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Week of January 18, 2004

CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD

Purpose Of This Study
The Christian life is a life of sonship and so the purpose of this study is to come to a deeper understanding of who we REALLY are as children of the living God. I pray that each student of this study would set their anchor more firmly in the knowledge of this glorious truth, which as Sinclair Ferguson says, "lies at the heart of understanding the whole Christian life and all the diverse elements of our daily experience."

Personal Reflection And Meditation
How would you think, act or behave differently if you were the child of a King or other leader of a great country? What would life be like for you? What kind of expectations would you have of yourself? How would you relate to the "common people" if you were the child of a great king?

Scripture Memorization (read, write and repeat):
1 John 3:1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Bible Study
Developing a Biblical self-image begins with knowledge of God and what He says about you. Look up the following scriptures and write in your own words what these scriptures say about who you are: John 20:17, 1 John 3:1 and Romans 8:29.

Read Ephesians 1:5-6. What has God done that brings Him glory and pleasure?

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Read Genesis 1:26-27 and Romans 8:29a. What do these verses tell us is our purpose in life?

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Being a Son of God means that we bear the image and likeness of God, albeit a fallen image. To understand what it means to be an image bearer of God we look to Christ. Read Colossians 1:15, 19. How is Christ an image bearer of God?

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Read Colossians 1:20-22. What has Christ accomplished for us?

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Sonship carries with it important practical implications for our Christian lives. The story of the prodigal son illustrates this best. Read Luke 15:11-32 and answer the following questions:

  1. Who in the story represents a Pharisee?
  2. How did the older brother view his relationship with his Father?
  3. How did the younger brother view His relationship with his Father, before and after?
  4. What was missing from the older brother's relationship with his Father?
  5. What characterized the older brother's relationship with his Father?
  6. Which son do you identify with the most in terms of your relationship with God?
  7. Which do you identify with in relation to your earthly parents?

Personal Application
What did you learn about the character, plans or purposes of God through this study?

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How do you believe the Lord is speaking to you through this study?

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What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

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Take these things to God in prayer.

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Copyright © 2004 Alan and Jean LeStourgeon