05-16-2021
05-16-2021
Jessica Stafford (West & Online), Rev. Trevor Johnston (East), Pastor Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Mistaken Identity
Week 6: Bad Boss god
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1. Read our memory verse for this sermon series - Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
2. Share a time in your life when you recognized you had a ‘Mistaken Identity’ of who God is (angry god, genie in a bottle god, body guard god, evil stepmother god, etc). What helped you realize God is so much more than the belief you had previously held?
This week’s ‘Mistaken Identity’ of God is Bad Boss god.
Problematic Idea: I have to work to prove myself to god.
3. A few things we tend to feel when we believe we have to work to prove ourselves to god are: constantly seeking approval, keeping a checklist of what we need to accomplish, feeling like we are constantly disappointing god, expecting perfection from ourselves, having a low self-esteem or sense of self-worth.
Share with your group if you can relate to some of these feelings, and whether there are times you have believed that god expects you to prove your worth by your works.
Disclaimer: We’re NOT saying that God doesn’t expect us to work.
4. Read James 2:14-19
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
What does this say about faith and works? Can you have one without the other?
The Truth
The cure for the perfectionistic heart and form Bad Boss god is always to look clearly and Jesus and his grace.
5. Read Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Share what you observe about this passage.
Because of the Grace of Jesus, we have nothing to prove to God, because nothing we have to offer him would be worthy enough.
6. Read Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away
Now read Romans 3:23-24
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
According to these verses, can our works alone save us? Why or why not?
7. Now read Ephesians 2:8-9 again: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
What does verses tell us about the grace of Jesus?
Because of the grace of Jesus, we are worthy of God’s Love.
8. Reread Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Read this same verse from the New Living Translation:
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Consider the use of the words “God’s handiwork” and “God’s masterpiece” and talk about what that means that we are His handiwork, His masterpiece.
Because of the grace of Jesus, we are not employees but children of God.
9. Reread Ephesians 2:6-7
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus
Now read Galatians 4:7
So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
What do these passages tell you about how God views each of us?
10. Read Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
What is the expression on God’s face when he sees you, according to this passage?
11. Read Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
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