling (785) 775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com
•If you are new to faith and/or need a fresh perspective on the who, what, why, and how of a relationship with God your next step is to sign-up for RHC’s Essentials Class, which just started April 7! You can find a description of the class and a signup form here.
(1) If you want to receive the salvation that is available through Jesus, place your faith in Him. Fully trust His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins. Completely rely on Him alone as your Savior. That is the biblical method of salvation. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, say a prayer to God. Tell God how thankful you are for Jesus. Offer praise to God for His love and sacrifice. Thank Jesus for dying for your sins and providing salvation for you. That is the biblical connection between salvation and prayer.
Spiritual Growth Through Journaling Using S.O.A.P.
Journaling has been successfully used by millions as a means to enrich their reading and study of the Bible. There is no one method of journaling that is the “right” way. We present here one method that has been helpful to many, the SOAP approach. S.O.A.P. is an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
S – Scripture – Write the verse or phrase from your reading that jumps out to you. Write the words. Don’t just write “verse 3 was really good.”
O – Observation – As you think about the verse or phrase you wrote down for “S” write in your own words the truth God is trying to communicate in this verse. Do your best. The hope is that if the author of the book read what you wrote, he would say, “Yes that’s what I meant.”
A – Application – Write down how this applies to your life. What would my life look like if I lived out this truth?
P – Pray – Write a prayer for God to transform your life around this truth.
A sample journal entry:
Tuesday April 9 -- Romans 6:1-14
S - “For sin shall no longer be your master (Greek = kyrieuō — “Koo-ree-yoo’-oh), because you are not under the law, but under grace” (v14).
O - Because I inherited a sin nature at birth, sin had mastery (power and/or influence) over my life until I was justified (my sin debt canceled) by Jesus’s death on the cross. But Jesus not only settled my debt, He gave me the power (Grace and His Holy Spirit) to live a new (sanctified) life, free from sin and fully devoted to God. Through His grace and the power of His Holy Spirit, I can ACT ON what I KNOW and BELIEVE to be true.
A - I must stay closely connected to Christ, through regular Bible study and prayer, so that my heart and mind can be transformed, and so I have a good understanding of basic Biblical truth to guide my actions and life choices.
P - Jesus, thank you for setting me free from the grasp of sin, and for giving me the power of your Holy Spirit to help me live out that freedom, to live a sanctified life.
Week of April 7, 2024
“You’re Not the Boss of Me!” When In Rome-Week 11, Romans 6:1-14
Thought: Have you ever witnessed a small child proclaim to someone, “You’re not the boss of me!” Usually that is to an older sibling or a friend who is trying to convince the child to do something. The outcome most likely will be determined by whether the child actually KNOWS it to be true, really BELIEVES it to be true, and chooses to ACT in accordance with that truth.
Our passage of Scripture this week from The Message version of the Bible reads in part, “Sin can’t tell you how to live.” So, we as Christ-followers can proclaim to Sin, “You’re not the boss of me!” But what does that look like; how do I know what to do and how to live? The answers are found in Scripture, and in listening for God’s voice—the Holy Spirit.
As you read this week’s Scripture passages, you may want to consider using the S.O.A.P. method of Bible study taught by Pastor Lacey on First Wednesday to deepen your understanding and application of these verses (an explanation and example journal entry can be found at the bottom portion of this blog).
Read: Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 4:20-24, Colossians 3:1-17
Discussion Questions:
•In our passage from Romans we read, “When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us.” Try your hand at writing out, in your own words, what that one sentence reveals about God.
•Troy referred to the story of Jesus bringing His friend Lazarus back to life (John 11:1-44) and instructing others to “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Even though you were physically alive before you accepted Christ, “…you were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1). Describe what your pile of discarded grave clothes looks like.
•Galatians tells us “…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…”, so now describe what your new clothes look like, and how that makes you feel.
•Colossians gives examples (not an exhaustive list) of what our old life attitudes and actions might have been, and a list of some (again, not an all-inclusive list) of our new life attitudes and actions. None of us can live that way without help from the Holy Spirit. Old habits die hard. Which, if any, old habits or behaviors do you have trouble defeating? Which of the new do you need the most help to live out consistently?
Pray: Pray to Jesus and tell Him some of His character traits you need help imitating. Ask Him to heal your heart and mind of the past hurts and thought habits that interfere with your living in freedom. Ask Him to replace those old thoughts with new patterns of thought.
Next Steps:
•If you haven’t already, start your faith journey today by accepting Jesus as your Savior(1). If you want more info or help with taking that step, reach out to the church by calling (785) 775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com
•If you are new to faith and/or need a fresh perspective on the who, what, why, and how of a relationship with God your next step is to sign-up for RHC’s Essentials Class, which just started April 7! You can find a description of the class and a signup form here.
(1) If you want to receive the salvation that is available through Jesus, place your faith in Him. Fully trust His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins. Completely rely on Him alone as your Savior. That is the biblical method of salvation. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, say a prayer to God. Tell God how thankful you are for Jesus. Offer praise to God for His love and sacrifice. Thank Jesus for dying for your sins and providing salvation for you. That is the biblical connection between salvation and prayer.
Spiritual Growth Through Journaling Using S.O.A.P.
Journaling has been successfully used by millions as a means to enrich their reading and study of the Bible. There is no one method of journaling that is the “right” way. We present here one method that has been helpful to many, the SOAP approach. S.O.A.P. is an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
S – Scripture – Write the verse or phrase from your reading that jumps out to you. Write the words. Don’t just write “verse 3 was really good.”
O – Observation – As you think about the verse or phrase you wrote down for “S” write in your own words the truth God is trying to communicate in this verse. Do your best. The hope is that if the author of the book read what you wrote, he would say, “Yes that’s what I meant.”
A – Application – Write down how this applies to your life. What would my life look like if I lived out this truth?
P – Pray – Write a prayer for God to transform your life around this truth.
A sample journal entry:
Tuesday April 9 -- Romans 6:1-14
S - “For sin shall no longer be your master (Greek = kyrieuō — “Koo-ree-yoo’-oh), because you are not under the law, but under grace” (v14).
O - Because I inherited a sin nature at birth, sin had mastery (power and/or influence) over my life until I was justified (my sin debt canceled) by Jesus’s death on the cross. But Jesus not only settled my debt, He gave me the power (Grace and His Holy Spirit) to live a new (sanctified) life, free from sin and fully devoted to God. Through His grace and the power of His Holy Spirit, I can ACT ON what I KNOW and BELIEVE to be true.
A - I must stay closely connected to Christ, through regular Bible study and prayer, so that my heart and mind can be transformed, and so I have a good understanding of basic Biblical truth to guide my actions and life choices.
P - Jesus, thank you for setting me free from the grasp of sin, and for giving me the power of your Holy Spirit to help me live out that freedom, to live a sanctified life.
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