40 Days Discussion Questions :: Week 6
The Only Way to Live – 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Why do we surrender our life to Christ, why do we seek to love others, why do we serve others, why do we give generously, why do we forgive? For the past six weeks, we looked at what it looks like to live the better way Jesus gave us. But if you don’t do it with the motivation and the reason behind it, you’ll find that you can do all these things but never experience life. This week we will discuss how the only way to live the better way is to understand why we do what we do.
Memory Verse for Week 6: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7–8).
1. What thought or point from this week’s message stood out to you?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 3:12: "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." What is the hope that Paul is talking about? How does that make us bold?
3. Read Romans 3:20, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." This consciousness of sin can lead us to hide as we recognize our inability to meet God’s standards. Why, then, is it necessary for us to be made aware of our sins?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 3:13. How have you seen people covering up with a “veil” when convicted of sin? Why does healing and freedom not come when we hide our sins?
5. Read 2 Corinthians 3:16: "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." This act signifies a pivotal shift from self-reliance to a faith-based reliance on Jesus for salvation, marking both an initial moment of commitment and a continuous journey of faith. The temptation is to hide our sins. Why do we tend to want to hide our sins from God and other people?
6. Pastor James said: “To follow the better way of Jesus we should start by Taking off the veil.” This is what Paul is getting at. What are you hiding? What do you believe that if people found out about it and God found out about it, he would not accept you? This question might be challenging to answer. What’s the danger of not dealing with it?
7. God reveals sin in your life because he wants you to walk in freedom. He brings it up not because he hasn’t forgiven you of that sin but because he wants to free you from that sin. Can you share a time when God set you free from sin after He revealed it to you?
8. Read 2 Corinthians 3:4. "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ." Our confidence in God’s love and acceptance of us is not based on ourselves. It’s based on what Jesus did for us. Our relationship with God is established through Jesus; why are we tempted to sustain it through our good works?
9. The following verses explain why God reveals our sins: not so we can work harder to do better, but so we can confess our sins to him and allow him to heal us.
- 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
- Ephesians 1:7 - "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
- Colossians 2:13-14 - "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 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."
We don’t have to hide because we are fully known and loved in Christ. How have you seen the love of Christ bring freedom in your life?
10. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Paul uncovers a profound truth: It’s our passion for the presence of Jesus Christ, cultivated by beholding His glory, that ignites the power within us to live out our God-given purpose. This transformation transcends fear, guilt, and condemnation, giving us instead a heartfelt passion for more and more of Jesus. How does focusing on Jesus, rather than ourselves, make a way for transformation to come?
11. Pastor James said, “The only way to live is to passionately pursue more of Jesus Christ.” Before the bible says, “Stop sinning, follow Jesus,” it says, “Behold the glory of Jesus, follow Him!” How does the Spirit use that power to transform you? Where does it come from?
12. Real change and a desire to follow Jesus do not come from seeing His commands (stop sinning, stop being angry, start being more loving, sacrificial, and forgiving); change comes through beholding the Glory of Jesus. How can beholding the glory of Jesus increase your desire for Him over everything else?
13. Read Philippians 3:7-8. Paul is saying Christ is my passion; that is why I pursue him. I don’t pursue passion; I pursue Christ, who is my passion. What is the difference between the two?
- Easter is here! We have one last chance to invite people to one of our services. People are out there just waiting to be invited. As a group, pray for opportunities to invite people, ask God to open your eyes to the need in our community, and trust God to work through you.
- Consume is this Friday! Consume is our Good Friday Worship Service. March 29 at 6:30 pm at the Orange City location. We want to remind you that childcare is not provided for Consume.