The Right Fight: Week 3

The Right Fight: Week 3

IN OUR CULTURE, THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY WAYS WE SELF-IDENTIFY:

What we do for vocation, sport or hobby.
What group or tribe we affiliate ourselves with.

WHAT IS OUR _____________?

FORMER IDENTITY

Ephesians 2:1-3 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

We were helpless and lost, incapable of doing good.

A NEW START OFFERED: SALVATION THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH

Ephesians 2:4-10 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are saved for a purpose.

OUR NEW IDENTITY

Galatians 3:26-28 26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are children of God who have brothers and sisters.

Ephesians 2:19-22 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

WHAT IS OUR _______________?

Isaiah 43:6-7 6I will say to the north, “Give them up!” and to the south, “Do not hold them back.” Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth. 7Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

Our purpose is to worship God, to proclaim His greatness, and to accomplish His will.

2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Matthew 22:37-38 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

We were created to be in relationship with God and others.

WE SHARE THE SAME ______________.

1 Peter 2:5 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

As tribe (family) members, we are to be a spiritual house, a royal priesthood.

Romans 12:4-5 4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We are to be one tribe, using the gifts God has given us, united in a common purpose.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

CONCLUSION

What can we do to be a healthy tribe?

Be reconciled in your relationships with your brothers or sisters.
Live intentionally within God’s family and position yourself to grow and mature.
Be on mission with your family.
Do you see yourself as a __________ who is a Christian?
Do you see yourself as a Christian who ___________?
How does this impact the other tribes you are in?

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUP OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Passages to consider: Ephesians 2:1-10, 19-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10

1. What was impactful and insightful to you from the sermon?

2. How do you see yourself? When you think about who you are, what comes to mind? List the top 2-3 things.

3. Take a look at Ephesians 2:1-10, 19-22 and 1 Peter 2:9-10. What do you see about being a part of God’s tribe/people from these passages?

4. What determines what/who gets your attention, your efforts, and you resources? A) How has that changed over your lifetime? What has caused some of those changes?

5. Currently, how does being a child of God and a member of God’s household affect how you see yourself and what you do? A) What kind of impact does it have on other “tribes” you might be a part of?

6. In this season of your life, how do you think you should respond to being a part of God’s tribe? A) What would that look like for you? What adjustments will you make?