Bible StudyDiscipleship & Leadership

Lesson 3 Discipleship and the Cross

February 10, 2015

There is a difference between the cross of Christ and the cross we pick up when we become his disciples. Because of Christ’s victory on the cross, we are freed from sin and made “slaves” of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). He gives us the power to pick up our cross and follow Him.

Discussion Questions

What do you think Paul meant by saying that we are slaves of righteousness? Where we slaves to anything else in our lives before?

What does righteousness mean?

1. What happened at the cross? Colossians 2:13-15

God made us alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

2. How did Paul describe his message to the Corinthians? 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

3. What is the message of the cross to the perishing? What about to those who are being saved?

1 Corinthians 1:18

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The cross is “foolishness” because if destroys self-effort. We marvel at the greatness of God’s work in paying our sin debt and delivering us from the power of evil.

4. What did Paul boast in? Galatians 6:14

The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul previously bragged about his religious accomplishments. After encountering the cross, he could only brag about what Christ did for him, not what he supposedly did for God.

5. What happened in Paul’s life as a result of Jesus’s death on the cross? Galatians 6:14

The world has been crucified to me (to him), and I (Paul) to the world.

6. What do you think Paul meant when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ”? Galatians 2:20

His flesh dead. He is a new creation, because his body was crucified at the cross. The flesh that was destined to destruction is no longer living in him. By faith in Jesus he was stating all that he was saying.  

7. What did he mean by the phrase, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”? Galatians 2:20

Again the old sinful nature that was in him is dead. The Lord has now taken up residency in him. The old sinful flesh was evicted out when he accepted the Lord savior in his life.

Application & Reflection

What do you think is means for you to be crucified with Christ?

This Week’s Assignments

Review Lesson 3

Prep for Lesson 4 Christian Character by Reading 2 Peter 1:3-11

Pray

Attend services

See you next week.

Materials Used:

Excerpt from The Purple Book By Rice Broocks et. al