Discussion Guide

Using this Guide

This guide is a very basic starting point to assist in moving people deeper in discussion
using the topics in this book, as well as corresponding Scripture. You have free reign to use
as is, add, delete, edit any questions or exercises. We simply wanted to put something in
peoples hands to lead well.

Ways to Engage with People:

Get this into the hands of small group leaders in your church. This is even a great
opportunity to start new groups. A short-term small group is a great way to introduce people
to group life.

Put this guide into the hands of quality leaders and challenge them to pull 5-6 friends
together at a coffee shop, church lobby, etc.

Make the guide available for people to walk through together as a family.

If youre on a church staff, challenge some staff members to walk through this with you.

Host an online, facilitated chat one night a week.

Some people may want to use this for individual study. Encourage them to use the
concordance at the back of their Bible to do word studies on key words in each chapter (e.g.
worry, money, faith, etc.)

A Couple General Thoughts:

Make sure people bring their Christian Atheist book AND a Bible (paper or mobile device)
with them to the discussion. There is more power than we realize when people actually open
their Bibles and read together.

Dont hand out the guide to everyone in the group. Keep it for yourself as the facilitator. This
will keep the discussion more fluid.

There are 13 discussion sections, for Chapters 1-12 and the Afterword. 13 weeks is a long
time! You may consider choosing the 6 most important chapters for the group to go through.
Select the chapters as a group to meet the felt needs.

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 Table of Contents

Chapter 1
When You Believe in God but Dont Really Know Him..............................................page 4

Chapter 2
When You Believe in God but Are Ashamed of Your Past.........................................page 5

Chapter 3
When You Believe in God but Arent Sure He Loves You..........................................page 7

Chapter 4
When You Believe in God but Not in Prayer..............................................................page 8

Chapter 5
When You Believe in God but Dont Think Hes Fair..................................................page 10

Chapter 6
When You Believe in God but Wont Forgive.............................................................page 12

Chapter 7
When You Believe in God but Dont Think You Can Change.....................................page 14

Chapter 8
When You Believe in God but Still Worry All the Time...............................................page 15

Chapter 9
When You Believe in God but Pursue Happiness at Any Cost..................................page 16

Chapter 10
When You Believe in God but Trust More in Money...................................................page 17

Chapter 11
When You Believe in God but Dont Share Your Faith...............................................page 19

Chapter 12
When You Believe in God but Not in His Church.......................................................page 20

Afterword
Third Line Faith..........................................................................................................page 21

3
 Chapter 1: When You Believe in God but Dont Really Know Him

YoubelievethatGodisone.Youdowell;thedemonsalsobelieve,andshudder.James2:19

Itsinterestingthattheversesaysdemonsnotonlybelieve,buttheyshudder.TheybelievethatHeis
powerful,andtheyknowenoughthattheyshudderandfearHim,butthatistheextentoftheir
knowledge.BelievinginGodisdifferentthanpersonallyknowingGod.

InyourrelationshipwithGoddoyouonlybelieveenoughtoshudder?

Whatistheoutcometojustbelieving?

IfweacceptwhathasbeentoldtousaboutGodinsteadofDindingoutforourselves,wewillnever
reallyknowHim,ratheronlyknowwhatwehavebeentoldaboutHim.Thisisstoppingshortoftruly
knowingGodandleavesuswithonlytheoptionofbelievinginHim.Whenyoujustbelieveitcauses
youtolivebyyourownrules.

Howdoeslifelookwhenyoulivebyyourownrules?

Weknowthatwehavecometoknowhimifweobeyhiscommands.Themanwhosays,Iknowhim,but
doesnotdowhathecommandsisaliar,andthetruthisnotinhim.1John2:34

Whattruthistheversetalkingaboutandhowdoyouacquirethistruth?

WhatdoesknowingHimhavetodowithobeyingHim?

WhyisarightheartrequiredoveronlyrightactionswhenitcomestoobeyingGodscommands?

NextSteps:

WhenbelievinginGodisasfarasyougo,youfollowareligion.WhenyoubegintoknowGod,you
starttoliveinrightrelationshipwithHim.

Whatmovesyoufromareligiontoarelationship?

DescribewhatyourrelationshipwithGodcurrentlylookslike.

WhatareyourexpectationsofGod?Tokeepyououtofhell,showeryouwithblessings,ortobe
yourGod?

WhatdoesGodwanttochangesothatyoucanhaveanintimacywithHim,makingHimyourGod
justasDaviddid?

Whatdoestheprocessofmovingfrombelievingtoknowinglooklikeforyou?

4
 Chapter 2: When You Believe in God but Are Ashamed of Your Past

Thenyouwillknowthetruth,andthetruthwillsetyoufree.John8:32

Inthischapter,CraigusesthephrasePrisonofShametodescribehowwebeatourselvesupforour
past.Prisonisaplacethatbarricadesusinasmallplacewithbarsofguiltandselfconsciousnessthat
lockusintohatingourpastandourselves.Welivecontinuallyawareofwhatputusinthatprisonto
beginwith.LivingwithshameneverallowsustofeelthefreedomofGodsgraceorthehealingpower
ofHisforgiveness.

Inwhatwaysdoyouhidesopeoplewontknowtherealyou?

Doyouequatewhatyoudowithwhoyouare?

Doyouseeadifferenceindoingsomethingbadandbeingabadperson?

Whydoyoufeelthatyouhavetowearmasks?

HowdoeswearingmasksmakeknowingwhoGodcreatedyoutobedifDicult?

Youwereboughtataprice;donotbecomeslavesofmen.1Corinthians7:23

ItisforfreedomthatChristhassetusfree.StandPirm,then,anddonotletyourselvesbeburdened
againbyayokeofslavery.Galatians5:1

Onpage51,CraigshareshowGoddoesnotwantourpastpaintobecomeourpresentidentity.

AreyourallowingpastandcurrentcircumstancestodeDinewhoyouareinsteadofGodsword?

HowdowechangewhatisdeDiningouridentity?

HowcouldstayingconDinedinyourprisonofshamebeconsideredselDish?

ThetruthisthatSatanusesshametokeepyoufocusedonyourself,notabletolivethewayGod
designed.Itstimetomoveforward!

NextSteps:

Therefore,ifanyoneisinChrist,heisanewcreation;theoldhasgone,thenewhascome!2
Corinthians5:17

Wearenotoursinsandwearenotwhatothershavedonetous.

5
 IdentifywhoGodsaysYOUareinsomeofthefollowingverses:

John1:12;Romans8:1;Romans5:1;Colossians1:1314;Jeremiah31:3;1Corinthians3:16;Proverbs
3:32;John15:6;Romans8:17;1Corinthians12:27;Ephesians2:6;Romans8:35;Romans8:31;
Colossians3:12;1Peter2:910;1John5:18;Ephesians3:12;Colossians1:13;1Corinthians2:16;
Colossians2:10;Ephesians1:5;Ephesians2:18

Stepsinbecomingfreefromshame:
1.Acceptingthatwhichcannotbechanged
2.Bringingyourpastorcurrentsituationoutintotheopen
3.FillingyourlifewiththetruthofwhoGodsaysyouare
4.Askingforforgiveness,notjustsayingyouaresorry
5.EmbracingtheGodcanchangeyourfuture

Whatisyournextstepinbecomingfreefromshame?

6
 Chapter 3: When You Believe in God but Arent Sure He Loves You

"ForGodsolovedtheworldthathegavehisoneandonlySon,thatwhoeverbelievesinhimshallnot
perishbuthaveeternallife.John3:16

WhatisyourunderstandingofGodsloveforyou?
(e.g.conditional,temporary,required)

WhatpreventsyoufromknowingandacceptingthatGodlovesyou?
Pastguilt,presentsin,insigniDicance?

DoyouDindyourselfcomparingyourlifestyletoothers?

HowdoescomparingourselvesdestroythetruthofGodsloveforus?

HowcanGodlovepeoplewhosaytheyloveHimbutstilllie,stealandcheat?

WhoeverdoesnotlovedoesnotknowGod,becauseGodislove.1John4:8

WhatdoesCraigmeanwhenhesaysLoveisnotsomethingGoddoes.ItswhoGodis?

HowisGodslovetheonlylovethatcanmakeeachofussigniDicant?

DoesthefactthatGodslovecoversourbadchoicesgiveusanexcusetoknowinglychoosethe
wrongpath?Why?

IfyoureallywalkedintherealitythatGodlovesyou,whatwoulditdotoyou?

NextSteps:

RereadJohn3:16

Exercise:WriteJohn3:16onanindexcardwithyournameinserted.Taketimetoreaditeverydayfor
thenextweek,lettingthetruthanddepthofGodslovepenetrateyourmind,heartandsoul.

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 Chapter 4: When You Believe in God but Not in Prayer

Whenyoupray,donotbelikethehypocrites,fortheylovetopraystandinginthesynagoguesandon
thestreetcornerstobeseenbymen.Itellyouthetruth,theyhavereceivedtheirrewardinfull...and
whenyoupray,donotkeeponbabblinglikepagans,fortheythinktheywillbeheardbecauseoftheir
manywords.Matthew6:5,7

Notalothaschangedsincethisversewaswritten.Wetrynotto,butweseeprayerasaspiritual
marker,justasthePhariseesdid:Themoreyouprayandthemoreeloquentyourprayers,themore
spiritualyouare.Prayerhasbecomearequiredritualthatdoesntcomeeasytomostofus.Wedoit
tobeagoodChristianandminimizeourfeelingsofguilt.

DeDineprayerinyourliferightnow?Getpeopletoincludetheirexpectationsofprayerandwhat
keepsthemfrompraying.

CraigdeDinesprayerascommunicatingwithGod.

Whatasimpleconceptthatwetakeandmakecomplicatedandboring.Wethinkthatweallhaveto
communicatewithGodinacertainway.Godcreatedusandknowsthatweallhavedifferentwaysof
communicatingwithHim.

InwhatstyleofcommunicationdoyoufeelthemostcomfortableandclosesttoGod?

praycontinually...forthisisGodswillforyouinChrist1Thessalonians5:17

Isthistypeofprayingpossibleinyourlife?

DoesknowingthatGoddoesntwantlongerprayersbutmorefrequentprayersmakepraying
continuallyseemmoreachievable?

ArethereissuesthatGoddoesanddoesntwantustoprayabout?

DoyouexpectGodtoanswerwhenyoupray?

HowdoyourespondwhenGoddoesordoesnotansweryourprayers?

WhyisitsometimeshardtohearGodsanswers,whethertheyarewhatwewantornot?

8
NextSteps:

Prayingcontinuallyisalifestylechangethatcomeswithtime.Howcanyougoaboutmakingthis
typeoflifestylechange?

HowdoesyourstyleofcommunicationwithGodneedtochangesothatyouwilldoitmore?

Thefollowingareseveralthingsthatreallymatterwhenwepray.Evaluatewhereyouareatin
regardstoeachoftheseareas.
1. MakingsureourrelationshipswithothersareinorderMark11:24
2. CheckingyourmotiveforyourprayersJames4:3
3. LivingaGodlylifestyleJames5:16andPsalms34:5
4. FaithJames1:6
5. KnowingHiswillmaybedifferentthanourdesiredoutcome1John5:1415

Exercise:Committhisnextweektoprayimmediatelywhenyoureceiveaprayerrequest.

9
 Chapter 5: When You Believe in God but Dont Think Hes Fair

Thestatementlifeisntfairissomethingwestartsayingduringchildhoodandsometimesnever
stop.Therealityisthatourlivesarealldifferentandnoneofthemarefairwhencomparingthemto
theideallife,butwemustlearnthatourlivesareinthehandsofGod.Wewoulddogoodtolookat
ourlifeinreferencetowhatGodsplanisforus,andnotourown.

Dowedeterminewhatisfairbycomparingourlivestothosearoundus?Ifnothowdowe
determinewhatfairis?

WhatmakesyouthinkthatGoddoesordoesnotcare?

WhenGoddoessomethingweconsiderunfair,howcoulditchangeourviewofGod?

FortheLordcomfortshispeopleandwillhavecompassiononhisafPlictedonesIsaiah49:13

Doesthisverseseemtrueinyourlife?

IsithardtoDindcomfortinGodwhoispresentbutattimeschoosesnottointerveneorchangeour
circumstances?

Onpage102,Craigwrites,Heisjust,butHeisnotfair.HethenfollowsthisstatementwithPsalm
103:1012(God)doesnottreatusasoursinsdeserveorrepayusaccordingtoouriniquities.Foras
highastheheavensareabovetheearth,sogreatishisloveforthosewhofearhim;asfarastheeastis
fromthewest,sofarhasheremovedourtransgressionsfromus.

HowwouldyoudeDinegrace?

WhatdoesthefactthatGodgivesusgraceinallareasofourlifehavetodowithlifebeingfairor
not?

Onpages105106,Craigdiscusseshowwedonthavetounderstandtobelieve.

Whydoweseeminglyhavetohaveananswerforeverythingthathappens?

Doyouseepeoplecastingblamewhenthereisnootherexplainableanswerforasituation?

ReadthelastparagraphundertheYouDontHavetoUnderstandsectiononp.106.

DoyouthinkthatGoddiscipliningHischildrenisfair?

InyourownwordswhatisthedistinctionbetweenGodallowingpainbutnotcausingit?

DoyoubelievethatGodtrulyuseswhatwegothroughinlifeforHispurposes?

10
 DoyoustilltrustthatGodisgood,loving,andwiseineverythingevenifyoudontunderstandwhy
thingshappen?

Nextsteps:

Howdoesthischangeyourviewofwantingfairnessinyourlife?

Whatmustyoudosothatevenwhenyoudontunderstand,youcanstillbelieveinGod?

Ifyouarewilling,identifyhowmanytimesyoucompareyourselftoothersinsteadoffocusingonwhat
Godwantsforyou.AsktheHolySpirittomakeyouawareofthosemoments.

11
 Chapter 6: When You Believe in God but Wont Forgive

SeetoitthatnoonemissesthegraceofGodandthatnobitterrootgrowsuptocausetroubleanddePile
many.Hebrew12:15

Exercise:Asagroup,comeupwithameaningforthisverseinyourownwords.

Whathappenswhenwerefusetoforgive?

Howcouldforgivenesssetyoufreeandwhatwouldyoubefreefrom?

Getridofallbitterness,rageandanger,brawlingandslander,alongwitheveryformofmalice.Bekind
andcompassionatetooneanother,forgivingeachother,justasinChristGodforgaveyou.Ephesians
4:3132

Howisforgivenesspossiblewhenyoudohavebitterness,rage,andanger,butitseemsjustiDied?

Wheredobitterness,anger,revenge,andhatredgetyou?

Isforgivenessintheseversesasuggestionoracommand?

HaveyoucontemplatedyourchoicetonotforgiveasdisobediencetoGod?

WhatdoesitmeanthatGodspowerisperfectedinourweaknessofnotforgiving?

Readthefollowingpassages:
blessthosewhocurseyou,prayforthosewhomistreatyouLuke6:28

youhaveheardthatitwassaid,Loveyourneighborandhateyourenemy.ButItellyou:Loveyour
enemiesandprayforthosewhopersecuteyou.Matthew5:4344

WhydoesGodaskustoprayforthesewhohavewrongedusandloveourenemies?

Onpage119,Craigwritesprayersforothersmayormaynotchangethem.Butmyprayersalways
changeme.

Doyouagreewiththisstatement?Why?

Howcouldforgivenesschangeyou?

12
NextSteps:

Readthelastparagraphofthechapteronpages121122.

Butyou,manofGod,Pleefromallthis,andpursuerighteousness,godliness,faith,love,enduranceand
gentleness.FightthegoodPightofthefaith.Takeholdoftheeternallifetowhichyouwerecalledwhen
youmadeyourgoodconfessioninthepresenceofmanywitnesses.1Timothy6:1112

AreyouwillingtoDightthegoodDightofbattlingthroughfeelingsofunforgiveness?

Ifyouarewilling:
o Outofobediencecommittoprayingforthosewhohavewrongedyou.
o StartSimple
o Realizeyoumayneverreceiveanapology.

Identifyscripturesthatdealwithforgivenessonanindexcardandputthemwhereyouwillreadthem
everyday.

13
 Chapter 7: When You Believe in God but Dont Think You Can Change

Readfrompage126:

EventhoughIbelieveinGod,Idontreallythinkhecanhelpme.Afterall,thisishowhemademe.
Maybe,liketheapostlePaul,thisissimplythethorninmyPlesh.Manybelieveacommonlie.Alie
believedastruthwillaffectyouasifitweretrue.

Onpage127,Craigsharesaboutthepoweroftrainingadogandsettingupboundaries.

Nottocompareanyonetoadog,butwhoareyouallowingtotrainyourthinking?

Ingeneral,whataresomecommonliespeopletendtobelieve?

Jesuslookedatthemandsaid,Withmanthisisimpossible,butnotwithGod;allthingsarepossiblewith
God.Mark10:27

Givesomeexamplesofhowyourthinking/lifemightbedifferentifyoutookthistoheart.How
mightthechurchbedifferent?

Exercisefrompage133:Identifyanareaoflifethatyouveheldbackfromchanging(forwhatever
reason).Walkthroughthequestionsasagroupandgiveafewsecondstoanswereach.

Donotbemisled:Badcompanycorruptsgoodcharacter.1Corinthians15:33

Writedown3peopleinyourlifewhocareaboutyouenoughtoconfront,encourage,and/orhold
youaccountabletomakingpositivechanges.Ifyoudonthaveanyone,nowisthetimetolook
aroundthegroupyourein,andPindacoupleofpeople.

NextSteps:

Istherealiethatyouhavebelieved?Beboldandsharewiththegroup.

Whathaskeptyoufromovercomingalieinyourlife?

Readtheparagraphbeginningatthebottomofpage140.Craigtalksopenlyaboutthechangeinhis
lifeheworkedthrough.Asyoureadthroughthistogether,thinkaboutthatlieyouhavebelieved.
Whathasthelie(s)keptyoufrom?

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 Chapter 8: When You Believe in God but Still Worry All the Time

Whataresomegeneralthingswe(orspeciDicallyyou)tendtoworryaboutinlife?

Onp.148,whatdoesCraigsaythatworryis(itsinparentheses)?

RatherthanputtingourtrustinGod,whatorwhodowetrustin?

Readthefollowingpassages:
Donotbeanxiousaboutanything,butineverything,byprayerandpetition,withthanksgiving,
presentyourrequeststoGod.AndthepeaceofGod,whichtranscendsallunderstanding,willguard
yourheartsandyourmindsinChristJesus.Philippians4:67

Butthemanwhohasdoubtsiscondemned,becausehiseatingisnotfromfaith;andeverythingthat
doesnotcomefromfaithissin.Romans14:23

Howisholdingontoworryasin?

Whatdoesworrytypicallydotousphysically,emotionally,mentallyandspiritually?

Whatdoesourlevelofworryshowaboutourleveloffaith?

Whyisiteasiertoputourtrustinourownabilities?

IfwetrulybelievethatGodisourprovider,whydoweworrysomuchaboutourcircumstances?

Onpage151,Craigsharesthattwostepstowardsmovingfromworrytofaitharetodowhatswise
andtothinkonrightthings.

HowdowemoveforwardinfaithwhenGodhasntmadeadirectioncleartous?

WhatresponsibilitiesdowehavewhilewearetrustinginGod?

Brainstormsomewisemovesandthoughtstogether.

NextSteps:

Onpage153,Craigwrites:
Ifyoudocatchyourselfworryingevenafteryouvedonewhatwaswise,rememberthatGodisbigger
thanourproblems,andthathewantsustohandthemovertohim.Worrythenbecomesasignal
alertingusthatitstimetopray.Anytimeyouhearthealarmstarttoblare,stop.Itstimetostop
worryingandstartpraying.

Whatisonethingyoucandothisweektobeginremovingworryfromyourlife?

15
 Chapter 9: When You Believe in God but Pursue Happiness at Any Cost

BesidesyourfaithinChrist,whataresomeofthethingsinyourlifethatgiveyouhappiness?

Whydomostpeoplewantmorethantheyalreadyhave?

Describeatimewhenyouhaveputyourimmediatehappinessabovedoingwhatwasright.

Thereisawaythatseemsrighttoaman,butintheenditleadstodeath.Proverbs14:12

Whyisitsoeasytogetdistractedinlifeandfocusontemporarylivingandhappiness?

Onpage165,Craigtalksaboutapollutedtheology:
Itriedreligion,butitdidntmakemehappy.Iwenttochurchanditdidntmakemylifeanybetter.God
didnthelpmehaveabetterlife,soeitherhefailedmeorhesnotreal.Eitherway,Imnotinterested.

Whatswrongwiththislineofthinking?

WhatisthedifferencebetweenGodwantingustobehappyandmakinghappinessanidolinour
lives?

ReadMatthew5:112

Howdoyouthinkapersonmightbehaveifheorshewerehungeringandthirstingafter
righteousness?

How(ifatall)doesthepromiseoffutureblessingaffectusinthepresent?

RejoiceintheLORD,youwhoarerighteous,andpraisehisholyname.Psalm97:12

PraisetheLORD.BlessedisthemanwhofearstheLORD,whoPindsgreatdelightinhiscommands.
Psalm112:1

Whatdoesitmeantoyoutobetrulyhappy?

Atthebeginningofthischapter(163164),Craigtellsaboutaconversationwithtwowomen
regardingamovie.Therewasadisconnectbetweenbeliefandactions.Howcanyoubegina
greaterpursuitofhappinessthisweektoalignyourbeliefsandactions?

NextSteps:

WithyourgrouppraythatGodwillhelpyoustripawaythefalsebeliefsyouhaveregardingtrue
happinessinyourlife.AskGodtohelpyouseekhappinessthroughHimonly.ThankHimforthe
blessingshehasgivenyouinyourlifesothatyoucantrulyappreciatethecomfortand
happinessthatcomesthroughHisblessings.

16
 Chapter 10: When You Believe in God but Trust More in Money

Whatistheonethingyouwoulddescribeasyourmostvaluablepossession?Whyisitso
valuabletoyou?

Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.Luke12:34

Whataresomeofthetreasuresorpossessionsinyourlifecurrentlydistractingyoufrom
focusingonGod?WhatspeciDicthingscanyoudotoremovethesedistractions?

HaveyoueverknownanyonewhowascompletelysatisDiedbecauseoftherichesthey
obtained.Whatdoeschasingwealthtypicallyleadtoforpeopleyouveknown(oryourself)?

Ifwecannottakeanythingwithuswhenwedie,whydoyouthinkweworksohardtoacquire
thingsinourlives?

WhenyougrowinyourrelationshipwithChrist,itoftenresultsinbecomingunexplainably
contentwithwhatwehave.Areyoumorecontenttodaythanyouwerelastyear?Howhasyour
relationshipwithChristinthelastyearaffectedyourlevelofcontentment?

Jesussaiditismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive.DescribeatimeyougavesacriDiciallyandthe
affectithadonyou.IsthereanywayyoucouldgiveevenmoresacriDicially?Ifso,whatwouldit
be?

Onpage187,CraiggivessomestaggeringstatisticsaboutgivingintheAmericanChurch.What
wouldittakeforthesestatisticstochange?

Readthefollowingpassages:
Woetoyou,teachersofthelawandPharisees,youhypocrites!YougiveatenthofyourspicesButyou
haveneglectedthemoreimportantmattersofthelawYoushouldhavepracticedthelatter,without
neglectingtheformer.
Matthew23:23

Bringthewholetitheintothestorehouse,thattheremaybefoodinmyhouse.Testmeinthis,saysthe
LORDAlmighty,andseeifIwillnotthrowopenthePloodgatesofheavenandpouroutsomuchblessing
thatyouwillnothaveroomenoughforit.Malachi3:10

ButthekingrepliedtoAraunah,No,Iinsistonpayingforit.IwillnotsacriPicetotheLORDmyGod
burntofferingsthatcostmenothing.2Samuel24:24

Commandthosewhoarerichinthispresentworldnottobearrogantnortoputtheirhopeinwealth,
whichissouncertain,buttoputtheirhopeinGod,whorichlyprovidesuswitheverythingforour
enjoyment.1Timothy6:1719

17
 Howshouldthesepassagesaffectourgiving?

DISCUSSIONLEADERSNOTE:Thepurposeofthisdiscussion/studyisnottodebatethe
theologyoftithingfortoday.SomepeopleviewthetitheaspartoftheOldTestamentlaw,
whereasothersseeitasacommandfortoday.Herearesomethingstoconsiderasyouguide
people:
1.ThetithewasestablishedbeforetheMosaiclaw.
2.Jesustithed.
3.JesusafTirmedthetithetoHisdisciples(Matthew23:23).
4.Thetitheisthestartingpoint,nottheend.
5.Ifthetitheisanissueforsomeone,refertotheNewTestamentpracticeofgiving:Acts
2:4247.

NextSteps:

WithyourgroupandduringyourpersonalprayertimethisweekprayforGodtohelpyoufocus
moreonHimratherthanmoney.PraythatHewillhelpyouobtaintruecontentmentthrough
Him.

Whatisonethingyoucanchangetodayinyourlifethatwillhelpshiftyourfocusawayfrom
moneyandpossessionsandbacktowardsGod?

WhatcanyoudothisweektoacceptandbetterappreciatethethingsGodhasgiventoyou?

18
 Chapter 11: When You Believe in God but Dont Share Your Faith

Shareaboutatimeyouhaveregrettedorbeenfrustratedwithyourselffornotsharingyourfaith.

Whyaresomanyofusslowtoshareourfaith?

ButinyourheartssetapartChristasLord.Alwaysbepreparedtogiveananswertoeveryonewhoasks
youtogivethereasonforthehopethatyouhave.Butdothiswithgentlenessandrespect1Peter
3:15

Onascaleof1to10(1beinglow,10beinghigh),howprepareddoyoufeelyouaretoshareyour
faith?Explain.

Exercise:Handoutindexcardstoeachperson.Givethemacoupleminutestowriteoutwhatthey
wouldsaytosomeoneifaskedthefollowingquestion:

CanyoutellmeexactlywhatitmeanstobeaChristianandhowIcanbecomeone?

NamethevariouswaysPastorCraigshowsthatChristfollowerscansharetheirfaith.Brainstorm
asagrouphowyoucanshareyourfaithintheseways.

Enterthroughthenarrowgate.Forwideisthegateandbroadistheroadthatleadstodestruction,
andmanyenterthroughit.Butsmallisthegateandnarrowtheroadthatleadstolife,andonlyafew
Pindit.Matthew7:1314

Howshouldourbeliefineternityaffectouractionsandwordstowardsoneanotherandthosewho
dontfollowChrist?

Whatisonethingyouaregoingtodothisweektoshareyourfaithwithsomeone?

19
 Chapter 12: When You Believe in God but Not in His Church

CraigbeginsthischapterwithastoryaboutawaiterwhoexpressedallChristhaddoneforhim,
butrefusedtoattendchurch.Doyouknowpeoplelikethis?

Whataretheirreasonsfornotbeingpartofalocalchurch?

Whatwouldhappenifpeoplewhohaveanegativebenttowardsthelocalchurchputtheirenergy
intomakingitbetter?

Namesomedifferencesbetweengoingtochurchandbeingthechurch?

Readthisentirepassage:1Corinthians12:1227

WhatisourresponsibilitytooneanotheraspartofthebodyofChrist?

Whathappenstothechurchwhenindividualsremovethemselves?

Whathappenstoindividualswhentheyremovethemselves?

Readthefollowingpassages:
Ifyourbrothersinsagainstyou,goandshowhimisfault,justbetweenthetwoofyou.Ifhelistensto
you,youhavewonyourbrotherover.Butifhewillnotlisten,takeoneortwoothersalong,sothatevery
mattermaybeestablishedbythetestimonyoftwoorthreewitnesses.Ifherefusestolistentothem,tell
ittothechurch;andifherefusestolisteneventothechurch,treathimasyouwouldapaganoratax
collector.Matthew18:1517

Butifyoudonotforgivementheirsins,yourFatherwillforgiveyoursins.Matthew6:15
Therefore,asGodschosenpeople,holyanddearlyloved,clotheyourselveswithcompassion,kindness,
humility,gentlenessandpatience.Bearwitheachotherandforgivewhatevergrievancesyoumayhave
againstoneanother.ForgiveastheLordforgaveyou.Andoverallthesevirtuesputonlove,whichbinds
themalltogetherinperfectunity.Colossians3:1214

Thereforeconfessyoursinstoeachotherandprayforeachothersothatyoumaybehealed.Theprayer
ofarighteousmanispowerfulandeffective.James5:16

Whatshouldourresponsebetopeoplewhoarehurt,disillusioned,oroffended?

WhatspeciDicissuesandpeopleinyourcommunitywouldbedifferentifthechurchwaslivingout
whatJesussaiditwould(thegatesofhellcouldnotstopit)?

Readthestoryaboutthepastorsconversationwithamanonpages231232.

Whatisonewayyoupersonallycanmakeyourchurchgreater,accordingtowhoGodscreatedyou
tobe?

20
 The Afterword: Third Line Faith

Forwhoeverwantstosavehislifewillloseit,butwhoeverloseshislifeformewillPindit.Whatgood
willitbeforamanifhegainsthewholeworld,yetforfeitshissoul?Orwhatcanamangiveinexchange
forhissoul?Matthew16:2526

Howcouldsomepeoplepossiblyseethispassageasextreme?

Line1:IbelieveinGodandthegospelofChristenoughtobeneTitfromit.

WhataresomeexamplesthatyouseeinourcultureofthisapproachtofaithinChrist?

Line2:IbelieveinGodandChristsgospelenoughtocontributecomfortably.

HowisthislevelofcommitmentdifferentfromLine1?

Whataresomeexamplesofcomfortablecontribution?

Line3:IbelieveinGodandChristsgospelenoughtogivemylifetoit.

WhydoyouthinkJesusshouldberulerinourlives?

WhoinyourlifehasexempliDiedthistypeofcommitment?How?

HowwouldourlivesbedifferentifwebelievedinGodandChristsgospelthismuch?

Howwouldourworldbedifferent?

However,Iconsidermylifeworthnothingtome,ifonlyImayPinishtheraceandcompletethetaskthe
LordJesushasgivenmethetaskoftestifyingtothegospelofGodsgrace.Acts20:24

Line1Question
WhatisonethinginmylifethatexempliDiesthisline?

Line2Question
Jesussaiditismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive.Describeatime
yougavesacriDiciallyandtheaffectithadonyou.

Inwhatareaoflifeareyoucomfortablycontributingrightnow?

Line3Question
Whatwouldittaketomakeourlivesnothingtous,existingonlytodowhatChristwantsusto?

WhatisonespeciDicnextstepyoucantaketomovetowardsThirdLineFaith?Whenwillyou
doit?Whoisgoingtoholdyouaccountable?

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