Lesson 8
The Obedient Christian Life

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The Wheel Illustration

The Wheel Illustration

The key to living a victorious, Spirit-filled Christian life is Jesus Christ as the center and Lord of all we do. With Christ in control, life is balanced and effective. The wheel illustrates this Christ-centered life.

Just as the driving force in a wheel comes from the hub so the power to live the Christian life comes from Jesus Christ as the center. He lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit, whose expressed purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ. The rim represents the Christian responding to Christ's Lordship through whole-hearted day-by-day obedience to him.

The spokes show the means by which Christ's power becomes operative in our lives. We maintain personal contact with God through the vertical spokes (Word and Prayer). The Word is our spiritual food as well as our sword for spiritual battle. It is the foundational spoke for effective Christian living.

Through the spoke of Prayer we have direct communication with our heavenly Father and receive provision for our needs. As we pray we show our dependence upon and trust in Him.

The horizontal spokes concern our relationship to people; our relationship to believers through Christian fellowship, and to unbelievers through witnessing. Fellowship centered around the Lord Jesus Christ provides the mutual encouragement, admonition and stimulation we all need.

The first three spokes prepare us for passing on to others all that we have received from the Lord. This is accomplished through Witnessing or sharing our own experience of Christ and declaring/explaining the Gospel.

If a wheel would attempt to roll down the road with one or more spokes missing it would be in for quite a rough and bumpy ride. But a wheel that has all four spokes securely attached to the hub will have a much smoother ride.

The Christian life is similar to the wheel in that we need to be active in all four areas of Christian living in order to grow and mature in our faith and to experience fruitfulness in character and in ministry in people's lives. Our purpose is to know the Lord in a deep personal way and to bring glory to him through our lives here on earth.

Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6

Lesson 8 Questions

The Wheel Illustration

  1. What does it mean to keep Jesus at the center of your life?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  2. Explain the purpose of the vertical spokes in your life.
    ___________________________________________________

     

  3. What is the purpose of the horizontal spokes?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  4. Explain why each spoke is necessary in your life.
    1. God's Word
      _______________________________________________
    2. Prayer
      _______________________________________________
    3. Fellowship
      _______________________________________________
    4. Witnessing
      _______________________________________________

 

Christ the Center

  1. Galatians 2:20 describes how closely knitted you are in Christ. In your own words explain the meaning of this verse.
    ___________________________________________________

     

  2. What should be your central focus in life? (Hebrews12:2)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  3. Read John 15:4-5 and answer the following questions.
    1. What does it mean to you to bear fruit?
      _______________________________________________
    2. What is the relationship between Christ and our having a fruitful life?
      _______________________________________________
    3. How can you remain in Christ?
      _______________________________________________
    4. What can you do apart from Him?
      _______________________________________________

     

  4. In your own words explain the meaning of Philippians 4:13.
    ___________________________________________________

     

  5. There are assurances for believers who have Christ at the center of their lives. Match the assurance with the appropriate verse.
    1. Victory Over Sin
    2. Answered Prayer
    3. Forgiveness of Sin
    4. Guidance in Life

    John 16:24 ________________________________
    1 Corinthians 10:13 _________________________
    Proverbs 3:5-6 _____________________________
    1John 1:9 _________________________________

     

Our Responsibility

  1. According to John 14:23 what does Jesus desire of us?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  2. Read through Matthew 6 and 7 and answer the following questions.
    1. Explain the meaning of storing treasures. (6:19-21)
      _______________________________________________
    2. What should be our first and foremost pursuit in life? (6:33)
      _______________________________________________

     

  3. Jesus presents a parable about a wise man contrasted to a foolish man. Read this parable found in Matthew 7:24-27 and answer the questions below.
            Wise Man ........ Foolish Man
    a) On what foundation was the house built? 
    __________________      __________________
    b) What forces were both houses exposed? 
    __________________      __________________
    c) What was the result? 
    __________________      __________________
    d) Did this person hear God's Word? 
    __________________      __________________

    What was the difference between the wise man and the foolish man?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  4. From the following verses what indication do you have that your pursuit of the "Obedient Christian Life" should be one of diligence?
    1. Jeremiah 29:13
      _______________________________________________
    2. Mark 12:30
      _______________________________________________
    3. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
      _______________________________________________

Hindrances to Obedience

There are three areas of pitfalls for every believer in Christ.

  1. The Flesh - sinful nature or selfish natural desires.
  2. The World - refers to the world's system, Philosophy, lifestyle, values and purposes which are in direct opposition to the ways of God.
  3. The Devil - an angel who rebelled against God before the creation of the world. He is destined to eternity in hell. Presently his purpose is to deceive and tempt those on earth, to blind unbelievers from their need for God and to distract believers so as to make them ineffective for God. God has limited his time and freedom and eventually will cast him to hell forever.

  1. List the deeds of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-21.
    ___________________________________________________

     

  2. Concerning these deeds why do we experience battles within us at times? (Galatians 5:17)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  3. What attitude should we have toward the desire of the flesh? (Colossians 3:5)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  4. According to 2 Timothy 2:22 what are two steps you must take to guard against fleshly sins?
    1. _______________________________________________
    2. _______________________________________________

     

  5. From Romans 12:21 how can you overcome the desires of the flesh?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  6. Read 1 John 2:15-17.
    1. What three areas does the world system appeal to? (v.16)
      _______________________________________________
    2. How does verse 17 affect your attitude and involvement concerning the world?
      _______________________________________________
    3. What is the main point God is trying to get across in this passage? (v.l5)
      _______________________________________________

     

  7. What does God think about the world's way of thinking? (Luke 16:15)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  8. What is our defense against the influences of the world? (Philippians 4:8-9)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  9. What is a chief characteristic of the devil according to John 8:44?
    ___________________________________________________

     

  10. What is the devil's plan of attack against believers? (2 Corinthians 1l:3)
    ___________________________________________________

     

  11. Read Matthew 4:1-11. What weapon did Jesus use against the devil.
    ___________________________________________________

     

  12. What will always overcome the devil's attempts to deceive?
    1. Ephesians 6:16
      _______________________________________________
    2. James 4:7
      _______________________________________________
    3. 1 Peter 5:8-9
      _______________________________________________

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