The Purpose Driven Life:

Small Group: Week 4 (Discipleship)

To be a disciple is to be a student. Jesus Christ serves as our teacher and role model. Once we are born again, God wants us to grow up spiritually to become like Jesus. Philippians 2:12-13 says, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to ...act according to his good purpose."

The Christian life is a partnership. We work out, like an athlete develops the body God has given him or her; God works in us, energizing us and enabling us to achieve His good purposes.

God uses three tools to help us become more like Jesus:

1. The Bible - God's will for your life never contradicts his word in the Bible. "It is God's way of making us well prepared...." 2 Timothy 3:17

    

2. Holy Spirit - God does not leave us powerless. "...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him." 2 Corinthians 3:18

    

3. Circumstances - No matter what the cause of our problems. "...God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." Romans 8:28

We also make three choices that determine whether we become more like Jesus:

1. What we choose to think about - "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11

    

2. Whether we depend on God's Spirit - "Take care to live in Me and let Me live in you...I am the vine; you are the branches." John 15:4-5

    

3. How we respond to circumstances - "When all kinds of trials crowd into your lives ... welcome them as friends. Realize that they come to test your faith and produce in you...people of mature character." James 1:2-4

Tension develops when you try to act like a Christian without thinking God's thoughts. Are you trying to produce good fruit without God's power flowing through you? Use God's three tools and focus on the choices you can make about the way you live your life. Stay in Scripture, depend on the Spirit, and remember Who is in control!