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Relationships Study Booklet Living for Jesus by making, maturing and mobilising disciples for His Glory SUNDAY MEETINGS 8:30am 10:30am and 6:30pm
Relationships Study Booklet
Living for Jesus by making, maturing and mobilising disciples for His Glory
SUNDAY MEETINGS 8:30am 10:30am and 6:30pm
About this study bookletThe studies in this booklet link into the sermon series at church. The dates of the talks are listed on the front cover and each study is to follow the talk of the same title. This approach enables group time to be spent digging deeper into the Bible and also to discuss issues or questions raised by the talk. This also, importantly, enables the Growth Group to have a strong focus on application, sharing, accountability and prayer.
We aim to provide a copy of this study booklet to every regular attendee at Lakeshore whether you’ve been with us for only a few weeks or for several years. We would love everyone to be involved in one of our Growth Groups and do the studies in that context. But if you are presently unable to join a group you can still work through the studies each week following the sermons.
01. 15th July 2012 The Blueprint for Marriage 02. 22nd July 2012 The Blueprint for Sex03. 29th July 2012 The Blueprint for Singleness04. 5th Aug 2012 The Blueprint for Friendship
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From the pastor
Helpful BooksThe Meaning of Marriage – Timothy Keller
When Sinners say “I do” – Dave Harvey
What did you expect? – Paul Tripp
Sex, Romance and the Glory of God – C.J. Mahaney
Guidance and the Voice of God - Tony Payne & Philip Jensen
One Flesh – Amelia & Greg Clarke
The Single Issue – Al Hsu
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ – Editors Justin Taylor &John Piper
Pure Sex – Tony Payne & Philip Jensen
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood—editors John Piper & Wayne Grudem
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Family Challenge Psychology Clinic (Counseling for Individuals and Couples) 5478 0202
Resources
The Blueprint for Marriage
What is the purpose of marriage?
Genesis 2:24 Marriage is a gift from God for His service and the good of the couple.
Read: Genesis 1:26-31; 2:4-17
1. What is the purpose of man?
2. How is this different to what the world says is the purpose of man?
3. Is there any limitation to this responsibility?
4. In what ways do we see man failing at his task?
5. What is the one thing that is ‘not good’?
6. What does God do in response to this?
7. How is the woman a suitable companion compared to the animals?
8. What are the key aspects to the union between the man and the woman? (2:24)
9. How is the ‘woman’ to be a ‘helper’?
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Study One - The Blueprint for Marriage
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Read Genesis 3
10. How has the relationship changed between:
- God and man
- Man and woman
Read Ephesians 5:31-32
11. What does Paul say marriage is a refl ection of?
12. What are implications of this teaching on marriage for:-
Those wanting to be married soon
Those already married
Those who are not married
Write down prayer points, 1. For each other in your growth group, 2. For friends and family you are sharing your life and the gospel with, and 3. For the life of church as a whole.
Read the key verse. How would you put into your own words what we learn here about God?
Pray together that God would help us to grow in our trust in Him.
For Sunday’s bible talk and next week’s study read...
1 Corinthians 6:12 - 7:7
THE BLUEPRINT FOR 1 4
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Growth Group Members. Family and Friends.
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Church Life
The Blueprint for Sex
Is the Bible generally positive about sex or negative?
1 Corinthians 7:4 Sex is a gift from God for His service.
Read: Genesis 1:26-28
1. What is the purpose of humanity from these verses?
2. If Genesis 1 highlights the functional purpose of sex of procreation, what does Genesis 2:18-25 add?
3. How is the purpose of sex in marriage being for the expression and bonding of the marriage relationship confirmed in Song of Songs 1:9-17?
Sex is for marriage and is not only for procreation but also for the bonding and deepening of the marriage relationship.
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:7
4. What wrong thinking about sexual behaviour did Paul have to counter (verses 9-13a)?
5. In what ways do we see similar attitudes today?
6. What does Paul teach us about our bodies?
7. How should these truths impact on our sexual behaviour?
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Study Two - The Blueprint for Sex
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8. What will this mean in practice for us to:
‘Flee from sexual immorality’ (verse 18)?
‘Honor God with your body’ (verse 20)?
9. What message/s does the Bible have for those who have sinned sexually?
Write down prayer points, 1. For each other in your growth group, 2. For friends and family you are sharing your life and the gospel with, and 3. For the life of church as a whole.
Read the key verse. How would you put into your own words what we learn here about God?
Pray together that God would help us to grow in our trust in Him.
For Sunday’s bible talk and next week’s study read...
1 Corinthians 7:1-38
THE BLUEPRINT FOR 1 4
4 1
Growth Group Members. Family and Friends.
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Church Life
The Blueprint for Singleness
Is it more Biblical to be married or single?
1 Corinthians 7:7 Singleness is a gift from God for His service.
Read: 1 Corinthians 7:7-9
1. What does it mean to have a gift from God of being single?
2. And what does it not mean?
3. What should our attitude to singleness be?
Read 1 Corinthians 7:32-38
4. What is shocking about verse 32?
5. What reasons does Paul give to get married?
6. And what reasons not to get married?
7. How does getting married make life more complicated?
8. How can a married person still have undivided devotion to the Lord?
9. How can an unmarried person do the same?
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Study Three - The Blueprint for Singleness
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Revelation 21:1-7
10. What reassurance do these verses give to those who are single?
11. How do we guard Christian freedom in our church, when it comes to decisions to marry or not?
12. How can we encourage each other to serve God in our singleness?
13. How can those who are married make sure they relate to single people well?
Write down prayer points, 1. For each other in your growth group, 2. For friends and family you are sharing your life and the gospel with, and 3. For the life of church as a whole.
Read the key verse. How would you put into your own words what we learn here about God?
Pray together that God would help us to grow in our trust in Him.
For Sunday’s bible talk and next week’s study read...
John 13
THE BLUEPRINT FOR 1 4
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Growth Group Members. Family and Friends.
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Church Life
The Blueprint for Friendship
Think about good friends you have had. What have you appreciated about them?
John 13:34 Spiritual friendship is eagerly helping one another know, serve, love, and resemble God
1. “Love one another” Read John 13:34, 1 John 4:7 and 1 Peter 1:22a) As fellow Christians, what might it mean practically to love one another?b) How does knowing Jesus and knowing the gospel enable and help us to overcome our human selfishness and really love one another?c) What are some real life examples you have seen of Christians loving one another in ways that would be unusual outside the church?
2. “Forgive one another”Read Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:2 and Romans 14:13a) What does it mean to forgive one another?c) How does knowing Jesus and knowing the gospel enable and help us to overcome our human desire for revenge and instead forgive one another?b) What situations have you experienced where you forgave another Christian, or another Christian forgave you?
3. “Encourage one another”Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24-25 and Colossians 3:16a) How can Christians encourage one another? What are different ways this could happen?b) How does knowing Jesus and knowing the gospel enable and help us to think beyond ourselves and encourage one another?c) Can you remember a time when you have been particularly encouraged by another believer, or when another believer particularly encouraged you?
4. “Serve one another”Read Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 5:21 and 1 Peter 4:10a) “Serve one another” is a very broad description. What might it mean in practical terms?b) How does knowing Jesus and knowing the gospel enable and help us to overcome our natural self-centredness and instead serve one another?c) Do you find serving others easy and/or enjoyable? Why / why not?
5. “Show hospitality / care for / welcome one another”Read 1 Peter 4:9, Romans 15:7 and 1 Corinthians 12:25a) What does it mean to show hospitality to one another, to welcome one another or to care for one another?b) How does knowing Jesus and knowing the gospel enable and help us to live this way toward one another?c) Can you recall occasions when other people have shown hospitality to you or cared for you or welcomed you? Why did you appreciate it?
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Study Four - The Blueprint for Friendship
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Think and Apply6. As you have discussed each of these ways in which Christians relate to one another, you have probably been thinking of some actions that you can personally take in response. Write down 2 or 3 specifi c personal applications here:
Group Question: What is one change you want you make or action you want to take after this study?
Write down prayer points, 1. For each other in your growth group, 2. For friends and family you are sharing your life and the gospel with, and 3. For the life of church as a whole.
Read the key verse. How would you put into your own words what we learn here about God?
Pray together that God would help us to grow in our trust in Him.
For Sunday’s bible talk and next week’s study read...
THE BLUEPRINT FOR 1 4
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Growth Group Members. Family and Friends.
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Church Life
VISION SERIES, Everyday Church - Starts August 12Commitment Sunday - September 16
Other Dates
