Welcome to Lesson Twenty-Three
Safety in numbers
Let me be honest with you—maybe more honest than I should be. All my adult like I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the church. I realize that can be a polarizing statement, and I don’t mean it to be. On one hand I love the church; that is, I love the people. If you are my brother or sister in Christ, then you are family. I’m your brother. I want only eternal good for you.
But where I have issues is how church is operated. Many times the church seems to chew up and spit out its best and brightest, opting instead to open its arms to compliant consumers who are content to warm a pew, volunteer for a church role far below their potential, put money in the coffers, and never rock the boat. It troubles me. (Maybe I need a few more truth experiences with Jesus.)
Having said that, I ask you not to give up on the church. I haven’t. Look for ways to be in relationship with other believers. Find mentors. Find peers. Find people you can mentor. Be visible, known, accountable on some level with others. Let others know you value them, you care. Build healthy relationships. Go where the people of God are, be among them, be a friend, be family.
Lesson links
Questions: Pages 253-254 (selected questions)
Answers to “Check your understanding” questions
Reading
In the reading today (pages 243-249), we look at the value of your connection to God’s family.
In the movie, Fellowship of the Ring, Arwen carries the injured Frodo on her horse pursued by the Riders in Black, the Ringwraiths. She knows if she can reach Rivendell, the power of her people will protect her. Likewise, the power of your people, the church, will help protect you. There is safety in numbers. Sometimes you can be in danger without even knowing it; others see what you cannot see—we all have blind spots. We need one another.
Questions
Check your understanding
Here are the questions I recommend you work through: page 253, questions 2, 3. You can always check your answers. (See links above.)
Group discussion
I recommend you discuss questions 4 on page 254 from the “Group discussion” either with others who are studying with you and/or with our Facebook group.
Journal
You may also want to check out Journal question 1 on page 254.
Congratulations! Lesson Twenty-Three complete!
In Lesson Twenty-Four, we discuss techniques for defending yourself against temptation and how to rebuild your life after a fall.
Look forward to seeing you next time!
Dwight
Reading and other links
Chapter 6
Section 6.3
Reading: Pages 243-249
Questions: Pages 253-254 (selected questions)
Questions? Comments? Use our private Facebook group to connect…
Links to other pages in the Spiritual Self Defense textbook
Glossary & index (pages 285-289) | Answers to “Check your understanding” questions (pages 278-284) | Table of contents (pages 3-9) | About the author (page 290) | Cover page (page 1) | Copyright page (page 2) | How this book came to be (page 11) | How to get the most from this book (page 12) | Other books to explore (page 10)
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