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GROWING IN DISCIPLESHIP

CHRISTLIKENESS

GROWING IN DISCIPLESHIP
SERIES

The Navigators – Uganda


P.O Box 2743,
Kampala –Uganda.
COMPLETION RECORD

Ask others in your study group to check your work as you complete it, and to indicate
your progress below.

BIBLE STUDY INITIAL DATE


Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Christ likeness 2 Corinthians 3:18
Love 1 John 3:18
Purity 2 Timothy 2:22
Relationships 1 Timothy 5:1b-2
Integrity Acts 24:16
Servant hood 2 Corinthians 4:5
Perseverance Roman 5:3-4
Quote all 8 verses from this book (Your Choice)
Quote all Verses from Book 3 and 4

QUIET TIME
Have a daily Quiet time. (Read systematically and (Your Choice)
Mark Bible. And record high lights in the Quiet Time

i
Journal
Quote book of old Testament Ezra–Daniel

Leader’s signature (Your Choice)

ii
CHAPTER 1
The call to Christlike Character
INTRODUCTION: Many people measure spiritual maturity– both their own and
others– by the quantity of their activities. But the quantity of our spiritual activities does
not does not necessarily give a true quality of our lives. It is Christ likeness to which God
has called us, not busyness. What we are is more important than what we do and what
we are determines what we do and how we do it. Today the emphasis is on doing but
the bible emphasizes being like Jesus Christ in our character.

Begin by Memorizing 2 Corinthians 3:18.

GOD’S DESIRE FOR YOUR CHARACTER

1. God wants each of us to become like whom? And in what ways?


Romans 8:29–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2 Corinthians 3:18–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ephesians 4:22-24–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2. The spirit of Christ works in our life to produce holy, Christ like qualities in us.
As a fruit tree produces fruits. Read Galatians 5:22-23

a. what Christ like qualities are mentioned? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. Describe what growth you have noticed recently in one of these areas in
your life.

1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. Now describe one area where you think you are least like Jesus Christ.
Explain.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3. Does God have a higher standard of character for Christian leaders then He does
for ordinary Christians? Explain your answer from James 3:1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST


Christ saves us in a moment. But it takes a lifetime for us to become like Him in our
character. Like a master woodcarver shaping a beautiful sculpture. God uses several
tools to shape us into the image of Christ during our lifetime.
4. Read Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:1-2.
As you grow in Christ, what should be happening to your mind? (Explain what it
means to be “Conformed” and “Transformed”) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How can scripture memory contribute to this process of character growth?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Study 2 Peter 1:2-4. This part of the scripture deals with growth in Christian
character.
a. What has God provided to help you grow in character? (Vs.3-4) ––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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b. Does God expect you to become completely Christ like immediately? If
not then what process of character growth is suggested? (Vs. 5-8) –––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. What will be the end results of this process? (vs. 4 and 8) –––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
6. According to James 1:2-4, how can trials be used to develop our character?
Illustrate this from your life. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
7. Proverbs 27:17, mention another character – building tool: people! Describe
how God has used a particular person to develop your character.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. Only the power of God can make us holy, but we also have a part to play.
According to Romans 6:11-13, what is our part in the process of pursuing
holiness
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
With God’s help, what steps could you take to become more Christ like? –––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3
THE RIGHT MOTIVATION FOR PURSUING DODLINESS
When you think of the changes God still wants to make in your life, do you ever wonder,
“What can I get out of it?” or “what do I have to give up?” if so, then you still have much
to learn about God’s character and hid desires for you. God wants you to experience the
most abundant life possible – in fact, the same quality of life which Christ Himself
experience.
9. God “Chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in his sight” and adopted us in love as His children. What attitude will help us
pursue holiness?
Psalms 63:1-2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Habakkuk 3:17-19–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ephesians 4:1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. Why is it important for us to live holy and Christlike?
2 Corinthians 2:14-15–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 2:9-12––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What is the result when we dishonor God with our lives? Ezekiel 36:17, 20-21
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

4
DEFINITION: To ‘profane” means to treat with disrespect, abuse or contempt something
which should be holy; to dishonor pollute or defile something which should be kept
clean.
11. Read Paul’s goals in Philippians 3:4-14. Make a list of things he boasted in before
knowing Christ (vs. 4-7). Then list what he pursued as a believer (vs. 7-14).
Boasted before knowing Christ (vs. 4-7). Pursued after knowing Christ (vs. 7-14).
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What things did you count as very important before you knew Christ? What has
changed? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

EVIDENCE OF CHRISTLIKENESS
12. What areas of life should reflect Christlikeness? 1 Timothy 4:12––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
13. The Bible tells us that Jesus “grew in wisdom” (Luke 2:52). From James 3:13-18,
how does Godly wisdom differ from worldly wisdom? ––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
14. Christ also wants His disciples to “bear fruit-fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
Read Jesus’ comments about spiritual fruitfulness in John 15:1-5
What might God “Trim” or prune to make you more fruitful spiritually v.2?

5
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Explain what “abiding in Christ” means to you.–––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THE JOY OF CHRIST LIKENESS


Some imagine that a Godly life would be very dull and unhappy, Jesus said just the
opposite! Jesus was blessed by God and wants us to be blessed too. To be blessed
means:

 To enjoy inevitable happiness.  To be happy and joyous.


 To be spiritually prosperous.  To have joy and satisfaction in God’s favor
regardless of your out-ward conditions.

15. According to John 15:11, what is another quality of life Jesus wants us to
share with Him? What evidence or lack of evidence do you see in your life
concerning this quality? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
16. In His Sermon on the Mount recorded in Mathew 5:3-12, Jesus described
eight basic ingredients for living a holy, abundant life. Study the qualities
listed below. Then record the promise Jesus gave for each.

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Verse The Blessed Man’s Quality Jesus’ Promise
3 Poor in spirit (recognizes
his own poverty in spiritual
things)
4 Mourns (is genuinely sorry
for sin)
5 Is meek (submits his will to
Christ)
6 Hungers for righteousness
(has deep passion for
personal righteousness)
7 Is merciful (forgiving and
compassionate
8 Is pure in heart (free from
moral sin)
9 Is a peacemaker (makes
peace by reconciling others)
10-11 Is persecuted (oppressed
for Christ’s sake)

Assignment:
1. Revise 2 Corinthians 3:18 daily.
2. Memorize 1 John 3:18 and pray over it daily.
3. Revise all of your memory verses from Book 3 daily, using your cards to check
accuracy.
4. Complete chapter 2 of this Bible study called “Genuine Love in Action”.
5. Continue to read and mark one chapter a day from the Bible during your Quiet
time.
6. Memorize the names of the Old Testament Books from Ezra to Daniel.

7
CHAPTER 2

Genuine Love in Action

INTRODUCTION: We have heard and read much about loving our neighbor and
sacrificing for others. It is not more information we need–it is more love, or at least a
better understanding of it. On our own we are incapable of loving as Christ wants us to
love. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives, He produces Christ like love
for others in our hearts.

Begin by memorizing 1 John 3:18.

GENUINE LOVE

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-18 (several versions if possible).


In your own words describe what love does not do ––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Now define what love does –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2. What command did Jesus give his followers in John 13:34-35? What was “new”
about it? (Compare with Leviticus 19:12).
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3. Who are we to love? Deuteronomy 6:5 Luke 6:27 1 Thessalonians 3:12
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

8
4. True or false: “Love is not a feeling; it’s an act of the will” Explain your answer after
reading 1 John 3:16-18 and defining what love is.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

OBSTACLES TO GENUINE LOVE


Genuine love means to care deeply about others from the heart, and to do what needs
to be done to seek their good. But we often engage in battle to love ––a battle between
self sacrifice. If we are to extend unselfish love to others, we must first get rid of
bitterness, rage, anger and all forms of malice (Ephesians 4:31), just as Joseph had to do.

5. Read the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37:3-11 and 19-28.
What caused Joseph’s brothers to be jealousy of Him? –––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What did their jealousy caused them to do to Joseph?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
6. Years later, Joseph rose to a position of high status and power in Egypt. He held
the lives of his family members in his hand. The stage was set for Joseph to take
revenge and unleash bitterness and resentment. Read genesis 45:1-7 and
describe Joseph’s response towards his brothers. Why do you suppose he was
not resentful?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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7. There will be times when you too will experience injustice, mistreatment and
violation of your rights just as Joseph did. What should your response be to such
experience?
Mathew 12:14, 17-21––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 2:19-25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. Fearing that Joseph still held a grudge against them, his brothers desperately
sought his forgiveness. How did Joseph respond to his brothers? Why do you
think he responded this way? Genesis 50:15-21–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9. From Mathew 5:23-24 and Mark 18:15, whose responsibility is to go to the other
and seek forgiveness: the one who was wronged or the one who did wrong?
What is the potential danger of “just keeping quiet” when someone wrongs you?
Hebrews 12:14-15–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. Is there any one you to forgive or seek forgiveness from? –––––––––––––––
what steps should you take soon to reconcile and move on to demonstrate
genuine love to that person? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
LOVE IN SPEECH
The world’s smallest but most powerful trouble maker is the human tongue! With the
tongue, we can praise God or pray or preach the word. But with that same tongue we can
ruin a person’s reputation or break a person’s heart.

11. What do the following verses teach about slander of gossip?

10
Proverbs 11:13–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 16:27-28–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 26:20–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
12. What guidelines are suggested for controlling our tongues?
Psalms 39:1––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 10:19–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
13. How can we communicate love with our tongue?
Proverbs 12:18–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 12:25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ephesians 4:15-16. 29––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Colossians 4:6––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2 Timothy 2:23-25––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

GENUINE LOVE IN ACTION

14. What did love motivate these women and men to do for others?
1 Samuel 18:1-4 Jonathan–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ruth 1:15 -18 Ruth––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hosea 3:1-3 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 5:8 God –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

11
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
I am Loved! I can risk loving you, for the one who knows me
best love me most!

15. Genuine love is love in action whether it is in forgiving, in speaking, in surveying


what ever. Complete the following chart and make it as you can. These verses about
loving one another are all taken from the book of Romans.

Verse What does it tell me to do? How could I apply it and with whom?
12:9-10
12:13
12:16
12:13
14:19
15:1-2
15:7

Assignment
1. Revise 2 Corinthians 3:18 and John 3:18 daily.
2. Memorize 2 Timothy 2 2:22 and revise it daily.
3. Revise all of the Memory verses from book 4 daily this week. Be sure to check your
accuracy with the memory cards.
4. complete the Bible study titled chapter 3 “Purity of life’
5. Continue to read and mark 1 chapter a day from the Bible. Record one brief high
light in your Quiet time journal.

12
CHAPTER 3

PURITY OF LIFE

INTRODUCTION: Some things are meant to be 100% pure! But greedy traders
sometimes mix curry powder with posho or add cassava to baking flour. Engines can be
ruined when a little paraffin is added to diesel fuel. What is wrong with these practices?
Why is it wrong to mix a little bit of immorality with other wise pure life? In this chapter
you will discover why God calls His children to a life of Christlike purity.

Begin by memorizing 2 Timothy 2:22


THINK ABOUT IT: what is wrong
with those practices? What is
wrong with mixing a little
immorality with an otherwise
good life?

GOD’S STANDARD FOR PURITY


1. From Leviticus 20:26, what is God’s standard for purity? Why is his
standard so high? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2. Read 2 Corinthians 6:17, 7:1.
What should motivate us to be pure? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What are some things and behaviors that would contaminate...?
…our bodies? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
…our spirits? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3. Meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:23. What do the words “through and through”
and “whole” contribute to the thought of this verse?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

13
4. The world’s standards differ greatly from God’s. From john 2:15-16, identify and
define the three foundations for the world’s standards.
1)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. How does God describe those who practice impurity? Ephesians 4:17-19? –––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL PURITY

6. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20


List several reasons why we should pursue purity and avoid immorality.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How does immoral behavior affect our relationship with God? –––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
7. What are some of the effects of giving in to our impure desire?
Galatians 5:17 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 2:11––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. In what specific areas of our body is purity important? Ephesians 5:3-5
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9. Can we do pure things from impure motives? Answer from Philippians 1:18 and
James 4:3––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

14
PAUSE TO PRAY... God will not only judge our outward motives but also “will expose the
motives of men’s hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Stop now and prayerfully ask God to reveal
any things you do (even good things) for the wrong reasons. Confess these to the Lord.

10. From 1 Corinthians 7:35, how does God want us to live? Define “devotion” in
your answer. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How does God feel when we “double deal” by mixing our worship of Him with
the worship of gods or spirits? Jeremiah 44:3-6––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
11. The following are some of the excuses people might use for wrong behavior.
What does the bible say about each of these excuses?

“since every one does it, it Proverbs 14:12


must be alright”
“As long as I do not hurt Leviticus 5:17
anyone else, it is okay”
“No body will ever find out Hebrews 4:13
that I did it”
“I’ll stop after this onetime” Galatians 6:7-8
“It is impossible to remain Ephesians 1:4
pure, why should I try?”
(Another excuse) Vs?

12. Go back and tick any excuse above that you have used to excuse your own
impure thoughts or deeds. What do you think God is saying to you now? ––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

15
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
THE PATH OF PURITY
13. What steps take place between temptation and sin? James 1:14-15.
14. Compare the stories of Eve and Achan in the passage below. Then tell which
physical sense was stimulated? What feeling resulted? What act resulted? What
was done with the evidence?

Eve (Genesis 3:6-8) Achan (Joshua 7:21)


Physical sense? ––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Feeling? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Act? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Evidence? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Do you think every act of sin follows this pattern/ why or why not––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

15. While temptation usually appeals to one of our physical senses at first, the battle for
purity is fought in the mind Read Romans 8:5-8.

What two types of people are mentioned in this passage?–––––––––––––––––––––––––


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What are the results of each “mind – set”?–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
16. Explain three important principles for living a pure life from 2 Timothy 2:22

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

16
17. After studying this verse, complete this statement. “In order to live a clean life
pleasing to God, I should/could....”
Psalms 119:9-11––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 4:25-27––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Galatians 5:16––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Colossians 3:1-2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Titus 2:11-12–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

POINT TO PONDER...Try to forget number 13. When you have forgotten it, tick
This box can you do it? This is how some people try to avoid immorality; they think
they can just make them selves not think about it. It is impossible to eliminate a wrong
thought from your mind unless you substitute something good in its place. Paul
probably had this substitution principle in his mind when he told us to “put off” the old
nature and to “put on” the new nature (Ephesians 4:22-24).

18. explain how scripture memory and meditation can improve your thought life in
light of the substitution principle.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

19. Read 2 Corinthians 10:5. Identify 1 or 2 recurring impure thoughts or behaviors


which God wants you as a believer to “take captive...and make it obedient to
Christ”––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

After prayerfully reviewing the principle of purity which you discovered in this
book. Write a paragraph telling what things you could do to become and remain
in that area.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

17
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
20. What does God promise to those who are pure in heart? Psalm 24:3-5 and
Mathew 5:8––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Assignment
1. Revise your last three verses daily: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:18 and 2
Timothy 2:22. Also memorize 1 Timothy 5:1b-2.
2. Revise all of the verses in book 3.
3. During your daily time of scripture memory revision. Use your cards to help
you be work perfect. Also meditate on the meaning of each verse and pray it
into your life.
4. Do the next study called chapter 4” purity in man-woman relationship’ allow
extra time for this study. Perhaps spreading it over 2-3 verses.
5. Read and mark one chapter a day from the bible. Record one highlight in
your journal.

18
CHAPTER 4

Purity in Man - Woman Relation

INTRODUCTION: For many people, personal purity is most severely tested in the area
of man – woman relationships. What are God’s expectations? Is it really possible to
remain pure toward members of the opposite sex? If so how?

Below are some questions commonly asked by Christians looking forward to marriage as
you meditate to each verse? Summarize any principles and guidelines, which you
discover as well as your personal applications which you want to make in your
relationships. At the end of each section, summarize what your own convictions are
regarding that area.

Begin by memorizing 1 Timothy q5:1b-2.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SEXUALITY


1. How does God want you to view your manhood/womanhood and your sexuality?
Genesis 1:27-31–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Genesis 2:25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Psalm 139:13-16––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2. Summary Convictions about your sexuality.

HINT: When you come to center convictions in each section, do not simply summarize
what you ought to believe. Instead write what you are truly convinced of in your heart
for your own life––what you will or you will not do in a particular area by God’s grace. A
conviction statement usually begins with the words “I will....” A sample conviction
statement is given to get you started).

19
“I will rejoice in my womanhood (not be ashamed of it) and I will use
God’s good gift of sexuality only as He directs.”
________________________________________

Your conviction statement about your sexuality –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

CONTROLING YOUR DESIRES


3. What behaviors regarding the opposite sex does God forbid you tom indulge in? (See
the definitions below). What will happen if you disobey?
Leviticus 18:6 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Deuteronomy 22:25-26 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mark 10:19––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Galatians 5:19-21–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 1:24-27––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Proverbs 5 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DEFINITIONS
Adultery......................... Sex between a married person and someone other than
his/her Partner thus violating the marriage vow.
Defilement..................... Sex with a child
Defraud.......................... To exercise desires in yourself or others which you know you
Cannot righteously satisfy
Fornication..................... Sex between married people
Homosexuality............... sex between two men or two women also called sodomy
Incest............................. Sex between close relatives
Lust............................... Imagining sex relation with someone else other than your
partner
Prostitution................... Offering to have sex in exchange for money or favour
Rape............................... Demanding sex with force or threats, without a woman’s free
concent.
20
4. Summary convictions about forbidden behaviors:
I will... ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

5. In your attitudes and behavior toward women/men, what guide line and precautions
should you follow?

Song of Songs 3:5–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Acts 24:16 and 1Timothy 1:5–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 13:14––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1Corinthians 6:12–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Philippians 2:4 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Thessalonians 4:3-8–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Timothy 5:1-2 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2 Timothy 2:22–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Titus 2:4-7–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
6. Summary convictions about your attitude and behavior:
I will...––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

21
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

GOD’S STANDARDS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE PATNER


7. What is the most important standard that God insists upon when you are considering
a marriage partner? What is God’s reason for insisting on it?
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (also Judges 3:5-6) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Corinthians 7:39––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2 Corinthians 6:14-15–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. Summary convictions about your marriage partner
I will...––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9. In addition to genuine commitment to Christ, what other character qualities should
you and any potential partners have in order to build a Christ––centered marriage?
How much are you growing in these vital qualities?
1 Samuel 16:7––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ephesians 5:21-33–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 3:1-4, 7–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. Summary convictions about you and any potential marriage partner

22
I will...–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
EXPERIENCING CONCENTED SINGLENESS
11. Until God brings into your life a partner with these non-negotiable qualities, how
should you deal with your own singleness?
Psalms 68:6––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Psalms 73:23-26––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Isaiah 43:1-4–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Corinthians 7:1, 7-9––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Corinthians 7:25-35––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Corinthians 7:1–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 3:3-4–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
12. Summary convictions about your years as an unmarried person:
I will...–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
THINK ABOUT IT... No matter how hard you look; the Bible will not tell you the person you
are to marry. So, on what basis will you decide? When you are seriously considering
marriage to a particular person, what criteria or guidelines should you use in order to
experience God’s “good pleasing and perfect will” for you in this most crucial and
irreversible of life choices? Chapter 6 in book 4 identified several principles for discerning
God’s will in specific situations. Prayerfully applying them will help you and make a wise and
God-honoring marriage decision.

23
LEARNING FROM OTHERS
13. Study the two stories in Genesis 39:7-12 and 2 Samuel 11:1-4. They describe a time
of temptation in the lives of Joseph and David. For each man answer these questions.

Questions Joseph (Genesis 39:7-12) David (2 Samuel 11:1-4)


What were the surrounding
circumstances?
What attitude did each of
them have?
What were their resulting
actions?

Why did these two men respond differently in similar situations? ––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
14. Read 1 kings 11:1-11 the tragic story of “wise” king Solomon who foolishly ignored
God’s command not to marry an unbeliever. Why do you think he disobeyed this clear
command about marriage? What excuses might he have used?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Trace the destructive effects that his disobedience had on Solomon’s spiritual life
v.3–––––––––––––––––––––––––––– v.6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
v.4–––––––––––––––––––––––––––– v.7–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
v.5–––––––––––––––––––––––––––– v.9–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THINK ABOUT IT... The end result was that Solomon destroyed his own fellowship
with god and God was set against Solomon for the rest of his life. God also took the
kingdom away from Solomon. Instead of building and promoting God’s kingdom,
Solomon’s choices of non-believing wives disqualified him for the rest of his life from
any real usefulness to God.

24
15. Do you know of any relationship of yours that needs to conform more closely to the
standards of purity you have discovered in this chapter? What can you do to change
this? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
16. What did job do to help him remain pure in his relationship with women? Job 31:1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
17. Application: Are you willing to make a “Covenant” with god concerning your purity
in relation to men/women? If so, prayerfully review right now the conviction statements
you wrote through out this chapter. Do they truly reflect your heart’s sincere
conviction? If so, you might want to pray something like this in your own words and
then sign below.

“In light of God’s many clear commands and gracious promises, I promise him that I will
abide by these standards of purity in my man–woman relationships, by his strength”

(Your name––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––(Date)–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

If you want to learn more about God’s design for married couples:
• Book 6 of this series contains a chapter devoted to the topic of marriage.
• Married and engaged couples will especially enjoy the in-depth bible study book
called Husbands and Wives which is published by the Navigators. In its chapters,
you will explore such chapters as:

• What is marriage? • Becoming one. • Communication in


• Resolving conflict. • Love and loving. marriage.
• Sexual intimacy • Self-image. • Roles and
responsibilities.
• Traditional vs. Biblical
marriage.

25
Assignment
1. Continue to spend Quiet time daily with God, read and mark 1 chapter each day.
When you finish reading one Book of the Bible, select another until you have read
the entire New Testament
2. Memorize Acts 24:16. While revising the first 4 verses in this book.
3. Revise all memory verses from book 4, asking someone to check your accuracy.
4. Revise daily the Old Testament books from Ezra - Daniel
5. Complete the next bible study called chapter 5 “Integrity in action”

26
CHAPTER 5
Integrity in Action
INTRODUCTION: We struggle each day with issues of right and wrong, good and evil. We
often excuse our behavior and compromise God’s standards of integrity. We may explain
away or ignore these sins. These are the “vices of the virtuous” ––sins that even believers
have accepted as normal practice. But God is Holy, and we must not allow any compromise
with sin to infiltrate our lives.

Begin by memorizing Acts 24:16

THE STRUGGLE INTEGRITY


What is “integrity”? The dictionary defines integrity as “firmness of character which causes
one to live in a consistently upright, honest and sincere way” A person of integrity
lives an integrated life: what he believes and how he behaves is the same.

1. From Jeremiah 19:9, what fact in your life makes struggle for honest living so difficult? –
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2. From Leviticus 19:11, identify three things that God forbids a person of integrity to do.
Then describe what wrong attitude or thinking might lead someone to disobey.
Do not––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Do not––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Do not––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3. Most compromises of integrity begin with deception. In what way can we be deceived?

Romans 16:17-18––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
2 Corinthians 11:3-4–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ephesians w4:14––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

27
James 1:22––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 John 1:8–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

4. Saul, Israel’s first king was a man who lacked personal integrity. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-23.

a) What was Saul commanded to do? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

b) What did he do instead? V.9–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

c) How did he try to justify his disobedience? Vs 13-21 ––––––––––––––––––––––––

d) How did God view the situation? Vs 22-23––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

5. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be what he is not. Study mark 7:6-8 to discover
several things Jesus said about hypocrites
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Even today sincere non-Christians are often put off by the hypocrisy they see in the
Christian lives. What are some examples of hypocrisy you that you have noticed among
Christians?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
6. Our lives should be able to withstand close examination by other people. We should live
honestly–not pretending to be someone we are not or trying to create a false impression.
Summarize what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:12 and 1 Thes 2:10–––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

28
Could this also be said about your life if you were examined closely? Explain–––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DISHONESTY EXPOSED

7. Integrity needs to be displayed in all aspects of our lives. From these verses, what are
some areas of every day life where integrity tends to be neglected?

Luke 16:10––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 13:6-7–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Colossians 3:22-23––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 2:13-14––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
There are rare times when integrity before God may require us to refuse to obey those in
authority over us. Study the action of the Apostles in Acts 4:18-20 and 5:27-29. What can
we learn from their example that will help us in similar situations?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. List the qualities of a person of integrity from Psalms 15
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9. Ultimately what is true of all decisions we make and things we do here on earth? Read
Mathew 12:36 and Luke 12:1-3, Romans 14:12 and Hebrews 4:13.

29
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. Since we are so easily deceived even by our selves, what are some ways God can use to
expose our dishonesty to us?
Psalm 139:23-24–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hebrews 4:12–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 2:15––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 9:1–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
11. Read the story about the description of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts 5:1-11
a. In what ways were they deceitful or dishonest? ––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. why were they deceitful? (Note Acts 4:36-37 as possible influence on
them) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. Why was this an act of dishonesty toward Holy Spirit? V.3–––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
d. what effects did the death of Ananias and Sapphira have on believers in
Jerusalem? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
12. Has there been a recent example when some dishonest act on your part led you to lie?
What do you think God wants you to do about it now?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
THE CONSIENCE: AID TO HONESTY
DEFINITION: The term “conscience” refers to “an inner sense that knows the differences
between right and wrong and judges one’s actions according to moral laws and makes one
feel guilty, good, evil etc.
13. From these passages, describe various states that your conscience can be in
30
1 Corinthians 8:9-10–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Timothy 4:2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Titus 1:15–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hebrews 10:22–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 Peter 3:16-21––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
14. Read 1Thes 2:3-12. How did Paul demonstrate a life of integrity?
....by his speech? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
....by his deeds–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
.... through his motives? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

15. How did Paul’s conscience help him live a life of consistent integrity and honesty?
Acts 24:16––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
16. As he approached the end of his life, Samuel still maintained a life long testimony for
personal integrity and honesty. Read about it in 1 Samuel 12:1-5. If you want to reach the
end of your life with a clear conscience as both Paul and Samuel did, what specifically
wo9uld need to change in the way you live your life today?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Assignment
1 Meet with God’s daily as you read and mark a chapter from the Bible. Do not neglect
the practice of writing a brief highlight in your Quiet Time Journal.
2 Memorize you new verse 1 Corinthians 4:5
3 Revise the following things daily this week using your memory cards for accuracy
31
• New verse 2 Corinthians 4:5
• Book 5 verses
• Book 3 verses
• Books of the Bible from Ezra – Daniel
5. Complete the next Bible study called chapter 6 “Walking as a servant”

32
CHAPTER 6

WALKING AS A SERVANT

INTRODUCTION: Serving others is the greatest challenge in the life of disciples. A list of
Christlike service demands from each of us “my Saul, my life, my all”. It is terribly costly. But
the rewards here on earth and privilege of identifying with Christ the suffering servant are
great! You will never be sorry that you truly served someone for the sake of Christ.

Begin by memorizing 2 Corinthians 4:5

CHRIST: OUR EXAMPLE OF A SERVANT

1. What was Christ’s purpose in coming? Mark 10:45 ––––––––––––––––––––––––


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2. What are some of the ways in which Jesus served people?


Mathew 9:35 and 15:29-37 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3. Read about Jesus––the greatest servant of all––in Philippians 2:3-8.


What was Jesus’ attitude towards serving? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How did Christ demonstrate His servanthood? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

4. Jesus’ life was always an example of servant hood. Meditate on John 13:1-17
a. Feet-washing was a task usually assigned to the lowest household servant.
How did knowing his origin and his destiny (v.5) help Jesus to serve in such a

33
humble way?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. What was Jesus’ purpose for washing the Disciples’ feet?––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

c. How can your status in society sometimes hinder you from serving others?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

d. Apart from Christ we are all hopeless, lost and enslaved to sin. But in Christ
our destiny is eternity with God in heaven! How do these truths influence
your willingness to serve others?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

e. List any other lessons you learnt from Jesus’ services from these verses. ––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

5. Even the disciples were conscious of status and position and were reluctant to
serve. Read 22:24-27
a. What were they arguing about and why? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. What is Jesus’ desire for his disciples?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. How does this contrast with the world’s attitude toward serving?––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
34
6. Read 2 Corinthians 4:5 and 5:15. Then explain why these statements are true: To
live for others is to live for Christ....To live for Christ is to live for other.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

7. Philippians 2:5 says “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ”
toward serving. Can you think of any recent situation in which your attitude
toward serving has been different? What can you do to correct this?

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

SERVING IS GIVING

8. What practical ways to serve others are mentioned in these verses?

Proverbs 3:27–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Romans 12:13–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
1 John 3:17–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

9. From Paul’s example, what else can we give to others? 1 Thes 2:7-12

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10. Some of the needs of others can be met by sharing our money with them. In
your own words, summarize any principles for giving which you find in 2
Corinthians 9:6-14

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
What happens when we serve others by giving? (Vs. 11-14)––––––––––––––––––

35
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

11. Why is it important to serve in the “little” things? Luke 16:10-12

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

KEYS TO BECOMEING A SERVANT

Servant hood involves both identifying a need and taking the effort to meet it. Therefore, a
servant needs to be observant. Proverbs 20:12 says “Ears that here and eyes that see––the
Lord has them both” God wants you to use what he has given you to contribute to the
needs of others. People do not mind being called servants. The mature Christian is marked
by what he will do for others without expecting any thing (even appreciation!) in return.

12. Serving others can be very costly.

a. What did it cost the “Good Samaritan” to serve the “Jericho Man”?
Luke 10:30-35––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

b. What did Paul give up in order to serve the Corinthians? 1 Corinthians


9:1-12––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

c. Are you clinching to any rights” that are hindering your service? Explain
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

13. Even the humblest act of service can be ruined by a proud attitude, which is revealed by
thinking either too highly or too lowly of yourself. Either way you are focusing your
attention on “self” rather than others. Do you recognize any attitude of yours on this chart?

36
PRIDE

Thinking very highly of self: Thinking very lowly of self:


“It is always me who serves them” “There is no way I could serve (help them)
“That would lower my dignity. I Couldn’t do it” “What difference would I make any way?”
“They should appreciate my serving More” “After all, nobody would notice”

a. Would you say that you tend to overestimate yourself, or underestimate yourself? In
light of Romans 12:3, what should you do?––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

b. Name several things that you feel you could never lower yourself to do –––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

c. What should we think after we have served? Luke 17:10–––––––––––––––––––––––


–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

14. What does the word of God teach about humility in 1 Peter 5:5-6? Why does place such
high value on the quality of humility in a person’s life?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

15. Imagine that you read this job advertisement in your local paper today, placed there by
your heavenly father.

37
THINK ABOUT IT... Would you
VACANCY
Apply for this job? Why or why not?
SERVANT NEEDED. Someone to do often
Which of the qualifications
undesirable work for the sake of others.
mentioned in the advert still need?
Needs strong sense of self-worth in God’s
Strengthening in your life?
eyes and true compassion for others. Must
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
be acquainted with the greatest servant of
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
all in order to continue his training. Work
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
requires being on call 24 hours a day to
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
meet needs of family, friends and even
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
strangers. Must be willing to give up his
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
rights and receive no tangible salary. No
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
experience necessary. Job begins today,
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
right where you are.
16. APPLICATION: spend some time in prayer over the call to Christlike servanthood that
you have studied in this lesson. Write down two or three things that have challenged you
the most.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Assignment
1 You are almost finished with Book 5! Complete any memory or Bible study work that
you have missed.
2 Memorize your new verse Romans 5:3-4 revising it and praying over it daily.
3 Using your cards, revise all verses from this Book. Test your accuracy by writing out
your verses from memory.
4 Revise the verses from Book 4 daily
5 Complete the next Bible study called Chapter 7 “Perseverance through Hardship”

38
6 NEW! This week during your Quiet Time, do not read the New Testament, instead
read and mark these chapters: Daniel 1-6, 9. This reading will prepare you for the
last Bible study in this Book.

39
CHAPTER 7

Perseverance through Hardship

INTRODUCTION: the Christian is not immune to the realities of human life. Sickness, sorrow,
death and other forms of pain and suffering are experienced by all men. But for the
Christian, suffering caries with it the promise of that God’s sovereign purpose is shaping the
inner qualities of life. Jesus Himself was a “man of sorrow and familiar with suffering”
(Isaiah 53:3). He did not promise His followers escape from pain until we reach heaven, but
He does promise faithfully to be with us and to help us in the midst of our pain.

Begin by memorizing Romans 5:3-4

REALITY OF AFFLICTIONS

1. Read Habakkuk 1:1-4

a. Describe the condition of society during Habakkuk’s time –––––––––––––


–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. What conditions might Habakkuk have experienced then? What questions
did he ask? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. Describe the last time you felt as Habakkuk did ––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

2. What was God’s response to Habakkuk’s question? Habakkuk 1:5-6


–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3. Describe the character of Babylonians and how god was going to use them in the life
of the Jewish nation Habakkuk 1:6-12
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

40
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
4. After learning of the God’s plan to use the Babylonians, Habakkuk twice asked
God “why?” what made it difficult for Habakkuk to understand God’s plan?
Habakkuk 1:13––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THE SOVEREIGNITY OF GOD

When do we need God the most? Probably when we are wounded and hurting or when our
world seems to be falling apart. We must persevere in spite of a hurting heart. One of the
keys to persevering is focusing on God’s character.

5. Habakkuk grieved over the suffering caused by famine and injustice, just as we do
today. Even though Habakkuk and the whole nation of Judah were about to enter a
time of hardship, death and destruction, Habakkuk had an amazing response. Read
about it in Habakkuk 2:20 and 3:17-19. Then summarize Habakkuk’s response and
why he responded in this way.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Personalize Habakkuk 3:17 by mentioning real hardships you are facing now. Your
paraphrase of Habakkuk 3:17 “though –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
And there are no–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Though––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
And though–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior”

THINK ABOUT IT... can you sincerely rejoice amidst these difficulties?
6. What do the following verses teach us about God’s sovereign control?
Jeremiah 32:17–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
41
Job 42:2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Chronicles 14:11–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

7. From god’s point of view what “good can come out of suffering? Romans 8:28-29
and Genesis 50:20––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
FRUIT OF HARDSHIP
A second thing that will cause us to persevere is to consider god’s purpose in suffering.
When tragedy or hardships come, the natural question that arise are “Why me? Why now?
Why this?” God is the only one who can answer all our whys. There may be many reasons
why we go through hardships, but let us look at a few of them mentioned in God’s word.
8. Read 2 Corinthian 1:3-7 as you answer these questions.
a. what important word is used nearly 10 times? Define this word–––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. Who is the source of comfort? –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
c. What is true about God? Even in the midst of hardship? ––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
d. According to verse 4. What is one positive fruit of suffering?
9. Mediate on Paul’s response to difficulties as told in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
a. Describe some difficult circumstances that Paul faced (Also 2 Corinthians
11:23-23) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. Why did Paul want to inform the Corinthians of his desperate situation? ––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

c. What “good” did Paul see for his suffering? –––––––––––––––––––––––––

42
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THINK ABOUT IT... “Difficulties, limitation, hindrances, bereavements and losses though we
shrink exceedingly from them, are the very agencies that God uses to cause us to grow. As
an infant has its limbs developed by means of exercise and nourishment so in a spiritual
sense is the Christian made strong by adversity” –––George Mueller

10. What other purposes might suffering have in our lives?


a. John 15:2–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. 1 Peter 1:6-7––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

11. As you look back what are three circumstances or events which have caused you the
deepest suffering in your life? Tick any that still cause you pain. What “good” has God
brought (or might He still bring) out of that event.

RESPONSE TO HARDSHIP

Do not doubt for a moment that circumstances of suffering are used by God to shape you
and conform you into the image of Jesus. Nothing enters your life accidentally. Behind every
experience is your loving, sovereign Lord. With this brought in mind look at some Godly
responses to suffering.
12. What are the benefits of perseverance under a trial?
a. James 1:12––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
b. Deuteronomy 8:2––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
13. How did the following men respond to difficult situations?
Job (Job 1:20-22) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
David (Psalms 13)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

43
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Stephen (Acts 7:59-60)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Apostles (Acts 5:40-41)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Paul (Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16:18–––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

14. Complete this chart to discover the responses to hardship which God desires all of us
to have.

Verses Response and Reason for that Response

Romans 5:3-5––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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Hebrews 12:7-11–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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James 1:2-4–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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1 Peter 4:12-16––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

15. What will help us respond to difficulties in a Godly way? Hebrews 12:2-3
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

16. In conclusion, what one current difficulty is causing you the most pain? What fruit or
lesson might God want you to learn? In the meanwhile, how do you think you should
respond?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THROUGH IT ALL
I’ve had many tears and sorrows I thank God for the mountains
I’ve had questions for tomorrow and I thank Him for the valleys
There’ve been times I didn’t know right I thank him for the storms He’s brought
from wrong me through.
But in every situation, God gave blessed For if I’d never had a problem
consolation. I wouldn’t know that he could solve
them
That my trials only come to make me strong I ‘d never know what faith in God could
do.
I’ve been to lots of places. Through it all, through it all
And I’ve seen a lot of faces oh; I’ve learnt to trust in Jesus
There’ve been times when I felt so all alone. I’ve learnt to trust in God
But in my lonely hours through it all, through it all
Yes, those precious, lonely hours I’ve learned to depend upon His word
Jesus let me know that I was His own. –––Song by Andrae Crouch––

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Assignment
1. Devote several extra hours this week so that you can complete all work assigned for
this book. This includes extra time for revising memory verses and for bible study.
2. Revise all memory verses from book 3-4 and 5 until you can say the word perfectly.
Meet with another group member during this week to complete this. Meet with
another group member during this week to complete this.
3. Revise all the Old Testament books from Genesis –Daniel.
4. NEW! Next week’s Bible study called Daniel – A man of integrity” is different from
previous studies. It invites you to study the person in Bible rather than a topic. Since
you will be studying chapters 1:6-9 from the book of Daniel, why not read them
during your Quiet time as you did last week? You may want to use your quiet time
each day to complete a portion of this study.
5. Select your favorite verse from this study to memorize, writing it on a card

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CHAPTER 8

Daniel ––A Man of Integrity

INTRODUCTION: In this book you have studied several aspects of a Christlike character. But
you may still wonder “Is it really possible for person like me to live a Christlike life in the
midst of today’s corrupt and wicked society?” yes, it is possible! Perhaps nobody in the
Bible better demonstrates this than Daniel.

In this chapter you will examine the life of Daniel in a new form of Bible study called a
“Character study” the purposes of a character study are to learn the spiritual reasons
behind a character’s existence in the word of God. Later you may like to study about other
people in the Bible using the same format. For now, focus on those chapters that tell us
about his life and character (Daniel chapters 1-6 and 9:1-7 only), in the end you should be
able to describe why Daniel is known as a man of Godliness and Integrity.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT DANIEL


[You should use a Bible dictionary or commentary to discover background
information about whatever character you are studying. For now, this information
about Daniel and his environment is provided to get you started]

Defeat: Daniel grew up during terrible years when the divided nations of Israel and Judah
had fallen into wide spread idolatry and unfaithfulness toward god. A century earlier,
Daniel’s great –grand parents’ generation have been taken captive by the Assyrians, just as
Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah and Hezekiah had prophesied. By Daniel’s time, the Jews were still
corrupt and wicked, so God raised up the Babylonians to repeat the painful lesson again. In
605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar besieged and captured Jerusalem removing king Jehoiakim
from Judah. Many sacred temple objects (like gold cups and goblets) were looted from
God’s temple and taken to capital city called Babylon. They were stored in the temple of
Nebuchadnezzar’s favorite pagan god Nabu. Sixty – six years later these objects sacred to

47
God would be desecrated in a drunken feast which would lead to the downfall of
Nebuchadnezzar’s successor.

Brain Drain: Daniel was just a youth when these terrible events occurred. Babylon’s
political strategy for treating the people they conquered was to deport their best leaders
and groom them for a lifetime in exile serving in Babylonian royal court. It was forced “brain
drain”. So, in 605 BC Daniel and other young Jewish men were carefully selected by
Asphenaz, King Nebuchadnezzar’s chief of personnel. This chief official had very high
standards for those he selected–standards that Daniel and his three friends met (see Daniel
chapter 1 for details).

Studies. The hand-picked group of exiles began an intensive three-year course of study to
prepare them to be the King’s counselors. Their task was to master the language and
scholarly literature of the Babylonian culture. The common trade language in this multi-
racial empire was Aramaic. But the scholarly records were written in the much more
difficult Sumerian writing system called cuneiform. So, Daniel had to learn this difficult
foreign language as he was educated. What subject did Daniel and his friends’ study? They
probably leaned mathematics, astronomy, history, astrology along with alchemy
(chemistry), magic and divination by dreams.

Name Change. The Babylonian strategy was to destroy all traces of their Jewish culture and
force them to identify with the Babylonian culture. They did this by moving their captives
into permanent exile, changing their language and clothing style. Indoctrinating them into
their new culture, even changing their names to Babylonians names, appealing to pagan
gods. For instance, the Jewish name Daniel meant “El (God) is my judge.” His new
Babylonian name Belteshazzar meant “Bel (another name for the pagan God Marduk)
protect his life!”.

Convictions: But when the Babylonians tried to change their eating habits, Daniel and his
friends decided to stand for their personal convictions. They were convicted that they
should not eat the king’s food or drink his wine. Why not? Perhaps because the first portion
was offered to idols or poured out on a pagan alter and the food itself was ceremonially
48
unclean and forbidden for Jews to eat. Although the other exiles did not share this
conviction, Daniel and his three friends asked to be allowed not to defile themselves. Their
strategy was not refusal or rebellion or going on a hunger strike, but rather a gracious
request to try a creative alternative: a vegetarian diet. This event from Daniel’s first year in
exile illustrates three aspects of his character: (1) sincere desire to meet the goals of his
pagan superiors. (2) Strong convictions in spiritual matters and personal purity and (3)
Discernment and good judgment in how to please his superiors without compromising his
convictions! Daniel can teach us how to live “in the world” without being “of the world”.

Pass with merit: When Daniel took his final oral exam from King Nebuchadnezzar himself,
he and his friends performed best! Not only were they better than all other students but
ten times better than their instructors––better than all magicians and enchanters in the
whole kingdom. Thus, Began Daniel’s lifelong career as a civil servant and counselor to
many kings and rulers. Daniel’s contribution to God’s plan was played out in the civil service
of a pagan empire.

II. KEY VERSES

[As you study, select 2-3 key verses about Daniel which best express his character or his
contribution to God’s purpose for him. Copy them here. At the end of your study, choose
one of these verses to memorize]
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III. VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY

[On the next page you should take notes on Daniel’s life as described in chapter 1-6 and 9:1-
17 of the book of Daniel.]

In the observation’s column: record the most significant facts you observe about Daniel’s
life, accomplishments, decisions etc. limit your self to 2-8 facts only from each chapter.

In the character column: record important things about Daniel’s character such as his
beliefs, relationship with God, moral standards, personal convictions, prayer life, integrity,
response to mistreatment etc.

In the Application column: write specific ways in which you see a possible application to life
today and yo0ur own life in particular. You could also write down questions that you want
to find answers for, definitions of important words, or ideas for further study.

In all columns: For each note you make in any column also include the verse which inspired
it. Record only the highlights; do not try to be exhaustive. A few notes are given as
examples.

Verse observations

Chapter 1: Daniels’ Education in Exile


2. The Lord himself delivered the King of Judah into exile, He was in control even in bad
times_______________________________________________________________________________________
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50
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Chapter 2: Daniel’s Rise to power
2 The King Turned to magic, sorcery, and astrology to solve his problem, but all failed
(v.10)______________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Verse Character Application


Chapter 1: Daniel’s Education in Exile
3-4 The young exiles 3-4 Good modules

came from high for refugees who

status in Judah to have had to flee

lifelong exile very from their homes.

difficult

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Chapter 2: Daniel’s rise to power

Verse Observations

Chapter 3: Daniel’s Friends refuse to compromise.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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52
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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Chapter 4: Daniel’s political influence

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53
Verse Character Application
Chapter 1: Daniel’s Education in Exile
3-4

Chapter 2: Daniel’s rise to power

Verse Observations

Chapter 4: Daniel’s leadership as an old statesman

54
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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Chapter 6: Daniels Test

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Chapter 9:1-17: Daniel’s Relationship with God
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55
Verse Character Application
Chapter 5: Daniel’s Leadership as an Elder Statesman
3-4

Chapter 6: Daniel’s Test

Chapter 9:1-17: Daniel’s Relationship with God

After reviewing your notes, answer these summary questions.


IV. What was Daniel’s primary contribution(s) to God’s purpose and Kingdom?
56
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V. What are the most important lessons you have learnt from Daniel’s life and
example?

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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VI. Personal application. In what ways can you identify with Daniel? What needs in your
life has God spoken to you about through Daniel? What do you plan to do about it?

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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Optional parts of a character study:


1. Cross references: Find other Bible verses about this person or about his notable
character qualities.
2. Strengths / weaknesses: Discover what his strengths and weaknesses were.

57
3. Difficulties and Questions: write down any difficulties or questions that come to
mind during study, or do further study on related topic
4. Title: Write a title for your Bible study or for your character.
5. Biography: write 1-2 pages “Biography” of your character.
6. Scripture memory: select 1-2 verses that best reflect your character and
memorize them.

Growing in Discipleship...

Congratulations on completing Book 5 in this series designed to help you grow spiritually.
Now is the time to invite a friend to begin the same studies. Pray and ask God if He wants
you to lead or co-lead a small group through Growing in Discipleship process. The people
you have in your small group can be from your church, your place of work or your
neighborhood.

Would you like to learn more? The next Book in this series is called Book 6 Building in God’s
family. Going through this book will help you build good relationship with people who do
not yet know Christ, People in your church and small group as well as your marriage
partner. This book will also show you how to minister effectively to another person by
evangelizing, establishing and equipping. This study verses will increase your confidence in
these vital areas.

• The process of spiritual growth


• The Gospel––simply!
• Helping others find Christ.
• Follow-up.
• Reproducing disciples one-by-one.
• Responsible stewardship.
• Good things happen in small groups
• The church
• Marriage.

58
Integrity NIV Christlikeness NIV
Acts 24:16 2 Corinthians 3:18
So, I strive always to keep my conscience And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the
clear before God and man Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing glory which
comes from the lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Growing in discipleship Book 5
Growing in discipleship Book 5
Servanthood NIV Love NIV
2 Corinthians 4:5 1 John 3:18
For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Dear children, let us not love with words or
Christ as Lord and ourselves as your tongue but with actions and in truth
servants for Jesus’ sake 1 John 3:18

Growing in discipleship Book 5 Growing in discipleship Book 5


Perseverance NIV Purity NIV
Roman 5:3-4 2 Timothy 2:22
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue
suffering, because we know that suffering righteousness, faith, love and peace along with
produces perseverance; character and those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
character hope. 2 Timothy 2:22
Roman 5:3-4 Growing in discipleship Book 5
Growing in discipleship Book 5
Daniel: A man of integrity NIV Man – woman Relationships NIV
1 Timothy 5:1b-2
Treat you7nger men as brothers, o0lder
women as mothers and younger women as
sisters with absolute purity.
1 Timothy 5:1b-2
Growing in discipleship Book 5 Growing in discipleship Book 5

59

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