Explanation
This is your response to moral authority. How do you respond to rules and boundaries? Do you instinctively submit to authority and shape your priorities accordingly? Do you respect leaders, even if these leaders are flawed and treat them with respect? Do you have an innate desire to seek what is good and follow the right path? Are you uncomfortable when circumstances push you into grey areas? On the other hand, are you quite comfortable pushing boundaries and limits? Does it excite you to break rules? Do you often find yourself seeing what you can get away with? Do you simply ignore rules and do what you wish? Do you sometimes hold leaders in disdain? Do you sometimes resent authority figures because they are no better than you? In short, do you prefer to have moral boundaries or do you resist them?
KEY SCRIPTURES
Key Scriptures
Key Scriptures are designed to give a biblical overview of the topic in question. They are extremely valuable for gaining an immediate general understanding of what the Bible teaches on a given subject. Key Scriptures are the first place you should explore when starting a new subject. They can be discussed individually, in part, or in whole. Generic inductive Bible study questions are provided to assist you in your discussion. Key Scriptures are also good for memorizing and reference.
Goodness
2 Peter 1:5-7 – For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. NIV
Prudence
Proverbs 8:5 – You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. NIV
Proverbs 14:8 – The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. NIV
Wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. NIV
Proverbs 11:2 – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. NIV
Proverbs 19:8 – He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. NIV
See also Jeremiah 9:23-24, and James 1:5
Righteousness
Proverbs 13:6 – Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. NIV
1 John 2:29 – If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. NIV
1 Samuel 26:23 – The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. NIV
Matthew 6:33-34 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV
See also Proverbs 12:28; 21:21, 1 Timothy 4:12, & 6:11
Holiness and godliness
1 Timothy 2:1-2 – I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. NIV
Hebrews 12:14- Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. NIV
1 Peter 1:15-16 – But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” NIV
See also 1 Timothy 6:6
Obedience
Luke 11:28 – “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” NIV
Revelation 14:12 – This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. NIV
1 John 3:24 – Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. NIV
See also Exodus 19:5 & Psalm 119:60
Inductive Bible Study Questions
to be used with individual Key Scriptures
- What is the primary point of this passage?
- How does this passage challenge us?
- How does this passage comfort or encourage us?
- What does this passage teach us about God?
- What spiritual insights are found in this passage?
- What are the personal & spiritual implications of this text?
- What does this passage ask or require of us?
Key Scriptures Bible Study
to be used when studying all Key Scriptures together
- Did any of the scriptures given surprise you? Explain
- Did any of the scriptures given confuse you? Explain
- Did any of the scriptures given comfort or excite you?
- How would you sum up these scriptures to another?
- What implications do these scriptures have for our lives?
- Which of these scriptures would you find it valuable to memorize?
DISCUSSION GUIDES
GROWING EXERCISES
- Read a Proverb every day for one month.
- Prayerfully make a list of what you believe God would identify as your 5 greatest character flaws. Discuss with your spiritual coach. Begin praying about these flaws and create a strategy to address them.
- Tithe 10% of your income to your church this month.
- Fast from your TV, movies and internet for one week. Spend the time you would normally spend engaged in media doing spiritually productive activities such as spending time with your family, praying, reading God’s word, attending church, writing a letter or email to an old friend, serving in your church or community, or some other productive activity.
- Identify the 3 most common reoccurring sins in your life. Keep a daily journal for one month chronicling your successes and failures each day in these 3 areas. Keep track of the number of times you feel tempted, the times you overcame the temptation and the times you did not.
- Identify any hindrances or stumbling blocks that cause you to continue in the sins identified in exercise 4. As far as it is within your power, remove these influences from your life. Perhaps you need to install monitoring software on your computer. Perhaps you need withdraw from a negative relationship. Perhaps you need to quit watching certain TV shows or reading certain books. Remove the modes of temptation from your life.
- Determine to perform at least one sacrificial good deed each day for someone else. It must not involve someone a person who can help you in return. Help a stranger, a child or someone in need. The point is to demonstrate goodness for goodness sake. How hard would it be to establish a pattern of goodness in your life?
- Read a biography of a great Christian whom you admire.
- Keep a prayer journal for one month. Make a list of prayer needs and people you are praying for, then record any answers to those prayers over time.
- Practice a new spiritual discipline. If you already have a prayer, try fasting once per week. If you already fast, try memorizing scripture.
- Identify another believer who is strong in an area of weakness (finances, service, sharing your faith, parenting, patience, Bible study, marriage relationships, vocational success, purity, etc…). Make an appointment with them for lunch or coffee. When you meet, simply tell them that you struggle in this particular area and that you would like to interview them regarding how they are able to excel in this area.
RECOMMENDED READING
- The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
- Toxic Faith by Arterburn and Felton
- How Should We Then Live by Francis Schaeffer
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Radical: Taking Your Faith Back From the American Dream by David Platt
- The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
- The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
- My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster