PART 1:
obsessive-Christianity disorder
1. In what ways do you think hitting rock bottom better prepares you to grasp the true meaning of the gospel?
2. Are there areas in your life where you feel you may have hit rock bottom? If so, what may God be trying to tell you, if anything?
3. Why do you think so many experienced churchgoers are stagnant and stalled? What do you feel they are missing
?
PART 2:
religion is a headache
1. Who is your favorite Old Testament character? Had you ever imagined that you have a better relationship with God than they enjoyed? How might realizing this concept affect your daily life?
2. What is God trying to communicate to you today by the fact that Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah rather than into the law’s priestly line of Levi and Aaron?
3. As you think of Hebrews 7:18, how has the idea of law-based living been “weak and useless” in your own life? Are there ways in which you need to agree that the law has been “set aside”?
4. The New is simple and straightforward, but even the early church struggled with adding conditions to it. How do we add conditions to it today?
5. A common misconception is that God writes the law of Moses on Christians’ hearts. What’s wrong with this view? How would you clarify the issue for someone?
6. If a friend were to say to you, “I know I’m not under the law, but we still need rules and Christian principles to guide our behavior,” how would you respond to that notion?
7. What are your hesitations about abandoning “the law” as a system and fully trusting in God’s new way
?
PART 3:
crossing the line
1. Had you ever thought about how the New begins at Jesus’ death instead of at his birth? How might this impact your view of Jesus as he taught his fellow Jews?
2. How might a new understanding of the dividing line between the Old and New Covenants affect your study of the Bible?
3. How have you been doing with regard to Jesus’ teachings of “gouge out your eye and cut off your hand in your fight against sin,” “be perfect,” and “sell everything you have”? How does understanding the cross as the great divider between Old and New help you identify Jesus’ purpose in these teachings
?
PART 4:
burning matryoshkas
1. What does it mean to you that Christ is your life? How is this different than Christ merely being a part
of your life?
2. What might a Christian conclude if they believe they have a “sinful nature” as opposed to struggling with the flesh?
3. How does the power of sin masquerade as you in your life?
4. How does an understanding of the presence of sin make you more
responsible for your actions?
5. What would you say to someone who thinks that recognizing the power of sin is shifting the blame by insinuating that “the Devil made me do it”?
6. Do you think this is all just semantics? If not, how do you think an understanding of the flesh, the power of sin, and your true identity in Christ can be a practical help in a normal, everyday situation
?
PART 5:
cheating on Jesus
1. How do you sometimes show a lack of confidence in the “once for all” nature of your forgiveness?
2. Even some world-class seminaries refer to the “atoning death of Christ” in their doctrinal statements. But how does the Old Testament term atonement
(meaning “covering”) fall short?
3. How does the image of Christ your Priest seated
at God’s right hand impact your perspective on how God views you?
4. The idea that asking for forgiveness is not biblical is new to some Christians. In your opinion, how are asking and thanking different? What makes thanking God for forgiveness more in line with Scripture?
5. What benefit is there in confessing your sins to another person? How might this practice be misunderstood, misused, or even abused?
6. How does an accurate perspective on 1 John 1:9 keep us from cluttering up the issue of once-for-all forgiveness?
7. If fear of judgment or expectation of rewards is not supposed to be our motivation for daily living, what should provide the greatest motivation?
8. What do you perceive to be the difference between conviction and counsel? How does knowing the difference help someone who is plagued with guilt and condemning thoughts
?
PART 6:
we don’t marry dead people
1. Why do you think it is important to understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and
his resurrection?
2. How might knowing that you already have everything you need for godly living affect your daily life? Your prayer life? Your relationship with others?
3. Is the mystery of “Christ in you” difficult to fathom? How would it change your perspective on your life’s meaning and purpose to know that Christ literally dwells within you just beneath your skin and bones?
4. How does a “saved by Christ’s life” perspective influence your understanding of eternal security for believers?
5. What would you say to someone who was hesitant, or even fearful, to surrender his or her daily life to Christ?
6. The Bible tells us to continue to live our lives in Christ in the same way we received Christ as Lord (Colossians 2:6). What was your attitude in receiving Christ as Lord? How is it similar to the attitude you can have as you live your life in him
?
PART 7:
ego assault
1. How do you think a solid understanding of the New Covenant will impact your attitudes and behavior on a daily basis?
2. Which of the two main reasons to avoid sin do you believe could be most effective in your life—because we are not designed for sin, or because there are consequences to sin?
3. Return to the quiz on
pages 27-28
. Review each item carefully. Are you now able to discern why each quiz item is false?
4. Of everything God has granted us through the New Covenant, what means the most to you personally? How might it affect your relationship with God in the long term?
5. The New Covenant message is radical and powerful yet surprisingly simple. Why do you think it’s not taught more clearly in churches today?